How The Lottery Changed My Life...

Wes and I love to play the game where we spend our pretend lottery winnings. I would love to be one of those people who say that we can't really win because we don't play, but we do. My husband has 2 addictions. 1 addiction is scratch offs. There was a time last year that he kept winning small amounts of money and getting more scratch off tickets and we actually won enough money to buy Shelby some amazing shower presents. However, there are times that Wes plays and he loses. Well, this past Friday, he played. I didn't know he was playing. He has an account at another bank that I have a debit card to, but he gets to use for whatever he thinks he needs. Friday he meets me for lunch, this has become quite a nice part of our routine. It gives us a chance to sit down together and we try our best to talk about anything except Trenton. This past Friday was no different. I got money out of our account (where I work) and we went to Zaxbys. Walking in the door he proudly says that lunch is on "him". Meaning, at least I thought, it was coming out of the other bank. No, he is proud because he bought a scratch off and won about $60. We eat lunch and he tells me he is going home to get things done around the house. It is Friday, and in banking, at the downtown location that means busy. I am too busy to even check my email until around 5. I check it and there it is, an email from Wes that says to check my phone. I quickly grab my phone and there it is, his other addiction.....

tattoos. My husband is officially branded. This was completely his idea. I have a feeling this is not the last tattoo. We (I) do have the rule that he cannot get a tattoo that he cannot cover up. this one, under his watch. This is his 3rd tattoo. I am not a fan of tattoos, but I still love him....tats and all.

*** I am not sure if everyone in the family has noticed this tattoo or not. I received permission to post this. ***

Baxter's Big Adventure = A Stressful Night for the Ellis Family

Last night was awful...awful is truly an understatement. For those of you who know me, you know I am a HUGE animal lover. Prior to having Trenton, I would definitely say I was much more attached to my dogs than anything else. I love and hate this about myself. I love it because I always had a dog growing up - something that my father secretly wanted, but Mom was not always in agreement; however, she would let her little girl have one. I hate it because it can really hurt me when something happens and I try to make every stray dog mine. When I do this Wes says, "if that dog is walking down this street when we come back this way (on the way home) then you can have it." He knows it will not be there.

Recently we got Bandit - a rescue that Wes wanted to keep. I thought it would be good for Baxter, he would have a friend and it would help keep him exercised and happy. Well, I don't know what happened yesterday, but something sure did make Baxter change.

I had to work later than normal last night, and Wes had to run an errand after work. When I got home I went to let the dogs in and there was NO BAXTER!!!!!!!

I screamed. I screamed his name, I screamed a bad word, I called my husband...completely sobbing. Animal control had closed, Baxter was not in the yard. I was devestated. Baxter can jump our 6ft privacy fence...neat trick, but not a good idea.

Wes comes home and I get in my car and just ride around screaming his name, talking to anyone that is outside. I go to the river, I go to the park, I go to the woods, I go to my Granny's house (we walk baxter there a lot). I call my Dad. I hear it in Dad's voice - he is a touch worried, but he knows Baxter will come home. He says we will check in after a few hours. Baxter will find his way home.

Meanwhile, Wes makes posters, goes out to look, does the same routine I had just done. I keep thinking that Wes will pull in the drive way with Baxter's head poking out the window...he doesn't. I put it on Facebook, friends call to help search, friends re-post it on Facebook...it is a community effort.

I start fearing the worse. The sun is going down...I go back out. I can't just sit. Well, about this time NA Public Safety comes down our street 2 times. I find that weird, but just keep going. Well, while doing my rounds, I meet our neighbors...the ones that previously called animal control on Baxter - Jimmy and Tina. Jimmy, being an avid smoker, is able to tell me that he didn't see Baxter, but saw another dog that went to our front porch. He tried to knock on our door, but naturally, we weren't there. I knew it was another dog because this was 9:30 AM. The last sighting was at 1:30 PM when Wes came to check on him.

Jimmy, the pulse of Hammond Drive, tells me that NA Public Safety was responding to a call regarding something, not someone...he said to call them and ask. So, I start walking down to the house where the police responded - about 4 doors down. Meanwhile, my sweet Uncle Hal and Aunt Donna had called and offered to help look. I told them it was okay, but there was Hal, circling the neighborhood and trying to find Baxter. So sweet. Well, NA Public Safety tells me that it was a smoke alarm...really, fine. He tells me to call animal control and leave a message.

I have left a message - actually 2 at this point. Baxter is missing NOW! If animal control had him, they should have called! He has 2 tags and one has his name and my number on it. Wes and I just sit in the den and stare out the window - anticipating his return. I am thinking the worse. Around 11:30 we go upstairs to bed...that just starts me crying worse. Baxter sleeps with us! I don't know what to do with the extra room in the bed. I want him home.

We take turns sleeping - at least that what it feels like. Neither of us had a deep sleep, we were listening for that bark at the door. Following the suggestion of one of my FB friends, I put a blanket on our porch that smells like me - she said it helps him follow the scent home. I am hopeful it will work.

Around 4:30 I am wide awake. I sit in bed for a while and just think about Baxter. Finally, around 5:15 I decide enough is enough. I go get my keys to get in the car. As I open the garage door, I hear a jingle...could it be?!?

Baxter comes darting in the garage from the front porch...where the blanket was and I am thrilled! I cry, I run inside and scream for Wes. Wes comes running and he cries. We are so excited. Baxter, he is glad to be home, but TIRED. Baxter is a little stinky, wet, and his eyes are bloodshot. He eats 2 bowls of food, says his hellos and lies in bed.

He gets up only when I go to get Trenton. We walk into Trenton's room and Trenton looks through the crib and screams, "CRACKER!" He can't say Baxter. Trenton is thrilled too! So thrilled that he gives Baxter half of his french toast.

Needless to say, Baxter stayed inside today. Bandit is outside. Bandit has to be outside because he likes to chew things....and by things I mean EVERYTHING!

I called animal control this morning and left another message that Baxter was found and safe. I also apologized for being so frantic during the first 2 calls.

Oh, and Jimmy wants our numbers and to get to know Baxter so Baxter isn't afraid of him and comes when he calls him. All in all, they are nice people. They feed every stray cat on Hammond Drive and own about 5 cats, but at least they showed genuine concern for my Baxter.

Thank you for all the support, care, and prayers while we looked for Baxter. I am glad he is home safely and he is probably asleep at home. He was exhausted! I will always wonder what he did, where he went, but I do know that he will NOT be staying in the back yard EVER again!

Birthday Wrap Up

Trenton practicing on his tricycle.

He wanted to push it himself.

The wonderful dinner my husband cooked for me...


My so cute outfit my sister gave me...

Trenton was happy it was Mommy's Birthday!
Gorgeous flowers Wes gave me...they are still alive!


My favorite...cookie cake!

I must confess that I did a horrible job taking pictures on our birthdays. For the Ellis Celebration I was sick, but thankfully Mary Jane had her camera. For the McRee Celebration we were all exhausted from chasing Trenton! I am hopeful that when our new camera comes in I will do a better job at taking pictures. For now, here are a few shots from our birthdays!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WES

Today is my husband's 30th birthday!!! Wes, I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate all our patience through our "poor year" as I finish school. Not to mention your patience with me as I try to figure out just how this Mommy roll works. :) Trenton and I are so blessed to have you as our provider, friend, father, and husband. You are a hard worker and you are truly dedicated to your family.

I am sorry you didn't get a huge party, but I am hopeful you will enjoy your golf weekend with NO wife interruptions! :)

We love you! Happy 30th,
Sara, Trenton, Baxter, and Bandit.

PS, talk to Bandit...I had to chase him around the house this morning to get him to go outside...that is your dog. :)

Commitment

To me, the word commitment tends to be overused or maybe the definition has changed and I didn't get notice. It seems like many of the places I work, or the daycare my child attends, or the school system has a different definition of commitment. I worked at a private school and I quickly learned about the influence of politics on the business world; however, not until I had Trenton did I realize just how much the lack of commitment people have to their responsibilities upsets me.

What brings this all about is the fact that I am leaving work and looking at changing some things in my life...my last full-time day is July 29th. I hope to stay on as a part-time employee through December, but we will see if that happens. Irregardless, I had someone ask me the other day if I really was positive I was leaving. At first I thought they meant this as a compliment, but then I got to thinking - it is easier for them if I don't leave, but I made a commitment to myself and to my husband that I would complete school and do what I love for a career, to me, that is something serious. So, yes, I am sure I am leaving. I am about to be 27 years old and it will only be harder to finish grad school the older I get, so I am leaving.

Marriage, that is a commitment. Wes and I have been through some difficult times, some times where I didn't really want to see him at all, but you make it because ( I love him) that is a commitment I made, it is a promise I made to my husband. Recently, I have seen the effects of what happens when one person in a marriage had a very skewed and misrepresented definition of commitment. It isn't fair. Should I really have to get my husband to define what commitment means to him? Is it really something where you just decide you want to try something new and do it? No, it is a forever thing - marriage is not easy, but there are very few circumstances for which I would throw in the towel.

The other side of commitment regards policy. I have encountered 3 different instances with 3 different organizations who seem to think that the world is full of gray. I understand there are times to be black and white when it comes to policy and procedure, but I get frustrated with the gray becomes the norm. So what if you are on the Board, your child should be held just as accountable as any child. So what if you think you are entitled because you can drop a name, I really don't care. I guess I am just not jaded enough yet. I see rules and policy as just that. If the rule states something and my child or myself breaks it, then we are to receive the same punishment as any other person. I guess I just don't understand what the exception to the rule has become the rule? What happened to the commitment towards equality?

So, before I am asked to make another commitment, I think it only fair that person asking for the commitment clearly state what their definition of commitment is.

Daddy & Trenton's Morning Out

So, this morning Wes was off and I attempted to sleep in, but for some reason Wes was not going to let that happen. He couldn't sleep, so he got up and started talking to the dogs, flailing around in the bed and it was only 5:45! So, there went my sleeping in until 7. Since he was up, I just sat in bed and listened to the TV and Wes make more noise than I could possibly imagine. Then I thought about it...Wes had to be excited for 3 reasons: 1. he didn't have to work today, 2. he is going racing this weekend, 3. it is his morning with Trenton!

Wes had been talking about taking my car to get the oil changed and the new dog (Bandit - yes, he is officially ours) to the vet. My boys were up and out the door and I had a blissful hour to myself. I loved this hour. I thought about doing laundry, but it just didn't seem right. This was MY hour, I threw the dogs outside, and just enjoyed my house. I looked around at the floors which needed to be swept (a daily task with 2 dogs), the laundry, the dust, and just sat. I slowly ate my breakfast and cleaned up my dishes, I took my time watching the news. I loved the morning. It is mornings like this that I appreciate my husband and his days off. Normally, Wes is out of the house by 6:30, so this was really nice.

On my way to work I get a text from Wes. Apparently, my boys had gotten off task at Wal Mart. We were supposed to stay to our strict budget of oil change, things for Trenton and done, but then I get this picture....

My little man is getting ready for sports. I pray that Trenton likes sports because I know his daddy wants him to and he is favoring his left hand when he throws....we will see. Looking at the account, I don't think they bought this, but he is just too precious!

Our new child, Bandit, just got back from the vet. He is between 1.5-2 years old, weighs 56lbs, and is healthy.

So, add one more boy to my life...the Ellis family is growing up.