Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Not Me Mondays! (Tuesday this week)

Well, this blog has been important to me in the past, and even though it has been over two years since I have posted on it and a HUGE amount of things have happened since then, it has still been on my mind. Maddy's story is very much important to me, but will wait for now. One day I will get it all done!
This blog renewal is actually in response to one blog I read who has Not Me Mondays. She invites her readers to also have Not Me Mondays, and possibly win something from her! ; )

I would never do something just to win a prize, not me!
I never wait too long to cook dinner, resulting in complete meltdown of the children, not me!
I would never eat a day old cookie from the car, even if it was my favorite and never just to make it easier to clean out the car, not me!
I have never flung a diaper off my baby so fast, not realizing there was small rabbit poo inside which then proceeded to fall all over her and the changing table, not me! The absolutely did not happen to me yesterday, as I was in the middle of dinner and children melting down and my head ablaze with crushing sinus pressure and ears red with fire! Not me, and never on a Monday, the day of all days, would I do that!

Check out this awesome GLUTEN FREE Lava Cake I made last week!
IT WAS SOOOOOOO GOOD!
Oh, picture, where are you? Oh, wait. That picture is on my phone. Drat. I'll have to figure this thing out a little more . . .

Friday, August 21, 2009

Our baby . . .

April was just great! I could not believe I was going to have a baby!
MAy was pretty great too, we were getting excited, and just waiting for the first trimester to be over! I really hadn't been sick at all and was very excited about that. Around the middle of the month we were just getting so excited! Mother's day was comiong! I know we didn't techinically have a baby in our arms, but we were still a mommy and daddy! WOW!
On Mother's Day we decided to go to one of our favorite places to eat - a mexican restaraunt in Niceville, and on the way in across the parking lot I said, "Ben, I know we like Edward for a boys name, but what about if it is a girl? What do you think about Madeline?"
He looked at me, "That is perfect. I was thinking about that too."
We had a good time at lunch that Sunday. The waitress asked if we had any kids, and we said, "Not yet, but in December we should!" She said congratulations, and gave me a white carnation.
We had decided not to tell anyone that we were pregnant yet, except Patti, Emily and Martha knew. However, around 11 weeks we decided we needed to give some happy news to Ben's mom. She had been going through quite a lot, and was just down, down, down in the pits. Ben was talking to her on the phone one evening, she was in the bathtub and had been there for more than an hour, and not wanting to get out. So he asked if he could tell her. She was SO excited, she did not believe it. She cried. Then I called my mom and told her, and her was very excited too! She probably cried also!
May was great! By the last week of May we were 13 weeks.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

So, July is gone

Well, thoughts don't become posts unless they get typed, wouldn't you say?
I would so say.
To my defense, I have been busy, and enjoying living with my family. We have found a new home to move to, and are getting ready. That will be next weekend, and through the end of Aug.
I am sad that I missed posting in July though, since that is the anniversary of the day we got the results of our first baby's triple screen blood test. I was hoping at that point to type things on the day they happened. So far, no go.

Soon. Maybe. Right now there is a little bunlde of baby in my lap, and she is enjoying the mail. Her birthday is next week! 1! Go Katie!

Friday, June 26, 2009

What am I thinking?

Oh my! I am pregnant! We are going to have a baby! It is a very exciting thought! What are we going to do? What kind of clothes should we buy? We don't really mind whether it's a boy or girl, although a boy would be nice since there are so many girls in the family! What names will we pick? We know we like Edward for a boy - that is Ben's middle name, and what they called his dad - "Eddie". Now, some ask, why don't you name a boy after Ben? Because Ben is Benjamin Edward Johns, III, and we don't want to lay the royal burden of Benjamin Edward Johns, IV, on any grade school fellow. Although I have to admit I am kindof partial to Benjamin - I really like that one.
I really, secretly feel we are going to have a boy, just kindof thinking that! Oh, we can't wait to find out what we are having! Baby due on Dec. 8! Christmas time will be so wonderful!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Post, what post?

I am not sure where I left off with Maddy, but here goes . . .
By the time April was under way, we were so excited! We had decided not to tell anyone in our family to make sure we were going to make it through the first trimester. We did tell our coworkers, and that was so exciting - we felt so proud!
I was just bubbling over at work! I started eating better, thinking sweet thoughts about babies - all the stuff you plan when you are expecting your first! On April 10 I couldn't keep it secret much longer - I told my sister Patti. She was expecting her first, due June 22. She told me she spilled her water in her purse when I told her! I was going through MS to see her the next weekend for her own baby shower, stopping in Hamilton to see my good friend Emily and have a MK party at her house - so fun! And, she had a little gift ready for me - a sweet little ducky blanket - which I am still using today! We (Baby and me) also stopped through Clinton, MS, where I went to college, saw sweet Dr. Williams, told her, and wonderful Lyda Stark my student teacher and told her. They were so excited for me. I am glad I included them in my little trip!
I was looking to get some good friends where we lived so I asked a great person from work to go shopping with me - Trish. She met me at the outlet mall sometime that April. I knew I would need maternity clothes soon! I had fun, Trish was so fun to hang out with. Unfortunately she told us all the next month she was quitting and moving. We missed her. Thank you Trish for hanging out with me Saturday, April 16, one of Maddy's days!
The first appointment was set for April 29. I was nervous about it. I am not a dr person, I don't like needles, nor do I like the band aid smell of dr's offices - yuck! I don't like the thought that someone is going to touch me, poke me, hurt me, etc. I was hoping this was just going to be basic, and I wouldn't be in too much pain! Money was also a source of fretting. We also had very inadequate insurance - it would basically pay for 10% - and less than that for the hospital. We did find a nice woman - Dr Kathryn Stevens in Ft. Walton Beach, about 30 min away, but right next door to the best hospital in the area.
On Friday, April 29, 2005 , Ben and I had our first appointment. We waited in the waiting room. They called my name, we go back and weigh me, blood pressure good - although I feel like it should be through the roof! They send us to the room. Sadly for me, they told me to undress, What does that mean they are going to do?, I wondered.
Dr. Stevens came in for a little just to meet us and say hi. She introduced herself, and us likewise. "I am Dr. Kathryn Stevens, congratulations." We talked about where they deliver, today she'd do a pap smear (which I tried to protest cause I just had one 5 mo earlier). Then she left and said she'd be back. Ben left so he wouldn't have to see the 'girly' stuff.
While I was waiting TOO long (because I think we all know what waiting does to the nerves) in comes this little nurse, with a very short attitude and a needle. "What is that for?" I queried. "Your blood test." Her name was Sara. : ) She looked like she had just graduated.
"Um, I was not told about a blood test."
She continued to get things ready to my confusion, because did I not just make it clear that I want no blood test? Then she came at me with the 'arm-noose' and that item alone is enough to send me into a frenzy of tears! I pulled back and had a look of terror on my face - she looked at me like I was stupid. "This is normal, everyone takes a blood test."
I am not sure what I said really, but it was probably with a very shaky voice and something to the effect of, "No, I can't, let me talk to the dr." I think I remember I literally had to climb up the exam table because she was still trying to put that rubber band on my arm, and fear was coursing through me. I just could not let her do that.
When Dr. Stevens came in she said the nurse told her I was not interested in the blood test. She did say it was standard. I asked her what it was for - she said blood type, HIV, other blood disorders, etc. She said we would take a second blood test around 16 wks so we could just do it all then - you know I was thinking, we'll just see about that.
At the end of it all, Dr. Stevens said, do you have any questions? And of course we don't because we are just so overcome with nervousness. But I did ask one thing, "So, what did the urine test say?" Meaning, positive or negative? She looked at me silly, of course, and said, "Positive, you are pregnant."
Due date - December 8, 2005

I found some notes I made in the "What to Expect When Your Expecting" book I bought after we found out we were expecting. These notes are before we found out our daughter was sick. I will type those as 'verbatim' as possible - who likes my grammer? : ) I wish I had a scanner and can just show you my pages, scribble for scrat! I will add them soon.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

It has been a busy month!

Hi! It has been a while since I blogged, I do have some friends saying I need to hurry up and get some new info on here! Well, you all know this last month has been so busy and I am using precious nap time to fill up a few paragraphs just for you! : )

Very sadly on April 15, someone my sister loves very much passed away from this earth. It was sudden, and in the middle of a very difficult transition in his and her life. I know there will always be love from her to him, but when the him is not here to return the love, the her is left alone, and let down. May God fill her with everything she needs, and let her know there is still a place for her here, and she has more great things to do until it is her time to leave this earth, including continuing to love that wonderful, creative, important, special and worth while person . . . Claude.

Eddie is great - very big, tall, smart, talkative, and 'learning' what he can and cannot get away with around here! He has been trying some things, no need to explain, I am sure most of you understand, and we will prevail at raising an independant, loving, compassionate, caring, kind, smart, well-rounded, clever, creative, secure person who will show the Glory of Christ to all who sees him. Here we come life! We are in it for the long haul, and Eddie belongs to my God! Take him, run with him, grow him Your way! And don't let me get in the way, but let me guide him and enjoy him every minute! I will choose to trust you with him, even when things happen that may be difficult for our human minds to accept.

Katie is great too! She is so sweet, funny, growing big, almost crawling, looks like her mama more every day, loves her brother, and always notices when her daddy comes in the room! She is actually under the weather right now - a cold I am sure. There aren't any cases of N1H1 around here are there? : )

I have started a new thing! Well, not so new because I did it a few years ago, but let it go after Eddie was born. A friend had a party with a Mary Kay Skin Care Class. They noticed my uncanny knowledge of the product, and said, "Wow, Sarah, you really lit up and became so excited when you talked about Mary Kay! Why don't you sell it again, I will buy from you!?" So, I signed on May 2, and I am now a very encouraged, enthusiastc, happy, ready-for-my-team-members-gonna-drive-a-pink-Cadillac-soon Mary Kay Beauty Consultant!

I know, your saying, Sarah? Me? Well, it is definitly God, because He is the only thing pushing me here. He sent me several messages saying, "Sarah, do this and I am behind you 100%." So I am. Hey, if there is anyone I listen to it is Him! My husband is behind me and so supportive, and already so great on giving suggestions/advice! Thank you Ben! And, Mary Kay is behind me! I was at Patti's house having my second party and still so pumped up about it! I was thinking to myself, How in the world am I going to be successful at this? I don't know what I am doing, I have limited knowledge, low inventory, no clients, I don't really wear makeup and never have! What am I doing? Who is going to buy from me? How am I going to sell this product and be successful? I was excited but nervous, feeling a little flustered, not feeling as prepared as I wanted to be. I looked in the datebook MK sends you and the top of the page for that week said, "Nothing will help you to sell yourself better than the power of your personal enthusiasm." That was exactly what I needed to hear, because that was all I had! Personal enthusiasm. Here I come! I am going to be driving that pink Cadillac, and do what God has asked me to do - encourage other women, help them believe that they are something special, someone whom God made just for him. Women, look out for me. I may be limited on my skills right now, but that does not stop God from doing what He wants to do. I am willing, I have given myself over to Him, so if He is sending me your way, I'm coming!

I am so excited! WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!

Now, I have been thinking about Maddy a lot lately. An aquantence had a sweet little girl with Potter's Syndrome on April 13, Joy Kathryn Causey, around 3 1/2 lbs. She lived a couple hours, and I could do nothing but think about her that day, and for several after. Then my good friend whose second son lived 50 days before going to heaven, became a mentor to a couple who are currently in their first pregnancy with a little, lovely Klhoe, who is due in 5 weeks, and has Trisomy 13. Oh, how their hearts long for a miracle, Lord! They want to walk into the dr. office, look at the sonogram and be so amazed at how none of her previous symptoms are there. Oh how we pray for your hand, Lord, to do the miracle that we desire! I was thinking about this yesterday, and thought of my own prayers for a miracle. I know full well that God could have healed my daughter. I know full well that he can raise her from the dead even this moment, and she could be here. God can do anything. So, why doesn't he? I don't know. I am not God. I asked that question again, God why didn't we get that miracle? And he answered. You did. She has shown my Glory to someone. That is her miracle, be proud of her. And oh, how I loved to hear that! Thank you, God, for giving me that thought.

There is some good, wonderful reason that benifits his plan, which is in place for the good of us all. And I will choose to trust him, even though my heart has been broken. Trusting him has brought healing to my heart. I am no longer broken, and I look forward to the day I step into heaven and He shares with me some of the great reasons for Maddy's life, just as it was. Woo what a great day that will be! Hugs, kisses, together with God forever!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

April 2005

After I got better from my first case of strep throat, March was over and it was now April. And I am thinking all about this new situation - pregnancy. What have I gotten myself into? I am really, honestly so deeply excited! There have been so many reasons in the past why I chose not to have children yet. And why I considered never having any. But God had made things go his way, and I was pondering the ways of the Lord.
What was I going to do at my first appointment? I was going to have it go MY way! No needles, no probing things, and that dr. better move out of my way, cause I am not compromising!
What was I going to do about gaining weight? I was not going to! I was not going to get fat! Just enought weight for baby! What clothes am I going to wear? I am going to have to shop!
What about baby furniture? What about clothes? What about an appropriate home? What about our dogs? What about the motorcycle? My job? Our extended family? Breastfeeding? Future pediatrician appointments? Staying in a hospital? LABOR AND DELIVERY?
AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!
There is SO much that goes through your mind when you plan such a large life change. Or in most cases, once you find out you are pregnant there is not much more planning to do. It is happening, and you are part of it now, forever. You have no choice anymore. I had so many ideas about how I wanted things to go, and what we wanted to do for our child. I wanted to read books and study and do it right and be the best mom! I wanted my child to be healthy, happy, not spoiled, not negatively affected by vaccinations, etc. So much!
Hopefully soon I will come across something that will remind me of my first appointment. It breaks my heart that I am starting to forget things.