I should have posted Monday, March 19th, but I was sick. I had some nasty allergy, grossness. But it was an important day for our family. March 16th marked Karter's 3 year
"seizure-versary" It's been 3 years since Karter had his last seizure. We always have a little party for him. This year, we went to HyVee, picked up a cake with a firetruck on it (angelfood). We sang him a little song and ate cake together as a family. Oh, and we grilled hamburgers too! I am so grateful to God, that Karter is a "normal" 3 &1/2 year old. He is happy and he is healthy. He finds the humor in everything, and loves to watch people. He is shy, but observant, very left brained and mechanical. He thinks like his daddy, and laughs like his mommy. He is my cuddlier, a people pleas-er, and has great bed side manor. He seems to be athletic and seems to remember everything.
Getting a seizure diagnosis, was a defining moment in my life. (to be clear, we were diagnosed August 25, 2005- last seizure was March 16, 2006) It was a defining moment in Scott and I's relationship. Between having Karter-(a long post for another day)--and then finding out about his seizures, we had went through a lot in just 18 months of being together. One night in the hospital, he told me that if we could get through this, we would get through anything together, and we set a wedding date. We leaned on each other, when there wasn't any way we could hold ourselves up on our own.
Speaking of leaning, My mom was holding me up on the other side. My mom dropped everything she was doing, and came and sat vigil in a hospital room when Karter was being diagnosed with his seizures. Scott had to keep working because he had no vacation so she stayed with me for every single test, blood draw and dr. visit. She gave up the comfort of her own bed at home to sleep in a hospital crib every night for 2 weeks. She didn’t have to, she chose to. She was there beside me, when we faced complete uncertainty, encouraging me, taking care of me, praying for me. I never would have made it through that without her. I think I cried every day for 2 weeks, it was a horrible experience but I am so grateful she was there. I never asked her to be; she just showed up and took control when I needed her to the most.
Karter is scheduled for an MRI this thursday. Just to check on things. He has an EEG on May 4th. The whole thing has brought up tons of old "ghosts" for me. It is just taking my brain a lot of work to process everything. I'm scared, I'm hopeful, I'm nervous, and I am praying. God is really working on me about my control issues, I am in constant prayer that things go well.
oops nap time is over. i will write more later!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Baby Shower
Today is a cold and rainy day. Today is also a baby shower for Jennifer and her new baby Sarah Elizabeth, who will make her debut the end of the month.
Shannon and I at the Shower!
I love baby showers. They are my favorite partys to plan. I love greeting a new baby with a party, the sweet onsies, socks and supplies. I love diaper cakes. Here is the one i made for Baby Sarah.
We had Jens shower at Bistro 211. A sweet little cafe here in town. I used to work for the owner David when i was in high school at his floral shop. The place is beautiful. And the food was fantastic! We had Chicken Salad silver dollar sandwiches, fruit and chips.
Sarah's Monogramed Cake
Shannon got Sarah the book Itsy Bitsy Spider-- its super cute!
Jen's Baby Bump!
Im guessing Sarah weighs 8lbs 9oz...
Sarah's Baby Book
The Gifts!
The Rattle on the Diaper Cake
Shannon and I at the Shower!I love baby showers. They are my favorite partys to plan. I love greeting a new baby with a party, the sweet onsies, socks and supplies. I love diaper cakes. Here is the one i made for Baby Sarah.
We had Jens shower at Bistro 211. A sweet little cafe here in town. I used to work for the owner David when i was in high school at his floral shop. The place is beautiful. And the food was fantastic! We had Chicken Salad silver dollar sandwiches, fruit and chips.
Sarah's Monogramed CakeJen and Sarah recieved tons of beautiful baby things! We made a twist to traditional baby shower tradition we added this to the invites:
Just One last request
and we hope its not hard
and we hope its not hard
Please bring a book for Baby Sarah,
Instead of a card
By signing your book,
she will remember and share,
Your special gift,
Even when you're not there.
So it was nice, because Jen got a book from everyone to build Sarahs library! I cant wait to meet baby Sarah at the end of the month (or sooner)
Shannon got Sarah the book Itsy Bitsy Spider-- its super cute!Jen's Baby Bump!Im guessing Sarah weighs 8lbs 9oz...
Heres a few more pics of today!
Sarah's Baby BookThe Gifts!The Rattle on the Diaper Cake 
Grandma Karen playing the Sock Game!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Karter's Swim Lessons
Karter loves to swim. I have had him in the water since he was 2 months old. I teach swim lessons at our local YMCA. I have for 10 years this year. (WOW!?!?!) I know the importance of getting kids in the water early and exposing them to the "craft" of swimming. Age 10 is not the time to expose a child to the water for the first time.
Anyway My "specialty" has always been the criers, I have a special place in my heart for these kids. The ones that are too cold, or just scared to death. I myself was a horrible swimmer so maybe its that, I don't know, I just love the challenge of the "impossible" kids.
I've been contemplating putting K in swim lessons for a few months now, I just have had one excuse or another but finally decided to try it. 3 weeks of lessons 2 times a week, Ideal situation for learning to swim.
So the first day, overly confident me takes Karter and Gavin to the Y for lessons. I- am positive that my kid is going to be the skillful, graceful student that jumps in the water and begins to swim, follows the teachers instructions and exceeds her expectations for him. I figured the only parental guiding I would have to do is to give him that look and mouth the words, "get back to the wall" when he was swimming away from the teacher because he was overly confident. After all he has been swimming since he was 2 months old right???
Karter was pumped to go to the Y and go swimming, we trotted in to the Y talking about how great swim lessons were and how much fun he was going to have. The first signal that things might not be going as Karter had pictured was when he got his suit on and I didn't. So we walk out to the pool, he is still looking at me with his green eyes and i can tell he thinks I'm just going to get in with all my clothes on. We get to the pool deck and he starts stalling.. "Pee mommy Pee Pweeze mommee?" So we go to the bathroom, Gavin in tow. The sweet teenage instructor just smiles at me as we walk back in. Karter tugs on my hand "Pee moe(more) mommee pweeze?" We turn right around and go back in. I tell Karter that this is the last time we are going to visit the potty so he needs to go completely, he strains to go any more and we pull back up his trunks and put on his bubble, i reach for the door knob and hear "Pee! Me! Pee!" its Gavin who already has his pants and diaper off ready to go... So we stick him on the potty and he does his business. I ask Karter if he is ready for swimming and he replies "yess mommee". We enter the pool area... And I am thinking-- minor setback, Yey! he's ready!
I couldn't be more wrong. I walked him up to the pool edge and tell him its time to get in. Karter begins to cry, well actually, scream. He is trying to climb up my leg as the instructor is just smiling as if to say "okay! you can take HIM home now!" I pick him up (meanwhile Gavin is "fishing" with a noodle on the side of the pool) and put him in her arms.. He is STILL screaming, like head spinning, spewing green slim, screaming. He is shouting "My MOMMY!! MY MOMMY !!OUT!!! NOW!!! MY MOMMY!!! OUT! NOW!!! NO!! NO!!NO!!NO!!!!!" She brings him back to the side and he is out of the pool faster than a cat out of the shower, immediately clinging to my leg. She comes back around, and i hand him back over to her. the shrieking begins again, this time he IS swimming by himself, only away from her, SCREAMING "OUT NOW!!! OUT NOW!!!! NO! NO! NO!"
I'm thinking....
#1.) WHY did I come here alone? Bad idea Sabrina
#2.) There are so many people staring at him, me,us... Parents thinking "didn't she teach her kid to swim?" All of my friends who I have worked with for awhile now are here at swimming lessons... probably thinking "didn't she teach her kid to swim?"
3.) MY kid, is THAT kid... the cry-er.. CRAP!....This is NOT going how i imagined.
He comes back to the side and I am disgusted.. Not at him, but at the situation. We spent the weekend in a hotel the weekend before and he was swimming all over by himself... I KNOW he can do it... he just wont. I wrap a towel around him and go get dressed.
The next session (yes, i took him again) I took Scott and we went together. The instructors switched so his babysitter was his teacher, I put him in, and the same thing happened. I broke every instructor rule in the book and got my swim suit on and got in. Karter swam to me screaming.. He immediately climbs up koala style and holds me. tight. I let him calm down and we start to play.. Noella(his instructor/babysitter) stays nearby.. We play together and then with her, by 10 minutes in he was playing with her and I was sitting on the side of the pool. (i had class with Gav after that anyway)
The third session he tells me on the way in "I no trwy (cry) today!" He got dressed, got in and had a ball! Swimming like I originally pictured him doing. Blowing bubbles playing and splashing. Now that's my boy!
I wish I would have brought my camera and taken pictures of him crying, but i didn't... Always take pictures of the crying, the screaming, the head spinning...it does go away...someday. Below are a few from last night.... and a video too!
My mom just laughed when I told her the story. I wonder who the original screamer was...???
Anyway My "specialty" has always been the criers, I have a special place in my heart for these kids. The ones that are too cold, or just scared to death. I myself was a horrible swimmer so maybe its that, I don't know, I just love the challenge of the "impossible" kids.
I've been contemplating putting K in swim lessons for a few months now, I just have had one excuse or another but finally decided to try it. 3 weeks of lessons 2 times a week, Ideal situation for learning to swim.
So the first day, overly confident me takes Karter and Gavin to the Y for lessons. I- am positive that my kid is going to be the skillful, graceful student that jumps in the water and begins to swim, follows the teachers instructions and exceeds her expectations for him. I figured the only parental guiding I would have to do is to give him that look and mouth the words, "get back to the wall" when he was swimming away from the teacher because he was overly confident. After all he has been swimming since he was 2 months old right???
Karter was pumped to go to the Y and go swimming, we trotted in to the Y talking about how great swim lessons were and how much fun he was going to have. The first signal that things might not be going as Karter had pictured was when he got his suit on and I didn't. So we walk out to the pool, he is still looking at me with his green eyes and i can tell he thinks I'm just going to get in with all my clothes on. We get to the pool deck and he starts stalling.. "Pee mommy Pee Pweeze mommee?" So we go to the bathroom, Gavin in tow. The sweet teenage instructor just smiles at me as we walk back in. Karter tugs on my hand "Pee moe(more) mommee pweeze?" We turn right around and go back in. I tell Karter that this is the last time we are going to visit the potty so he needs to go completely, he strains to go any more and we pull back up his trunks and put on his bubble, i reach for the door knob and hear "Pee! Me! Pee!" its Gavin who already has his pants and diaper off ready to go... So we stick him on the potty and he does his business. I ask Karter if he is ready for swimming and he replies "yess mommee". We enter the pool area... And I am thinking-- minor setback, Yey! he's ready!
I couldn't be more wrong. I walked him up to the pool edge and tell him its time to get in. Karter begins to cry, well actually, scream. He is trying to climb up my leg as the instructor is just smiling as if to say "okay! you can take HIM home now!" I pick him up (meanwhile Gavin is "fishing" with a noodle on the side of the pool) and put him in her arms.. He is STILL screaming, like head spinning, spewing green slim, screaming. He is shouting "My MOMMY!! MY MOMMY !!OUT!!! NOW!!! MY MOMMY!!! OUT! NOW!!! NO!! NO!!NO!!NO!!!!!" She brings him back to the side and he is out of the pool faster than a cat out of the shower, immediately clinging to my leg. She comes back around, and i hand him back over to her. the shrieking begins again, this time he IS swimming by himself, only away from her, SCREAMING "OUT NOW!!! OUT NOW!!!! NO! NO! NO!"
I'm thinking....
#1.) WHY did I come here alone? Bad idea Sabrina
#2.) There are so many people staring at him, me,us... Parents thinking "didn't she teach her kid to swim?" All of my friends who I have worked with for awhile now are here at swimming lessons... probably thinking "didn't she teach her kid to swim?"
3.) MY kid, is THAT kid... the cry-er.. CRAP!....This is NOT going how i imagined.
He comes back to the side and I am disgusted.. Not at him, but at the situation. We spent the weekend in a hotel the weekend before and he was swimming all over by himself... I KNOW he can do it... he just wont. I wrap a towel around him and go get dressed.
The next session (yes, i took him again) I took Scott and we went together. The instructors switched so his babysitter was his teacher, I put him in, and the same thing happened. I broke every instructor rule in the book and got my swim suit on and got in. Karter swam to me screaming.. He immediately climbs up koala style and holds me. tight. I let him calm down and we start to play.. Noella(his instructor/babysitter) stays nearby.. We play together and then with her, by 10 minutes in he was playing with her and I was sitting on the side of the pool. (i had class with Gav after that anyway)
The third session he tells me on the way in "I no trwy (cry) today!" He got dressed, got in and had a ball! Swimming like I originally pictured him doing. Blowing bubbles playing and splashing. Now that's my boy!
I wish I would have brought my camera and taken pictures of him crying, but i didn't... Always take pictures of the crying, the screaming, the head spinning...it does go away...someday. Below are a few from last night.... and a video too!
My mom just laughed when I told her the story. I wonder who the original screamer was...???
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Hello Spring... Goodbye Smeadmobile!
Today it is AWESOME outside! Its so warm and sunny and just a beautiful Iowa day! Today I picked Karter up from preschool and we went to the park! The boys loved being able to play. My mom always tells me that I need to take them to the park at that time durring the day because there are so many other little kids there. Guess What?!? She was totally right! The whole playground was full of little 3 and 4 year olds and their little brothers and sisters. Karter and Gavin had a blast! And were even complaining a little about being too hot! Imagine that!? March 5th in IOWA!!!
Scott and the SmeadMobile!
The "cow printed" hood!
In This picture Karter is "digging" but not in the dirt!
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Today we are loosing a "member" of our family. Scotts car, lovingly nicknamed the Smeadmobile is going to take its final drive to car heaven. Its a 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix, and was a good ol car! Its the car, Scott took me home in on the first night we met. I could barely drive the thing because the drivers seat was broke and i couldnt reach the pedals unless I sat on a pillow. She was a good ol car, and she will be missed.. Scott rolled his eyes when I showed up at his work to take pictures of it for the family album... Heres some pictures you can see the beauty for yourself. Why didnt we just sell the thing? Well, Scott says he would feel bad selling it to someone, so he chose Car Heaven (the junk yard) instead!
Scott and the SmeadMobile!
The "cow printed" hood!The Broken drivers seat..
Tonight we have swim lessons, I will post about that whole thing tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Welcome to my Hive!
Well I am officially a blogger... Im setting this up as a place to journal, and for my friends and family to keep up with what is going on around our "hive".
My name is Sabrina, I am a Stay at Home Mom for 2 beautiful boys, Karter and Gavin. My husband Scott, works for our local coop. We live in small town middle america. We will be married for 4 years New Years Eve 2009. I will write some more about me later!
My name is Sabrina, I am a Stay at Home Mom for 2 beautiful boys, Karter and Gavin. My husband Scott, works for our local coop. We live in small town middle america. We will be married for 4 years New Years Eve 2009. I will write some more about me later!
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