Etsy.com

Oh dear....I hate when I run across a website such as this. It is a site where all things hand made can be sold. So, being one who makes children's clothes (although, not nearly as often as I would like to) I had to check it out. In the process, I have purchased some hair bows for E. I have made a few for her with my friend Suzanne. So, the ones I have bought are like samples for us to make more! I have found a lot of fun ideas on here too for clothing. That is what I do though. I find ideas and say that I am going to use them and make something for E and I don't do it. Maybe this site will inspire me to make more things. I love to sew and make crafty things, I just need to make/find the time to do it. If you need something to take up your time, go to the site and shop around. www.etsy.com

Fun Spring Weekend

Our weekend began a little early on Friday. I picked B up a little early from daycare to take him swimming with his friend Sullivan. The water was FREEZING but they hung in there and swam for a little while. Mark's mom, G, arrived as we were picking E up from daycare (yes, I left her there while he went to swim). Next was t-ball practice. B was so excited that G was able to see him at practice. So, we left there and headed to Firehouse Subs for dinner. This renewed B's interest in firefighters. They gave B & E a fire hat and so he wanted to get home and find all of his firefighter gear that he has had since he was 2!! He has dressed as a firefighter for most of the weekend.

After that, we went to look at the burned out truck. Many of you (maybe) know about Mark's Ford Ranger truck. He loves this truck and wanted to keep it forever!!! Well, we got a call last week from our friends who were housing it for us....it burned while they were away that evening. It seems to have been an electrical fire (many stories of this in on-line searches). A 5 year old boy across the street actually saw it, told his dad and they called 911. Needless to say, the truck is gone... B had been asking to see it so we ran by their house to look at the damage. Quite scary.

Then came Saturday...me, G & the kids left for Montgomery. We dropped her off at her meeting at AUM and then we headed to the state's book festival. That was a lot of fun. The kids were so well behaved, just wonderful. The weather was perfect. We perused the festival and then the kids played at a fantastic park that is across the street. While there I read in a Montgomery magazine that there will be a children's museum opening there. I told B about it b/c as we arrived at the festival on Sat. he asked me where the Montgomery Children's museum was at. I told him they didn't have one. He was used to us going to the Tuscaloosa and B'ham children's museums when we lived in Marion. Anyway, he and I were pleased to know that there is one scheduled to open in Montgomery. After Montgomery, we came back to Opelika for the final day of the Kids Clothes Connection consignment sale. It was the 50% off day. We found a few bargains we couldn't leave behind, but not too many. Mark returned home on Saturday evening and then Sunday came...much too quickly for my tired body.

I thought it was still too early to get up, but it was 7:30 am this morning. My body told me not to get up, but I knew I had too. After church we had our Sunday school class over for a Mexican lunch. We had a really nice time with everyone here. Again, perfect weather. I love to have kids running around and playing at our house. The backyard had laughter rising up from 6 girls and 2 boys - and one baby girl adding some squeaks now and again from the patio. Fun, fun, fun.....

Now, I am ready to hit the sack! Tomorrow will be here before I know it. I think everyone has clean clothes for the week; we have a few meals to prepare; grocery shopping can wait until later in the week....all is done that can be done at this point in my day. Good night blog readers, good night.

100 Books

B finally finished his list of reading 100 books for school. He took it in on Tuesday but had to wait until today (library day) to get his ribbon. Here he is......with one of the librarians. He was so excited.

Teacher Appreciation Week

We are so blessed with B's K teacher (above is at the holiday program). I have been going to their class every other week this year to do different projects with the class in small groups. In doing this, I have seen her in action and have worked one on one with all of the kids in the class. There is no way a parent can put into words how much a teacher means to them and how much they appreciate them (I guess if you don't like them it is always possible - ha ha). I have just been amazed this year to watch learning take place with B. I have always seen this as he has developed as a child and has learned from many teachers, but this year has had a lot of new things to watch. I will be sad for him to leave her class - and because he will be leaving K and will be old enough for 1st grade. I know that there are so many wonderfully talented teachers that will cross paths with B and E. It really amazes me to think about the responsibility a teacher has to recognize and discern the needs of children, their strengths & weaknesses, their cries for help, their need for attention, the time to discipline, how to love the un-lovable...so many things a teacher does for a child when their paths cross. Teachers are able to make an imprint on all children that come through their classrooms. That is a small part of the entire blueprint that makes up who these little people become. Just amazing. I am very thankful for the teachers that teach and care for my children each and every day.

What to Post about?

I am not sure what all I should post about...nothing too much to tell of these days I guess.

I have been to two funerals in the last week and a half, and there are two other death's that I knew of and wasn't able to attend one of them and the other one was a grandparent of one of B's friends. Sad and emotional week and a half.

I had dinner tonight with a good friend. We don't see each other often, nor talk very often, but I do enjoy the time when we get together. We had a nice dinner at Panera, but didn't solve any of the world's problems. We were going to be 3, but only 2 due to the other friend having a new grand-daughter. They are having some issues with jaundice, the mom's (her daughter) milk is coming in, and everyone is tired. So, she missed tonight. They have been in my thoughts since last Friday. She went in to be monitored due to high BP and had a sweet baby girl in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday. Those of you who have had a baby know of the tiring first days at home. I will continue to remember them and say prayers for them as they continue this journey of parenthood and grand-parenthood.

Once again, during bedtime discussion, B surprised me. Bedtime is when he asks the deepest questions - very hard questions. This is also when he shares his random thoughts. Tonight he was showing E how "paw paw" (my grandfather, their great-grand-father) would run his fingers up B's back and arm and then pop him on the top of the head. He asked me to do this to him too. Of course my eyes burned with tears at this memory of my grandfather. It is funny the things that he remembers about life. I am so glad this is one of his memories. He also asked me if I remembered living in the apartment when we moved back here. He reminded me of the night we got a phone call from Uncle Kyle (my brother) to let me know that my grandfather was ill. B remembers me crying, packing a bag to leave, him crying and wanting to go with me and that we didn't leave that night but stayed at home until the weekend. Maybe he is just perceptive to the emotions around him and the stronger emotions (is that what I am trying to say?) are the ones that stick with him. Interesting boy I have. His other question tonight was "I have a question about dying. Do you still celebrate birthdays after you die?" He also went to see his first play today - The Frog and the Toad, presented at a high school here locally. He had to tell me and E about it as well. I think the ride on the bus was as much or more exciting than the play itself.

E is not asleep and is calling for me...I guess I should go help her fall asleep.

Rain Out

B's game and the other games today were all canceled due to rain here. Oh well. So, we hung out here, had a friend come over for a short while. B and E got to play with their grandparents today and have enjoyed having them here. I have no energy, emotion or anything left in me right now. I can't even explain it. I am mentally and emotionally drained, nothing shy of what I expected. BUT, the kids have had a great time and have loved having family here - something that doesn't happen often.

My Dad and this weekend

B has one Saturday game of t-ball the entire time they play and it is this Saturday. My dad is supposed to come to town to watch him play. I am preparing myself now. I have to work on this, really I do. It will be fine though, really it will. B and E will be so excited to have a grandparent come to visit, really they will. It will all be over before I know it, really it will. Carry on...life to live and things to enjoy.

Interesting world of kids organized sports

B loves t-ball and the best part about it is that- I think - the kids are clueless to some of the things that go on. Our first game was last Thursday and then another one this evening. The two teams that we played the two nights are drastically different. Geeze. Tonight, the coaches were screaming/yelling/whatever you want to call it at the kids on the other team. Interesting, very interesting. These are 5 & 6 year olds - some just turned 5 as late as last week and MANY have never played t-ball - not even in the back yard! You would have thought this was an All Star Game that would decide the state playoff team or something. I heard one parent comment tonight that statistics show parents of t-ball players become alcoholics after the first year their kids play. I also have no idea where this statistic comes from. I really don't think that is the case at all, but some of these parents put SO MUCH energy into this. Again, B is having a great time and we are having a great time watching him have fun. My heart breaks for the others who are forced to slide into home if they only stepped on the plate. Geeze!

HELLO, HELLo, HELlo, HEllo, Hello,hello.....

I feel like it could echo here at my blog....anyone out there?

T-ball

B's first game was on Thursday night, his birthday. He was so excited to not run a fever on Thrusday so that he could go play. He said at the end of the day that it was awesome! His practice on Thursday was cancelled so he is practicing today.

After the game we met the Parish family for dinner at Shakey's Pizza for a fun dinner!

Camping Party in the Back Yard

Benjamin had a camping party at our house last night with 11 friends over. Wow! It was quite an adventure. I had no idea how tired I would be today.

They cooked their hotdogs over a firemade a milk carton birdhouse, had a sleeping bag relay race, made smores, hunted glow in the dark bugs and snakes with flashlights, and cake/ice cream while I read a book - Camping with Mr. McGee. We had a great time and I think the boys did too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Well, he is at work with me today as he ran a fever yesterday. But, so far today no fever, actually below normal. We are going to eat lunch with Mark and then hope the fever stays away so he can play in his first t-ball game tonight.

So, in 2002....
We got up, got all together in the car and we left the house. We were too early to get to the hospital, so we drove around town buying different newspapers from around the state and country to have of the day he was born. No breakfast for me as I was to have surgery. It was time to get to the hospital and I was a nervous wreck. We got off of the elevator and were greeted by my sister, my brother, and my grandparents. We only chatted for a minute and I was off to labor and delivery. They came in a prepped me, hooked me up to monitors, etc and we began our wait. There were some other more emergency issues that morning, so the delivery got bumped a little. That was ok though. Mark got dressed in his scrubs and they came to get me. With the spinal block done, me flat of my back, Dr. Smith began the process and I realized Mark wasn't there. They quickly had him in there. Before I knew it Benjamin Robert Wilson had arrive all 8 lbs 10 oz of him!!!!! They brought over the most beautiful baby in the world for me to see. Dr. Smith was still working on me and I had somewhat of a panic attack, so I was knocked out by the meds from the assisting anethesist. More to tell about this day, but I have to get to work for now....

More family arrived that day - Mark's mom & dad; my dad and his wife at the time, Brenda. I had a hard time in the hospital with emotions and didn't realize that this could be corrected - until much later, like a week later.

Other than the drama of family, a new baby and a crazy hormonal state that I was in it was a wonderful day when our little boy arrived!

101.5

What the thermometer registered this afternoon when I took B's temperature. He hasn't felt well and hasn't been himself since yesterday. Now, I know why. We were going to celebrate his birthday tomorrow with his friends at school with a cookie cake. Now the cake is here and he can't go to school. His first t-ball game is also tomorrow evening. If he doesn't run a temp after lunch - unmedicated, then I will take him to the game. If not, he will miss school and his first t-ball game on his birthday. I am so sad for him. If by chance, he is still running a fever by Saturday, we will postpone the camp out party until the next Saturday....I hope he sleeps well and feels so much better tomorrow. He opened his presents from us this evening, so that helped his spirits a little. This was the original plan as there wouldn't have been time to open them before school tomorrow. We had already told him he could open them tonight at dinner, so we went ahead with that plan. I think it added a little excitement to not feeling well.

April 2, 2002

I went to work that day and would tell my employer that I would be going on maternity leave when I left work that day. On Wednesday, April 3, I would be having a c-section delivery. As it goes with an accounting job, the first few days of the month are "month end close". It was me and another girl who 'did' the accounting for the company. I had to do as much as possible that day as she would be on her on to finish the March closing. I worked until around 10 pm that day - knowing that I had to go in the next morning for a c-section. When I got home Mark and had a take out dinner from "Steak Out". Not exactly the best meal, but a meal none the less. I went to bed and didn't sleep a wink that night - if I did, it was very little sleep. Tomorrow is the big day post!! He will be 6 in the morning!!!!! Wow....

Six Years Ago Today

I was pregnant and due to have Benjamin on April 4th, Mark's birthday. My day went as usual, I got up that morning, left for my drive to work very early. I would leave home around 6:30 am to make it to work at 7:00 am CST because I worked on EST at the state line in Valley. I had a dr. appointment scheduled for that afternoon at 4:00 pm. My dr., Kraig Smith, wasn't available so I had to see Kenny Harris that day. I guess I should change directions here and explain how I had everything planned out in my mind on how this pregnancy and delivery would go. I had planned to have an un-medicated, natural delivery. I had a huge fear of the epidural and didn't want to go there. So, I knew I had enough pain tolerance to pass several kidney stones and thought I would just press on through the pain of childbirth and deliver naturally. For the previous 3 weekly appointments with Dr. Smith, he had said that the baby was head down, however, nothing was happening. So, fastforward back to the appointment on Monday, April 1, 2002. I went in to see Dr. Harris, had the exam and he very calmly said, this baby is not head down - this baby is breech. I immediately told him that he must be wrong, Dr. Smith had said something completely different for 3 weeks!!! He could tell I was upset, this was NOT what I had planned. So, still in his calm voice, he suggested that we go have an ultrasound to make sure and so that I could see for myself. Well, sure enough, B's head was pushing on my ribs and not where it should have been at 40 weeks gestation! So, we head to his office. At this point, in my 40 week hormonal state, I am just sobbing. I explain to him that it just can't happen, that he needs to turn. So, he proceeds to tell me just how difficult that is, not to mention in someone who is only 5'4" with very little room to move the baby around in. So, once he begins to list the risks of turning the baby: 1. Baby can die, 2. You can die or 3. you can both die - I immediately changed my mind and a c-section sounded like a wonderful idea. So, I get in the car to call Mark. I can't speak I am crying so hard. I finally get it out that the baby is fine, it is just me that is a mess. So, we could choose what day to have B. It was either on the 3rd with Dr. Smith or on the 4th with Dr. Harris. We chose the 3rd b/c it would be with my dr. and also so that they would have separate birthdays. Dr. Harris called that night to check on me and to confirm when I wanted to deliver. So, after we had made calls to friends and family, we went to Hamilton's for dinner. What a day that was. I knew when our first child would arrive - at least the day. And I learned a very important lesson that I have had to remember as a mom: I am not always in control of how things go. I felt so out of control and that all of my plans had been completely blown out of the water, and they really had. I can't believe it has been 6 years since that day. In two days we will celebrate Benjamin's 6th birthday with his class at school. Then on Saturday we have invited "just the boys" over for a camping party to celebrate! There are days that I am amazed I am even a mom, but that he is already 6 years old really amazes me!