Operation Bridesmaid - The Dress is In!

Yesterday I made it through the random storm in downtown Augusta only to not run the 1 errand I needed to, but I eventually arrived home to find a box on my doorstep. I thought surely this is just some of the thirty-one stuff I just ordered, but I check the return address and it is from Thomasville, GA! Um, the bridesmaid dress....(insert doom and gloom music)

I am super pumped about being a bridesmaid, but if you remember from a post a while back, they had me order a big momma size. I hesitantly approach the box (I am now in a battle with myself) and take it inside. Fortunately, Wes and Trenton are out running errands, so I have my moment with my box. I text Kylene and realize I am going to have to try it on. One side of me is super nervous because what if it is too small! If that is the case, I will be devestated. Now, Operation Bridesmaid is going, but not in a dedicated way. I am kind of watching what I eat and kind of working out, but not really.

I take my beat up box and hesitantly open it. If it doesn't fit I just have the dog here - he won't judge. It wrapped well enough to survive a flood, but I make my way through it. Take the dress out and have one of those if this fits, I am devestated because it is the shape of a square moments. I slip the dress on and.....

down it falls! YES! I haven't done anything, but the dress is too big! I am saddended that I have to go through the alteration process, but excited because I have to go through the alteration process. The dress is a gorgeous dress and will look even better when the top part of it isn't around my waist. I awkwardly took a picture, but I am not sharing it because it is not my wedding and it is the Bride's decision, so I am not posting any pictures until after the wedding, October 2.

I call the Bride. Tell her the news and we catch up, but I am super excited about this wedding now. I know it isn't all about me, but at the last Diva wedding I was pregnant and squeezing into the dress. I remember the Mother-of-the Bride just clapping once I had that thing zipped. It was another one of those moments. So, I am in the need of a great person who does alterations in Augusta. Know anyone?

Enough!

As many of you know I am in school. I attend ASU and I am in the Counselor Education Department pursuing my Master's in School Counseling. If you live in the area you know that there has been a lawsuit brought against the counseling department and the school president by one of my fellow students. I have kept my mouth shut for a while, but I am really discouraged by this suit and the attention it is getting for multiple reasons. Now the irony of the situation is the drama in the counseling department. I am sure (I am not currently in classes) that they are practicing what they preach and the counselors are doing their best to get through the situation.

Because ASU is not really addressing the matter, the public is drawing their own conclusions. I love freedom of speech, but it is getting a little out of hand. When I first talked about the lawsuit (that made front page headlines) with my Mom, she was like "Good for her." It is good that she is standing up for her Christian beliefs, but not good for her at the cost or the fact that a lot of what is being said is completely incorrect.

Well, here is what is discouraging to me. In almost every one of my classes we do icebreakers and little getting to know you activities. I would venture to guess that at least 85% of the time a classmate, a student in the SAME program brings up their faith. A lot of them refer to the Bible as their favorite book, but yet, this one student is being told she cannot hold her Christian beliefs? I am a Christian, I am a student, and I hope one day to be a certified school counselor. With this goal in mind, I know that there will be times when my personal values and/or beliefs conflict with a student. The amazing part of what they are helping us to learn at ASU is that it shouldn't matter. If a student walks in my office who is homosexual, or not a Christian, or different from me in any way, it is not my place to judge them. The client sets the goals, they are the ones who are working through their issues. I am not to work through my issues or convert them to my beliefs. It is not only unethical, it is just not helpful. Who am I to judge? I know I am supposed to help spread the Word of the Lord, but I am not going to make believers out of people by jamming the Word down their throat or telling them they are wrong.

Maybe I am wrong for holding my beliefs. ASU (in my opinion) is not telling her she cannot be a Christian, they are simply telling her (as they tell everyone) your beliefs are not to become the center of counseling. If a client walks through the door and your beliefs don't match you are not to refer them on or tell them the "right" way, you are to show true care and concern. If we refered every client that was different than we are, we would be without clients.

What breaks my heart is the fact that not only is the suit making counseling as a profession look to be judgmental and unapproachable, she is also making Christians look the same. To me it is not an option to pass judgment. I am not sure she is passing judgment as much as she is ignoring the obvious which is, it isn't about her. It is about the client.

Augusta State has every right to deny her a degree based on her lack of experience, or on her unwillingness to improve on herself as a person. I have been through my first review. They tell you things about you that you may not agree with, but eventually you realize that it is not all about what you think, it is how you are perceived. If my department trusts me enough to give me the privilege of getting a degree, then I trust their judgment enough to point out things about my counseling technique that may need improvement.

I pray for this suit to end in a positive light for both Christians, counselors, and Augusta State.

www.chronicle.augusta.com/news/crime-courts/2010-07-22/christian-student-sues-asu

A link to read the story for yourself.

When It Rains, It POURS!

How fitting this saying is for the Ellis Family. This blog may get lengthy, so be ready. I am hopeful that soon I will have a happier blog. However, I now consider my life a comedy of errors. I think God is teaching Wes and I patience as well as priorities...I am sure I have more to learn from this. Last night it STORMED at my house. Not just rained, but STORMED. I thought the garage door was going to bust in from the wind and sweet gum droppings that were pounding it. Trenton and I played downstairs to stay away from any debris. So, keep the pouring rain in mind as you read through this blog.

Let me start at the beginning. Trenton is teething. Tooth one, in. Tooth two, coming...this tooth has caused more issues for this child than anything else.

So, last night, not to have the focus taken away from him by the monstorous storm outside, Trenton wakes up SCREAMING. I can only deduce it is from his tooth. I go get him, give him oragel, we talk and play and distract him from the tooth. This is really great too because Wes has been working 12 hour days and hasn't seen Trenton since Sunday, so not terrible. This is around 9:00 PM. Around 10:00 I go to put Trenton back in his crib (this is about the 3rd attempt to get him to go to bed) and just happen (don't know why) to go into the guest bedroom. Well, that probably was a good idea, but not the greatest discovery.

This is the ceiling of our guest bedroom...oopsie...there is a touch of a leak. Now, we have a new roof and there have been storms since the roof was installed, but apparently, there is something going on.

Wes in all his anger decides he will go figure it out. 2 issues. 1. We don't have a ladder. 2. We can't find the flashlight. But, he won't give up. Eventually the flashlight is located and Wes is outside. Trenton, still up is lying on my bed, chewing his pacifer and laughing at King of the Hill. Wes comes back wiht not much to report - clearly it is dark, the problem is on the roof, and we hear rain coming again....so, we are not sure what the issue is, but I know the people who installed the roof will be there today to figure it out.

But, Wes and I have seemed to have a ton of issues....let's list them all.

1. Most importantly - Trenton's health - the fact that we are having another surgery is not what we want to hear. Ya'll read about my frustrations there in the last blog.

2. Wes is selling his truck. Not because he wants to, but because he is a great father. Trenton's medical bills are not nearly as bad as they could be, but the are not as minor as we would have liked either. So, we are selling the truck to lower the payment, increase the amount towards Trenton's bills, be done with those and once the dust settles, we will get Wes a truck. WHEW! Noticing the length of this list, I don't think that new truck will be any time soon.

3. We got new carpet - this was another good idea that led to a grim discovery.

We have a leak coming from this shower into our bedroom...add it to the list. So, this bathroom will probably have to be gutted to figure out the extent of the damage, but I am sure (given our current string of incidences that this will not be easy)

4. We got new carpet - which led to another problem called - they didn't do well putting our house back together.

This is my closet door. Normally, a closet door wouldn't lean against a wall, but mine does. So does Trenton's. It is neat.

5. Did I mentioned it monsooned at our house yesterday? This led to the discovery of this..

Our laundry room door is leaking. Wes was able to find the 3 inch gap causing this problem. So, I guess we will be measuring to buy a door...this time it will be installed by someone professional. I know Wes doesn't want to do that.

6.

We believe this precious little limb from that precious GIANGTIC sweet gum tree to have something to do with our most recent troubles, but we are not really sure.

We love our house, well, I do. Wes is ready to fix it all, sell it, and move. I just am not really sure what else we have to learn from this. God never gives you any more than you can handle, but apparently I was not given the memo on how much crud was going to fall into my lap at once.

We joke at work about our house qualifying for Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but we aren't there yet. I am not going to destroy my house to make it work either. Maybe Holmes on Homes? We aren't sure there either...I mean, there really isn't a lack of repair being completed, we may have bought a lemon of a house and the people who sold it to us may have known that. I am not really sure, but I do know the drama continues....one repair at a time. First stop, Trenton's kidney and the house leaks. :)

FINAL NOTICE

Dear Logic,
Where have you gone? Why is it now that you seem to elude everyone? Now, I am not sure if you are directly linked to common sense, but in my mind I believe you are both gone - but not forgotten.
Love,
Sara


As part of my degree I am told to be aware of my personal faults and areas on which I need to improve. I realize that I may not be the most logical person and that some people are just not blessed with common sense; however, I truly think that being in the age of computers and technology logic has just been lost. I understand that computers may make our life easier and allow for more work to be done by fewer workers; however, the computer does not notice anything other than what you tell it to. Computer programmers are smart - at least to me - they do something I could never do nor have I ever wanted to do, but still, there is something missing.

What brings all this about are Trenton's bills. It is now more apparent to me that computers are faulty in some matters. The Ellis Family proudly (ha!) owes 1 hospital, 4 payments, directed to 3 different locations. Logical? probably to them, but to me and my checkbook - nope. I understand that every institution has a way of doing billing, but really do we have to waste resources by mailing me NO bills, but expecting payments to an unknown address?!? In fact, when I called this morning and spoke to one of the places they said, we mail bills, but you are required to make your payments regardless. Really? Has our world come to that - i didn't receive the bill, so it must be paid off? I guess so, it is like customers who call and are curious how their account became negative. Typically, it is because you spent more money than you had. Returning to medical bills, why do I have the largest payment to the place I owe the least? Are the anesthesiologist in a much higher need for money? I appreciate all that has been done for Trenton and how blessed we have been to be in an area with such great medical care, but why can I not just owe one big sum to one place with one payment? The doctors are amazing, but insurance and medical billing is not an easy thing to master.

Maybe it is becuase it doesn't hurt as much to write the check when it is broken down. I tend to not cry as much when the check amount has only 2 digits as opposed to 3 or 4. Still, I digress from my other BIG frustration.

Yesterday I went home and checked the mail only to find a bill from MCG. Well, I was expect one every day, so this was no surprise - until I opened it. FINAL NOTICE was written across the top. HMMM...final notice for something I have been paying? But wait, this one is in Wes's name. So, I read on. We are severely delinquent and they are threatening collections. I laugh now because I have straightened it all out, but here is the deal. They mailed us one bill in July to the wrong address. I never received the bill, so I never called, nothing. I don't know that I owe it. Everything else is in my name, but this one is not...odd. Also odd...wrong address. How is it that we go to MCG weekly (I exaggerate a little), verify our address, but one bill is sent to the wrong place?!? Fortunately our neighbor has the same name as my husband, so the postmaster guessed put the bill in their mailbox and it got to us since they are such nice people. Oddly enough it was to an address that does not exist, but somehow never made its way back to MCG.

So, either the computer system is not sophisticated enough or the employee that entered the information did not care to double check or the people who work in billing did not feel the need to check the address. I am frustrated, but I also find this humorous. What is even more ironic is the debt that was close to being "bad debt" was only $300. Now, my child has been through more procedures in his first year than any mother wants and we are making payments on what we owe, but really, do you really think the $300 will be what I skip out on? Yes, Wes and I talked about it and we have decided to just pay the large amount and not worry with that $300...worth ruining our credit for that!

My main point is that somewhere something has gone wrong. Blame it on computers? Who operates those - people. Which department deserves the blame? I have been hit with enough insurance and billing problems to last a lifetime and yesterday it just hit me where I was most exhausted and I cried. I broke down and cried because it was a lack of communication and/or a lack of caring that made me come home to a FINAL NOTICE.

I blame my generation for a lot of it. We are definitely (all, but some) a generation of 9-5. We work the hours we are told, get our paycheck, and go home. But if someone would just take an extra minute to make sure it was all correct, I would really appreciate it. It doesn't take a lot of effort to be aware...maybe it does.

Mom and Dad raised us so that we were observant of our surroundings. Maybe I am too observant? Maybe I care too much? I am trained to be aware of my surroundings and subtle cues through my graduate degree, but it doesn't take a graduate degree to make you go the extra step. It doesn't even take a degree.

So, logic/common sense I miss you. I enjoy you when I find you, but recently you seem to be missing. I am hopeful that someday you and the billing department will reunite. If not, I will keep calling and making my concerns be known.

VOTE FOR TRENTON!!!!!

www.gerber.com/photo/#/vote

Search photos through Trenton's name. There are 2 pictures of him. Vote for the one with him smiling at the camera....it is in a yellow background.

Thanks so much!!! We need some scholarship money! :)

Bubbles & TV

Last night, I didn't run. I didn't walk. I did chase my dog around the house cleaning up his mess. Oh, and I started to do my work out video, but that too failed. See my precious first born, Baxter has developed an affinity that apparently most Boxers have, for soap. I read that it was because of the ingredients in soap, but I am not sure. Anyway, yesterday morning Baxter ate a bar of Dove....the good thing is it was for sensitive skin, so maybe it was less painful on his tummy?!?He made it through the day by himself and he didn't make a mess. However, the minute Wes went to run and I started my video he just got sick. He looked at me with these sad puppy eyes and I couldn't be mad at all. I am so glad we have the new carpet though, that made his mess that much easier to clean up! Well, he went outside to do whatever and came in exhausted and so embarassed.

How can I be mad at this??? TMI, if you eat soap, it comes back as bubbles! :)

Another development is Trenton's new toy. He has a jumparoo at school and LOVES it. Well, Noni and Sir heard of this and had to get one too. See, they are very limited for toys at their house and they kept him one afternoon when Wes and I went to Savannah. So, they bought it and he LOVED it. He jumped all day long (when he wasn't eating or staring out the window). When Trenton isn't at their house the toy lives at my house. The other day he jumped at Mom's house and this is the picture we got....

Mom was actually trying to take a picture of his new tooth and he would not show it. Anyway, the other night he was jumping in our den and he discovered TV. Now, Trenton has always loved watching sports but he has not really ever been interested in anything else. However, that night he was jumping and we were watching Shrek 2. Immediately, he stopped and for the rest of the time this is what he did....
he was done! bless his jumping heart. Not a lot going on in the Ellis house. Just preparing for surgery 8/11 and Three's arrival. I couldn't end my blog on Baxter throwing up bubbles. Although, it was kind of funny.

Hi, My Name is

Grace...well, not really. Those of you who have known me since I was Sarabeth will probably agree that I have never been that graceful. Yes, many of you encouraged me to dance and even lied and told me I was good at it, but truly, I have never been graceful. The older I get the more apparent this becomes to me. Wes is doing an amazing job training for the half marathon. Me, not so much.

I am not a runner, I have never been a runner, I have never enjoyed running. Even in gym class at Prep I would always be sick the day we ran. Fortunately the gym teacher was oblivious and never noticed that I was not on the track. However, I wanted Wes and I to do something together, so we are trying running. Well, I don't like it any more than I did when I was younger. The thing is I am not enjoying the heat at all. I don't enjoy sweating and running produces that, but I am fine sweating doing my videos. See, I lost all that weight (way back when) by doing my exercise videos. I may have to return to those just as an effort to increase my cardio health. The situation worsens though.....

I have hurt my knee. It feels a lot better and I have tried doing the Wii with a bum knee, but I am not the fastest walker, much less runner. So, tonight will be my first night back on the trail. I am going to stay on the flat land. The odd thing is I hurt my knee at work. Now, I am a hard worker, but teller work does not require you to hurt your knee to the point of not being able to move. So, training resumes today. Trenton will probably go with Wes and I will have Baxter on flat land...our little puppy can't keep up with Wes.

Training continues and I will someday discover my graceful side. For now I am just hopeful Trenton has a little more of it than I do!

Trenton's Medical Update

Yesterday Sir (my Dad) and I took Trenton to MCG for a MAG 3. Since I found out I was pregnant with Trenton the doctors determined he had hydronephrosus. Well, it was monitored throughout his stay in the NICU and after being released we did a follow-up on his kidney. Dr. D recommended we do a MAG 3 to see how well Trenton's kidneys were flushing. So, the MAG 3 showed that his left kidney was not really emptying well at all. However, the build up to this study was pretty traumatic. But, the day was not without fun since Sir was there. I learned that Trenton is sneaky and inquisitive. He started to pick everything out of Sir's pocket. Trenton found glasses, a pen, and tried for a cell phone!

We arrive at 9:00 and naturally it doesn't start until 10:00. They had to poke Trenton 3 times in order to get a vein that would work. I was adament about them not putting the IV in his left hand since that is the only thumb he sucks. The first IV try he didn't even cry, but come try 2 and 3, he was SO upset. The one in his left foot was the winner. We all survived the IV, but then came the catheder. No secrets for this child. That too was traumatic, but I really can't blame him. Next came the taping of Trenton to the table. Well, they had a new table, so we were experimenting on the best way to secure him. Finally they determined the buritto method would be best. Trenton survived this, but he was sweaty!This test lasted for 30 minutes initially then another few pictures that were 2 minutes each. For the 2 minute pictures he got to be unwrapped.

Eventually he fell asleep on the table waiting so patiently. Here he is happy because there is something fun to look at. He did not remain this way for the entire test.

After they were done we went to clinic to see the Dr. That appointment was a lot of hurry up and wait. GROSS! But we did it. Trenton would not sleep, naturally. Around 1:45 we were released from all of the tests. But, we did not receive the best news...

Trenton will be having surgery to correct a blockage in his kidney on August 11th. The surgery will last 4 hours, and is called a pyeloplasty. Wes and I are not excited for it at all, but we are hopeful this will fix his kidney. I do not know the time of the surgery, but after this we should be done! We have worked our way down the body. Trenton will be the coolest kid though because he will have 2 scars - one on each side. Not what you hope for your child, but I am grateful this was all caught early and he will not remember it.

So, please continue to keep Trenton in your prayers. I will not know the time of the surgery until the day before. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! This baby is either going to be a surgeon or HATE doctors.

Training Day 1 - BOB

Well, everyone says the first day is the hardest...I am not sure I believe that. We did our first round of training on Saturday and other than hot, it was miserable. I am not really a runner. I have never really enjoyed it nor have I ever really been interested in it. However, I do admire those who are able to run. Let me start at the beginning...

As with everything we do, Wes and I tend to want to invest all the money needed so we will be the best equipped runners out there. Well, this time I learned my lesson. I did not go and buy the fancy shoes..yet. Should Wes and I stick with this, we will invest in great shoes. The one thing we did buy was a stroller for Trenton. I have never seen such a stroller - shocks, all kinds of covers, pockets, etc....it is a B-O-B. We bought it based on a neighbors recommendation.

For our first run I pushed Trenton and Wes had Baxter. We thought we were supposed to run for 30 seconds and walk for 90. Later we learned that we are to run for 60 seconds and walk for 90. No matter how many seconds the one thing I learned was I AM OUT OF SHAPE! The only thing that made this run remotely worth it for me was hearing how excited Trenton was.

Naturally, every time we ran it would be up a hill...just worked out that way. Trenton would giggle with delight. We would get to downhill and I swear he sounded like he was saying "Weeeee". It was so much fun for Trenton! We did our time and made our way back home. I walk in the door and the dog is ready to pass out, I am just trying to stay cool, Wes is exhausted, and I hand Trenton his sippy cup. You would have thought this boy just ran a half marathon himself. He was beyond thirsty. He just downed his juice and relaxed on the couch.

So, day 1 was rough. Tonight is day 2. I am hopeful it will be better, but I am still sore from day 1. We are still deciding what 1/2 Marathon, but I have had many suggestions. We will just have to figure it out. As long as I can keep my feet moving I will be okay.

Happy Birthday to Mom!

Today, my Mom is celebrating her Birthday. The great thing is that Mom is celebrating it on a plane. I am sure that Mom is just glad to be coming home. For the past week Mom has been in Mexico on a mission trip. She felt led to go to Mexico and help be the house parents to a lot of children. This meant cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, everything for over 50 children. She wasn't alone, but she spent her vacation helping others. Her other vacation will be spent in Nashville, celebrating Three's arrival, but also helping Ansley. This is something that I have always admired in my Mom. She is selfless. Probably one of the most selfless people I know. I hope to one day be like her, but they are some big shoes to fill.

Growing up Ansley will tell you that I had it so much easier because I was the younger child and everything I wanted I got. Well, Ansley may have a better memory of our childhood and require more therapy, but I am here to tell you that I didn't always get off the hook. Ansley was the driven child and I was the more mischievous one. So, Mom and Dad knew what I was doing, but they just chose their battles with me.

One of my favorite stories the Mom tells all the time is about her eyebrows. Those who know my Mom know that all it takes is that eyebrow being raised and a room full of screaming middle schoolers fall silent. Well, that eyebrow also had a way of getting Ansley and I to be quiet, until one day when I decided I had had enough. We were eating dinner and my Mom looked at me and that eyebrow shot up and in her stern voice she said, "Sara Elizabeth McRee, get your elbows OFF the table." I looked back at her, put my finger to my eyebrow, raised it the best way I knew and said, "Melody Jennings McRee, no". Well, I got in a heap load of trouble, but it was the most blatent indicator to my Mom that I was going to be her match. Ansley and I quickly mastered the eyebrow. The point of all this being that Mom has this amazing characteristic of being a firm, yet loving Mom. Most of her students will tell you the same.

It has been so amazing watching Mom as a grandparent. Parenting takes on an entirely different meaning once you become a Mom. Our family has been through a lot (like many families) but we have always stayed together and strong, this I attribute to my Mom. I hope to be able to do this through Trenton's life, be his strength and his safe place. Every time I think about how I want to raise Trenton I naturally gravitate towards my childhood. Not only because it is all I know, but because I have not seen anything better. Fair, firm, loving, constant, and Godly are all characteristics that one day Trenton will say I posses.

So Mom, Happy Birthday. Although you are also victim of our smart mouths, we love you and we appreciate everything you do for us, others, and I am hopeful to be half the Mom to Trenton that you are to me. Even though you don't always feel included, you are a PC grad by association, so we love you! This little man can't wait for you to get home, so be careful, but hurry up!

Photo compliments of Adam Boatman. :)

Ready to Run

Well, in a partially insane moment in my life, Wes and I have decided to run a half marathon. I don't know if we will actually do it, but right now, it is a reality. We are going to start small and work our way up since we are not a. in shape and b. runners. Let me tell you, even when I was at my skinniest, I hated running. I am hopeful with determination and Wes I will survive it. We are going to give it a shot. Training will be interesting, especially once classes start back for me, but we will make it happen. Clearly we will not do any marathon until 2011, but still it is a goal. Now our evenings will be spent training for this as well as family time. Baxter will also be training and Trenton will be riding along with us. Another crazy idea, but I am hopeful this one will come to fruition.

Not much else going on in the life of the Ellis', but I still owe my readers some pictures of the beach. We are just enjoying life, and unfortunately my blog has fallen to the wayside. Sorry! Tomorrow I will post because it is my Mom's B'day...she is in Mexico, but we will still have to dedicate a blog to her. :)

A Minor Setback

Today we had another appointment. This one was regarding Trenton's kidneys. It was a lot of waiting only to find out that we were not released. Trenton is going next week to have a Nuclear Medicine Test on his kidneys. His left kidney has gotten worse as far as the blockage. Trenton is now on an antibiotic and we have to limit his exposure to the sun. So, we left with some not so great news, but we will survive. If the test results show that his kidneys are not functioning well then he may have to have surgery around 15-18 months of age. We will keep you posted. During our 3 hour appointment I did manage to take some pictures. You will notice that Trenton changed clothes...I am so glad that he decided to spit up all over himself and missed me. I was in my work clothes, so that would have meant diaster.

When we ended up heading upstairs to another appt and passed a girl who had part of her leg amputated and was walking around with her mom. Apparently, she hadn't been out of her room in a while, because as we were passing her she said "look, mommy, the outside! I haven't seen it in so long!" That just put it all into perspective. Trenton has been through a lot, but when you see how well he is doing and how minor his remaining issues are, I am just so grateful and so blessed.

Trenton feeding himself...he didn't eat it, but don't take it away...he gets fussy!We were waiting on the doctor to come in, he wasn't really scared, but he sure does look it. He and his Da-Da were talking to each other. Love my boys!