ONE

My baby is turning one. ONE. I can't believe it. It feels like just yesterday I was finding out about her and now she's been in our lives for a year. She's been changing our lives for a year. Loving us. Needing us. For a year.

This time last year we were getting ready for her. Everything was clean and put away. We had a plan in place and were ready to move at a moment's notice. My feet were being propped up, I was lacking sleep, and anxiety was building. And then she came. Little, happy, and perfect.

I love that little girl. So much. She surprises me with all she knows and how much she already loves. She plays and snuggles equally. She's super sweet and easy going and also so independent and strong-willed. The perfect mixture of Phillip and me. I couldn't ask for better.

And now, as we plan her first birthday party, we're thankful for her even more. Our lives have never been so busy. So exhausting. So full. I wouldn't trade it.

Get ready for the cutest circus-themed birthday party you've ever seen. :)

Cystic Fibrosis

What a whirlwind of a month. Sorry for not posting.

Cystic Fibrosis.

A phrase that never meant anything to us - until now.

With all of the battery of tests Elayne has undergone for her chronic cough, this was an easy one to eliminate. She passed her newborn screening for it, after all. And my tests during pregnancy all came back normal too.

But then her results came back elevated. Not positive or negative. Just elevated.

So for that past month, we have monitored weight and coughs and surfed the internet for answers. Until this week when we finally had a follow up appointment with her pulmonologist (after what felt like months). His diagnosis? Negative for Cystic Fibrosis. His reasoning? His patients who have Cystic Fibrosis have results off-the-charts and hers were simply elevated.

But.

BUT!?

Because her levels weren't off-the-charts low, the pulmonologist thinks a combination of the three of us are carriers for Cystic Fibrosis. While not devastating, this news has the potential to affect our future plans and possibly Elayne's future plans too.

In the meantime, she officially has asthma/reactive airway disease, allergies, and acid reflux-induced congestion. She is on breathing treatments for the foreseeable future and will hopefully outgrow all of it in the future. Will keep you posted!

School Update

I feel like I haven't updated you readers about school in a very long time. Therefore, I think it's time for an update!

Yes I am still in school and still going strong. I am more-than succeeding and love my program. All these courses make me fired up about health and teaching soon. This semester I am taking "Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care" and "Strategies of Health Education Delivery." What a great line up!

I will graduate with my MS in Health Studies in May 2015 - so close!!!! This fall will be my hardest semester yet, but I am definitely looking forward to it. I will learn a lot. This fall I have to complete a 90 hour practicum (aka internship) with an approved facility. It'll be great to get all of that experience, but with a full family calendar and still working 40 hours, it will be quite the challenge. My other course is through the school of education. It's hybrid - meaning most of it is online, but I will have to attend night classes 7 days during the semester. As if I need more things to keep me from home and fill up my calendar. It'll be an exciting course to give me an even deeper understanding of education.

It will be busy, but luckily Phillip and my family/friends are willing and able to help out when we need them - and we will. It'll be a rough couple of months but worth it when I walk across that stage and can be called "Master Ashley".

And what's after that? After graduation? Well naturally, a PhD!!! Parker has some goals that include a PhD program in Educational Leadership. If that pans out, I am diving in for a great price (free)! Anxious about that already. But I am built for education. For higher education. For advanced education.

Look at me go!

Some Day

Some day I will get caught up on the laundry.
Some day I will not hit the snooze button and wake up at the time I need to.
Some day I will get to come home and just relax.
Some day I will organize the pantry. And garage. And the kitchen cabinets. And my life.
Some day I will redecorate the guest bedroom and finally hang things on the walls.
Some day I will update more frequently on this blog to keep you informed.
Some day I will sit down to write notes to friends/family just because.
Some day I will take the day/night "off" to go do something just for me.

Day in the Life

Some days I marvel at how chaotic life gets

Leave work fifteen minutes later than planned.
Hit traffic driving to JCPenny to get Elayne.
During traffic, I jam to entirely too many classic rock tunes - is this a sign of my age? Am I getting old? The new stuff just bores me.
Turn up the A/C since it's so hot.
Sit in more traffic. Pull up to the slow area only to find there is no reason for said slow traffic.
Turn A/C down because now it's freezing.
Contemplate taking the toll road to get home faster or use the free feeder road with stop lights I can shoot quick texts at.
Take free feeder road.
Stop. Go. Stop. Go. Stop. Go.
Get to Elayne's child care center pretty much 45 minutes after I leave work. Why does it take this long? Oh yeah. Stoplights. Maybe I'll consider the toll road next time. Wait no. That's so expensive.
Finally pull into the parking garage. Hunt for a "child care" designated spot. Why are the JCPenny employees so lazy? They drive from their assigned spots to these spots just so they don't have to walk that far. But come to think of it, I'd probably do the same thing. So nevermind.
Found a spot. Parked.
Leave the purse in the car or bring it in? Such a struggle. There is a security officer at the crosswalk. He'd hear if someone broke into my car for my purse. And I'm not too far from him. But he doesn't look like he'd be quick enough to chase him. And then who would hold the stop sign up so parents and employees and children can cross safely? And does he even have a gun? This is probably what would go through his head and he heard the window smashing.
Take purse inside.
Swipe card to get into child care center. But nothing happens. Oh yeah there is a trick. I remember. You can stand in these four floor tiles, but if you step even a toe in those six, the door won't open. Got it. Excuse me while I practice my yoga moves.
I'm in!
Gotta log her out of the computer.
Phillip got here at 7:47 today!? Must have been running late.
Time for the stroller closet. The dreaded closet. Parents with these monster strollers come in like they own the place. Meanwhile our sensible travel stroller is folded up neatly along the wall. Buried behind tanker strollers made for families of six when they only have one baby. Who can walk. And doesn't need a stroller anymore. But mama holds on to it still.
Pull up to Elayne's room. I swear that's her scream I hear from the hall. Oh man I hope that's not her. Don't pawn off a screaming child on me. I pay you guys too much money for that.
Phew. It's not Elayne. It's Sara. Always Sara. Stranger Danger Sara. With the beauitful eyes.
We need diapers again!? We just gave you a huge pack last week. You guys seriously need to think about changing her less.
Where did she get that pacifier from? Yeah, that one in her mouth. Nope. That's not hers. Oh well. It does the job and is one less we have to buy. YOLO.
What is she wearing? Oh. Yeah. Phillip dressed her. Stripes and polka dots? Hot pink, bright blue, and red? Don't care enough to change her.
Now she's screaming. You let her sleep through her last feeding and she hasn't eaten anything since 2:30!? Sweet. But can't complain since sometimes we drop her off in the same mood.
In the car seat. Got it all? Yes baby. Have a bottle.
Finally back to the car. Was that walk that long on the way in? I feel like this has been a marathon walking back.
Time to drive. Wait. No. Gotta stop for crossing children.
Now leaving.
Hitting the stop lights again to avoid tolls.
Stop. Go. Stop. Go. Stop. Go.
Finally pull into the garage two hours after work ends.
Time to relax.

Wait. No....