Christmas Love

This is going to be short and sweet.

On my agenda this week: Christmas cards going out, wrapping presents, and finishing up my shopping. I will be busy busy. So needless to say I am very much looking forward to my week off for Christmas!

This past weekend Jared and I took a road trip to El Dorado. My cousin BJ got married. It was a beautiful wedding. I have always loved Christmas weddings so much. I can't express how happy I am that BJ found someone who makes him so happy.

Ruby stayed with her Aunt B and cousin Tucker. They played their hearts out, talked about their elves a lot, and went to the Mountainburg basketball game. Briana said she couldn't have asked for two better kids.

Ruby is doing great. She is talking like crazy. I will TRY to post an 18 month post soon. I can't believe she's 1 1/2 years old!!!

Everyone have a fantastic week!

Love,

Sarah

Toy Boxes and Christmas Lights

This weekend turned out to be pretty great. I had a girls night Friday night in Fort Smith with a few of my awesome friends. We had dinner at a place called 21 West End. I have heard about it but had never been. It was delicious. I had a dish called chicken oscar. Basically just a couple of chicken strips but it had asparagus along with an amazing white sauce with crab meat in it. YUM! Next time I will get the steak (I tried Laina's) with "oscar" on it. Lindsey's pork loin was amazing too and I don't even like pork. Pretty fun night!

Saturday we had iHop for breakfast and went to Walmart and Lowe's. Then home for lunch (for Ruby--Jared nor I could even think about lunch after iHop). We just pretty much laid around during her nap time. I got a few packages during that time so that was fun. I love getting Christmas presents to wrap!

Saturday night we went to my best friend Emmie's house. She had us and two other really good friends of ours over with their kids. Biggest play date ever. It was so fun. Ruby was exhausted from all the fun she had. Emmie made chili verde. We haven't had it I think since before we all started having kids. Such a treat!

Sunday was pretty lazy. I was anyway. Jared got a lot done. Our friend Bobbi GAVE us an old cedar toy box that Jared sanded and re-glossed. The original plan was to paint it a bright color but when he got it all sanded I thought the cedar was too pretty to paint. So anyway he put the hardware on it that it needed along with some handles. Then he cleaned the garage and his dresser out. Ruby took a 4 hour nap so he had the time. I laid in bed watching The Holiday doing nothing. :)

Sunday night I had these big exciting plans to go eat and see the lights and Santa at the square. Well, it happened, but it was stressful! GoodNESS it was packed. Tim's Pizza was about 100 degrees and took over an hour to make our pizza. A one year old sitting still in a place where there is so much going on for that long is nearly impossible. So I was taking her out to play and walk around a lot. She didn't want to even look at Santa. She did love the lights and the animals though. She loved the animals SO MUCH! Anyway, I guess the crowds and waiting are not necessarily for the Inman's. We'll definitely eat before we go next time AT LEAST!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sarah

Something to blog about...

I've had something on my heart for a day now. I almost posted about it on Facebook but decided against it.

Yesterday morning Jared, Ruby, and I went to Walmart first thing in the morning. As we were just browsing I saw a female sheriff trying some shoes on a little boy. I said to Jared, "what is that mom doing shopping with her son with her pistol on?". He thought it was odd too. A few minutes later I see another male sheriff pass us with another child in his cart. They were just chatting away. He was asking him his sizes, then it clicked. I ran over and found Jared and told him "it's 'shop with a cop'"! Every year my dad and stepmom do it. My dad however, is a firefighter. But I knew both do this every Christmas.

As I thought about it and those kids, tears filled my eyes. I'm pretty sure Jared almost cried too. He's become quite the softie since having Ruby. He asked me how they get the money to pay for this and I told him I have no idea. I am sure donations though. We actually found a donation table at the front of the store. Ruby and I dug every single dollar bill I had out of my wallet to put in the bucket. Ruby was so sweet doing so.

The more I think about it the more I become so unbelievably thankful for my blessings. I can not imagine the struggles and heartache the parents of those children must face on a daily basis but then with Christmas time, it must make it even worse. I can't imagine how heartbreaking it must be for the cops and firefighters to witness it every year. I don't think I could do it without crying the entire time.

I have made it a point to make my donations every year to breast cancer awareness and St. Jude's, two I hold close to my heart. Not for any personal reasons. But I think I'll be looking more closely into more local charities as well.

So when you are out shopping for your kiddos, other family members or friends try to dig a little deeper into those pockets. There are so many unfortunate people closer than we realize. Christmas should be a very happy and joyful time for all but it never leaves my mind and heart that it can also be a very depressing time of the year for so so many as well.

I hope you all have a very joyous December. Remember the reason for the season.

Love,
Sarah

Thanksgiving!

We had a great day. I was absolutely miserable the entire day. I'm already researching cleanse's for next week. We still have two more days of it this weekend too. So come Monday I'll be ready to get back on the wagon of healthy eating and exercising, at least until Christmas.

Back to scrubbing this house before baby girl wakes up. Going on hour #3 on her nap. I'm trying to decide what we'll do when she wakes up.

I barely got any pictures but here are a few. One is of her and Tucker eating at the little kid table, then one of her and Jared's Uncle Doug Inman--Gene's brother, and one of her and my dad (Papa Glenn).

Re-Coop Time

Well my Christmas is up but my house is a disaster. Macy is here with us today until her sister comes to pick her up. We have never really done the one nap a day thing in our house. Kathy does it to get a nice long afternoon nap from all the kids, but usually Rubes loves going down morning and afternoon. I didn't put her down this morning and boy could you tell. She was pooped. Have a great weekend everyone!

**Happy Thanksgiving**

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there. I hope your homes and hearts are warm and full.

I have so much to be thankful for. I can't even count all of my blessings.

Most of all though, my sweet family. Jared and Ruby are the lights of my life. I can't imagine being anywhere else in the world than cuddled up in this bed with him waiting for her to wake up.

We usually never put any Christmas out before Thanksgiving but we got a head start last night. Jared is using his "all day free" that I got him for Father's Day tomorrow to go to the LSU/AR GAME so I will just be doing a LITTLE online shopping and putting our Christmas up. It's a lot more work with a toddler running around. :) I like my house to be spotless before I put out my decor.

Then Saturday and Sunday we have more family to see for Thanksgiving. Hope you all have a wonderful and blessed holiday. We are so blessed!

Love,

Sarah

Elf On The Shelf

For the past couple Christmas' I have seen pictures of friends of mine "elves on the shelf". I had definitely made up my mind that this would be a tradition for us. I contemplated getting one this year because I know Ruby won't fully comprehend it, but yesterday I told Jared I definitely want one. We get home from school/work today and what does he have? An Elf On The Shelf!!!!

It is just the cutest idea. I read her the book about it while she played with her toys. She loved that thing. You name them and sign them up at the north pole. I swear she was calling her Sarah! Ha! But Jared said we can't name her after me. I want to wait until next year anyway when Ruby can actually call her something she makes up. I'm so excited about this! I think Ruby is too!

Change of plans..

Well Ruby ended up staying with Aunt B, Nana, and Tucker instead of my mom this weekend. She had lots of fun. I could tell because she was exhausted. :)

Jared and I also had a blast with our friends at Amber's wedding. It's always nice to get out and dress fancy but we sure do miss our sweet girl when she's away.

I think I told her a million times today how much I loved her and how beautiful she is. I seriously sometimes sit and stare in awe of her.... We made that precious little face.

Exhausted!

Well, this has been the most stressful and exhausting week ever. I can not tell anyone enough how happy I am that Ruby is napping and I'm laying on my couch doing nothing. Well, besides blogging of course.

At my job I schedule for two surgeons along with the dentist I work for. The oral surgeon I schedule for is there twice a month. The periodontist, every other week on Tuesday and Thursday. It can be very draining. I work alongside two other girls--one who schedules for 3 of our other dentists and the other schedules for our 7 hygienists. HUGE office. We all 3 help each other out of course but try not to do much on each other's schedules. Everyone we schedule for has their own quirks and demands. We do not believe in "sending to voicemail" (we don't even have voicemail) so every single phone call gets answered in a very timely manner and every patient is served. We pride ourselves in treating our patients equally and wonderfully.

That being said, it is so exhausting! I work for probably the most laid back doctors in Arkansas. I'm very lucky considering there are 19 women and very rarely any drama. I love my job. But I think I got to my breaking point this week. I can't go into details but there is a certain something going on and I'm right smack dab in the middle
of it. I've been the witness of a huge case that's going on and I'm the middle man sending e-mails along with all the other admin work that needs to be done. It has seriously taken up 2 1/2 weeks of my work time. We can barely get by with just two people when the other is off so when the 3rd person is there and unavailable because of ONE PATIENT (who does not even deserve our time at this point) it is very stressful.

I am so happy it's the weekend and that we only work 2 1/2 days next week. Thank God.

We have a wedding of one of my co-workers and great friend tomorrow night so Ruby will be going to my mom's early tomorrow morning until Sunday. I'm already sad and missing her but I know it will be good for all of us and I will have 4 1/2 days with her next week! Not getting to be with her all week makes me really appreciate and look forward to the extra time I do get with her.

So that was my rant for the week. I needed to get that off my chest.

Ruby is doing great! I will hopefully be posting a 17 month post (ALREADY) but if not, not much has changed. She's just a growing healthy girl! I think she's going through a growth spurt right now. She has been sleeping A LOT!

I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Love,

Sarah

"Friends"

Poor Ruby is still fighting the cold symptoms. I know I said I love winter but having a sick baby has made me re-think that several times now. We are drugging her up real good though. Not really. But at bed time we have a serious ritual going on that really seems to be helping. Delsym with Zyrtec, humidifier, saline and snot sucker (I do that throughout the day), Vicks on the chest and feet, and aquaphor on her little chapped face. I feel so bad for her when I hear that little cough when she's trying to sleep then the moan that comes after. So sad. I too am fighting it so I know how she feels. This morning we were both hacking and Jared just said "you girls"... I think we're seeing the end of it though thank goodness!

Onto a happy note. She's just the smartest little thing. She is saying "thank you" clear as day and at the right time. That makes me so proud. She's RUNNING everywhere. I have to tell her constantly to slow down. She absolutely loves playing on our bed, which she now knows how to get on by herself (scares me to death).

My stepmom, her Glamma, came over a couple weeks ago and brought her some very serious items. One was a purple stool with diamonds on it. It's very light so she can carry it anywhere and she knows exactly what it's used for. It sits by our bed but it also gets moved to the light switches a lot. She is obsessed with turning the lights on/off. The fans too. When we get home or leave I have to hold her to let her "do it". Another phrase (is that a phrase?) she's saying. Another is "get it". Tonight she threw the tennis ball under her changing table and told me to "get it". Ha!

The other thing Glamma brought was a little blanket doll. She was immediately obsessed with it. So now it's not just "awesome possum" it's "baby" too. I've just been calling them her "friends". She takes them along with her lovie everywhere in this house and they sleep with her. Tonight before bath time I told her "go put your 'friends' to bed"... While we were getting ready I noticed her possum was in the living room floor but her lovie and baby were in her bed. I asked Jared if he put them there and he said no. She must've dropped possum on the way. But smart girl.

She catches on very quickly to things. I started time out this weekend and she knows exactly what's going on. When I go to talk to her about it and ask if she's sorry she hugs me.

She loves to help me fold laundry. She'll do her best at folding something, lay it in the pile then clap for herself. Ha! She also loves to help unload the dishwasher. She hands me dishes so I can dry them. I hope she always loves it. ;)

Just a few pictures from the past week or so... Not in order. I wish I could figure out how to caption them and post video. Dangit.

Have a good week!

Halloween!

Ruby's 2nd Halloween! So fun!

The week started off rough. Ruby was awake all night Monday night. And when I say that I'm not being a whiny over dramatic mom. I mean I was up from 12:30 a.m. until about 9:00 the next night.

It started about an hour after I put her down. She woke up hysterical. Let me back up---she had a bad diaper rash and a bad stopped up nose. I doctored her bottom up and gave her some Benadryl.

Ok so an hour after putting her down she wakes up all crazy acting. I mean screaming, wouldn't let me hold her, crazy. So I stripped her pants and diaper off and let her just be hysterical running back and forth through the living room until she calmed down. Back to bed about 30 minutes later. I went to bed. About 11:00 she wakes up hysterical again. I try a cold wash cloth on her bottom, calm her down, back to bed. Then about 12:30 up again. I put her in bed with us. I finally figured out she couldn't suck her thumb because she couldn't breathe through her nose. I think I slept more than she did which may have been about 2 hours. I'm 99.9% sure the Benadryl had a horrible effect on her which caused the hysteria. Never again.

So I call in at about 6:30. My day was a huge day so I could tell my doctor was stressed out. We decided I'd work and she'd go to school-no fever and clear snot. Let me just say, think of the worse day you've ever had in your life at work and times it by 1,000. HORRIBLE! Just the craziest day. I worked on the same case all day long and it wasn't a positive one. I tried to leave around 1:00 to go get her but again, my doctor needed me to help him make some very important notes.

Side note--I have an amazing job. My doctors are very laid back and lenient and it is VERY VERY RARE that I can't call in. There was just a serious issue I had to be present for.

Ok so anyway throughout the day I had called the nurse at Ruby's doctor to get some advice for cold/allergy remedies and a pharmacist about her bottom.

I finally get to pick her up at about 3:30. She looked awful but acted fine. We get home, snack and play. I get the humidifier out and get that going in her room. At bedtime she got baking soda in the bath (for the bottom), Vicks on chest and feet, anti-fungus and hydrocortisone cream on bottom, zyrtec, saline spray and some serious snot sucking by being held down with my entire body while Jared does the deed. She sleeps ALL NIGHT. I actually woke up to my alarm and panicked because I hadn't heard her all night.

She still has a bad runny nose and flushed cheeks but other than that she's good. So off to school she goes to have fun with her friends on Halloween. I seriously think its just allergies. Jared or I neither one have them so we don't know anything about them but she mowed all evening on Sunday with him so I'm wondering if that caused it. Bless her heart.

So fast forward to tonight, her 2nd Halloween! So fun! We played then had dinner then quickly got dressed. We went to 3 houses of people we know. Our neighbor's Pat and PawPaw (what all the kids call him) had her a bag of candy made up with her name on it, so sweet! We went to Jenn (but she was at work) and Tony C's, they are very fond of Ruby. Then we went to our friends across the street. She had fun. We came back home to hand out candy. She seriously sat in the floor all night playing with her candy bucket and candy. She got a couple bites of a tootsie roll. She kept taking her bucket to the door like she wanted to go back out. Every time the door bell rang she ran to the door with me.

It was definitely a success. I just wish she was 100%. When I was a kid I can't tell you how many halloween's I was sick. So sad.

Hope you all had a super Happy Halloween! We did considering the circumstances.

Grandpa Rick

Ruby and I had a visit with Grandpa yesterday. It was the best I've seen him look and act in weeks. He seems to finally be coming around. We're hoping he gets to leave the hospital very soon.

Ruby has always been a little weary of him for some reason. There are a few people she's like that with. The last time she visited him he was in the bed and she just kept running his bed and patting him. But yesterday he was up and at em' again... She warmed up to him though. ❤❤ She even gave him kisses!

Please continue to pray for him.

Cranky Pants

Oh man... If anyone knows me they know disciplining is the hardest thing for me. Tonight right before bedtime, Ruby became a monster. She's been screaming "no ma!" at me. I was putting her toys away and she was getting them right back out. Crying and throwing little tantrums. Was not happy the whole time Jared was bathing her then screamed at me again "no ma!" as I was laying her down to lotion up. Finally Jared stepped in and what happens?! She lays right down, yes she's screaming the whole time because he hurt her feelings so bad but she listened.

I know this is all normal but I don't think how hard it is for me to tell her how it's going to be is normal. But I have to get a handle on it now, I know.

There were some fun times tonight though....

16 Months!!

Well your dad thinks its the best night in TV which includes the presidential debate between O'Bama and Romney, Cardinals game, and football. So I'm blogging about you little girl.

16 months in the blink of an eye. Time has to slow down!

You are a busy little bee. Right when your feet hit the floor, off you go. And so happy doing it!

Things you love----riding in your car, riding in Tucker's F-150, going to Grammy's and Nana and Poppy's, mommy, daddy, koolaid jammers, peaches, well any fruit, spaghetti, climbing on things, books, bath time, playing "where's Ruby, possum, or daddy" under the covers, Miss Kathy, all of your cousins, your possum-we've had to leave him at home and tell you "he'll be watching over the house", and so much more. You are so happy. I rarely see or hear you cry unless something is really wrong.

Things you don't like---apparently dirty/wet diapers these days, I guess it's time to start some potty training. Getting cleaned off after meal time. Getting your nails clipped. There is not a lot.

You have said four new words just this week; light, pretty, bread and juice. I can't even tell you how much I was squealing today after you said "bread". I'm sure any regular Jo in public wouldn't understand your words because they aren't totally clear yet but they are to me and daddy. It amazes me. I'm so thankful.

You are still about 22 lbs, size 18 month clothes and 4 shoe.

We had to go to the doctor this month due to a nasty ingrown toenail. I honestly don't clip your nails that often so that could have been the problem or certain shoes. It kept you up for about 5 nights. Poor baby. It's all cleared up now though.

You stayed the weekend with Lindsey, Josh and Jake this month too. Your dad and I got to spend some much needed time away. We missed you more than you'll ever know but knew you were in great hands and I know you had a blast!! We can't thank Lindsey enough.

I love you Pookie Bears. You are the best thing in this whole wide world and my best little buddy. Happy 16 Months!!!!!

Grandpa Rick

I just wanted to post a quick update, easier here than on Facebook.

As everyone knows my Grandpa Rick had his heart surgery this morning. We've been waiting for about two months now for him to be healthy enough for this procedure.

So I got here (Sparks) at about 9 this morning. His surgery started at 7:50 a.m.. Mom, Wayne, sisters and I just hung out while we waited. I think all 5 of us were on our phones/hand held technology most of the time. Liz had to leave at around 10:30 to take a test. So anyway, at around 11ish they called us to the counseling room for Dr. Miller to talk to us. He basically told us it went as good as possible considering his heart was as bad as it gets without being dead. Scary!

He said they replaced the aortic valve and repaired 3 arteries (triple bypass) and what they call a "maze procedure". He said it would basically be a waiting game to see if it works. We will know in 3-6 months. He said it'd be an hour or so before we could see him and he was settled. Thanks doc..

So we walked across the street to Wendy's. I mean we were over there for 30 minutes.

We come back and settle in the waiting room. The Chaplain comes to mom and asks if she's ok and tells her she will be with us for the rest of the day and will be periodically going back to get updates from the doctor. When she walked away we all looked at each other confused. Then Wayne's cousin Sherri who has worked at the hospital forEVER comes in. She's just having small talk with us and mom asks her about why the chaplain did that. She says "well probably because he coded, that's normal". WHAT?!?!!!!! She quickly realizes this was news to us! She tells us not to quote her and quickly goes back to figure out what on earth is happening.

She comes back out and says the doctor wants to meet with you all again. My theory--she went back and told them we hadn't heard yet so they knew we needed to be filled in. He comes in and tells us has coded and had to be shocked. He told us this is completely normal and was still very positive. About 5-10 minutes later the "house manager" of ICU (I think he was a nurse) comes and gets us and tells us we can all 4 come back. Liz hadn't made it back yet.

When we get back the RN who stayed with him all day told us he had coded 3 times. They said his potassium was very low. They were trying to get that up. We were told two of us at a time could come back to visit from now on every hour. His RN would be staying in the room non-stop the rest of the day so it was up to us to come in every hour, she wouldn't have time to come get us or update us, she would be doing that as we came in.

So the first time I went back his eyes were open and he was answering my questions by nodding. He is intubated which they are working tonight on pulling him off of that. Then he mouthed "I love you" to me when I was telling him bye.

Then we find out he had to be shocked again. So 5 times all together. It's so confusing to me on how he can be awake and know who we are and answering our questions but having to be shocked back to life. They are telling us this is all normal his heart is just having to work very hard to work.

In a nut shell, he is stable. He hasn't had an episode since 3:40 this afternoon. Please keep him in your prayers. He has a long road of recovery ahead of him. Grandpa Rick, I will be thinking so much about you the next couple of days. I love you so much and I hope you get a lot of rest.

Please keep my mom and Wayne in your thoughts too. They are caring so well for him.

Love,

Sarah

First Time at The Park!

So today was Ruby's first time at the park. She LOVED it! I see many visits in our future.

We pulled in and I was sending a quick email, my car was facing it and she just kept yelling "what's that?!?!!!". So we got out and off she went.

She found a little one year old girl she immediately wanted to love on and give kisses to. She's so sweet and lovey but I know how I'd feel if some random child came up to her and started kissing her.

Anyway, it was a blast. The car said it was 80 degrees but it felt like 90. It's so humid.

We have a full weekend planned so I'm trying to take it super easy tonight. I have been picking up the house getting ready for cleaning day. We plan on scrubbing this house tomorrow top to bottom, putting out my fall/Halloween decor and then we have dinner plans with our friends Laina and Travis. We are going to Rogers for my favorite, Bonefish. Laina and Trav have never had it.

Then Sunday we have my Dad's birthday breakfast planned. We're going to the Inman's after that to see them for a bit then dinner with Mom, Wayne and my grandpa. Please pray for Grandpa Rick. His surgery is Tuesday.

Have a good weekend!

Love,

Sarah