Too many "titles" for one blog!

August 25, 2008 *WARNING! Some material may not be suitable for all readers!!! :)

August has been a blur! How could the summer be over, my newborn be 3 1/2 weeks old, and my nine year old be at school? I managed to feed Alivia, get dressed, and get Abby to school on time, with camera in hand, and in the rain no less! (Be impressed people, be very impressed!) Especially the part about being dressed. Let me back up a few days. Last weekend Alivia developed thrush (looks like white milk mouth but doesn't go away and can cause major problems...which it did!) She infected me (as the lactation experts so kindly informed me when I called them in excruciating pain while nursing...think razor blades and fire and you'll have some idea what I'm talking about.) Alivia had to have yucky medicine and I had to mix 3 different creams and apply after nursing (very time consuming and painful). The nurses said it could take 48-72 hours to see any improvement. (Really? This is a week later and I'm still hurting on one side!) In addition to the cream, they suggest you "air dry" as often as possible. Not really a problem since the pain doesn't allow you to wear a shirt! So for 3 days all the blinds were closed, I'm in severe pain, SHIRTLESS, and homebound. Let's just say poor Abby saw more than she wanted and needed to. Now let's fast forward to Friday when Scott's big "V" procedure was scheduled. (Fortunately Abby had a spend the night party and missed all this drama). I got to be "in the room" and can I just say it was the most fun I've had in 9 months and 3 weeks! I think every woman who has experienced childbirth should hear a doctor tell their husband "drop your pants and put your feet in the stirrups!" Oh the look on my husband's face! It was almost more than I could take. I thought I might lose a stitch or too. Before you think I'm too cruel, just know I have been in pain....real pain people...and I needed a laugh! It was only a few minutes before he got some really good "I don't care about anything" medicine and didn't care anymore. The doctor was a hoot and the whole procedure literally only took 15 minutes. So imagine us coming home-me "air drying" and Scott applying "frozen peas". What a sight! (No-I take that back...PLEASE don't try to visualize this!)
My neighbor (who was unaware of what we were going through) calls and asks if there is anything we need. I fill her in and tell her we need garbage bags (not something you want to run out of with dirty diapers around). She tells her husband about the garbage bags but NOT about our "health" issues. Chad comes over later to deliver the bags (yes I had a shirt on), and when he walks in the door...my husband...who is still very dopey...says "Hey Chad" while removing the frozen peas! I wish you could have seen the look on Chad's face...he just simply said "Hey, how's it going"...as if people pull frozen peas out of their shorts everyday! It wasn't until the next day that Scott realized what he did and was TOTALLY embarrassed. Chad simply shrugged it off and laughed. What a great neighbor! (When we all first moved in our houses and nobody had blinds yet- we used to tease and say "somebody's gonna see somebody naked". Let's just say we came as close to that line this week as possible!) When you get old and have had 2 children...modesty just goes out the window. Someone asked Scott this week how we were doing. He said "Honestly? We are old and it hurts!" So true! We love precious Alivia more than words can say and wouldnt' trade this experience for the world. But WOW- the physical, emotional, and hormonal issues are almost overwhelming. You forget how much you love SLEEP until you don't sleep through the night. You forget how much "stuff" a baby needs until you go somewhere and it takes 3 people to carry it all (not to mention you have to start getting ready to leave like 3 hours ahead of time). You forget how much laundry a baby goes through (they can't walk, sweat, run, play, work...seriously? How do they get things so dirty?) You forget what 3 meals a day are until it's 1:45 and you haven't had breakfast. You forget so much until that little 8 pound bundle of joy reminds you. One thing I won't forget....all the years we prayed for this blessing and how God finally answered our prayers. I won't forget how quickly time passes (as proved by my niece starting college and my friend dropping off her last child to kindergarten today.) I will cherish EVERY minute of this experience because I know it will pass too quickly. I'm done blogging- I'm going to hold my sweet Alivia while I can!

The long awaited arrival of Alivia Scott!

August 1, 2008

After a sleepless and quite miserable Wed. night, Thursday turned out to be a great day! I woke up dilated to 3, progressed a little slower than we all hoped, but at 2:50 I was checked, pushed 4 times, and Alivia was born at 3:13 on July 31! I had kept saying how cool it would be if she was born on August 8th. Then she would be 08-08-08. Imagine my surprise when they told us she weighed 8lbs. and 8oz.! We got our 08-08! It was sooooo quick-and pretty painless. The bad stuff came later (when I was vomiting, and then passed out in the bathroom floor. Fortunately, the nurse caught me and I didn't hit my head. I don't remember anything except all these nurses standing around me and the awful smell of ammonia.) Apparently I lost alot of blood, had no pain medicine in my system, and hadn't eaten in over 30 hours. My pain level was excruciating, but they have finally helped me manage it. Alivia is doing great. She took to nursing right away (although she is still a little groggy and we are trying to work out a schedule). She is so content and beautiful. Her hair is light like a strawberry blonde and she is very alert (her eyes were open immediately after birth). Abby is absolutely thrilled and is having a hard time "sharing" her. She thinks she's the only one who should hold her...very possessive big sister!

Thank you all for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement. God is soooo good!

One thing I forgot to mention. 9 years ago when Abby was born, I would have had to have a c-section if it hadn't been for a terrific nurse named Daphney. After a long, terrible labor, her shift started at 5:00. She aggressively worked on me and Abby was born at 8:38. 9 years later....guess who walks into my labor/delivery room....Daphney!!!! She had just returned to work at Brookwood after being gone for over a year. She was scheduled to work the NICU, but several things changed and she ended up in my room. (The blessed hand of God!) Once again-she was a life-saver and Alivia was born just before her shift ended! God is sooooooo Good!

***UPDATE!

July 29, 2008...5:00 pm

Boy, does God have a sense of humor! After a wonderful time of prayer and fellowship with Him this morning, I was at peace, surrended, and totally resigned that I would probably have to wait another week or so. I planned on going to the doctor, hearing I hadn't progressed, smiling, and going home to wait on the Lord. NOT! My doctor looked at me, said he had good news, told me I was dilated to 2, 25% effaced, and that I would need to check into the hospital tomorrow afternoon at 4:00, stay overnight, and be induced Thursday morning. WHAT???????????
I could not have been more shocked. I am STILL in shock! Can you all hear God laughing at me?
I was soooo worried about next week when He had planned this week all along. Now I'm "scrambling" because mentally I am so floored by this news. A July baby ya'll! Oh my goodness-I have to go get a car seat in the car, Abby's bags packed, etc. etc. Seriously, can you HEAR God laughing!!!!! Pray for me! :)

God's Timing

July 29, 2008
Dear Lord,
Forgive me once again for trying to take matters into my own hands. I am a perpetual complainer often looking at the negative rather than the positive, overlooking the blessings, seeing the glass half-empty rather than half-full. Forgive me for the anxiousness of my heart, the restlessness of my soul....time and time again you have proven your goodness....you have shown me how perfect your will and your timing is...why do I doubt You and your ways? Help me to trust you Lord for "there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey." Thank you for friends who have encouraged me with your word and prayed for my anxious heart. Thank you for allowing me to experience such helplessness and lack of control that I am driven to your word. Your word is a balm to my soul, a comfort that no one else can give, truth that drives out all doubt, and peace...blessed peace that the world can not give or understand. Today I rejoice that "thus far the Lord has brought us" (thank you reformed grits!) I rejoice that you will "never leave me nor forsake me". I rejoice that it is not up to me to figure out the times that are set for me for "my times are in your hands". I rejoice that "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born!" I rejoice that "all the days ordained for me were written before one of them came to be." I rejoice that "this is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!" Today I can go to the doctor's office and not worry about what he may or may not say. If I am progressing...praise the Lord. If I must wait a little longer...praise the Lord. Your ways are perfect and I will trust in your timing...not just for the delivery of Alivia...but for your perfect will for our family and for your kingdom to come. ~ Amen

Start the countdown!!!!

July 22, 2008

Well, we are back from the beach and now the official countdown can start (nothing on our calendar except waiting for the baby!) I had a doctor's visit today in which he informed me that nothing is happening yet. That's when I looked at him and said, "OK, time to get serious. Just how long are you gonna let me go?" (Abby was 2 weeks late and still had to be induced!) He just laughed- and I said "NO...I'm serious!" He said they have some new "tools" now that they didn't have when Abby was born that helps labor along, but he can't do anything until I have progressed to at LEAST 1cm. So start praying people. All he needs is a little opening, 1 little cm and we are in business. All you moms who have had your babies early or on time- you really need to hit your knees because you have NO idea what it's like to go 2 weeks over! He said he could induce as early as July 31, but that he definitely thought we would have a baby by my due date. He better be right because you do NOT want to get the hopes of a tired, fat, sleep deprived, heartburn suffering, get up 7 times a night to go to the bathroom, back hurts all the time pregnant lady up and then disappoint her! HA HA

I'm so thankful for this pregnancy. Alivia Scott is truly an answer to prayer. I have had a healthy 9 months, she is very active, and we are so ready to meet her!

Lucky #12

June 29, 2008
(How is it I had more time to blog when I was teaching than I do now? Go figure...)

Funny this post should come after our "Happy Anniversary" post. Last week Scott when golfing with the men from church. I was fine with it because I had my last baby shower (sweet neighborhood friends!) and he was supposed to be home around the same time I was. He came home a little late (NOT surprising to anyone who knows him) only to say he had to go back because he had left a golf club on the course. OK-so he left at around 6:30 am-got home around 1:30ish, visited with me, my sister, and brother-in-law briefly then called Chad (our neighbor) to ride with him to look for his "club". It was 2:28. At 4:00 he was still not home. I started doing the "math" in my head. Maximum of 30 minutes to get there and 30 minutes to get home still leaves him 32 minutes to pick up his "club." I called...."Where are you????" I'll be leaving shortly. "What's taking you so long?" He told me he had to look for the "club"-it wasn't just lying around waiting on him. I was STEAMING!!! (You have to know we were waiting on him to go to the pool-and we had been waiting for quite awhile!) He finally gets home at 4:33. We head to the pool and our neighbors (Chad and Heather) met us there. I was in FULL pregnant vent mode asking Heather "aren't you mad? what took them so long? HOW in the world do you lose your golf club (for the 2nd time!) on the course? Don't you hit the ball and put it back in the bag for crying our loud?"....Heather is allowing me to "vent"-but she doesn't seem quite as irritated as I am. "Aren't you mad?" In her gentle voice-"Well, maybe a little". That's it-that's all she said. Weird, I thought. UNTIL the next day when the REAL story unfolded:
Yes, Heather was MAD and gave Chad an EARFUL when he came home (right before they came to the pool) until he finally told her what they were really looking for. "Oh," she said. Then Chad tells her she can't tell me until Scott tells me and he won't tell me today because he already knows how mad I am. So there she sits by me in the pool-knowing the REAL story, not able to tell me, and furious that she had been put in this position! She goes home that night and tells Chad to tell Scott to tell me (are you with me?) what really happened. Which led to the next day
when Scott says "I need to tell you something but you have to promise not to get mad." Are you kidding? Does he know me at all? I'm mad before he even begins because I know this must be a doozie. It wasn't the "club" he lost. On the 11th hole he realized he hadn't put sunscreen on. He didn't want to get sunscreen all over his watch, ring, etc. So he took them off and put them in a basket on the golf cart. (Imagine horror music in the background as you continue reading).
It was only when he was getting in the car to come home (remember my sister was here so he had to come home right away to help them load their sofa that had been in my basement) that he realized he had his watch and wallet, but NOT his ring. He walks in our house and didn't say a word. Then when they left, he said he had to go back to get his "club". He and Chad went back to the 11th hole and looked EVERYWHERE!!! Finally, Scott was ready to come home and let me know that he had lost his 2nd (that's right...2nd!) wedding ring when Chad said-wait a minute...Let me just ask these guys (on a golf cart -apparently with a #12 on it?) if I can look in their cart. After Scott couldn't talk him out of it-he walks very casually up to these strangers, explains the situation , and asks them if he can look in their cart. He picks up the little basket and lying right there on Lucky cart#12 is Scott's wedding ring! No Joke! Those men couldn't believe it...Scott couldn't believe it....Chad just kept saying "I told you 12 was my lucky number!"
So-all was well- the ring was found, I finally learned the truth, Chad was off the hook with Heather, and Scott and Chad were planning a trip to Vegas where they would put everything on lucky #12! (ha ha)
If you see Scott without his wedding ring, don't worry. It is safely tucked away in the drawer (where it stays!) except on Sundays....(there's no need to take your ring off at church right?)
Maybe we WILL have a "Happy 18th Anniversary"!!!!

Catching Up!

Happy 17th Anniversary!!!!



May 29, 2008




Yes, I'm still alive and I'm finally back! It has been VERY busy since my last post. *Update: the "talk" has not happened yet...she seemed to have lost interest. I was all prayed up and ready to go, but didnt' have a peace about bringing it up. Since then she asked "Now why do we need that cord again?" Which was immediately followed by "Do you have any idea how I could make a hot air balloon for my pet shop pals?" So....NO, we haven't had the talk. I'm answering questions as they come..and will be ready when the time is right!




Here's my "May" in a nutshell:

*had a surprise class baby shower at school...Fun!

*had a teacher baby shower and a church baby shower in the same week (which means 2 cakes in the same week...yum...but way too many calories! And FYI...ALL my thank-you's were written within 1 day of the shower...YEA!)

*had awards day (My sweet Abby received the Esther Award for her class- what a humbling honor !)

*cleaned my classroom, packed all my stuff, and moved it home for storage because I don't know when I will return to teaching

*had my glucose sugar test (the dreaded orange drink) and passed!

*had my teeth cleaned (yuk! but went well)

*watched my niece (who was just Abby's age yesterday) graduate from high school

*headed to the beach with my sister and brother-in-law for a fun-filled memorial day


(which leads to the following:)

If you listen to Rick and Bubba, you may have heard of Paul Thorn (Mission Temple Fireworks Stand, Burn down the trailer park, etc.) I love Paul Thorn! He's one of those crazy, down to earth, funny entertainers. I mentioned to Scott that we should try to go see him live (we have NEVER been to a concert together-don't ask me why). He begins searching the web site and discovers that he's going to be at LuLu's on May 25 (our 17th Anniversary!!!!) Pack your bags was the only next logical step. I mean, Paul Thorn, Lulu's, our anniversary, and memorial day...it could not have been any clearer if an airplane had written in the sky!

I kept hoping that I would get a chance to meet him, tell him that I had driven 4 hours while 7 1/2 months pregnant, and maybe get a picture. We got there a little early (while he was casually doing a sound check). I just walked right up to the stage and said "Paul, I'm your biggest fan, drove 4 hours to get here, we are celebrating our anniversary, could I please get a picture with you....the following is the result of that conversation.............

No, this is "not my baby daddy"....but it is a hilarious memory for us! Scott laughed so hard, as did I....this is soooooo Paul Thorn!!!!