~Residency Reminiscing~

Monday, November 07, 2011

~Residency Reminiscing~ These nights where kids are in bed and it's just me and a movie, with Brad still at the hospital, I'm taken back to the days of residency. We left for the midwest immediately after Brad graduated from medical school. The MIDWEST. I'm a southern girl. I had never lived more than four hours away from home. But there we went. 20 hours away. Jake was a little more than two and I was just pregnant. Crazy five years. Brad worked A LOT. A LOT. Really A LOT. By the end of our third year there, I had a four year old, almost two year old, and an infant. Still, Brad working A LOT. I had adjusted though. Life was simple. No where we HAD to be. Our schedule was whatever I decided it to be. I loved that. I knew then, I had it good. All my little chickens right under my wing. As worn out as I was, life was not complicated. I was physically drained most of the time. It was all diapers, Baby Einstein, high chairs, more diapers, blowing bubbles in the back yard, trips to Wal-Mart to pass the time, still more diapers, driving through Taco Bueno when I knew Brad wouldn't be home, and yes.....more diapers. "Baby Soup" as I've heard it called.  And I was in that crazy season without my parents' immediate support. I missed them so much and will always wish they had been closer in proximity then. But having no one to bail me out, coddle me when I was tired, or count on every second of the day to be there if I winced, meant I grew as a mother. I got tougher in a good way. I learned to dig down deep. I learned I can do what has to be done. I learned that I can care for sick children even when I myself am sick. I learned how to take one day at a time. Today is ALL I have. Appreciate the small things. I remember hurting my back so badly once, that I had to actually crawl to be able to get around. It was just a little bit before I really connected and formed some close friendships. There was no one yet that I felt like I could call. Thankfully Reese could semi climb out of her crib. I remember being on the floor with my babies, crawling from one of their rooms to the den, frustrated to the point of tears. I'm sure I had a little pity party right there on my den floor. Partially deserved, though. What was I supposed to do? Grandparents were states away, and Brad didn't have the luxury of calling in sick very often. I do remember one time he called in. He was on a rotation with a really nice attending physician. I was so ill. Body aches, fever, vomiting, and at least two kids to take care of. I'll never forget that morning, Brad had gotten dressed and looked at me in the bed, shook his head and said, "I can't leave you like this. I'm calling Dr. ______"  I'm sure I was a pitiful sight. I was s.i.c.k. It's almost funny now. Almost. But not. My life is definitely a little more "cush" now.  A husband who's home a lot more. Three of four kids can go to the bathroom without my help. Most nights, I get a full night's sleep. Med school debt is starting to go away. (WOOHOO for that) Parents and siblings are just a few hours from here. If I hurt my back today, I could call one of 10 people to throw me a rope. Most of my early residency pictures are good old fashion 35 mm. ~~You know, film?~~ These were taken just before we moved back to the southeast. It was a trip to Wyoming that will probably always rank as one of my top favorite trips. Lots of good memories......     ~stacey

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~Reviewing Wednesday~

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

~Reviewing Wednesday~ Just felt like reviewing my Wednesday...... Pried myself out of bed at a little too late 7:45.  Got school going by 8:30. ~Impressive, I think. My sweet friend, Lisa called. The first thing out of her mouth, after we said our hellos was, "How can I help you today? Come get Emma while you do school? Keep them all while you buy groceries?"  Wow. And she was the second friend to do that to me this week! Talk about a blessing. I had to resist my Icanhandleitdontneedanyhelp syndrome and replied, "Yes" and "Thank you"! Maybe I'm the only one who never knew this, but the Taj Mahal was built by a cruel Indian emporer. He constructed it as a burial place for his beloved wife. Supposedly, he grieved so severely that his hair turned white, and he cried so much, his vision was ruined.  It seems strange that a vicious, power hungry man could mourn two years for his deceased wife, doesn't it?  Thanks to "The Story of the World" history books, I'm learning all kind of random historical tidbits! I'm sure to rock the next game of trivia I play so watch out.  School was done in record time today. 12:45 and we were done. Don't know how. It may have been a small miracle from heaven. Just God smiling down on me maybe.  The big kids dressed Emma in Jake's Auburn jersey, hat, and had her parading around holding a stuffed Aubie....the greatest mascot in the SEC. She was a cutie and knew it.   A couple months ago, while grocery shopping, I saw a man stealing food. I followed him around because I was trying to figure out how to either give him some money or buy what he needed. He had picked up a small pack of bologna and a box of crackers. I then saw a lady give him a few dollars. I followed him around the corner, saw him dart down an aisle for no more than 7 seconds, crackers and meat in hand, and watched him reappear with neither item in his hand. He then, of course, quickly left the store. I just stood there dumbfounded.  Anyway, same guy was in the store today. This time, he came in with a bag and went to the service desk for something. I don't know....it's just sad and intriguing. As my friend, Philip, would say, "It gives me pause". Makes you stop and think. Here's a guy stealing bologna and crackers. Not beer. Not a magazine. Not cigarettes. Meat and crackers. Brad says stealing is stealing. He could have used the nine dollars that lady gave him and paid for his crackers. But he chose to walk out of the store with his crackers, meat, and a little cash. Like I said. It gives me pause.  I fried pork chop, and made turnips and corn on the cob for supper. Avery calls it, "cornabacob". She has no idea it's four separate words. Kuddos to her, though. She gobbled up the turnips! I couldn't believe it.  She was the only one who did besides her Daddy and me. I paid bills today, which makes me sweat.  Spontaneously, Jake said, "Mom, I'm thankful we have a nice house. It looks neat. You know, like our counter tops. I like them how they look." LOL! Oh that boy is sweet and funny. I just hugged him and whole-heartedly agreed, "Yes, baby, it is so nice to have a great house. It's a good thing." Still makes me laugh. Gotta love granite, I guess. I am about ready to pitch every piece of candy we collected Monday night. Emma only wants Smarties and I'm just about sick of being asked, "Can I have just onetiny piece of candy?".  Besides, I don't need one more Three Musketeers in my body. Not one.  Tomorrow is THURSDAY, which is about as good as Friday!    Can you imagine?!!! ~stacey

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~Broke Tooth Fairy~

Thursday, October 27, 2011

~Broke Tooth Fairy~ I'm not a tooth puller. Hard to believe, I know. As the mother of four, you would think I would have been forced to pull at least one tooth by now, right? The idea of causing physical discomfort to another person makes me nauseous. Literally. ANYWAY.....the tooth thing. Night before last, my number was up. Reese had been moaning and groaning all evening about this tooth that was about to fall out. I kept telling her to pull it like she has before, but she would have nothing of it. I finally got fed up with it and the teeniest bit frustrated said, "Reese! Come here!"  Reese trudges slowly down the stairs....still moaning. "Mama, please don't pull it, it'll hurt! Are you going to pull it? I don't want you to pull it. Are you going to pull it?"  "Reese! I don't pull teeth! I can't stand it. I'm just going to feel it to see if it's really ready. We'll let Daddy pull it! Just come here!" Put my paper towel covered fingers around the tooth to honestly, just give it a wiggle, and out it came.  I don't know who was more surprised.  I think little girls in this house have lost a combined three teeth in the last week or two. Poor tooth fairy is getting low on cash....or so I hear.  this was three years ago time flies and i'm not sure how i feel about that ~stacey

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~Imaginary Staycation~

Sunday, October 16, 2011

~Imaginary Staycation" Have you ever tried to completely empty your brain? Like, grab a pen and paper and just write. List every single thing you are storing anywhere in your brain. All of the, "Oh, I need to get that. Need to call about that. Have GOT to remember to ask about that. Need to find time to order that." You know the stuff. Well I have. I got to about 20 things, got distracted by somebody needing something and never got back to my list. Don't even know where the list is.  I hate things being undone but have to live there most of the time. Undonesville. I'm NOT a fan. There is never a time when every box gets checked.  It's either a season or I'm completely incompetent.  Maybe I need a "staycation". I've heard of those. Never done it, but that sounds just about right.  I should send my little chickens off to Grandmas, and hold up in my house for about three days.  I would probably spend the first 24 hours in a near coma. I would crash. Brad would come home that first day and find me in a vegetative state. Maybe even drooling.  Eventually, the shock would wear off, the silence would bother me, and I would get down to business. ~I would organize every nook and cranny in this house. ~I would spend hours confiscating the million little, tiny "toys" that are stashed in my kids rooms and blissfully skip to the trashcan to rid myself of everything tiny and mismatched. ~I would sit at the computer, select and order two years worth of prints that I've been meaning to get into albums. ~I would go buy a stash of food and paper goods for my second kitchen. I would have enough toilet paper and paper towels to last six months. ~I would get every item of clothing cleaned, ironed, and put away ALL at the same time.  If I ever get a staycation, that's what it will look like.  Thank you, for affording me that little rant.         ~~~~~Brad loved this picture~~~~~                                          ~~~~~I loved this picture~~~~~ ~~~We all love her chunky legs and sweet belly. She does NOT love clothes. Or the beach, as you can see below. ~~~       ~~~We had a fun fall thing to go to the other night with friends. Didn't get a single "great" photo, but we had so much fun~~~ These pictures make me laugh because we were looking so rough by the end of the night! Look at the bare feet, rainbow hair, drool covered clothes, and sweaty heads! ~~~I'm pretty sure I ate two bags of cotton candy. I love it. Even though I'm 37.~~~ My bed is calling my name. Good night and brace yourself for Monday. Oh wait. That statement would horrify my Dad. He would say, "Monday is going to be a great day!" So, instead, let me say, "Happy Almost Monday. It's going to be the start of a great week" grrrr.  ~stacey

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~My Mantle~

Thursday, October 13, 2011

~My Mantle~          It was overcast, cool, and rainy today. I made chili for supper.                Fall is definitely here. If you know Avery, you know how pensive she can be. She asks a million questions, some of which are very grown up. From the backseat, as she stares out the window while I drive, she asks, "Is Sparky real?" (The stuffed mascot for Wednesday night kids church activities) "No." was my instant reply. "Well, then why do they say,'Sparky is watching'?" "Uhm.....they are just trying to motivate y'all to have good behavior." Her nose wrinkles up in confusion. "So, they're tricking us?" "Yep. Pretty much, Avery." "Hmm. I wonder why teachers do that." "I don't know, Babe."                 ~She has a point~

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