Tropical Drinks vs Tropical Fruit Tums

Today is my little sister's wedding day. Nine + months ago, my husband and I bought tickets to fly to Costa Rica for the wedding. We were even feeling brave enough to bring our two-year-old son for a week's stay in the developing nation. A month or so after we booked our exotic vacation, we found out we were expecting another little one. I'm embarrassed to say that one of my first reactions was disappointment at the change in our vacation plans. It would no longer be a fun-filled, imbibing, bikini-clad adventure. It would be a giant pregnant woman with back pain and swollen feet feeling weighed down by the heat and trying to entertain a toddler in a new place while also trying to help my sister with her wedding. But -- we were still going to go. And I was still going to try to rock a bikini, but I really didn't want to be the fat one in my sister's wedding photos.

A couple of months ago, I thought I'd mention the trip to my OB to see what he thought. His reaction completely changed my mind. He told Austin and me that the chances of something happening with the pregnancy while we were there were slim, but if anything did happen, we'd be hours away from a hospital and the hospitals there aren't equipped to deal with emergency premature deliveries. Basically, the baby wouldn't make it. He also warned us about the possibilities of getting listeriosis in Central America. It can be on fruit, not to mention the usual culprits of dairy and meat. Best case scenario I would have a very bad GI reaction. Worst case could be heart defects in the baby or a still birth. And I didn't come this far to have something happen to my little guy now.

Needless to say, we cancelled our plane tickets -- we somehow had the forethought to buy trip insurance though we never had before in our lives -- so not much was lost. . . except being at my little sister's wedding. 

Anyway, as I was Skyping with my sisters who were having a blast and drinking in the middle of the day, I had a twinge of jealousy.Not just a twinge, an overwhelming feeling. I wanted to be there having fun, getting free drinks from the bartenders, staying out late and wearing nothing but a bikini all day. As they sipped their daiquiris, I was popping tropical fruit-flavored Tums for my nightmare heartburn that I now get after consuming anything at all. Didn't seem fair. I thought about it some more after their computer battery died and I was back to my regular life -- entertaining a 2-year-old and sharing tasks with my husband. I think I have the better end of the deal, or at least I wouldn't trade it. There will always be time for fun and goofing off. I have the literally awesome job of bringing a perfect little life into this world. I am growing a human, someone that everyone in my house will love unconditionally for the rest of our lives. A little guy who will bring us more joy (and pain) than any long weekend in Costa Rica ever could. Even with the back pain, heartburn, swollen feet, aching pelvis, etc., I wouldn't trade it for anything. Of course I'm still sad that I missed my sister's wedding, but there'll be more milestones to witness -- like when she has a baby. And I do plan to be around for those.

So congratulations to my little sister, Sara. I'm so happy for her. And congratulations to my older sister Angie who was able to make it over for the wedding and have some fun, though she had to leave her little guy behind for a few days. And congratulations to me for being able to see the big picture and cherish my second son, even for all the difficulties carrying him has brought. I love you, Baby Becks, and would do it all over again for you.