What a magical Christmas we had. My parents arrived on the 23rd. A short while after going to bed, we receibved a text message and a voicemail etting us know that my cousins Justin and Karen welcomed their new twins, Seth and Lucia into the world a bit earlier than we had expected. They are healthy and set to come home in a few days. What a blessing!
We woke up on Christmas Eve and I did an early morning photoshoot, while my mom headed out for a massage ( her bday present from us).
We put Audrey down for bed and began assembling her toys and setting up the living room for her christmas morning.
When she awoke, my parents brought her downstairs to enjoy all her new toys.
Many of her gifts were wonderful garage sale finds that we found during the summer months: a baby play station, a grocery store. Our friend Steve gave her a kitche that his kids had grown out of.
We did buy her a barbie ATV. She is still trying to get the hang of pressing the button and steering. The morning was long, but fun, filled with a fire interruption, which is no longer a surprise for any of us.
We then headed to Jim's family's house at 1 pm ( after naps) to enjoy a meal and more gift giving.
Although it was a wonderful christmas, spent with family, we were missing Harry.He spent the holiday in the hospital with numerous health issues.
It was the first Christmas that i can remember that he was not sitting in my driveway at 6 am ready to drink coffee, eat bagels and open gifts.
We are praying for his recovery.
We are thankful for this wonderful time of year and all that God has blessed us with.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
A change of plans
Last week, Audrey spiked an incredibly high fever.
We visited the ER via the ambulance and a 100 mph ride prior in her dad's emergency vehicle, with our nephew Parker in tow.
The diagnosis: febrile seizure.
This is now Audrey's 3rd febrile seizure, a seizure that happens when the body's temperature elevates or decreases at a rapid pace.
Needless to say, Jim and I were feeling helpless and not so hopeful.
Nobody wants their child to go through such a scary endeavor.
My sister in law and BIL picked up their son, who I think we traumatized for life, at the ER. And, Jim and I headed home with a kiddo that had a fever still hovering at 103.5 degrees.
The following morning, we woke to find hives on our little girl's body.
I immediately got dressed and we took her to the emergent care at our pediatricians office.
There, we found that she had quite a red and pussy throat. She was swabbed for strep. It came back negative.
They sent us for blood work. It came back with elevated levels of her monocytes, or what looked to be MONO.
I know what you are thinking, what 16 month old gets mono. Right then, our 16 month year old was the only one.
SO, we went home and worked to keep her fever down. We called all of our close friends and family to be sure to share the news, as they may have contracted the illness. We had the whole world surrounding Audrey Joy Salter on its hinges.
AND THEN, the fever broke. But, a strange speckly rash appeared on her back.
We had an appointment scheduled with our primary care Pediatrician...and man oh man, are we glad that we kept it.
at first glance, he assured me that Audrey did not have mono, but that the fever and rash were due to a viral infection called Roseola. febrile Seizure is a common side effect of this virus. Our dear friends the Natales son, Lathan, was now sporting signs of the very same illness.
This was Jim and Stacy Salter's last straw...the one that broke the camels back.
The only way we are going to work to ward off any more illness and ER visits and febrile seizures and ear infections and whatever else comes with getting sick, is to make a life change FOR Audrey.
So, today, after putting it off for 2 days, I called the daycare and let them know that the best decision for Aud is to pull her out of the program and allow her some time to build her immune system to where it should be. We have had a sick kid for 9 months, since the 2nd week of daycare. They can't help it. It is the nature of caring for little kids in a daycare setting. Sickness happens.
I am scared to be a full-time mom. I wonder to myself, am I too selfish for this.
Am I good enough to be the one to teach her how to sing her ABC's, and go on the potty and can I really make those handprint wreaths and turkeys. The answer is: Yes.
God is giving me an opportunity in all of this. An opportunity to watch my little girl grow up more closely than I was before.
It might seem like a change of plans for me, but it is exactly what the plan was from the beginning for him.
We visited the ER via the ambulance and a 100 mph ride prior in her dad's emergency vehicle, with our nephew Parker in tow.
The diagnosis: febrile seizure.
This is now Audrey's 3rd febrile seizure, a seizure that happens when the body's temperature elevates or decreases at a rapid pace.
Needless to say, Jim and I were feeling helpless and not so hopeful.
Nobody wants their child to go through such a scary endeavor.
My sister in law and BIL picked up their son, who I think we traumatized for life, at the ER. And, Jim and I headed home with a kiddo that had a fever still hovering at 103.5 degrees.
The following morning, we woke to find hives on our little girl's body.
I immediately got dressed and we took her to the emergent care at our pediatricians office.
There, we found that she had quite a red and pussy throat. She was swabbed for strep. It came back negative.
They sent us for blood work. It came back with elevated levels of her monocytes, or what looked to be MONO.
I know what you are thinking, what 16 month old gets mono. Right then, our 16 month year old was the only one.
SO, we went home and worked to keep her fever down. We called all of our close friends and family to be sure to share the news, as they may have contracted the illness. We had the whole world surrounding Audrey Joy Salter on its hinges.
AND THEN, the fever broke. But, a strange speckly rash appeared on her back.
We had an appointment scheduled with our primary care Pediatrician...and man oh man, are we glad that we kept it.
at first glance, he assured me that Audrey did not have mono, but that the fever and rash were due to a viral infection called Roseola. febrile Seizure is a common side effect of this virus. Our dear friends the Natales son, Lathan, was now sporting signs of the very same illness.
This was Jim and Stacy Salter's last straw...the one that broke the camels back.
The only way we are going to work to ward off any more illness and ER visits and febrile seizures and ear infections and whatever else comes with getting sick, is to make a life change FOR Audrey.
So, today, after putting it off for 2 days, I called the daycare and let them know that the best decision for Aud is to pull her out of the program and allow her some time to build her immune system to where it should be. We have had a sick kid for 9 months, since the 2nd week of daycare. They can't help it. It is the nature of caring for little kids in a daycare setting. Sickness happens.
I am scared to be a full-time mom. I wonder to myself, am I too selfish for this.
Am I good enough to be the one to teach her how to sing her ABC's, and go on the potty and can I really make those handprint wreaths and turkeys. The answer is: Yes.
God is giving me an opportunity in all of this. An opportunity to watch my little girl grow up more closely than I was before.
It might seem like a change of plans for me, but it is exactly what the plan was from the beginning for him.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
ahh how fast life goes
Life in the Salter house seems to speed up and sometimes never slow down. that can be a good thing...sometimes not!
Our blog obviously comes last...although getting it out for me in therapy.
Audrey is no longer a baby anymore it seems.
She is making her move to Tods at Kindercare! She LOVES her friends there!
She is learning something new everyday...and we are often surprised with a snip-it of a song or a new word!
Her favorite word right now seems to be NO! She is also kissing everything!
When we say, give me a kiss...she loudly obliges with a MUAH! She kisses her friends at school too!
What was a tool of discipline as counting to 3 has taught Aud how to count to 3! PS: this form of discipline doesnt work for our girl!
She is certainly a dare devil, afraid of nothing! I think that comes from Jimmy.
She has 18 teeth! I have no idea how she gets them so fast! She occasionally gets herself in trouble by practicing using her little choppers. We think we are over the hump with biting, but sometimes we get a surprise!
We opted to have tubes put into her ears 3 weeks ago. The surgery was quick and she seems to be doing well. Audrey has had a constant ear infection since 7 months and this was our best alternative...especially since they seem to be the fever culprint.
she loves to sing and dance...taht is all me! That is my kid...and when she does it, I get choked up sometimes...lol! I have no idea why!
she watched herself in her mirror in the car and sings whatever is on the radio.
She is loving Dora the explorer lately. We like Dora too!
We are excited to have 2 new playmates in January.
My cousins are expecting twins, 1 boy, one girl...so Audrey will have family kids close to her age.
she loves to play outside.
we found an incredible dumpster deal! Our neighbor decided to set his princess trike to the curb, which has a handle for me to push...what a find! she loves it!
She also loves her pup-pup ( molli). Thank God Molli seems to at least tolerate her.
As for Jim and I.
Jim is busy with work. Busy is good. He has had a great year and I am so proud of him. He is always busy with the fire station. But, lately I have seen what he does in a clearer light and it make me admire him more than just sometimes feel like I am competing for the station's time. LOl! What he does is wonderful and I thank God for people like him who get up free of charge and put out fires, help with accidents, and so many other unnoticed events.
My photography business is going well! It seems I am busy at least 2-3 days a week.
AND, I am teaching at Yellow Breeches Middle School usually 2 days a week. That and my Thursday DeHart days are keeping me busy.
The best parts of my day are right now. Audrey is sleeping closely on the couch next to me, where she just fell asleep and I can reflect on the glory of it all.
I wouldnt change a thing!
Our blog obviously comes last...although getting it out for me in therapy.
Audrey is no longer a baby anymore it seems.
She is making her move to Tods at Kindercare! She LOVES her friends there!
She is learning something new everyday...and we are often surprised with a snip-it of a song or a new word!
Her favorite word right now seems to be NO! She is also kissing everything!
When we say, give me a kiss...she loudly obliges with a MUAH! She kisses her friends at school too!
What was a tool of discipline as counting to 3 has taught Aud how to count to 3! PS: this form of discipline doesnt work for our girl!
She is certainly a dare devil, afraid of nothing! I think that comes from Jimmy.
She has 18 teeth! I have no idea how she gets them so fast! She occasionally gets herself in trouble by practicing using her little choppers. We think we are over the hump with biting, but sometimes we get a surprise!
We opted to have tubes put into her ears 3 weeks ago. The surgery was quick and she seems to be doing well. Audrey has had a constant ear infection since 7 months and this was our best alternative...especially since they seem to be the fever culprint.
she loves to sing and dance...taht is all me! That is my kid...and when she does it, I get choked up sometimes...lol! I have no idea why!
she watched herself in her mirror in the car and sings whatever is on the radio.
She is loving Dora the explorer lately. We like Dora too!
We are excited to have 2 new playmates in January.
My cousins are expecting twins, 1 boy, one girl...so Audrey will have family kids close to her age.
she loves to play outside.
we found an incredible dumpster deal! Our neighbor decided to set his princess trike to the curb, which has a handle for me to push...what a find! she loves it!
She also loves her pup-pup ( molli). Thank God Molli seems to at least tolerate her.
As for Jim and I.
Jim is busy with work. Busy is good. He has had a great year and I am so proud of him. He is always busy with the fire station. But, lately I have seen what he does in a clearer light and it make me admire him more than just sometimes feel like I am competing for the station's time. LOl! What he does is wonderful and I thank God for people like him who get up free of charge and put out fires, help with accidents, and so many other unnoticed events.
My photography business is going well! It seems I am busy at least 2-3 days a week.
AND, I am teaching at Yellow Breeches Middle School usually 2 days a week. That and my Thursday DeHart days are keeping me busy.
The best parts of my day are right now. Audrey is sleeping closely on the couch next to me, where she just fell asleep and I can reflect on the glory of it all.
I wouldnt change a thing!
Friday, September 17, 2010
I listened to HIM today
I feel like I am floundering.
Please nobody say, "I told you so!"
I am floundering in my faith.
I am floundering in my good health habits that I set out to keep up with.
I am floundering with many things...but most of all...
I am absolutely floundering when it comes to a job.
for me....job equals status.
I have SOOOO many jobs:
excluding the job of Mama...which is my 24/7 job that I don't feel I flounder at, I have
1.DeHart, my dad's company. I can't get the darn Telxon to work. I don't understand the state minimum for cigarettes, I don't like to explain to customers that the Arizona Ice tea they chose is the most popular and there wasnt enough for them when we picked and packed the delivery truck. I don't know how my dad manages 140 customers. I love doing it, but I flounder at it.
2. Benchmark. I wish that the field of higher education looked like it did 8 years ago. Schools are afraid of outside services. They report to someone, who reports to someone else and they have to cover their butts. I wish I could go into every potential account and make them understand why Benchmark is a great resource for every graduating career seeking human alive...but alas....I can't. I havent given up on my plight...but I am floundering.
3. Just So Stacy....I refuse to flounder. I am just getting started and that means learning and classes and shadowing...and as you can imagine life with a 1 year old...my time is limited.
BUT TODAY, I walked into a classroom for the first time in 14 years and Guess what, despite not understanding how the TV and VCR wall Combo worked and then realizing it was never plugged in or even hooked up for that matter....I DID NOT FLOUNDER!
In fact, I swam laps.
I left there with a reminder in my heart that there was a reason I went to school to teach. I LOVE TO TEACH!
I taught Home Ec, and although i am a horrible ironer( is that a word) I felt confident and excited.
I prayed on my way to drop off Audrey at Daycare: "Lord( I know we havent talked alot lately) but please watch over my daughter...so I dont have to leave my sub position on my first day to care for one of her typical head wounds or hand wounds, or fevers, or sniffles.
When I dropped her off and got back into the car, I prayed again: "Lord, remember me from earlier( lol, he always remembers me...I am loud and he cant forget me...thank goodness) Lord....I am handing my day over to you and the kids that I teach over to you and all that comes my way, I am handing them to you...because I trust you.
I made it through a short day, and instead of calling my mom the first second I walked out the door, I thanked God for listening....or should I say speaking to me and letting me hear him for once.
I am excited about whatever God has in store for me. I would be so excited if he takes me right back to where he placed me so long ago.
It was me who took me off that track. I have no regrets. I learned so much and experienced so much at Campus Door. I met amazing people and I feel like what I learned there I will use for the rest of my life....wherever God decides to lead me.
Please nobody say, "I told you so!"
I am floundering in my faith.
I am floundering in my good health habits that I set out to keep up with.
I am floundering with many things...but most of all...
I am absolutely floundering when it comes to a job.
for me....job equals status.
I have SOOOO many jobs:
excluding the job of Mama...which is my 24/7 job that I don't feel I flounder at, I have
1.DeHart, my dad's company. I can't get the darn Telxon to work. I don't understand the state minimum for cigarettes, I don't like to explain to customers that the Arizona Ice tea they chose is the most popular and there wasnt enough for them when we picked and packed the delivery truck. I don't know how my dad manages 140 customers. I love doing it, but I flounder at it.
2. Benchmark. I wish that the field of higher education looked like it did 8 years ago. Schools are afraid of outside services. They report to someone, who reports to someone else and they have to cover their butts. I wish I could go into every potential account and make them understand why Benchmark is a great resource for every graduating career seeking human alive...but alas....I can't. I havent given up on my plight...but I am floundering.
3. Just So Stacy....I refuse to flounder. I am just getting started and that means learning and classes and shadowing...and as you can imagine life with a 1 year old...my time is limited.
BUT TODAY, I walked into a classroom for the first time in 14 years and Guess what, despite not understanding how the TV and VCR wall Combo worked and then realizing it was never plugged in or even hooked up for that matter....I DID NOT FLOUNDER!
In fact, I swam laps.
I left there with a reminder in my heart that there was a reason I went to school to teach. I LOVE TO TEACH!
I taught Home Ec, and although i am a horrible ironer( is that a word) I felt confident and excited.
I prayed on my way to drop off Audrey at Daycare: "Lord( I know we havent talked alot lately) but please watch over my daughter...so I dont have to leave my sub position on my first day to care for one of her typical head wounds or hand wounds, or fevers, or sniffles.
When I dropped her off and got back into the car, I prayed again: "Lord, remember me from earlier( lol, he always remembers me...I am loud and he cant forget me...thank goodness) Lord....I am handing my day over to you and the kids that I teach over to you and all that comes my way, I am handing them to you...because I trust you.
I made it through a short day, and instead of calling my mom the first second I walked out the door, I thanked God for listening....or should I say speaking to me and letting me hear him for once.
I am excited about whatever God has in store for me. I would be so excited if he takes me right back to where he placed me so long ago.
It was me who took me off that track. I have no regrets. I learned so much and experienced so much at Campus Door. I met amazing people and I feel like what I learned there I will use for the rest of my life....wherever God decides to lead me.
Friday, August 27, 2010
When you love something you run after it
So that is exactly what I have decided to do.
Ever since my kiddo was born, I have fallen in love with photography.
I love to capture every aspect of this little girl;s story that God is enfolding right out in front of me.
My pictures tell the story of her life and I hope that when she looks back on them she can see her ferocious love of life.
I have prayed about it....and prayed again...and God knows that I have thrown myself into every job under the sun since leaving Campus Door and becoming a mother....but God keeps placing the same idea under my nose everytime.
So, I am listening to him....and so far, so good.
I have offered a number of free photo shoots with folks that I know and the end product seems to keep getting better.
I have signed myself up for photography classes at our local community college.
I have taken a number of online photography tutorials now....which by the way are free and actually very helpful. It is like having a teacher all to yourself.
So ladies and gentlemen, as my friends will tell you, when I want something bad enough I throw my hat in the ring
Here is my hat....www.justsostacy.com and I am ready to learn and grow and capture other peoples happiness one shot at a time.
When God throws the same ball at you twice...you should catch it before it rolls out of play. Check out my blog coming soon!
Ever since my kiddo was born, I have fallen in love with photography.
I love to capture every aspect of this little girl;s story that God is enfolding right out in front of me.
My pictures tell the story of her life and I hope that when she looks back on them she can see her ferocious love of life.
I have prayed about it....and prayed again...and God knows that I have thrown myself into every job under the sun since leaving Campus Door and becoming a mother....but God keeps placing the same idea under my nose everytime.
So, I am listening to him....and so far, so good.
I have offered a number of free photo shoots with folks that I know and the end product seems to keep getting better.
I have signed myself up for photography classes at our local community college.
I have taken a number of online photography tutorials now....which by the way are free and actually very helpful. It is like having a teacher all to yourself.
So ladies and gentlemen, as my friends will tell you, when I want something bad enough I throw my hat in the ring
Here is my hat....www.justsostacy.com and I am ready to learn and grow and capture other peoples happiness one shot at a time.
When God throws the same ball at you twice...you should catch it before it rolls out of play. Check out my blog coming soon!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Catching Up
I dont know how you other bloggers do it? How you manage to parent and work and still keep up with a blog? LOL! I miss this place.
Let's see, here is a brief recap of our last few weeks.
Audrey turned 1!
we celebrated with family. She got alot of great cards and gifts.
She was a bit overwhelmed as the center of attention( this surprises me...since Jim and I will both fully admit that we love to be the center of it all)
She didnt really love her cake.
She was zonked mid way through her celebration!
A few weeks later, my folks had their annual picnic. This years theme was a luau.
Audrey managed to catch the spirit and enjoyed some time in her hula skirt.
More recently, we attended my home churches 150 yr anniversary celebration. We got to see old friends. Audrey enjoyed the singing and lunch.
Later that day we made our way to the Coolidge Hollow Peach festival, where we ate
yummy peach shortcake and ice cream!
what a fun time we have been having.
Let's see, here is a brief recap of our last few weeks.
Audrey turned 1!
we celebrated with family. She got alot of great cards and gifts.
She was a bit overwhelmed as the center of attention( this surprises me...since Jim and I will both fully admit that we love to be the center of it all)
She didnt really love her cake.
She was zonked mid way through her celebration!
A few weeks later, my folks had their annual picnic. This years theme was a luau.
Audrey managed to catch the spirit and enjoyed some time in her hula skirt.
More recently, we attended my home churches 150 yr anniversary celebration. We got to see old friends. Audrey enjoyed the singing and lunch.
Later that day we made our way to the Coolidge Hollow Peach festival, where we ate
yummy peach shortcake and ice cream!what a fun time we have been having.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
A Letter to my Daughter on her 1st Birthday
Dearest Audrey,
Happy 1st Birthday, my most beautiful girl.
This will be my 1st of many birthday letters to you. Someday, I hope you'll appreciate the gesture...a public proclamation of my love for you and my celebration of what each year has brought to your life and mine.
This year has surely been the most challenging and most rewarding of my life.
Nobody could have prepared me for the journey you have brought me to.
It doesn't seem possible that that tiny little person you were just 365 days ago has turned into a walking, talking, sippy cup drinking-out-of little blondie.
I have probably paused at least 100 times during the last 12 months to stare in wonder and reflect on how one tiny little cell developed into such a grand little person.
I worked so hard to make something out of myself professionally and personally, yet you have become and will always be my greatest masterpiece, my symphony.
I have so many hopes for you, great hopes that may seem minimal to you right now, but someday you will understand the importance of them: That you would be honest and have a heart that understands and loves other people, compassionate; that you would be governed by love and fairness and know and embrace the person that God has molded you into; that you would maintain a sense of silliness that I already see inside you.
Don't rush through your life like I feel I have often done. Don't pass others on your way to where you are going that may need your help along the way.
Be slow to anger or offer a word that might hurt another. I have struggled to keep my opinion in check and wish often that instead of being disparaging, I would realize so often that what I am critical about in others is usually something I recognize as a fault in myself. Know who you are, even the not-so-great parts and don't be too hard on yourself.
Appreciate now that you will probably be taller than most of the boys and will probably spend most of your life in the back row of pictures. But go ahead and wear high heels anyway. I have always envied girls who are tall and still can pull off a nice pair of heels.
This year has gone by faster than a wink, and I can't wait to see what your next year has in store for you and the rest of us who love you and center so much around you.
I will end this love letter by saying Thank you. Thank you for every sleepless night( Your dad is 100 times cuter with a sleeping baby in his arms), for every ounce of spit-up on my work shirts(I probably looked better in the second or third outfit anyway), for every snotty tissue I ran through the wash( I got better at checking the pockets), for every smile, for every first, for everything.
Always Yours,
Mom
Happy 1st Birthday, my most beautiful girl.
This will be my 1st of many birthday letters to you. Someday, I hope you'll appreciate the gesture...a public proclamation of my love for you and my celebration of what each year has brought to your life and mine.
This year has surely been the most challenging and most rewarding of my life.
Nobody could have prepared me for the journey you have brought me to.
It doesn't seem possible that that tiny little person you were just 365 days ago has turned into a walking, talking, sippy cup drinking-out-of little blondie.
I have probably paused at least 100 times during the last 12 months to stare in wonder and reflect on how one tiny little cell developed into such a grand little person.
I worked so hard to make something out of myself professionally and personally, yet you have become and will always be my greatest masterpiece, my symphony.
I have so many hopes for you, great hopes that may seem minimal to you right now, but someday you will understand the importance of them: That you would be honest and have a heart that understands and loves other people, compassionate; that you would be governed by love and fairness and know and embrace the person that God has molded you into; that you would maintain a sense of silliness that I already see inside you.
Don't rush through your life like I feel I have often done. Don't pass others on your way to where you are going that may need your help along the way.
Be slow to anger or offer a word that might hurt another. I have struggled to keep my opinion in check and wish often that instead of being disparaging, I would realize so often that what I am critical about in others is usually something I recognize as a fault in myself. Know who you are, even the not-so-great parts and don't be too hard on yourself.
Appreciate now that you will probably be taller than most of the boys and will probably spend most of your life in the back row of pictures. But go ahead and wear high heels anyway. I have always envied girls who are tall and still can pull off a nice pair of heels.
This year has gone by faster than a wink, and I can't wait to see what your next year has in store for you and the rest of us who love you and center so much around you.
I will end this love letter by saying Thank you. Thank you for every sleepless night( Your dad is 100 times cuter with a sleeping baby in his arms), for every ounce of spit-up on my work shirts(I probably looked better in the second or third outfit anyway), for every snotty tissue I ran through the wash( I got better at checking the pockets), for every smile, for every first, for everything.
Always Yours,
Mom
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