Wednesday, August 30, 2006

What Have I Done?!!



This is the father of my child?!! Just kidding, I am very thankful that he is. I think I've had something to do with improving his appearance and choices of how he spends his free time since this picture was taken.

The Date is Set

The doctor's office called this morning and said that we are scheduled to have our baby Tuesday morning, October 3rd at 7:00 am. It is nice to now have a date in mind and an official countdown. We are in pretty good shape. If things continue to go well, I should be able to get the things done that I had wanted to accomplish. I think I am going to work one more week and be done on September 22. Somebody has to hold down the fort since the employees on the Long Term Care Team seem to be dropping like flies! :) Actually, we will be thankful for one more week of money. I am excited and I know Craig is too. I do get nervous from time to time thinking about things that could be wrong or could go wrong with the baby, in the back of my mind. Craig's not worried at all. I just have to trust. 4 weeks to go!

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Today

Got to sleep in.
Made waffles for breakfast.
Folded some laundry and started another load.
Thought I was starting to leak milk...turns out it was just sweat.
Did some dishes.
Going to work in the baby's room until I have to go to church for worship practice.
Go to watch Faster Pastor unless it gets rained out.
If raining, continue to work in the baby's room or write thank you's for baby gifts.
Read some parenting books.
Go to bed.

Feeling pretty good about today.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Just Tired

I have just been so tired. I make a mental list of all the things I want to do when I get home from work and am very determined to do them. Once I walk in the house, I just feel like I could collapse. I even left work an hour early today, thinking I would accomplish A LOT tonight at home. I have been sitting since I got home and have a flute lesson to give in a few minutes. I doubt the lesson is going to energize me. Craig's motto is, "It'll still be there tomorrow!" I guess I'm adopting this motto too.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Back to School

I was in Target on Friday and it was crawling with people. Every aisle I tried to go down to get to where I wanted to go, was full of college students and their parents or K-12 students and their parents buying stuff for school. I loved getting ready to go back to school as a student. I can honestly say that I don't miss getting ready to go back as a teacher. I have approximately four weeks left at my current job and then will be home full time. I can't wait! The time can't go fast enough. I am ready for this transition. I will be empathizing with the teachers this week as they go back for inservice and get ready for students next week. It's hard to leave summer behind and get back into that routine.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

One of My Favorites

The tomatoes we planted are finally turning red! We had BLT's with our own homegrown tomatoes last night for supper and they tasted so good! BLT's with sweet corn is one of my all time favorite summer meals. It brings back some good childhood memories. Working in the garden isn't such a great memory, which is why we only have tomatoes!

Monday, August 14, 2006

Where's the Baby?

I had a wonderful baby shower this past weekend (pictures to come soon.) Lydia came with her mom and sat right in front of the gifts to get a good view. I heard later that at the shower she asked her mom, "where's the baby?" Her mom replied, "It's in Sara's tummy." "How will it get out?" "We'll talk about it later." "Do we have to wait here until it comes out?" Lydia was relieved to find out that she didn't have to wait....and so was I!!!

Friday, August 11, 2006

Breastfeeding 101

Last night we attended a breast feeding class with our good friends and expecting parents, Amy and Kelly. In our child birth class, the instructor had hinted that of the two possible instructors, the younger one, does a better job and is much more interesting to listen to. She was not our instructor. We had the older, more unorganized lady, with the monotone voice, and funny way of pronouncing diaper. It definitely would not have been as much fun if it had not been for Craig and being able to go with Kelly and Amy. (Kelly has some pictures of our adventure on his blog.) We saw lots of pictures of every kind of boob imaginable, and did learn a lot that will hopefully make the process a little bit easier. As Kelly said as we were leaving and getting on the elevator, "Well that really sucked!" :)

Good Report

My dad received a good report at the University yesterday. The doctor there said that the first doctor jumped to conclusions. With the testing yesterday, they concluded that my dad does have some hearing left and they are hoping to restore some of it and then fit him for a hearing aid. They said that he is definitely not a good candidate for a cochlear implant. I am so thankful! I was exposed to the implants while studying music therapy. They are a great alternative for someone who has no other choice. The person with the implant hears what to us would sound kind of like a bathtub draining. I think this would be frustrating to someone who has been able to hear something their whole life. I had a chance to go meet my dad and Ann at the hospital and then we had lunch together. It was a nice afternoon. My dad will be back next week for a catscan and some other testing so that the doctor can decide how to move forward. We are thankful!

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Proof of Teeth


Here is proof that Craig does sometimes wear his teeth to places other than church! Here, he was actually wearing them at his 20th class reunion.

Today

I have been trying to think of something funny to post this morning. Craig supplies plenty of ideas, but they might not be appropriate for blogging, so I don't really have anything new and exciting. My dad is having an MRI and some other testing done this morning at the University Hospital. I may run over there after while to see them, depending on schedules and coverage here at work. He and my step-mom seem to be pretty optimistic, which I am thankful for. That's all for now until I think of something to share that wouldn't embarrass me later.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Sorrow with the Laughter


"God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain, but he did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way." I just read this quote a few minutes ago and it was a good reminder for me today. I was making calls to let some family and friends know we had found out today that we are having a boy. When I called my dad's cell phone, I was surprised when my step-mom answered. She went on to explain that they were at the ear specialist. My dad has only been able to hear out of one ear since I was little. A couple weeks ago, he was very sick with some sort of a virus. This week he has a bad summer cold and as of yesterday, can't hear out of his one good ear at all. The specialist told them today that he has lost all of his hearing probably as a result of the virus he had. He is deaf. They have put him on steroids to see if this might bring some hearing back. He will be going to a University hospital here soon, to see the cochlear implant team. He will have to have surgery in the next few weeks sometime to put in the implant. He is going to take a three-month leave of absence from teaching for the beginning of the school year and see what happens after that. My step-mom is writing everything down for him. He is shocked and really down. So am I. I can't talk to him on the phone at all. I was pretty bumbed this afternoon. I am praying first that the steroids will help significantly and bring back some of his hearing. If that doesn't happen, I am praying that the cochlear implant surgery happens soon enough that he is on his feet in time to be here for the birth of his first grandchild, and that the implant works well and he will be able to hear. Thinking of and praying for my dad tonight.

A 2026 World Champion Bull Rider

Is what Craig thinks I am carrying now that we know it is a boy!!! Craig is sure that since one arm was over his head and one in front of him during the ultrasound, that he was practicing proper bull riding technique. Of course the ultrasound technician would not say that she was 100% sure that it is a boy but she was pretty sure. I was very surprised. I had a feeling that it might be a girl. We are excited to know. Craig asked me when I called him to tell him, if I was disappointed and now planned to leave the baby on the steps of a monastery, to which I replied, "What!??" Everything looked good. His head is down and he weighs 3lbs 10oz right now. We are seven weeks and counting!

Monday, August 07, 2006

1986......

The life expectancy was 74.7 years, the average household income was $24,897, the cost of a stamp was $.22, the cost of a gallon of gas was $.93, I finished fifth grade, and Craig graduated from high school. We went to Craig's 20th class reunion this last weekend. Since I didn't know very many of his classmates, I did a lot of listening and people watching on Friday and Saturday night. It is interesting how after everyone says hi, where do you live, and how many kids do you have, they somehow all migrate back to the same groups they hung out with in high school. There was a lot of reminiscing and stories that began with, "hey remember that time at that party when...?" For some reason hangovers and being pulled over by the cops when you were eighteen is still hilarious twenty years later. I heard several times, "you should have seen this guy in high school! I can't believe he found someone that could settle him down and clean him up like this." I took this as a compliment (I think.) Craig had a really good time and is already looking forward to his twenty-fifth.

Friday, August 04, 2006

My Husband's Heart

Craig has the biggest heart for other people. I have learned so much from him. I greatly admire his compassion. I have to admit, that I don't like my heart much of the time. I know it's me and not the teaching, but while teaching school, my heart grew uglier and uglier. My patience also dwindled. I am very selfish. Craig is now on fire! He somewhat reluctantly went on a mission trip this year that dramatically changed his life. He hasn't experienced the same satisfaction since rodeoing and said that this was so much better. He has been looking for opportunities here to spend time with people and influence them for eternity. He is also looking into more short-term mission trips for the next year. He is so excited. I have to confess that it takes me longer to be as excited for him as he is to go on these trips. I want him for myself. I want him to be home with me every night. I am praying for a softer heart, more compassion, and less selfishness.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

What If It's a Girl?


Some of our friends have asked us, "What if it's a girl?" They direct the question toward Craig. I guess they assume that because he was a rodeo clown and likes to wear overalls, he would want us to have all little boys. He really doesn't care if it is a boy or girl. Craig is drawn to little girls. On his recent trip to Guatemala, the little girls were drawn to him too. I know he will be a great dad to a boy or a girl. It has been fun watching him get more and more excited the closer we get to the day of meeting him or her. If it is a girl, I know there will be fishing trips, rodeos, and go-carts mixed with tea parties and doll houses.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

The Closet

Despite distractions from the Hee Haw marathon, Big Brother, Fox News, CNN, and any NASCAR event (all Craig's favorites,) the closet in the baby's room is really taking shape!!! It may be almost done after this weekend. I know it may seem like a trivial accomplishment to some, but I am very excited. I will be able to put away our out-of-season clothes, coats and other things that don't have another place to be, and start setting up the baby's room. I have really been looking forward to this event! Most of the bedding and curtains are done and I can't wait to see what it will all look like. Hopefully we will have some pictures soon of the closet and the room. We don't have a digital camera yet (hope to have one soon,) so we have to wait for film to be developed.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Laughing With You, Not At You

I have been accused of only having a blog so that I can make fun of Craig. I told him this isn't true. I just want to share a small part of the comic relief he provides every day of my life with others. I also explained that until we have kids, he is the one I see every day and is the one who gives me stories to tell. He assured me that he doesn't care if I make fun of him and I assured him that I am not making fun of him, just sharing his gift to make others laugh. This is one of the many things that drew me to him in the first place.