Praying for Lori

If you read my blog, you've seen a post about Lori, a friend of a friend who recently lost her baby after delivery and after many years of trying. She just went through another IVF procedure and it was negative. My heart breaks for her and I wanted you to pray for her if you are so lead. I do not know their plans, as I only know what she writes about in her blog. I do not know her personally at all.

BFF

I am the kind of person who HAS to have girlfriends. At least one at all times. I am lost without one. Each time we move, I immediately start scoping out people to connect to. I like the kind of gal that I can go over, open her cabinet, get a drink & plop on the couch and watch TV with her. I have been blessed in my life to have such great friends and some true BFFs.

This is the story of my very first BFF.

In elementary my BFF was Stacey Carrier. We lived around the block from each other and were mostly inseparable. We loved to sing songs (she liked Dolly Parton & I liked Alabama), we rode our bikes endlessly, I'm sure we played Barbies & other girlie stuff. Then the summer I turned 9, we moved to another neighborhood. We saw each other alot that first year, but after that, different schools and all, we sort of saw less & less of each other. I always missed her though and driving past her neighborhood (the same one) on my way to my grandparents house, I'd think of her. I saw her back in about 1997 or so at a carnival for the elementary school we went to. She had a kindergartener (or maybe 1st grader) and another one in a stroller. We chatted for a second and that was it. Fast-forward to 2010 and thanks to Facebook, I found her. I was so excited! Then I saw that just weeks before, she had lost that little kindergartener at the age of 17. I was devastated for her. I wanted so badly to rush to her and hold her. I know a small edge of that pain and it hurt my heart. I reached out to her via the internet and hoped she'd call me so we could get together. Then last night, we took Bubba to CiCi's pizza while we waited for Sam's to replace my tire. And I saw her. I wasn't positive (ok, 99%) so Colby went over and asked if she was Stacey. I couldn't believe it! I finally got to give her that hug I'd been holding on to for so long. I hope we see each other again soon, but now my heart is a little lighter. It's amazing how our childhood friends shape who we are and how much a part of us they become. She will be my friend forever, really, no matter whether it's another 10 years til I see her again. Those kind of friends never leave our hearts. I'm grateful for that.

I've also reconnected with my BFF from high school on Facebook, hope to see her soon. Amazingly she lives about 10 minutes from me.

DONE!

First, I didn't cry when I dropped off the exersaucer...I really tried to not think about it! :)

And, in addition to that event yesterday, all her sweet little summer clothes hanging on a rack, being looked over by strangers, I got to meet a new miracle, Baby B, a friend's new bundle. I held him for an hour, snuggled up (he is 4 days old) and had not one twinge of baby envy! Yay me! I am so familiar with that longing feeling, that it sort of shocked me to feel nothing but "awww" for this little guy. Of course, my little ball of energy was running all over the place, so I guess I am otherwise occupied :) Still, it was nice to know that we really are done and I don't have that "we're done, but I'd sort of like to have another" feeling. It was easy to hand him back to his mommy!

i wanted to share how smart my Sweet Pea is (we all know how smart Bubba is - reading at a 7 yr old level!!). The other night in the bath, I said to her, as I do each time, "ok, time to get out". She went over, pulled the drain and started getting out! I was amazed. What a smartie pants :)

Exersaucer

Bubba hated the exersaucer. He hated anything that strapped him down..the high chair (gone at 9 months since he only screamed while in it), the car seat (screamed from the second he was strapped in, whether it was a 5 minute drive or a 6 hour drive!), the swing, and yes, the exersaucer. Everyone told us we *had* to get one...it was the best thing EVER. Well, it was a torture ring to him! I mainly only used it when I got home from the grocery store, stuck him in there and listened to him cry as I unloaded & put away the groceries at about Mach 3 speed. So, I was fine to put it away so many years ago. It was one of the few things of his we had for use with Sweet Pea, since we gave away the swing & high chair to needy folks. But now it is sitting in my room, sparkly clean with a blue consignment sale tag on it. Ready to go tomorrow to be sold for some other baby who will hopefully enjoy it as Sweet Pea did. I would put her in it in the bathroom while I showered. I did this the other day to make sure I was ready to sell it and yep, she just about climbed out of it. Ok, outgrown that.

The thing that hit me was this is one of the last "big" baby items. We still have and use a high chair for her, but the swing, bouncy seat & bumbo are gone to other houses. We are done having babies, but there is a part of me who grieves at the fact that I will not feel life inside my belly again. I have been blessed to have 4 lives grow within my "room" as Bubba called it :)

Will I cry after dropping the exersaucer off tomorrow? Probably.