I’m a little exhausted.

I don’t like to complain about being tired. I didn’t, after all, give birth or anything today – like some people!

But last night when I knew my sister was going to the hosptial, feeling contractions, I really couldn’t sleep.

I was worried about her being in pain. I was worried they would send her home again. I was worried about the baby. I was even worried about my mom being worried.

If you’ve read my blog before, you may know that 1) my family is the most important thing in my life; and 2) I’m prone to worrying… so my sister going into labor didn’t exactly spell “relaxing night” for me.

I spent the first half of the night online, catching up on blogs that I haven’t had time to read lately. When I was finally unable to keep my eyes open anymore, I got into bed, contorting myself so as not to disturb my sleeping doggies, Big Boy and Poopy Girl.

I woke up this morning with Big Boy snuggling right next to me (his head on Daddy’s pillow!). I was still nervous about my sister and the baby. I checked my cell phone to see if I had missed any calls or text messages. Nothing.

I got back online to get some work done/take my mind off of worrying. I didn’t want to call my mom yet because she was at my sister’s house watching my nephews, and I didn’t want to wake up the boys if they were still sleeping.

At about 7:30 AM I heard my phone beeping, indicating that I had an incoming picture.

I picked up my phone and saw it was a message from my brother-in-law!  And this is what came through:

justborn.jpg

My precious new little nephew… fresh out of Mommy’s belly!

It’s so funny and so surreal… yesterday I was walking through Target with my sister (well, I was walking – she was waddling!) and I had no idea what my little nephew would even look like…

And then this morning I was holding him in my arms, kissing his little nose, loving his little squeaks. He went from literally being a part of my sister to being an actual little person in less than 24 hours. So amazing!

And what a small world it is… later this afternoon, when my mom and I went back to the hospital to visit again, one of the nurses looked so familiar to me. I couldn’t place her for the longest time, and then I realized that she is in one of my exercise classes at the YMCA! Too funny!

Anyway, I am again finding it hard to fall asleep tonight.  This time, though, it’s excitement.  I can’t wait to hold my little newborn nephew again, and to see his big brothers falling in love with him, too.

I can’t wait to see my sister, and tell her again how proud I am of her.  She is such a strong woman – 3 boys in 3 years!  And she handles it all with such grace and so effortlessly.

So if anyone has the right to be exhausted, it’s my sister.

But I think I have a valid reason for being tired myself.  I had to worry about my sister and her baby getting through labor.

After all, I am a woman.  A Mommy.  A daughter.  A sister.  An Auntie.  A wife.  Worrying is my job.