Another Million Pics, Ginger-Spiced Pecans, Way Back When... (Roxie's Birth Day Story - Part Five)

Good Wednesday morning!

Okay, Guys.

Here's the deal.

For every one picture I show you on the blog, I want you to know there are 432 pictures I do NOT show you on the blog.

So really, instead of thinking I'm crazy-obsessed with me and mine at this time in my life, you can rest assured I am still a "giver" in every sense of the word.

No.

Really.

I am.

RANDOMNESS #1 - These are the pictures I've decided to share from halftime of the Homecoming Game.

I'll just do a little play-by-play.


The parents and representatives were instructed to be on the track two minutes before halftime... so we were.

As we were waiting for the second quarter to end, I overheard these two guys talking about how no one ever asked to take their picture.

So I fixed that real quick.

Mikie and Skip (Kelsey's Dad).


Mike and Roxie... right before the announcer called out her name as the 2014 Homecoming Queen!

At this point, I am standing on the field and all of the background noise is kind of fuzzy (just like on television before something BIG happens).

I cannot honestly say my whole life passed before my eyes, but I distinctly remember thinking of Roxie as a baby, a toddler, little girl, tween, pre-teen, etc., etc.

Kind of like Steve Martin in Father of the Bride.

Surreal.

That's the best adjective to describe the moment.

Surreal.


Roxie was crowned by Lauren, last year's sweet Queen.


Just Roxie.

Okay.

People asked me if I started crying when I saw Roxie in the crown.

There was some leakage, but as far as full-blown sobbing and screaming, "My Baby! My Baby!"...

Well, that didn't happen.

Shock and dismay.

Those two adjectives describe the above moment.


Hunter and Roxie.

Hunter was so sweet and proud.

This moment caused me to have a little more leakage.


Beautiful Alyssa and Roxie.


The Homecoming Court which consisted of some of the sweetest, prettiest girls (inside and out) I have ever had the honor of saying, "I know those Chicks!"


Roxie... again.


Hunter and Roxie... again.


Heather, Hunter's little sister and one of Roxie's biggest supporters, came down for a quick hug and a photo.

Mike and I walked back to the football stadium with Roxie after pictures, kissed Roxie good-bye, told Hunter and Roxie to have a wonderful time going out to eat after the game, and then I carried Roxie's flowers to the car.

Okay.

This is where the story starts being a little bit more about me and a little bit less about Roxie.

Y'all.

I was so tired.

The only tired I could compare it to would be "I'm pregnant with my first child in my first trimester" tired.

And I am not expecting!

As we walked to the parking lot, Mike and I were pretty quiet except for the occasional, "Can you believe it?"

And then Mikie took the flowers from my arms, turned around and told me I looked very pretty and would I like to go out to eat!

Yes.

Yes, I would.

However, the tired thing was heavy on my mind. I thought he was talking about Jim N Nicks or Full Moon or Chick-Fil-A.

"I'm taking you to P. F. Chang's," he said.

Fun fact for you... I am a big fan of P. F. Chang's. I won't say it is my favorite, but it is always, ALWAYS a great place to eat.

"I'm sorry. Is there a new P. F. Chang's on this side of town?" I asked, hoarsely.

"Nope. I'm talking about the one at The Summit," he replied.

The Summit?

We were talking about 25 to 35 minutes of driving to get to The Summit.

I didn't know if I would last.

But I want you to know, I took the last tiny bit of energy I had in my entire body, and I said, "Yes! Yes, that would be lovely."

Again, there's the "giver" in me.

Always thinking of others!

To end this seemingly never-ending story, we ate at P. F. Chang's (it was SO good), drove home and I went to bed.

Anti-climatic?

Maybe a little bit, but it was definitely a fun, memorable, once-in-a-lifetime kind of evening, and I'll never take that for granted.

RANDOMNESS #2 - While we are on the subject of BIG, LIFE-CHANGING events in a person's life, did I mention my nephew, Brad, and my new niece, Stephanie, got married Saturday evening?

Did I?

It was one of the most beautiful weddings ever...

In my opinion...

As the totally non-biased Aunt.

I'm posting just a few pics today, but I'll actually post some of Brad and Stephanie on Friday's blog!


T. J. and Katie.

These two are getting married in January.

Be still my heart!

That will be three out of the six cousins married within a five-month period.


Zac and Josh.

Handsome, handsome groomsmen.


Roxie, Katie and Josh.


Melia and Austin... full body.


Melia and Austin... half body.


Roxie and Hunter.


T. J. and Katie.


Very, very tired Roxie and well-rested Hunter!

Roxie's Birth Day Story - Part Five

Well, the time finally arrived to schedule a C-Section. The table we called my stomach was now measuring around 50 weeks... and growing daily. Uncomfortable doesn't seem to be an adequate word to describe the way I felt. And trying not to be fearful was very, very difficult.

The day of the scheduled C-Section, September 25, 1996, we arrived at the hospital. Everything was in place. The plan had not changed. Mike and Mom were to stay with Roxie NO MATTER WHAT, and Daddy would stay with me.

At noon, we went to the operating room to get Roxie. In a matter of a few minutes, Mike and I heard crying. Crying with gusto, actually. And then we met Roxie. Fat, angry, red cheeks, a little auburn hair... she didn't look like her esophagus wasn't attached to her stomach.

The nurse cleaned her and right before they took her away for her tests, she gave her to me one more time to kiss. The nurse leaned down and whispered in my ear, "What did you name this baby?"

"Roxie," I replied.

"Perfect," the nurse said... and then after a quick kiss and an "I love you" from Mikie, they were gone.

I was later taken to a semi-dark room. No one was there. I looked at the clock on the wall. It had been an hour since I had went into the operating room. I picked up the phone, but it wasn't connected. Very, very strange.

Of all things, a workman came in to work on the thermostat. I asked him to turn on a light and to keep the door open. I then asked him if he could find a nurse. He kindly did so.

When the nurse arrived, she asked if I needed pain meds which I refused. Although I knew the epidural was wearing off, when I take pain meds I am out for the count. I didn't want to be unconscious if they had to take Roxie to Children's. I asked her if she had seen my Dad. She said no, but she would watch for him. Again, very, very strange.

The clock kept ticking. I had now been in the room over 30 minutes by myself. Where was Daddy? Something was wrong. The only reason for him to not be with me would be because something was not right with Roxie. About that time, I saw him walking past the door. I yelled for him, and he came and sat down beside me... his assigned post for the day. He said he had been looking for me for over 30 minutes, but no one knew where I was. He had been going into rooms (containing new mothers) for the last half hour just looking. It was a wonder he wasn't arrested!

We sat in a very comfortable silence, holding hands and waiting. He didn't know to ask about pain medication, and I didn't tell him what I was doing, but my epidural was wearing off pretty fast.

We received a couple of phone calls during the long day from my Mom and Mike giving us updates on the testing and we continued to wait.

My Aunt Connie and my mom's best friend, Mrs. Davis, came in to check on me. They knew pretty soon into the conversation I was not taking meds. If I remember correctly (and I probably don't), they really jumped Daddy about not taking care of that little issue. But again, being a man who had never given birth, he was totally oblivious.

Needless to say, the nurse and I had to come to an agreement on what I could take that would take the edge off the pain, but would allow me to stay awake enough to know what was going on with Miss Roxie. That taken care of, we waited some more.

When Mom came in several hours later, she gave us the news everything in Roxie was "connected." No surgery needed. They were going to move me to a room and then Mikie and Roxie were coming to see me. I held her again at 7:00 p.m. that night. Seven hours after she was born. And then I had the nurse bring me some really, really strong pain meds!

And that's Roxie's Birth Day Story. Again, not to compare or complain to other women who have been through so much more. It is simply her story... her beginning... our beginning as the Faulkner Five.

I wrote this in her baby book while I was in the hospital 18 years ago (on heavy, heavy pain meds), but it's still true today...

"September 25, 1996 - When Austin was born, I was amazed at how much I loved him. He was my total obsession. When Joshua was born, I was amazed I could love another child as much as my first. He was my heart. When Roxie was born, I was amazed God had blessed me yet again with this beautiful little girl. She was (and is) my heart's desire."

I know you're glad this is finally over. No more baby stories until this Friday, October 3. (Sorry. Josh's birthday is October 4.)

Ginger-Spiced Pecans

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups pecan halves
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground ginger
Pinch of salt

1. In a large nonstick frying pan, melt the butter over moderate heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes.

2. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, ginger and salt. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the pecans in the pan and cook, stirring, until the pecans are coated with the sugar mixture and are browned and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Don't cook them too long or the sugar will begin to melt.

3. Put the pecans on a baking sheet and spread them out to cool.

This is a tasty treat! (I think Austin ate 3/4 of the bowl.)

Have a great Wednesday, I'll be back Friday with Brad and Stephanie pics, Wedding News, Blog Linkage, Quotable Quotes and MORE.

Take care, and I'll talk to you in a couple of days.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda