My Warm Welcome Home

Shortly after returning from our family vacation in Charleston, South Carolina, I left home again on an overnight business trip to New Hampshire. I had never been to New England before and I was excited to see a new part of the country. I was also looking forward to an evening away from my children. Although we loved what we could enjoy of Charleston (and plan to go back without Emma and Allison someday), being around the kids 24/7 in cramped quarters left me feeling haggard. I very much needed a break.

We traveled to Concord on Tuesday. I started reading a biography on Margaret Mitchell after we got back from South Carolina. I have always loved Gone With the Wind. I must have read it three or four times during high school and two or three times since then. I have never, however, researched Scarlett’s author. Our carriage ride through downtown Charleston peaked my interest. I happily got a lot of reading done on the plane rides and in my hotel room that night. Even the snoring of the man in the next hotel room didn’t much affect my relaxation. I just turned up the air conditioning full blast.

The client we were visiting implemented with my company during my pregnancy with Allison. That is why I had never traveled there before. They were all happy to see me again and loved looking at pictures of the girls. I may have needed a break from Emma and Allison’s presence, but I sure loved talking about them and showing them off. One woman, LisAnne, just showered me with compliments from my hair to my toes. I might have gained 5 pounds during and since my vacation, but I felt like a million bucks after talking with her. The meetings went well Wednesday and the work day went by fast. It was a nice change of pace from sitting at my desk all day.

Danny and the kids did really well while I was gone. He was helped along by Emma. She agreed to stay at Granny and PawPaw’s house Tuesday night. I worried about Allison being cranky while I was gone. There was no need for that apparently. Other than pointing me out in a picture, she didn’t seem to pay much attention to my absence. Emma started missing me Wednesday night before I got home.

On my way home from the airport, I called home to let Danny know that I landed safely and was on my way. Emma answered the phone and it was such a shock. I’m used to giving her the phone and letting her talk to others. I was caught off guard by her answering our phone. For a second I thought I’d dialed the wrong number. She talked with me for almost five minutes and asked if I was still “in the sky.” When I got home, she cuddled with me on the couch like never before. Emma’s not a cuddly girl necessarily, but she was last night. After she went down for the night, Danny and I even got some much deserved quiet time on the couch. I loved every second of it.

Allison was sleeping when I got home, but I knew we’d be seeing each other again during the night. Sure enough, she woke up at 2am. She hugged me really tight when I picked her up out of the crib. I gave her kisses and laid her down next to me. Usually we both go back to sleep immediately. The next thing I knew, Ally climbed on top of my belly and laid her head down on my chest. I know what heaven feels like now. What better way could anyone say, “I’m glad you’re back.”?

By morning life slowly returned to normal. Emma and Ally got on each other’s nerves, Ally cried the entire time I got her dressed and we rushed around getting ready for our days at school and work. I better realize now that this is the way I like it to be.