Sarah lately

Sarah is at such a fun age!  We definitely have our share of "terrible two" moments, but mostly I think she's just discovering the boundaries and figure out how the world works.  I just wanted to give a random update on her life.

She has developed a huge sweet tooth, and her absolute favorite is ice cream.  She's really enjoying oranges and grapes for fruit.  She likes crackers, dipping her food into sauces, soup, and string cheese.  She really loves helping in the kitchen which is a lot of fun.  She specializes in dumping in ingredients, stirring, shaking spices, and taste testing.

She absolutely adores Mittens.  It's pretty cute, and Mittens puts up with it well.  Sarah will come home and declare, "I missed you baby Mittens!  I love you!"  Sarah made her a picture the other day and said, "I made this for you, Coco.  Do you like it?"  She enjoys brushing Mittens and giving her treats every day.  She gets sad that Mittens doesn't always want to participate in her ideas like taking a bath with her. haha!

Sarah has always enjoyed listening to books, but her interested has really increased lately.  She enjoys filling up her basket and checking out books at the library.  She enjoys curling up in someone's lap and reading a good book.  She's also started "reading" books by looking at the pictures and telling stories.

She enjoys art: coloring, painting, Play-Doh, , singing, playing her guitar and the piano.  She usually has a song to sing even if it's just, "I'm looking for my shoes.  Where are my shoes?"

She frequently comes up to us to say she loves us and that she wants to give us a hug or a kiss.  It's the absolute best!

She absolutely loves bath time and could stay in there for hours if I would let her.  She likes her foam letters, cups, bath Crayons, and bath baby so much.  She likes to go "swimming" in there, too.

She enjoys playing with Barbie's which must be hereditary because my mom and I both loved Barbie's.  They really hold her attention, and it's fun to see her imagination really soar.

Sarah is an extrovert and gets energized at play dates, playing with family members, and play with her friends (students at church).  She lights up with a group of friends and gets so silly.

She stays dry at nap time about 90% of the time, and we've started letting her wear underwear then.  Just have the night time diaper left! 

She went to the allergist recently.  In summary she's allergic to the whole world other than cats. ;)  Seriously though, she was allergic to everything except for three things: the two types of trees that we have and the one type of pet that we have.  Kinda cool, huh?  The doctor was great with Sarah, and we have a treatment plan to try to give her some relief.  She was very brave and a trooper!

The old "mouse in my AC" bit gets me every single time

What prompted this title?  Let's get right into it.  Tuesday afternoon I turned on my AC and it was very loud and stinky.  I didn't have time to mess with it so I drove around with the windows rolled down which is a pain in the butt because I have manual windows.  Anyway, later that afternoon Robert dropped me off to get a pedicure and took my car to see if Pepaw could fix it.  Robert went back to SBU in Pepaw's car with the idea that Pepaw would pick me up after my pedi.  I didn't know any of this til I was done and didn't see my car out front. Well, my phone was dead.  I couldn't call anybody to ask what was going on.  I had to walk back to my dorm.  Never fun but especially after a pedi, come on!  So I plugged in my phone and called everyone I could think of: Mom's cell phone (didn't answer twice), the house phone (busy three times), Memaw and Pepaw's house (didn't answer three times), Robert was at work but I texted him, and Dad was out of town so I didn't even bother him.  Finally after an hour my mom called me back.  She didn't know what was going on, but she drove over to my grandparents' house, found my car, got my key (it was in my unlocked car!!!), and drove it to me.  The AC hadn't gotten fixed yet.  Yesterday I took it back to Pepaw.  He fixed it!  There was a dead mouse in the AC drum, and every time the fan turned it whacked the mouse against the drum.  That's also why the AC smelled like road kill - I'd had a dead mouse under the hood for at least three days.  Finally, that's why there had been a TON of flies on my car all week.  Gross!!!
On a happier note, my facial and pedicure were very nice.  I'd had a facial before but never a real pedi.  I got "Modern Girl" paint for my toes.
I was supposed to give a speech in advanced public speaking yesterday at 11:00.  I didn't go to chapel, but it ran way late.  It's supposed to go from 10:00-10:50 but didn't get out til 11:35.  By the time Dr. Bailey made it to Jester it was 11:40, 10 minutes before class ended.  Generally, I would have left by 11:15, but I just knew that if I left he'd come in two seconds later and give me an F for my speech.  I waited for 40 minutes only to have him cancel the last 10 minutes of class.  What the heck?  So now I have to wait til Monday.
I have an appointment with Dr. Leo (my oncologist/hematologist) today at 3:15.  Prayers are appreciated!  He's going to do some more blood work.  If the counts are getting better then Yay!  I'll keep taking the iron that makes me nauseous but doesn't make me throw up.  If things haven't gotten better, he's interested in an Iron IV.  I'd have to go in every few days for a couple of months and get hooked up to an IV to make me Iron Woman.  It shouldn't make me nauseous this way, and my body would be able to absorb and use more of it.  Of course I'm hoping I don't have to do this because it will be kinda painful, expensive, and time consuming, but if it's what needs to be done in order to make me feel back to normal for the first time in 14 months then bring it on!

Big Week

This was a pretty big week for me.  The first week back after a break is always interesting.

Monday: I got the paperwork to fill out for graduation.  It was pretty exciting to see that I'll be graduating cum laude.  It's really cool to see that I'll my hard work has paid off.  I also met with Dr. Leo.  I am so very thankful God has given me such an amazing doctor.  He is very knowledgeable and does an excellent job of relaying the information to me.  He said my ultrasound looked perfect.  My blood counts are still low.  He switched my iron supplement to Bifera which is supposed to be easier on my stomach.  The main bummer is that although it's still OTC it costs $20 instead of $3.  It's totally worth it though to not feel sick.  We hired the new RA to replace me.  It's a weird feeling.  It seems like I just became an RA.  I think Bekah will do a great job.  It's hard to balance investing in the girls for the last month and a half of school and starting to let go.

Tuesday: I ordered my new car!!!  I have been very thankful for my Pontiac Sunfire.  It's served me well for the past five years.  We've had some good memories together.  It was my very first car.  It has never broken down or gotten a flat tire.  However, it's time to upgrade a bit.  I ordered a 2011 Ford Fiesta.  It should be here in 3-7 weeks.  It's cool to think that I'll be the first owner.  Although my Sunfire was kept up pretty well, I think the previous owner was a smoker.  What was my clue?  A couple of burn marks on the ceiling and chair.  The dealer said I've chosen a pretty "basic" version of the Fiesta.  It's interesting to see how "basic" has changed over the past ten years when my Sunfire was made.  My Sunfire is "basic" - manual windows, manual locks, manual mirrors, no keyless entry, etc.  My "basic" Fiesta will have automatic windows, automatic locks, keyless entry, MP3 hookup, CD player, etc.  I'm most excited about the locks and windows.  It's the little things, baby!

Wednesday: I worked in the church nursery in the morning and evening.  I'm guaranteed a good laugh every single time I work.  Three year old boy: "I use plastic spoons to bench press, but sometimes Mommy cooks with them."  Obviously, what he's doing is normal, and she's the weird-o.  On Wednesday nights my family always eats dinner with my grandparents (Memaw and Pepaw).  Memaw is quite the cook!

Thursday: I meet with Carey every Thursday morning.  Our time together is such a breath of fresh air.  She's an excellent example of a loving and Godly wife, mother, and friend.

Friday: I got to have lunch with my dear friend Tarah.  Tarah and I have been friends since we were in diapers.  It's a bummer that we don't get to hang out quite as much now, but every time we get together it's great.  Conversation comes so easily with her.  I gave a speech in advanced public speaking.  It didn't go as well as I had expected.  It's different when you don't prepare for a test, presentation, or paper and then do poorly.  But when you prepare and study your butt off you should be rewarded properly.

Saturday: I was the RA on call this weekend so I worked 1:00-5:00.  It was open dorm so I got to go over to Robert's room.  We watched Superstar.  Hilarious!  Then we played a game called trains.  Robert dominated.  I guess guys never get too old to play with trains.

Sunday: We all got to eat lunch with my parents.  Delicious!  Then Robert and I walked around the neighborhood.  It's 80 degrees today, people!  Now I'm working in the dorm office from 2:00-5:00.  I got employee of the month at work last week and was rewarded with a $15 giftcard to Subway.  I think tonight will be a perfect night for a free dinner date with my man.

This week looks like it should be pretty chill.  No tests, papers, or presentations.  Just lots of work and babysitting. 

I've been reading a book called One Thousand Gifts.  It's a great challenge.  The author spent several months writing down 1000 gifts and blessings.  What a great way to show our gratitude.  I think there's something to be said for actually stopping to write down gifts.  It makes it seem more real.  I want a heart that continually seeks an attitude of gratitude.

48 days til graduation.