The Power of Prayer

An example of the fun to be had at Daddy Daycare. :)

I hit a low spot last night. I have known it was looming in the distance for awhile now - the stress of the move, new job, less income, mortgage, and a daughter who refuses to like daycare (but does like all of the communicable diseases there, including thrush) have all been weighing heavily on me. I have been trying to be upbeat and think "this, too, shall pass" but there is really only so much that I can take.

So, yesterday was the day it came crashing down. I dropped Addie off at daycare (which is the start of her four hour cryfest that lasts until lunchtime) and got into work at 8:06am which, unfortunately, is late and usual for me. I just can't seem to get into the office on time no matter what I do. Tears welled in my eyes and I just couldn't shake the feeling that something had to give. I soldiered on for the morning and then headed to the daycare to feed my sweet little munchkin. I could hear her wails as I walked through the first set of doors. I try my hardest not to act like a crazy woman when I walk in but, honestly, I think I rip her out of their hands every time. We escape to a quiet room and she nurses, poorly, but at least she nurses. (She has been refusing to take a bottle or nap at daycare since she started a month ago so dehydration is a big concern of ours). After spending a half hour with her I rushed home to pick up Snicks, who then drops me off at a lunch meeting. I beg him to go and pick her up right away (he is home on M, W, F to prep for classes, grade, and do his homework) and he assures me that she won't be there all day.

I wait until 2pm to call Snicks to see if he already has Addie - not yet but he is going at 3:30pm. I manage to convince him that he should stop by my office so that I can nurse her instead of pumping. He needs to see his advisor who is also in my building, so it is not a tough sell. I try not to get too excited, but as soon as I here them coming down the hallway my whole outlook changes. She nurses while Snicks goes to see his advisor. Then she and I go in search of him (collecting many compliments on her cuteness... she really is cute... along the way). We kill some time talking with professors but by 4:00 I know I need to get back to work for another hour.

- tick-tock - The clock moves so slowly but finally it is 5:15 and Snicks drives up with Addie for a switcheroo. He goes to class and she and I head home. I have been fighting tears all day long and finally I let loose when I get home. Thankfully, once Addie is nursed, fed, bathed, clothed, and nursed again she is asleep. My best friend from childhood calls (in response to my desperate text earlier in the day) and she talks me down from my cliff.

Snicks comes home at the end of the conversation and we have a heart to heart. We decide that Addie needs to try a new daycare or care situation. The worst case scenario has her home with him M, W, F and we find a babysitter for T & R. I cry some more about my vocation, we pray together, and I start to feel a little peace.

Today, I dropped Addie off knowing that only two weeks remain at the current daycare (we have to give two weeks noticed and just paid for the remainder of the month). When I arrived at lunchtime, however, she wasn't crying. I didn't cave, though, and expressed my concerns with the director. She agreed that Addie has not been transitioning well but asked me to give her more time. I said we'd give it another two weeks and see how it goes. She asked if I prayed about this (of course!) and then asked to pray with me about the situation. I cried, of course, but then felt a sense of peace.

When I arrived tonight to pick her up she was playing and smiling with the ladies in the daycare office. I just about fell over. 9 times out of 10 she is bawling when I arrive and she has always started crying when she sees me. Not today. She actually cried when we walked out the door. I know it is the power of prayer.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us at least one good day at daycare and easing this worn out momma's heart.

PS - I would be remiss not to mention the power of prayer in the life of one dear blogger: Hebrews!