tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59969261490295779842024-02-18T19:43:39.045-08:00Sarah Talks Too Much!Just a blog about random things in the life of a busy Mom.Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-65809936307333823332012-08-22T11:27:00.004-07:002012-08-22T11:27:41.261-07:00Micah Update & Gifts Galore<span style="color: black;">Wow, </span>has it already been almost 4 weeks since Micah's first of two back surgeries? It hardly seems like that long but it has definitely been a journey! We've been home for 2 weeks and are just now getting into a routine--whatever that means with 3 kids! I cannot even BEGIN to express enough gratitude for all the texts, calls, cards, gifts, meals, Facebook comments, visits, etc. that we have received during this time! It has been wonderful and overwhelming at the same time--but definitely appreciated!<br />
Micah's post-op appointment showed us a DRASTIC change in her spine. I
am floored! I've seen pictures of my child's X-rays for more almost 11
years and I've always seen the curve, always seen the problem. However,
now that there is an "after" comparison, so to speak, my mind is
officially blown. Here are the "Before" X-rays, taken July 26, 2012, the day before Micah's anterior spinal fusion (first surgery, well, 6th if we're really keeping count, haha):<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view X-Ray: This shows the kyphosis, another type of spinal curvature, you can see how far it humps up top and pushes in the lumbar region.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back view X-Ray: See 57 degree curve in just that one noticeable spot, not to mention two other curves from scoliosis that aren't as clear. All of these curves were caused by her cancerous tumor as a baby.</td></tr>
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Now, for the "After" shots. Mind, prepare to be blown:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_HoBLQb9b4jLKjyQFZEeB1gw1nzczN8Q2uYndWQAgQFZNWV3pY1GoOrTYnRhtw2oZTOua7umLdSovio2yXFlZvfSeZwYZsoZI1ic5gaPubuQ9eXKr9NkgwqPvXXb0NDwWo9GyceFj1TQ/s1600/photo_3%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_HoBLQb9b4jLKjyQFZEeB1gw1nzczN8Q2uYndWQAgQFZNWV3pY1GoOrTYnRhtw2oZTOua7umLdSovio2yXFlZvfSeZwYZsoZI1ic5gaPubuQ9eXKr9NkgwqPvXXb0NDwWo9GyceFj1TQ/s320/photo_3%255B1%255D.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front view, post surgeries: See the spine now? Unbelievable! No wonder she gained 3.5 inches!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view, post surgeries: Is anybody else completely baffled by the size of those screws?!?!? See how much straighter the hump part is and how straight her back is as opposed to the before shots? Crazy.</td></tr>
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So there you have it! I must admit, I got lightheaded when Dr.Warner at Campbell Clinic showed us these side by side. Like I said, I've seen her X-rays for years, Micah has gone to her orthopedic surgeon's office every few months her entire life almost, not to mention all the X-rays she also got every time we went to St.Jude for check-ups. These pictures show us on the inside what we can already see on the outside of Micah--a beautiful straight back! She looks AMAZING!<br />
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And lastly, I want to send every single person who has brought us anything or sent cards or gifts or meals or came by to visit but I KNOW I will leave someone out and plus I don't think there are enough thank you cards to thank everyone for their prayers and acts of kindness during all of this so far--so please know that I mean this from the bottom of my heart: <span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">THANK YOU!!! Thank you all! :)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePwt8-pvBf1WjlIaXd1QRSHZDznWhwjOBrc5V1vTfX3dLDMVgNL10Z2Y2zx9fqGO2OGBHchklyPSjjnWQAvKiXZw10jtTQ8KzpnQGMpHlGjWtyqzjS_GqMpw58WPYNHscJFRwoGMgy2yu/s1600/photo%252857%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePwt8-pvBf1WjlIaXd1QRSHZDznWhwjOBrc5V1vTfX3dLDMVgNL10Z2Y2zx9fqGO2OGBHchklyPSjjnWQAvKiXZw10jtTQ8KzpnQGMpHlGjWtyqzjS_GqMpw58WPYNHscJFRwoGMgy2yu/s320/photo%252857%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually not even all of the stuff Micah has received from our awesome friends and family and even strangers! This picture does NOT do justice to show the love we have received!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Micah is up and moving around, she has even walked a half a mile a few times and a whole mile the other day with me and her siblings! She can now officially (as of this week) get up from a lying down position on her own, which is huge since she has needed me to do this for her until now. She isn't on pain meds every 4 hours anymore, and we give it to her as needed. She even got to go to church on Sunday, though we put her in a wheelchair (thanks Abneys!) to not only keep her from having to sit in a chair that may be uncomfortable, but also to keep her from getting tired out and sore and also to protect her from accidentally getting bumped or hugged too hard. (Great Commission folks sure are HUGGERS! lol) </span></span></span></span>But she really enjoyed it!!<br />
I also took the girls to Gracie Bleu on Friday night (for Haven's good behavior at school all week and because Micah was REALLY wanting to get out of the house:<br />
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And the 3 of us ventured out again on Saturday to watch The Odd Life of Timothy Green which was very good! So the GREAT news is, Micah is getting out and getting back to normal, slowly but surely! Now she really wants to go to Target...lol!<br />
The gifts just keep on coming and we can't say thank you enough! As I am sitting here typing this blog post, yet another delivery came to the door:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cute is this balloon bouquet from the prayer team at Premier Designs Jewelry in TX? I LOVE this company and our sweet prayer partner, Mike Glenn whom I know was responsible for sending this! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Micah's homebound teacher started coming this week and she has been working on her school work to stay caught up with her other 6th grade classmates and I know that she is getting to the point where she is going to be ready to go to school finally! It will be a few more weeks but we are getting closer! Thanks again for everyone's prayers and thoughts--God is SO good and His mercies are new every morning!<br />
<br />Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-67438985319372599752012-08-16T21:26:00.002-07:002012-08-16T21:26:12.173-07:00Micah's Surgeries- Mom concernsNo mom wants to see their child hurt! Every mother wants their children to be happy. Micah is my sweet happy girl and has such a fun personality everyone who meets her just loves her and loves to be around her! She is so special that way. And she is beautiful! I know that I'm her Mom and according to her "I'm SUPPOSED to say that" (insert pre-teen eye roll here) which, I'll admit, is exactly what I said to MY mom every time she told me I was beautiful! But its true, she is so beautiful and so precious! But (and I'm talking mostly to the ladies here) do you remember as a pre-teen and a teenager ever looking in the mirror and NOT liking what you saw? Or perhaps every single time you looked in the mirror you didn't like what you saw and still don't like what you see today? It was different then, when we didn't post obnoxious duck-faced pictures on the social media for the sole purpose of everyone "liking" it or telling us to "stay beautiful, gorgeous" because it is cute and the "in" thing to do. Back then, we just had the mirror. And Satan whispering hateful lies in our ears about how imperfect we were. And how those same lies can sometimes come back to haunt us until we remind ourselves that "we are fearfully and wonderfully made" and our Father who created us created us with worth and value and BEAUTY inside and out! But yet we are in constant battle with what the media and society says is beautiful every day and I know that it is hard for many of us to truly feel wonderfully made when everything around us can tell us differently.<br />
I say all that to say that the feelings of inadequacy and not being satisfied with our appearance is a normal--albeit inaccurate-- way to feel for most if not all women. Especially when we were transforming from girl to young lady. And this brings me to when Micah first viewed herself and her new scars in the mirror last week...<br />
My heart broke as the realization sunk in of how much further and wider and longer these new scars are on her precious body. At almost 12, her desire is to be "normal" and I know we can all relate! She has had her scars (or as we have always called them, her "miracles") since she was one year old. And plenty of them! But she didn't care then, and even over the years as she became aware of them, it was never <i>that </i>bad. The first time she really even brought her largest scar up (the vertical one that was the length of her torso as a baby but a month ago was just from the lower back to between the shoulder blades) was in May when wearing her junior bridesmaids dress for my sister Melanie's wedding and she was just a little self-conscious about it. But all-in-all she really didn't seem overly concerned.<br />
However, now that scar on her back stretches all the way up her back (well, she is bigger now so that makes sense) and the other one where her anterior fusion surgery incision is now curves around the side of her left rib cage but instead of ending there where it was barely visible from the front, it now curves down her belly a little ways. And of course a whole new chest tube scar right next to the old one that is 10 years old.<br />
She just stood there and cried.<br />
It was heart-breaking. I didn't tell her about the new way the incisions looked and maybe I should have before she saw them on her own. My sister Jessica pointed out to me later that this moment when she saw these marks on her body they were the WORST they will look. They will only get better. This is true! But combined with all the cuts and burns from the plastic sensors she wore during surgery, the medical tape (those clear-ish strips that will dry and fall off as her cuts heal) and lingering adhesive from all the sensory and motor pathways and monitors and IV tape (considering she had 12 IVs in 11 days, there was a LOT of tape from these, not to mention bruises left behind where the veins had busted or the IV had infiltrated, etc.) and all that other stuff they had to do to her, I'll admit it was probably a pretty upsetting thing for her to see.<br />
Oh how I wish I could bear all these marks on my own body to spare her own little body all this trauma!!!<br />
Yes, how I know there are worst things. Yes there could be so much more damage! She could have scars that are for more prominent and visible! She could still HAVE the cancer that started all this mess, or worse, she could NOT have the scars to show she is a survivor! And we know what that would mean. And that's what I told her. She is a fighter! These marks are the battle scars of a survivor! We will continue to tell her that God <i>chose </i>her to walk this journey, because she can handle it! Because she is an inspiration to so many! Because her life will and IS making an impact for the Lord! Because she is BEAUTIFUL inside and out and these scars on her body make her even more-so because they are part of her, part of who she is, part of all she has accomplished through the grace of Jesus Christ.<br />
But as a mom...it is heartbreaking. When my kids get a skinned knee or stitches or even just a little bruise, this mommy heart hurts because they hurt. Should an 11-year-old girl have to have so many horrible-looking scars on her body or have to have cancer as a toddler or have to have received so much chemotherapy that the side-effects will most-likely continue revealing themselves for years to come? Nope. She doesn't deserve it.<br />
But I know of a man who they call Messiah who was beaten to a pulp and nailed through the hands and feet to a cross to suffer a criminal's death to pay for <i>my </i>sins and, my friends, He was innocent and undeserving. And if He requires that we bear the burden of cancer and surgeries and earthly pain to bear witness to His amazing mercy--then here we are, his servants...<br />
Thank you, Lord, for your grace in our lives and for shining your light through Micah Grace! God heal her scars on her body nice and neat and heal her self-confidence so that she truly knows her value and worth don't come from a reflection in the mirror, but from YOU who sent your Son to die for her and the rest of us! Father, I also humbly ask that you reveal to Micah the beauty that is in her so that she doesn't focus on the scars but rather the story that they represent.Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-64292334225068104782012-08-09T20:37:00.003-07:002012-08-09T20:37:36.088-07:00Micah's Surgeries Days 12-14<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Days 12-14-</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Its been "back to reality" this past several days now that Micah is at home! But wow, what an overwhelming amount of help and encouragement we have received just this week! My mother-in-law made dinner Monday night and my Aunt Polly, Oma and later Jessica (twice!!!) came by, my friend Katie brought dinner Tuesday night and most of my family came by and visited that night as well. We watched The Lorax, one of Micah's favorite movies and one she has been anxiously waiting to come out on DVD. Wednesday brought more visitors and my friend Lawanda came over and then my sweet girls Michelle and Kathy came over with a delicious supper! Angie brought over dinner tonight and I am so grateful for it all! We also have had several other friends come visit in between and I'll leave someone out if I start naming folks even more but a that risk, I have to name Natalie bearing a rose, Anna & Diane from the DAC brought a HUGE gift basket and Micah's friend Olivia and her mom Mary Helen also came by. Today my mom, Oma, Jessica and the boys all came by and who else? I know my Dad has also been by and stayed with Micah and Stone while I went and grabbed Haven. So many friends and I love it! Thank you guys for showering my sweet girl with gifts and us with food! Speaking of gifts...Uncle Jeffery and Aunt Kim (remember the ones who invited Micah to come visit and tour DC?) sent a pretty amazing "Get Well" gift that arrived Tuesday.....</span></span> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its an iPad!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish you could hear the screaming through this photo...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span>Wow! I think maybe I feel a cavity coming on that needs filling...can that count as something that needs a Get Well iPad??? Haha. Micah was so dang excited, she has not put the thing down! Grandma and Papa paid for her to get a cool cover and I ordered her some accessories on Amazon. She had to immediately call Aunt Kim to thank them. What a special gift! Of course, she loves ALL the fun things she has received! We are so appreciative and these things have all helped make a tough situation go just a little bit smoother! :)Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-78049205431668396452012-08-08T10:39:00.002-07:002012-08-08T10:39:56.453-07:00Micah's Surgeries Day 10 & 11<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day 10-</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had a quiet Sunday morning at the hospital especially since Micah didn't get up a bunch during the night now that her IV fluids are off. We tried to watch the church service for GCC via livestream but the thing that makes computers have video capabilities like livestream and youtube was messed up (I called the info number) so we were out of luck. We did have a few visitors on Sunday which is always fun: Macy and Lindsey came by and our friends the Peays came by. Hallie wanted to take a pic with Micah to put on her shirt she'll be wearing when she runs the St.Jude half marathon in December. </span></span> </span></span><br />
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My mother graciously agreed to come up and stay with Micah overnight at LeBonheur so I could go home and get Haven ready for her first day of school Monday! I got home just before bedtime and was so excited to see my youngest two kids. Stone snubbed me but Haven was excited! Stone came around later, when I was singing to him and rocking him before bedtime. :) He took a really long time to fall asleep after that, but he's also been gone for a week to Gary's parents so he has to get reacquainted with his own bed I guess. Micah and Nana put on a movie in the hospital room and Micah promptly fell asleep. So grateful for good help!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day 11- </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Homecoming! We were originally told 2-3 weeks and Micah is getting to go home at day 11! How awesome is our God??? Micah is being discharged today! So excited but yet sad to leave the hospital at the same time. </span></span></span></span>Its been a really good experience, all things considered. On my way back to the hospital, I stopped and <strike>was robbed by</strike> purchased 2 dozen Gigi's Cupcakes to show our appreciation to the LeBonheur nurses and other staff. It was the least we could do, she was treated like a little princess most of the time!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margarita, Midnight Madness, Strawberries&Champagne, Cinnamon Roll, Pink Princess to name a few</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After the removed Micah's last surviving IV (the one we protected like the Rock) we packed up (and packed up and packed up and packed up) everything and had Micah wheeled downstairs. My mom drove us and other than a few jarring turns, Micah made the trip just fine!<br />
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We picked up take out from Kyoto per Micah's request for her FAVORITE: sushi (mmm...) then picked up our prescriptions from the pharmacy and made it home. My in-laws were here with the kids, so grateful for their help! <br />
I was able to take and pick up my little Haven from her first day of Kindergarten, she was SO excited and she loved it! I can't believe she has started school. Where has the time gone?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haven Elizabeth</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Mom: Haven, I change my mind. Don't you want to stay home with Mommy and not go to school? I can be your teacher instead.<br />
Haven: I want to go to school! I have to learn all the REAL stuff. I mean, I already know all the rock star stuff, now I just need to learn the real stuff, Mom."<br />
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Oh...okay? But she did love it! I hope she loves it for a long time!<br />
<br />Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-65639819228499827102012-08-05T11:55:00.001-07:002012-08-05T11:55:27.971-07:00Micah's Surgeries Day 9<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day 9-</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">We've made it 9 days since we first checked in and Micah had her anterior spinal fusion surgery! It only 4 days post-op from the 2nd surgery: the posterior spinal fusion and already Micah is exceeding our expectations! She sat in her chair 3 times today and also walked the hall 3 times, even if she hated every second of it! She's been taking oral pain meds for over 24 hours now so that's been great and they stopped her IV fluids in the middle of the night so she hasn't had to get up a ton to use the bathroom. She's eating normal food now although she hasn't had a huge appetite. She is really wanting sushi, so I'm guessing that will bring her appetite back when I can get her some! Favorite food since she was 2! :)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">A couple of Micah's school friends came to visit today with their sweet mama's, Emma and Hayley. Shawn Crowdus brought Madison down for another visit before they were discharged later, and Micah's new band director Mrs.Perkins came by and everyone brought treats! It was a fun day and Micah got a couple of naps in between visitors and her chair sitting and walking the halls. She's shuffling and turning her feet in a bit but because her back curves were so bad, they affected her gait and now she's having to adjust. Hopefully it will all straighten out as she gets stronger!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Micah is definitely straighter! And taller. She says she still feels crooked and everything hurts so bad, but we now have proof the surgery worked! She and my youngest sister Abby (5'1" tall) were about the same height. Micah was 62" tall the day before the surgery. I can't wait for the next measurement!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom helping Micah stand next to Abby to compare heights. Look at those cute faces!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> My parents came again and brought my sister Abby plus several treats and at Micah's request: ChikFilA! She was excited about that! Gary had asked them to come stay with Micah for the evening so he could take me out to dinner! We've so enjoyed our weekly date nights and since we missed last weekend he insisted on getting me out of the hospital. After some resistance, I agreed and we went to one of our fave places Movie and Pizza in HarborTown since we were just down the street. We hit Cafe Eclectic afterwards for coffee and dessert as usual and he finished the evening by giving me 2 charms for my Pandora. He also told me the reasons behind choosing each one and it completely made my day! So thankful this man has stood by my side through all of this, it makes things so much easier! </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary's "I hate social media because it means I have to pose for even more pictures than ever" face.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </span></span>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-10178128192756200532012-08-04T10:26:00.003-07:002012-08-04T10:26:35.688-07:00Micah's Surgeries Day 8<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day 8-</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Micah is on the move!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at downtown Memphis</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> We had a restless night because Micah needed help getting up to go to her potty chair every 2 hours and she decided she didn't like the way the nurse helped her get up so she wanted MOM to do it! Guess there's something about Mommy's touch, although she has already told me that I would never make a good nurse, haha! I have to say I'd agree with her! But we are both hanging in there. :) The great news is that Micah is up and down, with much assistance, but nevertheless she is UP! She even walked to the end of the hall (about 25 feet) with the help of her physical therapist, Tea. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Tea has been so patient with Micah because she does NOT like to get up or move because of the pain and also the nausea and dizziness that comes with it! She had to sit in her special chair for an hour, which she hated but had to do it 2 more times Friday and hopefully it will get better each time. She also walked again but this time she walked half of the floor and back. Its a struggle and Tea does most of the work, but Micah is moving and that's a huge step. If someone had told me she'd be on her feet just 3 days after her second back surgery I would have doubted it!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">We had several visitors today including pastor Trevor and Ernie and Barney. Our friends/neighbors the Adams came and brought lots of goodies, Micah was thrilled to see them and has been asking for them so that was a special treat! The McAuliffe's from our church visited and brought Micah the coolest "surgeon" Build-A-Bear complete with an X-ray chart and sparkly pink boots! The coolest part was that each of them wrote a Bible verse relevant to Micah's situation that they felt encouraging and put.them.inside.the.bear. I just love that! So its a Scripture Build-A-Bear! Totally cool! Gary came after work and Wendy & Rachel brought a yummy Mexican spread (with a special best cousin bonus, THANKS Wendy!) followed by Corrie and Jenna with cupcakes and a balloon! The cupcakes are staring at me right now as I type this. Calling to me..."eat me....." I can only resist for so long. I'm eating like a pregnant person in this hospital!!! To all my DAC folks reading this, you guys are in for it when I come back to teaching, we have some work to do! Just kidding! (not really).</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">We also had 2 special visitors Friday: sweet Madison from church had an appendectomy here and walked down from her room on the 10th floor for a quick visit with her Mom (get well soon, Madison!) and the "pet therapy" folks came in with Salley the dog. SUCH a sweet dog and Micah enjoyed it!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pet therapy with Salley</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-19694088236676574182012-08-03T10:37:00.001-07:002012-08-03T10:37:47.157-07:00Micah's Surgeries Day 7<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day 7-</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thursday brought with it some baby steps in the right direction for Micah! Our physical therapist came back for more "torture" as Micah puts it but this time she not only made Micah sit up, she made her STAND UP. Yes, stand up just 2 days after her 2nd major back surgery! I can't believe it. With a LOT of support and very small slow baby steps, Tea helped Micah shuffle to her chair specifically designed for recovery from this type of surgery and made her sit in it for 30 minutes. Micah was NOT happy and was very uncomfortable but she did it! </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tea came back later Thursday afternoon after Micah's catheter foley was removed and made her shuffle to her portable potty chair and sit. Then she had to sit in her special chair for a full hour! She hated every minute of it, but she is doing much better than expected! She is still using her pain pump with the continuous drip but is pressing the button less and less and by the end of the day, she was no longer having to push it every 10 minutes for that boost. Progress..</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had a few visitors: my Dad came up and my good friend Lawanda came and brought her girls to visit who brought some super fun stuff for Micah, including the waterless Tressemme shampoo several people have mentioned to me and we attempted to use it to clean Micah's hair (future reference: the hospital no-rinse shower cap thingies suck and you'd be better off pouring olive oil over your child's head to get the same results but it smells nice at least) and it helped a little but we finally just put one of her cute new bandanas from Cammy and Jasmine over her hair. Out of sight out of mind I hope until we can wash her hair properly without risking getting her incision sites wet or dirty.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">My brother and Anna came by with Lucy Kate for a visit also and brought an adorable goodie basket and Angie Davis and Dalton brought lunch from McAlisters--yum! </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Micah is no longer hallucinating, though sometimes she wakes up from a dream still a little confused. It is SO much better than the other day, however and for this I am continually thankful!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">My parents stayed with Micah while I snuck off for Micah's open house at the middle school and to file her homebound paperwork for the first 6-8 weeks of school she'll be missing (boo.) and then to the elementary school for Haven's open house. I can't believe she's starting kindergarten! I ran by the house for a minute to grab more clothes and sift through the mail. Micah got some sweet happies and cards in the mail and I was excited to bring them back to the hospital for her! Her friends and counselor from camp (whose sister had a similar surgery 2 weeks ago) wrote her. She smiled!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">After my parents left (I was gone for a total of less than 3 hours but it felt like forever away from my sweet girl!) I was able to get in the bed with Micah (she has asked so many times but there were too many tubes!!) and we watched a little Olympics until she fell asleep. I remember getting into her hospital bed so many times at both LeBonheur and St.Jude when she was little and in treatment--and back then she was in a hospital bed CRIB so it was quite interesting-looking I'm sure! She has always loved to snuggle with her mama and I am so not a snuggler! But it made her happy then and it made her happy last night. So thankful the tubes and stuff going into her and wires monitoring her are becoming fewer and fewer every day. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-73533048642525691982012-08-01T22:34:00.002-07:002012-08-03T10:38:24.798-07:00Micah's Surgeries Day 6<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day 6-</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">This day has NOT ended on a good note but up until this evening I had nothing but good to report! After a nice quiet morning of Micah resting and watching a movie, they moved us from the IMCU to the 9th floor! In fact, we are in the exact same room, just 3 floors up, so after I hung up Micah's happies she received from folks, it looked just like "home" haha. We got settled in and she rested some more. </span></span></span></span><br />
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Toughest kid I know...<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Physical Therapy came in and not only got Micah to sit up, but after MUCH protesting from Micah, she actually got her to dangle her feet off the side of the bed and sit up for what seemed like forever! Micah did not like this at all and complained the entire time of pain and nausea and dizziness. I can't imagine how it must have felt to sit up for the first time since Friday early morning. I'm sure if she had actually eaten anything since last Thursday night, she maybe would have even thrown up. Poor kid! But she did as she was told and they said the first time sitting up is ALWAYS the hardest. So the worst is hopefully over as far as that goes! More of sitting up tomorrow!</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Later this afternoon, Tina brought Micah's buddies Tanner and JT who came bearing not only great gifts, but my favorite: PF Chang's. Mmm... We had a good visit! Our super awesome electric guitarist at GCC, Paul also stopped by while he was here for a meeting and he is always good company as well. I was actually glad we had a low visitor count today. It was a rough day physically for Micah and it was nice to have a few quiet times today. Not that we don't love visitors! We do! Thanks to everyone who has texted, facebooked, called and visited, its been wonderful to feel so loved!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Micah got a PCA pain pump today where she gets to monitor her own pain. You can see the black button thing in the picture above. It has a constant drip of morphine and then every 10 minutes she is able to get another little "hit" if she needs it. It can't give her too much but it lets the nurses know how she is doing pain-wise, based on the number of times and the frequency in which she presses her button. I think she's been pressing it a LOT. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">This evening after Gary came with dinner (yum!) we started having IV trouble. They'd already pulled 1 of the really big IVs they gave her in surgery yesterday and then after the right arm (AGAIN!) infiltrated causing her elbow to get gigantic, we were down to one IV. And then, it too was gone. I made the call to step in as a parent at that point and put my foot down: no more TPN and lipids. The nutrients she was getting were good but the way almost every one of the TPN IV's was blowing after a while led me to believe it was NOT a good idea to give her any more. I've been doing my best ever since to keep giving her the clear liquid protein supplement so that she will at least have something. After both arms were unavailable, we started pushing for a PICC line but finally after the PICC nurse couldn't get an IV to stay strong (2 of the 3 she did was using an ultrasound and Micah's veins just kept blowing), the ER doctor came up and tried with an ultrasound and it almost immediately blew, the other doctor on call grabbed anesthesia coming out of the OR and asked them to come try. They were checking her feet for veins but he ended up finding a spot in her left arm and getting a good IV. It is now taped up, braced down and in an immobilizer as well just to keep it safe! They plugged her PCA back up and she is back in business with her button! WHEW!!!!! The fear was that the Valium and Zofran and Morphine in her system were going to eventually wear off leaving her in pain crisis in the middle of the night. Hopefully we are in the clear. He said this IV should last for several days...here's hoping!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are continuing to log roll Micah so that her body doesn't lay in one spot too long, which she hates but she goes with it. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Settling down for the night myself, tomorrow is a new day and will be better! "For this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118.24</span></span></span></span>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-28099715491962339302012-07-31T20:47:00.000-07:002012-07-31T20:47:57.390-07:00Micah's Surgeries Day 4 & 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day 4: </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">What a busy couple of days! Monday was a tough day off and on between Micah waking up hallucinating, trying to rest and visitors, etc. She was becoming more and more uncomfortable as the day went on and I believe much of the stress was mounting the closer we got to surgery day #2. The fact she couldn't really rest and didn't get much sleep the night before only added to her disorientation and discomfort, I think. Despite it all, she has handled it so well!</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">My sisters Jessica and Abby came with my nephews and brought yummy lunch and snacks and were a great distraction for a while! Micah was very happy to see her aunt Abby!</span><br />
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Many other friends came by for a visit Monday as well: My in-laws pastor from Scotts Hill made the trip in to pray for Micah, my cousin Maggie brought Elijah and my Aunt Polly and my sweet Oma who made sure to tell Micah several times to rest rest rest! Maggie also brought Get Well notes from she and Elijah along with flowers and a bag of treats! My close friend Lawanda came by again, this time with quite the surprise for me:<br />
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Oh yes folks, that there in that paper sack is.....GARRETTS popcorn!!! My FAVORITE ever since Lawanda introduced it to me when she brought me some from Chicago. She asked her cousin to bring some for me when she came back from Chicago this weekend just so she could surprise me! So.stinkin.delicious. I can make myself sick off this stuff. And well, I have. The Edible Arrangement is from my sweet friends Leigh and Mrs.Sally. Yum! Don & Phyllis McKenzie came by for a visit along with Gary's buddy Al and my Dad.<br />
Angie Davis brought Dalton and Hailey Ellis by with the most awesome gift from all the elementary kids at Great Commission Church:<br />
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Absolutely awesome! We hung it up so Micah could see it from her bed! She loved it!<br />
Gary came by for the evening and agreed to stay the night again with me up here. He also brought me dinner AND a special thoughtful treat to brighten my day:<br />
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GiGi's cupcakes! So thoughtful!</div>
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Micah's evening wasn't so awesome, and it was the first time she got truly agitated and upset. I can't imagine what her little body must be going through and she really hasn't been in her right mind. Its been so frightening to watch and I'm glad it has decreased a little. Praying for rest...</div>
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I feel like I'm leaving something out or not mentioning something someone has brought us but know that all of it has been appreciated! I'm just not functioning on all 4-cylinders! And I also don't even know what that means...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Day 5: <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Surgery #2</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Up early!! </span></span></span></span> Preparation for Micah's 2nd surgery started so early today! She was so uncomfortable and very upset all morning but tried to make the most of it! The epidural turned off in the middle of the night, so the effects were beginning to wear off and though she still had some morphine in her, her anxiety was mounting. She would become upset and anxious anytime someone began messing with her arms for fear of getting yet ANOTHER shot or IV and I don't blame her! They finally pulled the 5th IV this morning as well because her arm was starting to swell on the left side this time. Poor weak little veins! But this time they promised not to put another one in until she was asleep.<br />
To help with this process, I read her some of the notes people have been leaving her when they come visit. What a testimony to Micah of how much people love her and what a great testimony to the nurse working with the IV of how God is showing His love to Micah through our family and friends. I pray it impacted her life as well in some way.<br />
We made it down to the pre-op area and poor Micah was just so over it. They gave her the Versed to relax her. We saw sweet Paige who was on duty in the ICU the night that Micah was admitted for the first time way back in October of 2001 and has maintained a connection with us over the years. She brought Micah a fun gift too! :) Micah wanted me to sing to her so I did a little while we waited and it calmed her down. Well, that and the Versed. They prepped her, talked to us, and wheeled my baby off!<br />
They kept us posted all day and she did GREAT in the surgery! It took less time than the first surgery but was a much bigger operation they said. They put in 20 screws along with the rods and sewed her back up. They took the chest tube out, re-did the epidural and foley and gave her bigger stronger IVs that will hopefully last...Here's hoping.<br />
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Here is our little fighter before they wheeled her down to pre-op!</div>
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While she was out, Chris Bishop brought us lunch, my parents came by, Anna brought sweet Lucy Kate to see us (with a treat for ME and bread for us to snack on!) and Mandy with a bag full of goodies (including duck tape which will thrill Micah to add to her duck tape collection!!!! haha). </div>
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When Micah was finally back upstairs, she was way more awake than anyone expected but eventually settled down and has been sleeping most of the evening. Gary and I were able to go downstairs to eat, thanks to Mom for sitting with Micah and then we were able to just relax and watch a movie while Micah slept on. I guess I am bracing myself for the harder days to come. Lord give me strength and patience and energy to help Micah recover! She is my little hero! I hope she hears me when I keep telling her this and I hope she remembers..</div>
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Oh one more cool thing, just a testimony of how giving Micah is! She had her soft blanket on her because she was so cold when she came up (they have an ice vest on her, cooling her torso to prevent high fevers from the surgery) but tonight when the nurses were checking her back, she asked them to give the blanket to me because I was cold. I mean, really?? Love this kid.</div>
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<br />Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-63003695434089167202012-07-30T09:05:00.000-07:002012-08-03T10:38:37.547-07:00Micah's Surgeries Day 3My heart hurts to see my child in pain. I've wished 100 times in the past 3 days that I could take Micah's place during this whole ordeal but God knows I wouldn't be half as strong as she is if I were! Going into these back surgeries, I thought that it wouldn't be nearly as hard as watching her fight for her life against that horrible cancer and I was right--its not nearly as hard. But it is far from easy. She knows what's going on now. She can tell us where it hurts and how it feels and what she needs--none of which she could tell us when she was in treatment 10-11 years ago, but it doesn't lesson the helplessness that I feel as a parent. I cry when I have to take my 3 kids to get their immunizations at the pediatricians office and wish I could erase the memory of their betrayed expression when you're the one holding them down for it, just like most other parents. I hate when my kids just have a 24 hour bug or fall and hurt themselves the same as any Mom. These bigger things don't lessen those smaller things! But watching Micah go through this, only a few days in has proven way more difficult than I could have imagined. I wish I could protect her from all this pain and everything that goes with it. I pray that God will strengthen me as he strengthens her little body. She is so amazing and so strong.<br />
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Sunday we woke up refreshed because of a great nurse who kept everyone out of our room all night and when he came in, he was quiet like a ninja and never made a sound so we could sleep. We both slept until the lab nurse came in at 7 (nurse Ed kept her away when she came at 5 am) to draw more blood. This would prove to be a HUGE blessing later!)<br />
The morning was quiet and relaxing and we switched between watching movies on TV and the Olympics. My friends from high school Keith and Tracy came with lunch and Panera Bread Company always brightens a day! They also brought Micah a bag full of awesome goodies for later, which she loved. Can you tell Keith and Tracy may know a thing or two about what a tween girl is into? Haha:<br />
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The nurses and I gave Micah a sponge bath and changed her bedding which was quite the intense ordeal for Micah, but she admitted it did make her feel better to be clean. We can't wash her hair yet to get all the crusty glue from the nerve pathway monitors out because they'll just put more in for surgery #2, but her Nana braided her hair so at least her hair is out of the way and looks cute. Very important detail, you know.<br />
Gary and the kids came up in the early evening and brought Papaw and Grandma with them. Micah was glad to see her grandparents, and I was glad to see my baby boy on his 2nd birthday. :)<br />
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Nana and Grandy came up a little while later after the Barkers left with Haven and Stone (thank God for their willingness to keep the kids for us so we can focus on Micah this week!!!) and brought dinner. I didn't have much of an appetite unfortunately because Micah had begun having some disorientation around 5 or 6 pm and it seemed to get progressively worse. By 9 pm, Micah was having frequent hallucinations and unable to get even a few minutes rest. The medical staff speculates that it is the epidural meds or perhaps a combination of them plus the nerve pain medicine and morphine. She also has gone through 4 IVs since Friday and has a pretty severe IV infiltration on her right arm. Her arm got so big that her hospital band has left marks and she had no crease in her elbow and couldn't even bend her arm. They took both IVs out of that arm and medicine was just oozing out of the IV site in the crease of her elbow. It had backed up so much that her entire right shoulder was doubled in size and has swollen her neck as well. She couldn't feel her arm and then had to get 5 shots of medicine in her arm near the IV site as a preventative measure for tissue damage. So sad about this problem that could have been prevented had someone noticed it sooner, however it was a pretty quick drip so it happened pretty quickly. Her arm is propped up on pillows to help it absorb into her body, but its a slow process.<br />
The hallucinations continued on through the night and neither of us got very much sleep. She would close her eyes for a minute to a minute and a half and then wake up upset or confused and disoriented. It wasn't anything scary or creepy thank goodness, but normal Micah concerns and conversations. Many of which I know will be funny later because they were just so "Micah" but none of which were very entertaining last night. For the first time I felt truly helpless because no one could give her anything, even just to help her sleep until it ran its course. She finally fell asleep after midnight for about half an hour and did that off and on between hallucinations until after 3:30 am. She then slept well til 5 am to 6 am and then the doctors/residents/nurse practicioners/lab nurses all began their rotations so she slept off and on til after 8 during all that.<br />
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All in all, Sunday turned out to be the hardest day yet. But she is still such a trooper and I'm so proud of my girl. If anyone can make it through all this with flying colors and a smile, its Micah. <br />
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<br />Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-56419963728451829772012-07-28T22:11:00.003-07:002012-08-03T10:38:15.320-07:00Micah's Surgeries Day 1 & 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Day 1:</span> <span style="color: black;">We arrived at LeBonheur Children's Hospital Friday at 5:30 am.</span></span> Everything went smoothly and we got to talk to two of the surgeons (team of 3: general surgeon, neurosurgeon and orthopaedic surgeon) before the surgery. Micah was in high spirits at this point and looking forward to get the laughing gas in a special flavor she chose herself: orange.<br />
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Micah did fabulous as they prepared her to
go back and once the Versed kicked in, she was one cool cucumber<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micah & Mom</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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(You can read more about what brought us to this point <a href="http://www.sarahtalkstoomuch.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html" target="_blank">here.</a>) They took Micah back after her dad and I loved on her and we watched them wheel us away. Gary and I found a peaceful empty waiting room on the floor of the IMCU and waited for a couple of hours until my Dad joined us and kept us company. My dear sweet friend Lawanda also stopped by with balloons for Micah (They are so cute! Security actually took several of them away, did you know you can't have latex balloons in a children's hospital? Who knew?) and our friend Trevor came, too. Friends made the day go by faster! But not fast enough...<br />
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The surgery ended up lasting a VERY long time because the incision had to be so much wider and deeper. Total time back was 9.5 hours and a big percentage of that was cutting and stitching. They also ran into a roadblock: Micah's left lung has been stuck to her chest wall since one of her surgeries 10 years ago so they had to carefully "unstick it" so they could get to where they needed to go. The incision was mostly in her existing incision site (surgery #4 in 2002) but the new one reached back further and came forward a good bit more and now stretches down her belly past her sternum. :( This was unexpected and we haven't told Micah about how big the new scar will be. :( They were able to release the spine and put the cadaver bone in for it to begin bone grafting and creating a stronger base (bone fusion). All-in-all the surgery went as expected, albeit long.<br />
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When we finally got to see her, she was out of it, but already in pain. We are in a very nice room in the IMCU and I was able to unpack and get settled after Gary and my dad left and Micah rested. My sister Jessica and her husband and little Lincoln stopped by and brought me dinner, which I very much needed and appreciated! Lunch seemed like forever ago. A friend from church, Barney stopped by for a second to encourage us. After they left I was able to relax a little. I even got to watch almost the whole opening ceremony of the Olympics for the first time ever! <br />
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The night was LONG and very restless for both of us. The nurses kept coming in to check vitals since there are so many risks post-op and there were others who had to come in multiple times every couple of hours to do finger pricks to get vials of blood to test. Then there was the X-ray machine a guy rolled in at 4 am and slid a X-ray film board under the sheet under Micah and she did NOT like that at all. Ouch.<br />
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Luckily, this first incision starts on Micah's left side just at the edge of her side where it meets her back and wraps around the front. This allows her to rest on her back, though they have to keep "log rolling" her which is not fun. She also has a chest tube below that that is draining fluids from around the surgery site. Oxygen tubes and monitors are still on, both wrist IVs are being used and she has an epidural pump in her back. She is also on antibiotics, Zofran and Prevacid, glucose fluids and morphine, which is a great great thing.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Day 2:</span> <span style="color: black;">We woke up to a visit from Dr.Warner, her orthopedic surgeon from Campbell Clinic and 2 of his residents. I joked "Wow what a wake up call, 3 men in our room! haha!" but they didn't seem amused by my super hilarious humor. Probably because I looked like a hot mess. Anyway, he checked on her and seemed really pleased. We had a calm quiet morning and Micah continued to rest while I watched more Olympics and worked on a tribute for a friend's birthday. My parents came to visit and my mom brought me some awesome homemade spinach and cheese quesadillas. She is the BEST! Dad prayed for Micah again. </span></span><br />
Shortly after they left, my brother Dr.Rucker and Anna came for a while and kept us company. After they left, Trevor and his mom Lynn came by and soon after my hubby brought his hot self and our other kiddos. Michael and my sister Melanie came then too and things got a little crazy for a while! I was grateful for the company though and to see my babies for a little while. Wendy came after that and brought me a bag full of snacks that proved SUPER helpful in the following hours. Thank you!<br />
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The afternoon has been harder for Micah. They've had to continue the log rolling and she hates it. She has lots of pain primarily in her incision site, where the chest tube is coming out and her wrists where the IV meds are flowing. Her lips are covered with sores on the inside where her braces rubbed her raw during the surgery and she has drainage in her throat from laying on her back. There is glue residue in her hair from the sensors they used all over her to monitor her sensory and motor pathways during the surgery. She has TPN (liquid nutrition) in one IV and glucose in the other. The epidural is still working and she is still receiving oxygen through a tube in her nose. She is swollen and puffy from fluids but everything is normal for this type of recovery. She's like her mama though and does NOT like to feel pain.<br />
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This whole experience has of course flashed me back over a decade ago when Micah was first diagnosed. She was so small at just before her first birthday. She couldn't communicate with me then and tell me where it hurt. I couldn't nurse her because she couldn't have food but she didn't understand. She had to have been in so much pain in so many ways and yet I was helpless to ease it. This kid is such a trooper. Such a fighter. She is such an inspiration to me and I know to so many others! From her cancer diagnosis almost 11 years ago to now, she has been a joy and a light in my life. I pray the Lord eases her pain and strengthens her as she pushes through yet another ordeal that most of us will never have to face. This pic was taken almost exactly a year after her diagnosis. She has had 5 surgeries, chemotherapies and so much more prior to the time this pic was taken and yet look at that sweet face! This was September of 2002. My Micah:<br />
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Tomorrow will be better. We have hope. </div>
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This could be a million times worse and for God's mercy and grace I am so thankful!</div>
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<br />Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-36028137787816611292012-07-24T15:23:00.000-07:002012-07-24T15:23:05.284-07:00Dining Room Table & Chairs Make-Over<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black is Back--Dining Room Chairs & Table Make Over!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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When our friends James & Amy Folkerts asked me if I knew anyone who needed a free dining room set, my first response was "Oh yes I'm sure I can think of somebody!" because anytime anyone offers me anything for cheap or well, FREE as in this case, I absolutely cannot turn it down! (Insert predictions for seeing me on "Hoarders: Buried Alive" one day...)<br />
I knew my sister Melanie and her new husband Michael needed something so they made arrangements to get it to their new house and POOF instant eating area! Well...not exactly...because THIS is what they received:<br />
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Now, I have no idea what causes a dining room set to end up looking this way, but I DO know that the Fabulous Folkerts (as I like to call them now) have 4 small children AND pets and they had had this set a really long time. So there you go. The mission: to make it look like new!<br />
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I invested in quite a few cans of Valspar black satin spray paint (my only complaint is their new ergo-dynamic spray nozzles: easier on the fingers, yes, but I can't attach my handy-dandy sprayer attachment to them. Oh well. My fingers are getting stronger with every spray paint project...) and Melanie and I picked out the PERFECT fabric in a gray chevron print. I think we ended up using approx. 9 cans of spray paint on the entire project. At approx $6/can, it was still better than investing the time AND money into canned paint.<br />
The Chevron fabric at Premier Fabrics in Memphis, TN was $10/yard and we needed about 3.5 yards. Happy birthday to Melanie. :)<br />
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This is me using the power drill to un-attach the seat bottoms. I feel extremely powerful when using a power drill. Big props to my husband for having a cordless one and big props to Michael Caffee for having a corded one that I ended up having to use when my cordless one died. Yay, manly tools. :)<br />
I wish we had gotten a pic of me spray painting the chairs and table outside (two separate days) because it was HOT and VERY meticulous. We are talking squats, planks, and yoga positions trying to get all up in every crack and crevice!<br />
I must say that the whole thing turned out awesome and I really enjoyed working on this with Melanie! She was available to help play with my kids to distract them while I worked, she cleaned up the dining room several times so we could move things around AND she cleaned the furniture after it got dusty outside drying. Plus she and Michael polyurethaned the table so it wouldn't scratch and could be eaten on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNLdU2f0_zw2eCFJJI-LuzjPHuqZyFK-O8NGbIFpWv4koYP1IcpvyRYI61ys5AQz128m_hrn4dB6B7F_ueJWIlNiW9cjwm2WrNFUP9zemHhPCHbaqtxL51EQY9QbdruOehoa4w-yKKveE/s1600/SDC10008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNLdU2f0_zw2eCFJJI-LuzjPHuqZyFK-O8NGbIFpWv4koYP1IcpvyRYI61ys5AQz128m_hrn4dB6B7F_ueJWIlNiW9cjwm2WrNFUP9zemHhPCHbaqtxL51EQY9QbdruOehoa4w-yKKveE/s320/SDC10008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up on the chairs. I absolutely love the fabric!!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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At Melanie's request, I did NOT distress or age this dining room set like I would have if it were for myself. Mel's style is a little more modern and clean-cut whereas mine is more vintage funky fun so we compromised on the fabric (Thank you Melanie, I am so happy you agreed to it!) but I agreed to not distress the edges. I LOVE it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNLdU2f0_zw2eCFJJI-LuzjPHuqZyFK-O8NGbIFpWv4koYP1IcpvyRYI61ys5AQz128m_hrn4dB6B7F_ueJWIlNiW9cjwm2WrNFUP9zemHhPCHbaqtxL51EQY9QbdruOehoa4w-yKKveE/s1600/SDC10008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNLdU2f0_zw2eCFJJI-LuzjPHuqZyFK-O8NGbIFpWv4koYP1IcpvyRYI61ys5AQz128m_hrn4dB6B7F_ueJWIlNiW9cjwm2WrNFUP9zemHhPCHbaqtxL51EQY9QbdruOehoa4w-yKKveE/s320/SDC10008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The entire project cost us less than $100! SWEET! Thanks Fabulous Folkerts! :)<br />Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-7880903139266819172012-04-03T16:07:00.000-07:002012-04-03T16:07:22.570-07:00Micah's 6th surgery--age 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Micah was diagnosed with cancer at 11 months old: Nueroblastoma, stage IV and was treated with chemotherapy and had several surgeries--the final one removing 98% of her tumor and leaving the rest embedded in her spinal column, too dangerous to operate on. The cure rate of this particular cancer in children has a 57% cure rate (thanks to research hospitals like St.Jude) and Micah was among that 57% who kicked her cancer's booty and survived! *You can read more of her cancer story at her caringbridge site <a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/ms/micah" target="_blank">here </a>or sign her guest book on her new current caringbridge site <a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/micahbarker" target="_blank">here </a>*</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">However, Micah's particular cancer also has a 53% relapse rate, which means that over the last 10 years, and for the rest of Micah's life, there is a chance that her cancer could come back. For now...it has NOT.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyPCX1z1sNa4TadBvvgDbIKCARSbmEvfa7wQ_P5bwecFEa3Y1VaLx5TYYJ_uGGTJB2nKf9ok7NR5XhJz-GoE-p3cl2oqTmnx5XJz-sLNHLTKRekrLNtM643WYL1jsrO96cm0udunpyvkO/s1600/Sarah+B+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyPCX1z1sNa4TadBvvgDbIKCARSbmEvfa7wQ_P5bwecFEa3Y1VaLx5TYYJ_uGGTJB2nKf9ok7NR5XhJz-GoE-p3cl2oqTmnx5XJz-sLNHLTKRekrLNtM643WYL1jsrO96cm0udunpyvkO/s320/Sarah+B+6.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">WOO HOO! Jeremiah 33:3 says </span><span style="color: #38761d;">"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." What an awesome piece of encouragement from our Lord, the ultimate Healer and Comforter!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">So the good news is that Micah's cancer is not back. And I was reminded of just how thankful we should be of this today by my wise brother (a doctor, in case you didn't know...) who said that the important thing here is that Micah's cancer is NOT back, its NOT relapsed and that the upcoming surgery and all that goes along with it is just residual. Yes! We are so thankful! I pray that I will never take God's mercy for granted where my daughter's life and health are concerned!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Now here is the latest: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">We went to the neurosurgeon today (one of the surgeons who performed Micah's 4th and 5th surgeries when she was 18 months old) and Micah will have to have surgery this summer. She will be getting rods put in for her severe kyphosis (a curvature of the spine, and in Micah's case a curvature originally caused by her tumor) in July or August of this year but she will ALSO be getting cadaver bones (ew!) implanted in the base of her spine in order to brace and support her spine so that the rods are more effective. She will have one surgery to do the bone fusion, etc. and then 4-5 days later after her body adjusts to that they will do the rod surgery. She will be an inpatient for approx 2+ weeks if all goes ideally. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Then she will not be able to be mobile for approximately a year: no running, no stooping over, no basketball, no tennis, no lifting, no gym activities, nothing. Just walking and rolling her backpack if necessary. Small price to pay? Sure. And like my brother reminded me today, Micah's 11--this would be WAY harder if we had to limit her at, say, Haven's age of 4! Can you imagine???</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">So we go back to Micah's orthopedic surgeon on Monday (the one who originally ordered all the CT and MRI scans, and who will also be working with the neurosurgeons this summer on Micah) where we will hopefully set a date for the first surgery. OH and they are also hoping to go in Micah's previous incision sites so this could mean no new scars (or as we call them "miracles") for Micah Grace. This is a small, but huge thing for us!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVJC-BaGE7_75kKOWpybcjC5VZWqRamYX8Z0JNTxyASJYnUiN_BzjsjmmGqa_dXOcNCLe7G3XXjSqfLEZdM4-cACM9Efes1kgQct-Mz7znQCkzNhIKbtrSYShWQLSkZQ6r0wRYwBVP7nF/s1600/MomandMicahDisney2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVJC-BaGE7_75kKOWpybcjC5VZWqRamYX8Z0JNTxyASJYnUiN_BzjsjmmGqa_dXOcNCLe7G3XXjSqfLEZdM4-cACM9Efes1kgQct-Mz7znQCkzNhIKbtrSYShWQLSkZQ6r0wRYwBVP7nF/s320/MomandMicahDisney2011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">I don't think I'm leaving anything out, but feel free to leave comments here and on Micah's caringbridge site so that she can read them! Micah is acting so fine with all of this, that it makes me wonder if she fully understands what's to be expected. However, those of you who know her know this: Micah is a walking miracle and one of the strongest kids (and people!) that I know and she will handle this beautifully like she has so many other obstacles in her 11 years. I am so thankful and proud to be her mom!</span></div>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-86420817749268917212012-02-22T18:33:00.005-08:002012-02-27T09:45:39.930-08:00Wall Candy Frame Giveaway!I love pictures! And I really love fun cute frames to put those pictures in! Remember how frames used to be plain, slim, flimsy things that basically just held a picture behind some glass? *shudder* Well aren't we glad THOSE days are over! Because now frames are almost as decorative as the pictures that go in them (okay, not really because I know some REALLY beautiful people...) but still, way better than they used to be!<br />
So....in light of some of the most beautiful and creative frames I've ever seen, I'm doing a GIVEAWAY again! Yay! Beth with <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1326224596">Wall Candy Frames</a> has graciously agreed to give away one of her awesome frames!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDDZZ_AlW4dAQUCL721OMmSpFFw9MSvbOwiq5UBEpIUZmofTu0dLbdhz8YeiPAhsxH94gSbUPR4K0oexnAHWj5tS0C7Afa5csQDuXRSD-Psy9n4q3KaxJk2kLXgHqpiO2t5laTywyW2SN/s1600/wallcandyframe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDDZZ_AlW4dAQUCL721OMmSpFFw9MSvbOwiq5UBEpIUZmofTu0dLbdhz8YeiPAhsxH94gSbUPR4K0oexnAHWj5tS0C7Afa5csQDuXRSD-Psy9n4q3KaxJk2kLXgHqpiO2t5laTywyW2SN/s200/wallcandyframe.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>How adorable is this??? (holds a 5x7 pic, retails for $65 and also I know a REALLY good photographer who would love to help you fill it: Peacock Photography.)<br />
<b>Want it? </b>Me too! All you have to do is <b>subscribe </b>to my blog (see that little window to the left where you enter your email address and click "subscribe"? Yeah, pretty tricky, I know.) AND go to Beth's Facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1326224596">Wall Candy Frames</a> and simply leave a comment under the frame you see pictured above. Then just come back here, leave a comment telling me you did both! Easy-peasey! Already a subscriber? Don't worry, my friend, you are still included! Just let me know you already subscribe in your comment on this post.<br />
**Extra chance to win: SHARE my blog link on your facebook wall and leave a comment telling me you shared it (in the comment section below, which means you will then have TWO comments, therefore two chances to win) and boom, you've increased your odds!**<br />
Thanks again to the fabulous Beth with Wall Candy Frames for being so generous to my faithful readers and thanks to YOU, my faithful readers! (This is the part where you roll your eyes and go, 'dang, Sarah not only talks too much but she is totally shameless in trying to get people to read her blog'...um....well, YEAH I am.) Drawing will be Sunday!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4hYhXyJuTxatCkvdZDcn7fEhwB43KScUGz1XgdbDbyqkA42rPiDk1NFSov8-QrbF_9Q2v7vYp6rBtd2Wx-i5ADAOc6gY9z2RyRAgNl0TfduX4wq2mimdICwwMz2SQlMohMTrocSGVeMx/s1600/photo(39).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4hYhXyJuTxatCkvdZDcn7fEhwB43KScUGz1XgdbDbyqkA42rPiDk1NFSov8-QrbF_9Q2v7vYp6rBtd2Wx-i5ADAOc6gY9z2RyRAgNl0TfduX4wq2mimdICwwMz2SQlMohMTrocSGVeMx/s320/photo(39).JPG" width="239" /></a></div><span style="color: #990000;">*UPDATE: We have a winner!! Jenna Long Parker has won the FABULOUS Wall Candy frame! Yay! Congrats Jenna! ps. Here is the generator I use and the photo of the screen shot that chose Jenna's number in the comment section. And yes, I only did it once, you'll have to just take my word for it! :) Congrats Jenna!</span>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-12798354175537626782012-02-15T20:42:00.000-08:002012-02-15T20:50:41.591-08:00White Chicken Chili Goodness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #38761d;">My sweet friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/hbwinter">Haley Winter</a> so kindly shared her White Chicken Chili recipe with me (I asked for it after hearing my sister brag about how DELICIOUS it was when Haley brought them dinner after my sweet baby nephew was born) and it was so good, I felt the need to share my adaptation of it! I made a regular version and a veggie version (for me) so I'm sharing both! (With Haley's permission!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnALwvA_g4V3wTBAawELnBQZF_hrva_mdL-uNDMR4SdddGtimbBAkqnJj9H-8jpHp8fp2L4B7gP6j63I0OHOw4Pp1Ff_mZyC4-E3OVd0aEe6DudhYVzE2Yqvogf76I1Pupgo5JJAHyZVF/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnALwvA_g4V3wTBAawELnBQZF_hrva_mdL-uNDMR4SdddGtimbBAkqnJj9H-8jpHp8fp2L4B7gP6j63I0OHOw4Pp1Ff_mZyC4-E3OVd0aEe6DudhYVzE2Yqvogf76I1Pupgo5JJAHyZVF/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
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<u><span style="color: #38761d;">White Chicken Chili by Haley</span></u><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">2 cans of canned chicken (cooked in skillet to get rid of that canned taste, Haley recommended)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">2 cans cream of chicken soup</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">2 soup cans of skim milk (I used one can 2% milk, 1 can evaporated milk)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1/2 cup chopped onion (I omitted, G$ doesn't eat onions)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 can Rotel</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 pkg of white chicken chili seasoning (I used a Splenda, Emeril's NoSalt, crushed red pepper, chili powder)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">2 cans northern beans (I used 3/4 bag of dried beans, boiled for 2 hours)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">*I also added 2 cloves of fresh garlic (minced) </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">I put all these ingredients in my big slow cooker and let it cook on Low for several hours. Haley says serve with corn chips and cheese, so I did!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkIjwrCFMjaCaupiE2gnt7jgyvAV1Me1NMoGY0aJTIqCkgztk0XOFUVNwZ1gO9fg1RchEdklvCLYUR2L1vTZ6xljLYTwLc06Szd0pAb8_WWOwfGDq0NwcO1yob2Z8U-cYOHpO2IsIIjdX/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkIjwrCFMjaCaupiE2gnt7jgyvAV1Me1NMoGY0aJTIqCkgztk0XOFUVNwZ1gO9fg1RchEdklvCLYUR2L1vTZ6xljLYTwLc06Szd0pAb8_WWOwfGDq0NwcO1yob2Z8U-cYOHpO2IsIIjdX/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><u><span style="color: #38761d;">Veggie White Chicken-less Chili:</span></u><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 red onion, chopped</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 can Rotel </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 can northern beans (I used a little less than half a bag of boiled dry beans)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 can Pinto beans</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 can cream of potato soup</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">season to taste: Emeril's NoSalt, crushed red pepper, chili powder, chiplotle-type seasoning)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 clove minced garlic </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">I sauteed the onion with a small amount of EVOO. Meanwhile, I combined all ingredients into my totally cute owl slow cooker (pictured first) because it's a medium sized slow cooker and I didn't need to make as much of the veggie version as the meat version and let it cook on Low for a few hours. I served with corn chips and cheese.</span><u><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></u><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTG89KZ6sQM3BCQA1eYy8cN25IYqKdGFUxlwobg3avnyWWDcdzngzIuiKgkT2uoTmOHI2lOb3x9HVfcfUo7UaGa5FBmEahDjvuqp7XoMW7ZkQueluDYySBNW5UaJ3WGTnLDvF6uix3bSB/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTG89KZ6sQM3BCQA1eYy8cN25IYqKdGFUxlwobg3avnyWWDcdzngzIuiKgkT2uoTmOHI2lOb3x9HVfcfUo7UaGa5FBmEahDjvuqp7XoMW7ZkQueluDYySBNW5UaJ3WGTnLDvF6uix3bSB/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;">I combined some of both chili's and took it to my friend BreAnna and her husband who just had a precious new baby and they enjoyed it! My friend Lawanda also enjoyed a sampling of both versions and I'm proud to say she liked the meatless version best--Yay! All of my family actually ate this meal, so this one will definitely go into the rotation. Thanks so much for your willingness to share your recipe, Haley!!</span><br />
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</span>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-51734536867498957272012-02-14T19:56:00.000-08:002012-02-14T19:56:06.011-08:00Fondue You Love Me?<span style="color: #cc0000;">Okay when I wrote the title of this post, I said it to the tune of "Do do you love me/Do do you love me" by the one and only Paula Abdul, but I decided to remove the extra "Do" in case people thought I was stuttering. But now I can't get that tune out of my head unfortunately, so I felt the need to get it in YOUR head, too. Your welcome.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Tonight's menu had me salivating all day and as I sit here full and content watching the end of "Two Brothers" with the girls, I just HAD to share our yummy dinner with you so you can share it with YOUR family! Or for a dinner party with friends, except for the whole 'double dipping' concept would have me antsy and weirded out the whole time but maybe that's just me...</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">We had an easy fun fondue dinner tonight for Valentine's Day:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqdmyNE7DRZzDvStnHp2LPk4NLLYKIfCc_brAfsTUEo5UbaoMT9BZOaQI5k-63ZQHBzfCz6DR25387ZKP_RSSGLXX7vp_eVvwV_kZbk7-5nulws34TXjExB9U-t9Li0OcDg7HndDFFROj/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqdmyNE7DRZzDvStnHp2LPk4NLLYKIfCc_brAfsTUEo5UbaoMT9BZOaQI5k-63ZQHBzfCz6DR25387ZKP_RSSGLXX7vp_eVvwV_kZbk7-5nulws34TXjExB9U-t9Li0OcDg7HndDFFROj/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"> Here were our "dippers" which just tickled the girls because they got to get as many dippers as they wanted on their plates! For our fondue, I oh-so-creatively warmed marinara sauce and alfredo sauce (from jars) in two small CrockPots (thanks for the extra 'crackpot', Lisa!) and then my yummy homemade cheese fondue in</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">another small CrockPot and put them in the middle of the table (we plugged them into an extension cord):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qQIQ2BymOcOMrjIevo6dupW-fcx809VKgzoAcrMiKPskBjRB3rjLLsZ4Dk0PZdswP9C8jo0byo6Ux-ECkh4C1Isd7QgyW1A-LXs4vvoCG1vg9pESN8mgvwlLT0eLhyphenhyphenm2yLlr7xx7snUc/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qQIQ2BymOcOMrjIevo6dupW-fcx809VKgzoAcrMiKPskBjRB3rjLLsZ4Dk0PZdswP9C8jo0byo6Ux-ECkh4C1Isd7QgyW1A-LXs4vvoCG1vg9pESN8mgvwlLT0eLhyphenhyphenm2yLlr7xx7snUc/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"> Haven and Stone were ready! You can't see it here, but I attached Valentine's balloons (or as Stone says "Bay-Boo!") to each of the kids' chairs and they had cards at their place settings. We drank water and Welch's sparkling grape juice which the girls made up 'toasts' with after our prayer.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstyYtS25BrQyZerSqYTGqWSG7v4bjBpDJ5_5vv1pvaqsgBxOZ3kSyYnRz7e7cPDh8X81EPNuLQb7CdhWDaThrPY2waRGjzOOFZPfouxYkHSAGZt-5sS2Ger_e7-LuAKyu7uvIdwhf9xRC/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstyYtS25BrQyZerSqYTGqWSG7v4bjBpDJ5_5vv1pvaqsgBxOZ3kSyYnRz7e7cPDh8X81EPNuLQb7CdhWDaThrPY2waRGjzOOFZPfouxYkHSAGZt-5sS2Ger_e7-LuAKyu7uvIdwhf9xRC/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"> I used woven pink and red placemats (pink leftover from Haven's last two birthday parties and red leftover from my brother's Ole Miss graduation party and <a href="http://www.sarahtalkstoomuch.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html">Stone's Pirate Party</a>, these things have proven quite worth the $.99 each!) other fun Valentiney things. Gary brought me flowers:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QArbcgZ9LgTyyT6EfXNXG6JItD9qCKigA-i1f6YnFc3olvKVT973FWl73p3LbCxurG3sD1-PH1LXx7qFA5Vdrpmzk6h2_6RxdMPIX_8Bhld0a0JiLoV7w_mZnO1Ve5cXOWnvmRH9c0zO/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QArbcgZ9LgTyyT6EfXNXG6JItD9qCKigA-i1f6YnFc3olvKVT973FWl73p3LbCxurG3sD1-PH1LXx7qFA5Vdrpmzk6h2_6RxdMPIX_8Bhld0a0JiLoV7w_mZnO1Ve5cXOWnvmRH9c0zO/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">And here were the kids' little happies, most of which I found at Target including the owl bowls and fork/spoon inside Stone's bag. Can you see the blue and white polka dot Duck tape in the bag on the right? That's for Micah's Duck Tape collection. Yes. Duck Tape collection...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r3iGsXoRVSw3DAv9rOEUddu_4MB6lBwcC9ZM3GYs6b5IjIZbPlXLInw401_OZTSx-cTJKgRCzzGRNGaEsYQl5MCl-T6E1JvHAmlMMRs3l8dT5RCeHAUW5ITgKLWX8RrIS7BXbqPSvBiS/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r3iGsXoRVSw3DAv9rOEUddu_4MB6lBwcC9ZM3GYs6b5IjIZbPlXLInw401_OZTSx-cTJKgRCzzGRNGaEsYQl5MCl-T6E1JvHAmlMMRs3l8dT5RCeHAUW5ITgKLWX8RrIS7BXbqPSvBiS/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">And we had yummy chocolate covered strawberries for dessert (Thanks Lawanda!). And now for the recipe for the cheese fondue, because I know you're dying to try it!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: black;"><u>Cheesey Fondue:</u></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">2 Cups milk</div><div style="color: black;">2 cloves fresh garlic</div><div style="color: black;">1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce</div><div style="color: black;">2 tsp mustard powder</div><div style="color: black;">2 Tbsp all-purpose flour</div><div style="color: black;">1/2 lb. Gruyere cheese (caution: its $13/lb at Kroger, ouch!)</div><div style="color: black;">2 Cups sharp cheddar cheese</div><div style="color: black;">4 oz. Coors beer</div><div style="color: black;">1/2 tsp Thyme (optional)</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I melted everything except the cheese in a saucepan at medium heat, stirring frequently. Then I added the Gruyere (I have to confess I ate probably 1/5 of the cheese as I was cutting it and stirring the sauce, but it still turned out fine with a little less of this amazing-ness than I wrote in the ingredients, FYI) and kept stirring. Last I added the cheddar because it melts pretty quickly.</div><div style="color: black;">Once it was all ooey gooey and melty, I transferred it to a pre-heated mini CrockPot and BOOM--yummy cheesey fondue! </div><div style="color: black;">Our dippers of choice were cheese tortellini, round cheese ravioli, cubed multi-grain french loaf, cubed chicken breast, beef meatballs, and fiji apple chunks.</div><div style="color: black;">I'll be heating some up tomorrow for lunch if anyone wants to come try it and see if it reheats as well as it tasted the first go-round! *This recipe was adapted from looking at 10 or 12 different cheese fondue recipes and editing/combining/revamping them into this delicious one*</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I also have to add here that my 4-year-old.ate.nonstop. This is a HUGE deal. The kid ate one bite of my white chicken chili last night and went to bed an hour later without even complaining that she was hungry. Soooo I will definitely be making easy fondue style meals a normal part of our dinner routine! Let me know what you think! :)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-32592749446909765552012-02-14T18:41:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:41:27.305-08:00Valentine's Day 2012<span style="color: #cc0000;">What a fun Valentine's Day we've had! This year was the year I actually remembered to put out all the cute Valentine's decor I've collected over time (for the first time, seriously!)</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">and thanks to Pinterest.com, I've also felt compelled to do a little "more" with this silly little holiday for once. So we did!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Micah filled out and took her own store-bought Valentine's (The Muppets) to school this morning (along with candy for her class). The littles had parties at Mothers Day Out so I let Haven make little treat bags for her friends and attach her store-bought Valentine's (Disney Princesses, of course)</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">to each of them. She had the best time with this! I realized at some point (okay, yesterday) that I had forgotten to buy Stone any cards for his class so after scouring Pinterest and surprisingly coming up empty-handed, I came up with the idea for hand-made owl magnets! I know the other five 18-month olds were SO impressed....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7njhkb9N-JXjVMKU_Gm-gFwP3WylKfwNjUk3pMh8s3hgRiftxGI37rzlnb8E0kgMX3W-QPKr1pnrb3qKR-k3kd-Q2gRaqghamro6jUAgXgnuiEltHi8NaqrS9xCRNPHxqctJPw5X7Dfz-/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7njhkb9N-JXjVMKU_Gm-gFwP3WylKfwNjUk3pMh8s3hgRiftxGI37rzlnb8E0kgMX3W-QPKr1pnrb3qKR-k3kd-Q2gRaqghamro6jUAgXgnuiEltHi8NaqrS9xCRNPHxqctJPw5X7Dfz-/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here's how I made them:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirThx6mkvz5QKQmPmWX9BgqTshcjfXJ37qsERvT5cTRkCIwavhg-ibo2YjJZT01YYoE3jyvRjyYHgnDbFp91zJGKTP6HoAvaHMc6UbvWY34CQXxp-N8GFaVNfTZokioyw7yK9wYNzzKJz/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirThx6mkvz5QKQmPmWX9BgqTshcjfXJ37qsERvT5cTRkCIwavhg-ibo2YjJZT01YYoE3jyvRjyYHgnDbFp91zJGKTP6HoAvaHMc6UbvWY34CQXxp-N8GFaVNfTZokioyw7yK9wYNzzKJz/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUcgBplNku8FMtkTz84eUix1z1iyTLnsbsANVVClV944JAThyphenhyphenwcHNFSBXVYBfPLGF5T-aHgoR0AmyHVvxpj4r8zjpHSVxNi54Q50Xjh-ohy2RzULTwn2fNgumteu4J9TOLZgmN5thPHWv/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUcgBplNku8FMtkTz84eUix1z1iyTLnsbsANVVClV944JAThyphenhyphenwcHNFSBXVYBfPLGF5T-aHgoR0AmyHVvxpj4r8zjpHSVxNi54Q50Xjh-ohy2RzULTwn2fNgumteu4J9TOLZgmN5thPHWv/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"> I free-handed everything except the eyes (I've never been good at cutting circles) which were about the size of a dime, as shown.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Stone really had a good time watching, I mean <i>helping</i>: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmet0t2DegpVc1Kzd54uEIn7-9K6hh66KFUxIsmvlxCBQHYLyWS8dznRcqyjsbWlvrQa4BeuxY0AoQlR87g6SwFffXQjxs3Xb6-E8iGSTzkaVWMTkBEz_gPFBdTZbd0seQ7wOG4iQ98Rrh/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmet0t2DegpVc1Kzd54uEIn7-9K6hh66KFUxIsmvlxCBQHYLyWS8dznRcqyjsbWlvrQa4BeuxY0AoQlR87g6SwFffXQjxs3Xb6-E8iGSTzkaVWMTkBEz_gPFBdTZbd0seQ7wOG4iQ98Rrh/s320/DSC_0008.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">I used Elmer's glue (not usually my glue of choice but out of sheer laziness I didn't want to look for my Tacky Glue or hook up my glue gun for just scrapbooking paper) and I put them under a paper file to help them dry:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTJGvFBL3jhMutw_TT_7hMcAINw4v4m837KCyc3yYTA8WG9W8F5196xpgNgHWNWgCIcxG8Xw21HhIDYiKl269kEmpu8ApukTm2nwTu34EhZq9GZotbSbl-RpEr4lvpmXruHs1XN_rMByT/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTJGvFBL3jhMutw_TT_7hMcAINw4v4m837KCyc3yYTA8WG9W8F5196xpgNgHWNWgCIcxG8Xw21HhIDYiKl269kEmpu8ApukTm2nwTu34EhZq9GZotbSbl-RpEr4lvpmXruHs1XN_rMByT/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here are the finished products, before magnets. I <i>really really </i>wanted to laminate them last-minute but remembered I don't have a laminating machine (boo.) so I just stuck magnets from a magnet strip on the back. (Don't forget when using magnets from a magnet roll to bend and mold the magnet pieces with your hands to make sure they don't bow your paper.) </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAk79omUJjM_obMby9WVv91gGOCvP295xEs-jyCEWl_FZkF7TgBAl-hSsfLYTWbYLH65gb9m2jVYjGYp1HPxbGtTE30BUmoktQhCIq8yofF08HScm3ayrecygKa104OZzT3xH6xULfzyk/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAk79omUJjM_obMby9WVv91gGOCvP295xEs-jyCEWl_FZkF7TgBAl-hSsfLYTWbYLH65gb9m2jVYjGYp1HPxbGtTE30BUmoktQhCIq8yofF08HScm3ayrecygKa104OZzT3xH6xULfzyk/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP7Q9c1AxhLQ-ABgqA_PMkX0ka_HlRgaOGnIhy40Yf1NrDkVNsKCjsaObeoTFfeEyqr8NkMzIStZGi1-MRXM940fMVdh1j1woY5zIqGOk9Pyi34urhsV1zfvFq5OHdK72IzlPXFrrsOvI/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP7Q9c1AxhLQ-ABgqA_PMkX0ka_HlRgaOGnIhy40Yf1NrDkVNsKCjsaObeoTFfeEyqr8NkMzIStZGi1-MRXM940fMVdh1j1woY5zIqGOk9Pyi34urhsV1zfvFq5OHdK72IzlPXFrrsOvI/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">Who knows if any of these will actually appear on the refrigerators of Stone's classmates, but we had fun with it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIYBy7bY5UdAE0C_r5QNX0xypDR7VLnDROZgddsOh67dQv8FypQePm0vn70DLQWDzce_ZXwilnglKWwT6NSsSdcvpTHXFXxZ0HAUa4H90SmB3lU3Gf6YbH2m5LpRkdiVaHUjVqCviYmeC/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIYBy7bY5UdAE0C_r5QNX0xypDR7VLnDROZgddsOh67dQv8FypQePm0vn70DLQWDzce_ZXwilnglKWwT6NSsSdcvpTHXFXxZ0HAUa4H90SmB3lU3Gf6YbH2m5LpRkdiVaHUjVqCviYmeC/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;">At least they will enjoy the candy inside the treat bags, right?</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">More to come on our yummy Valentine's dinner!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-80350940359490080242012-02-04T19:06:00.000-08:002012-02-06T20:47:45.933-08:00Crafty Craftiness Giveaway!<div style="color: #990000;">I'm going to give this whole blog-giveaway thing a shot! Since OBVIOUSLY I'm not a super-awesome blogger, I figure I can at least redeem my lame blog by giving away something for free! I have been working on some fun things lately for a few friends that I wanted to share, and now, GIVE AWAY something! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurdEnj-GwXYSAGKGm641USnY5w5Nj8ZTDg2kYHOORaUT4gyOGpjNFVLE8I1rj3yXGG_BGBk5pXufhPr57GfMqFEqKuJo5lFEPxvWQGWbMG2Ko_xBE7h62NL0qZIuNCWXH5G4BHMDWTVnH/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurdEnj-GwXYSAGKGm641USnY5w5Nj8ZTDg2kYHOORaUT4gyOGpjNFVLE8I1rj3yXGG_BGBk5pXufhPr57GfMqFEqKuJo5lFEPxvWQGWbMG2Ko_xBE7h62NL0qZIuNCWXH5G4BHMDWTVnH/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #990000;">My super awesome photographer, Hollie Peacock of Peacock Photography asked for something cute for her playroom "with owls" on it, she said, and of course after I swooned because of my crazy psycho love of owls, I came up with this (above). </div><div style="color: #990000;">It was inspired by the canvases I made for Stone's nursery:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJQEkNnRmuIssBA-AzjU4qFyG_70hH94IMgVv6974MYUIKdccuOOa4j8omz2GYeH0fc4oggyMkQ_9ZqjFaojBceOW4snlrC2NPPNlFVdSP0clA7FgfNLzl6kq-vcAER8H-4lCKg2MNc1P/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJQEkNnRmuIssBA-AzjU4qFyG_70hH94IMgVv6974MYUIKdccuOOa4j8omz2GYeH0fc4oggyMkQ_9ZqjFaojBceOW4snlrC2NPPNlFVdSP0clA7FgfNLzl6kq-vcAER8H-4lCKg2MNc1P/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #990000;">They looked a little plain, so I later mounted them to an antique window pane and tied them up with burlap (of course) and ribbon. I liked this effect MUCH better. I'll have to take a pic at some point when I'm not using sleep time to do things on the computer. Which may be never. Not sure.</div><div style="color: #990000;">I seem to have lots of friends having babies, so I've been pumping out baby signs for the hospital door:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2vELyd80aLsGem-4Ec0fmOkPKvfCsPcvRMW2C2Tu2UctAmhDRe5vWra6Q9GnFHYQKWWSJoV88-yOiPWgZigMZrz2Q45HDr5SVY7bGz__nAqsOK0_48wPi-RmXYuKZbtnHEWr4IuWE3PX/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2vELyd80aLsGem-4Ec0fmOkPKvfCsPcvRMW2C2Tu2UctAmhDRe5vWra6Q9GnFHYQKWWSJoV88-yOiPWgZigMZrz2Q45HDr5SVY7bGz__nAqsOK0_48wPi-RmXYuKZbtnHEWr4IuWE3PX/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="color: #990000;">This is for one of my sweet Premier jewelers, BreAnna. I've done 3 or 4 others in the past couple of weeks, one in particular for my sister Jessica who had my sweet baby nephew Lincoln Crue just recently! Love him! He is just precious! So handsome in fact that I passed out at the mere sight of his awesomeness. True story. Give or take a few details...but I digress...That's another blog entry...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDxNH98DdKPJiu_f_JzNG2lAtnfE88-IBWea7McBOZ57OPdgmFcSI1NhIFHYBfWv3XLKD6n7bPIUeFOfIvKCtxtv9bD7wOo7zMqhqUCFBHiO-5hOxcWuedkMfIbPjurrq2OLXQdvzXPpV/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDxNH98DdKPJiu_f_JzNG2lAtnfE88-IBWea7McBOZ57OPdgmFcSI1NhIFHYBfWv3XLKD6n7bPIUeFOfIvKCtxtv9bD7wOo7zMqhqUCFBHiO-5hOxcWuedkMfIbPjurrq2OLXQdvzXPpV/s320/DSC_0008.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqqg6XbHk1YmUhk3MNLe-Ha9NoUTeAKViKiTQLusz-VprjZsx5LYLRRSgeT8s3HVqV6xTFaGV0aF_P7q4tuvNdtalJN7J1i84jLuCapZCseiFocCcLaweogeqtR-68nGNPm9aYg_r7wBd/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqqg6XbHk1YmUhk3MNLe-Ha9NoUTeAKViKiTQLusz-VprjZsx5LYLRRSgeT8s3HVqV6xTFaGV0aF_P7q4tuvNdtalJN7J1i84jLuCapZCseiFocCcLaweogeqtR-68nGNPm9aYg_r7wBd/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="color: #990000;"> How fun are these double bow holders for the daughters of my friend Lucy? I think I need to remake Haven's single bow holder to one of these fun ones!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBHKqKvuDqImwHAv-VLZQylz4cgaFdwYjaEuN8dR1r4ZL6IMB6-NCZxNyCrngsh4qh80MCP9PJj-hfqvFl4sV5indgBW-Ja3a9-ICrnpA3pnc7E9KUUeDqcnTLNKIJNOBDEH7RLsZNDbF/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBHKqKvuDqImwHAv-VLZQylz4cgaFdwYjaEuN8dR1r4ZL6IMB6-NCZxNyCrngsh4qh80MCP9PJj-hfqvFl4sV5indgBW-Ja3a9-ICrnpA3pnc7E9KUUeDqcnTLNKIJNOBDEH7RLsZNDbF/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #990000;">I needed a cake stand at some point and have since bought one, but this one is still a favorite of mine. I made it and now I'm addicted to buying fun plates to make even more! Want one? Let me know! I'll hunt for your perfect fun plate and make you a cake stand! :) If you say pretty please.<br />
I got this idea from Pinterest (of course!) and made a set of these coasters for my friend Stephanie Roy and a set for myself (my favorite way to give gifts apparently...) and I love them:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iK-QwAm95C5AgK3S3_MMUZydUCmqkxRVXT2K5qH5B5dKopXVANjEp4yUrATN5zI3LkQSamJ0q23qDWFzv9VAsAuBBb_4aR1aVQjU0o5n1X_CsroPmh7Ja-ZxMfOCaNfvjJnsEvKUgWHU/s1600/photo%252835%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iK-QwAm95C5AgK3S3_MMUZydUCmqkxRVXT2K5qH5B5dKopXVANjEp4yUrATN5zI3LkQSamJ0q23qDWFzv9VAsAuBBb_4aR1aVQjU0o5n1X_CsroPmh7Ja-ZxMfOCaNfvjJnsEvKUgWHU/s320/photo%252835%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div> Okay and lastly--I LOVE this! One of my favorite passages:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHL07-MfTqsGWi6S2FVlXVG8WmAhSPlGHrKap7lclRmSQxlvJcbHXBSG7NYv7gghBFrxu-GpHdk4NfcWZzW81HKm2tUdYhoCxoQB71qXnlznYQVh59ieRofO_QFUdCrBy-vv-nSYdUAwg/s1600/379846_2048921720973_1638300037_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHL07-MfTqsGWi6S2FVlXVG8WmAhSPlGHrKap7lclRmSQxlvJcbHXBSG7NYv7gghBFrxu-GpHdk4NfcWZzW81HKm2tUdYhoCxoQB71qXnlznYQVh59ieRofO_QFUdCrBy-vv-nSYdUAwg/s320/379846_2048921720973_1638300037_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000;"> Want one? All you have to do is leave a comment below, and share this blog on Pinterest or Facebook and let me know in your comment! I'll randomly draw a winner and make you a board like this, or with a different phrase/passage on it if you'd prefer. But do it asap, because I'll choose a winner by Monday!</div><div style="color: #990000;">Thanks for sharing and have an awesome and yummy food-filled Super Bowl Weekend! </div><div style="color: #990000;">**Disclaimer: If this turns out to be a big giant fail and the only people who leave comments are the 3 people who EVER leave comments (my sister, and my sisters-in-law Anna and Corrie) then I will just have to give you all 3 a happy because you're all my super awesome favorite followers! Okay, disclaimer ended. This is just so I don't look nearly as lame as I probably will end up looking. :)</div><div style="color: #990000;"><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">***Added 2/07/12 at 10:47 pm: Annnnnnndddddddd the winner of my Crafty Craftiness Blog Giveaway is...... (drum roll please)......... Paige Smiley Richardson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My random.org generator picked YOU Mrs.Paige! You can decide on a wooden plaque like the "Make a Joyful Noise" one or a set of fun coasters like the ones featured on my blog! Let me know, girl! And CONGRATS, thanks for reading! :)***</span></div>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-76395505092330528382011-12-23T20:55:00.000-08:002011-12-26T09:40:37.287-08:00Merry Christmas from the Barkers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdW3lSKOJs8vXpPiQAyc3ERUB2smGQACrXhiLjf47Xyq7S6HkvRnnt9ZvduOR09MbzXYBfC6WFSe4jQbWUqzII3SzsDv6gjBwxBufHANn1XqPetyDkm_TeRfSi_0L-d9JlslzY4sFKSf6/s1600/Sarah+B+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdW3lSKOJs8vXpPiQAyc3ERUB2smGQACrXhiLjf47Xyq7S6HkvRnnt9ZvduOR09MbzXYBfC6WFSe4jQbWUqzII3SzsDv6gjBwxBufHANn1XqPetyDkm_TeRfSi_0L-d9JlslzY4sFKSf6/s320/Sarah+B+4.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>Well, another year has almost come to an end, and WOW what a year! I can honestly say that this year has been one of my top 3 most challenging years of my entire life and yet God has revealed Himself to me more obviously this year than any other year. I am amazed. And humbled. And in awe. And humbled. Did I mention humbled? I am apparently enrolled in The Humility University in a never ending pursuit of a degree in lowering one's pride that I seem to never be any closer to earning. However, this year, God has made an impact in my life, my marriage, my family...and I am so grateful!<br />
Have you ever noticed that when you can see faults so clearly in others that its the very thing that God is nudging you to evaluate in yourself? I seem to be oblivious anytime God supposedly "nudges" me. So instead, He just smacks me in the head with my life lessons. But hey, I am glad He takes the time to teach lame ol' me lessons in how to be more like Him because I still fall so short.<br />
And so all that being said, WHAT A YEAR! Praise the Lord for His mercy!<br />
Among other things, God has strengthened my marriage to a level I never imagined! God has blessed my life and home with 3 of the most precious children who color my life daily with their distinct personalities and craziness! Our church finally after almost 12 years has moved into our very own church building! Our "new" home finally feels like HOME and I love being here more than any other place in the world. Gary and I celebrated our 7th anniversary this past October, and Gary surprised me with a romantic trip to Miami for the two of us. On the traveling front, we skied in West Virginia, vacationed in Cancun with Gary's company and on a cruise to the Caribbean with my company, went on an AMAZING family trip to Disneyworld in October and several other fun adventures. My precious (and first!) niece Lucy Kate was born in February and my sister announced she was pregnant with my 2nd nephew due this next February. My sister Melanie got engaged, my brother and sister-in-law got their very first house, my dad took a part-time job with our church, my brother graduated with his doctorate and is now a pharmacist and so many other changes along the way. My amazing Opa passed away just months ago and my heart is still so sad that he is no longer with us, but his strong legacy will last and last!<br />
So I guess that wraps it all up and yet doesn't even wrap it up a little! But here's to 2011, whom I'm not sad to see go in so many ways, but was a year in which I learned much and grew lots. Thank you Lord for this year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKvuVoE2mvLo2ulfJfslaM0ubYEw7XPmCqP99KD-oWbjvvwGh89MNcMcg0uhuHLomSGl8LQ8dk66RzLfbOd-wXqiL2aXUgDAKOrqgXZv6thOtkcQaYaulpwbw1FlzFJITTEi4zl8uT6TV/s1600/Barker+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKvuVoE2mvLo2ulfJfslaM0ubYEw7XPmCqP99KD-oWbjvvwGh89MNcMcg0uhuHLomSGl8LQ8dk66RzLfbOd-wXqiL2aXUgDAKOrqgXZv6thOtkcQaYaulpwbw1FlzFJITTEi4zl8uT6TV/s320/Barker+17.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-28863146535503973822011-09-09T13:38:00.000-07:002011-09-09T13:38:35.404-07:00Pirate Party for Stone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXO6BzaCwmqm_G_QjoW1ruGm6WiYRKquCHTuJ4gGmj0b-ttPPrTxq6-m1ln0y1HjbuRb9V_Varaniqk8j3jUM4SNGuJ5QSOY5_7LP1fdQepjneC5wqhGQ0QHUAsqnfKUGgSUolsA99KIi/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXO6BzaCwmqm_G_QjoW1ruGm6WiYRKquCHTuJ4gGmj0b-ttPPrTxq6-m1ln0y1HjbuRb9V_Varaniqk8j3jUM4SNGuJ5QSOY5_7LP1fdQepjneC5wqhGQ0QHUAsqnfKUGgSUolsA99KIi/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Happy Birthday to my little man! I cannot believe a year has passed since I met my precious little boy. Stone has provided more joy to our home and our hearts and he is such fun! Since he has no say this year, I chose a Pirate Party them for his first birthday. I didn't do it nearly as cute as all the birthday party ideas I've seen on-line, but it worked for us and I'm happy with how it turned out!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4OJgW7mDvZP1hTWkMWByp3aFRZV8CRkCtGrMtsm4-88AlfquJfTDipw16dv3xSuA3ZBrNl3LHkxpT57MQwFIk5pLEL9RPKKynNBprltzjs25MH008EgPhW3On6CogaIT5cGMVaFLQ_FC/s1600/DSC_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4OJgW7mDvZP1hTWkMWByp3aFRZV8CRkCtGrMtsm4-88AlfquJfTDipw16dv3xSuA3ZBrNl3LHkxpT57MQwFIk5pLEL9RPKKynNBprltzjs25MH008EgPhW3On6CogaIT5cGMVaFLQ_FC/s320/DSC_0196.JPG" width="214" /></a></div> We greeted our guests with this sign I made from a wooden rail thingie and a leftover piece of thing wood in the garage. I Mod-Podged circles of pirate-y things cut out of scrapbook paper and the ribbon made the finishing touch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxmIR7rDhd21CqbmhawX9wr3KQd5cIjABCK4gui777uYAhr_-Tko3d5-D2dwl9I6_dI6vk0w_9Jc7kM_ITtazsvsfll93LyHfvdS58Lt9gDTD4x9X9jC2xQUyBevU2bJlp4Dtyf1OdeMw/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxmIR7rDhd21CqbmhawX9wr3KQd5cIjABCK4gui777uYAhr_-Tko3d5-D2dwl9I6_dI6vk0w_9Jc7kM_ITtazsvsfll93LyHfvdS58Lt9gDTD4x9X9jC2xQUyBevU2bJlp4Dtyf1OdeMw/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>The adorable invitation made by Ashley Dorroh McAlister. I mounted it on scrapbooking paper and framed it in a frame I painted. (Frames from yard sale $.50 each)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKPq4tg0q8TT_btZQABqoxXKgbhdUz4a0xftzBfvAozOs4IS4XdNf2YTZYl8-CiV8LjtAJtLLUyuBsai2QGLPCUe1bTsNbFn71PsBnuzqU2nznuoBG2BQfBAJ7L6g8eV4J_7KuenkeRDe/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKPq4tg0q8TT_btZQABqoxXKgbhdUz4a0xftzBfvAozOs4IS4XdNf2YTZYl8-CiV8LjtAJtLLUyuBsai2QGLPCUe1bTsNbFn71PsBnuzqU2nznuoBG2BQfBAJ7L6g8eV4J_7KuenkeRDe/s320/DSC_0056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CNBDs90RqplMez71rqPwRC4FDirypHsnwP5g_Ozg6GGdU1mlZ_bE0HZ4wdbJQQf9hVQ0ZyeoLWoc4Ox2wt___IMA14ZAJu8tTC4rVHGEakV-0-OkZ7Ox78oWZZh9vAElNtqgOtmWmupb/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CNBDs90RqplMez71rqPwRC4FDirypHsnwP5g_Ozg6GGdU1mlZ_bE0HZ4wdbJQQf9hVQ0ZyeoLWoc4Ox2wt___IMA14ZAJu8tTC4rVHGEakV-0-OkZ7Ox78oWZZh9vAElNtqgOtmWmupb/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Cake by Trendy Wendy Cakes, it turned out awesome! She is so creative! Love the faux "wood-grain" in the fondant! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU_v6rWc6IUDPPtpS9TCgJJqD3POVIvagYF10hhJFC6Z8_YK6i3YYNx-zFCC10WcIXwpnITXWl9WIL8I0-TUDwyo5wdqq7fszGVwx5F7ZTUQpYAk8JTJjtyU-skaCRmEM7S0xAnphGP3n/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU_v6rWc6IUDPPtpS9TCgJJqD3POVIvagYF10hhJFC6Z8_YK6i3YYNx-zFCC10WcIXwpnITXWl9WIL8I0-TUDwyo5wdqq7fszGVwx5F7ZTUQpYAk8JTJjtyU-skaCRmEM7S0xAnphGP3n/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Lt5SEz_QTHAWZv_wfmh6tnrShfKZueT1n_HUW83iNwZWdJeFnEVjW6kTwIkPZYxmoeMF75IB4au9cAGKUbPwYjzOBNex1Q8UYJbCrfD1yqwsvFhtsix8CDtrC6RFyj3BTaI4H46bSXt/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Lt5SEz_QTHAWZv_wfmh6tnrShfKZueT1n_HUW83iNwZWdJeFnEVjW6kTwIkPZYxmoeMF75IB4au9cAGKUbPwYjzOBNex1Q8UYJbCrfD1yqwsvFhtsix8CDtrC6RFyj3BTaI4H46bSXt/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The pictures turned out kind of dark, but I made the banners from ribbon and scrapbooking paper cut into triangles. The ones outside on the wrought iron fence around the pool matched and I felt these were easier than sewing them from fabric.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOBPM9zm8juNo-Aqmt6zTPXZ09BEYvdUCvVWnnC_jzkjr6SkxrL6xtlvWyBaHMl6zeH3pSni1SNXo-25GdzxEmm2a1sdngr14-BSo-XCIjO0ZWn9KlOqbevWtCEjJamQOQUbuddU_AEZx/s1600/DSC_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOBPM9zm8juNo-Aqmt6zTPXZ09BEYvdUCvVWnnC_jzkjr6SkxrL6xtlvWyBaHMl6zeH3pSni1SNXo-25GdzxEmm2a1sdngr14-BSo-XCIjO0ZWn9KlOqbevWtCEjJamQOQUbuddU_AEZx/s320/DSC_0065.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp_cWdT6Le2QftFabk0QuBqgmeSAOUeVxhDo2J2G-phUoDdMRzm311qEaOYbYWKtol2ZMrvbVSQgKunN80uPzY7knVDYRMW3r8CSC_fA1ATjwC_B428FfJXjNFH7ip9L0WdUn-7bgr-Z6/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp_cWdT6Le2QftFabk0QuBqgmeSAOUeVxhDo2J2G-phUoDdMRzm311qEaOYbYWKtol2ZMrvbVSQgKunN80uPzY7knVDYRMW3r8CSC_fA1ATjwC_B428FfJXjNFH7ip9L0WdUn-7bgr-Z6/s320/DSC_0067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We covered our kitchen island with burlap and this fun striped tablecloth (clearance at Target after 4th of July, perfect for a pirate theme!). Micah (age 10) made this foam pirate ship from a kit my mother bought at a consignment sale. 4 hours later we had our centerpiece!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWX2XEE51JZR7HbVwXl7LPWCfThi_ATogvXqpNCx8adCI9aZ9YvJqQ-tlbKkOcFiblUkS-lyBrdU66jA2sSL0skHO9vP2gaS7m-PgT6Q3ZSdkNwRJ5IBMsS15acTsLNQiqpP40KjTEjP8/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWX2XEE51JZR7HbVwXl7LPWCfThi_ATogvXqpNCx8adCI9aZ9YvJqQ-tlbKkOcFiblUkS-lyBrdU66jA2sSL0skHO9vP2gaS7m-PgT6Q3ZSdkNwRJ5IBMsS15acTsLNQiqpP40KjTEjP8/s320/DSC_0085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The drink table area. Its amazing how fun this Robin's Egg blue goes with the red! I love it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwPvwJGAZcHqYcac7SyLlqb1rsRvUeIPJobQ9fpU60H-T7ZKeLEKnCzZq27Z3f9xK9BaY_4eNCFU6OefTYFVb27p8Ch4hkvQDSHs_DD17-pWCgTQuU8Dj6wSuOw7_KnLS3GrRZM65t3Tx/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwPvwJGAZcHqYcac7SyLlqb1rsRvUeIPJobQ9fpU60H-T7ZKeLEKnCzZq27Z3f9xK9BaY_4eNCFU6OefTYFVb27p8Ch4hkvQDSHs_DD17-pWCgTQuU8Dj6wSuOw7_KnLS3GrRZM65t3Tx/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>He still refuses to talk, but the expression Stone had on his face throughout the party told us that he enjoyed his first birthday!Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-2972888247722882282011-09-03T21:59:00.000-07:002011-09-03T21:59:48.222-07:00Cute CanistersI found these fun canisters at a yard sale this summer for just $3 for the set! They were in great condition but were grimy and dirty from being in someone else's kitchen plus they were WHITE and stood out too much in my kitchen with my creams and off-white accents:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUenDdNI7ZN-ftIt9Gnh1EsRcx4R5o_l58675Axb3C8FqfmtT4Fiu1eOasaVh2ccMa_1Caq0pJJ7byc_IHF2mtPE-Z0GkAcaf_b2cOPgODt-5AhIGTvmrqQFSi6dY5Gcp1-0sVdAcTGzpx/s1600/photo%252826%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUenDdNI7ZN-ftIt9Gnh1EsRcx4R5o_l58675Axb3C8FqfmtT4Fiu1eOasaVh2ccMa_1Caq0pJJ7byc_IHF2mtPE-Z0GkAcaf_b2cOPgODt-5AhIGTvmrqQFSi6dY5Gcp1-0sVdAcTGzpx/s320/photo%252826%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So naturally I grabbed some of Gary's pliers and vice-grips from the garage and went to town dissecting and cleaning the nastiness:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzGZ85srQLYwZE5o9XA6RhagRtVV5QsOT1a9oqIFxMVJT7JHP5WrY-9DGwIXQlSHja6j_j6YYM3pjpLEL0CjQ-jnCskQMsHUBfADWoMYf9ZiNtF0hQ5Qg4jE3z3wlP7ifuUHG5q96H4jU/s1600/photo%252825%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzGZ85srQLYwZE5o9XA6RhagRtVV5QsOT1a9oqIFxMVJT7JHP5WrY-9DGwIXQlSHja6j_j6YYM3pjpLEL0CjQ-jnCskQMsHUBfADWoMYf9ZiNtF0hQ5Qg4jE3z3wlP7ifuUHG5q96H4jU/s320/photo%252825%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznfeU9rYaIVjUtJ7IKyDl4WG_gtD0q_iRJ1jKWsH3nj-IQvqZ78AkpnmbXJyFLn2s2CfNZW0W3p7Muu78FAmG5FaIqPhQoL7oJPfEK5A2MySGKyTwLcpNQes9GuRH2Oxp3pHrV1kiGWRs/s1600/photo%252824%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznfeU9rYaIVjUtJ7IKyDl4WG_gtD0q_iRJ1jKWsH3nj-IQvqZ78AkpnmbXJyFLn2s2CfNZW0W3p7Muu78FAmG5FaIqPhQoL7oJPfEK5A2MySGKyTwLcpNQes9GuRH2Oxp3pHrV1kiGWRs/s320/photo%252824%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Then I spray-painted the canisters with Ivy Green gloss spray paint (Wal-Mart) and let it dry thoroughly, though patience is certainly NOT my strength.<br />
I put them back together and think they look great against my burnt orange kitchen walls! I love the copper spoons!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK0U1tYbXB1-GOaltAlub4tQi1IK48St-lrn1k__-XuEo7o8mzb-qeTCUSHdpor15fH_GuIstAG_kx2EdG8SdITVe6YDGJmwIwCnHmIhkbBMCh23_xwl1PR4F8h9wEXA7BrkmbTtl8ehI/s1600/photo%252823%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK0U1tYbXB1-GOaltAlub4tQi1IK48St-lrn1k__-XuEo7o8mzb-qeTCUSHdpor15fH_GuIstAG_kx2EdG8SdITVe6YDGJmwIwCnHmIhkbBMCh23_xwl1PR4F8h9wEXA7BrkmbTtl8ehI/s320/photo%252823%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkoR53utFBWDzIZqLIea0aorlCKKB3HG04xSQyaBi4Wcr-N-xxEY83Z2Ob6hhAOihJDJXRQBlh8MPGrudDbCLVn8svLowAj42ZcInFyUr-LA1Hj1jsfybiU1kFfqIBF6ZvUeOjTUGBx4J/s1600/photo%252822%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkoR53utFBWDzIZqLIea0aorlCKKB3HG04xSQyaBi4Wcr-N-xxEY83Z2Ob6hhAOihJDJXRQBlh8MPGrudDbCLVn8svLowAj42ZcInFyUr-LA1Hj1jsfybiU1kFfqIBF6ZvUeOjTUGBx4J/s320/photo%252822%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>Can't wait to put sugar in one of them and leave the rest empty forever because I'm not sure what to put in canisters! I'm serious. Flour? What else? Oh well, at least they look cute!Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-50310621503660601072011-09-03T13:57:00.000-07:002011-09-03T13:57:51.440-07:00Opa's Magazine Rack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sometime within the past year, my Opa gave Gary 2 old wooden magazine racks/holders and said "If you can fix these, they're yours". Get this: Opa made the magazine racks in the 8th grade!!! They were his very first woodworking project (as all of his family and friends know, just the first of MANY woodworking projects over his lifetime, most of which became gifts for us and others such as this garbage can:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioocnHD3ShDRMF64rae_QdivuKgzSlZsuKFqK0MCQxWi2S_qLaiJjZ4X3uCYtP0nGX6oc_grAOM6-jutVXc8ORXY-ZJP0eIDSnc_4657433GCjHq-a7Evo_m4b54h9qTuafrCTaQHE0qKT/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioocnHD3ShDRMF64rae_QdivuKgzSlZsuKFqK0MCQxWi2S_qLaiJjZ4X3uCYtP0nGX6oc_grAOM6-jutVXc8ORXY-ZJP0eIDSnc_4657433GCjHq-a7Evo_m4b54h9qTuafrCTaQHE0qKT/s320/068.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I painted and distressed this to match better in my kitchen, being very careful to leave his personal stamp from the inside of the lid).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">But back to the magazine racks.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Gary and his handy self was able to fix the magazine racks to make them as good as new. We gave one to my parents and the other one we kept:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsoBfRDY575F3KtwNh-AhEJNofLA8FiwYReSfmjSiJGl7R01cYilPOpegAFhUSFplBfC3yC9jkdZTxja9twwJZxUZuFzm437E9SVvwGIODIraICc_7pJCLdmclezcylXTlBNH5K0PbnI4/s1600/photo%252821%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsoBfRDY575F3KtwNh-AhEJNofLA8FiwYReSfmjSiJGl7R01cYilPOpegAFhUSFplBfC3yC9jkdZTxja9twwJZxUZuFzm437E9SVvwGIODIraICc_7pJCLdmclezcylXTlBNH5K0PbnI4/s320/photo%252821%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The wood was chipped from storage and some of the original stain was coming off (I mean, it was made and stained in 1943 or 1944 so I'd say it held up pretty well!) so I painted it with white oil-based Kilz and then white spray paint and added my own personal touch with ribbons to the handle. I could not be happier with it:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa0spA1ZghkeYpFGZI9olUocesssHxbICBxPVQTUtGcmy22Zb6qrnB1DIpjvXyRSHgTIvvRpMUzgto3Kj0umz6xZPIcsuvVQVrbZoopHuvIqm0qw0JOsHOZsoIyq9ywE61HQykKicRcYI/s1600/photo%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa0spA1ZghkeYpFGZI9olUocesssHxbICBxPVQTUtGcmy22Zb6qrnB1DIpjvXyRSHgTIvvRpMUzgto3Kj0umz6xZPIcsuvVQVrbZoopHuvIqm0qw0JOsHOZsoIyq9ywE61HQykKicRcYI/s320/photo%252817%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEWirvSfzDRYhB4YwcTDBHmeMdKEACvHhTWNS8M-xii4nLQZcSogQja88p6HmPqVFlfu87I8tj1zdT-JcuZIG_ce37vS8VCJw3oLV55zwx-8NEh6KQ09rkKyXGYNR7DWWaGeiZ-58N1ZF/s1600/photo%252818%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEWirvSfzDRYhB4YwcTDBHmeMdKEACvHhTWNS8M-xii4nLQZcSogQja88p6HmPqVFlfu87I8tj1zdT-JcuZIG_ce37vS8VCJw3oLV55zwx-8NEh6KQ09rkKyXGYNR7DWWaGeiZ-58N1ZF/s320/photo%252818%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Isn't it adorable?? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">It looks perfect in the girl's upstairs bathroom with their fun blues and pinks! Here are more pics from their bathroom:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7yB_fbWCie7jHm0QvlhLQ9_5PPhRSPNSzoWeflWQ0lxWy6UuNbZzU5ils2d6UZF4i2lnAmljYr_RCdqAgqEuwc81bGeqkWpfEH8-IedVE_QukNhIHP0iCOQk1DI4wv6Wk-eYAK0ELH6U/s1600/photo%252820%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7yB_fbWCie7jHm0QvlhLQ9_5PPhRSPNSzoWeflWQ0lxWy6UuNbZzU5ils2d6UZF4i2lnAmljYr_RCdqAgqEuwc81bGeqkWpfEH8-IedVE_QukNhIHP0iCOQk1DI4wv6Wk-eYAK0ELH6U/s320/photo%252820%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Opa also made the blow-dryer/straightener (back when everyone had curling irons for our bangs rather than straighteners, oh yes...) hanging on the wall and I painted and polka-dotted it to match. The lamp was $3 on clearance at Kirklands.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6bc4eJnEtd0twTXVbWWsGz8oXposha-IqGiTM2TimCqtHzQA3yckPIw5I0cZOsykIrFX16zybAI3T_IHr0sjJ2aXvC6gjrjgztclN09HcKs2yc1ewGoGPyIlBdFOnE5Z5iFI_ssTdc0A/s1600/photo%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6bc4eJnEtd0twTXVbWWsGz8oXposha-IqGiTM2TimCqtHzQA3yckPIw5I0cZOsykIrFX16zybAI3T_IHr0sjJ2aXvC6gjrjgztclN09HcKs2yc1ewGoGPyIlBdFOnE5Z5iFI_ssTdc0A/s320/photo%252819%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I bought this vanity from a high school friend, Dana Owens Smith, for $25 and took the broken mirror off the top part and painted and distressed it. The knobs are from Hobby Lobby. The polka dot shower curtains and towels, etc. are all from Target. But I pulled another of the same exact shower curtain out of a trash heap on the curb this morning while going to yard sales so I'll probably use it to cover a cute stool for the vanity if I ever find one.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">So here is Opa's magazine rack, updated to get plenty of use by my sweet daughters in their bathroom! I wrote a few notes on the bottom with a Sharpie so years from now, when someone is trying to figure out why the heck I painted everything and made it different, they will know it is special because it came from him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">More to come!</span></div><br />
Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-59841031555488301302011-08-29T07:41:00.000-07:002011-08-29T07:44:15.916-07:00Tiny table redo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> I bought this old little table from a yard sale for $3.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvN4nuW5_mgzRYo2Yz0IZUNcm3tLppNok6Hz9IrscXeK3B5NGW5TXB_MKlKHoX7CiNO8EryRutbWTpXBkptMVFygllX62PHx4FkjPzwpbftrbG36iVIMo5sCXct0DLzhwVuee0iEdAfTM/s1600/photo%252816%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvN4nuW5_mgzRYo2Yz0IZUNcm3tLppNok6Hz9IrscXeK3B5NGW5TXB_MKlKHoX7CiNO8EryRutbWTpXBkptMVFygllX62PHx4FkjPzwpbftrbG36iVIMo5sCXct0DLzhwVuee0iEdAfTM/s320/photo%252816%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div> It was a little rickety so I tightened the screws on the legs, primed it, painted it and distressed it very slightly. I needed a little something for under these frames my husband made for me and though the table is a bit small for the space, it will substitute nicely until I can find something a little bigger to replace it! This blue is my new favorite color and I'm finding fun ways to incorporate it into my home!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPCNeRm1Fgq6-TTe6xQ2QIVN0sT19KMDhvMqtywsjRD1qm5AzUXmz3QviS25d6NgyOlqVOVmKkwl7rOJco0XeTnUi-_kDgBkoui8pg9MqLLstzkGGc4NPd18jIGF_nSGclGy9-Ate4Xl9/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPCNeRm1Fgq6-TTe6xQ2QIVN0sT19KMDhvMqtywsjRD1qm5AzUXmz3QviS25d6NgyOlqVOVmKkwl7rOJco0XeTnUi-_kDgBkoui8pg9MqLLstzkGGc4NPd18jIGF_nSGclGy9-Ate4Xl9/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm0yrezy-lfniPftzeouqED8h8Rx_Z1O9FwHOixg-o-gv4-QBCMSCNHZx9C0z8nc97q9wKUQlc8Odo1rJjfswW7brkGKZNUNayb-Q4y-pIajeUxB9ZaCIubp1dmxeT73ouOmv3ni9p2nd/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm0yrezy-lfniPftzeouqED8h8Rx_Z1O9FwHOixg-o-gv4-QBCMSCNHZx9C0z8nc97q9wKUQlc8Odo1rJjfswW7brkGKZNUNayb-Q4y-pIajeUxB9ZaCIubp1dmxeT73ouOmv3ni9p2nd/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>Thanks for stopping by! More to come! (Family photos courtesy of <a href="http://www.victorialewisphotography.com/">Victoria Lewis</a>, fall 2010 at our home.)Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-55456091354647993382011-08-17T13:31:00.000-07:002011-08-17T13:31:54.321-07:00Opa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72Vz3C7BRXl0buOrQwmJb8iTehSuXEyvefAWdRsBddWLL31l5TgrPblnC2ZuzDkDavD2-Nb53r54WsXZ7WihmmAI01l_OYR5WrywodgB0caSI_SmVoVfBF8Qivqpxv0PmsBcPiDqs1Myq/s1600/266444_221158527916270_213932171972239_757517_1659661_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72Vz3C7BRXl0buOrQwmJb8iTehSuXEyvefAWdRsBddWLL31l5TgrPblnC2ZuzDkDavD2-Nb53r54WsXZ7WihmmAI01l_OYR5WrywodgB0caSI_SmVoVfBF8Qivqpxv0PmsBcPiDqs1Myq/s320/266444_221158527916270_213932171972239_757517_1659661_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On Thursday, August 11th, just before 6:30 pm, surrounded by several of his family members, Crue "Sarge" Russell took his last breaths on this earth. My grandfather. My Opa.<br />
He was such a strong man. You'd have to be to marry a beautiful German woman and to raise 3 girls and move them all over the world and country while serving in the US Army. But he was more than that. He was more than an officer serving our country. He was truly patriotic. Truly proud. Boy, was he proud! Anyone who met my Opa would be forced to hear about how amazing his 9 grand-children and 10 great-grandchildren are! I truly believe he was my #1 fan! He was always telling me (and anyone who would listen) how beautiful I sing and would fuss at me when he would come to church and I wasn't leading a song by myself. I often teased him that the songs weren't for him that we sing at church on Sundays, but I'm pretty sure he secretly believed that when I sang one of his favorites "I Stand Amazed" that I had specifically sang it that day just because he liked it. He would tell everyone (much to my embarrassment) that I could sing better than Faith Hill and that he would be the first one to buy my album when I recorded one. I wish I had recorded one just for him. I wish that I had come over every day and sang to him but whenever I visited him, I just didn't think to sing to him. I hope he can still hear me when I sing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvye3G3QFiPq0TYJ13i0L6xnzRlKZfaCu-Y9S7VIbKrG71Zi6sQpUL6ornfOuxniOhi-f64MkCtkDw7-HxIem68k9NnYb-jOAsfpcPfIO2MKgPYC1aHp4oq6pI1yG3lBKEp8oTjMmWR71c/s1600/271566_230110930354363_213932171972239_793860_6912946_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvye3G3QFiPq0TYJ13i0L6xnzRlKZfaCu-Y9S7VIbKrG71Zi6sQpUL6ornfOuxniOhi-f64MkCtkDw7-HxIem68k9NnYb-jOAsfpcPfIO2MKgPYC1aHp4oq6pI1yG3lBKEp8oTjMmWR71c/s320/271566_230110930354363_213932171972239_793860_6912946_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Opa always held my Oma's hand. He loved her so much! When Oma and Opa took my cousin Davy and I (the oldest grandson and oldest granddaughter and don't the rest of you forget it!) to Germany, I was in awe of how they'd pick at each other for a minute and then go right back to normal, holding hands. They truly were a match!<br />
They showed us around Germany as if we were their prized possessions. I remember I used a burnt matchstick to draw a sketch of a horse on a napkin at one restaurant and the owner (a friend of my grandparent's) insisted on keeping it and pinning it to the wall in the bar. When Opa saw this, he of course was proud but then made sure I made another one just for him to have. He acted like it was a work of art! I was 13 so of course this made my confidence soar. He boosted my confidence often.<br />
Opa was so generous. Not just with Oma, though he loved showering her with beautiful things, but with everyone! He was always giving. He would always offer us a "stick of chewing gum" from his shirt pocket and to this day when I smell Wrigleys Doublemint gum, it takes me back to riding in his big blue pick up truck. I have scores of memories of my Opa. We grew up knowing him, being with him, they were always around and even the past several years, not a week went by where we didn't see Opa--even if it was just at Mom's house on Sundays for lunch after church.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-6UMkToULrtqFjUjQlLpE0gFQW6uRT4bH25m_XZ-FoJadX4O9yn634FXv3DH8SEdhir-Xm6xmVdQE_Sp3Zb3DWRE3_MWYfl1OS0B9x1YMKENxIDH7MCFmhF2RpCt3Ji1UrFGBsXlRldp/s1600/285539_2115588403867_1070421379_32466072_6667654_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-6UMkToULrtqFjUjQlLpE0gFQW6uRT4bH25m_XZ-FoJadX4O9yn634FXv3DH8SEdhir-Xm6xmVdQE_Sp3Zb3DWRE3_MWYfl1OS0B9x1YMKENxIDH7MCFmhF2RpCt3Ji1UrFGBsXlRldp/s320/285539_2115588403867_1070421379_32466072_6667654_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Opa sure loved Stone. He was always talking about his smile and how he could close his eyes and as clear as a picture was Stone's big huge grin! I am so thankful that my children all got a chance to meet and spend time with their great-grandfather. I will make sure they know who he was and remember the man that I remember.<br />
We all know that part of life is death. We all know that cancer is a deadly thief that can steal away those we love. But my Opa was a fighter. He was strong. And I believe that he is better now. As a friend put it: "whole". I have hope that he gave his life to the Lord and is now bragging to all the saints about how awesome his family is! I'm thankful that this earth is not our home and that I will reunite with Opa one day! <br />
He was a great patriarch. He loved his family. He passed down a stubborness that many of us inherited. He passed down the ability to be opinionated to ALL of us. But he also left us a legacy.<br />
Do I wish I went and visited him more? Of course. There are always regrets. But even as I sit here, the memories I do have are almost overwhelming: summers at "The Lake" as we called it, before it became their lakehouse home, yearly trips to the circus where we would watch Opa in his Al Chymia Shrine maroon velveteen hat with the tassel, his curly hair then his crew cut hair and finally his mohawk hair, the days he used to smell like cigarettes and chewing gum combined, but then he kicked the habit and it was just the gum, the way he would sit back in his recliner and let us always sit with him and watch his soaps or watch HeeHaw, how all you had to do was mention something to him once and he'd never forget it, invite him to something and he'd make sure he was there, how everything had to be even, so.much.more...I could go on.<br />
My word, I have enough memories of my sweet Opa to make a book and I bet I know who would buy the first copy if he were still here... :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kmNEz4wpjorryY3L4hnSg0gR1oEKjJMO8SUAj7mFHfR4hBd6zSL-adnoDCvcL-1CN4tBmU3bITE7zltM7qRmUWjmvZObiHUtao_B443khpNLbO96yrjayycxCSelz74hh-kGFJU3OqDU/s1600/167865_1685219964925_1070421379_31892174_2380812_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kmNEz4wpjorryY3L4hnSg0gR1oEKjJMO8SUAj7mFHfR4hBd6zSL-adnoDCvcL-1CN4tBmU3bITE7zltM7qRmUWjmvZObiHUtao_B443khpNLbO96yrjayycxCSelz74hh-kGFJU3OqDU/s320/167865_1685219964925_1070421379_31892174_2380812_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996926149029577984.post-87337964141332285382011-05-23T21:30:00.000-07:002011-05-23T21:30:03.407-07:00I've Met My Match<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have truly met my match. Her name is Haven Barker. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4JDVkluz2OI6fiD1LGr61iWAd9OIqz8RcjjU8vkNzXPVHdbnSpjqFnf5xOHYtKDNNithDZ1KnhGEUAd83DqX6jhMYh2gBVpaIGtysVXy1JSSaiGn50hsniYb-kj0k4Cx-AZdPu3hUoPO/s1600/DSC_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4JDVkluz2OI6fiD1LGr61iWAd9OIqz8RcjjU8vkNzXPVHdbnSpjqFnf5xOHYtKDNNithDZ1KnhGEUAd83DqX6jhMYh2gBVpaIGtysVXy1JSSaiGn50hsniYb-kj0k4Cx-AZdPu3hUoPO/s320/DSC_0062.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I honestly do not know what the future holds but I do know that Haven Barker will get.the.job.done. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy birthday to my sweet Haven Elizabeth. She turns 4 years old May 24th and I cannot believe how fast the time has flown by! This little pistol is as much of a joy as she is a pain, and of course I mean that lovingly! Well, mostly lovingly....Haven is hands-down, THE most strong-willed child I have ever known. Ever. And I know a LOT of people. I've seriously met my match. It's a daily battle of the wills. She is hard headed and spirited and has a will of steel. Like her mom. But oh, somehow <i>more.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEY3Dgev0sVmAqDupO4GSmjfNF77nJwnINtYCVFrDtSQxhvihdQhIfVP4hTvOhqiNncEVuXHcb3Q0fma49yS2zGzL-uXF9DmELtyqWf44tFGfnQU-aXgTUsQMND9ZAwaEzeTXMu7-KOBs/s1600/497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEY3Dgev0sVmAqDupO4GSmjfNF77nJwnINtYCVFrDtSQxhvihdQhIfVP4hTvOhqiNncEVuXHcb3Q0fma49yS2zGzL-uXF9DmELtyqWf44tFGfnQU-aXgTUsQMND9ZAwaEzeTXMu7-KOBs/s320/497.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjNt4J6vUuGy_ckZ3w_pjTVbeeubZZ_JNzejJNmgZqoffYcEw8YiwCn9Uw8d4o_Abl6ZpoBNHBNWH-AniaWuf3PS6JKkPtgCj5RB00HrtVO_agXHbyNiwy85Z0EB4TjvMUCjHatwLjQJ3/s1600/223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjNt4J6vUuGy_ckZ3w_pjTVbeeubZZ_JNzejJNmgZqoffYcEw8YiwCn9Uw8d4o_Abl6ZpoBNHBNWH-AniaWuf3PS6JKkPtgCj5RB00HrtVO_agXHbyNiwy85Z0EB4TjvMUCjHatwLjQJ3/s320/223.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's put it this way: my daily prayer for Haven is that the Lord "breaks her will but not her spirit" and let me explain. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I <i>want </i>Haven to have determination. I <i>want</i> her to have a severe passion for what she believes in, so much so that she never ever backs down from it. I <i>want</i> her to be so self-disciplined that no one can talk her out of following the dreams she has her heart set on making come true. I do want these things for my child and I believe her strong-willed personality will allow her to do these things and so much more! What I mean when I want the Lord to 'break her will' is that I want her to submit to authority: mine and her father's of course, but more importantly her <i>heavenly</i> Father's authority. I want her to have such a fierce passion for the ways of the Lord that she never backs down from a challenge of her faith. I want her to believe so strongly in the TRUTH of the Gospel that she wins hundreds of people to Christ and that she makes an impact on this world and for eternity!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I believe she can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPueYZfFROMdUvaiDNJc33yXJDOtxHOfwANfx9WH9dkNZBT_-_nRNbMOEJCG5gNAA_heJIDV0jVK954ZIPFKhgvCIG9lnObpH5PskGKhTSZ5uNsCc1PZma_ZfgEyHT9_RjE7-uwsZ3HHqn/s1600/261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPueYZfFROMdUvaiDNJc33yXJDOtxHOfwANfx9WH9dkNZBT_-_nRNbMOEJCG5gNAA_heJIDV0jVK954ZIPFKhgvCIG9lnObpH5PskGKhTSZ5uNsCc1PZma_ZfgEyHT9_RjE7-uwsZ3HHqn/s320/261.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Lord made Haven the way she is and its my job to help mold her to be a submissive child, and ultimately a submissive wife and submissive Christian woman. Its my job to train her in the way she should go. Its my job to be the example of the Proverbs 31 woman she should be come. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I doubt myself every day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZnElgc7ywy8f2YsxXR5HTZqx9P8s3J1sFascbdwQzFRxjVsjfg1SyDlj_XqlNmY9GpxwDBmZqTou02309m4tt16h6cPl0H4a3cLCzdkRkF0CI1Ozf9VHM7MW6TtrRpHTmgNwNQpSaZn0/s1600/326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZnElgc7ywy8f2YsxXR5HTZqx9P8s3J1sFascbdwQzFRxjVsjfg1SyDlj_XqlNmY9GpxwDBmZqTou02309m4tt16h6cPl0H4a3cLCzdkRkF0CI1Ozf9VHM7MW6TtrRpHTmgNwNQpSaZn0/s320/326.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What a huge task that is so difficult at times! Especially when we are butting heads in Hobby Lobby and all the other shoppers and employees are staring at me with Stone tucked in his sling and Micah obediently pushing the shopping cart treading lightly not to make me even more mad and I am literally <i>dragging </i>my middle child through the store while she is screaming "OW OW OW MOM YOU'RE HURTING MY ARM!! OW OW OW!!!!!!!!!!!!" and the poor woman cutting the fabric is almost afraid to wait on me because she fears that she too, will be subject to my uncontrollable wrath and temper that inevitably causes me to spank my child in a public place while still wearing my baby on my chest and still managing to shop (because I am a multi-tasker after all and by golly I am BUYING my stinkin' fabric) and still somehow I am managing to pick up the GIANT rolls of fabric that said middle child has managed to knock down off of the racks and are now unraveling across the Hobby Lobby aisles while I chase after them in my 4 inch wedge heels...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I digress...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hFnvhpIQ8mzcea4Lj7rx1zqlXTziq95ge4ehrI3fbtA0Iv0Ct-W0i-tN8gA4dW0mShyBsDbLQaINZUDOyDBYCbwSKuYJkVOuo6MeDWfAXaVWe2GkHf8ybLeZmH9htz1HGx2Ey0Vli_MT/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hFnvhpIQ8mzcea4Lj7rx1zqlXTziq95ge4ehrI3fbtA0Iv0Ct-W0i-tN8gA4dW0mShyBsDbLQaINZUDOyDBYCbwSKuYJkVOuo6MeDWfAXaVWe2GkHf8ybLeZmH9htz1HGx2Ey0Vli_MT/s320/266.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know that days like today will be a part of the stepping stones that form Haven into the spirited young lady she will one day become. I know that when she doesn't have a nap that she is more irritable and that it was my choice to leave the house at naptime to run errands and take all 3 kids to Stone's 9 month check up. I know that when Haven is a teenager that I will long for the days I could drag her by her arm through a Hobby Lobby. But I will not give up. I will continue to try my best to train my strong-willed child and help her to become strong-willed for the Lord. I will pray every day that God leads me in the right direction regarding the precious gift He has entrusted me in Haven Elizabeth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZJjHy6oR26mZxb24eQ_XxCg8RkDjaGL7xkOuQCic0iz4e6a-EP9zNLVgluErr2Dzy5j0C0OVGCZZbv8DTv7VlFqgLs_O5z3JkFosMKNng2DqIhux8pgGbRlmTHnJnppR1HU4o9QOWEoj/s1600/487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZJjHy6oR26mZxb24eQ_XxCg8RkDjaGL7xkOuQCic0iz4e6a-EP9zNLVgluErr2Dzy5j0C0OVGCZZbv8DTv7VlFqgLs_O5z3JkFosMKNng2DqIhux8pgGbRlmTHnJnppR1HU4o9QOWEoj/s320/487.JPG" width="186" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWgv3A3DyLBKlipyEDDblrG6rDQy1X3TNsPkflSo0-0hZK4H1V1RPYseZ6EH6FiypRxUOdduzVCIssqPqQgKudXgQrq5q6pED4OMB0NjHEllBYPbyBjBPxGFniUn6QP4J2vzKHbuM5bUG/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWgv3A3DyLBKlipyEDDblrG6rDQy1X3TNsPkflSo0-0hZK4H1V1RPYseZ6EH6FiypRxUOdduzVCIssqPqQgKudXgQrq5q6pED4OMB0NjHEllBYPbyBjBPxGFniUn6QP4J2vzKHbuM5bUG/s320/094.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I will never ever give up or back down. I learned that from my middle child. She too, has met her match.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy 4th Birthday, my sweet Haven. You bring me joy and make me laugh every single day. I love you more than you will ever know!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnMM-VefSEbtI0SGHoxK_Yxz54XIZ5re98Lui8YyG5S56EtgI_hgdSIefIkr38xikFcATFv-SAagfsIib_Glhw279VZPOLg2YoIE91M2q2H9z25RA7qVizCS4vV5bToEEMUvbUDbRnrG1/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnMM-VefSEbtI0SGHoxK_Yxz54XIZ5re98Lui8YyG5S56EtgI_hgdSIefIkr38xikFcATFv-SAagfsIib_Glhw279VZPOLg2YoIE91M2q2H9z25RA7qVizCS4vV5bToEEMUvbUDbRnrG1/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>Sarah Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06340892664589115838noreply@blogger.com2