This is how Bekah says it. Cracks me up. Their favorite movie right now is "Cars". We routinely hear quotes from the movie at random times. Like today at the store, they are in my basket playing with the "yogrit" as they call it, and Rachel is just having a conversation with herself. Out of nowhere I hear: "Crazy grandpa car!" Then she and Bekah erupt in goofy laughter.
The other day I hear Bekah say to Rachel: "That's OK, Stickers, you can take Bessy." And this one: "Go take a car wash, hippie!" It's just too funny! Goes to show you that you really DO have to be careful what you let them watch!
Well, tonight as they are having their ritual Saturday night bath to prepare for church tomorrow, Bekah tells her yellow duckie: "I got to get of this town and get to Cal-na-fornia." HAHAHAHA!
Tomorrow, if I can remember how to download the pictures from my camera, I will post some very cute pictures of the girls playing with my wedding veil.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Jaded?
Today was a typical Monday. Full of the weekend's messes that had to be mended in the world of Child Welfare. This morning I sat in Court from 9am until 11:30am. Finally the Judge called my case. I say my case, but really I've only had the case for two months and it has had about 7 other workers since it was opened in 2001. Yes, you read that right. For 6 years now this case has been going through the system. No need to explain all the whys right now, but only to say that the mother on the case did not show this whole time I was waiting.
The minute after the judge sets a hearing for tomorrow morning for a default termination (meaning she didn't show they will terminate her rights by default), she walks through the door. The Judge, noticably irritated, calls all parties back to the bench. He asks her why she had not been there earlier. She stated she had to ride the bus. The Judge tells her he knows there are earlier buses that run by the Courthouse. The Judge asks mother's attorney how they wish to procede now since the case was actually set today for a Jury trial.
Her attorney takes her back and through a complicated series of events calls me over to say his client is going to relinquish her parental rights. Okay. So, I go back to my seat to wait for the Judge to recall our case and get a Court reporter to go on the record. We all get back to the bench and the Judge starts reading the relinquishment form. "You understand that by signing this document that you are voluntarily terminating your parental rights?" She nods yes, crying. "That no one has promised you anything in return for signing this document." "No" she says. "That you are entitiled to a jury trial in which the State would have the burden of proof to a jury to terminate your parental rights and by signing this you are giving up the right to a jury trial?" "What did you say before that?" She asks, crying more. Blank stares from every one. She looks at her lawyer, "Can I do that?" "Do what?" "That thing with the jury?" The judge looks at me in frustration. I look back, probably with the same look on my face. "Let's go off the record." Says the Judge. The lawyer takes the mother back into chambers again. You can hear him tell her that if she can't test clean today she won't stand a chance in front of the jury. Finally they come back out. She finishes her statement and that's it. After 6 long years in the system, the fight is over.
The thing is, when that moment at the bench came when seemingly the mother had changed her mind, I found myself thinking, "Oh my gosh, you cannot be serious that after 6 years you would put us all through a jury trial. Surely, you don't think any jury would give you the time of day as far as your children are concerned. I can't believe you are going to waste a whole week of my time in a trial when after 6 years you are still testing positive for drugs. Please just GET ON with it!"
Later that afternoon as I sat in another Judge's courtroom again awaiting my case to be called, I thought, have I really become so dispassionate so quickly? As she stood at the bench crying over rights given up for the four children she would never see again, was I so cold already that the only compassion I had was for my own time? On one hand I am angry at myself for feeling that way. Then, on the other, I am angry for four children who have spent the last 65 months in foster care hoping to go home, only to be told in the end it would never happen.
Where my compassion lies, I simply cannot say with certainty. But I find myself in the middle of a Monday Mess, wondering if there really is a "right" place to fall on this one. Wondering who it is that I have allowed this job to make me, and if there is a black and white when it comes to something like this. Or do I just live in the land of the Gray?
The minute after the judge sets a hearing for tomorrow morning for a default termination (meaning she didn't show they will terminate her rights by default), she walks through the door. The Judge, noticably irritated, calls all parties back to the bench. He asks her why she had not been there earlier. She stated she had to ride the bus. The Judge tells her he knows there are earlier buses that run by the Courthouse. The Judge asks mother's attorney how they wish to procede now since the case was actually set today for a Jury trial.
Her attorney takes her back and through a complicated series of events calls me over to say his client is going to relinquish her parental rights. Okay. So, I go back to my seat to wait for the Judge to recall our case and get a Court reporter to go on the record. We all get back to the bench and the Judge starts reading the relinquishment form. "You understand that by signing this document that you are voluntarily terminating your parental rights?" She nods yes, crying. "That no one has promised you anything in return for signing this document." "No" she says. "That you are entitiled to a jury trial in which the State would have the burden of proof to a jury to terminate your parental rights and by signing this you are giving up the right to a jury trial?" "What did you say before that?" She asks, crying more. Blank stares from every one. She looks at her lawyer, "Can I do that?" "Do what?" "That thing with the jury?" The judge looks at me in frustration. I look back, probably with the same look on my face. "Let's go off the record." Says the Judge. The lawyer takes the mother back into chambers again. You can hear him tell her that if she can't test clean today she won't stand a chance in front of the jury. Finally they come back out. She finishes her statement and that's it. After 6 long years in the system, the fight is over.
The thing is, when that moment at the bench came when seemingly the mother had changed her mind, I found myself thinking, "Oh my gosh, you cannot be serious that after 6 years you would put us all through a jury trial. Surely, you don't think any jury would give you the time of day as far as your children are concerned. I can't believe you are going to waste a whole week of my time in a trial when after 6 years you are still testing positive for drugs. Please just GET ON with it!"
Later that afternoon as I sat in another Judge's courtroom again awaiting my case to be called, I thought, have I really become so dispassionate so quickly? As she stood at the bench crying over rights given up for the four children she would never see again, was I so cold already that the only compassion I had was for my own time? On one hand I am angry at myself for feeling that way. Then, on the other, I am angry for four children who have spent the last 65 months in foster care hoping to go home, only to be told in the end it would never happen.
Where my compassion lies, I simply cannot say with certainty. But I find myself in the middle of a Monday Mess, wondering if there really is a "right" place to fall on this one. Wondering who it is that I have allowed this job to make me, and if there is a black and white when it comes to something like this. Or do I just live in the land of the Gray?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Bekah-isms
Where she got it, one cannot know, but Bekah seems to come up with the oddest things. Mostly noteably she refers to anything that happened "last night" as "yester night." It makes me chuckle every time I hear it:
Bekah: Daddy put me on pull-ups yesternight.
Me: Oh, he did?
Bekah: Yes, and I can not pee-pee in my bed becuase I'm just not posed to do that.
(At the zoo last week watching the Rhino's sans Daddy)
Bekah: Mommy, I need to take the baby Rhinocero (not a typo) home.
Me: Bekah, he cannot fit in our car
Bekah: But he needs to go in my room, I think
Me: I think she is a little big for your room, don't you? Where would she sleep?
Bekah: In my sleeping bag. I need to call Daddy so I can ask him.
Me: No.
Bekah: Yes, I do. We can just put him in the back of Papaw's pick-up.
(At the zoo today in the herpaterium)
Bekah: Oh d-d-d-dear (yes, we do see a lot of Pooh) look at that giant snake!!
Daddy: That's an Anaconda.
Bekah: An Anaconda? He's bigger than you Daddy!
Daddy: Yes, he is.
Bekah: We can not take him home. He might not like Elvis! (the cat)
Daddy: No, I don't think he would.
Bekah: And he cannot sleep in my room, either!
Random person: Oh, how cute, are they twins?
Me: Yes
Bekah: I'm not a twin, I'm Bekah
Person: You're not a twin sister?
Bekah: No, I'm just Bekah, that's all I am!
She is such a thinker, this girl. We are in for a real ride with her. I just know it!
Bekah: Daddy put me on pull-ups yesternight.
Me: Oh, he did?
Bekah: Yes, and I can not pee-pee in my bed becuase I'm just not posed to do that.
(At the zoo last week watching the Rhino's sans Daddy)
Bekah: Mommy, I need to take the baby Rhinocero (not a typo) home.
Me: Bekah, he cannot fit in our car
Bekah: But he needs to go in my room, I think
Me: I think she is a little big for your room, don't you? Where would she sleep?
Bekah: In my sleeping bag. I need to call Daddy so I can ask him.
Me: No.
Bekah: Yes, I do. We can just put him in the back of Papaw's pick-up.
(At the zoo today in the herpaterium)
Bekah: Oh d-d-d-dear (yes, we do see a lot of Pooh) look at that giant snake!!
Daddy: That's an Anaconda.
Bekah: An Anaconda? He's bigger than you Daddy!
Daddy: Yes, he is.
Bekah: We can not take him home. He might not like Elvis! (the cat)
Daddy: No, I don't think he would.
Bekah: And he cannot sleep in my room, either!
Random person: Oh, how cute, are they twins?
Me: Yes
Bekah: I'm not a twin, I'm Bekah
Person: You're not a twin sister?
Bekah: No, I'm just Bekah, that's all I am!
She is such a thinker, this girl. We are in for a real ride with her. I just know it!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Things are looking up!
It's been a rough winter for me. Some great things have happened, but "work-wise" it has just plain sucked. In October we lost a unit member and we all (my unit members) inherited four of her cases. Then, at the end of November we lost another unit member and we each received 5 of her cases. Then at the end of December we lost our supervisor. Then in January we lost our lead worker and each inherited 7 of her cases, bringing my total caseload to 39 cases. That is 91 children that were on my caseload. IMPOSSIBLE to try to manage, considering I am required to visit those children once per month. We had some people trying to help do visits, but some were reliable and some not so reliable. In all it was just a horrid mess.
I have really been struggling trying to juggle homelife, work and starting a new business. Let me tell you, it wasn't working AT ALL! My poor family has really been getting the short end of it.
This week we added two new unit members to our group and I was able to take 6 cases off my desk. 6 out of 39 is not huge, but for me it was fantastic! In a few more weeks I will lose probably another 5 cases to them and then we are also going to get a new lead worker that will take another 5 cases or so. That would get me back down to around 20 hopefully which is TOTALLY manageable. Policy states we are not to have more than 20, we will see if that actually happens. In the meantime, I am just thrilled to let go of even 6!
Also, I am pleased to announce that I have added my first team member in Mary Kay. I am really excited about that and hope to have a LOT more time to devote to MK now that my not so fun work is easing up. I am still have a blast doing MK. I have career conference coming up in March and another formal night and I know it will be a total blast!
I have really been struggling trying to juggle homelife, work and starting a new business. Let me tell you, it wasn't working AT ALL! My poor family has really been getting the short end of it.
This week we added two new unit members to our group and I was able to take 6 cases off my desk. 6 out of 39 is not huge, but for me it was fantastic! In a few more weeks I will lose probably another 5 cases to them and then we are also going to get a new lead worker that will take another 5 cases or so. That would get me back down to around 20 hopefully which is TOTALLY manageable. Policy states we are not to have more than 20, we will see if that actually happens. In the meantime, I am just thrilled to let go of even 6!
Also, I am pleased to announce that I have added my first team member in Mary Kay. I am really excited about that and hope to have a LOT more time to devote to MK now that my not so fun work is easing up. I am still have a blast doing MK. I have career conference coming up in March and another formal night and I know it will be a total blast!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Lost and Found
Lost: One gold wedding band engraved with the inscription: "To my Fred, love SJG"
FOUND: aformentioned gold band located by the Mother In Law of owner.
Yep, that's right. My dear, sweet, wonderful husband who has always given me such a hard time for taking off my wedding rings every night and who never takes his off LOST his wedding band. Since he never reads this blog unless I actually tell him to I am pretty sure I can post the story in its entirety and he will probably never know this.
I received a call from my mom yesterday while I was at work. "Did Fred lose something?" she asked with a little mischief in her voice. "Why, what did you find?" said, I, knowing she would never ask a question such as that unless she found something really good. "A wedding ring" she stated matter-of-factly. "WHAT?! He has not told me about this!" Knowing that it had been at least two days since he had been at their house.
So, last night he is showing me his dry cracked hands and I just say, "Oh look, you are single now it appears." Sheer horror covers his face and instantly I knew that until that moment he had not realized what was not there. He went nuts. Searching high, low and everywhere in between for that ring. He was totally out of sorts the whole evening.
Knowing that I had the ring this whole time I told him not to worry "it would surely turn up somewhere." And sure enough, it did. Right in his Valentine card today! He still has no idea how it slipped off over his big knuckles. Ah well, thank goodness mom found it or I too would have gone nuts.
FOUND: aformentioned gold band located by the Mother In Law of owner.
Yep, that's right. My dear, sweet, wonderful husband who has always given me such a hard time for taking off my wedding rings every night and who never takes his off LOST his wedding band. Since he never reads this blog unless I actually tell him to I am pretty sure I can post the story in its entirety and he will probably never know this.
I received a call from my mom yesterday while I was at work. "Did Fred lose something?" she asked with a little mischief in her voice. "Why, what did you find?" said, I, knowing she would never ask a question such as that unless she found something really good. "A wedding ring" she stated matter-of-factly. "WHAT?! He has not told me about this!" Knowing that it had been at least two days since he had been at their house.
So, last night he is showing me his dry cracked hands and I just say, "Oh look, you are single now it appears." Sheer horror covers his face and instantly I knew that until that moment he had not realized what was not there. He went nuts. Searching high, low and everywhere in between for that ring. He was totally out of sorts the whole evening.
Knowing that I had the ring this whole time I told him not to worry "it would surely turn up somewhere." And sure enough, it did. Right in his Valentine card today! He still has no idea how it slipped off over his big knuckles. Ah well, thank goodness mom found it or I too would have gone nuts.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Nobody leaves January without singing the blues...
At least this year it seems. January has just been a rough month so far. Many things at work have made it difficult, but this last weekend we were burried under close to 6 inches of ice. It looks like a bunch of snow, but it's SOOOO not! If you step out onto it you will qickly find that there are no prints to be left....just one solid, rock hard sheet of ice. Not even driving the Durango on it makes tracks. No pictures tonight tho...dead batteries in the camera and none on hand. So, they closed nearly everything at about noon last Friday and most everyone got a day off yesterday. However, today most of the working world got back to the grind.
This morning as I am drying my hair at about 6:45 I hear the sound of Fred's work boots thumping up the stairs. Not acustomed to him being around at that time, I was wondering why he was back home after leaving for work. Turns out he hit a patch of ice leaving our neighborhood this morning, slid over the curb and slammed into a brick retaining wall at the entrance of our edition. Fabulous! just fabulous...as if we needed on more thing to deal with. Oh well. At least he wasn't hurt and he didn't hit anybody else. He took the Durango in for an estimate: $2,000. OUCH!
The girls saw the car this morning and were very concerned about Daddy "breaking" the car. Bekah said, "oh well, I guess he'll have to get a new one." When I told them it didn't work like that and that Daddy would have to get it fixed, Rachel said, "Oh, I guess we have to call Handy Manny to bring Pat the hammer." (a fix-it cartoon on the Disney Channel). Cute! If only it were that easy. sigh...
This too shall pass... not too quickly tho as they are predicting 3-6 inches of snow this weekend and then another round next weekend. No rest for the weary!
This morning as I am drying my hair at about 6:45 I hear the sound of Fred's work boots thumping up the stairs. Not acustomed to him being around at that time, I was wondering why he was back home after leaving for work. Turns out he hit a patch of ice leaving our neighborhood this morning, slid over the curb and slammed into a brick retaining wall at the entrance of our edition. Fabulous! just fabulous...as if we needed on more thing to deal with. Oh well. At least he wasn't hurt and he didn't hit anybody else. He took the Durango in for an estimate: $2,000. OUCH!
The girls saw the car this morning and were very concerned about Daddy "breaking" the car. Bekah said, "oh well, I guess he'll have to get a new one." When I told them it didn't work like that and that Daddy would have to get it fixed, Rachel said, "Oh, I guess we have to call Handy Manny to bring Pat the hammer." (a fix-it cartoon on the Disney Channel). Cute! If only it were that easy. sigh...
This too shall pass... not too quickly tho as they are predicting 3-6 inches of snow this weekend and then another round next weekend. No rest for the weary!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Big Girl Beds
Despite all my efforts to keep the girls from growing up, alas, it has become a reality that often takes the breath out of me. Sunday night the girls moved from their baby beds to TWIN beds! Can you believe it?! Totally skipped the toddler bed. OY! They spent the afternoon Sunday with grandma and papaw and mommy and daddy dissasembled, re-arranged and put together their "new" beds. I say "new" becuase the beds they now have belonged to me and my sister when we were just barely older than the girls. I slept in that bed until I was 22 (sans the canopy however. I believe I shed that upon entering highschool). Putting up these beds really brought back memories for me. I am glad that my girls will now get to make good memories in them as well. So, without further delay, I present to you Rachel's and Rebekah's new beds.
Rebekah's bed (top) and Rachel's bed (bottom).
Rebekah's bed (top) and Rachel's bed (bottom).
Bekah in front of her bed.
Rachel by her bed.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Hello Again!
Yes, It is I! The long lost blogger! I know it has been quite some time since I have updated this blog, but life has been so INSANELY crazy in the last two months. Here are the Cliff Notes on the "Life and Times of Sarah": Sarah runs 5k drops of the face of the earth, Sarah's sister gives birth to the Kade Russell on 10/25/06 (VERY pround Aunt here), 11/2/06 deciding she just had too much free time on her hands, Sarah becomes a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant, Two caseworkers at work leave and Sarah's caseload doubles and her supervisor quits, Rachel and Rebekah TURN 3!!!!! (I can hardly believe it), Sarah's mom gets massive Kidney stone that requires surgery which did not go so well, and the most recent story, Sarah STILL trying to find time to purchase Christmas gifts! OY! So, there you have it. The recent events of yours truly.
Hopefully life will settle soon. Although I must admit, I REALLY am working hard on my Mary Kay business in hopes that I can replace my income by this time next year and stay home with my sweet girls. We'll see. It's getting late tonight so no more updates, but I'll leave you with a couple of cute pics and probably most of you will get a Christmas card from us sometime soon. Have a Candy Cane Hershey Kiss (my newest sinful addiction) on me!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully life will settle soon. Although I must admit, I REALLY am working hard on my Mary Kay business in hopes that I can replace my income by this time next year and stay home with my sweet girls. We'll see. It's getting late tonight so no more updates, but I'll leave you with a couple of cute pics and probably most of you will get a Christmas card from us sometime soon. Have a Candy Cane Hershey Kiss (my newest sinful addiction) on me!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, October 16, 2006
5K Day!
I DID IT! I ran the entire 5k! My goal was to finish in 33 minutes or less. I thought 31 was not happening, but I am pleased to say my official time was 30:51. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was about that! Here I am crossing the finish line.
There were so many people I would have been completely overwhelmed without Shala. I am such a newbie to all of this, that I just had no idea about so many things... that you line up where your pace is, that they shout out 1K times at you as you run... I am so glad she did this with me! The day was beautiful, although, that morning was very cold. It took us a while to warm up. About 1.5 miles in my pony tail started coming out and I was trying to run and get my hair back up at the same time, it was a pain, but no biggie. Shala helped me finish strong, which is something I need to work on. She told me to pick someone in front of me and try to pass them. She picked someone out and I tried, but I don't know if I passed her or not. :) Here we are trying to warm up before the race.
It was a great day. Not only did I have a friend to run with me, but Gwen and Joy came to see us finish and also my sister came along. She was excited for me, but, bless her heart, she is just hoping the extra walking will help labor start. She is fully efaced and dilated to a "2". She looks great tho!
Now, I need to find another race just to give me something to work toward.
There were so many people I would have been completely overwhelmed without Shala. I am such a newbie to all of this, that I just had no idea about so many things... that you line up where your pace is, that they shout out 1K times at you as you run... I am so glad she did this with me! The day was beautiful, although, that morning was very cold. It took us a while to warm up. About 1.5 miles in my pony tail started coming out and I was trying to run and get my hair back up at the same time, it was a pain, but no biggie. Shala helped me finish strong, which is something I need to work on. She told me to pick someone in front of me and try to pass them. She picked someone out and I tried, but I don't know if I passed her or not. :) Here we are trying to warm up before the race.
It was a great day. Not only did I have a friend to run with me, but Gwen and Joy came to see us finish and also my sister came along. She was excited for me, but, bless her heart, she is just hoping the extra walking will help labor start. She is fully efaced and dilated to a "2". She looks great tho!
Now, I need to find another race just to give me something to work toward.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wiating on the washer
Ahhh, such is the life of the glamourous mom. I actually was thinking I would just love to go to bed - that thought occured to me about 8:30 this evening. Yet, here I am waiting to hear the ding of the washer telling me it's the dryer's turn.
Rachel got her cast off yesterday. Everything went fine, but it the process was not at all what I expected. The minute the doctor came into the room she started her "I don't want any doctors" chant. I can't really say I blame her. They cut off her cast off and then x-rayed it. You could easily see the new bone that had formed in the break. I expected that they would numb her elbow to take the pins out, but no such doing. The doctor took hold of her arm, grabbed a fancy looking pair of pliers and *yank* *yank* the pins were out! It took her by surprise obviously and I am sure hurt some as she peed right on Daddy's lap. Poor thing, she hasn't had an accident in ages, not even the whole time she was in the hospital and had surgery. She cried for a minute or so, not even very hard and then was done. She actually threw a bigger fit about the nurse giving her a red lollipop instead of a pink one. LOL! She is still nursing that right arm, not moving it much, but the Dr. said that would be normal and not to push her. We go back in 6 weeks for a check. It's just completely amazing to me how fast little ones heal!
In other news, I have 15 days until my 5k. I ran three miles for the first time last night. It was really tough for me to do last night. I am not sure why, but I know I was feeling tired, and then the dinner I ate was probably not the lightest thing I could have eaten before a run. Oh well, I am just starting to get excited!
Saturday marks the first day of October, the month in which I will become and Aunt!!!! Pam is doing well. She has entered that "uncomfortable all the time" stage of pregnancy in which comfort and restful sleep is a thing of the past. She saw her doctor yesterday and is not dilated at all, but is about 75% efaced. If he will stay 2 more weeks I think she will be just fine. That will put her at 38 weeks. I am starting to really prepare the girls for the giving of the itsabah (eats-ah-bah) or pacifiers to baby Kade. Every night I tell them that soon he will be here and we will take them to him because he will be a tiny baby and he'll need them and they are big girls and don't need them anymore. I am sure we'll have a couple of night of whining/crying out of Bekah, but I think Rachel will be ok. We'll see.
Well, I hear that familier ding-dong telling me the washer is done. I'm going to get the clothes out and get myself to bed!
Rachel got her cast off yesterday. Everything went fine, but it the process was not at all what I expected. The minute the doctor came into the room she started her "I don't want any doctors" chant. I can't really say I blame her. They cut off her cast off and then x-rayed it. You could easily see the new bone that had formed in the break. I expected that they would numb her elbow to take the pins out, but no such doing. The doctor took hold of her arm, grabbed a fancy looking pair of pliers and *yank* *yank* the pins were out! It took her by surprise obviously and I am sure hurt some as she peed right on Daddy's lap. Poor thing, she hasn't had an accident in ages, not even the whole time she was in the hospital and had surgery. She cried for a minute or so, not even very hard and then was done. She actually threw a bigger fit about the nurse giving her a red lollipop instead of a pink one. LOL! She is still nursing that right arm, not moving it much, but the Dr. said that would be normal and not to push her. We go back in 6 weeks for a check. It's just completely amazing to me how fast little ones heal!
In other news, I have 15 days until my 5k. I ran three miles for the first time last night. It was really tough for me to do last night. I am not sure why, but I know I was feeling tired, and then the dinner I ate was probably not the lightest thing I could have eaten before a run. Oh well, I am just starting to get excited!
Saturday marks the first day of October, the month in which I will become and Aunt!!!! Pam is doing well. She has entered that "uncomfortable all the time" stage of pregnancy in which comfort and restful sleep is a thing of the past. She saw her doctor yesterday and is not dilated at all, but is about 75% efaced. If he will stay 2 more weeks I think she will be just fine. That will put her at 38 weeks. I am starting to really prepare the girls for the giving of the itsabah (eats-ah-bah) or pacifiers to baby Kade. Every night I tell them that soon he will be here and we will take them to him because he will be a tiny baby and he'll need them and they are big girls and don't need them anymore. I am sure we'll have a couple of night of whining/crying out of Bekah, but I think Rachel will be ok. We'll see.
Well, I hear that familier ding-dong telling me the washer is done. I'm going to get the clothes out and get myself to bed!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
We have a cast!
I am so relieved that it's done. I just feel so much better about her arm and how it's doing. The Doctor was so great with her. He came into the room with a little puppet and made her laugh before he started working on her arm. She did start crying when he started cutting off her bandages. She was saying, "Don't take my band aid off, my arm is broken. Don't take it off!" Once they started wrapping her arm back up she was fine. The doctor said the Xrays look great and he thinks the pins can come out in two weeks! I was really suprised to hear that, but happy.
Here are a few pics:
Pre-Cast:
The new purple cast:
And one of Bekah after she fell and said she broke her arm. She had a "broken" arm for all of maybe a minute.
Here are a few pics:
Pre-Cast:
The new purple cast:
And one of Bekah after she fell and said she broke her arm. She had a "broken" arm for all of maybe a minute.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
My baby broke her arm.
Rachel broke her arm last night. We were starting our nighttime routine last night and the girls were picking out the books off the table behind the sofa. They were a little rowdy and I asked them to sit down. Rachel spun around too fast, lost her footing and tumbled right over the side arm of the sofa. I knew immediately that it was broken. I could see it. I yelled at Fred, we grabbed Bekah and raced to the ER. Fred didn't even stop to grab his shoes or his wallet.
When we got there they took her right back for Xrays. They told us it was a very bad break and that they would have to transfer us to Children's hospital because they did not have a pediatric othopedist. So, off we went in the ambulance to Children's. When we got there it was about 10:30pm. They called the orthopedist in and he said they would give her a medication, which all I can remember is it started with Cata-something, and would not put her under, but nearly and set the break. They made us leave and set it and told us they would admit her because there was a chance it would still need surgery. The break was on her right arm just above the elbow.
They got us up to a room at about 2am. Fred came home because he knew he would at least have to make an appearance at work. I stayed with Rachel and neither of us slept much at all. Finally about the time we both seemed to be falling asleep another doctor came in at 7:45am to tell us that the break serious enough that she would need surgery. I didn't even have 5 minutes to adjust to the news or to call anyone before the nurses came back and told me that we were going to the OR. She was so angry by this point when we were talking to the anestesiologist she was yelling, "NO DOCTORS!!!" Poor thing, I can't blame her.
They surgery went fine and her little arm is pinned to her side until next Wednesday. She has two pins. I have been a blubbering mess since last night, but am better now, just exhausted. Bekah did not sleep last night because she kept asking for Rachel. Rachel didn't sleep for the pain and for asking where Bekah was. They happily went to bed tonight. I just hope Rachel can sleep without feeling too much pain. We are doing tylenol with codeine and the Motrin regimine.
We go back next Wednesday and she will get a cast. She asked the nurse for a "purple band aid" so they are going to try to give her a purple cast. My poor baby. I just hate every minute of this. It has been hard to see them in pain for "little" things, but this has just been awful! I pray it heals quickly and all goes well. I thank God that at least the break missed her growth plates.
When we got there they took her right back for Xrays. They told us it was a very bad break and that they would have to transfer us to Children's hospital because they did not have a pediatric othopedist. So, off we went in the ambulance to Children's. When we got there it was about 10:30pm. They called the orthopedist in and he said they would give her a medication, which all I can remember is it started with Cata-something, and would not put her under, but nearly and set the break. They made us leave and set it and told us they would admit her because there was a chance it would still need surgery. The break was on her right arm just above the elbow.
They got us up to a room at about 2am. Fred came home because he knew he would at least have to make an appearance at work. I stayed with Rachel and neither of us slept much at all. Finally about the time we both seemed to be falling asleep another doctor came in at 7:45am to tell us that the break serious enough that she would need surgery. I didn't even have 5 minutes to adjust to the news or to call anyone before the nurses came back and told me that we were going to the OR. She was so angry by this point when we were talking to the anestesiologist she was yelling, "NO DOCTORS!!!" Poor thing, I can't blame her.
They surgery went fine and her little arm is pinned to her side until next Wednesday. She has two pins. I have been a blubbering mess since last night, but am better now, just exhausted. Bekah did not sleep last night because she kept asking for Rachel. Rachel didn't sleep for the pain and for asking where Bekah was. They happily went to bed tonight. I just hope Rachel can sleep without feeling too much pain. We are doing tylenol with codeine and the Motrin regimine.
We go back next Wednesday and she will get a cast. She asked the nurse for a "purple band aid" so they are going to try to give her a purple cast. My poor baby. I just hate every minute of this. It has been hard to see them in pain for "little" things, but this has just been awful! I pray it heals quickly and all goes well. I thank God that at least the break missed her growth plates.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
September
This poor blog has recieved no attention this last month. August was just about more than I could handle. September looks (I say that with great trepidation) to be a much better month. At least I can say whatever happens at work, I only have Court a few times and not twice every week like last month.
My mom goes to the Doctor for on the 13th. They are going to make a decision about what to do about her blocked artery. I plan to use 8 of my 57 comp time hours to have a day of play with my girls on the 13th!
I am making arrangements for my Dad to bring over my sewing machine that has been at their house since I graduated college over to the house. Of course, I am really only proficient at sewing straight lines, but I really need to alter some little girls' clothes so I am going to try to get some of that done. Of course, time being the much treasured possession I always seem to be in short supply of.
I have a little over a month until my 5k race. I am excited and nervous all at the same time! A friend of mine at church who is a marthon runner mentioned on Sunday that she might run it as well and I hope she does!
I also have something else to look forward to in November! I will get to spend a whole weekend with my One True Love the weekend of November 19th. We are going to visit our friends who got married in June. We are going to a Dallas Cowboys game on the 19th. It will be my first professional football game ever and I am SO excited! They are playing the Indianapolis Colts. I am really looking forward to having some time alone with Fred. I love the girls dearly, more than words, but I have really been longing for just a couple of days to have his undivided attention.
Saturday I am hosting my sister's baby shower brunch. I hope that it will be terrific fun and a great time for her. I can't believe the baby will be coming next month!!!! I am still preparing the girls for the "passing of the pacifiers" to baby Kade. :)
My mom goes to the Doctor for on the 13th. They are going to make a decision about what to do about her blocked artery. I plan to use 8 of my 57 comp time hours to have a day of play with my girls on the 13th!
I am making arrangements for my Dad to bring over my sewing machine that has been at their house since I graduated college over to the house. Of course, I am really only proficient at sewing straight lines, but I really need to alter some little girls' clothes so I am going to try to get some of that done. Of course, time being the much treasured possession I always seem to be in short supply of.
I have a little over a month until my 5k race. I am excited and nervous all at the same time! A friend of mine at church who is a marthon runner mentioned on Sunday that she might run it as well and I hope she does!
I also have something else to look forward to in November! I will get to spend a whole weekend with my One True Love the weekend of November 19th. We are going to visit our friends who got married in June. We are going to a Dallas Cowboys game on the 19th. It will be my first professional football game ever and I am SO excited! They are playing the Indianapolis Colts. I am really looking forward to having some time alone with Fred. I love the girls dearly, more than words, but I have really been longing for just a couple of days to have his undivided attention.
Saturday I am hosting my sister's baby shower brunch. I hope that it will be terrific fun and a great time for her. I can't believe the baby will be coming next month!!!! I am still preparing the girls for the "passing of the pacifiers" to baby Kade. :)
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Things have been really crazy lately. Work is busy as usual but I have one particular case that has just blown up completely. It seems that the domestic violence situation that we suspected is much worse than we had even imagined. It's all out in the open now, but the the wife/mom has gone back to him and I am scared to death for her. It's a very difficult and time comsuming situation. Very hard for the children involved.
Then last week my mom had a arteriogram. It showed that she had a major artery that is 70% blocked. The Dr. doesn't exactly know how they are going to treat it. It is very close to her heart so that presents some issues for surgery. She went back to the Dr. today and it seems that what I feared the most is not their first suggestion, and that was bypass surgery. She goes for an echo cardiogram tomorrow that hopefully will reveal even more information in which they can finally make a decision about what to do.
In the mean time she is not allowed to watch the girls for two weeks. No lifting, no exertion of any kind for a couple of weeks. So, Fred's mom was so kind to come from Tulsa to help us out. She has been watching the girls here at the house. We are SO incredibly blessed to have such wonderful family to help us out.
Then last week my mom had a arteriogram. It showed that she had a major artery that is 70% blocked. The Dr. doesn't exactly know how they are going to treat it. It is very close to her heart so that presents some issues for surgery. She went back to the Dr. today and it seems that what I feared the most is not their first suggestion, and that was bypass surgery. She goes for an echo cardiogram tomorrow that hopefully will reveal even more information in which they can finally make a decision about what to do.
In the mean time she is not allowed to watch the girls for two weeks. No lifting, no exertion of any kind for a couple of weeks. So, Fred's mom was so kind to come from Tulsa to help us out. She has been watching the girls here at the house. We are SO incredibly blessed to have such wonderful family to help us out.
Monday, August 07, 2006
I haven't been very good at keeping up with this blog lately. So much going on that when I get a free minute I'm sleeping! :)
Things have been going well, just busy. I had to take a week off running. I started having pain in my left knee about the 2 mile mark during my run. It seems it's due to ITB. I have been given some stretches to do and told to get some better shoes -- I think I'll do just that! :) I ran tonight and stopped twice to stretch. I hope it will get better as I keep working on it.
The girls are doing good with potty training. Rachel is done. She hasn't had an accident during the day in a long time. She had her first night accident in a while on Saturday night when it seems she woke up from a bad dream and was screaming. That, in turn, woke Bekah (who struggles at times with stopping what she is doing to use the potty) up with a start and she also wet the bed. So, at 3:20am Sunday morning I was up changing sheets, jammies, blankies and panties. By the time I got back in bed I was wide awake and never really got back to sleep before I had to get up for church. By the time we finished church I was about to fall over. I tried to take a nap when the girls did, but I must have just been over tired because I couldn't get to sleep then either! BAH!
Other than that there is not much going on. It's just been HOT! I am ready for Fall! It's not going to be under 100 this week. I need football and hot chocolate weather!
Things have been going well, just busy. I had to take a week off running. I started having pain in my left knee about the 2 mile mark during my run. It seems it's due to ITB. I have been given some stretches to do and told to get some better shoes -- I think I'll do just that! :) I ran tonight and stopped twice to stretch. I hope it will get better as I keep working on it.
The girls are doing good with potty training. Rachel is done. She hasn't had an accident during the day in a long time. She had her first night accident in a while on Saturday night when it seems she woke up from a bad dream and was screaming. That, in turn, woke Bekah (who struggles at times with stopping what she is doing to use the potty) up with a start and she also wet the bed. So, at 3:20am Sunday morning I was up changing sheets, jammies, blankies and panties. By the time I got back in bed I was wide awake and never really got back to sleep before I had to get up for church. By the time we finished church I was about to fall over. I tried to take a nap when the girls did, but I must have just been over tired because I couldn't get to sleep then either! BAH!
Other than that there is not much going on. It's just been HOT! I am ready for Fall! It's not going to be under 100 this week. I need football and hot chocolate weather!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Date Night
It's been forever since Fred and I have gone on a date. Well, last night that all changed. We had one INCREDIBLE time! It was a GREAT concert! They played for over 3 hours and it was just them, no opening acts. Oh, you wanna know what concert it was??? Well, OK....
Singing Mississippi Girl...
A cool one of the stage...you can see from my wide shot that we weren't all that close, but it didn't matter, sounded great and we could see them just fine. Faith looks really tiny in this one, HA! They both came in and out from the middle of the stage.
The ever so pleasing to look at, Tim McGraw singing "Live like you were dying."
One of my favorites of them together (above). And one last one...
Singing Mississippi Girl... A cool one of the stage...you can see from my wide shot that we weren't all that close, but it didn't matter, sounded great and we could see them just fine. Faith looks really tiny in this one, HA! They both came in and out from the middle of the stage. The ever so pleasing to look at, Tim McGraw singing "Live like you were dying."One of my favorites of them together (above). And one last one...
Saturday, July 22, 2006
109
That was the high here yesterday. Humid and Hot. Not a good combination and no fun for running! It's been in the mid to high 90's even after 9pm. OY! We are getting a break today, though, it's only supposed to be 95! LOL! OH! And today, for the first time, I pushed past two miles. 2.25 - not much, but baby steps work. It will get me there eventually, right?
After my last potty training post the girls turned a corner overnight and are now doing fantastic! We even left the house in panties last night and not pull-ups! We went to eat and half way thru dinner I noticed Bekah squirming around. I asked her if she needed to go to the potty and she said, "Yes, I sure do, Mommy." Rachel said she needed to go too and so we all trotted of to the bathroom. Both of them went and then I had to go. While I was sitting there Bekah came over and grabbed both of my arms and was squeezing the heck out of them. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'll hold you up, Mommy. Don't fall in!" HAHAHA! I was laughing so hard! Hopefully success will continue! Hooray!!!
After my last potty training post the girls turned a corner overnight and are now doing fantastic! We even left the house in panties last night and not pull-ups! We went to eat and half way thru dinner I noticed Bekah squirming around. I asked her if she needed to go to the potty and she said, "Yes, I sure do, Mommy." Rachel said she needed to go too and so we all trotted of to the bathroom. Both of them went and then I had to go. While I was sitting there Bekah came over and grabbed both of my arms and was squeezing the heck out of them. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'll hold you up, Mommy. Don't fall in!" HAHAHA! I was laughing so hard! Hopefully success will continue! Hooray!!!
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Progress Report
Potty training did not go quite as well as I hoped it would. It has been a struggle, especially with Rachel. Bekah is doing very good, until she gets tired, then she has accidents. Today she only had 3 accidents all day, not bad! But dear Rachel has really had a hard time with this. She knows when she needs to go, and you can tell when she needs to, but she refuses to sit on the potty. She will just go wherever she is. Once I asked her why she didn't tell me so she could sit on the potty, her answer, "the potty hurts." Oh great! Just what I wanted to hear. She makes a tiny tiny bit of progress every day. Hopefully someday soon it will "click" and she will do it.
The first two nights she peed in her bed about 5 minutes after putting her down and me begging her to try to go on the potty. She would just scream like somebody was just hurting her. Last night I decided to try pull-ups at night and she absolutely threw a fit. She did NOT want to wear them, she wanted her "Cinderella panties", and for the first night didn't have any accidents. Tonight I did not have any clean panties for her so she had to wear a pull up and just did not like it at all. Poor baby. And then there is Bekah who does great with the potty, but begged to wear a pull up. OY! These girls! I just keep telling myself that one day this will all be over and they really will use the potty all the time.
The first two nights she peed in her bed about 5 minutes after putting her down and me begging her to try to go on the potty. She would just scream like somebody was just hurting her. Last night I decided to try pull-ups at night and she absolutely threw a fit. She did NOT want to wear them, she wanted her "Cinderella panties", and for the first night didn't have any accidents. Tonight I did not have any clean panties for her so she had to wear a pull up and just did not like it at all. Poor baby. And then there is Bekah who does great with the potty, but begged to wear a pull up. OY! These girls! I just keep telling myself that one day this will all be over and they really will use the potty all the time.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Marathon....
Not the running sort, mind you, but something entirely of a foreign nature.
Today we said good-bye to diapers for what I hope will be forever. We are going cold turkey. We have been building up to this for a while it seems. When Rachel came to me this last week with a diaper in hand and said, "Mommy, I'm stinky again", I knew there was no denying that the time was upon us.
So, this weekend I will be pumping them full of liquids in hope that get them to the potty as much as possible. I know there will be accidents, but practice makes perfect - so my paino teacher always told me. :) For rewards they will be getting the much coveted, but never before tasted Hershey Kisses.
Bekah did actually go on the potty tonight and was SO proud of herself. She was nearly beside herself with excitement in picking out which kind of Hershey Kiss she wanted (after all I had to get 4 kinds, LOL - Caramel, dark chocolate, milk chocolate and the new peanut butter filled!). It was too cute!
Today we said good-bye to diapers for what I hope will be forever. We are going cold turkey. We have been building up to this for a while it seems. When Rachel came to me this last week with a diaper in hand and said, "Mommy, I'm stinky again", I knew there was no denying that the time was upon us.
So, this weekend I will be pumping them full of liquids in hope that get them to the potty as much as possible. I know there will be accidents, but practice makes perfect - so my paino teacher always told me. :) For rewards they will be getting the much coveted, but never before tasted Hershey Kisses.
Bekah did actually go on the potty tonight and was SO proud of herself. She was nearly beside herself with excitement in picking out which kind of Hershey Kiss she wanted (after all I had to get 4 kinds, LOL - Caramel, dark chocolate, milk chocolate and the new peanut butter filled!). It was too cute!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
29 and counting...
Sunday I celebrated my very last year in my 20's! It's hard to believe that next year when I celebrate, I won't be celebrating a 20-something year! Yikes!!! It was a great birthday celebrated with family and I did enjoy it! The girls blew out all my candles at least three times. I am reasonably sure they thought it was their birthday, HA!
In other news, last Thursday I came home to mail that was just for me! It's so much fun to get mail that's not bills or notices etc. Instead, it was 3 great editions of Runner's World from a really great lady who is my running inspiration! OK, so, there's one missing...it's upstairs by on my nightstand...I didn't feel like going up to get it :) Thank you, Ms. Nomer!!! I am really enjoying them and appreciate it so much!
I had not run since last Tuesday, my herniated disc in my lower back was really giving me fits last week, but as of tonight I am back in the saddle. It was not an easy run tonight, but I made it and for now, that's all it takes!
In other news, last Thursday I came home to mail that was just for me! It's so much fun to get mail that's not bills or notices etc. Instead, it was 3 great editions of Runner's World from a really great lady who is my running inspiration! OK, so, there's one missing...it's upstairs by on my nightstand...I didn't feel like going up to get it :) Thank you, Ms. Nomer!!! I am really enjoying them and appreciate it so much!
I had not run since last Tuesday, my herniated disc in my lower back was really giving me fits last week, but as of tonight I am back in the saddle. It was not an easy run tonight, but I made it and for now, that's all it takes!
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