Twenty-six years and some-odd days ago, I was born. (No, it is not my birthday anytime soon.) However, when I was born at seven months' gestation, my mother had to be air-evacuated from Flagstaff to Phoenix because the Flagstaff hospital did not have a unit for premature babies. I was born. I lived in an incubator for the first weeks of my life, after receiving surgery to repair the holes that burned my under-developed lungs. This came as a result of breathing oxygen for the first time. As a further result of my prematurity, surgery, medication, and so on- I lost part of my hearing. I have lived my life not knowing what it was like to hear any better than I could, with 70% loss and 80% loss in each ear. I didn't know anything different, and my life has been very happy. I also know that if I had not been shipped to Phoenix, my life could have easily been something very different.

A friend told me about this website, and I include my personal story because I ask you to consider looking up this website & petitioning.

http://www.marchofdimes.com/padpetition/index.aspx?a=1&z=1&c=1&l=en

In other news, I have had a great weekend! My Aunt Linda came to stay with me on Saturday morning. She lives in Tempe but desperately needed girl-time and change of scenery. Sedona specializes in scenery! We spent Saturday in Jerome, wandering through the little shops and had a fantastic lunch at Haunted Hamburger. Last night we watched "The Devil Wears Prada," she hadn't seen it before. We ate apples and fancy cheese, and drank a delicious chardonnay. This morning we hiked along the Bell Rock Loop trail, a flat and scenic little path well-covered by tourists. Sayde trotted happily along in front of us. My uncle came to pick her up shortly after the hike ended, and I retreated into my bedroom and had a blissful two-hour nap! Now I'm putting around the house and enjoying the remainder of my weekend... I am considering taking Friday off of work this week! Mm.

Have good Sunday afternoons, folks. Ciao!

Four Weeks

After walking 5 1/2 miles to complete a Relay Walk for Life, with Jackie, Jessie, and Heidi. So much fun!! (Even after 2 unpleasant blisters! It was midnight and lighting was awful, hence the furry-looking picture!)
My parents, various aunts & uncles, and stepdad's parents on a family picnic a few weeks ago.

So my last post was 4 weeks ago... I've been a busy girl!

I spend most weekends in Flagstaff. In fact, this very weekend is the first weekend I have had that has no plans, schedules, committments, driving, or changes. I'm usually attending an appointment, family event, visiting friends in Prescott, or recently, attending a family reunion. It has been busy & fun, but I am so very glad to just have some peace this weekend.

The school district did (FINALLY) hire an aide for the student I had been babysitting for the first weeks of school. It is working out much better than I had hoped. The aide is professional, willing, and experienced. Best of all, having Bruce on board has allowed me to start working with the other kids whom my job revolves around. My students have been patient, and some of them have been working so very hard to do well. There is still a lot of dysfunction with our principal- spineless and ill person that he is. Fortunately he is in Maine until next Tuesday, so we teachers have enjoyed the fresh breath of air that we can take in his absence. One of my students heard about him being gone, and told me, "Oh! So that's why the school feels so much happier today." Even the kids pick up on the tension. He's a jerk, but I involve him as little as I possibly can with my business. So far that seems to be working. I have a tremendous amount of support from the teachers I work closest to, and so much encouragement. It has been a blessing to be reminded of this fact in stressful moments. My days are very busy, a lot of coming & going. I have really enjoyed getting to work with my students again. I missed a lot of their learning & academics during my weeks with Z, and I'm constantly trying to catch up and fill in the gaps. I remind

myself that I'd much rather be scrambling to fill in gaps than babysitting- and all is well again.

I have begun taking a light dose of anti-depressant. Its been 2 weeks now. It has made a world of difference in my life, without intending to sound overly dramatic. My perspectives have shifted, my mood lightened, and I have found it so much easier to just be happy. It is sort of like being on a caffeine boost, just lighter and air-ier. I don't know. I do find that they are helping me.

I submitted an application for a studio apartment that is in the town of Sedona. (Here, in the Village, I live about 20 minutes away from town. 6 miles but full of chaotic road construction.) The place is small, but functional. It has no bath-tub, which is the biggest frown for me. I love my daily bath and time for reading. I could adjust to reading in bed. There also is not a full kitchen, but it could work. The big draw for me, and why I applied for it, is that it costs $650/month, including utilities. My current rent is more than the amount of one of my paychecks, not including all the utilities. I would be able to save about $450/month if I am accepted to this studio. There is a huge fenced in yard, which Sayde loved at the interview that we went to. The owner of the place lives in a separate house on the property, and I'd have full access to washer/dryer and my own parking driveway and private entrance. I should know by the end of this weekend whether or not I have been accepted. I am trying to be neutral about it. I hate the thought of moving, and uprooting, and readjusting all over again. I have moved so much in the last 8 years- I am sick of it. But financially, I cannot deny that this would be a very smart "move" in the most literal sense.

One of my dear friends from my previous school district, Shanna, gave birth to her second daughter very recently. A sweet little girl that they named Johanna. Her older sister Addie is 12 years old, which makes for a very fun family dynamic. I am so excited for all of them, and I can't wait to meet Johanna!!

Crystal holding her newest neice, baby Johanna. So excited for their new addition to the family!! What a lucky little girl.

Overall... Life is going pretty well these days.

I am healthier, happier, and I have the sweetest dog in the world. I do lose sight of these blessings from time to time. Just give us a cloudy, cool Saturday to lounge in our respective comfort zones, and leftover Thai food to savor- and we are well.

Optimistically hoping for rain,

Linds

UPDATE: The studio apartment was offered to someone else, so I am not going to be living there. I'm okay with that. I still am looking and researching.... I even e-mailed another rental listed to find out more about it... It rained earlier today, and smelled so wonderful.