Needy baby . . . Needy mama

The week before Thanksgiving was a rough week for us in the Vale house.  After Chris being sick for many days, Addilyn must have caught his bad cold.  We had about five days in a row of coughing, snotty nose, tears, fussiness, and sleepless nights. One night I think I got about two hours of broken up sleep.  That night I moved from laying next to her rock n play to the recliner on the couch, back to the rock n play and then to the bed in hopes of keeping her asleep for more than an hour.  
We had cancelled plans, and long days in our house.  It's amazing how only five days of not going anywhere or connecting with anyone can leave you feeling quite lonely and unproductive.  I called my sister one afternoon and started crying.  I felt tired and was sad because Chris was going to be gone for the evening and I was feeling anxious about another rough night.  I felt like I hadn't done anything productive in days. I then felt like a baby myself, feeling like I should be able to handle a sick baby better.  I know I'll have many more days ahead like this and was feeling like I shouldn't be having a hard time with this, as I know there will be harder and sicker days to come. 
My wise sister told me that I was doing something so important these last few days.  I was loving on, taking care of and doing whatever my sick baby needed.  Which when you put it that way is an accomplishment.  She told me that it's okay to be crying, to think this is hard and okay to need extra help.  That needy babies mean needy moms.  
I have a new compassion for moms dealing with sick kids.  I want to bring them a coffee, give them a hug and tell them the same encouragement Lauren gave me.  That sick babies are hard, everything else can wait, and that you are doing a great job.