1 year and 9 days

Wow: I still pray each and every night that I will see Isabella in the morning. That she will be safe. And that she will stay.

Crazy: Isabella is one year and 9 days tomorrow....

Hard: Was he really this tangible? This squishy? Yes. So glad.

Kisses: Love them. From both

Loves: All of my children. Trying to yell less, read more, hug, and not take for granted what I have.

Hope: We can go on. God is good. We can do this.

Joy: Families are Forever.

My precious little boy.

My precious little girl.

BuMmEr

Have you ever been to a doctor's office you like?

You know.

One you don't have to wait for 30 minutes or more before you get to see the nurse, only to sit in the room for another 30 minutes until the doctor comes in?

Or when you call, you don't hear this, "Can you please hold?" (click) before you even have a chance to process the question just thrown at you?

Or nice office people?

And you don't leave there totally frustrated because because you only got to see the doctor for like 30 seconds because he was running behind, which totally isn't your fault.

I mean after all you ARE paying at least a $20 copay and being billed $100 more, so seriously don't you deserve at least 4 minutes? And get to ask at least 3 questions?

Well to be honest. I have NEVER (ok once) had anything OTHER than this lovely experience at the doctor's office. (Apparently I am going to the wrong on you might say) Well Savannah sees an eye doctor, TWO leg doctors, TWO hormone doctors, stomach doctor, ear doctor, a pediatrician, and brace maker people. I have NEVER, not once (ok once) been treated like I deserve to be a patient. Really. All those appointments. And I don't even think they know who I am!!! Seriously.

Today changed all that. Really. It did. I switched doctors. Why you ask? Because my previous doctor doesn't even know who I am and the people in the office are just well, down right rude. And they don't deserve my business. :) So I changed.

I called to make an appointment and wouldn't you believe. The woman on the other end didn't sound like I was the most annoying person, calling about the same problem as the last 10 people. She was friendly.

That same face greeted me when I walked in. With a smile. A smile. Can you believe it? I filled out my paperwork and then she took a picture of me.... ya. scary. But they cared enough to know who I was so they took a (very scary) picture of me.....

Well aside from all the friendliness. The doctor did not deliver to me the greatest news. I have Iliotibial Band Syndrome AND Greater Trochanteric Bursitis. What does that mean? PAIN. PAIN. PAIN. PAIN. ON a scale from 1 to 10.... my pain is about an 8. Really. Not even kidding. So I got a steroid shot, which hurt bad by the way, and a prescription for some non narcotic pain meds. And the worst of all is. NO MARATHON. As a fellow runner, he was really sorry. Me too. Me. Too.

If you want to know where I went that was SO awesome???? I will tell you.

http://skylinefamilymedicine.com/

Check them out.

Firsts, Lasts, Never

The advice I gave my brother and sister in law.... she is 41 weeks. 5 days over due. Poor thing:

Enjoy the last time you will get to take a nap whenever you want. The last time you eat dinner without holding a baby or tending to a child. The last time you will get a good night's sleep. The last time you will worry only about yourself. The last time you will cook dinner without babe in arms, on your leg, or calling your name from the other room. Enjoy the last time you can watch a movie uninterrupted. The last time you can go to the grocery store without lugging a car seat, stroller, diaper bag, purse, keys, and cell phone... oh a a baby. Enjoy the last time for it being just you and your spouse.

And prepare yourself for the firsts. The first time you hold a baby in your arms. The first time he smiles. The first time he talks. The first time you go to church with a new baby. The first time you kiss him. The first time he holds your hand. The first time he says mama. The first time you go to the store lugging said car seat, stroller, diaper bag, purse, and baby. The first time you take him to a movie. The first time he scoots, crawls, walks. The first time your mom is a grandma. The first time your mom is a grandma for the 5th time. The first grandson with the last name of Walter. Prepare your self for all the firsts.

And then....

Never take for granted those nights you are up all night holding a crying baby. Never take for granted the first time he says mama, or looks up at you with those baby blue eyes, or when you give him a bath. Never take for granted even in those frustrating moments that you get your baby for one more hour, one more day, one more week, one more month. Never take for granted the times you want to pull your hair out because you still haven't showered, done the dishes, cooked dinner, or exercised today, because all you did was hold your baby. Never take for granted the perfectness of you little one. Never take for granted that you get to take your baby to the store with said above truckload of items. Never take for granted that you get to hold your baby while you cook dinner. Never take for granted that your days of a good night sleep are gone or that you can no longer "plan." Because inevitably you will be ready to walk out the door, your baby will spit up, poop, or start screaming for no reason at all and the best laid plans can't plan for that. Never take that for granted because...........

You never know when it will all be taken away.