by Sarah | Jul 21, 2010 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Marriage
This week’s writing prompt list over at Mama Kat‘s suggested that we write about our wedding song.
The first thing I thought of was not our wedding song, but OUR wedding song. Makes sense, right?
To clarify, when Archie and I got married, Brandon was three years old. Our first date he didn’t ask ME out…he asked out Brandon and I both. We went to Pizza King so Brandon could see the train going around carrying drinks, and play video games.
It impressed my father.
It impressed me.
When it came down to planning the wedding we had the Father/Daughter dance picked. We had our first dance picked. But there was something missing. Something important.
That little guy had been a part of our beginning. Our middle, and he had to be a part of this too. We had to make sure of it.
My Dad came up with the perfect song. The one that meant a lot…fit just right.
He Didn’t Have to Be by Brad Paisley
When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she’d ever meet someone
Who wouldn’t find out about me and then turn around and run
I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she’d say yes
And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something’s missing
To a family
Lookin’ back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I’m at least half the dad
That he didn’t have to be
The words say it all. Brandon wasn’t five – but he helped Archie pop the question. He was at the wedding, holding our hands, and we all danced together as a family at the reception. Moments after that kiss in the picture Brandon called Archie ‘Dad’ for the first time. It took a few months of adjustment, but soon he was calling him Dad all the time.
Archie didn’t have to ask out the single Mom. He didn’t have to ask out her little kid. But he did.
And we’ll forever be glad that he did.
by Sarah | Jul 19, 2010 | All About Kennedy, Cystic Fibrosis
I should have updated sooner, but as you’ve seen I had a lousy week last week. So here is the official Angel – CF update.
Angel’s lung functions went up – but only by 3%. This is not a good amount of improvement. We were allowed to go home, but our Pulm wants more improvement.
In case you missed it, last year I posted about our journey to the CF diagnosis (Here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). Because of that journey and the low sweat chloride levels, plus her generally clear lungs there has always been a niggling of a doubt about her diagnosis. Not just for us, but for the pulm as well. After x-rays she’d make statements like “her lungs look more CF now” and other statements like that. There was always a “maybe-probably” to it.
Well there is no more ‘maybe-probably’. Our pulm stated that any doubt is fully erased. You do not get Pseudomonas unless you have CF.
For now, we’re home. For now, we won’t be checked in.
We re-ran the sputum culture. If it comes back positive we start a new lifelong treatment cycle. The TOBI (antibiotic) will become a permanent fixture. Every other month she’ll be on the antibiotic. We’ll know by the end of the week.
So that’s where we are. Continuing on our path with our Angel a little the worse for wear. After this week it may be a regular regimen of medicine, but no hospital stay for now.
by Sarah | Jul 18, 2010 | All About Kennedy, Crap, Cystic Fibrosis, Photography, Random, Therapy, Weekly Winners

All taken w/ Canon Rebel XTi.
For week 7/12-7/18/10
This week was crazy bad (see previous post), but it also had some good things. Today is my birthday and I want it to be good, so I’m trying to remind myself to just breathe and remember the good things. These pictures help.
I did attempt to re-start project 365 this week, but I forgot on Thursday (worst day) and decided to try again next week, so hopefully that will be happening in the next few weeks. I want to get ahead of the game by a week.
I also got a new photo-editing/managing software program this week. I’m wishing I could afford the pro version when it’s time to buy, but I’m afraid it’ll not be happening this year. Either way, I’m loving my new editing software and will tell you more about soon. It’s my new best friend.
Onto the pictures!
Waiting on a train

Spanning the distance

Bridging the Gap

Lines Across the Times

Tying it all Together

Lost along the Way

Pretty Hair for a Special Day



JUST B-R-E-A-T-H-E
(This was the test that determined if she stayed home or was checked in. She just had to breathe well. She didn’t, but she breathed better than last time. That’s my Angel’s RT in the picture with her. She always makes it fun for Angel!)

It’s a lot this week, I know…but Sunday was a good photography day. I ran out and took a little photo walk, thus the railroad theme for most of it.
Go over and visit Lotus for some more great WW’s!!!
by Sarah | Jul 16, 2010 | 100 Words
In order to get my writers blog mojo going, I’ve decided to start participating in the 100 Word Challenge again. I’ve also joined in on another project that is coming up soon, and I’ll share more details when that comes around. Until then, here is my entry for this week. I like it so much I’m thinking of turning it into a short. Don’t know how I got this line of crazy from “Uncomfortable”…but here it is!!
**
Sticky.
The heat was unbearable, the humidity – murder. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck into the smooth curve where it met his shoulder. Neither of us said a word, his focus had to be on his task.
The ropes tied tight, the blocks in place. Soon it would be over. Relief would be immense. No one would ever know what I had done.
With a final tug the task was complete. We both wrapped our hands around an end and lifted, whispering a farewell before we tossed it over the side.
I smiled, it was over.
“Your turn.”
by Sarah | Jul 16, 2010 | All About Home, All About Kennedy, All About Me, Crap, Cystic Fibrosis, Photography, Random
Ever had one of those days? How about one of those weeks? Months? Years?
I’m in the middle of one of those weeks. Coming about 4 weeks after one of those months…which is turning this into one of those years.
Let’s focus on this week.
My birthday is coming up (this Sunday). For the past several years my bday has not been anything spectacular, and in some cases it’s flat out stunk. Not sure why, I just haven’t had the birthday Gods on my side or something. This year is proving to be no exception.
In one week we’ve had a trifecta of appliance crap, been overcharged by WalMart Eye Center, and lost the ability to finish my deck for my bday (all I wanted for it), oh and the plants I purchased for it are pretty much dead (my fault, I shouldn’t have bought them until it was done.).
First, over the weekend the fridge died. Freezer worked fine, fridge wouldn’t cool. Appliance repair guy came on Wed. Assured me w/ the statement, “It’s a $45 part.” Then proceeded to charge me an hours labor for a 30 minute job (that’s $60, mind you), AND $40 to defrost my fridge with what sounded suspiciously like a hair dryer.
Thursday morning I went to give my two little stinky angels a bath. Oldest was washing dishes. All of a sudden, there was no hot water. Well, crap.
I pull open the utility closet and the pilot’s out on the water heater. At least, I think that’s the problem. If it wasn’t, it sure became the problem when I turned the whole thing off. Archie came home and re-lit the thing and we have hot water again. We just aren’t sure how or why the pilot went out and hope it’s not going to crap out again all too soon.
Not four hours later I stepped outside and the Air Conditioner sounded really loud. Thinking it was odd I walked on over to find the fan not spinning.
GREAT.
On our side for that one is our neighbor is an AC guy and he came over to take a look.
But seriously?
Why does Murphy hate my birthday so much? Or, for that matter, me? I didn’t do anything to him.
Well, he can go to Hell. I’m taking my birthday OFF. I’m not going near an appliance, a vehicle, my computer, nothing that can break. I’m staying in bed and pretending it doesn’t exist. I’m really tired of this crap storm.
*******************
P.S. For those who haven’t seen me on twitter or FB, here’s the Angel update –
SHE’S HOME!! No hospital stay for us! Just as suspected, we are now officially, 100% w/o a doubt a CF family. You do not get psuedomnas if you don’t have CF. The culture results will NOT send us into the hospital, but if they are positive we will be starting a lifetime regimen of one month on/one month off on the TOBI (inhaled antibiotic through nebulizer – very expensive stuff)…but we won’t know that for a week. I’ll keep you posted!
P.P.S. I’ve been trying to get back into 365 by getting a week in advance done. I’m afraid I missed yesterday w/ all the stuff going on…so it’ll be another week or two before I get those started again – but I will be participating in Weekly Winners again this week. Have a few pictures to put in once they’re edited. I have a trial version of a new photo manager/editor that I LOVE and plan to buy once we have the money. I’ll tell you about it later.
P.P.P.S. I actually have a bit to post about…but have been trying to skip days until I got more to write. I may just blow off that idea and do a random post of stuff. Who knows….