Secret Angels

Good Wednesday morning!

Roxie and Basketball

When you first meet Roxie, your first impression might be a little different from what's just under the surface. Roxie was born in the third slot of our little family making her, in every sense of the word, the baby. She was rarely told "no," and "The Brothers" (as she called them as soon as she could speak) were at her beck and call the first years of her life. Even at 12, she pretty much gets what she wants when she wants it from "The Brothers." (Although, they are not as willing as they were when they were six and under.)

I say all of the above to paint a picture of Miss Roxie. She has wanted for nothing in her young life. So when I, as a parent, sit down and watch her play a basketball game, I sometimes do not even recognize my own child. She didn't take after "The Brothers" in the height department. Thus, she can sometimes be dwarfed by some of the other players. It doesn't matter. If they have the ball and Roxie wants the ball, they might as well hand it over to her. She'll "attack" someone twice her size and have them on their back on the floor until she is in possession of the ball. Once she has the ball, she knows what to do with it. As point guard, she is a good ball handler, and she can quickly get the ball to our basket where she will either pass or make the shot herself.

You don't really know if she's enjoyed the game until it is over, and we're in the car on the way home. Then, depending on how well she played, or how accurate the refs were, or how the score ended, she'll let you know. (A bad call from the ref can result in Roxie acting like a miniature John McEnroe. I know, I know. He played tennis... but he never liked the ref''s calls. I'm just glad she doesn't have a racket to throw at them like he did!)

I have actually sat in the stands close to the other team's parents and listened to them talk about the little girl who keeps knocking their little girls down. They don't appreciate the intensity and aggressive style of play that is Roxie. And while I have never been ashamed to be her mother, there have definitely been times I have ushered her out of the gym to my car as quickly as possible... for safety sake.

On the flip side, Mike and The Brothers love it. They think it's great, and all three of them take credit for helping make her the little Tasmanian Devil she is today.

All that said, Roxie won her game tonight and will be playing in another game Thursday night. (I thought this was the game before the championship game Saturday, but there is one more.) We can't wait. It should be... interesting!

Austin

The aftermath!

Austin was healthy, a good eater, a good sleeper... in a word, a blessing! (I, too, am a good eater and a good sleeper. He got that from me!)

The shower I had been so eager to take the afternoon after Austin arrived never came. The very few things I remember from Austin's first day of life are as follows:

1. I remember being in recovery with some kind of strip on my forehead. (I don't know if it was for temperature, etc.) I do know the nurse kept slicking my bangs straight back so they could check the strip easily. Let's get one thing straight. I'm a "bang girl." Always have been... always will be. I do not look good with my hair slicked straight back. I admire women who do, but I resigned myself many years ago that I was not one of "them," and have lived with bangs every day of my life. (I'm always so excited when I walk by a magazine rack and see a headline, "Bangs Are Back." I know for a few months, I'll be in style.)

As soon as the nurse would slick them back, even in my drug-induced zombie-like state, I would reach up and pull them down. This went on for quite a while I'm told. They finally gave up.

2. I remember waking up and it was dark. I was in my room. Mike was rocking Austin, and I was itching like crazy. I was allergic to morphine. Who knew? So we changed my medication immediately.

3. I remember asking Mike, "How bad does my hair look?" and him telling me it was fine. I then remember asking him for a mirror, and he told me there wasn't one in the room. Even on drugs, I knew what that meant.

4. I remember holding Austin for a little bit, but Mike was actually holding him in front of me because I was too out of it to hold him by myself.

5. I remember Mike telling me how many people had come by to see Austin... and how they thought it was cute that I slept and snored through their visit with my head thrown back and my mouth wide open. "Just tell me they didn't take pictures," I said weakly. He assured me the only pictures taken were of the baby. I have to believe him, but only because no incriminating pictures have surfaced over the last 18 years.

6. I remember the next day being much more "aware" of my surroundings and my baby. I was going to get a shower and wash my hair! Life was good.

7. I remember going into the bathroom bent over double because of the incision, taking my shower and starting to get dressed. The best shower of my life! Even better than the shower I take as soon as I come home from a camping trip... and those are GOOD showers.

8. I remember looking at my tummy and wondering why the doctor hadn't "fixed" that right after Austin was born. He was right there. He had all of the "helpers." It probably would have taken all of five minutes.

9. I remember asking a nurse how long would it be before my tummy returned to normal. I remember her laughing... not hysterically, but close. I remember not liking her very much, and I didn't offer her a piece of my homemade divinity (a gift from Mrs. Davis) like I had the night nurse... even though she bent over it and said, "That looks wonderful." (Can you tell what a great mother I was going to be?)

10. I remember the hour long drive home on the interstate with our precious cargo. Mike was scared to death, and we barely went 50 miles an hour from Birmingham to Cullman and both of us thought that was too fast.

And from that point on, the memories come fast and furious. Eighteen years worth of them. I will spare you the rest of those. But I will say, Austin has been a joy. Not perfect by any means, but a true joy nonetheless. I loved the baby... I had a ball with the little boy... I survived the teenager (he has been a VERY easy teenager), and I stand amazed at the young man in front of me now.

I used to get so annoyed with women who would say, "Enjoy it now. It will be gone in a blink of an eye." At that time in my life, my days were 36 hours long... laundry, meals, baths, bedtimes, more laundry, bright colored toys EVERYWHERE, more laundry, play dates, runny noses, two more babies, three times the work. But they were right. I made a rookie mistake, and as I stated in an earlier post... I hate making rookie mistakes. I blinked.

And, oh, how I wish I hadn't.

Secret Angels

Put everyone's name in a basket, and after dinner one night have each person draw a name. For the next week, each person must try to do one good deed and leave one small surprise in secret for the person they drew. When the week is over, at dinner try to guess who has been your secret angel all week.

This idea was taken from 101 Ideas for Making Family Memories.

We did this one week and we really enjoyed it. By the end of the week only one of us was truly surprised. Everyone put a lot of thought into the deed and the surprise. While one of the boys was taking a shower, his secret angel ran in and made his bed for him. Roxie has always been a "gum freak," so she was thrilled when a pack of gum mysteriously appeared on her pillow one day. It's a very good way to get your family thinking about each other and not themselves. Sometimes that gets lost in everyday family life... and the easiest people to take for granted are the ones you live with. It puts the priorities back where they should be (God, FAMILY, Others).

If it is successful, you could plan a week every year in February or another month that may not be as busy. Every month is a good month to show your family you love them.

Have a wonderful Wednesday! Tomorrow I have a VERY fun and INEXPENSIVE date for you and your child, OR you can make it a great family date, too... and it will still be inexpensive!

I'll talk to you tomorrow.