Dancing with Cats

2010-08-14T20:10:00.008-04:00

Yes, its been five months since I blogged last. Life got crazy...not in a bad way but just in A way!

In a nutshell our summer:

1. Great news on Claire! They do not believe that she has white matter degenerative disease. PRAISE GOD! This was a huge huge answer to prayer! We also ruled out some genetic and metabolic issues at the beginning of the summer. I am SO HAPPY to be done with these two avenues for now. The beginning of the summer was spent getting blood work, (several times), MRI, visiting the geneticist and also the pediatric neurologist. As of now we do not have a diagnosis. HOWEVER she is progressing nicely. We currently do six therapy sessions a week. Four PT and two Speech. She is walking holding onto a push toy and can walk with holding someone's hand but cannot stand on her own yet or walk on her own yet. It seems very likely that she will be doing this SOON and so we continue to pray and explore other avenues for answers. We will be seeing the pediatric opthamologist in September to discuss a leison they found behind her right orbital. This may be a significant finding as some of her issues appear to be vestibular in nature (dealing with balance and sight has a great deal to do with that!)

2. We got to spend a week on St. George Island with Eric's family. Gorgeous huge house, fun people, great food and drinks and it was a time of fabulous renewal. I felt myself sigh and relax. SO GREAT!

3. I dont have cancer! Yes, this is a huge praise. They found a huge (10 lb) it turns out tumor in my abdomen at the end of the school year. I simply refused to deal with it until after we got back from our trip. My brain couldnt take any more information until we had found out about Claire. I ended up having a full abdominal hysterectomy. The surgery and recover were horrible. (60 vertical staples and 10 sutures...) Seriously, the worst physical pain that I have ever experienced. I literally prayed for Jesus to return. HOWEVER, I do not have cancer, which is a huge praise. My lovely mom stayed with us for a week and my mother in law came after she arrived. Our church family lovingly showered us with meals for a month and slowly slowly slowly slowly....I have regained strength. Today I woke up and thought, "Wow I actually feel like myself" Its a nice feeling.

And that brings us to now....the Girl began 7th grade. UNBELIEVABLE!!! I returned to working three days a week and the school year is underway.

Below are some pictures to catch you up. Enjoy!

Sweet Claire!

Me and the girlies! I love how they make each other laugh!

The Girl the night of her 6th grade Moving Up Party

Bloggers being pokey so more later! :)

The Mischevious Plans of Kitty Cat and Baby Girl

2010-03-11T16:27:00.005-05:00

Hmmmmm, I know the guinea pig is in there somewhere!!!

Guinea...if you come out Ill figure out a way to get you out! PROMISE!!!

Btinging in the reinforcements...Kitty examines the situation

Baby Girl: " I dont know that we can get her out!"

Kitty: "KEEP TRYING!"

Baby Girl: "I know, it would be so much fun to play with her!"

Kitty: "Play? What do you mean play?"

Alas, even jumping on the cage doesnt work.

So much fun for all...guinea included.

Test Results

2010-03-11T16:22:00.000-05:00

I wanted to give you and update on sweet Claire as we visited the neurologist and got some test resuts back last week.

We didn't get any real answers when we went back after waiting on tests results. MOST of them came back fine. Three were red flags and one test was not able to be completed. Two of the red flags could be due to lab error as they tourniquet-ed Claire when they took her blood which can mess with the readings. Both of those tests were higher than normal but not significantly so...enough that we need to get them re-done (BOO!)

One of the genetic tests came back with a red flag in that she has a "clone" on one of Chromosomes...this being a duplicate gene sequence. As the report reads, "This may or may not be of significant issue" (in other words, not sure if that could cause what Claire has or not.) the other genetic test needs to be redone. She tested negative for 127 other genetic diseases.

SOOOo all that to say that we go for another MRI in June which would be able to tell if there has been any change in the white matter in her brain , which we do NOT want or if it has stayed the same which would indicate CP. We will also see a geneticist towards the end of April (when I get my husband back after tax season :) ) to follow up on the "clone" issue. Unfortunately we dont have access to her genetic information from her parents so that limits us but it may still be a valuable peice of the puzzle.

This has been so hard I cant even tell you. I love her so much and she is so precious..its hard to see her struggle. She is a very good baby and very easy for the most part...healthy, eats well, sleeps great, doing the normal 18 month things but not walking. She is progressing which is a blessing. She is cruising slowly holding onto furniture but very unsteady. We do therapy five times a week with our therapists and then also do some sessions as home as we can..alot of it is just integrating it into her play time. They are very positive and encouraging that she will be able to walk. So far no cognative areas have show up as damaged...she seems pretty normal in that areas. She definately is feisty and funny. She really does "get" stuff and communicates and interacts heartily with people. At play group she is precious which is encouraging to me. She may have a speech delay but we are following that closely as well.

So, there you have it. God was so gracious to me though that after crying a lot after our appointment, mostly out of frustration that we didn't know anything more, I felt him comfort me by reminding me to walk in faith...that was all that I needed to do. I am trying to day by day to do that and not worry about what the future holds or what the next test results will be. I have to be able to live without this huge anxiety hanging over me or I will be so stressed. Ive literally been so stressed these past two months that I couldnt sleep. This is definitely rigorous in terms of physically and just managing all the various components, BUT I am learning to just do today.

Thanks for your continued prayers. They mean so much I cant tell you. I have no doubt that God has hand picked Claire to be our daughter and that God has her story all mapped out. It doesnt make the day to day easier, but it is a blessing knowing that the King holds the road map.

You are so precious to pray for us and I DO FEEL THEM ALL THE TIME!!!

Update on the Baby Girl

2010-02-07T11:20:00.002-05:00

I wanted to put out an update about the Baby Girl. Our lives have gotten very busy since Christmas (thus the lack of blogging!!) Here is an update/nutshell of what is going on. We woudl graeatly appreciate your prayers as we wait for a final diagnosis.

As you know Claire had been diagnosed at 6 months old with hypotonia which is low muscle tone and she has been in therapy since then. We decided to visit a developmental pediatrician to get some more feedback on why she was delayed developmentally. As of the middle of December she was not crawling yet…a skill she probably should have had about 9 months and in December she was 15 months. The developmental pediatric specialist diagnosed her with Cerebral Palsy and sent us for a series of tests to find out some more facts regarding this. She had an EEG to rule out seizures (she was/is not having any). She also had an MRI to see if anything was going on neurologically. That is where the Cerebral Palsy showed up as an “almost definite”.

There is a possibility that she has another disease called White Matter Disease. White Matter Disease would cause her to degenerate over time. We are currently finishing our second round in a series of tests to rule this out. The first part of the series came back that she is okay in specific areas so we are waiting the remainder to find out for sure that she does NOT have this.

We have been able to get three different opinions on her testing results to date. All three have been fairly positive that it is ONLY cerebral palsy and NOT White Matter Disease. That said, we are also doing the tests to be certain that CP is all that we are looking at. Our final test results and consult with the specialist will be sometime in mid March.

In terms of the Cerebral Palsy, it appears to be mild and affecting the left side of her body more than the right. That is why there was the delay in sitting, rolling over and crawling. It was so precious that on the DAY AFTER we saw the developmental pediatrician Claire started crawling! She is so happy with herself and loves crawling and getting to where she wants to go! The CP appears to have NOT affected any cognitive areas of the brain—meaning that Claire’s intellect is not compromised! That is very good news.

Currently we are doing therapy five times a week. We have an incredible pediatric physical therapy clinic that we are utilizing and she is progressing. She is mastering pulling up on things and is moving towards cruising along furniture and also standing. They are excellent therapists who know the very BEST BEST strategies to get her to be here she will need to be. (My goal for her is to be walking by the time she turns two!) We also do therapy with her constantly throughout the day…taking little moments to do a repetition of exercises when she is on the changing table or when we are playing or in her crib. A lot of it is positioning her and helping her build the strength to do what she needs to do.

To say the least, this has been very hard, emotionally. No one wants to see their child struggle. It makes me sad to see her in the nursery with the other children who can walk and run etc...and her current physical limitation holds her back in other areas. That is hard to see. However, I have come to realize that no matter HOW sad it makes me feel it is not going to go away. The thing to do is face it. Deal with it. Do what is before us.

Ironically I could not ask for a happier, easier, more curious, beautiful child. She is truly a good good baby and lights up our lives daily...hourly...with her sweetness. I do not know what the future holds at this point, but I am looking at what is before me today.

Thanks for your prayers. :)

News

2010-01-04T12:12:00.003-05:00

Well, that was an interesting Holiday season!

I will spare you the blahdy blahdy blah of the minutia of our lives this past month and a half. Suffice it to say that it was good and we were able to celebrate and have fun and enjoy each other. All good things and for those we are so grateful!

Next weekend we will be getting the Baby Girl baptized! FINALLY...I mean she is only 15 months old! (This is not in line with my Dutch heritage of baptizing the baby once he/she is about 7 - 8 weeks old) I am looking forward to it...it means so much to me to baptize her and give her this outward sign of what we pray will be a life of faith for her.

We had very difficult news over the holiday regarding Claire. We were finally able to see the developmental specialist that we had been referred to back about 8 weeks ago. He is hard to get in to see and then he was sick with the flu on our initial original date for the exam so it got pushed to the 22nd. Baby Girl has yet to crawl and at 15 months is still fairly limited in her gross motor skills. We have had her in therapy both physical and occupational since she was 7 months and while she is progressing, it is not where she should be. Thus the developmental doctor.

He was amazing and took an entire hour to examine her and then told us that he believes she may have cerebral palsy.

NOT what any parent in any situation wants to hear.

CP is a broad term that ranges from being quadriplegic and blind/deaf to not even knowing a person has it. Its not degenerative (it wont get worse over time) and usually comes from a brain injury incurred in utero or during birth.

This was very very hard. I had an experience at that moment that others had talked about but that i had never had before...it has to be similar to what learning disabled students face in the classroom because the doctor was talking but I was not understanding what he was saying or able to follow the conversation. My mind was flooded with the diagnosis. I kept having to ask him to repeat himself and then apologized for being so "not with it" and he gently put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Youre doing great...that is totally normal."

The good doctor got on the phone and set up for us an EEG and an MRI to be completed by the end of the year. (SO HELPFUL) and also called his friend a pediatric neurologist and asked him to see us within the two weeks. Today we go and hear what he has to say and to get the information from the two tests.

People have been praying. Loads of people. Mostly I feel peace. I little anxious, but ironically, E and I made a decision to not let it ruin Christmas and to enjoy the peace that God has given to us through other's prayers for us. It worked and we have been able to rest in God...I dont understand it but I am welcoming it.

And then...

The Baby Girl started crawling!! Like... on the 28th!! Like randomly....as in, she couldn't, and then she could.

I can only attribute it to God intervening.

She is far from where she should be but the fact that she is mobile has made her immensely happier and just motivated her to move forward. I am so excited for her and tremendously encouraged.

Today we will find out what exactly this is going to look like. Pray for us if you think of it. I will keep you posted!

U2 Concert

2009-10-15T17:54:00.007-04:00

In a word: AMAZING!

Truly the best concert I have ever been to.

11 things I learned at the U2 concert:

1. U2's music will stand on its own regardless of time and place.
2. 5 dollar Aquafina tastes the same as regular Aquafina.
3. Standing on your feet for over 5 hours will render your feet very painful.
4. You can text during the entire opening act and no one will care.
5. Women over 50 should not wear tube tops.
6. Texting to someone standing next to you really IS the best way to communicate!
7. Larry Mullen Jr. is not only a good muscian, but lets be honest, He's HOT
8. Bono will never go out of style.
9. I am old .
10. It takes about 2.5 days to get my hearing back.
11. Sweating out 5 lbs durin a concert...well worth the effort.

It was hot and loud and crowded and sweaty and tiring and amazing and incredible and I would do it again this weekend! I loved it.

Claire's First Birthday

2009-09-28T19:09:00.002-04:00

Love Story

2009-09-22T14:19:00.009-04:00

Snuggly time at the end of the day!

2009-09-06T15:10:00.013-04:00

Pardon my lack of blogging.

Truth be told, I am still trying to settle into the school year. Zero-to Four-in-Five-Years tells me constantly that its okay that Im struggling with the demands of life right now...that ive never had a baby and an 11 year old and worked and that my carefully ordered world becomes chaotic often. Most days at the end of it, when the Girl is tucked in bed at 9, I crash either on the bed and read or on the sofa and watch television...no time or inclination to blog.

Im delighted to report though that I am finding the whole "work three days and not at home" sitaution to be very freeing. Last year when I worked one day and made up the other 12 hours at home I felt like I needed to work every day I was home in order to get my hours in. Now, I dont even turn on the computer (well, okay, i do) when I am on my days of not working. Very freeing. The Baby Girl and I are able to spend some good time together and we usually have therapy on those days too so that makes it good to be home as well so I can watch the therapist and learn from her directly.

The Girl is playing volleyball right now too and that takes a big chunk of time for our family. Not a that its a bad thing...quite the contrary, its a good thing, but just takes juggling, Games every Monday, sometimes two that night, puts us downtown at about 4 30 and returning home at 7 30 or 8 30. Practice the rest of the week is from 5 30 to 7 30, which means driving back up to OCS and then home again two more times during the day and often in traffic. Sadly our Jamie is on the fifth grade team so carpooling is out at least for this year. We miss her and her carpooling mom! I was amazed at how good the girls have gotten since this summer. Its quite amazing. Some of them have killer serves for girls their age and I LOVED watching the Girl hit the floor with total abandon to get a dig and popped that ball right back up! It was SWEET!

Today, we headed to Sea World in the morning. I love Sea World. Its such a family park with its exhibits and all. IT WAS SMOKING hot so we only stayed until about 12 30, but saw some great sea life. And of course took in my favorite show...BLUE HORIZONS. I cried. Always do.
Enjoy the pics.

Forget the cool dolphins, I want the MAP!

Blue Horizons

I love this girl so much!! Look at how hot it is, and humid, our hair is crazy!

Dolphin nursery

Petting a Sting Ray

Life is good when you are almost ONE!

My sweet girlies!

SWAGBUCKS!

2009-09-01T18:58:00.003-04:00

Who knew you could get stuff for simply searching online?

Well you can with SWAGBUCKS.

Its a search engine that kicks back to you.

It utilizes Google and Ask but when you use this you earn points which are good for "stuff". Cool stuff too like AMAZON gift cards, various store gift cards, and even larger prizes like phones etc.

Go here and check it out: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/pattishivers

Its worth your while...I set mine as my default and get bucks every day. Try it for a few days and see what you get!

First Day of 6th Grade

2009-08-22T15:26:00.003-04:00

First day of 6th grade!

New aqua green shirt....check

Matching headbanc...check

Blue Converse shoes...check

Shirt untucked as allowed in only 6th grade...check

Backpack ready...check

Scarf accessory...check

She didnt even blink an eye so ready was she!

Summer's end

2009-08-16T20:32:00.007-04:00

The week prior to school beginning is truly one of grueling proportions for those in the arena of education. Its never as much fun as it seems. For me it comes at the end of a long summer and a longing for order, routine, and predictability. Unfortunately the week previous to school is no one of those. Between juggling kids and work and home its overwhelming to say the least and everything tends to have the tag of URGENT on it. It makes my head swim.

I was surmising why this has seemed so hard for me this year and Zero-to-Four-in-Four-Years reminded me that I did not work when the Girl was a baby and I did not have an 11 year old when I had the Girl, which is the situation now with the Baby Girl. Ahhhh...well, that makes sense!

I could use this space to be whiny but I believe I covered that earlier this summer so Im choosing to turn to more positive things! Like Baby's first swim. (actually second but it really couldn't qualify as a swim but more of a screaming fest) She went in with Eric this afternoon in her itsy bitsy teeny weenie bikini and actually didnt scream the entire time! Thanks to M. and her sweet gift of the Mr. Turtle float. The pictures say it all.

Letterboxing

2009-08-02T09:02:00.006-04:00

H. turned us on to something called "letterboxing". I had never heard of it before but when she explained it to me, I knew it was something I would love to do with the girl!

Letterboxing is similar to Geo-caching. You go on line and find the "clues" to a box that someone has left somewhere. By following the clues it should lead you to a hidden box. Inside the box is a journal and a stamp. You have your own journal and stamp and you stamp the journal in the box and leave your name and date. Then you take the stamp that's in the box and stamp your own book, recording where and when you found it.

For many of the letterboxes, there is a story or a historical significance. Some are just fun. Its something that you can do when you travel or just when you have some time to kill and feel like going for a treasure hunt.

We took J and the Girl and the little ones one day eariler this summer. We started strong and it was very fun and exciting. However, after the second box we had hungry whiny kids who both melted down and ended the excursion in tears. So much for trying to have a good time!! I keep reminding myself that even events that are small and short are good and that kids melting down are part of life. (Still, H.and I decided that maybe next time just she and I will go!)

Enjoy the slide show!

Baby Girl

2009-07-31T15:30:00.003-04:00

Many have asked how the Baby Girl is doing these days.

On the short hand, she is progressing and doing well over all. There is still a developmental lag but she is moving forward and that is a huge blessing.

She is finally able to sit on her own and is working on moving into the crawling phase. Its amazing to me how many different things have to go correctly for her to do what she needs to do in terms of getting her body into a position to crawl.

There is nothing amiss with her mentally as she has the will of a lumberjack and the temper of a salty old sea man. (If she could talk, I imagine her cussing me out often) For her 9 month old check up she literally screamed for the entire 20 minutes and it started when the dr. entered the room--before he touched her. Yes, that child has a will of iron. This will work to our advantage eventually, we just have to get her to come around to our side!

We are also working on some sensory integration issues and touch her arms and legs with several different types of fabrics and items throughout the day. This is in addition to working her through a variety of positions to strengthen her core and her abdominal muscles. We are hoping to qualify for Occupational Therapy as well through the state program and our thereapist is lobbying for that as she has fine motor delay as well.

She is a good baby in most other ways...sleeps 12 hours a night, lustily drinks her bottles, opens her mouth wide for food, doesnt whine in her car seat, poops and pees and does all the other normal stuff a baby does.

Thanks for praying for her! She is a yummy thing. There is nothing as sweet as her giggles and her smiles and her loud belly laugh.

If Im honest at times I wish she didnt have these issues. It makes me sad that she is not "normal". I wonder if its genetic and why she has it and if her mother actually used drugs and alcohol during her pregnancy. (i still dont believe she did) And yet, were she our natural child she could still have issues. There are no guarentees with your kids. It helps me to remember that GOD picked her to be in our family...which has it own 'issues' (like every other family and every other person out there with a belly button!) ...that God KNEW exactly what she needed and what WE needed and that even if its hard, its okay. He will show up. I dont know alot of things, but this i do know.

Again, thanks for your prayers and for continuing to life up this precious girl for us!

How To Make Fudge... or Something Like It

2009-07-20T19:19:00.014-04:00

In reality, this summer has completely BLOWN!!!

Im trying very hard to adjust my perspective and enjoy right where we are at. Its always disappointing though when you have expectations and the reality of life falls WAYyyyy below what you think it will be. Here's my "tale of woe"

This summer started off with Swimmer's Ear, progressed into Pink Eye for both girls, and then retreated to Swimmer's Ear again for the Girl all of which caused two missed sleepovers and several days out of helping with VBS. It included a visit to the pediatrician for both girl's check-ups (The girl for her 11 year old and the Baby Girl for a developmental check) Our trip to Chicago got scrapped and not only was it scrapped but that is when I had my week in the hospital followed by a week of recovery. Last week we went to the pediatrician for Baby Girl's 9 month check up, followed by going again or for another round of Ear-ick for the Girl. Throw in two dental visits...me and the Girl. Gently stir in regularly scheduled therapy appointments for Baby Girl (physical and occupational) and end up with another surgery on my broken reproductive organs. Yeah. This summer blows.

The good news is that it could be worse! I truly am trying to listen to what I am supposed to learn and readjust my expectations and embrace where we are at. Im laughing as Im writing it because inside I just want to grouse and be complain-y, whine-y and all "this sucks!" But, Im going to put on my grown up hat and and realize that I am extremely lucky to live in a country where I am free, have a job, have two stinking gorgeous children, a wonderful husband who passed the CPA exam, running water, drive through pharmacies, an incredible church family, amazing friends, a home I love, food, good medical facilities, a sweet kitty cat, and, well...fudge.

You yesterday the Girl decided that she was interested in making fudge. Im okay with that. We try to do at least SOMETHING fun each day.

Here's how the pic looks in the cookbook:

Here's how it went: (pics included!)

Head to the grocery
Half way there realize that we dont have the list
Blow it off thinking we will remember what we need
Arrive home to realize have no butter in the house.
Sent J and the Girl out to the neighborhood to round up four sticks of butter from various neighbors (B. came through with a whopping POUND of butter from Costco! Yay B!)
Add condensed milk, sugar and butter into huge pan
Breathe deeply when the candy thermometer is dropped on the floor and breaks. ( and really for that matter, who KNEW i had a candy thermometer?)
Instruct kids on how to stir so it doesnt stick to the bottom and s that they dont get burnt.

9. Referee arguments over who gets to wear my lone oven mitt (what...I said I dont cook!!)

10. Put screaming baby to bed.
11. Remind kids to keep stirring
12. Tell kids to stop arguing
13. Tell kids that only one can stir at a time because of said arguing

14. Catch the Girl having a sneak lick of the Marshmallow Fluff.
15. Children's interest in stirring wanes and interest in eating Marshmallow Fluff and chocolate chips spikes
16. Remind kids that SOMEONE has to stir the fudge

17. Irritatingly take over stirring myself. (See how HAPPY I am in the picture. Yes...I know...its like I could swap places with Martha Steward!)

18. Turn around to find The Girl and J eating Marshmallow Fluff.

19. Add Marshmallow Fluff and chocolate chips to hot liquid.

20. Remind children that it doesnt really matter if you stir clockwise or counter clockwise.

21. Burn finger trying to taste fudge.

22. Literally start crying from laughing so hard at J. STILL licking out the jar of Marshmallow Fluff.

23. Pop passy back into baby's mouth

24. Mixture completed

25. Pour into two tins

26. Add nuts onto half of each pan

27. Pray that it sets

28. Listen for the next two hours to "Can we eat it yet..is it done"

29. Secretly test fudge and realize its not setting

30. @((*#^$*&#*^#)_@#)*!!!!!!
31. Decide its still good even though its not completely set

32. Give kids spoons and let them enjoy!

Yeah...my first foray into candy making ended like most of my endeavours in the kitchen...in FAILURE. Hey at least there was no fire this time. And Im reminding myself that its all about SPENDING TIME together! Really...it is...

Okay, the funniest part of the day though was later at almost dinner time when I went to take another nip of fudge and look what I found in the pan:

Looks like Kitty dipped a paw into it too!!!

Eyebrows

2009-07-11T13:32:00.003-04:00

When E got home yesterday from work we all had a little pizza and I headed out the door. Between being sick and not feeling up to par and having the girlies all day for several days in a row and hosting other children I was ready to get out and have some alone time.

I felt good about going becasue the house was clean, the floor wiped, rugs vaccumed and laundry caught up. Sometimes when I leave it makes me anxious because I still have so much work to do at home and lord knows its not going to do itself. One realization that E came to while i was in the hospital is that its alot alot alot of work to care for children AND manage a home. When he is in charge its usually of just minding the children, but I think having to do it ALL for a week was alot for him. He's been so appreciative!)

My eyebrows were atrocious so I went to the local nail place to get them waxed.

Now I ask myself while Im lying there on the table..."WHY do I do this to myself?" Well of course the answer is beauty.

But really, in what realm do you voluntarily go to someone who will put hot wax on your face, then apply fabric to it, wait for it to cool and then RIP YOUR HAIR out of your forhead!?!? The kicker...that they have to do it several times to get it just right. THEN comes the tweazing.

Its not a very fun experience, but I have to say, the results are always good. Your face looks so much more open and clean.

Still, would a man every submit to this? I doubt it. But then again, men's bodies are like Jeeps...for getting around in (Seinfeld) where as a woman's body is a thing of beauty to behold.

Hot wax, anyone?

Bump It!

2009-07-09T09:46:00.004-04:00

Yeah, Im getting one to send A. so she can do some BIG ASS TEXAS hair.

But only after I order one for myself...

Its a Hell of a Weightloss Plan...

2009-07-06T18:43:00.003-04:00

Im finally home after spending a week in the hospital. Yes, that is correct, you read it right...a week.

A week ago Sunday we went out to Jason's Deli after church with the lovely Latte Boy and Mrs. Katz and their crew. We laughed and got caught up as Mrs. Katz had been at camp for three weeks and I had missed her dreadfully. On the way home I had a bit of a stomach ache which is not unusual because I had some ice cream (how can you resist limitless soft serve) but have some intolerance with lactose...not much...not enough to make me not eat it.

Within 10 minutes of arriving home I was vomiting and had diarrhea. Five minutes later I was on the floor, couldnt really move, couldnt speak...as in my lips and tongue had swollen and I couldnt see. My body temperature (this is from the paramedics) was up to 105!! I was screaming for E to call 911, but he really couldnt understand me (and thought I was being dramatic--*who me?*) but when he saw me he grabbed the phone and called. Thank you Seminole County Fire Department for arriving within 5 minutes.

We spent a good portion of the evening in the ER and they believed I had a Rx to an antibiotic that I had started taking that morning. Sweet Pum Pum (AKA now as "The girls are okay...YOURE not...") and H. watched the girls. They sent us home but we were back the next day in the ER again with other worse symptoms which, for the sake of all, I wont go into detail about.

I was admitted immediately and long story short, after a CAT scan, a sonogram, a colonoscopy, and cultures, finding my white blood cell count through the roof, they decided that I had either had E. Coli/Staph, or had an allergic Rx to the antibiotic and it ripped my digestive system up to the point of massive bleeding and infection. It was bad.

I dont remember a ton of the first two days, but I know that I am so thankful for kind, compassionate nurses, sweet praying friends, people who are willing to simply drop what they had planned to help out, good drugs, our pastors, my sweet husband who so graciously managed things and took care of me even though I was so out of it and really mean to him, and good doctors. The nurses at Florida Hospital are amazing. They were so kind to me and helped with each little thing that I needed, from sips of water, to administering wonderful pain numbing medication, to tucking in a blanket that fell.

My mom flew down from Chicago to help out with the girls so that E could stay with me, although it ended up being the reverse...my mom stayed with me and E stayed with the girls. (Ironically, this was our week to be in Chicago...Eric had taken the week off, we had our tix and everything was set to go. The only thing we hadnt done was pack.) What is it about being violently ill that makes you want your mom. Probably because no one loves you like your momma loves you.

The Girl got to come up several times but I did not get to see the baby for 7 days. It was horrible and I was so upset about it. However, there was nothing I could do...there was no way Baby Girl was going to come up to a hospital floor that had quarentine patients on it!

Im feeling much much better today. Really, almost back to normal. During the CAT scan they found a cyst on my ovary that will need removing probably within the next couple of weeks. Not fun, but we have been there before and can navigate those waters a bit more skillfully.

more later...I have a crying baby to attend to and I cant wait to hold her!

What do you do all day....summer edition

2009-06-28T09:17:00.001-04:00

In response to the question, "what do you do all day..."

Wake up to the Baby Girl talking to herself on the monitor
Feed Baby Girl a bottle while watching last nights Tonite Show ( i love Conan!!!)
Put baby down to play on play mat
Put in a load of laundry
Empty Dishwasher
Put Baby Girl in the Bumbo because she is fussing (change of venue)
Put coffee on for E
Check my email/facebook/daily blogs (if time allows)
Make sure the man is up
Swap out laundry
Feed Baby Girl some solid food
Bathtime for Baby
Morning nap
Make bed
Roust pre-teen if she is not up already
Put on Makeup/take care of my locks
Change Baby girl who has made a poopie and wont go to sleep with a poopie diaper on
Offer suggestions to the Girl for breakfast
Fold Laundry
Remind the Girl to clean up her bathroom and make bed/clean room
Listen to protests from the Girl about cleanign her bathroom and making her bed/cleaning room
Remind the Girl that I am not a maid
Get dressed
Swap out laundry
Feed and water cat
Bottle for Baby Girl
Run errands: Target, Publix, Library, Dentist, Doctor, Play date, whatever that day calls for
Feed Baby solid food/Lunch for Girl
Nap time for Baby
Put up laundry
Tell the Girl she needs some "room time" also known as "get out of my hair for 30 minutes momma wants to watch a show time"
Lie on the sofa watching New Jersey Housewives
Drift off to sleep
Wake up to someone ringing the doorbell wanting to swim with the Girl
Start thinking about dinner
Offer popsicles to anyone in the pool
Vaccum with baby in one hand as she is afraid of the noise
Feed Baby bottle
Play with baby/therapy with baby/listen to baby scream in protest for 10 minutes while I put her through the positions
Remind the Girl that wet towels cannot stay on the carpet
Get bamboozled into letting kids watch a movie/serve popcorn
Chat on the phone
Put up remaining laundry
Put fussy baby in her crib for "rest time" ( 5-6 is hour knows as "piranah hour")
Get dinner moving
Kick kids outside for a bit
Remind the Girl that heat will not kill you unless you forget to stay hydrated.
Offer water bottle
Feed baby solid food
Recieve irritating phone call from husband saying he will be late.
Contemplate having cereal for dinner
Offer baby bottle
Put baby to bed
Have dinner with the girl/set aside plate for dad
Tell the Girl to get in the tub
Allow her to "finish her show" that she is watching on TV
Clean up dinner
Sweep floor
Set dishwasher going
Argue with the Girl about what time is bedtime
Watch 10 millionth episode of Zac and Cody with the Girl
Put passy in cranky baby's mouth
Read with the Girl
Brush hair so I dont look lik ea crazy person when husband gets home
Have a cigarette and a martini (just kidding...)
Que up something on the DVR
Roll eyes when husband gets home and says, "What, do you sit around like this all day?"
Throw husband's food into the trash
Slam door of bedroom
Open door and throw out pillow and blanket and scream, "I HOPE YOU LIKE SLEEPING ON THE SOFA!!"

TOTALLY kidding on the last part, although to be sure, its happened previous!

I suppose one of the the hardest parts of being a mom is dealing with the routine and the boredom of meeting other people's needs all day. Its that dying to self stuff. In all honesty. I just want someone to wait on me and take care of me, but that is not my calling right now. Still it can get tedious.

Having been in summer for three weeks now, I realize I am a better mom when I work some. It does me good to have structure and it does me good to get away and have my own "domain." Being here at home too much leads me to start obsessing over things and that is never good.

On the flip side, I am not as stressed when not working and Im definately more fun and lighthearted. I think its from not having so much in my brain all the time and always having to think of the next thing the next thing.

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-22T19:38:00.003-04:00

We had a great Father's Day this past Sunday. When the Girl asked E what he wanted for Father's Day he said that he wanted to simply spend time together as a family. She was quite put out because honestly, she wanted to buy him something. (i love this child so much...money speaks to her in a very motivating way!)

After thinking about him and what he likes, she came up with blindfolding him and driving him around town for a bit and ending up at the RDV Sportsplex to ice skate for the afternoon! After church and a quick lunch, we blindfolded E, and after he got over looking like a hostage, he cleverly thought he knew where we were going...but we drove him around and around, never actually leaving our neighborhood and he was soon all discombobulated. The Girl was cracking me up with comments like, "MOM!! There is so much traffic on I-4" or "Oooooo this light is taking so long"...while we were stopped in the middle of our neighborhood street. I loved seeing her happiness at surpising him.

Dad and the Baby Girl. We could not aget a good shot of everyone together because Baby Girl would not look at the camera and smile unless Big Sister was dancing and goofing off!

I love this picture so much! Look at the happiness on both their faces. So sweet!

In his "hostage gear"
Getting read to skate!!!The RDV sports mascot came to make everyone laugh!
For a Florida girl, she is great on the ice!
Hot cocoa was had by all (well Baby Girl had formula) to top off the event!

Summer begins...

2009-06-20T15:30:00.012-04:00

Yes, yes, Ive been horrible about blogging, still! I think Im still coming down from school. Or rather probably just settling into summer. It always takes me a bit to transition. This is my first summer with two children and Im finding it a challenge. Not only is it different for me going from one to two children, but their age differences allocate their needs quite differently:

One needs naps

One needs activities

One needs to be fed every three hours

One forgets to eat and gets cranky

One needs buckleing into a car seat

One needs to be told to sit in the backseat not the front

One needs diapers changed

One needs to be reminded that underware go into the hamper not the bathroom floor after showering

One needs physical therapy

One needs physical activity

One is learning to talk

The other one wont stop talking

One needs social activity in small amounts

The other wants people over every day

One goes to bed at 7pm

The other goes to bed at 10pm

One gets up at 6am

The other gets up at 11am

Both are wonderful and amazing and I love them. Its still a challenge though and we are all learning how to be more flexible. The girl in realizing that we are not able to go go go as in past summers. The baby girl learning that there will be lots of activity around our house.

Enjoy the fun pics from the other day!

From my alma mater: Timothy Christian Schools

Kitty-Cat, Kaitlin and Claire

Playing in Bit Sissy's room is always so much fun. I love the Girl's look in this picture. So precious...that look of true laughter and joy!

Kisses...look at how huge the Baby Girl's stomach looks in this picture. HAHA!

Checking out the bling bling.

What a mischevious little look...like she knows she is not supposed to be gumming that tiara!

"I think it can fit me...really..."

Giggly Girl!

For a fun activity the Girl and I hollowed out orange halves and filled them with jello.
We used different colors and then sliced them like oranges.

Fun cool treat!

Sweet girls! (look at Miley Cyrus coming off of Claire's bow...!)

Brandi's Blog Creations!

2009-06-13T08:58:00.004-04:00

I wanted to thank Brandi for blinging up the blog for summer! Thanks B! She is starting to do blog design and you simply MUST check out her website and her work! She is amazing at what she does and is the one who has done my blog banners for the past year and a half! She really listens to what you are looking for and knows how to tweak it just so and include the little motifs that really catch each author! Give her a shout out on your own blog!

Thanks for the gorgeous update B!

Summer summer summer!

2009-06-09T17:07:00.003-04:00

Literally, tomorrow is the last day for work for this school year. For me at least. Im so excited!

It finally feels like summer!

The past three weeks have been extremely difficult with such an overload of busy-ness, and obligations that it about did me in. One day I thought I was going to implode so great was my stress. There was the girl's obligations with school...end of the year program, program practice, volleyball, end of the year party, field trip to the Mud Walk, 1/2 day here and there. There was my end of the year school stuff...Awards Ceremony, Exams, Graduation. Throw in a discipline issue that took several days, and a high level of concern amoungst the general community due to the school year ending and things being "out of the norm". Add trying to get a baby into the Early Steps program for physical therapy. Toss in E's car breaking down, a sleepover, pink eye, swimmers ear and Here's the kicker...we really DID simplify too!!We didnt partake in all events and beg gedoff what we could, and its was still overwhelming. Im so so glad its over. Today I giggled while talking to H and I stopped and said, 'I swear that is the first time I've giggled in three weeks!'

So a news update:

We got a new car. (I have yet to ride in it!) E's blue 1997 Taurus finally bit it. It wasnt like we weren't good stewards and didnt drive it into the ground. We laughed cleaning it out because there were still stickers on the passenger side visor that the girl put there when she was in gymnastics when she was three. That is funny!! We purchased a 2008 Honda Accord...at least I think that's what it is. Im horrible with cars and just let E deal with it. I know he is beyond thrilled and that it's silver and has airbags. I suppose that is enough! Im glad to see he is so happy about it though.

The girl got pink eye before Memorial Day, gave it to the Baby Girl, who gave it back to the Girl who by then had swimmer's ear to boot. Believe me when I say I was washing my hands every time I touched either one of them!

Baby Girl was diagnoised as hypotonic which means she has low muscle tone. At 8 months she is still not quite sitting up by herself and does not roll over from lying supine to lying on her stomach. She also does not bear weight on her legs. I noticed this at four months. We saw the doctor at 6 months about it and got her evaluated by Arnold Palmer Pediatric Rehabilitation three weeks ago. Although no one wants to hear their child is less than perfect, it is so good to know she can overcome this through physical therapy and that the delay can be made up. I would definately appreciate prayer that she can get into the Early Steps program which is Federally Funded (free!) and provides for a therapist to come to your house rather than you go to them. Our other option is to go for private physical therapy. A great option, but our insurance does not cover this and the sessions are $150 a 1/2 hour. Obviously, we would like her to qualify for the Early Steps Program if possible. Please pray about this. She is the happiest, sweetest baby that i have ever met. Even now she is swinging in her swing talking to herself over the passy in her mouth and holding onto her two feet. Its precious beyond measure!

What does the summer hold for us? Lots of chill time is what Im hoping for. The girl and I went through our coupon book today and she pulled all the coupons for fun things she wants to do: RDV ice skating, Semeron Skateway rollerskating, Bowling, Minature golf at Congo River, Little 500 speedway, Medieval Times. Of course we have the normal dr's physicals, dentist check ups and opthamologist visits. We also will do our typical summer events of tubing at Rock Springs, visiting the pancake house at De Leon Springs, and going to the beach. Of course throw in a myriad of sleepovers both away and at home, volleyball games, and a trip to Chicago and you have a fun summer. I know it will go fast.

D.I.T...Diva in Training

2009-06-01T08:30:00.001-04:00

I couldnt help myself...I just had to try it on her.

Rachel Getting Married

2009-05-31T19:51:00.003-04:00

She was literally THE most radiant bride I have ever seen.

I cried as if she were my own child.

What a beautiful, precious day! Congrats to Rachel and Brandon!

Gramma's visit

2009-05-31T08:12:00.000-04:00

About a month ago my mom came for a visit just to see the girlies. This is always so nice of her. She works full time and that she would take her vacation days to see us is always a sweet thing. What is great about her being here is that:
A. She is an incredible cook and since she works she doesnt get to cook much so she enjoys it when she is here and we get to reap the benefits!
B) She lightens my load by lending a hand.
C) The girl loves her!
D) She is a killer Chinese Checker player and we always play while she is here
E) She doesnt need to be entertained!

This trip she brought The Baby Girl one of her late Christmas presents. Baby Girl was just on the tale end of her "I dont want anyone but momma" phase and so it took about a day and a half before she would go to grammy! (side note: so glad we are done with that phase for the most part!!)
The Girl and her played countless games of double solitaire which I neglected to get a photo of. They also made the traditional chocolate chip pancakes. Mom makes literally a whole box of Bisquick for us and stocks our freezer! YUMMY!
Sweet pictures!!!

claire

2009-05-25T08:28:00.000-04:00

How precious is this girl?!

I still marvel every day what joy has been given to us by the gift of this child.

Sweet, sweet, sweet!!

Loves to read!

2009-05-24T08:10:00.000-04:00

Baby Girl loves to read! She is hilarious with a book...and knows how to hold it and everything right now.

Speaking of reading...I am loving how the Girl is devouring books at this stage of the game....and truly enjoying literature. I love how she has several books going at one time, how she reads her favorites over and over, how she gives a review of them when she is done. ( typical comments are, "I knew who did it in the first chapter." " I hate how they make it all wrap up perfectly in the end...that doesnt really happen in reality" and "Is there a sequel??" Id love any suggestions anyone has of good series or books for her age. Harry Potter is long gone as is the Little House Series. All Roald Dahl books have been read too...any suggestions are welcome.

What have I been reading? Good stuff, but nothing absolutely stellar. Im waiting for that book I cant put down...that Kite Runner of the year. Ive decided that reading is like a drug for me... I love it and look forward to doing it each day. Its my decompression time.

Here's whats been on the nightstand:

Things We Couldnt Say by Diet Eman. This is one woman's account of her role in the Dutch Resistance during WW II. Amazing what she went through and how she dedicated her life to the dangerous job of keeping Jews alive during the Nazi regime. I especially enjoyed this as I found many of our own "Dutch" customs being on the pages of this book. Its always so interesting and fun to me to see how traditions are steeped in the past and what it looked like then.

Adolescence isnt Terminal...It Just Feels Like It Is by Dr. Leman. I love this man. He also wrote Ready or Not Here Life Comes. He is a straight shooter about adolescence and gives great thought to the best most productive ways to deal with adolescents. What I love is that he is not about reacting but about being proactive when dealin with teens...he encouages one to look beyond behavior and deal with issues of the heart.

Testimony by Anita Shreve. This was an interesting read although I tended to have to go back and forth to remember who was who. Its the story of a case of sexual misconduct and the cover up that happens at a private boarding school. The story does not focus on the misconduct, but rather on the ripple effects it has on the community and the people involved with the actions and the cover up. What annoyed me about it was that each chapter was told from a different person's point of view, which is okay, if you can remember who is who. The book ended darkly as well which left me feeling sort of icky.

The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz . Im just starting this but am interested to see if its similar ot Memoirs of a Geishia. This book is based on the true story of the 1950's Japanese crown princeAkihito and how he met a beautiful young woman, on a tennis court. She became the first commoner to marry into the imperial family. Despised by her mother-in-law as an upstart and interloper, she eventually succumbed to a depression so intense that she temporarily lost the ability to speak.

So, im looking for a good summer read? Any suggestions anyone?

Lemonade stand!

2009-05-23T08:15:00.008-04:00

Last weekend the sweet boy across the street decided it was time to make some money! Before long, COLD STOP was open for business! It wasnt long before all the kids in the neighborhood decided they wanted to join in.

Im not sure if they made any money, or how much they all drank, but it was a classic childhood event for them to participate it.

My favorite parts: The fact that you could try to "guess the number of pennies in the jar" and win a free glass of lemonade, and how I was issued a reciept for each glass I purchased!

Video games be damned... this is the stuff of real childhood!

The Things of Childhood Nightmares

2009-05-17T08:35:00.004-04:00

As a child one of my biggest fears was encountering a snake.

It was my number one recurring nightmare. Tales have been told of me screaming about snakes in my bed in the middle of the night, of me worrying about snakes wrapped around the bottom of the toilet (thank you Riki Tiki Tavi) and of me screaming at full volume over a stick that LOOKED like a snake. On our trips to the Brookfield Zoo, if the Reptile house was even mentioned, there were tears.

Of course as I aged, I realized that

1) the chances of encountering a rattlesnake in the urban area where we lived were slim and none,

2) snakes are much more afraid of you than you are of them and

3) while I woudnt want one for a pet, for the most part, there are far less poisonous snakes than non-poisonous.

Shoot, a couple of years ago I scooped one out of the pool and put it out side...with a long pool net, but still! Will I jump when I see one, absolutely, will I run amok with my hands raised above my head screaming....probably not.

All that said, B posted these pictures of an albino snake that Michael was called to get out of our neighbors yard. Albino snake? Now that 's just gross (and probably someone's pet that they let lose) A BIG albinos snake? Im getting a stomach ache. A BIG albino snake with red eyes that was let go in the nature area behind our house...well running amok doesnt sound so silly anymore... LOL! JUST kidding.

It was gross though! Check out the pics. Brandi gives the full account.

Loving...Hating....

2009-05-07T18:29:00.002-04:00

My current loves and hates:

I love the fact that school is almost over and hatethe fact that May is so ridiculously busy.

I love when Baby Girl flirts with herself in the mirror on her crib. Im hating that she is needing physical therapy.

I love that tax season is over but hate that the last bit of the CPA exam is in two weeks.

Im loving my new pool fence and hating that Baby Girl is getting so big.

Im sooo loving the Girl's self confidance but hating the pre-teen whining.

I love Mike Rowe's new fat-ish belly but hate that he thinks I want to see him every time Im at the computer.

Im loving the idea of maybe getting a dog this summer, but hate the neighbor's dog (not you B!)

I love that God has truly blessed me with deep authentic relationships. I hate it that Amy is leaving.

I love my cleaning person and hate NOTHING about the job she does.

I love seeing former students as they come back from college and hate how it makes me feel old!

I love that E spent an entire Saturday planting flowers with the Girl and hate that nothing else got done. (of course, other than that...what is there?!?)

Im loving shopping with coupons and hating cashiers that cant do math in their heads.

Sea World, April 2009

2009-04-28T13:32:00.005-04:00

Whew...I got snowed under there for a bit! Pardon my lack of postings! Life can simply overwhelm you at times. Below is the slideshow from our trip to Sea World with the Connecticut Shivers! Its rather long...mostly for family viewing! Enjoy!

Mike Rowe Eats!

2009-04-20T18:31:00.000-04:00

Who knew this is how my cat ate!?

The video is dark but its really funny....who knew my cat took each peice of kibble out of the bowl with his paw, put it on the ground and THEN ate it. He is so peculiar!

What a crazy cat!

Bye-Bye Tax Season 2009--dont let the door hit you on the butt as you leave!!!

2009-04-18T15:47:00.005-04:00

Tax season has finally ended. Praise Jesus! Its a grueling stretch that ends like the tour de franc...uphill and going as hard as ever. Their firm celebrated with dinner at Enyo's in Longwood. Enyo's is one of my favorite restaurants EVER...its the home of the 5 hour dinner! A great way to relax after months of intesnity.

We all took Friday off and headed to Sea World. It was the Baby Girl's first trip and she was STELLAR! Of course the Girl loves it. To add to our enjoyment E's brother and sister in law and their two boys have been in Central Florida this week and we met them there for the day. It was SUCH a fun time. The cousins are so sweet together. The Girl's closest cousin is Jacob and they are about 4 months apart and since infancy like two little puppies whenever they are together. His easy nature and her ablility to laugh at anything make them fun to be with and fun for each other. More pics to follow, but here's a sweet one of me and E.

Easter 2009

2009-04-13T16:22:00.004-04:00

Why Sailors are so cute!

2009-04-12T16:53:00.004-04:00

This post is for my mom and her friend Linda who gave Baby Girl this sailor outfit. I saved it for Easter and Im just gonna say it...She was DANG cute!

Lake Lily

2009-04-10T13:14:00.006-04:00

Sweet pics from Lake Lily yesteday.

We went to have lunch and feed the ducks!

It was a GORGEOUS day!

I love the one of the two girls...so precious!

Easter

2009-04-09T15:36:00.000-04:00

Easter Baskets have a fond memory in my brain and so I always have done them for the Girl and now for the Baby Girl.

I remember a some specific things about Easter as a child. First we dyed eggs... usually the Saturday night before Easter and somehow that rascally bunny always found them in the fridge and hid them all over the living room!! I never put two and two together. I suppose that is the joy of being a kid...believing in stories!

We could always find 6 each, my sister and me. My parents were very creative. I can remember finding eggs behind the music stand on the piano and also behind the frame (on the top) of a big picture. I wonder how they did this without the eggs going bad...I wonder if they got up early or if they hid them the night before?

We generally got dolled up as kids for Easter. I can recall white gloves and also coordinating purple dresses at one point. Church was always a part of Easter growing up although what it looked like changed over time. At first it was primarily just going on Easter and then as we got older we would also attend on Good Friday for communion.

As we moved into the teenage years we could also opt to attend Maundy Thursday service which commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus.

Our Easter baskets were always set out on the sofa.

We each had a "peep" in our basket. A "peep" is a little soft baby chick in an egg or something similar. The peep stayed with the basket year round, but regardless, the peep was always in the basket. Jelly beans were always in the basket, usually just loosely rolling around in the Easter grass. Of course the traditional chocolate Easter bunny, and then whatever else mom decided to put in that year.

One year specifically I remember it was flowered underware, and two books...The Story of Ping, and Five Chinese Brothers.

Here's my girls' Easter baskets for this year:

Kaitlin's contains:

Socks

An Easter cookie

Cadbury Creme Eggs

Smencils (pencils that smell...all the RAGE right now!)

Whoppers

a Pez

The book SCAT by Carl Reisen (one she wants)

Tic Tacs

and

A RE'easter bunny (Reeses bunny)

If you look closely where the basket handle meets the basket you will see HER "peep"!

Claire's basket:

The book The Easter Story

and

The book Maisy's Easter (I LOVE Maisy!)

Two baby toys

a buddy bar soap

A little lamby soft rattle

A pair of baby socks

and

Her very own little "peep"

I must mention that we do not gloss over the REAL meaning of Easter.

I know some people feel that doing the Easter Bunny thing takes away from the significance of Easter. (Just like Santa at Christmas)

I think we see Easter Bunny and Santa as "cultural" traditions, much like giving Valentine's on February 14th, or pinching someone who doesnt wear green on St. Patrick's Day.

We talk about the significance of what Jesus did for us, but not just at Easter, we do it continually in our lives as it is the whole reason that we can live and breathe and have our very being.

We dont for a minute miss the amazing message of Easter because it is what the entire religion of Christianity rests upon. It is an overwhelming reality and truth that Christ paid our debt to a Holy Living Judge and on Easter we celebrate the fact that the price has been paid in full!

Alleluia!

Baby Paraphenalia

2009-04-08T15:44:00.000-04:00

My house is fast being taken over by baby items. Im in awe because first of all we have not had to purchase a single one of the following items. Second of all, being a minimalist, I cant wait until we are out of this phase of things. This one is not so bad...its a bucket of toys and a play yard that you put the baby under. When she hits the various animals hanging down, they make music an buzz.

Stroller: Thank you so much to E's boss and his wife who purchased our travel system. I love it!

The other part of the travel system...the car seat. Tricked out of course with all her toys!

The excersaucer...ironically the Baby Girl hates it which is too back because she needs to work on her leg strength as she is a little behind on it. Its good for about 7 minutes before the screaming begins. I wonder if she will like it better when it is older. Its so convenient because its right there by my desk and she could play while I do some work!

Swing and Bouncy Seat. These have been life savers. Seriously, we could not have survived the first three months without a swing. Its been a god-send. This one is really a nice one too that someone gave to us. Its got music with three levels of volume, 6 speeds, nature noises if that is preferred to the classical music, and a seat the vibrates. Seriously. I am not kidding!

The bouncy also is so cool with music, volume, and also a vibration button for fussy babies.

Play mat, thank you very much A!! This has been a life saver too and I will miss it when it goes to Houston ('Ouston) with A...not as much as I miss her, but still considerably!

Yes...my house is being over run. Do I mind? Sometimes. Is it worth it? Absolutely!

Sweet Sisters

2009-04-06T15:42:00.004-04:00

Im not lying when I say that sometimes I forget that we have two children now.

Partially this is because the Girl is so old and the Baby Girl is so young...somehow it doesnt compute in my brain that they are both mine at the same time. And yet, they are. E says the same thing. At times he will call to ask about the Girl and the call back about 10 mintues later and say..."I forgot to ask about the Baby Girl!"

I worried alot about how the Girl would do when we got the Baby Girl. Overall, she has done remarkably well. Aside from the occassional meltdown she has not been jealous or resentful or angry about the adoption. (Athough in a pinch, she has been known to pull out the "It's all the baby's fault" card...knowing full well that its not really that but just because she knows it will push my buttons)

The other day I was putting the Baby Girl to bed and I held her down to the Girl who was sitting on the soft and said, "Kiss her...she is going to bed!" She held out her hands to take the baby and she snuggled her and kissed her on the head and said in that sweet baby voice that you use to talk to babies, "I just WUV you!! Yes...that's right, Sissy LOVES you!!!"

When I took the Baby Girl back I said to her, "Do you love her?" The Girl looked at me with this incredulous look and said, "OH MOMMY...of course I do! I DO!!"

It melted my heart.

God is soo good to us!

Ormond by the Sea!

2009-04-06T15:06:00.008-04:00

Spring break has finally arrived!

Although, i daresay its not really a break for moms but actually more work organizing and figuring out great ways to spend time with your chile(ren). Its all good. If I had my rathers Id actually sit around and watch movies with her all day, but alas, there is a baby to be fed and diapered, laundry to keep up with and yes, the other daily chores of feeding a family and such. Still, today we headed to the beach...baby and all.

I was quite proud of myself because Im not overly comfortable traveling with the Baby Girl yet. Honestly, Id stay home with her everyday until she is 2 if I could and it were good for her. Im always afraid that she will end up screaming bloody murder for hours on end or that she wont nap and then be a total pill and ruin it for everyone. I dont like being out of my "element" of a controlled environment. Then I worry about stuff like getting a flat tire and not having any formula to feed her while we wait for hours and hours for the Road Rangers to come...yeah...I know I live too much in my head. When I think of these woman during the mid 1800's who traveled across country with their babies in a covered wagon with no AC and no modern conveniences, well...lets just say Im grateful I live in this century.

All that to say...we DID go to the beach today! Look at how cute she was in her "going to the beach" outfit. I do have a bathing suit for her but we ended up not even putting it on her as she was content as pie to sit in her stroller and survey the ocean and her sister and friends digging, playing, running, and building castles.

I love going with H because she has no expectations. If we go and it sucks, we leave. If we are having fun, we stay until it stops being fun. She is very easy, doesn't complain and is one of those people who are just easy to be with. Here she is chilling in her stroller which was draped with a towel to keep out the wind and sand.

On the way home we stopped at blockbuster and got two movies (cause it is spring break after all!) and then hit our favorite, Little Dairy Manor. The funniest part of the trip was when we got home. I backed into the driveway and we all just sat there...licking our ice cream for like 5 minutes. No one even moved to get out!!!

Currently, the Girl and J are in a sugar coma watching Beverly Hills Chihuahua (I hate chihuahuas almost as much as I hate animated movies) Baby Girl is passed out.

I guess Spring Break really IS here!

Haircuts, Pool and Whatnot

2009-03-30T19:05:00.004-04:00

Yes, its official, summer is around the corner.

Next week we hit Spring Break and I cant wait! The weather is getting warmer and its definitely time to have a break from school, no doubt about it.

As the weather warms our pool becomes open for business..mostly because when the kids are playing outside they are starting to get sweaty and hot and the play time usually ends with "MOM...can we swim??"

Usually I say yes although sometimes have to say no if I am not in the mood to have the neighborhood in the pool with all the energy and screaming and yelling and giggling, but I try to remember to say yes more than no. I will say its gotten easier as the kids have all grown up. They all know to bring their own towels, and to go around to the side screen door rather than walk through the house. Three also seems to be the magic number. Any more than three pre-teens in the pool at a time and its going to end up with quarreling or crying...guaranteed! After three, someone is always stomping off mad or in tears.

Our old house did not have a pool and while Kaitlin was young and not able to swim I was so glad we did not. We went to one of the two community pools almost every day in the summer. The great part about that was that you got to get out of the house for a bit and relax. Also, it was great time to visit with friends and get some sun. With the pool at the house and the kids older, Im more likely to keep busy doing stuff around the house than try to get some sun. When she was very young (diapers still) we would take a bottle of baby shampoo and as she rinsed off in the pool shower we would wash her hair and body and instead of putting clothes on put on pajamies and she would be not only all tuckered out but clean and ready for bed.

In the next few months we will be putting up a pool fence as Baby Girl learns to crawl and become mobile. That and also put beepers on the French Doors to the pool to alert us when people go in and out...not a problem with the Girl, but once Baby Girl learns how to manage the handles...well its obvious!

B took these pictures of Saige and the Girl in the pool yesterday. Check out the girl's new haircut. Its super cute and sassy. Although I mourned her desire to lose her long locks, I will not miss the amount of work her long hair demanded. Plus it will grow.

She looks both older and younger with the haircut. Older because its the first time she has had bangs and a real "style". Younger because its a youthful cut and a reminder that she is still a kid.

Long or short the girl got HAIR! Its gorgeous and she is so fortunate!

I love love LOVE this action shot of her jumping into the pool. You can see the giddy joy on her face and her body language is one of pure abandon. It really captures the essence of what being a kid is about!

I love it!

I couldn't help but compare it to this picture from last year at the beginning of the summer! Great expression!

Toddlers and Tiaras

2009-03-26T13:40:00.000-04:00

Has anyone else seen the show on TBS called Toddlers and Tiaras?
Its all about toddlers/young kids in pageants and etc.

The show, Im not kidding, is a TRAIN WRECK! I cant stop watching it.

What in the WORLD are these people thinking putting this kind of pressure on their girls and also giving them this message of appearance and perfection are the things that get awarded for in life. Seriously, you must check it out because its so vulgar (to me) that its mesmerizing.

Interestingly enough, its actually the moms that are all into the pageants. The kids are just like so not into it and yet every one of the mothers (most incidentally who are overweight ...can you say vicarious) says, "She enjoys it!!" She enjoys it my Aunt FANNY!!

I get it, believe me...I get the mom thing, and how proud they are that their children who are so talented and beautiful. When Kaitlin was a baby she did a bit of modeling and its an amazing way to make money and to get accolades for a beautiful child. However, we had to come to the conclusion that we did not necessarily want Kaitlin to grow up thinking that this is all that is important in life. I suppose some people can straddle a line and not give this slanted view to their daughters, but it must be difficult.

And yet I cant stop watching..I suppose it is the "over the top" factor!! However, last night I did click it off eventually..The topper for me was when the announcer said, "And her pastimes include sucking her pacifier and biting a teething ring!" COME ON!!!

This and That

2009-03-23T18:01:00.004-04:00

Lots going on these days...its good, busy, and tiring, but that seems like its how life goes. Im learning how to live with fatigue!

Saturday I was able to get my locks brightened and trimmed. I have this lovely Brazilian woman who cuts/ colors it and she comes into the salon at 8am so that we can get going early. She is truly a lovely person. Ironically, she lives one cul de sac over...and even more interesting, she lives in the cul de sac where George W. relocated to. She knows George W. and says that he walks her son to the bus stop every morning. I love that little cat and miss him very much!!

The best part of the salon though was when Pumnani came and sat chatting with me. The plan was to do breakfast and then get a mani and pedi, but we ran long. She came into the salon with a bottle of diet coke and a Reeses Easter egg. Then she called E and told him he was on child duty so that we could have some beauty time. I sighed blissfully and thought to myself, "THIS is how it should be...I NEED to get a posse!! JUST KIDDING! Still, it was so fun just to hang with Pum Pum. In the busyness of each day its always a joy to find some time to be still and, well...just BE!

***********************************************************************************

Sunday was church and then out to lunch with the family (Steak and Shake...the Girl's pick this week!) Its a sweet little habit that we have been able to do which is so helpful during tax season especially. Having limited family time is difficult and even that small hour helps with connecting us again.

Of course later that day I had a nuclear meltdown which ruined all the great family vibe. I get overly frustrated with E and the Girl because they are truly "messies". They both leave a trail wherever they have been and it drives me CRAZY!!! Im usually okay and can just remember that its not major issue but occassionally, the frustration erupts when the house is just messy and its all stuff that has been neglected to be put up.

The evening ended though with a sweet conversation between the three of us. We all realize we need to move toward each other and not away from each other. They need to improve on self discipline in that area. I need to improve on grace and not complaining and getting resentful over it. One thing that is so interesting to me is that both E and the Girl have very forgiving spirits. They offer forgiveness and grace very easily when it's asked for. This is not natural for me as I enjoy a good grudge and like having "hand" over someone. Sunday night reminded me that graciousness is truly the better trait and one I need to work on!

**********************************************************************************

Today the lovely DownTown Julie Brown and I had lunch at Seasons 52. DownTown is like seriously the KINDEST person I have ever met. I always say to her that her mother must have been very good to her because she is a giver and does not take for herself. She loves helping and offering to do things and is just an amazing woman. During our adoption process she was the biggest cheerleader as she herself has two of the most amazing daughters who are adopted. She just sat and held the Baby Girl today while we ate.

Seasons 52 always makes me feel like I walking into a 1970's lounge. The decor is very earthy and very understated. I think that the wait staff has to be beautiful in order to be offered a job there because every server in the place was stunningly attractive...both male and female. The menu is very healthy and they have the BEST flatbreads and desserts. While not a huge fan of the "healthy eating" movement (sorry B, its true!) its a very chic place to dine and being with DownTown made it all the better!

************************************************************************************

During tax season the single parent thing weighs on me here at the end. Its just so LONGggggg. I realize some people do this all the time and wonder how they manage! Thankfully we are in the last three weeks (which are also the hardest) and then it will be over!

Tonight after dinner I had a list of 5 things that needed to be done and told the Girl that she could pick three of them and I would finish the list after feeding the Baby girl. The list was:

Clear the dinner dishes and put them into the dishwasher
Get the trash cans in from the curb
Empty the kitchen trash and put a new bag in
Read to the Baby Girl
Feed, water and scoop litter for Mike Rowe.

She picked 1, 2, and 4. The following hilarious video is from her reading to the Baby Girl. Its seriously funny and a little self indulgent, but you know...it is my blog after all! :)

Shakespeare

2009-03-18T13:11:00.002-04:00

A's blog reminded me about the play we went to go see at the Shakespeare Theater on Saturday night. I was the lucky recipient of the "husband-not-in-town-award"! It was very generous and I do love seeing live theater...its so much richer than movies. I always think after seeing a play that it ruins me for a bit on movies. (not that I dont love them, dont get me wrong here...) But there is something very special about live actors in live time. A. really gives a great rendition of the evening which you can read here.

The play was Much Ado About Nothing, which is a comedy, and laugh we did. It took me about 7 minutes to get my Shakespeare-speak going but once I cued in it was great. I think its a little like listening to people talk in a different language. If you sort of know it you can get what is being said provided you concentrate. The actors and actresses were GREAT and the theater small and we were well seated!

A. doesnt let me get away with much in the excuse area, and is so good for me in that she presses me to do things that I wouldnt normally do. (think Bible study this summer...and yes I realized I only made it twice, but twice is better than NONE!!) I dont enjoy going out in the evening much right now especially...My high energy comes in the morning and having a little one means never sleeping in especially during tax season when E is very unavailable to shoulder the load of the home and children. Fatigue is my worst enemy right now. However, it was so delightful to spend the evening with good conversation and good food and good theater. ( I will miss you dreadfully when you move A, but will faithfully send you Aquanet so you can do some BIG TEXAS hair!)

My two favorite things about the evening:

1. The fact that literally 5 minutes before dropping her off we started talking about books and were like two disappointed puppies because THAT convo could have gone on for a while!

2. This conversation:

P: "Should I just get off up here at Colonial?"

A: "What do you mean?"

P:" Colonial is right here...do you think that is the best way to take?!"

A: "You know you dont have to park downtown..."

P: "What?? The theater is right here..."

A: "No its not."

P: "Yes...the Bob Carr is right next to the Amway Arena."

A: (pausing) "Um...the play is at the Shakespeare theater in Lockhaven park..."

P: (pausing) "That was like three exits back!!!"

A" "I know! I was wondering why you were going downtown!"

Oh lorday...these are the things I will miss.

Bows!!

2009-03-16T20:23:00.003-04:00

If you have little girls or know someone who has little girls you MUST refer them to this site:

http://sarabethbows.blogspot.com/

These bows are DIVINE! Im going to buy about a million of them. Those of you who knew the Girl when she was younger knew she never went anywhere with out a bow in her hair. I have an Easter picture of her where literally, the bow is almost pulling her head to the side its so big!!

Now we have the Baby Girl and believe me...Im going to buy about a million of them. Her prices are fantastic, the bows gorgeous and the cause is worthwhile...to offset the cost of adoption! Check it out!

(and yes Mom and Sissy....that is a hint!)

The man of the Awesome Foursome

2009-03-15T15:01:00.000-04:00

Remember these people? The awesome foursome?! They are all alive and well. Richie came back to the school to DJ our 2009 Sadie Hawkins'dance. There is only one Richard!

Teacher's Social

2009-03-13T17:23:00.005-04:00

Baby Girl and Her Sweetheart!

2009-03-12T19:01:00.003-04:00

When I go to work I have the assurance that the Baby Girl is being well cared for by H. Not only is she a complete "baby lover" but she is dear dear dear to me! We are so fortunate to have someone to love on sweet Baby Girl when we are not there. She took these pics of the Baby Girl and her son Jack. Gorgeous bright eyes...and of course the crazy crazy hair! I love it!!

Always with the fingers in the mouth. Can you say "Getting teeth?!?"

Im gonna say it...this is just adorable!

...one more favorite thing...

2009-03-12T18:55:00.002-04:00

When B updates my blog header and I open it and its a suprise!
MUAH!! Thanks, B!!!

My favorite things

2009-03-10T17:17:00.004-04:00

Here's a few of my current favorite things:

How Mike Rowe jumps on the Baby Girl's dresser each time I go into her room to change her.

The Baby Girl blowing raspberries and discovering she has a voice!

The Girl's long lustry hair when it is tied up loosely for volleball.

My clean pool!

How the freeze made us clean up the back foliage by the pool and now its so pretty!

Disney's "Sweet Lullabyes" CD.

Going to work at a job that I adore!

The Girl and the neighborhood kids hanging out on the storm drain in front of the house!

When the Baby Girl is lying under on her hanging toy mat (thank you A!) and Mike Rowe comes and sits by her.

When Mike Rowe, in the above situation, gently grasps the Baby Girl's clip on bow, pulls it out and brings it to me like a bird.

The bleached sidewalk...no more mildew!

Reeses Easter Peanut Butter Eggs

When E and the Girl play double solitaire.

Text Messaging.

Target's Method cleaning products in Pink Grapefruit.

Carpooling

Listening to the Girl talk to E on the phone.

When the Baby Girl giggles.

Jesus

Being home in the evening.

When Mike Rowe jumps on my vanity in the mornings and puts his front paws oh my shoulder for a good scratch on his back.

That E watches 24 and I dont have to.

Sharing dinners

Panera's sausage egg and cheese breakfast Cibattas.

Sassy's sense of humor.

Who says you cant get things for free...

2009-03-10T13:20:00.002-04:00

H has turned me onto coupon shopping. The best part is that she really looks for the deals and just informs me where they are.

I made a killing yesteday and Im so proud.

Follow me here and try not to get lost...

H alerted me to some 5 dollar off coupons for Huggies diapers. I was able to print out 3 of them from online. Walgreens had diapers on sale for 10 dollars a pack. They also were running a special where if you spend 25 dollars you got 10 dollars back in store dollars. SO really... I was going to be buying 3 packs of diapers for 5 dollars...( 30 packs at 10 dollars = 30 dollars, minus 3 five dollar off coupons= 15 dollars, minus the 10 dollars store dollars = FIVE BUCKS!!)

I was so proud, but wait...it gets better...

I go up the the register to pay and the cashier says to me in her lovely British accent, "Do you use Enfamil formula?"

Yes, as a matter of fact I do.

She handed me a store coupon for a buy one get one free for cans of formula (formula is RIDICULOUSLY expensive so this was gold to me!) but then she also pulled out a 5 dollar off Enfamil formula coupon. SHUT UP!!!

So I go back to the baby aisle, find the 15 dollar can.

The one can is free

The other can I use the 5 dollar off coupon and then THEN 10 DOLLAR STORE BUCKS to buy it!!

I actually had to buy some gum so I wasnt in the negative!!

I was so proud. For a 15 dollar investment I got about 70 dollars worth of products.

Its ridiculous how happy the little things make me!!

I love my man!

2009-03-07T16:30:00.004-05:00

Im always suprised when life isnt easy.

I dont know why...it should be surprised when things go well really. A week like this makes me exceedingly grateful for what I have right now--warts and all.

I was reminded this late last night, after the coughing girl finally fell asleep (thank you Nyquill!!) and the Baby Girl was given a bottle even though it wasnt her usual time. E went to change her. The monitor that sits in our room has the reciever right on a shelf above the changing table. Through the speaker I heard E singing.

I popped my head up to listen more closely thinking it would be a sweet lullabye that he was crooning.

Instead I heard,

" WE'LL GO HONKY TONKING DOWN IN (farting noise)

LOU'SEE'ANA, WHERE THE (farting noise)

BISCUITS AND GRAVEY FLOW LIKE (farting noise)

WATER AND HONEY...."

When he came to our room a few minutes later, I waited until he was all in bed and quiet and said,

Nice lullabye."

and he says...

"That wasn't for Claire, darling...that was for you!"

Hard Week

2009-03-07T16:08:00.003-05:00

It was a hard week this week.

A beloved co-worker suffered a heart attack/heart virus and was near death. She-who-has-cussed-four-times waited news about a CAT scan.
My adored mother in law had a mastectomony.
The Girl got has been sick with a fever and deep cough.
The Baby Girl is teething
Another co-worker awaits to see how his baby daughter is fairing in utero.

Im tired.
Not only physically, but mostly emotionally. Its fair to say that most of the mid week was spent in prayer throughout the day.

Bad news is so hard to bear. I was reflecting this week on the fact that if I had not been given the ability to have faith in God it woudl be unbearable to deal with the stress of daily life let alone when things get very intense.

This is a tough time of the year for us always.
Tax season is in full swing.
The hardest part about it is the last 6 weeks. Its not only that there is fatigue from duration, but the intensity ramps up. Its like working out on a treadmill and the speed increases but also the pitch of the treadmill. Its exhausting. Overall we have had pretty smooth sailing. What I find hardest is that I am wanting to be "propped up" by E and he is wanting to be "propped up" by me. We are both very tired and have short fuses. Thats when its easiest to be attacking to each other rather than giving each other space and offering kindness. I cant do this on my own, which is why Im so grateful for Jesus.

The events of the week?

The co-worker, while not out of the woods, is showing improvement
She-who-has-cussed-four-times 's cat scan showed no issues elsewhere in her body
My mother in law's mastectomy went well...we await further pathology reports.
The Girl is on the mend.
Additionally K's baby joined the world and news of Debbie's pregnancy brought much joy.

The Entrepeneur and the Money Girl

2009-02-28T12:36:00.002-05:00

E and the Girl are playing Monopoly.

On a gorgeous sunny day...

Playing a board game.

At least they are on the patio.

I say this tongue in cheek because of three things:

1. I hate monopoly and would rather pull out my toenails than play

2. Its tax season and E isn't around much and I know this will fill the girl's "daddy tank".

3. Did I mention I hate monopoly?

What is cracking me up is that E, being a money man is all about buy it buy it buy it so it can make you money. He is having a run for it from the girl who loves to spend simply because she loves to spend.

Yes, money is the girl's language--it talks to her. Interestingly enough, she "gets" the whole saving it and tithing it stuff. She really does. For years we had three cans in her room, one for spend, one for save, and one for tithe. She gets it alright, she just loves to spend. I suppose what child doesn't love the power that money gives to them. My favorite is when we are in the store and she is asking for something and when I tell her that she can certainly get it but will need to use her own money and she scoffs and says, "Are you kidding me, that is too much money to spend!"

Yeah, she gets it.

The real dividends come here with their time spent together...hearing her giggle because E received "10 dollars for winning second place in a beauty contest" or his groans at having to pay her money for Park Place.

Paint

2009-02-22T14:51:00.000-05:00

Ive been painting a bit again...I know dont laugh, but actually I was an art minor in college. Not, mind you that I was any good at it. I was more creative than anything...I liked the ideas behind the art, portraying something through an artistic medium.

When we moved into this house one of the best purchases we made was from home depot. It was a old fashioned picnic table for the pool patio. Durable, All-purpose, and water doesnt hurt it--it's made a great peice of furniture. In the spring and fall we eat dinner out there often. During the summer, it's the perfect peice for kids to eat lunch on while breaking from swimming.

For a couple of years Ive toyed around with painting it...its just raw wood. I finally broke out the paints this past month and have been playing. In the beginning I let any kid in the house at the time I was painting, add their bits to the project. Of course, after they left I painted over them and did what I wanted to do. The girl has protested over this saying its not fair that it gets to be all my stuff. I realize Im probably too firm on this matter, but I just said, "Im the mom and I want what i want...and kept painting" After a small pouting session she got on board and when I gave her a job to do with specifics, she did it.

Ill wet-proof it with some sort of laminate when its all done, but here's the work in progress.

And, for the record, I was not watching the Partridge Family when I did this (Holly!).

Neither was I smoking anything.

Ill post the pics again when its complete!

Claire's Gigglies!

2009-02-21T14:40:00.003-05:00

You cant help but laugh too!

"Do as I say not as I do"

2009-02-13T13:28:00.002-05:00

"Do as I say, not as I do."

This was a favorite quote of my father's. I specifically remember him saying this to me in regard to smoking. He was a smoker since he had been 16 and did not want to see his kids do the same thing that he had...namely become addicted to nicotine. His mandate of "Do not smoke" was confusing and I remember having this conversation about "Well, you smoke, why cant I?!" His response was "Do as I say, not as I do." (this was also followed by an in house smoking session which cured me of ever smoking...he let me trying under his watch knowing full well that I would, as a child HATE it)

Ive been thinking about how this phrase relates to the girl. She is so much in tune with watching everything I do right now. I know its a sign of adolescence upon us. It makes me gulp and cringe sometimes because I get so off the mark and she is truly right there to call me on it. Its made me contemplate and have a desire to actually be a person of ACTING and not just saying things.

Its much harder though. To put love into practice. To go out of your way to serve someone else. To show it and not just say it. And yet I know the dividends will come back 10-fold.

I was laughing to myself the other day because right now are two books on my nightstand... Everything You Wanted to Know About the First Year and Almost 13. One is about the things that will occur in the Baby Girl's life this next year. The other is about the things that will occur in the Girl's life soon.

I couldnt tell you which will take more effort. Babies are labor intensive and pre-teens are emotionally/philosophically intensive.

Im rambling, but those are just my thoughts for the day...

Baby's First Haircut

2009-02-10T15:33:00.004-05:00

My darlingest darling aunt and uncle have been in town. More on her later, but she got a wild hare (pun intended...gafawwww gafawww) to trim up Claire's hair. Claire was born with a full head of hair. Literally, it was long enough to put a tiny briad in it.

As usually happens around 4 months, she has begun to lose her baby hair and started to grow her "real" hair. My aunt took it upon herself to straighten it up a bit so it looks neat and styled.

These pictures truly catch Claire's personality. So giggly!!!

P.S. of course I kept the clippings!

2009-02-09T22:17:00.003-05:00

Yes... I know...Ive totally been phoning it in with the blog. Three reasons:

1. We have had family in town...lots of fun and not much spare time.
2. Im totally addicted to facebook
3. Im lazy...writing takes work

Ill get back on the horse soon. xo

Sassy's birthday!

2009-02-02T19:55:00.005-05:00

Men and Women

2009-01-29T11:32:00.003-05:00

B sent me this email yesterday and I literally howled with laughter.

Its so true so true.

njoy a good laugh.

Happy Thursday.

MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER

PEOPLE NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.
EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY
A man w ill pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

A day in the life...

2009-01-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

A day in the life of the Baby Girl!

Gramma's visit

2009-01-19T11:26:00.004-05:00

My mom usually comes into town for the girl's birthday. At 11 years old she still likes her special Gramma time. Its very sweet! What I love is that my mom comes in and takes over the kitchen and we eat GOOD! She is tireless in her cooking! This past week we had this gorgeous chicken and zuchinni casserole (its made with stuffing!!!), perfect pasta, her special nacho dip, two birthday cakes made special by her with her personal buttercream frosting, and chocolate haystacks. It was amazing! We are still eating!!

And of course she loved seeing the Baby girl again! It was great to have her with us for a few days!

Leash

2009-01-15T10:44:00.000-05:00

While walking around Crane's Roost this Christmas season, we ran across this sign painted on the concrete.

Of course it means "NO PETS"

But really... have you ever seen a cat submit to walking on a leash?

It made me laugh!

Claire's Adoption Hearing

2009-01-08T09:53:00.011-05:00

The most moving experience of the holidays for me personally, was our adoption hearing.

I think its so hard sometimes for moms (maybe just me though) to actually remember to look for the Christ in Christmas. I was so busy this year with shoppng and wrapping and baby stuff, and Big Girl activities and traveling which entailed packing etc... I missed alot of the worship part of Christmas.

In a discussion yesterday at work with The Great Conversationalist, he brought up the point that Christmas has really stopped being a religious holiday and become a consumer extravaganza. Its all about work and expectation now rather than worship and adoration. His comments rang true with me this year. I do believe in our culture today we need to constantly press against the subustitue for truth that it offers us. Problem is that what the world offers is pretty awesome.

That said, the Baby Girl's adoption hearing was a very sacred time. I didnt expect it to be. I really was not very emotional about it but was viewing it as more of a formality and just a real celebration of her joining our family. It was those things, but it was also much more.

We arrived at the courthouse at about 8:30, made our way through security and then up to the 16th floor where our hearing would take place. Since it was the last day of the year, there were several no-contest hearings scheduled to take place. Unbeknownst to us, it doesnt necessarily matter how early you get there...the judge will see you in the order that she chooses. There were several no contest divorce hearings and other little things so it was about 10 before we got to go into the courtroom.

The judge asked us to come and sit at the lawyer's table with our lawyer. She looked over her glasses at the Girl and said, "How old are you young lady?"

The Girl replied, "Ill be 11 in Janaury".

The judge said, "Well you are old enough to do this with your parents, come up here and join them please." It was all very official, but I thought so kind of the judge to include her in this.

After being sworn in the judge asked our lawyer some questions regarding the agency's findings at our post placement visits, all of which were answered in the positive. Then the judge asked the lawyer to proceed with questions to us. First she asked Eric:

1. Was this the child that you took home on October 1st from the hospital?

2. Have you formed a bond with this child in the past 90 days?

3. Have you come to love this child and consider her your own?

4. Will you promise to love and care for this child for your entire life?

5. Do you understand that she will have the rights and privledges as your other biological children?

These are amazing questions to answer but when asked before a courtroom and before a judge--it takes on extreme significance. E was calm and cool and he was so confidant in his answers. Cut to me blubbering like a big baby. Seriously, when it was my turn I couldnt even say my name so overcome was I by joy and by the significance of this.

For me, this was the last stop on an incredibly painful, oddly wonderful, life changing journey of 8 years. It was the fulfillment of a dream...to have another child. I never dreamed I woudl be in a court of law receiving approval for the adoption of a daugther. I never dreamed that I would ever be happy about adopting, and here I was over wrought with joy and simply speechless by the culmination of the journey that God has for us. There was such joy in that moment. I know I cant properly express it in words.

I was able to answer the same questions as E did...stopping to fight back tears.

The judge next turned her glance on the Girl and asked her if she would accept the Baby Girl as her sister and live with her as any other member of her family. The Girl grinned and said "Yes, Your Honor," very seriously.

Here was the part that really moved me... the judge next said that The Baby Girl's original birth certificate would hereby forever be sealed and unable to be opened again and that she would be issued a new birth certificate...one bearing our name, and that from here on she would been seen as a full memeber of our family complete with all the rights of any other biological member.

The significance of this was not lost on us for a moment. This is exactly what Christ has done for us. Taken our old self, banished it and given us His own name so that when we stand before the Great Judge, we are seen as Christ's.

It was so precious. SOOO precious to realize that God loves me so much and what He did for me.

After she gave her decree, the judge offered for us to come up and take a picture with her and then we were dismissed. We were the last infant adoption of 2009 to be decreed. Amazing.

I seriously could not stop crying after we left the court room...I was sooo stinking joyful. The Girl was hilarious because she kept kissing me and giving me hugs even though It old her I was not sad, I was happy. She was happy too!

And the Baby Girl, well, damn, she was just adorable. I had her in one of Kaitlin's sweet little outfits...one of the few that i had saved and she was just yummy!

Enjoy the pics of our special day. God is good!

A little courtroom bottle

Excited Momma!

What 10 year olds do while waiting to see the judge! Nintendo!!!Big Sissy loves holding the Baby Girl!
Daddy and the Baby Girl

After the adoption decree!!

Its official! She's ours!!!

SO HAPPY!!!

Slacker

2009-01-05T09:19:00.003-05:00

Ill be the first to admit...Ive been a blog slacker the past two weeks. Its all good though...even bloggers need a vacay, right?

Ive had so much rolling around in my head and not much of an opportunity to work it out in words what with the holidays. We were so ridiculously busy and ironically, I had really tried hard to keep our holiday calm. Our visit to the grandparents was followed up by the finalization of the Baby Girl's adoption (more on that later) which was immediately followed by me getting very sick with the flu. (In the words of she-who -has-only-sworn-twice, "hideous" was the word for the sickness) Factor in the death of a Godly man, my addiction to facebook, trying to organize the Girl's 11th birthday, putting away the tree and decorations and just daily life...well, you get the picture.

More soon to come.

Christmas at a glance!

2008-12-31T15:34:00.003-05:00

I just laugh

2008-12-29T13:40:00.002-05:00

We had a day out yesteday with the kids and took this video. It just makes me laugh.

Photos

2008-12-24T10:51:00.004-05:00

A very generous friend paid for a photo sitting with a photographer for the Baby Girl's baby gift. I am going to remember this for the future to give to other mom's of newborns. It's really a priceless gift the cherish forever. Thanks so much B! Check out these photos at: http://www.photobiz.com/portfolio/portfolio.cfm?photographerID=2393.

Click on Baby Claire and the Best Big Sister.

Password is Dexter.

Sarah is a great photographer and really captures the moment and the personality of her subjects. What I love about these is that they aren't all the classic "posed" pictures, but rather the "capture the moment" kind. Baby Girl wasnt even in a very smily mood that day either.

Other good thing...shes fast. She did all these in about 15 minutes!

Thanks again B for the gift and Sarah for photographing the girls!

Have a great Christmas!!

2008-12-22T08:23:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Don't miss the wonder and joy at the amazing gift we have received!

Facebook

2008-12-20T11:23:00.002-05:00

I finally joined the masses and logged on to FACEBOOK.
OH
MY
LANDS!

Now I cant get off!

Its quite addictive! Im so enjoying it though in my spare bits of time here and there.

We had a crazy week with lots of Christmas festivities and appointments and activities.I loved helping out with the girl's Christmas party at school and being with the kids. I taught that age group for 8 years before the girl herself came along and I remember why I loved it so much. And that its exhausting.

Im tired. And Christmas isnt even here yet! I suppose that is how it is for Moms everywhere. The lion's share of Christmas tends to fall on the adult female in the house. I do believe Im still adjusting to having two children.

The Baby Girl will be 3 months on Monday! That is crazy to me...we just got her!!! She is settling in nicely to a routine (FINALLY!!) and I believe will sleep through the night if we push her a bit. Shes only getting up at 3 for a fast bottle. (seriously the other night she was squalking at 2:58 and by 3:16 I was back in bed again after having fed her...she is all business and for that i am glad!) What still suprises me is that at times I forget that I have to take her into consideration. Like, Im used to juggling work and being a mom but im not used to juggling work, being a mom and being the mom of an infant. I forget it takes alot of time to get out of the house...that you need to start preparing like 45 minutes in advance.

Still, I can remember in Sepetember thinking that we will have a baby who is alert and rolling over and giggling and laughing by Christmas and here she is!

The Girl is cracking me up. She is so wanting to open presents!! Totally being 10!

Okay, Im off for the day!

ICE!!

2008-12-15T19:12:00.003-05:00

On Saturday we had E's firm Christmas party. I love his firm! Its a small group which makes it easy to do really fun things. This year we went to ICE at the Gaylord Palms.

Naughty Cat! (part II)

2008-12-10T18:14:00.005-05:00

...then this morning while I was getting dressed...

I tossed my top on the bed and nipped over to my dresser to pick out and put on my jewelry. When I turned around I just caught Mike jumping up on the bed and landing squarely on my top.

"Get off my shirt!" I fussed at him and made a waving motion at him with my hands.

What does Mike do?

He blinks once, pauses, and lies down full out on my top.

Cats are so entitled?

Naughty Cat!

2008-12-10T18:01:00.003-05:00

I pretty much sit in the same spot each time I feed the Baby Girl. Its the corner of our large sofa. There is an arm to balance the bottle on, several pillows and a great angle to watch the televison. Ive spent a good deal of time there the past 10 weeks. Its become "my spot" more or less.

Last night when I got up to feed my squalking child (somewheres about 1:00am) Mike Rowe was lying prone across the love seat opposite of the large couch where I sit. Of course he is stretched out to cover the entire love seat as best he can. When I walked by him I gave him a little pat and he sssssssssttttttrrrrreeeetchhhhhhhhhhheddd like he had been sleeping for hours (he probably had been)

So I go, heat up the bottlen, change the baby, wash my hands, and come with spitty cloth, bottle and baby to sit down and feed the baby.

Who is in in my spot?

Mike Rowe!! Stretched out like he owned the spot. Naughty Cat!!

Christmas books

2008-12-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

Two of my favorite things that come out of the attic around Christmas time are my Christmas books and my childhood Christmas ornaments.

I love my collection of Chrismas books. They range from the highly religious, ( The Indescribable Gift) to the miraculous, (The Miracle of Christmas) to the tradtional (The 12 Days of Christmas) to the silly (Auntie Claus), to the American Cultural-ish (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) to the child-like (Spot's Christmas)to the informative (The Story of Santa) to the commercial (Dora the Explorer's Christmas Parade) to the instructive (1001 Christmas Crafts) to the interactive ( Kid's Questions on Christmas) to the homemade (The Christmas Story by Kaitlin Shivers in second grade....priceless!)

I love them all...each year they are like old friends coming for a visit!

Celebrating Birthdays!

2008-12-06T05:34:00.000-05:00

Per our annual tradition, Di, Kathie and I headed out for our birthdays on the 2nd. We usually do the third but for reasons we shall not mention here, the second was a better date for all three of us! I love these women and love the fact that our friendship has stood the test of time.

God is so gracious.

We were chuckling at how much difference year makes. Last year we were all snuggling baby Jenna. Now, 364 days later there are three more babies!

Happy Birthday dear sweet friends!!!!!

Singing is good for the soul

2008-12-04T17:26:00.003-05:00

This is how giddy one gets after a few nights of non-continuous sleep. We could not stop laughing!!

The Grinch

2008-12-03T19:28:00.002-05:00

This post may cause Pumnani to fall over with the "vapors" but Im going to admit that I HATE decorating for Christmas.

I know...I know...get the frigging smelling salts.

SIGH... the whole thing is soo annoying to me. This is one of those things I seriously wish that I DID like, but I just dont. Bric brac annoys the crap out of me, and well...we have christmas bric brac!

Its annoying having to get the lights and boxes of Christmas stuff down from the attic. I mean seriously, didnt we just put them up there like last month? And then it smells...always smells. I guess its Florida or something. Lord, I hope its not all the roach carasses that make it smell. KIDDING!!! (although one year we did find out that you shouldnt put an orange with cloves n the attic...YIKES)

E does the lights on the outside of the house. Although smart man that he is he put up hooks several years ago and now can do the lickity split when he wants to.

The girl seems like she would be a great help, but in reality she bounces from one thing to the next and just like so to open up the boxes and take stuff out and not really put them where the go. The whole time Im ticking away my little agenda in my mind and remembering to BREATHE and just relish the excitement that she has.

And the advent calendars...OH for pity's sake, how many of these do we need to have in the house??? Dutifully each day she moves them to the next position. I have a velcro tree that you put an ornament on for each day, a gingerbread sash that has the gingerbread man move each day in December, and the little drawer one that you open up the drawer each day and get a prize.

I realize they have medication for people like me.

Im giggling at myself for being so "grinch-ish" about it.

I do love two things though...ill talk about them in subsequent posts:

1. My Christmas book collection

2. My ornaments from childhood.

For now, I have to go make some babies cry and take presents away from orphans... Youre a mean one...Mr. Grinch....

5th grade Thanksgiving Feast

2008-12-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

After being heartliy reprimanded to take her self-portrait shots off my blog (previous entry...now off the posting list) I was graciously granted approval for the following photos to be allowed for public viewing.

Oh my...can you say teenager in the making??

These are pics from the 5th grade Thanksgiving Feast the week before Thanksgiving.

My apologies for being so lax on posting. Who would have thought working 20 hours and caring for an infant, running around a 10 year old to fun activities, and managing a house would leave little time for blogging?!

Me and the girl

Me and the girl and the baby girl

Three legged race

Showing off baby sister!

Smiling!

2008-11-27T14:10:00.003-05:00

HOW CUTE IS THIS BABY?!?!

Real Housewives of Atlanta

2008-11-27T13:56:00.004-05:00

This post is for Pumnani.

The spoof at the following site speaks for itself.

Real Housewives of Atlanta is like watching a trainwreck. You hate yourself for looking, but you cant bear to glance away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxVFrXq5fnA&feature=related

2008-11-23T18:09:00.001-05:00

Gingerbread

2008-11-23T17:58:00.007-05:00

Every year during Thanksgiving we make a gingerbread house. Nothing terribly special, the box kit...not very creative, but the girl loves it. We usually make it on Thanksgiving day to sort of move us into the Christmas season. However, Saturday the girl requested that we make it. Not having alot going on I let her have at it. It wasnt our best gingerbread house, but the amount of fun she had doing it "her"way and by "her"self was well worth it. 10 is such a fun age.

Oh and for the record...there were no candy canes in the box.

At least that's the story that we're sticking to. And no, that is not peppermint on my breath!

Baby sister was not impressed in the least with our efforts...the swing had her completely out!

Righteous Felines

2008-11-22T17:48:00.005-05:00

We have a "holy" cat.

He reads the Bible frequently.

Rendering Final Judgement

2008-11-17T06:13:00.000-05:00

An adoption cannot be finalized until 90 days after the birth or placement of the child who is adopted.

Since the Baby Girl was born on September 29, we were hoping for a court date before the end of the year. This would be a huge benefit because once the Baby Girl is legally ours, she is viewed as such by the Federal Government. This is huge because the Government offers a $11,000 tax credit for adoptions. For us, this will be a huge help in paying for the adoption itself! (or paying on the financing we have regarding this)

We knew this going into it, however, our social worker told us not to get our hopes up because while the judgement cannot be rendered BEFORE 90 days, it certainly can be rendered AFTER 90 days and its totally up to the discretion of the judge.

We got word this week that the hearing will be on December 31, 2008.

Isnt God hilarious?!? ( and very gracious and good too!!!)

More on Pie

2008-11-14T17:58:00.005-05:00

You may remember my Pumpkin Pie Debacle from last year. If not you can read about it here:

http://dancingwithcats.blogspot.com/2007/11/in-kitchen.html

and also here: http://dancingwithcats.blogspot.com/2007/11/pumpkin-pie-part-ii.html

Because i do love pumpkin pie, I always get excited when October comes around and the grocery stores put all the stuff for pumpkin pie in one of those end-of-the-aisle kiosks...seriously, it makes me buy all the stuff.

When Claire was about 3 weeks old we had a breather between guests, she was sleeping, and the girl was wanting to bake. I had the stuff on hand and suggested pumpkin pie. She was all over it. Sadly my ready-made crusts were a bit crumbled, so we decided to combine the two crusts, mash it up and put it in a 9 x 13 pan to make one gigantic square pie! The girl dutifully mixed everything in and we commented on how odd pumpkin is... what a weird thing to put in a pie... yada yada yada. We pour it in the dish, pop it in the oven and an hour later the GORGEOUS square pumpkin pie comes out.

My mouth was watering, but I know enough about pumpkin pie to realize its only REALLY good to me when its cool.

Several hours later, H was over and I was like, "HEY!!! We made pumpkin pie, lets have a piece!" E was so excited too...being a man he gets excited over food in a big way. So i dish it out and scoop myself a peice before anyone tastes it and...

ITS DISGUSTING!!!!

I MEAN ITS HORRIBLE AND BITTER AND TASTELESS!!!

I actually spit it out!!!

Then it dawned on me.....sugar!!!!....who knew you needed to put SUGAR in the pie!!!???

Actually it DOES say that on the recipe on the label, but you know the girl and I were having such a good time that it went right past us.

So what is that....like four consecutive pumpkin pies Ive ruined???

Well today, during the Baby Girl's nap I made two more.

And I concentrated.

And they turned out great!!

FINALLY!!!!

Catch up!

2008-11-14T09:34:00.002-05:00

Ive been incommunicato lately just due to busyness and generally feeling overwhelemed.

I returned to work last week which was great but definately upped the stress level and necessitated juggling. Im so glad that H watches the Baby Girl--I coudnt ask for someone better to have her. I will admit that I do enjoy getting back into the real world a bit. It will be a good balance once I get into the swing of it.

I just cannot get over all the WORK that a baby involves. I wonder if Ive just forgotten, or if becaue Im older I get fed up with the amount of effort or if my standards are too high, but Im just trying to keep perspective and enjoy that Baby Girl!

I cant believe how big she is getting and marvel that she is already 6 weeks old! We definately turned a corner with sleeping at night and are finally getting some good chunks of 4 -5 hours at a time. Still not my required 8 hours,but at least now I can function properly!!

Keeping it short, but more later!

City folk or Country folk?

2008-11-10T16:36:00.000-05:00

Here's something Ive always wondered about and would love to hear what you all think.

Are city people cleaner or or country people cleaner?

Im not necessarily talking about neatness, although that is part of it to be sure, but sort of more like cleanliness.

I realize that people who live in cities have unique challenges to overcome. Living in apartments with close quarters...not having in house laundry facilities...not having a "mud room" or wash tub area...being outside close to people...riding public transportation...you get the idea.

However country people also deal with alot of dirt, manure, pollen, out doors stuff, having sometimes to haul garbage to the dump, using well or rain water.

So, Im wondering which group of people is cleaner? City folk or Country folk?

Weigh in...Id love to hear your thoughts!

~Halloween 2008~

2008-11-09T16:31:00.002-05:00

Halloween got sort of sandwiched in between Claire's arrival and my sister's visit! Here's the pics!

First Smiles

2008-11-08T18:39:00.006-05:00

Is there anything more precious?

Im totally in love!

Its exhausting and overwhelming but one little smile and it all melts away!

And E?

The man may drive me to want to drink at times, but how SWEET is he here!

Family Time

2008-11-04T18:19:00.001-05:00

My sister and nephew came down from Chicago for the weekend. It was just a quick visit but the highlights included:

Going to Lake Brantley's little fair

Fun time at the playground

Swimming

Watching "Journey to the Center of the Earth" on On Demand
Eating Sony's BBQ
Good snuggle time with the Baby Girl
Enjoy the slideshow!

Family time

2008-11-04T18:12:00.004-05:00

My sister and nephew came down from Chicago for the weekend. It was just a quick visit but the highlights included:

Going to Lake Brantley's little fair

Fun time at the playground

Swimming

Watching "Journey to the Center of the Earth" on On Demand
Eating Sony's BBQ
Good snuggle time with the Baby Girl

Enjoy the slideshow!

embed>http://widget-ce.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swftype="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=72057594050230478&site=widget-ce.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle">

New Bright House

2008-11-01T03:14:00.000-04:00

What is the deal with the new Bright House DVR program.?!!!

ICK! I like the old one so much better! Not only is the newer version monochromatic, it has a more complex set up, has actually LESS options, is NOT user friendly, and ITS SLOW!!

My pet peeve however is the rewind now...before when you paused the DVR it would start up again a few seconds previous to where you were on the program. Now if you rewind to get to a certain spot, you have to REALLY rewind it. Its annoying! Anyone else want to weigh in?

Pictures!

2008-10-29T12:36:00.006-04:00

For my family back home...and Marcie too!
Hey M...send me your email address!!

Enjoy

Mytwo girlies!

My two towel-headed girlies!
Dad and Claire...isnt he just a nerd! I love him!!

Sweet girlie-Q!!

Getting Claire III

2008-10-28T03:35:00.000-04:00

To contiune...

After we had talked with the aunt for a bit we chatted with our social worker and with the birth mother's social worker about what would come next. She said to be prepared becasue it would be very emotional.

Then the birth mother's social worker gently knocked on the door and went into the room and motioned for us to follow her. I could feel my face was so flushed and I was very emotional. The birth mother was sitting on the bed cradleling Claire and kissing her and sobbing. It was an absolutely broken hearted cry. Ive never heard anything like it.

I went over to the bed and put my arms around the birth mother and kissed her cheek and smoothed her hair and just squeezed her while she was sobbing. I whispered in her ear that we would always love this baby and always tell her how courageous her mother was. I smoothed back her hair and whispered to her...."thank you..." and she opened her arms and placed the baby in mine.

It was an absolute sacred moment.

I took sweet Claire and was torn because here in my arms was my dream and yet, this dream was causing someone else so much pain. I wanted to revel in this gorgeous child in my arms, but also wanted to throw them around her birth mother to love and comfort her and ease her sadness. Everyone in the room was silent and stood still. Then the social worker looked at men nodded and quietly said"Go...." and she pointed to the door.

And we left the room.

E and I were both crying and I was cradling Claire to me as we walked out into the hallway. We both looked at our social worker and said, "What do we do now...?" because literally someone just gave you a child?! I mean seriously, what do you do next! She smiled at us and said, "You go home...."

We walked to the elevator and I said to her, "Why do i feel like a thief?" and E echoed with, "Yeah, I feel horribly guilty, like we have stolen this baby." Our social worker stopped us and said, "I know it feels that way...that is common for families who are presented with their baby from the birth mother. However, you need to remember that she GAVE you this child. You did not take it. And she picked you....just you all...to have her. The guilty feeling needs to stop before you walk out of this hospital. Now is the time for joy!"

How well said was that??

So, we fed the baby before heading for home. On the way we chatted to my mom and talked to each other and we decided that she was definately NOT a Meredith Claire...which had been our name that we had pretty much settled on. So we tossed around some other names and ended up with Paige Elizabeth! How pretty is that! I loved it. We called home to tell girl and E's parents that we were close and the girl asked what her name was.

P: "Her name is Paige Elizabeth!!"

Total Silence. Then...

TG: "EWwwwwwwwwwwww!!! YUCK!"

Such a strong reaction we howled about it and said we could talk about it more when we got home.

It was close to 9pm when we pulled into the driveway and just as we walked up to the front door it was flung open wide by the girl. She gasped the biggest gasp with these huge eyes which was followed by a huge, long, "AWwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! LOOK AT HER!!!" THAT made me cry all over again!

The rest of the evening was spent fawning over the baby girl who was quiet and chill. The girl's face will forever be engrained into my mind as one of the happiest days of her life. Her look of joy was incomprarable to anything that Ive seen on her before.

The name issue came up again, and the girl said, "What about just Claire....dont you like just Claire?" And we did. And so it became her name!

E's parents left, the girl was shuttled off to bed and E went to sleep...I had the night shift for feeding and Claire was squeeking for a bottle. I settled her on the sofa with me and finally got her all to myself to look her over. I checked out her tiny toes and fingers and ears and just was laughing at her crazy dark hair. She had that total newborn little face and body.
It was then...in those silent moments, in the darkness, listening to her coo, that she really became mine.

Claire was home!

Getting Claire II

2008-10-27T06:28:00.000-04:00

To continue from yesterday...

Once we arrived at the hospital we had to wait a bit until the birth mother was done signing the papers. As we waited and paced and looked at every display in the hospital waiting area the nursing shift was changing. Just watching people was entertaining and that helped keep us occupied. We were just sitting there when I realized I KNEW one of the people walking towards us.

It was the birth father. We made eye contact and nodded, but dang...talk about AWKARD...it was a very surreal feeling. Very odd and weird to know that this man was the father of our child.

Never was a phone call so waited for as the one in which the social worker called down and told us that everything was signed. Officially, at least on paper, the baby was ours!

Finally we were able to go to the labor and delivery floor and then we had some paperwork to sign. And then our social worker told us we could go into the room where Claire's birth parents were.

Looking back, I will say that I truly wish that we had been prepared a bit more by the adoption agency. I know they dont like to pre dispose you , however, E and I were both really suprised about the intenisity of the evening, but also how we felt like we were flying blind...we didnt really know the "steps" that were going to be taken. Maybe its unpredictable and each placement is different, but I do wish we had been given some guidelines about how it was going to go. Additionally, and Ill get to this in a moment, we were very suprised by the sadness surrounding actually getting Claire. I guess in your head, or at least mine, you think that getting a baby is a happy, joyful event. Indeed, it is. However, in this situation, there was also much much sadness and greif on the part of the birth mother. Im getting sidetracked...let me take the story back up.

We walked down to the birth mother's room and the social worker said we could go into the room. The mom was sitting on the bed holding the baby and the baby's father was sitting next to the bed. Also in the room were the birth mother's grandmother and the aunt who raised her. Additionally, there was me and E , our social worker, and the birth mother's social worker. Full house to say the least.

It was amazing how difficult this situation was. I mean, what is the ettiquette for recieving another woman's child? There is none. E sort of hung back and I went right in and gave the mom a huge and oohed and ahhed over Claire (who wasnt Claire yet...) She was so tiny and dark haired and had these gorgeous rose bud lips. I was suprised at her...mainly because Kaitlin had been such a delicate, tiny, blonde baby...I know I was expecting to see a similar baby...or at least a bald baby but Claire was fat and dark and just yummy all over!!

I told the birth mom that I had brought a little outfit for the baby and asked if she would like to be the one to dress her in it and she softly said that she would and she would like to change her one last time. We attempted small talk while she did this. It was really hard. It was like you could feel the sadness in the room bigger than life. Honestly, I had no idea how she was going to give me that baby. I had no idea it would be this hard.

The social worker suggested that we all step out of the room to allow the parents to say their final good-byes and so we all left. The grandmother gave both E and I a tight hug and said she needed to go...she was crying but she said, " I can tell you all are such good people. Thank you for taking care of this baby." And she walked away. The aunt was so sweet and she too hugged us and told us how the birth mother was so glad it was us and even though it was hard that she knew we were the right people to be parents to this baby. She also said that I reminded the birth mother of her own mother and that was a big pull for her. That she had a great deal of comfort from that. E was so great in this situation. He told the aunt several things to tell the birthmother after we had left...mostly that we would always esteem her to this baby, that we would always love the baby and that we were so so grateful that she had this pregnancy and did not terminate it. He also asked that the aunt share with the birth mother that we had been praying specifically for her and would continue to throughout the next several months because we knew it was hard.

....sorry this is in installments...more tomorrow, I have to tend to "the screamer!!!
"

Okay...more tomorrow!

Getting Claire

2008-10-26T02:21:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share a bit about our experience getting Claire.

Claire was born on Monday night about 5:00pm and at that point we all we knew was that she had been born and that she was 8 lbs 2 oz.

The 48 hours of waiting that we had to do until we got her was very hard. The first day, Tuesday, I worked, so time went fairly quickly and we were sort of waiting all day to hear more news. It wasnt until about 8pm that the social worker called and said that she knew that she had a full head of hair and was 19 1/2 inches, and that she was jaundiced a bit and under the lights, but other than that she didnt know anything else.

I was so annoyed at that point! I suppose that is normal, but I really had wanted apgar scores, and to hear HOW she was doing and what sort of frame of mind the mother was in and all that sort of more "intuative" stuff. I was also irritated that we had to wait until 8 that night to hear anything. But I got over myself and went to bed and slept great! SUCH a God thing and because people were praying for us that we all got good sleep!

The next day was Wednesday and we were sort of waiting around to hear when the baby would be released and if the mom was going to sign and all that good stuff. It looked like it was leaning for a Thursday morning discharge. E went to work, the girl went to school and I went to the mall. I did, after all, need a new outfit! Actually I was just looking for something to do to burn time. I didnt even want to be with people. Im not sure why I was so cranky, im sure it had something to do with the level of anxiety I was feeling

I got a fun outfit and then hit the grocery and did some errands etc... and got back about 2pm. I was so irritated because we were waiting and waiting and waiting and there was NO NEWS coming our way. I had seriously been doing very well with all the tenativeness of the whole process but that Wednesday I hit the wall.

I cried and was just over it all. Holly, having worked in the adoption agency at one point had such good words for me. She said to just remember that regardless of the information that I did or didnt recieve, that that baby would be ours in a number of hours, be it 6 hours or 48 hours. It was very wise information. After a good meltdown, the girl got home from school all chippy and happy. She loves school and this is a blessing. At 4pm I decided a shower was just the ticket and was just getting out when my cell phone rang and it was our social worker.

"The mom is signing at 5:30pm TONITE and everyone is being discharged. You need to get to the hospital ASAP!"

As ready as we were, we werent ready at all! First I called E. Then I enlisted Holly to make some other phone calls and put the girl on helping her pack the diaper bag and I quickly dried my hair and put on make-up etc! ( gotta look good!!)

Holly got subway for us and Kaitlin went to volleyball practice. My inlaws were driving in from Ocala and E was on his way home. As soon as he arrived and we had dinner off we went to start the drive to the hospital. Talk about sitting on pins and needles!! It was surrreal and we kept saying to ourselves.."Is this really going to happen?!?" What was so crazy was the fact that we had an empty baby seat in the car and in a few short hours it would be full...of BABY!!

Okay...this is getting long. To be continuted tomorrow.

sleep

2008-10-24T08:06:00.001-04:00

There is a reason that terrorists use sleep deprivation as a torture technique.

Volleyball

2008-10-23T09:16:00.005-04:00

The girl ended her first season of volleyball last weekend. Although it was like pulling teeth to get her to try it and she didnt overly enjoy practices, by the time they were mid-season, she was into it. There was no more whining about going to practice except for the occassional fatigue from her regular schedule.

They were a very sweet team of 4th and 5th graders and had a great coach in Miss Rebekah and assistant coach in Pastor Jakes. What I loved about her coach was that it was about learning skills and the game, but also about being an appropriate Christian athelete...playing and obeying the rules, and encouraging each other. She was the perfect coach for this age in that she encouraged and also "coached" and "taught" during the games. Several times after games she would distribute little notes of encouragement to her players! How sweet is that!

The girl is "ready" modeWhat a sweet team! Look at those precious faces!!!

And a fun movie of when they won the first game of the tournament. (they lost the next but it was all good!)