Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

Yes! The weekend is here, and that means something different for everyone out there reading this today. It may mean football, band competitions, birthday celebrations, volleyball tournaments, family gatherings, or sleeping late on a rainy Saturday morning (that would be heavenly). Every family is going to have a different weekend. Every family has it's own unique rhythm. Every family has it's own way of doing things.

I love that. I love hearing about different things different families do... whether for special occasions or just the every day stuff. Being a "copier," this info is where I get MUCH of my "material." So if you ever have an idea or something you want to share, as I've said before, feel free. I don't think I've ever taken credit for something that wasn't mine (and if I have it is only because I had a momentary brain malfunction.) I'm having more and more and more of those lately. The bad news is it's not bothering me as much as when I first noticed it happening.

A COUPLE OF REMINDERS - Project 365 is still going strong. So far, I haven't missed a day, but of course, I haven't even hit my 31st picture yet. I don't want to brag too much since I still have over 320 pictures to go. (Gee, I wish I hadn't written that. It's a little depressing.) I'll be posting Friday, Saturday and Sunday Project 365 pics, and you can click on Belinda's Project 365 on the sidebar this weekend to take a look if you're interested.

Also, if you are a Newbie to the blog, you can now go to the sidebar and click on Newbie Information which will give you all the info you need to master the intricacies of A Simple Life. If you only read one thing, I would ask you to read Josh's Journey since it is the main reason I started this blog in the first place.

Okay. Let's get on with the Friday "stuff."

AUSTIN UPDATE - Austin is still doing very well living away from home. He's experiencing many new exciting things, and because he's always been a "talker," he shares many of those "things" with us. He had two articles in the school paper this week... one about the game, and one from attending the press conference with the coach. Next week, he's doing a player bio and the press conference articles while another student writes about the game.

When he left Monday morning, I mentioned to him to make sure he had time to change clothes before he went to the press conference. "Why? I'm just going straight from class," he responded.

"Well, I'm not sure, but since the 'real' newspapers are going to be there, no one is going to be dressed in plaid shorts and a JSU t-shirt with flip flops."

"Ahh. They know I'm a student. It will be fine." I didn't say another word.

Around 11:15 I received a call. At first I thought it was a heavy breather (I love those), but then I realized it was just Austin running across the quad. "Problem?" I asked sweetly.

"I showed up at the press conference a few minutes early and everyone was dressed up. Some even had ties. I'll be fine with my brown slacks and polo shirt though," he puffed. I didn't say I told you so... Oh, how I wanted to, but I refrained.

"Good luck," I said as I hung up.

At 12:30 I received another call. "It was great!" he said. "They gave me a sheet of statements from the coach so I would know what questions NOT to ask. I loved it."

"Wonderful. And were you dressed okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. But I couldn't find my brown socks."

You would only have to know me a minute to realize how much this bothered me. "What did you do? Did you wear your black uniform socks?"

"Oh, man. I wish I had thought about that."

I was getting bothered more by the minute. "What did you wear?" I asked, bracing myself.

"Don't worry. I wore my dress shoes and no socks."

Ugh!!! "Well, at least tell me you didn't sit down where people could see your hairy white ankles."

"Of course I sat down. I didn't know how long it was going to last, and I don't like to write standing up."

Oh, Austin... Throw me a bone here! "Did you at least sit in the back?"

"No. Closer to the front."

I stopped. I didn't want to know if he sat on the front row. It would be more than I could take.

This Monday when he leaves he's taking four pair of brown socks... FOUR PAIR. (And I know if that's the worse thing that ever happens at college, I will consider myself very, very fortunate.)

Weekend Happenings

We have a lot of "what ifs" this weekend. NO MATTER WHAT, Roxie begins the county volleyball tournament tonight. THE BIG ONE! IF they win at least one of the two games, they will play Saturday and continue to play until they are eliminated OR WIN IT ALL!

IF it rains out the Gadsden Band Expo Saturday, Austin will get to come home early (Friday night or Saturday morning), and he will watch Roxie play at least one or two of her tournament games. IF if doesn't rain, he will be home Saturday night after the band performs.

IF Auburn is on a channel we have, Josh will watch the game from home Saturday night. IF we don't have the channel, he's hoping to watch from Grandmother's house. IF Austin does get to come home earlier than planned, he will probably be watching the game with his brother.

Roxie's family birthday party WILL DEFINITELY BE Sunday. There are no "what ifs" associated with her celebration. Also a "definite-do" will be the watching of The Amazing Race by the Faulkner Five Sunday night after church. I'M DECLARING IT! (Declaring something can sometimes backfire on you. I'm very brave to have done so!)

We'll see if this weekend goes according to plan!

Roxie's Birth Day Story - Part Five

Well, the time finally arrived to schedule a C-Section. The table we called my stomach was now measuring around 50 weeks... and growing daily. Uncomfortable doesn't seem to be an adequate word to describe the way I felt. And trying not to be fearful was very, very difficult.

The day of the scheduled C-Section, September 25, 1996, we arrived at the hospital. Everything was in place. The plan had not changed. Mike and Mom were to stay with Roxie NO MATTER WHAT, and Daddy would stay with me.

At noon, we went to the operating room to get Roxie. In a matter of a few minutes, Mike and I heard crying. Crying with gusto, actually. And then we met Roxie. Fat, angry, red cheeks, a little auburn hair... she didn't look like her esophagus wasn't attached to her stomach.

The nurse cleaned her and right before they took her away for her tests, she gave her to me one more time to kiss. The nurse leaned down and whispered in my ear, "What did you name this baby?"

"Roxie," I replied.

"Perfect," the nurse said... and then after a quick kiss and an "I love you" from Mikie, they were gone.

I was later taken to a semi-dark room. No one was there. I looked at the clock on the wall. It had been an hour since I had went into the operating room. I picked up the phone, but it wasn't connected. Very, very strange.

Of all things, a workman came in to work on the thermostat. I asked him to turn on a light and to keep the door open. I then asked him if he could find a nurse. He kindly did so.

When the nurse arrived, she asked if I needed pain meds which I refused. Although I knew the epidural was wearing off, when I take pain meds I am out for the count. I didn't want to be unconscious if they had to take Roxie to Children's. I asked her if she had seen my Dad. She said no, but she would watch for him. Again, very, very strange.

The clock kept ticking. I had now been in the room over 30 minutes by myself. Where was Daddy? Something was wrong. The only reason for him to not be with me would be because something was not right with Roxie. About that time, I saw him walking past the door. I yelled for him, and he came and sat down beside me... his assigned post for the day. He said he had been looking for me for over 30 minutes, but no one knew where I was. He had been going into rooms (containing new mothers) for the last half hour just looking. It was a wonder he wasn't arrested!

We sat in a very comfortable silence, holding hands and waiting. He didn't know to ask about pain medication, and I didn't tell him what I was doing, but my epidural was wearing off pretty fast.

We received a couple of phone calls during the long day from my Mom and Mike giving us updates on the testing and we continued to wait.

My Aunt Connie and my mom's best friend, Mrs. Davis, came in to check on me. They knew pretty soon into the conversation I was not taking meds. If I remember correctly (and I probably don't), they really jumped Daddy about not taking care of that little issue. But again, being a man who had never given birth, he was totally oblivious.

Needless to say, the nurse and I had to come to an agreement on what I could take that would take the edge off the pain, but would allow me to stay awake enough to know what was going on with Miss Roxie. That taken care of, we waited some more.

When Mom came in several hours later, she gave us the news everything in Roxie was "connected." No surgery needed. They were going to move me to a room and then Mikie and Roxie were coming to see me. I held her again at 7:00 p.m. that night. Seven hours after she was born. And then I had the nurse bring me some really, really strong pain meds!

And that's Roxie's Birth Day Story. Again, not to compare or complain to other women who have been through so much more. It is simply her story... her beginning... our beginning as the Faulkner Five.

I wrote this in her baby book while I was in the hospital 13 years ago (on heavy, heavy pain meds), but it's still true today...

"September 25, 1996 - When Austin was born, I was amazed at how much I loved him. He was my total obsession. When Joshua was born, I was amazed I could love another child as much as my first. He was my heart. When Roxie was born, I was amazed God had blessed me yet again with this beautiful little girl. She was (and is) my heart's desire."

I know you're glad this week is finally over. Remember, we're going to Disney next week... on the blog, I mean. No more baby stories until October 5. (Sorry. Josh's birthday is October 4.)

TV Review - Survivor was very good. There is a villain on the show... a short, squatty guy who is causing all kinds of havoc. Unfortunately, I think I like him. He's very cocky. He lies. And then he bullies all the other survivors to make them do his bidding. (He's what Roxie would be like if she ever played Survivor. I'm kidding! Sort of!) It's anyone's game, but Roxie and the boys seemed to have picked the ones who could go to the end. (My Rocket Scientist guy is not good... not good at all!)

Book - Since I've run late posting today because of Internet problems yesterday, the book of the week will show up some time later in the day.

Have a great weekend... wet or not. Do something simple with your family sometime during these next two days (or something big). Whatever you have the energy for. (We've talked about my energy level... We're going the simple route!) Next week will be Disney week on the blog. I'll be sharing stories and pictures from the most wonderful place ever created for kids of all ages. Feel free to share some of your stories, too.

Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda