Thursday, December 6, 2007

Drafting a Letter for the Holiday Cards ...

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Holidays! I know, I know, long time no holiday letter from us. But life has been rather crazy in the past few Decembers. As some of you know,
because I told you, although only 1 out of 5 of you bothered to respond to the news in any way, so I am making a point of saying it again in December 2005 we were reeling from a pregnancy loss and just couldn't get the cards out. Oh, and family? It was a termination for medical reasons. My baby had a fatal genetic disorder, and I felt this was the best choice. But I couldn’t tell all you Catholic relatives this, because you’d have responded so poorly. Then last December, happier circumstances a terrifying pregnancy filled with illness and preterm labor culminating in uterine rupture left the cards unmailed again, because we were scrambling to care for Little A, who arrived earlier than planned.

Little A has thrived this year. She left the hospital weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces because she shoved her feet through a scar on my uterus at 35 weeks and had to come out via stat C section before I bled to death and now weighs over 21 pounds. She looks just like DH, and is sweet natured like him, too. And Big A? She maintains her dramatic personality but now beyond the toddler years, she has mellowed into quite the funny and charming preschooler the neighbors no longer ask if we are torturing her because the tantrums are so loud. She is usually a very kind big sister, even when the baby eats her artwork or yanks her ponytail.

I took off the first six months after Little A’s arrival and am now back to work part time. I started writing a blog that none of you will likely ever know about, too. DH continues animating the _____ game franchise at _____. We still live in our little 1950s house in Oakland and have been renovating bit by bit. This year we got new kitchen countertops and replaced all the windows and exterior doors. Next year, if we get our do-it-yourself mojo back, we will tackle building a window bench for the corner breakfast nook.

And that’s about it. Hey, did I mention that after the uterine rupture I can’t have kids anymore? I guess it was an ordinary year in many respects, but after the past few Decembers, ordinary feels extraordinarily good! We are grateful to have a quiet holiday this year, and dearly hope that 2007 was a gentle, happy year for you all. And if it wasn’t a great year and you don’t have it in you to send out the delusionally perky holiday cards, don’t worry. We get that, too.

Best Wishes to All. – W.

8 comments:

Sara said...

Heh. Doesn't it feel good to get that out?

Wabi said...

Yeah, it's amazing how quickly I dashed off the bitter version compared to how long it took me to edit it down to something "family friendy"!

meg said...

This is great. I don't even send out anything, but if I did, I would ask you to write it!

Ann said...

Thank you for your comment on my blog. Yes, I have found aheartbreakingchoice.com, and have found it very comforting. I've read your backstory, and I'm so sorry to hear about your HC and all the complications surrounding it. Life just truly sucks sometimes.

niobe said...

When I receive holiday letters, I always wonder about the news that's left out...

Mama Marathon said...

Honestly, I wish I'd get more "real" letters like these.

Unknown said...

If you would like support regarding your uterine rupture, there's a support group at Auterinerupturesupportgroup in Yahoo groups.
Sincerely,
Clorinda

ms. G said...

I love this! Will you write a holiday letter for me too?

And I am with Niobe, I too have wondered at what is NOT being said sometimes...