tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69372011826399072492024-03-13T18:00:27.171-05:00Embracing Lifewife. mother. writer. kidney transplant recipient. SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.comBlogger567125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-18421344907963574922019-01-17T11:05:00.002-06:002019-01-17T11:05:22.243-06:00The Tree of Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My name is Sarah, and it's been 11 months since my last post. I've thought about it, but life is constantly getting in the way. I even made a goal this year to write more, but it really hasn't happened yet. Until today.<br />
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I went on Facebook this morning to check if there were any updates about the accident I saw on the way to work. Instead, I saw an obituary for a woman I've never met. But I know who she is. She received a kidney transplant a few months before I received mine.<br />
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And according to her FB page, she had a difficult time leading up to transplant, a tough recovery, lots of additional illnesses and setbacks, and long hospital stays.<br />
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I, on the other hand, never had dialysis, was on the transplant list for an unbelievable 5 months (the wait list is normally 5 YEARS), had a 3-day hospital stay, and other than not tolerating pain medication (so I could only take Tylenol which did nothing for the pain), I've been on my merry, healthy way for over 3 years.<br />
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I saw the woman last fall, at a church event. A priest travels around the United States, bringing relics of saints to the people. She was there. I couldn't remember her name, but I did recognize her. She was confined to a wheelchair. I thought to say hello, but figured she probably doesn't need a stranger saying something random like, "Oh hey, I saw you had a kidney transplant. Me too. Sorry things aren't working out." Instead I said a prayer for her. And hoped that by her touching and praying over the relics, she'd experience a healing of her own. But there was a different ending to her story.<br />
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When I tell doctors at the transplant clinic that I never had dialysis, they are in surprised. When they find out I had only a few months on the list before getting a call, they are shocked.<br />
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You see it's very odd to have experienced a miracle and not know why. Because I don't really have a plan. I'm not doing wondrous good in the world. I don't make it to church every Sunday. Sometimes I forget to remind my kids about their nightly prayers. It's hard to be the lucky one when so many others are not. I keep wondering, what is my purpose? Why me, and not her? <br />
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<br />SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-85616372983450231412018-02-05T12:15:00.000-06:002018-02-05T12:15:11.531-06:002018 Musings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm the kind of girl who, at 40 years of age, still calls herself a girl. I'm an organized person living in a cluttered house with child hoarders who keep tiny pieces of paper and use scotch tape liberally on empty toilet paper rolls, er I mean, swords. I can't figure out why there are stickers on my couch because my twins are in 4th grade. I wish we had a house with a mudroom or a closet or a nook, just so my husband can stash all his running/biking/etc stuff there instead of on his kitchen chair. I just started wearing a plum colored lipstick and realize how much better I look even though according to the fashion magazines, my skin tone is warm and I should wear browns instead. I'm currently wondering how to respond to one of my child's teachers who reached out about the fact that he's acting up in class... and his response - "I want to have a social worker like _____ because he gets to take breaks and play with putty." My daughter took a Chicago Hauntings book to school today to share stories with her friends about the "sausage guy who ground up his wife". And my 6th grader now has an iPhone and I think, I think!, wants a girlfriend. I should really work out and lose the 5-whatever pounds I put on pre-transplant thanks to steroids. I should really stop blaming the steroids from 3 years ago, and instead blame the fact that I get home from work exhausted because I'm anemic... thanks to my post-transplant medicines. And I should really eat the broccoli and Brussels sprouts my husband tells me to eat because I need iron. And.... I should probably work out. Right now, I'm defining my happiness by trying to find the perfect purse, and while I realize that's a #firstworldproblem, I also don't care if you think I'm being #petty. Pretty things make me happy and that's okay. My 9 year old daughter still wants to grow up and be a princess and I'm fine with that, because princesses can be strong women too. (Hello Duchess of Cambridge!) I'm unfulfilled at work due to role changes and now am doing a job I never signed up for. I found all my old writing journals and mourned the loss of who I once was but am glad at the same time that I no longer feel such sadness inside. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am so thankful for a new year. Now that January is over, that is. </span><br />
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<br />SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-52227606163242433952017-10-15T08:00:00.000-05:002017-10-15T08:00:06.054-05:00Two Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wanted to write a moving and inspirational post about celebrating my two-year post-transplant milestone. (I also wanted to post a nice family picture, where everyone was looking at the camera, the twins did not have to be separated because they were hitting each other, the shorter boy on the right was not squeezing his brother's stomach too tightly, and I did not have a glowing bulb of sunlight shining brightly on my lady parts, but well... you know... that's life.)<br />
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Instead I will share one of my favorite pictures of this day. We had wanted to do an outdoor autumn photo shoot with my family (grandparents included). It was scheduled for the end of September in Chicago. So of course, I bought (matching) long-sleeved shirts for the boys, had a pretty (color-coordinating) sweater picked out for my girl, Keith was going to wear his grey pullover, and I lovingly pulled out my tights and boots for what I thought was going to be a cool and beautiful fall day.<br />
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It was 88 degrees at 6 p.m.<br />
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So after numerous fights with all three males in the house that no, shorts were NOT going to be allowed, we ended up hot and sweaty, with this mismatched, uncoordinated outfit situation. And don't forget three kids who would rather throw leaves in the air and rocks in the river. My main goals were no longer looking cute and put together, but rather: keep the girl out of the river (she has a tendency to fall into bodies of water) and keep the boys from throwing acorns and walnuts at each other, their cousin, the photographer... you get the idea.)<br />
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That's the thing about life. You never know what's going to come your way, be it a 90-degree day in September or a phone call saying your kidneys are failing and you need a transplant. Whether you run and hide when something unexpected comes up, or you run forward and fight because you have so much to live for, you have to make a move.<br />
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My life these days isn't very different than it would be had I not had a transplant. I still go to work, transport kids from sport to sport on Saturdays, go to church on Sundays, and fail at the never-ending job of housecleaning and laundry. However, I do have a different kind of appreciation for life. For the life lost, so that I could live. For the stronger faith so I could accept what was being thrown at me. And for the greater appreciation of the little things in life - those little things that others think are the big things. It's important to pay attention to those things, to those people. I read a post once where the author talked about saving candles and soaps for important occasions, but instead she had a closet full of sweet-smelling things and a shortened lifespan due to cancer. Burn the candles, she said. I was once like her. But not so much anymore. SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-43926432234064645212017-08-14T11:47:00.000-05:002017-08-14T11:47:40.089-05:00A Season of Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've had a busy couple of years. 2015, the year of health crises (or the year of the transplant). 2016, the year of recovery (because even though I bounced back from surgery well, it took awhile for things to get back to normal. Heck, our office is still not recovered with the mess in there. ;) ) So of course, I had to go big with 2017, and it became the year of change.<br />
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For a variety of reasons, personal and educational-focused, I chose to remove the kids from their private Catholic school and switch them to public. While this is a big deal to the kids (new school, new friends), you'd think it wouldn't be that big of deal for me. But it is. I attended the same school 100 years ago. I grew up in the parish. I received the sacraments from Baptism to Marriage there. It's my home.<br />
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But when you are me, and you pull from private to public, but still want your kids to have a Catholic education and be confirmed when they are older, you need to find a religious education (RE) program that fits. I had to make a decision to switch churches so we could join the new church's RE program. I officially did it last week. This church is closer, the RE program is more affordable, and I have the option to "home school" the kids in grades 4th-6th.<br />
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So here we are: 2 new schools (middle school and elementary), fall sports, more homework, middle school LOCKERS, a new church, and the option to teach my kids at home and still have them be able to be confirmed in 2 to 4 years (depending on which kids) has put me into some sort of midlife crisis feeling. It's a lot to take on, along with work, the paperwork (times 3!) that goes along with new schools, doctor and dentist visits, blood work (did you know they check cholesterol at the 11 year old screening?), vaccines, back to school shopping (because they can't wear uniforms anymore!), and a husband who spends a lot of time training for this past weekend's 70.3 Ironman! <br />
SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-82791735240972900272017-05-08T19:40:00.000-05:002017-07-11T11:00:57.076-05:00Book Review: Sweet Tea and Spirits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Book: Sweet Tea and Spirits<br />
Author: Angie Fox<br />
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Verity Long and her ghostly sidekick, Frankie, are on track for another adventure! The book starts out with Verity receiving a mysterious call from the Sugarland Historical Society, stating there was a murder. But how can there be a murder when no body is found? She enlists Frankie's help to investigate, which leads to a humorous and engaging story!<br />
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The book is well-written, like the others in this series. I enjoy reading cozy-mysteries, especially those that focus on the paranormal. The author does a great job of creating funny characters with depth. I definitely recommend this series, and do feel that the reader should start at book one.<br />
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*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-23494696003565092272017-01-11T12:10:00.002-06:002017-01-11T12:10:52.472-06:00The Memory Keeper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A long, long time ago (maybe 2002?), these two kids went to the Shedd Aquarium. Pre-kids, of course. In fact, they had only been dating about a year. (If you don't count the break someone thought he needed. *insert eye roll*)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The girl bought a cute <i>little-penguins-dancing-in-water</i> keepsake, which she kept on her desk at work for many years. Until she moved to a new building and her office had a window.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But alas, nothing lasts forever, especially plastic with what is probably some sort of toxic chemical keeping the penguins afloat <i>which decided to leak out all over the windowsill</i>...and today the girl had to throw out her keepsake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But (to sadly quote Metallica *insert even larger eye roll here as the girl hates the band*), the memory remains. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-67835390692807853712016-08-01T13:35:00.000-05:002017-01-11T12:16:55.449-06:00Lady Admired - A Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of this book, Lady Admired, by Jane Charles. <br />
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I absolutely LOVED this book. The only reason I put it down from time to time was because my kids need a mother. ;) This was a a great way to wrap up the Tenacious Trent series. </div>
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Rose Trent, a young widow, is the Dowager Countess of Bentley. She finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime, although it didn't quite start out that way. Kidnapped by a Scot after he found out who she was, she was taken back to Laird Aiden MacGregor's manor. </div>
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Aiden MacGregor is a handsome yet firm family man who for once, acted before thinking. After sending a random letter to Rose's stepsons, he begins to regret his rash decision to kidnap Rose. He knows that in doing so, he has signed his own death warrant, as kidnapping will result with him swinging from the gallows.</div>
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As Rose becomes enamoured of his family... and of Aiden, she also finds her true self. Married at 15 to a horrible man, she has never had such freedom before as she has now. She finds herself falling in love with Aiden, although since she has never been with a man such as he, she truly has no idea what is happening. Aiden, on the other hand, recognizes his feelings for Rose, and is determined to spend the rest of his short life enjoying his time with her. </div>
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When Rose's family receive word of her kidnapping, they rush to save her. But when they find her, it's not what they expected. Will Rose and Aiden be able to savor their sweet love, or will Aiden be prosecuted for his crime?</div>
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This was a fantastic book! As we see Rose come into her own, sampling freedom bit by bit, the reader cheers her on. While she has said that she would never find herself tied down to a man again, Aiden pulls at her heart strings and opens experiences to her that she never believed possible. Aiden's family is wonderful, and I hope we see more of them in the future. We also get a chance to see the "other" Trents, cousins of the famous Trents, and I can't wait to read more about them too!</div>
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I definitely recommend this book, as well as the other in the series.</div>
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SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-58622868508268234692016-04-17T19:00:00.001-05:002016-04-17T19:12:48.226-05:00Take it easy...<i><b><br /></b></i>
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<i><b>Take it easy, take it easy</b></i><br />
<i><b>Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy...</b></i><br />
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My grandma died on Tuesday night. I was able to hold her hand and say goodbye. But life went on the very next day as though nothing had happened for the rest of the world. The day before, I had Keith take Keira to the doctor because she had been having stomach pain for 3 days. (Don't worry, she's fine.). Thursday morning, we were getting ready for school/work, and I saw that our fish had died. The twins brought Benny home from school a few years ago. They had Keith bury him in the yard, and hope to have him carve a memorial cross for their beloved betta fish. Keith is thrilled. ;) Work was extremely stressful this week. I barely had time to complete important projects, as I ran from meeting to meeting (or drove 2 hours one way for a meeting at another school). And Friday, I celebrated 6 months with my new little kidney.<br />
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This week was the busiest, craziest one we've had in quite awhile. That's ok, though, I know how to roll with the punches and go right along with life. Even when all those around me have no idea what really goes on in my head on most days. Or the fact that my comfort song this week was The Eagles, <i>Take It Easy</i>. Sure the song *seems* like it's all about someone getting it on with his women, but certain lyrics resonate with me. <br />
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I didn't get any of the bathrooms cleaned this weekend. My kitchen floor is unswept and someone stepped on a Pringle so there are a few crumbs under the table. And I can't tell, but there is a squirrel in my backyard that is either dying or getting ready to give birth (hoping it's neither). But yesterday after getting the kids' haircuts, they played outside on the first real spring day we've had this year. They had pasta for supper while having movie night. Today, I took them to see Ice Age 4 for free at the local theater while Keith went on some sort of gravelly road bike ride. After we enjoyed the movie, we picked up lunch for ourselves and my uncle and headed to visit him for awhile. After some downtime at home, we packed up again for the library (we may have had some overdue books...such is life) and surprise ice cream cones. Why? Because I wanted to. Supper was pizza and Scooby Doo while we wait for Keith to get home before bed.<br />
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<i><b>We may lose and we may win</b></i><br />
<i><b>But we will never be here again...</b></i><br />
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Lyrics play through my head and I think how oftentimes you blink and don't notice what's going on. Or you are so focused on the Pringle crumbs that you forget to play with your kids. I can't change the fact that we won't always have such carefree weekends or even simple hours to ourselves, but I can make sure to take some deep breaths and enjoy life.<br />
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<b><i>Oh we got it easy</i></b><br />
<b><i>We oughta take it easy...</i></b>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-21366323884906129512016-01-19T20:47:00.001-06:002016-01-19T21:12:54.319-06:00I sit all day at a desk...<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t5NhrA-I3BA/Vp71RkBR1zI/AAAAAAAAFQs/vgIvB_EvuLQ/s640/blogger-image--1444732076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t5NhrA-I3BA/Vp71RkBR1zI/AAAAAAAAFQs/vgIvB_EvuLQ/s640/blogger-image--1444732076.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>Sometimes when I talk about how stressed I feel, I am met with this response: But all you do is sit at a desk all day. How can you be tired?<div><br></div><div>Apparently mentally tired is not a thing.</div><div><br></div><div>By the time I get to work, I'm tired. Due to my anemia, it takes a lot out of me to try to hurry in the morning, deal with the kids who always need me right when I am walking out the door, and then when I finally do get to work, it's a long (COLD) walk from the parking lot.</div><div><br></div><div>8:00 - Computer is on, I'm logged in.</div><div>8:02 - First question of the day from someone in the doorway. I haven't even had time to check my voicemails or emails.</div><div>8:06 - Attempt to check email, read 2, start to respond to one...</div><div>8:07 - Co-worker comes in with a question and some paper to look at</div><div>8:50, I have been trying for 40 minutes to finish that email I started, as well as make myself a cup of coffee to warm up since my office is freezing.</div><div>I have to hurry for the coffee since I need to take my pills at 9 a.m.</div><div>Try to go to the bathroom, but my boss' secretary asks a question, then my boss walks over with more.</div><div>9:30 - 4 emails responded to, answered a student phone call, talked to a few counselors with questions... Stare at the coffee which has become cold since I barely sipped it.</div><div>10:00 - Finally begin to review some students who have applied for graduation. We are weeks behind due to me being out, the holiday break, and the chaos of awarding degrees and certificates in January. </div><div>10:15 - I've printed 4 audits, but the printer is out of paper. So am I, so down the hall to find some.</div><div>10:20 - Paper is ready , the rest of the audits print</div><div>10:23 - Boss sends three emails, need to respond to two. Takes time to find the answers, craft responses, make sure I've included all the right people...</div><div>10:46 - Intent forms stare at me with no progress made</div><div>11:07 - Phone rings. Student has a question with no easy answer. Have to research while student is discussing (complaining) about things.</div><div>11:14 - I finally finish reviewing a student! It's only taken an hour and 15 minutes. I'm on a roll. I complete two more before I realize I didn't check my voicemail</div><div>11:30 - Listen to 5 voicemails, call back a counselor, answer a quick and easy question. Have to check with my co-worker if she has the substitution form for another one of the calls, while an IM pops up - does this course transfer in as A&P? There is no cadaver. (There always has to be a cadaver. They know this, yet they ask me every.single.time just in case something has changed since Friday.)</div><div>12:00 - Lunch time! Ha, just kidding. Still on the phone with one of the students I had to call back while simultaneously emailing my boss to see about setting up a meeting with one of the 4 year schools we have an articulation agreement with</div><div>12:15 - Finally lunch. 30 minutes to now catch up my "home/kids" to do list. So it's not really a break.</div><div>12:45 - Lunch is over, open office door (I'm actually shocked no one came knocking while I was on lunch, however I did have to answer an instant message that popped up 7 minutes into my lunch.)</div><div>12:50 - I begin to review another student, but now I need to work on some graduation ceremony items.</div><div>1:00 - A question about an event comes up, need to respond, but first find out if everything is set on our end.</div><div>1:16 - IM my favorite marketing person about a different event I need to host in 2 weeks - are the fliers ready? Crap! I forgot about fliers for the other event - stop what I am doing to complete paperwork for that, and give to boss for approval.</div><div>1:31 - That 4th Intent to graduate form looms at me on the side of my desk where it has been sitting for what seems like ever. But a co-worker comes in to discuss what else? The graduation ceremony. It's 4 months away but will consume my work life until then.</div><div>1:52 - I try to sneak down the hall to refill my water cup and run to the bathroom (as fast as someone with a nerve damaged leg can "run") when I'm stopped by someone telling me my mailbox is full. Someone shoved a bunch of pamphlets in there, which need to be distributed throughout the student center. </div><div>2:05 - Done with the pamphlets.</div><div>2:07 - Breath.</div><div>2:07:30 - Hi Sarah, Can I bother you for a sec? (While they say this, they are already walking in and sitting down at my desk.)</div><div>2:10 - I have been listening to this person explain to me why a student wants a call back. The student is angry for a variety of reasons, most of which she feels are my fault. I've never spoken to her in my life.</div><div>2:12 - I prepare myself for the phone call I am about to make.</div><div>2:35 - I finally finish speaking to the no-longer angry and frustrated student. She thanks me for my time and means it. I smile because I really do love my job.</div><div>2:40 - Find her evaluation request form and begin to evaluate her transcripts. </div><div>2:57 - Interrupted again. (Big shock.)</div><div>3:16 - Have to pull out the FAQs for graduation to update based on some new changes. Make many changes. Have 5 questions. Try to schedule a room for our cap/gown pick-up event. Send email to boss with questions and FAQ for review.</div><div>3:56 - Remember to update one of the counselors about the student I had a 25 minute conversation with earlier in the afternoon.</div><div>4:00 - Meet with co-worker about graduation to go over some pressing items I have to take care of.</div><div>4:17 - Counselor comes in. He has a student with foreign credit who doesn't know why we didn't accept all of it. She has forgotten about our 35 minute conversation we had last Wednesday where I explained why. I go to see her, re-explain in a cliff notes version so I can leave work on time.</div><div>4:35 - Leave 5 minutes late.</div><div><br></div><div>But no, I'm not tired after that day. And that's certainly not wine in my glass.. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-84800735395239126612016-01-09T14:21:00.002-06:002016-01-09T14:27:59.328-06:00Book Review: Bound to Die: A Cozy Mystery<div style="text-align: center;">
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Title: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28104566-bound-to-die" target="_blank">Bound to Die: A Cozy Mystery</a><br />
Author: Mak K. Han<br />
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<span id="freeTextreview1496659718" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">This was a fun cozy mystery, in which is I hope there will be many more! The first chapter set the tone for the book - it had humor and just a little bit of paranormal mystery. However, most the the real mystery centers around the killing of a grumpy man in Strawberry Shores. The main character, Laura, has a cool psychic ability. She and her two friends, Alex and Emily, are drawn into solving the case, yet the killer knows they are on to him/her. There was just the right amount of mystery, romance, and danger in this cozy mystery. I recommend this book for anyone, including YA readers.<br /><br />*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> </span><a data-text-id="review1496659718" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28104566-bound-to-die#" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #00635d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">(less)</a></div>
SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-11746348219224957792016-01-06T09:22:00.001-06:002016-01-06T09:22:12.647-06:00Refresh 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">January. The time of new beginnings. New starts. The dreaded resolutions that everyone proclaims will change their lives in the new year, yet many fail to hold onto through the very first month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't make resolutions. Strike that, I did make one for the kids. "What's a new year revolution?" one child asked. "It's a positive change you make at the start of the new year. And your re<u>S</u>olution is to fold your own laundry and put it away."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This worked for two days. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let's be honest, 2015 was a stressful year for me. It started out great - we headed to Disney with my family for a week of fun, mostly sun, and great memories. But mere weeks later, I found myself in kidney failure from a hereditary disease that normally does not worsen. By May, I was officially on the national transplant list. By the grace of God, I didn't have the normal 5 year wait that most people have when waiting for a kidney. On October 15, just months after being listed, I was given a second change. A new kidney that was a 100% antibody match for me. This greatly improves the chances of my body not rejecting the new kidney. Next week, a routine 3 month biopsy will check for any sort of rejection. Fingers crossed that all is well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Rather than make a resolution or two that I may or may not keep, I chose to renew myself in this new year. Shortly after my diagnosis, I had Reiki done. The Reiki healer told me that I need to do what I love because it appears I enjoy life anymore. Her words rang through. As the children grew older, and my life got busier, what I loved to do fell by the wayside. I barely read, wrote, or crafted. I lost my creativity, replacing it with being consumed with others - my family, their activities, work, school commitments, etc. I have piles of yarn that yearn to be knitted, scrapbooks with empty pages, project upon project that died in my head because I never turn them into reality. Shelves (and a full kindle)</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">of books to be read. And stories that flutter in my mind, only to gently float away because I never put pen to paper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What do I do these days that I love? I spend time with my kids and husband. But now I am back to work, and school is in session again. Keith has upped his training. The busyness is back in our lives. Yet how do we not lose ourselves in it again? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's taking time. Being present. Awakening 10 minutes earlier that I used to so there is some quiet time for me in the morning. Praying more. Facebooking less. It's allowing myself to be a work in progress - so if I fail one day, I know that I will wake the next day ready to start again. It's stepping back, taking a breath or ten, learning to meditate. To block out time to do yoga and exercise, something I haven't been able to do for quite some time. Not putting certain things off, yet only doing what is necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Do you know I like to make my bed in the morning? Coming home after a long day of work and life, it's peaceful to walk into a bedroom that is organized. So I try to do it everyday because it makes me happy. (It would also make me happy for our living room and kitchen to be less cluttered, yet it's hard to get the other four people in the house to agree on that one). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's what this new year is going to be about. Making me happy. Not over-committing. Doing good things for my body, mind and soul. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">#refresh2016</span>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-7811267540456304352015-11-02T18:33:00.001-06:002015-11-02T18:35:09.757-06:00After the Transplant - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The surgery began around 2:25 and lasted until 6:45. They woke me up and told me the time was 7:15, so that was the point that I was in the recovery room. After monitoring my vitals for some time, I was able to be taken back to my room. There was little pain at that point since I was pretty numb, but my arms hurt from the various IVs I had in them. I had a total of 3 in me, and had had the initial one replaced before surgery. That one had hurt the most. My arm was pretty tore up for about two weeks after the surgery. Other than that, I had 36 staples in my abdomen and a JP drain in my side for fluid in me to drain out.<br />
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The thing about a kidney transplant is that they don't actually remove either of my bad kidneys. The new kidney is actually placed in my abdomen, and hooked up to an artery in my groin that comes from the leg (Or something like that)...so technically at this time I have three kidneys. One that works great, and two that are craptastic. Eventually they will shrivel up and do nothing. The only thing that currently protects my new kidney is my stomach fat. Which doesn't give me anxiety at all about being hit in the stomach. Although the only restrictions after 6 weeks is that I can't play soccer, football, or pro-sports. Which will be no problem at all for this girl.</div>
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Thursday night was uneventful, Keith stayed the night at the hospital and around 8:30 or so, my parents headed home. I began my first immunosuppresent medication that night (not counting the large dose of steroids that I was given on the way to surgery to prepare my body for the foreign organ being placed in it. I received 500 mg of prednisone presurgery, 250 mg on Friday, and 125 mg on Saturday before I went home. I'm currently on the 5 mg pill that I was on before surgery, and can hopefully be weaned off of them totally in the next few weeks to months. Yay!)</div>
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Actually the rest of my stay was pretty uneventful, except for the constant nausea we realized was from the pain med I was on. So they switched it to a pill - which lessened the nausea some, but I still couldn't eat until I changed to plain tylenol on Sunday after the surgery. Pro - no more nausea. Con - doesn't completely help with pain. I also had high blood sugar from the steroids, so I had to get a shot of insulin on Friday night. Thankfully that issue seems to have resolved itself, however, I do need to watch my sugars for awhile. Sadly I have other food restictions - no delis or buffets where food sits out in the open and are more susceptible to germs. I also have to avoid large crowds and germy people (aka the kids' school) for a few weeks as my body adjusts to the immunosuppresents. I'm currently on 8 medications, for a total of 12 pills and one liquid antibiotic in the morning, and 8 pills in the evening. Some will only last for a few months to a year, and others I will be on forever. The liquid is in place of a pill (bacctrum) which I am allergic to. It tastes awful and costs hundreds of dollars pre-insurance, but thankfully I only have to take it for 12 months. </div>
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On Wednesday I will finally have my staples and JP drain removed. I still go for labs three times a week, but after next week, I get to switch to twice a week. My hemoglobin is really low, so I tire easily, and I had nerve damage from the surgery in my right thigh, so it's numb. That would be fine, but as the nerves are starting to wake up, I am pretty much in constant nerve pain. </div>
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I don't leave the house except for labs and doctors' appointments, but last Friday on our 11th wedding anniversary, Keith was able to get off work a little early and we snuck away to the movies. You have no idea how great that felt to get out of the house for a non-medical reason! Walking is getting easier and I can walk without assistance, even with the numb leg. </div>
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I feel very blessed to have been given this kidney, and I pray for the family of the donor. <br />
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SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-29604528355725846922015-10-24T20:12:00.001-05:002015-10-24T20:12:30.892-05:00After the Transplant: Post 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Was it just last week that I posted I was on alert for a kidney? Seems like months ago at this point. The night after I was put on alert, I still wondered if I would get a call. I received another call in the afternoon stating that I was still in the running. There was one person ahead of me, and he/she was a multi-organ recepient, and that took presedence over me. The other two times I had received the alert call, I felt sick to my stomach. I prayed that it wasn't the time. I wasn't too concerned about being called back. This time, I was strangely calm. I didn't go crazy trying to clean the house or get things done, rather I played Uno with the kids. We all laid in my bed at bedtime, reciting prayers and just being together. Keith and I watched some DVR. At 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, the phone rang. It was the nurse coordinator, stating that the kidney was mine, and that I needed to be into Chicago by midnight. I was already packed, so I took a quick shower while we waited for my mother in law to come and be with the kids. The hardest part was saying a silent goodbye to my children. They knew that I could leave in the night.<br />
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Keith, my mom and I drove into the city. There wasn't much traffic, so it didn't take the usual hour and a half as it does during the day. We checked into the ER, and waited to be taken upstairs to 11 East, the transplant floor. My room was soon ready and we got in. They did the usual vitals check, then stuck me with an IV. Not well I might add - it was placed in my elbow area and was painful, (So much so they had to re do it the next day.) My left arm is still torn up from three different IVs as I have small veins. My mom and Keith fell asleep, but my arm pain and the nervousness kept me up most of the night. I couldn't eat or drink, which really sucked, especially when I found out that surgery would not be until 2 pm the next day. <br />
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My dad drove in the next morning after getting my niece and nephew off to school (my sister just started her new job and needed to be in early that day. We basically just hung out while we waited for them to come take me.<br />
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Around 1:30/2 pm, they wheeled me to the pre-op room. The nurse was nice enough to let my parents and Keith come in with us (usually it's just 2 people allowed in). After another 30 minutes or so, after speaking with the anesthesiologist and a doctor or two, it was time. My family said our "see you laters" (family superstition) and I went into the operating room. It was super bright with probably 15 people in there at the time. There was someone sitting at a table, with his back to me, working on something. I wondered if it was the kidney? I didn't ask though.<br />
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To be continued...SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-18388485890067431932015-10-14T11:21:00.000-05:002015-10-14T11:21:02.531-05:00Waiting for a call...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">About this time last year, I wrote this post: <a href="http://lifewithconnorandthetwins.blogspot.com/2014/10/enjoy-little-things.html" target="_blank">Enjoy the little things...</a>. I quote one of my favorite songs - Simple Man by <span class="st">Lynyrd Skynyrd. I talk about the time I drove home from my grandpa's funeral, all alone, and this song came on the radio. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="st">But from time to time, this song will magically appear on the radio when I need it most. Like today while I was driving. I debated bringing this up as I don't want to hear people say - "I hope it works out for you" or "I'm sorry" when/if it doesn't. I will begin this by saying, there is no right thing to say to me when I share this news. Perhaps just a like on my FB post will be enough to know someone read it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="st">But here's the thing.... I am #2 in line for a cadaver kidney today. I found out last night. This is the third call I've received since the end of August putting me on alert. (Because it doesn't really happen like it does on t.v.). First they call and say, hey we have a kidney, but you aren't first in line. So I wait and wait and wait (wondering what I can get marked off the to do list in record time yet still trying to spend time with the kids - does a family laundry folding session count? Because they need clean socks!) Then they call back to say, sorry it went to someone else. And I breathe a sigh of relief that I have more time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="st">I debated sharing because I don't want to hear, oh I'm so sorry, or it will happen, etc. Not because I don't want support, but because I am truly ok with it going to someone else. Because that someone is in a greater need than me. However, people can't seem to understand that and tend to make me feel guilty for not wanting it more for myself than I do for the person who actually received the kidney.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="st">I sit here, waiting for a call that will only come if the person who is #1 on the list gets prepped for the surgery and right before placing multiple organs into him/her, the surgeon discovers that one of them is not suitable for transplant. They will cancel that surgery, that person will wake up only to discover he/she did not get the organs. And a kidney will be flown to Chicago for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="st">Everyone is so excited for this cadaver kidney to come to me - but what about the family of the one who lost his/her life? Or the person ahead of me on this list, who is probably in greater need of this than me. There are many reasons why I wanted to go the living donor route - and those are two big ones for me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="st">My surgery will only happen when the time is right. That may not be today, and I am ok with that. </span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><br /></span>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-54146720468287300832015-10-06T12:09:00.004-05:002016-01-05T14:06:45.370-06:00Positivity <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So here's the thing - I have a <strike>really</strike> sucky disease. Well, sort of. I mean, it's not <i>that</i> bad in the grand scheme of things. (Despite what my mom thinks.) A little girl I follow on FB just had a liver transplant, and they think the new liver is failing. Don't even get me started on all the gun violence in the world... especially Chicago and my hometown. Life could be worse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Strangely enough, I seem to be the only person in my family with such a positive outlook. I say that loudly and proudly on my blog - 1, because most of my family doesn't read this, and 2, because I say it to their faces as well. But do you know what sucks about being positive, even with a life-threatening disease? People think you're cray cray. It's true. They don't know what to do with me. Apparently I am not your typical kidney failure person. I'm always out and about, I work full-time, and I am not on dialysis. Well not yet anyway. T-minus one day until I go for the blood work that determines if I will have a port-thingy installed in my stomach for <span class="_Tgc">peritoneal dialysis (I really need to learn the correct medical terminology ;) ) Anyway, it appears from here on out, I will have blood work done every 2 weeks to check my kidney function. My GFR (you don't have to know what that means) is at 12. One point lower means the port goes in. 12 or above - yay! no port! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc">Sure I have my off days, as anyone does, but I see no reason to let this disease define me. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc">Do I want to have dialysis? No.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc">Can I do anything about it? Apparently not.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc">So it is what it is.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc">And I go on.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc">With a smile on my face.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc">Because hey check out these three awesome beings that I made. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-__W4AmRvU-A/VhQAN1Rj4rI/AAAAAAAAFOM/zULRXXiYPiM/s1600/11947532_10153480991610631_2844332237972604076_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-__W4AmRvU-A/VhQAN1Rj4rI/AAAAAAAAFOM/zULRXXiYPiM/s320/11947532_10153480991610631_2844332237972604076_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They are reason enough to stay positive.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dGZSUFhARQI/VhP_37gqTmI/AAAAAAAAFOE/8Kgl5FIwOFk/s1600/IMG_5675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="_Tgc"><br /></span></span>
</div>
SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-1304617863148634962015-10-05T10:40:00.001-05:002015-10-05T10:40:20.863-05:00The Beginning...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--sK-J9GOdW8/VhKZ2DHgCoI/AAAAAAAAFNg/_c13ClBIlys/s1600/IMG_5710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--sK-J9GOdW8/VhKZ2DHgCoI/AAAAAAAAFNg/_c13ClBIlys/s320/IMG_5710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I've got this friend. And she wrote a book. I'm only half-way through it, but it's amazing. I'm super jealous and all, because she actually did what she said she would do, while I just sit here and say, "I should write more."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I'd like to say to her, "Thank you for the inspiration!"</span><br />
<br />
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<i>The early morning sun was cresting above the ocean, setting
off a wave of pale colors throughout the sky to the east. Kate stood on her
porch, the steam from her coffee mug wafting gently through the air as she
breathed in the strong aroma. It was like being in one of those coffee
commercials, she laughed quietly to herself. This was her favorite part of
living right on the water – the silence and solitude that came every morning.
It wouldn’t last long. Despite the coolness of October, the beach was close
enough to town that a steady stream of people would visit during the day –
joggers choosing to run along the water instead of a sidewalk, stay-at-home
moms breaking from park routines to watch their children play in the sand, and
those careless souls who loved to walk along and watch the fishing boats in the
distance.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The last throngs of tourists had finished their vacations
and headed back home after Labor Day weekend, leaving her sleepy little lake
town quiet again. It wouldn’t pick up again until the Harvest Festival in two
weeks. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>She wouldn’t need to hurry to her
shop by 6 a.m. every day for the morning rush. She was
thankful when Christine had offered to take the early shift for the month. Kate
was in need of a break as she prepared for the upcoming busy season – the Harvest
Festival was a big draw and had grown larger and larger with each passing year.
What was once a simple town parade and sidewalk fair had turned into a celebration
of grand proportions.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>The beach was just
one of the draws to the town – nearby farms blossomed with pumpkins and hay
bales that would soon line Main Street in anticipation of the festival. The leaves
on the trees would shine with their bright colors of gold, orange and crimson. The
crispness of fall perfumes the air and the blustery wind sweeps through,
rustling the soon-to-be barren branches. The storefronts would be ablaze of
autumn décor – colorful lights, spooky skulls and bright orange jack-o-lanterns
would fill the windows, each one carefully set up to entice those passing by to
come in for a spell. </i></div>
SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-91209265482073572002015-10-01T09:03:00.001-05:002015-10-01T09:03:57.357-05:00Hello October!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RewgpYwEzxA/Vg04GTMzUhI/AAAAAAAAFMM/eNcxRa8X3KM/s1600/october.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's here! My favorite time of year! For fun, I'm going to list just a few of my favorite October things. :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Spooky stories:</u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0elAWwlJkI/Vg04U6AKbKI/AAAAAAAAFMU/WkUvfUMjQqo/s1600/4255552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0elAWwlJkI/Vg04U6AKbKI/AAAAAAAAFMU/WkUvfUMjQqo/s1600/4255552.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I was in grade school, I found this book (yes I tended to read things that I probably shouldn't have at certain ages). It was the best, spookiest book I'd ever seen at that time. Every year, when the leaves began to change colors and fall from the trees, I would check this book out from the library. I'd sit in our darkened living room in the evenings after supper and treat myself to one scary story after another. Once I went to college, I lost the tradition. It wasn't until a few years ago that I found the book on Amazon. It was even scarier than I remembered - especially the story called "Eyes" by Charles L. Grant. In fact, as a mother (it's about the death of a child and the guilt the father endures) I can't read the story anymore. But all the other ones are super good!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><u>Devilish Decor:</u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here is a link to how I usually <a href="http://lifewithconnorandthetwins.blogspot.com/2014/10/its-most-wonderful-time-of-year.html" target="_blank">decorate</a>. I do wait until October officially starts to get out my Halloween decor, so this weekend it's on!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am going to be brave and get out a few things I haven't had out since the kids were born. Every year, I try to take out one new thing (the skeleton bride/groom was a big scary thing for a couple of years!). This time, I am going to put out some of my Living Dead Dolls. I collected these long before the kids came into the picture. They aren't actually little kid appropriate, and they live in coffins... I did promise not to bring out the super scary ones though. A few that will grace the mantel include:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QtI7k6MHC7M/Vg07yL2TUOI/AAAAAAAAFMk/WEzXnSNA3oM/s1600/ldd_001_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QtI7k6MHC7M/Vg07yL2TUOI/AAAAAAAAFMk/WEzXnSNA3oM/s320/ldd_001_002.jpg" width="184" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adC7DhDpCws/Vg07yCmFAaI/AAAAAAAAFMs/7tkthZZDRbk/s1600/Sadie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adC7DhDpCws/Vg07yCmFAaI/AAAAAAAAFMs/7tkthZZDRbk/s320/Sadie.jpg" width="184" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfA03BCWYLE/Vg07yFCFU9I/AAAAAAAAFMg/HSJSQWH2l6A/s1600/ldd_exc_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfA03BCWYLE/Vg07yFCFU9I/AAAAAAAAFMg/HSJSQWH2l6A/s320/ldd_exc_004.jpg" width="208" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just kidding - I won't put the bloody bride and groom out!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Unless Keira gives her approval!)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>Pumpkin-everything!</b></u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Seriously I can't help it. I love it all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Do you celebrate Halloween? Do you decorate for it? </span>
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SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-26927204152493203442015-09-29T12:52:00.000-05:002015-09-29T12:52:43.957-05:00Book Review: One More Haunted Evening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vevycbub_aw/VgrMJX0IXoI/AAAAAAAAFLw/P2m8AQ88ki8/s1600/25175377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vevycbub_aw/VgrMJX0IXoI/AAAAAAAAFLw/P2m8AQ88ki8/s320/25175377.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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It's a dreary fall day - just the kind of day that makes you want to curl up with a cozy blanket and a warm drink... and this book! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Haunted-Evening-Stone-ebook/dp/B010NR3ZLU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443548835&sr=8-2&keywords=one+haunted+evening" target="_blank">One More Haunted Evening</a> is a fantastically spooky story just right for the season. <span id="freeTextContainer13337752384629694126">This book was written by three authors (</span><span id="freeTextContainer13337752384629694126">Jane Charles, Jerrica Knight-Catania, and Ava Stone) - which some people may find odd, however, all three authors pulled it off again with great results!</span><br />
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This is a follow-up book to One Haunted Evening, although you don't need to have read the first one to pick this one up.<br />
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Lord Quentin Post and his two rakish friends are back at <span id="freeTextContainer13337752384629694126">Marisdùn Castle for a Samhain masquerade. In fact, Quentin hopes that by having a masquerade just like last year's, his mysterious angel will reappear. The other two gentlemen, Thorn and Garrick, are also on the search for something, one for his missing artist, and the other for, well you will see when you read the book. ;) </span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer13337752384629694126">Quentin's three sisters - triplets, Hope, Patience, and Grace, are also along for adventure. They were certainly entertaining to read about as well! It's hard to say too much without giving things away, which I hate to do. But I highly recommend this book (and the first one as well!) especially this close to Halloween. I gave this book 5 stars on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25175377-one-more-haunted-evening?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>. </span>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-18041069274164457762015-09-25T10:48:00.003-05:002015-09-25T10:48:40.766-05:00A Honest Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJSaW1rHQ2Q/VgVq39lIlsI/AAAAAAAAFLg/sQ0fZz2F_lA/s1600/let-god.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJSaW1rHQ2Q/VgVq39lIlsI/AAAAAAAAFLg/sQ0fZz2F_lA/s320/let-god.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am a saver. A part-time hoarder, if you will. I have a hard time letting go of things that once meant a lot to me. Which means we have a lot of stuff. Baby stuff, kid stuff, things from my own past that remind me of different times. I'm always saving things for a rainy day. Gift cards, candles, bottles of wine, you get the idea. I don't want to use/open them just now, just in case. I want to save them for a special occasion or to cheer me up on a day that I could be feeling down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But now, more than ever, I am reminded that life is short. There have been rainy days but I didn't burn the candle. There have been days I felt down, but I didn't stop at Starbucks to use the giftcard. And I wonder, whatever am I waiting for?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The future is there in front of me, but life is so uncertain. I watch with sadness as a co-worker struggles with her chemo treatments. My heart breaks as a fellow twin mom prepares to bury her 10 year old son. I see my own face in the mirror, swollen from months of steroid use, and lament the fact I didn't do our family pictures sooner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">People say they are praying for me - I wish they'd pray that I was miraculously healed. Because seriously, I don't want to do this anymore. This air of calm resolve you see on the outside is just a mask, hiding the chaos that circles in my soul. My to-do list rambles on with things I really should get to before I have life-changing surgery. But sheer exhaustion from kidney failure prohibits more items being checked done. What should I put off and what should I move to the top?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That candle I received years ago looms in my mind - why did I never burn it? The gift card sits in my wallet - why didn't I stop off and get a latte? Running, always running, from one thing to the next, with never a moment to slow down. Life speeds past as life is ought to do. And I find myself in a flurry of motion, hard-pressed for time because it's running out. </span><br />
<br />SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-57660624665920192942015-08-21T14:23:00.001-05:002015-08-21T14:23:54.870-05:00Routine Charts<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The kids really like their <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/567735096747779221/" target="_blank">before school</a> charts. I've vamped them up a bit - they love their electronics but do not get them during the school week (other than the occasional TV show in the morning). I also wanted something for after school, just as a reminder of what needs to be done. It's very exhausting to me to come home after a full day of work, see the kitchen and living room in total disarray. We go right to supper, finishing up homework, baseball or gymnastic practice, 20 minutes of reading (per school request), and then shower/bedtime. The kids leave their backpacks where they fall, shoes near the door, clothes all over (seriously why can't they change in their rooms???), etc. They rarely hang up their uniform pants, although many times I will find their dirty uniform shirts hanging up? How weird is that? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I created this chart for what they should be doing after school. I may end up tweaking it after a couple of weeks. The 7:30 p.m. bedtime really isn't that firm, but it's generally when we start getting them ready for bed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What would you add to an after school chart?</span><br />
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<script async="" data-pin-color="red" data-pin-height="28" data-pin-hover="true" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-3587658668733722172015-08-18T09:47:00.000-05:002015-08-18T09:53:54.472-05:00Back to School - Creating a Homework StationSchool starts tomorrow. I am trying to get things organized in between working full-time. Ha!<br />
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We had already been using a shoe organizer in our closet off the kitchen for miscellaneous items, such as hats and gloves in the winter, and sunglasses and baseball hats in the summer. By moving those things to a different spot, I had plenty of space for our homework supplies. The kids love the ease of being able to find what they want without having to dig through the closet or a drawer!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ujqvX2g9VZo/UguYZAJejtI/AAAAAAAACvU/QP63OjGR_2w/s1600/photo(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ujqvX2g9VZo/UguYZAJejtI/AAAAAAAACvU/QP63OjGR_2w/s400/photo(12).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up #1:
The first three bags are the kids' markers for art.<br />The bottom two bags hold pencils, erasers, crayons
and a glue stick for each twin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tN-RpK9POsA/UguYZNT32BI/AAAAAAAACvM/YFoVSl2VUiE/s1600/photo(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tN-RpK9POsA/UguYZNT32BI/AAAAAAAACvM/YFoVSl2VUiE/s400/photo(13).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up #2
Misc markers, rulers, <br />and art supplies for when homework is done<br />
and they just want to create something!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGgoDv9XpYw/UguYZ5gg4aI/AAAAAAAACvk/9zKh9OT4IKE/s1600/photo(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGgoDv9XpYw/UguYZ5gg4aI/AAAAAAAACvk/9zKh9OT4IKE/s400/photo(14).JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art supplies, extra markers (Keith got a great deal at Meijer!)<br />Stamps, envelopes, return address labels,
<br />Connor's box with his school pencils and crayons.<br />
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* I had previously posted this on my other blog, but wanted to move it over here. </td></tr>
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<script type="text/javascript" async defer data-pin-color="red" data-pin-hover="true" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-78156599838244542182015-08-12T14:35:00.000-05:002015-08-12T14:35:48.596-05:00Book Review: My Enchanting Hoyden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PiSPbQZah4Q/VciuDp9-SII/AAAAAAAAE2s/QOwxvEwEvnQ/s1600/25797764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PiSPbQZah4Q/VciuDp9-SII/AAAAAAAAE2s/QOwxvEwEvnQ/s320/25797764.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://juliejohnstoneauthor.com/" target="_blank">Julie Johnstone</a>'s newest novel, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25797764-my-enchanting-hoyden?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr" target="_blank">My Enchanting Hoyden</a>, was just released last week. As usual, this is another one of her books that is just a delight to read! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jemma is a woman who has been duped by her first love. Intent on not wanting to ever make that mistake again, her goal is to earn enough money to be independent and have her own bakery, just like her mother. That's not easy when her grandfather has different plans. Lord Hawthorne, otherwise known as Philip, has a debt to fulfill and marriage to a wealthy woman is his only way out. But he feels he is too much of a gentleman to win a lady's heart, and is intent on changing his reputation to gain a wealthy wife. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As the two of them work together, Jemma to foil her grandfather's plan, and Philip to turn himself into a rogue to be wanted by the ladies of the ton, the reader roots for the two of them to acknowledge their feelings for each other!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is a really great story. The characters are very likeable from the beginning. Ms. Johnstone's characters are always so full of life that you can imagine having tea and getting along famously with them. While this is book 3 in her Once Upon a Rogue series, it can be read as a standalone. Or as the first book of many you pick up to read by this author. ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Want to check out the book? Buy it here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"><a href="http://amzn.com/B0103H442E" target="_blank"><b>Amazon</b></a> </span><br style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-enchanting-hoyden-julie-johnstone/1122340585?ean=2940151672498" target="_blank"><b>Barnes and Noble</b></a> </span><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"></span><br style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;" /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-enchanting-hoyden/id1021320476?mt=11" target="_blank"><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"><b>iBooks</b></span></a></span><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"></span><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"></span></span></span></div>
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SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-73712639730709768192015-08-06T10:40:00.004-05:002015-08-06T10:40:54.437-05:00The Summer of Firsts...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I debated bringing this up, but decided it's my blog, I'll write if I want to. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had a kidney donor. She was approved as a tissue match and was set to come into the hospital for the final round of testing. Let's just say it didn't work out. I don't know the details, but she backed out. She has her reasons, which I am sure are valid, but she did not share them with me. I just hope and pray that they are not serious health reasons or something of that nature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To say I was shocked is an understatement. A few dear co-workers offered to go beat her up, jokingly of course. Keith said it happened because it gives me more time with the kids this summer. I don't see it that way. Since my levels are up enough to push off surgery for a couple of months, I would have had that extra summer time anyway. A friend told me once that she doesn't believe things happen for a reason, that they just happen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I however, think things do happen for a reason. Not good reasons, perhaps. We had a second donor come forward, but due to an eye injury/surgery, she couldn't start testing. Donor #3 was disqualified by the hospital due to high blood pressure (from one doctor visit!), although she asked to have a 24 hours test to prove that reading was based on stress, not her overall health. Still waiting to hear the results and if she will be approved to move forward. Either way, the chances of needing dialysis are looming. Testing of a donor can take up to three months, which is plenty of time for levels to drop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I still wonder why this happened to me. Why the donor backed out. Why I was so close only to have it taken away. It's hard knowing there is an actual match out there that could save my life but I don't have access to it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Despite all that, I keep on going. There isn't anything else to do. I'm enjoying summer, enjoying the kids. Perhaps that is the reason this is all happening. As a mom, you tend to get so wrapped up in things that there is little chance to enjoy what is going on around you. Summer gives us the time to step back, without the hustle and bustle of the school year. I can't say that I am looking forward to the kids going back to school in two weeks. Homework will be a bigger constant in our lives. There are after-school activities to take them to. And I still work full-time and have my house duties to take care of. The laundry doesn't wash itself. (Although I wish it would put itself away...) I do all the things I did before, but with a nagging sense of exhaustion that haunts me night and day... one that can't be controlled with caffeine or extra sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And while this was the first summer of my new normal, there were also more fun "firsts" that happened as well:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">First time riding bikes without training wheels (and not falling off!):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First Cubs game!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First time miniature-golfing! <br />(Not the best picture, but it was black-light mini-golf!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> First time meeting a far-away friend....</span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(And getting to see other special friends as well!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First time meeting Batman... <br />(Who, I'm not going to lie, was pretty cute in person...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There were other first as well that are not pictured here, since a more personal goal of mine was not to have my phone with me at all times. Because not all moments need to be documented with technology. Rather they live in our hearts and minds...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to more "firsts" as the year goes on. That's the thing, after your children are out of the infant/toddler stage, we tend to forget that there are many other firsts that are to come. My goal for the rest of the year is to find more "firsts" and enjoy them all. </span>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-57649276237645849782015-07-29T14:20:00.002-05:002015-07-29T14:21:11.132-05:00Book Review: Between the Lines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jane Charles' new book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25996761-between-the-lines" target="_blank">Between the Lines</a>, was just released. The book centers around Gabe and Ellen, and the Baxter School of the Arts. It's told from both Gabe and Ellen's first person perspectives, which is great because the reader is able to see both sides of the story as it develops. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Gabe is a teacher at the Baxter School of the Arts. Ellen is a reporter who feels that there is a story that needs to be told about Baxter. Both of them are dead set with keeping their secrets to themselves, but as their relationship grows, it becomes harder for them to not trust each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I really liked this book, even though it's not what I normally read. Ellen is trying to keep her past a secret, but as she falls for Gabe, she begins to trust him and share her secrets. Gabe continues to protect the school and it's secrets, but not because they are bad. It's his job to protect the students he cares about. As Ellen gets closer to the truth, she begins to understand the Baxter story. I really enjoyed the scene where she met with some of the students and heard their perspectives and stories. Without going into detail to ruin the story, the stories are what truly convinces Ellen that there is nothing shady going on at Baxter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The ending wraps up the story nicely. I hope there are more books in this series as I'd enjoy reading about some of the other characters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**</span><br />
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SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937201182639907249.post-68573367597447158182015-07-20T15:50:00.001-05:002015-07-20T15:50:31.532-05:00Book Review: The Art of Sinning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mark your calendar - tomorrow is the release of the newest Sabrina Jeffries' book! The Art of Sinning is the delightful first novel in her new series, called the Sinful Suitors. This book does not disappoint! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jeremy Keane, an artist not wanting to be tied down to his father's business back in America, meets Lady Yvette Barlow, a woman who has taken it upon herself to solve a family mystery. Jeremy wants to use Yvette as his muse, but she won't agree unless he helps her. Yvette's brother won't agree to the arrangement, so the two of them concoct a plan to work together - she will be his muse, and he will help her find the woman she is looking for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As a reader, I am never bored with a Sabrina Jeffries' story. The two main characters are great together - lots of chemistry in both conversation and in the bedroom. They are very witty, which makes them more likeable characters, in my own opinion. The secondary characters are great too, and you want to read more about them as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Check out her book tomorrow - available in paper and e-reader! </span>SarahMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00774399201381169907noreply@blogger.com0