~ Sarah LeeAnne ~
Sarah
arrived on Nov ember 8, 1983, and like her brother, she was born in
Cabell-Huntington Hospital in Huntington, West-by-God-Virginia. Unlike her
brother, however, who was born about 3 weeks early, Sarah had her own mind about
things and waited, coming nearly 3 weeks after she was expected to arrive. By
the time it was time to have that baby I felt like I had been pregnant for a
whole year!
The final 2 weeks I visited my doctor
every-other-day. I asked - BEGGED - for him to induce labor. I had been
experiencing a nasty bout of allergies and my violent coughing caused muscles
and tendons around my belly to pull. I cannot describe how painful that was! And
by the time Sarah was born I was so pregnant I couldn't sleep in bed because I
couldn't climb
back
out again. And though the pregnancy itself was uneventful and a truly wondermous
experience, by the time it was time I was beyond ready. But my doctor refused to
induce, saying inductions just extend labor and wear both mother and baby out
unnecessarily. Besides, he said, inducing labor does not necessarily guarantee
progression and, ultimately, birth. So I waited. Each visit I would go in for
exam with fingers and toes crossed and prayers in my heart, and each visit I
came out after being told to go home and wait.
Until that fateful Monday I entered the exam room and - finally - was told it was time, my body was ready, did I want to wait until labor began, or did I want to meet him in the hospital Tuesday morning? All I could do was ask him what time did he want me there Tuesday morning?
Just
as the nurses had predicted Anthony would be a girl (but I knew better and knew
he was a boy) it was the same with Sarah. The nurses at the doctor's office
insisted this pregnancy was a boy, from the way I carried the baby to the speed
of her heartbeat. But again, I knew better. I knew this one was a girl and
again, I prayed I was right, because I didn't have another boy name to give a
baby, I was so determined, so convinced the second was a girl. And just as I did
when Anthony was born, Sarah proved me right and the nurses wrong. So much for
the nurses' wise and experienced predictions!
As a toddler and young girl, Sarah was a "girly-girl"... The more lace, the more frills, the more fru-fru, the better she liked it! That didn't last too many years, and by the time she was nearing 13 her wardrobe began to reflect the times of the day.
While
in high school, Sarah was nominated two years running for inclusion in the
publication, "Whose Who of American High School Students," and was heavily
recruited by dozens of colleges. She graduated high school in June, 2002, and
began her college career at the local community college in the fall. She has not
gone back after that first semester, but continues interest in getting a degree
and hopes to begin again soon.
I suppose it is when I look at Sarah, and see how she has grown and matured, that my age, which continues to creep ever upward, is catching up to me. And the older I get, the faster time flies because I swear, it was just last week I was changing diapers on this little girl!
Sarah
enjoyed many interests in school. She began learning the trumpet while she was
in middle school, and kept with it throughout high school. Off and on she has
played her trumpet for different occasions, as folks asked of her. She kept her
nose to the grindstone while in school, and graduated with the grades to prove
her hard work.
Sarah wasted very little time getting away from Mom and Dad. She turned 18 the November before she graduated, so stayed with us through graduation, but it seems no sooner had she put her cap and gown away, she was packing her furniture and clothing and moving out. And out is where she has stayed.
Since
moving away from home Sarah has married (see the
Wedding
Photos) and now has two beautiful children of
her own,
Hannah, who was born in 2004, and
BJ, who entered this world in February 2007 (they each have
their own pages). She has held a job with local Service Masters for
several years, and has moved up the ranks and is now a supervisor. Needless to
say, between her work, her husband and the children, Sarah stays pretty busy.
Keeping up with children as they grow older is not the best of fun or times; as each child brings their own set of issues to the table. Like her brother, Sarah is no exception but she is generous, loving, caring and beautiful, and has a wonderful future in front of her.
For a time Sarah took after her mother's interest in the dogs, and was learning to groom and show shelties. For some pictures of Sarah hard at work at the ASSA National several years ago, please visit Sarah's Sheltie Page.