Sweet Karoline turns 8!

Precious girl, here we are again. The night before your birthday and I am flooded with memories. 

I waited every single day while I was pregnant with you. Waited, waited, and waited some more. 

When I found out I was pregnant with you I thought I was going to have an ectopic pregnancy. We went to the emergency room after I had a week of terrible, fall to the floor, pains. I knew I was pregnant with you after a home pregnancy test. I was so afraid and so nervous that you weren’t ok. They couldn’t do anything and we had a follow up with my OB. 

I wanted you SO badly. There was nothing in the world I’d ever dreamed about so much outside of becoming a mom. 

At the appointment my OB misunderstood my fear that the “numbers weren’t doubling” like they were supposed to. She asked me, “Are you sure you want this baby?” 

My heart sank. I could not believe she had asked me that question. Yes, I wanted that baby, more than anything in the entire world I wanted that baby to grow, be healthy, and be mine. 

But you held on, my little peanut. Thank the Lord you held on. 

Yet, I almost lost you again. On the morning of your due date I knew I was in labor. We went to the hospital and we were about to be sent home to wait when I rolled on my right side and machines started to beep, the nurse came running in. 

We were no longer going home, instead we were going to have an emergency c-section to get you out. Your heart rate had dropped dangerously low. In no time flat you were here! Your dad proudly announced you were a girl!! I was counting your fingers and toes from where I was lying. I could see you right to my right side. You came out yelling, thankfully! 

Come to find out, my placenta had “expired.” No, you hadn’t run out of room in my belly like I thought, you were running out of everything else you needed. 

Oh my miracle baby, I am so thankful for Devine timing that made you mine. Thank you for choosing me to be your mama. 

You get the learning as I go mama side of me, but you’re incredible and we seem to be learning together these days. 

You are strong.

You are courageous.

You are incredible.

You are important.

You are everything I ever dreamed of.

You’re our little sweet pea and we love you more than words will ever be able to express. 

May you wake up to have a blessed 8th birthday, my princess girl. 

See You Soon

To my sweet students and all of their friends who made their way to my room,

Is it creepy if I say I can picture you all walking up to my room at the end of the hall to say goodbye? I can see some of my tall boys, slouching a bit in their towering height, ending their endearing goodbye with a, "Welp, see ya later." I can see some of my precious girls tugging at their shorts a bit before they get to me, because they know I'll try to do it for them, giving me a hug and ending with an, "I'll see you later, oh and on Instagram." There are my boys who walk a bit wide to keep their pants up, the ones who have their hat on because they know I never notice or think to tell them to take it off, the girls who came just when they needed things, and then came just for a "hi." The loud ones yelling at me from one-hundred yards away, greeting me with a giant hug.

Oh my precious kids, my heart is breaking hard for the memories we missed out on making.

You all know that I never ask you to memorize anything. In large part because I know that there will always be a "Hey Siri" or internet browser not too far away from your life from here on out. You also know I believe it's far more important for me to teach you where to find the answers you need. I know you put that to the test these last few weeks. I hope I prepared you to find what you needed and that you asked questions when you had them.

Another lesson I plan to leave you with, one that I will incorporate IN my classroom again (soon) is this...

Kiddos, peanuts, sweet students, guys, gals, sunshines, darlings, gentlemen, ladies, stinkers, and all of the other nicknames I've given you,

We choose how we react.

We decide if we will flourish.

We get to make the most of our situations.

We battle.

We learn to grow where the wind blows us.

You all have made it through something incredibly hard, crazy, and downright insane. You should be so dang proud of yourselves. Know that I am so proud of EACH and every one of you.

We don't know what the future holds and that's ok. Alright, I have one more lesson students, we have to stay in the moment, ok? Let tomorrow worry about itself.

Right now I ask this of each and every one of you, have a blessed summer full of safe, fun, creative, and sunny days. Don't look back and don't look too far ahead either. Just be. Just be your sweet and INCREDIBLE selves this summer.

I pray that soon I will see you all making your way back down that long hall way, a little tanner, a little taller, with beautiful youth in your eyes, and smiles on your faces coming to say, "Guess what, Mrs. Reed?!" so very, very soon.

I love you, all of you (even those of you who are little stinkers, some of you are actually my favorite ... and you all know I call you all my favorites, because you are).

Be safe!

Have fun!

Live in the moment!

I'll see you soon,
Mrs. Reed

P.S. Seniors, I am so incredibly proud of you and how you have handled all of this. You all have a jump start in the world and in overcoming any and all obstacles. You are a force to be reckoned with, Class of 2020! Be sure to come see me when you're in town!