Did you really just say that?

I am usually never at a loss for words. I realize this comes as no big surprise to the majority of you. I can usually come up with something in most situations.
However, since I've become a mom the same scenario has played out more times than I can count.

It happened again last night at the grocery store.
We put the boys to bed and I went to the store alone. Luke's baby food supply was running low so I was stocking up on several containers of baby food.
The bag boy said, "You must have a baby at home waiting for you."
I replied, "Yes, I do and he eats alot."
Bag boy says in an uncomfortably loud voice, " WOW! You do not look like you have had a baby at all. You should write a book or something." (I am not making this up)

First, I am amazed at how often perfect strangers will make this comment. I got it alot right after both boys were born. At church, in the pediatrician's office, in the mall, in restaurants, you name it. Men and women. The way I was raised, you really just don't talk about a person's post pregnancy body size. Ever.

Second, I realize I am talking to a teenage boy and I used to teach teenage boys so I know there is no filter between his brain and his mouth so whatever he is thinking pretty much comes out. This will cause him much distress throughout his life until he gets married and his wife supplies the filter for him.

Third, I never know what to say in these situations. If I smile and say, "Thank you" then I am technically lying since I didn't physically give birth to either one of my children. And I think I could be setting up false expectations that everyone who had a baby will just pop right back into shape. Let me quickly add that it is not like I am in tip top shape at all. I just happen to be a little on the thin side because lugging around two boys who happen to be in the 95th percentile for height and weight is like doing a daily workout. It reminds me of those climber types who weigh down a backpack with rocks and carry it up a mountain just for fun. But I digress. I usually say something like, "That's because both of my boys are adopted so I didn't go through a pregnancy." Then the other person gets uncomfortable and starts apologizing and saying stuff like "oh, I didn't know". Adoption is nothing to apologize for, but I find myself telling them, "It is ok, I get that all the time. Adoption is a blessing." Then they start asking more questions (domestic or international, how long did you have to wait, blah, blah blah) and all I wanted to do was buy some milk and baby food at the grocery store for heaven's sake!

I predict that once Luke hits the one year mark all of these awkward exchanges will cease.

Christmas in July

I've been going back through some of the videos we have. This one is from Fletcher's Christmas program at his preschool.

Fletcher,
I hope you always have the courage to march to the beat of your own drum no matter what the world is doing around you.
Love,
Mom

For everything else there's Mastercard

Box 'o sparkly (legal in NC) fireworks: $20

Fire extinguisher twin pack: $ 32.95

Matches $ .29

Introducing your son to the world of pyrotechnics at an early age: priceless

For all the grandmothers and mothers that are reading please note the fatherly death grip in the upper left corner in case things go awry.

All went well until Fletcher stepped on the punk and burned the bottom of his foot. For those of you non-fireworks people, the punk is the stick that you use to light all your other fireworks.

The big bonus of the night: an upscale neighborhood near us had their own major show and we could see it from our driveway.

Happy Fourth of Strep Throat

The Plan
We were invited to spend the 4th at a lakehouse with some friends. Fletcher got to drive their boat last year and swim in the lake. They have never met Luke. They make homemade ice cream for the 4th of July. We were really looking forward to seeing them and hanging out.

The Reality
Thursday around lunchtime Fletcher starts complaining about his head hurting and suddenly he is burning up with a fever. It was like someone flipped a switch from Well to Sick. Thankfully, Fletcher just doesn't really get sick that often. To put it into perspective for you, he was 11 months old before he ever got sick (ear infection). We've been here for almost 2 years and I've never had to take him in other than annual checkups. I call the peditrician because I knew the office would be closed on Friday for the holiday and I didn't want to spend the evening at UrgentCare or the ER. We go in at 4 pm, they do a rapid culture and yes, he has strep throat. They do give him a popsicle since they have to swab his throat and make him gag. Poor thing. He can't be around anyone else until he has been on antibiotics for 24 hrs so no picnics or pool parties or lakehouses or homemade ice cream for us. But that's ok. I am still thankful for our freedom in this country!

Throwback Thursday

The date: July 4th weekend, 1997

The place: Atlanta, GA

The mood: all good - good friends, good food, good times

A group of us from Second Baptist in Houston went to Atlanta for the 4th of July weekend and stayed at Kevin's parents house. They were about to move to Florida so this was the last big gathering there. Kevin and several others from our group ran in the Peachtree Road Race which is a 10K race through Atlanta. There are thousands of runners and a guy from Kenya usually wins. I've never seen so many runners in all my life! We also went tubing down the Chatahoochee River. They call it "Shoot the Hooch." Kevin and I were dating at the time and were not yet engaged, but I was in love! Just look at how cute he is - how could I NOT be in love? This was such a fun weekend.

KG and MR

Fletcher saw these picture and asked, "Dad, did you win the race?"

It's just a job

Jobs I have had in my lifetime - starting with the oldest

1. Whopper flopper at Burger King - this was my first "real" job besides babysitting. I worked with two of my best friends.

2. I worked at a tv station. It was supposed to be like an internship for school, but I still got paid - $5/hr in 1986 was alot of money.

3. Itza Pizza restaurant worker in college. I even knew how to flip the dough in the air.

4. Runner for an attorney in college - I did absolute no legal work (that sounds weird). All I did was return his movies, get his drycleaning, pick up his grocery list from his wife, etc. It worked out well until he wanted to set me up on a date with his son who was ten years older than me and already married.

5. Math tutor in college

6. Day care worker during the summers and holidays in college. I changed my major after two summers of taking care of 1 year olds.

7. High school math teacher in both public and private schools in Texas

8. Temp clerical worker during the summers because I didn't make enough money as a teacher

9. Instructor and later Operations Manager at a computer software training company - lots of fun travel and great friends at this job

10. Part time financial assistant at a church

11. Ministry assistant at an on campus ministry - loved this job and the students

12. College and young singles director at a church - loved this one too and still miss it.

13. Stay at home mom - the most challenging job yet, but the hugs and kisses and smiles are awesome!

How about you? What jobs have you had? I need to get Kevin to make a list. He has had a variable plethora of working experiences in his lifetime.

Audrey

Update from Mike and Bonnie: The tumor was totally "encapsulated" and came out well without rupturing or breaking. It was pushing on the spleen and pancreas, but visually had not spread to or affected those organs. They took about 15 lymph nodes and one was swollen but no tumor was detected on it from initial analysis. We will have to wait possibly until next week for a full pathology report.

Audrey's surgery has been moved up today to 8:30 am central time/9:30 am eastern time. Please pray for her and her family and the doctors and pathologists who will be performing the surgery and examining the tumor.

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11