Life is Good

It's my first official "day off" (meaning no school, no Curriculum Leadership Institute in the Arts, no VBS, no grant work, no party or holiday planning/ shopping/ wrapping/ executing). 

Between the Keebler Frosted Animal cookies (YUM!) and the lack of obligations today, life is feeling pretty good :)

Can't wait to get back to spending everyday with ALL of my boys!

 

Please pray for our house to sell within the next few months!

<>< Stacy

The effects of life-changing events on... hair ?

This blog post is all about hair...so go ahead men - find something else to read! 

My hair is getting to "that length" when I wonder if I should chop it off to save time and energy or if I want to maintain beautiful long hair.  So I decided to reflect on my hairstyles over the last 7 years.  Interestingly, it seems each change of style was centered around a major event in my life.  Check it out below: 

I grew my hair out for our wedding...

Then, I donated it (that's me on the right in the glasses)

Then I slowly grew it back out...

Then, we found out we were expecting a baby!



After having Michael, I chopped it off to make life easier!

But as I adapted to motherhood, I grew it back out again!

Then I got pregnant again...and exhausted... and chopped it off!

As I adapted to life with 2 sons, I grew it out again...

Then THIS happened...and I was exhausted again...

 

So, I chopped it off again!

And I've been growing it out ever since.....

Like any typical woman, I love it one day, hate it one day, love it one day.... well, you know the cycle.  So for now, I'm keeping it long.  I don't want to make any irrational decisions I will regret later!   I guess I'll just wait for a life-changing event to come along and make the decision for me  - like living alone raising 2 boys, leaving my job, selling my house, moving - oh wait - it seems I am in a constant state of life-changing events right now! I guess I'll just stick it out this time and see if I can handle it...

How about you?  Do you keep the same hairstyle for YEARS or change it up from time to time? 

<>< Stacy



My Element

Although school ended last Saturday (June 2nd), I am spending this week (June 4th-8th) in Greenville, SC at the Governor's School attending a CLIA conference (Curriculum Leadership Institute in the Arts).  Highlights of the week so far definitely include the awesome food and the impending graduate credit, but it's been pretty fun too!

A large portion of this week includes participation in 9 ARTS lessons in addition to teaching our own lesson (yes, my group members will be learning how to play the violin tomorrow).  Check out this cool sculpture I made in an art lesson today - based on a painting by Georges Seurat.  I can't wait to get in touch with my artistic side next year (especially with teaching the boys)!  Fun, fun, fun!

My sculpture based on the painting pictured here by Georges Seurat

Another one of our requirements was to read the book The Element by Sir Ken Robinson (http://sirkenrobinson.com/skr/).  Although I don't agree with everything in the book, some of the quotes in the book and videos on the site are inspiring.  Basically, he describes the importance of not only finding our own Element, but also transforming our public education system to assist students in finding their Element too.

Luckily, I live everyday in my Element - playing and teaching the violin.  I love it and I am deeply passionate about it.  I find great joy in performing and teaching and sharing my talents with my students.

One thing that really stuck with me (after writing a paper on the book....) is the importance of mentors and those who helped us find and grow in our Element...so here is a shout out to some of the people who made my dreams possible and inspired me to become the violinist and teacher I am today!

My parents - for constant encouragement and support (and financial support to purchase a violin and study privately) - without it, I wouldn't be where I am!

Mrs. Burcham - the teacher who initially molded my playing skills everyday in school - she set a strong foundation!

Mr. Griffin - my first private violin teacher who inspired me to enter the field

Dr. Terwilliger and Mr. Kho - my college violin teachers who challenged me to strengthen my playing skills

Dr. Barnes - who led me down a path that developed my teaching skills to their fullest

And to many other coaches, conductors, friends, and teachers who committed me to developing my playing and teaching skills to their fullest potential.

I am feeling inspired - I love my Element! 

Tomorrow I will teach my group a compilation of activities I have developed to introduce violin and bow position to young children.  I'm excited and they're pretty excited too :)

<>< Stacy

Life at its fullest

Christopher's 2nd Birthday



Christopher is 2 years old!  I can't believe it! 
I still remember him fighting for his life on a ventilator at 8 months old. 
Each milestone and each birthday is a huge blessing!

Christopher is such a sweet boy.
He is super chatty - talks nonstop it seems sometimes!

He is a good little brother and plays with Michael all the time.

He loves to sing - especially our prayer songs and the "Amen" song.
He attached himself to a silky lovey several months ago....

and now he totes around THREE loveys 'just in case'.
Luckily, he shares said loveys with us too - he likes to share.

He eats almost anything...and lots of it!

He LOVE, LOVE, LOVES the pool - a recent discovery.

He is willing to jump in completely underwater, pops up, and asks for more!

He gives lots of hugs and kisses.

He likes books, hot wheels, Thomas, and Cars ("McQueen").

He smiles seemingly NONSTOP - the cutest little toothy smile!

He laughs a lot and has a little sense of humor already.

He answers every question "no".

He currently loves to sing and play:

2 little monkeys sittin' in a tree

teasin' mister alligator, "can't catch me".

Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be

and SNAPPED that monkey right outta that tree.

I put emphasis on SNAPPED because

that is the part where he violently

'snaps' your arm while saying "snap outta tree"

and laughing histerically.

He is an all-around fantastic little boy with a budding personality that melts my heart!

I am so blessed by him.

Happy Birthday little Christopher!

7 years Married

I can't believe it has been 7 years since Casey and I first said "I do"!!!!

June is typically a crazy month due to 2 little boys' birthdays

and our anniversary within 1.5 weeks,

but this June has proven to be particularly crazy.

Luckily, Casey and I had some alone time and decided

to go ahead and celebrate our anniversary early.

Totally worth it! 

There is one thing I can tell you for sure -

we have already lived through every line of our vows.

For better, for worse.

For richer, for poorer.

In sickness and in health.

To love and to cherish.

We have experienced the good times and the bad times

and we are stronger because of them.

The last 6 months have been a struggle,

but the light at the end of the tunnel is shining brighter each day.

God has a lot in store for us! 

3 weeks are killing me!

As if living in 2 different cities isn't bad enough,

I have been living without my two little boys for 3 weeks! 

Yeah, yeah, you're thinking, "enjoy it, have some 'me' time, sleep in, read a book."

I know!  But I still miss them!  I need their sweet little hugs!

Next week the little ones will be back in Columbia with me

and we will try to develop a 'new normal' without me working full time

until the house sells and we can really get our family back together.

I miss you ALL, boys!

<>< Stacy's Ramblings :)

Change is in the Air

It's beautiful outside tonight.  Each time I step outside - to shake out a tablecloth, to toss out a bouquet of flowers, to recycle - I stop and admire the beauty of the evening.  I walk by the swing set wishing the boys were in Columbia with me, playing on it.  I pass by a spot where the boys once sat and played happily in the yard.  I see happy moments in every corner of our yard and feel the warmth of my family around me.

But that is not how life has felt lately.  Life has felt lonely, busy, and sometimes empty.  So much harder than I thought it would be when Casey moved out 6 months ago for his new job.  I cannot help but briefly lament the happy family fun filled days we 'gave up' as my life turned into a constant shuffle of caring for the kids alone, learning to cook, working at school then teaching at home, and cleaning constantly while maintaining a house for sale.

Thankfully, I developed a routine to 'get by'.  Some days were tinted by sweet moments with the children while others were hard from morning til night.  Sometimes I felt strong while other times I was embarrassed at my inability to 'handle it all'.  My usual high expectations for myself dwindled as I felt disappointment in myself in every area of my life.

Yet the beauty of this evening reminded me that in a few short days, I will begin the next chapter of my life.  Although it is a bittersweet closure to a rewarding chapter of my life as a teacher - leaving friends, coworkers, students, and a career I love - I look forward to the next big plan God has for my life.  And even though we aren't there yet, I know that God will carry us through this transition time.

So for now, I am reveling in the experiences I have had thus far in my life and picturing the beautiful life God has planned for us ahead.  Because soon my family will be reunited.  We will spend everyday together again.  We will hug, kiss, laugh, be silly, play games, watch movies, cuddle with the kids, play with puppets, and simply enjoy each other's presence everyday again.

This nightmare will come to an end and our new life will be as beautiful and refreshing as the evening air.  And I simply can't wait!

Fall 2011

Please continue to pray that our house will sell within the next few months!

 

I will never forget April 5th, 2011

I will never forget those calls - when I attempted frantically to reach my husband and find out what was happening to our son.

I will never forget being told to go straight to the hospital.

I will never forget being immediately escorted to the emergency rooms.

I will never forget seeing a room full of white coated doctors and realizing they were working frantically over my son's body.

I will never forget my heart sinking, hearing, "you must be his mother," and being wisked away to a nearby holding room.

I will never forget the agonizing pain and loneliness of that little room.

I will never forget our friend who came to that room, prayed with us, and helped us make sense of everything.

I will never forget those moments.

I will never forget the doctors. The rooms before surgery. The uncertainty. The confusion. The pain. The anguish.

I will never forget.

I will never forget the people who came to sit with us. Words were not needed - the love was there.

I will never forget the outpouring of love.

I will never forget his precious body - so many things attached to his body - and a machine breathing his life into him as he fought to come back.

I will never forget the nurses working tirelessly to keep his medications on track while telling me how adorable my little boy was. If only they knew him before this.

I will never forget the PICU floor - how many precious lives were being fought for, and sometimes gone in an instant. I was there, and it hurt.

I will never forget the rules. Not sleeping with my husband. Leaving my son alone in his room 2 hours a day for shift changes. Just thinking of the other rules makes me sick.

I will never forget the nights I was able to rest, but awoke to realize I had missed bath time or a doctor's visit. Those are things moms are supposed to do. But all I could do was watch.

I will never forget the people who visited us, fed us, cared for Michael, and prayed for us. We couldn't handle it alone. The outpouring of love kept us strong.

I will never forget:

Daily x-rays.
Watching the purple line on the ventilator - Christopher breathing on his own!
Holding my baby for the first time after the dreadful 1st week and knowing he was going to be ok.
Moving to a 'regular' hospital room on Valentine's Day.
Playing with Christopher in a hospital bed.
Coaxing Christopher to eat again.

Visits from his sweet big brother, Michael.

Missing his sweet big brother, Michael.
Living with the family separated (2 at the hospital and 2 at home).
Watching our marriage, family, and jobs slowly fall apart as the days stretched on.
FINALLY getting the approval to GO HOME!
Ending our 21 grueling days in the hospital with a special zoo trip!
Weeks of throwing up, continued doctor's visits, and no answers.
Finding out there would be a second surgery.
Feeling like our life was still in shambles - how could we do it again?
Crying on my assistant principal's shoulder. Weak. How could we do it again?
That Thursday night ---- the throw up was different.
Going back to the hospital just days before the scheduled surgery.
Telling the ER doctors - I will NOT settle with going home. He is NOT ok.
Feeling relieved that a doctor finally agreed with me and called our surgeon.
Somehow getting the exact same ER room where I had seen so many doctors around my son before.
Staying in that room all night watching Wall-e and holding Christopher tight.
Finally getting the go ahead for surgery.
Making a 6 am trip to my job to tie up loose ends before surgery.

I will never forget the person who sat with us during that second surgery and when the doctors told us it was worse than we thought. I knew he was ok this time, but I still cried.

I will never forget the strength God gave us to get through it again.

I will never forget the Peace - a peace that passeth understanding.

I will never forget anything from those dreadful 2 months, but I will cling to the love and support so many family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even strangers gave us.

I will never forget April 5th, 2011, when my son came home HEALTHY.

and I will never forget God's goodness, grace, mercy, power, peace, joy, strength, and love.

Because God is good and he has changed me for the better.

I am blessed beyond measure.

{ <>< } Stacy

Bear

For those of you who don't know our family very well, meet Bear - Our first pet - rescued from

the animal shelter summer 2006.

Sunday night, we noticed Bear acting unusual and his stomach was very hard. Due to it being late and on a weekend, Casey had to take him to the emergency clinic for x-rays and tests. We were told that Bear had a bowel obstruction and would need surgery. The estimated cost was so high we were faced with the decision to pay or put him down. It was an agonizing night and morning knowing Bear is only 7 years old and in good health and should be better within days if we did the surgery soon enough. We simply couldn't afford it.

This situation is all too familiar - Christopher's intussusception was this exact week last year. This felt like a cruel and unfair joke. The decision was impossible. We decided to go to our vet and try to get a lower estimate. Our vet did a consultation for free, but it turns out she doesn't do bowel surgeries. Thanks to a sweet, sweet friend with veterinarian connections, we were directed to a vet who might be able to help us. 3rd vet in 1 day! 'Dr. A' did an examination and told us he felt like it was a simple, non-surgical fix. We were so relieved! Unfortunately, he called us back after a re-examination and said Bear would still need surgery. Thankfully, his estimate was 1/3 the cost of the emergency clinic.

It seems like a simple obstruction. We decided for surgery. We feel good about our decision. It's so frustrating to experience this right now...in so, so many ways. So please pray for us:

Prayers that Bear's surgery will go well tomorrow

Prayers for that I can handle it all while Casey's out of town

Prayers that we can be at peace

Prayers for our finances

Prayers for everything

Something extremely odd:

Christopher's surgeon last year was Dr. Adkins

Bear's vet/surgeon is Dr. Atkinson
Our house showed tonight for the first time. The realtor? Katie Atkinson.

<>< Stacy