Author Archives: yeagerturner

THAT Baby!

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THAT Baby!

I was excited when I first heard the news.  Visalus was paying for me to fly to Los Angeles, CA for the National Director experience!  As I checked the calendar, I realized it was Columbus Day weekend which meant that Milton and Maximus could join me. I instantly became nervous as I realized that it would be Maximus’ first time on a plane.  And leave it to us to make that first trip across the country to California.

As a parent, you’re always nervous that you’ll have “that baby” on a flight.  You know, the one nobody wants to sit next to? Our flight out was early on a Friday morning on Southwest.  There was a one hour flight to Chicago, then a four hour flight to LA.  And, although I was nervous.  Either my breast was Maximus’ best friend or sleep was his best friend.  He was good, I was good and Milton was good.  At the end of the flight people complimented him for being a good baby.  Life was good.

Or so we thought.  Milton had to fly back early for work, so he and Maximus flew back a day early.  Alone. Solo. By themselves. Without me.  Milton just knew that everything would be easy going again.  I said a prayer for safe and silent travel.  Um, let’s just say it was an interesting experience!

Immediately upon getting on the quiet early morning plane, Maximus took the opportunity to yell at the top of his lungs.  You know that yell when a swarm of bees are attacking you?  Yeah, that yell!  And he doesn’t stop. Nothing Milton did could calm our son down.  The flight attendant even asked the gentleman next to Milton if he wanted to change seats. Yeah, it was that bad!

Right before takeoff, the flight attendant walked up to Milton and said there were a group of ladies a few aisles ahead of him.  They wanted to know if they could take Maximus back there and they would pass him around to try to calm him down.  Milton said he thought about it for all of ten seconds and then passed our dear precious son off to the flight attendant.  He heard Maximus cry a little longer, then he calmed down and then there was silence.

After takeoff, and once the unfasten seatbelt light came on, Milton walked to the front of the plane to check on Maximus.  By this time, he was asleep.  Milton said he volunteered to take him back, but the ladies shooed him away and said they’d keep him the rest of the flight.  And they did.

Milton was extremely thankful for their helpfulness and generosity.  So often, others in that situation would have just turned up their nose.  I’m thankful that Milton got their contact information.  The women actually worked together and live in Texas.  I called them a week later, introduced myself as Maximus’ mother and shared my appreciation for their help with both my husband and my son.  We followed up by sending them a gift from Edible Arrangements. Angels come into your life at various times and Michelle, Taylor and Corrie were our angels that day.  Bless them!

His Moment

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His Moment
There are special moments in your life that you cherish.  These moments are often ones that you hope you’ll be able to share with your children.   One of these moments for me has to be my baptism.  I grew up Episcopalian and was baptized at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in 1976 at the ripe age of six months.  I don’t remember a single thing about the ceremony.  I have never seen a photo from it.  However, I do know that important words were said by the congregants that were present during the service.  They were asked, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” And their response was, “WE WILL.”

It wasn’t until years later, decades later, that I would realize the value of these words.  Because my mother sang in the choir, I rarely sat with her in church.  Instead, various members would let me sit with them.  I can still point out specific pews I sat at various ages with various people.  I was always excited, though, every Sunday to join my mother at the communion rail.  My church watched me grow.  My church supported me.  Even after my mother’s death, my church family was there for me.  When they said “We Will” in 1976, they took it to heart.

Fast forward ahead to 2012.  After the birth of Maximus, one of the things I looked most forward to during his first year was his baptism.  I was excited for the community that helped to raise me do the same thing for my son.  Although my mother could not be there, I was now able to bring my own family (husband included) to the alter and have the congregation repeat those same words.  That day came on Sunday, September 23. Maximus, at the ripe age of 3 1/2 months, was baptized in the same spot as myself.  Not only was he surrounded by my church family. He was surrounded by our new family and friends.  

I’ve written several times about Mr. Fred S.  He’s a 90 year old man at our church that came to the hospital the day I was born.  Ever since then, he kisses me on the cheek every Sunday.  Every Sunday.  When Maximus was born, I was excited for him to kiss Maximus. And he did – from a nursing home.  When I called to tell him about Maximus’ baptism, it unfortunately was the day after his wife of 64 years passed away.  He said he wouldn’t be able to attend the baptism because he wife’s wake was later that day.  Well…. don’t you know, right before the service started, in wheeled (with his walker) Mr. Fred S into church to watch Maximus get baptized.  That’s when I realized how powerful of a moment it was going to be. And, as soon as the service was over, Maximus and I headed over to Mr. S and had the most blessed kisses to date! Some of our most simplest moments can be the most powerful. Cherish them

Full Circle

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 Full Circle

Maximus and I went on a quick grocery run to Walmart.  As we walked past the meats section I heard a mother and her young son having a conversation.  She was telling him that he should give school pizza a try, and he did not seem the slight bit interested. I chimed in and here’s how our conversation went.
Me: I used to love the school pizza!
Mom: Me too!
Kid: (looked a little curious)
Me: They used to serve on it Fridays and it was in the shape of a rectangle.
Mom: That’s right, those were the good days.

The mother went on to explain that her son was in Kindergarten and still wanted mom to  is pack his bag for lunch.  She thought he was worried about the entire process of having to learn a lunch number and go through the line. We all continued to talk about how the lunch room ladies would help him if he needed help. He only seemed a little bit more curious.

I eventually asked which school he attends.  He says Breckinridge Franklin. Being a former educator, I ask the name of his teacher.  He says “Mrs. Clark”.  I ask his mother to describe her. And here’s where the full circle comes into play.  See Mrs. Clark is this kid’s kindergarten teacher and I taught Mrs. Clark’s daughter, Katie, in both kindergarten and first grade.  Katie is now a sophomore in college. We were all excited about the coincidence and they couldn’t wait to go to school the following day to tell her. As I walked away, I started reflecting on the youth that I had taught over the years and became curious about both their successes and failures.  I thought about this kid and how much he would change over the next year.

A good education is one of the most valuable things you can possess.  There are many powerful, memorable teachers in Louisville that will leave lasting impressions on your children.  Just know, though, that as powerful a teacher is, reinforcing the educational values/skills at home with a parent/grandparent and/or mentor is just as important.  If you know kids of any age, ask them how school is going thus far. Not just how it is, but what they are studying. Encourage them and tell them about your experiences.  Although most of us didn’t walk 25 miles in the snow to get to work, we can tell about milk breaks, library card catalogues, and fluoride rinses.

One Step at a Time

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One Step at a Time

My body stopped working. I’m serious, it just didn’t work.  Well, it did work, but it didn’t work the way it used to. That’s right – after two months on bed rest and six weeks post baby – I realized that for the first time in a long time I was out of shape.  Not just kinda out of shape.  I was starting from level zero. For someone that has always been athletic, it really played with my emotions.

After finally being cleared by the OB-GYN, it was time to get back into shape.  But I had one really big problem – a newborn son (well not a problem, but more of a hindrance).  No longer could I just run out to the gym and get in a quick workout.  No longer could I go downstairs in the basement to workout with no worries.  No, now every weight I lifted or cardio step I took involved checking on Maximus.

The first thing I tried to do was a Zumba song.  I helped organize a Zumba flash mob on 4th Street Live and had one week to learn the routine.  The first time I tried it I was out of breath by the third eight count.  I had to stop.  I tried to do it again and made it through halfway and that was the end of my workout.  I felt like the ultimate beginner’s beginner.

I was tired, sweating and out of breath.  Instead of giving up, I pushed a little harder each day.  I never did more than one song that week, but each day I tried to make it better. The day of the flash mob I prayed that I would be able to make it through the entire song (especially since I was one of the people leading it).  As the music started, I felt all the Zumba energy that had been stored inside my body quickly ease out.  The passion I’d once had, had now returned.  I loved every minute of it!

I’m still trying to establish a routine that can work around sleeping, eating and changing diapers.  Some days I don’t get in a workout, other times it’s interrupted, but at least I’m doing something!  I weighed 150 pounds right before delivery and with my ViSalus shakes am down to 126. I only have 3 pounds to go. But, my next goal is to build back the muscle I lost so that I can gain access in the MILF Society, lol!

CLICK HERE to watch Flash Mob

We Remember

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Me- age 33

We Remember

Every four years the Olympics come around and moments are created that will never be forgotten.  This week I was glued to the tube as I watched women’s gymnastics.  I cried as I watched Jordyn Wieber not qualify for the All-Around.  It has to be hard to be disappointed in yourself while trying to celebrate for your best friend.

Then I cried again as the Fab Gymnastics Five won the the GOLD for the team All-Around.  Although I knew the results, I still cried like a baby as I watched these young girls achieve their goals and accomplish their dreams.  I became the number one fan of Gabby Douglas.  The more I watched her, the more I had flashbacks of my youth and growing up a gymnast.  I started competing at the age of six and a short time later could do a flip without thought.

I posted the following comment on Facebook “Gabby reminds me of a younger me… only at 16 I was flipping down the basketball court and chasin’ boys! I LOVE TEAM USA!!!” What was interesting was that friends from my youth said comments like,

– And i will always have a visual of you on a spring floor – FLYING…. higher then i ever had the balls to try!

– I’m picturing u flipping across the gym floor..miss that!!

– I pictured her flipping across a football field..LOL

You were amazing!

I realized that to other people, I represented Gabby Douglas.  I was the “little African-American female” that could tumble her booty off.  I was that innocent person that loved to smile.  And while my skills were nowhere near that of an Olympian, to many people my talent was close enough.

This made me realize that you really can leave a lasting impression on people.  My ability to tumble the length of a basketball court was something people actually paid attention to.  It felt good to reflect on my gymnastics past. But it felt even better to share and reflect upon those memories with others who where there when it all happened. Think about a friend from your past that you haven’t communicated with in awhile.  Give him/her a call. You’ll be surprised at how much your day will be enlightened just by being able to reflect on the “good ole days”!

You Just Know

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 You Just Know  

 I went in for my six week post-pregnancy checkup with my OB-GYN.  It was the typical checkup like I would receive at my yearly exam (don’t worry, I won’t go into those details).  Everything went fine.

She talked about how she and her husband went to Vegas to watch a Cirque Show and once of the dancers looked as if she could be pregnant.  She said they talked about it and her husband said he didn’t think the female was pregnant because all the weight was in her belly and that’s not possible.  My doctor said she thought about me and said that it was possible because that’s where all of my weight was.  I was flattered to hear her say that (but also know she must not have gotten a good look at me while preggo because my hips s.p.r.e.a.d!)

Anyway, she asked if I was interested in having another baby. Say what?!  I just popped out baby number one.  Can’t baby #1 have his first tooth appear before we have this conversation? Honestly, though, I did understand her reason for asking and told her I didn’t know.  She talked about how this one was a high risk pregnancy and the course of action she’s take if Milton and I became pregnant again.

She then looked at me seriously and said “The thing that really scared me about you is that your condition would not have shown up on any tests.  It’s a good thing you know your body.  YOU saved your baby!” 
I saved my baby.  What powerful words those are.  Especially when she says it and both of us look down at sweet Maximus.  I saved my baby.  Yes, those months of bed rest were worth it, but more importantly – I listened to my body.  I think about how often we listen to any and everyone around and often question ourselves.  Whether its relationship or career advice, we let our single friends steer us wrong and our jobless friends prevent us from taking a job that might not seem ideal. Why do we feel everyone else knows what is better for us?  And why do we depend so often on the wrong people to reach out to?

Maybe it’s time to listen to yourself and follow your own lead.  Will you always make the right decision? Of course not.  Will everyone always agree? Heck no.  But at least take the time to listen to yourself as you take time to listen to others.  I listened to my body and saved my child’s life so listen to your body and follow your heart. You might just save your own life.