Cheap(er) Gas

What's wrong with this picture?

R-Kansas

We are here in Harrison, AR now, and trying to get settled in. It seems like a nice little town, although it does have some dirty secrets. That is a post for another time, all I will say now is that the movers (who were black) were warned that it wasn't safe for them to be out after dark. Also, small children stared at them in wonder at the hotel they stayed in.
Anywho, the new condo is small, and our stuff will not fit at all. There are boxes and paper everywhere! I made a (hopefully) before video. Ian really likes to play outside now. There is some bark right outside the front door that he likes to play in. Maybe i will put the video of that up in a few days.
Here it is:

For Sale

One handmade entertainment center. Very large. Baby not included.

A Serious Post

I am feeling pretty low lately. We are moving to Arkansas. I try to actually follow that saying that if you can't say something nice, you shouldn't say anything at all. So...

moving on...

I just read this post from Morgan. I remember that time, too. Rebecca came over to my house to tell me about Amanda with another friend of ours. I was trying on outfits to wear somewhere, don't remember where. She told me they had driven by Amanda's house and seen lots of people, police cars, etc. I said, no way, that can't be true. You're wrong. 

One of my best friends was standing on my doorstep crying because a friend had committed suicide, and I flat out refused to believe her. I am not proud of that moment. I remember walking back upstairs to my room, but I don't know what I did after that. 

The next day at school was crazy. My boyfriend and I, and some friends left school in the middle of the day and went to eat - I think at Waffle House. It was crazy.

Amanda had been in a car accident the year before. She suffered a severe brain injury. She was in a coma for six weeks. I never went to visit her. I am not proud of that, either. She came back to school at some point - I don't remember if it was that year or the next. She went to cheerleading camp with us that summer. Less than a year after the accident. At the time I didn't realize how amazing that was. I know now.

That all happened in 1997-1998. Fast forward to November 12, 2004. I answer a phone call from my hysterical mother in law. She is telling my that my husband was in a car accident and the hospital won't tell her anything, just that she should come back from North Carolina. Mackey was in a head on collision. He was combative with the ER staff so they had to sedate him. He didn't wake up from the sedation for at least four days. I can't remember exactly. I remember other things. Like standing by his bed rubbing his arm the way he likes, hoping to bring him comfort.

Mackey was at Atlanta Medical Center for two weeks. I called the Shepherd Center, and thankfully they took him. He was there for another two weeks, then went to out patient care. At the Shepherd Center, he had the same doctor as Amanda - Dr. Donald P. Leslie. He is a great doctor. Praise the Lord, Mackey has had an awesome recovery. He also suffered a severe brain injury, but it was nowhere near as bad as Amanda's. Her sister and my sister worked together for a few years (at CGHS), and I found out more details about the severity of her injuries.

Mackey still struggles with the aftermath of his brain injury. And so do I, but in a different way. When I think about what he has been through, and what she must have gone through, I am so sad. I wish I had been a better friend, tried harder, something. To think that she was back at school less than a year later is absolutely unbelievable. Learning new things is extremely difficult after a brain injury. Relearning what you already know is hard, but new learning is another layer of difficulty.

Mackey was constantly being asked if he ever thought about suicide. He did not, and even got annoyed by the question. Apparently the suicide rate is really high after brain injuries. Amanda was only 17, Mackey was 26 - a very different place in life. The psychologist at Shepherd told me that the brain definitely heals for two years after an injury, and probably up to five years after. Someone I know told me her daughter showed improvement for even longer.

I am not exactly sure why I am rehashing all this. Well, maybe I do. Maybe God is reminding me that He is good. He was so faithful to me during my darkest time. I truly could not have handled that experience on my own. My prayers were answered. 

And so I should pray now, for strenth, for courage. To feel His presence in my loneliness.

Something good about Arkansas: I will get to actually live with my husband again, instead of him visiting on weekends. He has been traveling every week for a while now, and with the new job we will be together everyday.

Very first CVS trip

Okay, so this is not my first trip to CVS, it is my first try on getting stuff free! I think I did pretty good. $48.54 of merchandise, for $24.64. I saved $23.90!

Monkey Party

Ian's 1st birthday was June 24th. I can't believe my sweet baby is 1!! Time really does fly. We had a monkey themed party for him, cuz he loves his bananas. I made a Martha Stewart cake, and it actually looked pretty good! He had a great time, but got a little bashful when we sang to him.

Ian is enjoying all his toys, but the best one was probably meant for decorations, the balloons. The foil ones lasted the longest, and were the most fun. I made monkey t-shirts for the kiddos party favors. I was very conflicted about pulling

an image from the web to use on the shirts (because it is illegal and wrong and all). But I did it anyway. My punishment... green monkeys. 

Coincedentally, Green Monkeys is the name of a team on this (stupid) show.

Just now...

I accidentally left a mini 3 musketeers wrapper on the couch. Ian picked it up and had it in his mouth. I wasn't too worried. I went to get it after a few minutes, only to discover that there was an actual 3Musketeers in there. The keyword being WAS. He managed to squeeze about half of it out and eat it. 

Birthday pictures coming soon.

About Us

So a little more about the Mackey clan...

Ian: 10 months, cutest baby in the world, loves to explore, has two teeth.

Sara: 27 years, librarian turned homemaker, loves her baby and his daddy.

John, a.k.a. Mackey, a.k.a. Brad: 29 years, computer programmer, fantastic fun daddy, funny awesome husband. 

After discovering all my old high school buddies' blogs, I got inspired to update mine. I would post a pic of the famly, but sadly I only have two to choose from and they aren't that great. I will have to take one this weekend when Mackey gets home. 

Crawling

This is the second time Ian crawled, one month ago. He is lovin' it! Well, not so much that day, 

but he is loving it now. He discovered the dining room the other day. What a cutie!

Evidence

I submit evidence that I have the cutest child in the world.

I have more proof if you are interested.

This pic is from February.