The last two weeks...

...have at times been a bit of a blur. Sunday, April 13th we took Turner to the pediatric clinic because she had fever, had been congested, and was pretty much screaming her head off. The diagnosis - pus pockets on her throat and some type of virus that was causing a raw throat. I stayed home Monday, my mom kept her Tuesday, and by Wednesday we thought things were on the upswing. Not so... The night of Friday, April 17th we were back at the pediatric clinic because she seemed to have gotten worse (coughing and wheezing) and the screaming had returned. New diagnosis - the doc thought it was RSV (although the test showed that to be untrue). They ended up calling it bronchiolitis, basically meaning that the mucus was down in her lungs and we would need to do albuterol breathing treatments with a nebulizer three times a day to help this situation improve.

It is now Sunday, April 27th (14 days after this all started) and our precious daughter is FINALLY back to her old self. No more waking herself up 10 times during the night coughing her head off, no more coughing until she makes herself gag and throw up mucus (yes - that really happened, more than ten times), no more fever, no more sucking out her nose, no more pitiful eyes that cried real tears because she hurt so badly.

Here is a picture of her during a breathing treatment. Some brilliant parent realized that infants are frightened by the larger mask, so they created a pacifier attachment that sprays the albuterol directly toward the nose while the child sucks the pacifier. Brillant!! (However, we did go to using the mask after we realized that we could squeeze the morning and night treatments in before she woke or after she went to sleep - MUCH easier!!)

Mark and I realized several things over the course of the last two weeks. 1)Turner has spoiled us by being such a pleasant and sweet baby - we often take for granted how happy she is all the time. We also take for granted how she can normally entertain herself for a little while so that we can accomplish things around the house. This didn't happen while she was sick and weren't used to having to hold/entertain her 24/7! 2)We have a whole new perspective on parents who have to watch their children suffer with terminal or critical illness - our daughter only had a "cold" and it was torture to watch her struggle to breathe, cough, etc. We have NO idea how those parents keep it together. 3) We realized even more how much of parenting is a guessing game. Mark and I don't like to be unable to "fix things/make things better" so this was hard for us.

We are praising God for how He has healed her little body and restored her to her old self!!

The Maze

Today was a field trip day, and I agree with a fellow teacher/blogger that these days are exhausting! First, we went to Birmingham to visit the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and the Civil Rights Museum. We finished the trip with an afternoon at DeSoto Caverns, and if you've never been there I'd highly encourage you to go!

At DeSoto Caverns, one of the activities is a maze in which students try to collect stamps at three checkpoints and make their way back out of the maze. Last year I almost got lost in the maze...so this year I decided to join some other adults at a "look out point" where we could see a large portion of the maze and attempt to "help" students find their way out. We cheered when students were going in the right direction and shouted instructions of correction when they had lost their way. It was hilarious to us that even when we said, "Hey___, you are going the wrong way", many of the students would look questioningly as if to say, "Are you telling me the truth or are you lying?" We'd say, "We wouldn't lie to you, turn around and go the other way!" And do you know that some of them would STILL try their way first before realizing that our instructions were the right path to follow?

It's funny how God speaks sometimes...but tonight as I was winding down and getting the field trip filth off me, I was thinking of how much fun I'd had playing and shouting instructions at kids today. Then it hit me - how many times is God standing at the "look out point" in my life, shouting instructions of correction when I lose the best path for my life? How many times do I question Him, and then STILL try "my" path, only to realize that HIS way is perfect and best? Is it really possible that my disobedience and subborness related to trusting God completely could be compared to that of my 11 year old adolescent students? Ouch.

100 things you may not know about me

If you know me, you know I am always in the mood for a challenge. Some of my friends have done this on their blogs and, being the competitive person I am, I just knew that I could accomplish this task also. It wasn't a quick thing to do since my time on the computer is limited these days (I started typing this on 4/5/08 and finally finished tonight) but it was actually pretty fun to compile and I think you'll enjoy the end result. So, without further delay...here are 100 things you may not know about me.

1. I bit my nails (into the “quick”) until I married Mark.
2. I always have to fidget with things with my hands – for example if I am near these items, I constantly bend gem clips until the break and incessantly pull pieces of tape and stick them on my fingers until it loses the stick.
3. I hate cherries and raspberries and anything cherry or raspberry flavored.
4. I have never eaten sushi.
5. I initially attended our church (Parkway Baptist) because I liked Mark and I knew he went to church there.
6. Now I am a musician at that church and sing in two different small groups.
7. As a youth I played softball (catcher, third base, first base)
8. And basketball (center) I fouled out of most games I ever played in!
9. I was a cheerleader from 7th grade – 12 th grade.
10. I started taking dance when I was in 1st grade and danced for 12 years. I took jazz, modern, tap, and ballet.
11. I always wanted to, but never could do a back handspring.
12. I started taking piano lessons when I was in 1st grade – I have played for 23 years.
13. Playing the piano has always been more of a hobby (not a chore) and is something I do for relaxation, stress relief, and happiness.
14. I can sing (I am a second alto by definition), but I hate solos and have anxiety attacks before I sing by myself in front of people.
15. I was a Chi O at Auburn.
16. I baked brownies in the basement of my dorm my sophomore year and somehow forgot about them. I set off the fire alarms, the fire trucks came, etc. Fun times!
17. My freshman year at Auburn I lived in a dorm with a serious roach problem. One night, I had a roach in my bed.
18. Now, I hate roaches so much that one night I actually physically kicked Mark to make him get up and kill one.
19. I love to eat raw oysters and have done so since I was about 7 years old.
20. I loved to read as a child, but I somehow lost my love of reading as adult.
21. We had many animals/pets as a kid, including pet squirrels, rabbits, goats, turkeys, horses, cats, dogs, birds, fish, and hamsters.
22. I don’t really like animals all that much now and don’t ever want any pets.
23. I only go to movies once or twice a year - mainly when Mark wants to see the newest Bruce Willis movie.
24. Mark proposed to me in front of the AU chapel.
25. Mark is an amazing husband. Young ladies can’t help but dream what their husbands will be like – and Mark has FAR exceeded my dreams. He was perfectly crafted to be my helpmate.
26. I like many different types of music – specifically country, 60’s and 70’s R&B, contemporary Christian, and oldies.
27. Some of my favorite artists include George Strait, Alabama, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, and Third Day.
28. It always surprises my students that I also enjoy Usher and Nelly.
29. I absolutely love comedy. Some of my favorite comedians are:
30. Larry the Cable Guy,
31. Chris Rock,
32. and Ron White.
33. I really love watching sports – specifically college football and basketball, as well as major league baseball (Go CUBS!).
34. I have never had glasses or braces.
35. I once wrapped my mid-section in duct tape to make my waist look smaller for a pageant. The bad part is that we forgot to put “pre-wrap” on my skin first so the tape was actually stuck to my skin and made blisters when I removed it. I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone!!
36. I have never watched Beverly Hills 90210...
37. Sex in the City...
38. or Desperate Housewives.
39. Mark and I went to the Pocono mountains for our honeymoon.
40. Mark surprised me with a trip to New York for our 1000 day anniversary.
41. Mark and I took a week long trip to Las Vegas this past summer – and it’s one of our favorite vacations ever!!
42. One of my favorite places on earth is the beach. This is the main place we took vacations as a child.
43. I have gone on two mission trips to the country of Honduras. I worked on construction crews on these trips and among other things, I mixed concrete by hand.
44. I can play the saxophone and actually was a member of AU marching band freshman year. 45. I was the pianist for AU Singers for three years. I actually tried out to sing, but didn’t make it which was a blessing in disguise because playing piano for Singers caused me to focus on that as my “main” talent.
46. I love to watch Law and Order and CSI
47. I love to watch the Food Network - my favorite is Paula Deen.
48. Black is my favorite color. I am a believer that every room and every good design needs something black in it.
49. I have been a member of Weight Watchers for 7 years.
50. I broke my arm the summer in between 3rd and 4th grade while taking art lessons. (We were taking a recess break at the park next door to the school.)
51. I was my county Junior Miss and 2nd runner up to Alabama’s Junior Miss.
52. Being the Junior Miss also made me the “World Championship Domino Tournament Queen”, since the World Championship Domino Tournament is held in my hometown.
53. I competed in the Miss Alabama pageant twice – once as Miss Auburn University, and once as Miss Auburn-Opelika Area.
54. I have a distinct preference for sparkly things.
55. Contrary to the four previous statements, I own and wear Bubba teeth on occasion. And I think it’s hilarious!
56. My first car was a red Toyota Celica – with a stick shift!
57. My second car was a black Mercury cougar – with a stick shift! (I finally decided that I needed an automatic transmission and now I love it!)
58. I backed into two parked cars when I was in high school – in my driveway.
59. I am super paranoid of someone breaking into my house while I am here.
60. I like to bargain shop for clothes and don’t really buy things that aren’t on sale.
61. One of my all time favorite movies is The Nutty Professor.
62. I enjoy seeing Broadway musicals – Wicked is my current favorite (though it is always hard to pick)!
63. I once dreamed of singing/dancing on Broadway
64. I considered the following “careers” before settling on being an educator: marine biologist, public relations, lawyer.
65. I absolutely LOVE Crocs flip flops. I hate the regular Crocs!!
66. I try not to wear t-shirts in public unless I have to. I think they make me look frumpy and gross.
67. I feel much the same way about tennis shoes – they should be for athletic activity only, not to be fashionable.
68. My sister, Rebekah, is 6 years younger than me, and is a nurse at UAB.
69. I once chased her into the yard, threw her to the ground, and threatened her by holding a pair of scissors in her face/to her neck. I did this because she made me angry about something I had made for her that she didn’t like.
70. Obviously, I have quite a temper when I get pushed too far.
71. When I was little, I somehow saw this scary man/hedgehog creature on a TV show and thereafter was terrified this “hedgehog” was going to get me in the dark.
72. As a child, I was terrified of sand crabs on the beach and would chant at them, “Get, get, get, get, get away, get away” as we walked the beach at night.
73. I am good at, as well as enjoy, baking – a trait I get from my mother.
74. However, I have never made a cheesecake and for some reason I cannot make sausage balls that are fit to eat!
75. When I was little I stayed with my Granny and Granddaddy – I never stayed in a daycare or with a babysitter.
76. Granny is one of the most influential people in my life – and one of the reasons I learned to believe in Jesus and want him as my Savior. Her faith was amazing.
77. I wish my Granny were still in good enough health/mind to share her tomato noodle recipe with me – I just can’t make them quite like her.
78. My mom is one of my best friends. I can only pray that I will be worthy of earning the respect that she has earned from her children, husband, colleagues, and friends. Her heart for others is amazing.
79. But, I still consider myself a Daddy’s girl – he’s always been my hero. And he can do ANYTHING.
80. I didn’t really like the color pink – until I had Turner and it looked like a pink bomb went off in my house. Now, it’s not so bad!
81. I didn’t like to drink water until I married Mark – he’s been a good nutritional influence on my life. Now I love water!
82. I love Real Simple magazine.
83. I also love Southern Living magazine.
84. I hate BAMA and all things BAMA.
85. I drank Diet Coke for years, but have sold out to Coke Zero now. It really does taste more like real Coke!
86. I start my day with some type of Coke/soda product – not coffee.
87. Throughout most of my life, my best friends have been guys, not girls.
88. Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year – the lights and decorations, the food, the smells, the music – I’d be happy if it lasted all year!
89. I have a strong liking for animal prints – specifically zebra and leopard.
90. I really am spoiled on using Bath & Body Works soap. I have expanded my “scent preferences” (I like to call them flavors...) thanks to encouragement from Mark, but I much prefer Bath & Body Works hand soap to any other.
91. I have used the perfume Eternity by Calvin Klein since I was in the 9th grade.

On a friend's post I got "tagged" to answer the following questions, so I decided to include them here. (I am running out of ideas!!)

92. 5 Things on my to-do list:
1)iron clothes
2)paint letters for friends at church
3)grade papers
4) clean our bathroom
5)mop the kitchen floor

93. 5 snacks I enjoy:
1)Veggie flavored baked wheat thins
2)100 calorie hostess cakes
3)Fuji apples
4) smarties (and pretty much any other candy)
5)granola bars

94. 5 things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1) Travel - specifically Hawaii, the Bahamas, Australia, Africa, and Europe
2) pay for Turner's education through graduate school
3) purchase 50 acres of land and build our "dream house"
4) give a generous gift to the church and to mission work (specifically in Honduras)
5) provide the means for grandparents to not worry about retirement and the means for them to relocate to Auburn (if they so desire)

95. Bad habits I have:
1) biting and picking at my nails
2) not looking people in the eye when I talk to them
3) procrastination
4) worrying
5) opening my mouth when I shouldn't

96. Places I have lived:
1) 503 Stanley Ave - Andalusia, AL (MY first home)
2) Easley Drive - Andalusia, AL (lots of acreage with a huge garden, horses, and a pool!!)
3) Chi O Mansion - Glenn Avenue Auburn, AL
4) Magnolia Plaza (above Buffalo's in downtown Auburn - corner apartment overlooking Toomer's corner - pretty awesome bachelor pad) - Mark and I lived there for 1 month after we got married until our house was finished...but with one bathroom and a 3x4 closet it just wasn't going to work!! If you ever want to hear a funny story about some bad shrimp and a one bathroom apartment...ask me about this. :)
5)1725 Stone Pointe Drive (OUR first and current home)

97. Jobs I have had:
1) swimming lessons teacher
2) lifeguard
3) florist delivery van driver
4) retail sales
5)teacher

98. What I was doing 10 years ago: let's see...it was April 1998 and I was just finishing my freshman year at Auburn. I was preparing to head home to Andalusia for the summer to lifeguard and take classes at the local junior college.
99. I could spend hours (and lots of money) in Hobby Lobby. It's one of my favorite stores!
100. I can touch my nose with my tongue.

He gives and takes away...

April 14, 2007 was a very strange day for me.

The day started with my good friend Holly going in to the hospital to have her sweet daughter Kirkley. I was getting updates throughout the day on her progress, only to learn she was to have a c-section around 4:30 that afternoon. Kirkley was born without complications and was/is a beautiful little girl! Happy 1st birthday Kirkley!

Turner and Kirkley

In the midst of updates from Holly's family, around 2:30pm I received a phone call from my Sunday School class with information that one of our class member's two children were missing. There was a search party out trying to locate the two young boys, and our Sunday School class was being mobilized to pray. Within a few hours we received the devastating news; the two young sons and their father (who was trying to save them) drowned in the pond behind their home.

I remember feeling so confused and conflicted that evening - on the one hand I was rejoicing with the Muncie family, but on the other I couldn't help but grieve with the Delgado family. I was and am still reminded of the scripture Job 1:21, "...the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." In one 12 hour period, the LORD gave a child to one family, and took three members of another family. It was definitely one of those times when it's easy to question God's goodness and His purposes, though that's not necessarily the right thing to do.

Another ironic thought... Mark reminded me tonight that 6 days after April 14th last year, on the day I played the piano at the Delgado funeral, Mark and I left the church and drove to the doctor's office to see Turner and check for a heartbeat for the first time. If you know our history, this was a major milestone for us and we rejoiced in the blessing of miraculous life that was only about 4 weeks old at the time.

Of all the lessons I have learned in the last year, this one stands above the rest - as Christians we MUST cling to the knowledge that God is good and is a loving God. And that His purposes are much higher than our desires - as hard as that might be to grasp when we (as well as others we know) face trials of many kinds. We are created for the purpose of bringing glory to God. I am learning that God sometimes bring glory to Himself through giving life and showering His children with bountiful blessings, sometimes it comes through allowing death and difficult trials.

Sometime today I will call to wish happy birthday to Kirkley, and I'll offer up a prayer for Angela and Braxton Delgado. Celebration of life and remembrance of death. And God in His amazing omnipresence will be with them all.

Sickness...

Well, Turner is officially sick for the first time in her short little life. It started with congestion yesterday, fever during the night last night and today, and after a trip to the doctor's office today we learned that she has a red/raw throat with pus pockets. Fun times. The worst part is that there is nothing we can really do to make this any better other than give her tylenol and let the virus run it's course.

Mark and I have a new appreciation for those parents who have to deal with colicky babies that cry often - the last 12 hours have been torture to us and we can't imagine caring for babies that do that for periods of each day. Mark described it this morning as "on the job training" - we have no prior experience with our child being sick, so this has been difficult and frustrating to say the least. We feel pretty clueless and helpless. (And if you have ever met me and Mark you know that's a pretty uncomfortable feeling for us...) Welcome to parenthood I guess!?

On a more positive note, she seems to be doing a little better tonight as compared to today, so hopefully things will continue to improve.

Not exactly...

My students created tesselations on Tuesday after a very long and mind-draining math standardized test. As I introduced this topic and activity to the class, I hear from the back of the room, "Tesselations...isn't that a book in the Bible?" I couldn't help but laugh. Another student said, "No man, that's Thessalonians." At least they are hearing something correctly in church!

Sleeping Beauty

Mark and I cooked a delicious "Low Country Boil" shrimp dinner on Saturday night and we were enjoying each other's company while we prepared dinner together in our kitchen. Turner was in the living room floor playing in her exersaucer while we cooked. Mark left the kitchen and headed toward the back of our house for something and this is what he saw...

Listen in on our conversation.....

Mark: "Sarah, come look at this."

Sarah: "What?" (I'm walking around the corner by now...)

Mark: "Look at her."

Sarah (aka super paranoid mother): "Is she breathing!!?? Is she dead??!!"

Mark: "No, she's sound asleep."

Sarah: "Oooh, let me get the camera."

Swings and Skates

Today has been busy and filled with fun!

After school, Turner and I joined some friends at Hickory Dickory Park! This was the first time for Turner to meet her friend Francie Powell - they are about 3 months apart in age and Francie's parents and I grew up together in Andalusia. We are so excited they'll grow up together! Our friend Kirkley was there also - we always enjoy her company - and we met two new friends as well. (Turner didn't actually meet these people as she was asleep the entire time!! But you get the point...)

Turner and Francie

Tonight Turner experienced the skating rink for the first time! Mark's Camp War Eagle staff had a skating social and we dropped in for a few minutes. I wanted to skate with Turner for what I thought would be a super photo op, but Mark wasn't having it! Although I didn't skate tonight (the music was a little much for Turner and we weren't there long), I have skated at these socials in the past and I always surprise myself! The ability to skate comes back quickly (I can even still skate backwards!) and it always takes me back to those Saturdays I spent at skating birthday parties as a child! Anyone up for the Hokey Pokey, the Limbo, or Red Light Green Light?
As you can see, Turner was very uncertain of the environment at the skating rink! She does, however, like anything that lights up so the disco ball kept her attention for a while. She still didn't want to get too far from Mommy and Daddy!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Tonight was Turner's first trip to the baseball park! We went to see our friend Gregory Curry in his baseball debut and he definitely should be considered for "rookie of the year" in the 7-8 year old category. :)

In case you were wondering, (just like her parents) Turner does seem to have an affinity for sports of all kinds. This started in the womb when she would jump and turn throughout Auburn football games this past fall. Now, she can't unglue her eyes from basketball or baseball when it's on the TV! We think it's pretty funny and if I ever learn how to add video to this blog we'll upload one that proves this claim!

Here are a couple of pictures from the ballpark tonight!

Gregory at bat

Turner didn't quite understand what was going on, but as usual, she's happy!