This is my friend that has yet to read this blog!

Aren't I cruel? I told her that I would put a picture of her on my blog just so she would go to it to read it. She's said she didn't have the addresss, so I emailed it to her over and over, then she said the link didn't work, I explained how to mannually type in a web address, then yesterday I said oh well then you won't see the cute picture of yourself I put on there. She didn't believe me. Well LISA if you read this you can click on the comments button below this and leave me a comment sweetie!

We're number 1! Can't be number 2! Come on everybody do the adoption boogaloo!

We were told by our agency director yesterday that 2 infant girl referrals have gone out so now we're number 1! It could be any day, it could be a Month! So if you're a control freak and like to plan every little detail of your life.....adoption may not be for you! Because there are a TON of unknowns. We live with the comfort of knowing that we will be blessed with a precious baby girl soon. And that God will make it happen when it's meant to be. And we will become parents of a baby that was meant to be for our family!

We're number 2!

Number one received their referral! Yeah! Congrats Karen and Matt. We unfortunately don't know the person in line after them so we're not sure if they have heard anything yet. I'm just dying for pictures. I want to decorate them, make cards, put in frames, you know all that fun stuff you do with you're new baby pictures. They have learned that their baby is in the same orphange as Susan's baby and Sarah's baby. So she can hopefully get updates from them when they go to get their babies! And baby Lucy and also baby Gracie were there and are now home and settling in. So from what we know from them a couple little babies were brought in there in December. And it's a very small orphanage with a lot of loving care takers. They said there were 4-babies when they left with 3 care takers. That's a great ratio! I saw a video from one of the Mom's and the nanny was holding their baby and sobbing. She was so torn to see her go after caring for her for 5 months. So the babies are well loved there which is so sweet and nice. I can't wait to hear where are baby is!!!

Can't believe it's been a Month!

I can't believe it's been almost a Month since Christmas! These are more pictures from when we rented a house at the Lake of the Ozarks with Hubby's family. He has 5 kids in his family. We had 10 kids there. I think Grandma and Grandpa had the most fun! The house was great and everyone had so much fun. I am blessed with great in-laws. I love them all. I am very thankful for my husbands family. It was just my Mom and I growing up, so I love the big family with all the noise and crazyness. Can't wait to add another child into that mix. She will be the baby and have lots of older cousins to love on her!

Mini Van! What's happening to me????

I've always loved cars. I don't usually keep them that long. The longest I've kept a car was 4-years, I think, and that was an extended Envoy. I really liked all the room, but hated the price of filling up the tank when gas prices increased, and it was extremely hard for me to park. I got a little foolish last year and bought a Hummer H3, my baby hummer. Mines black and it's great to look at, BUT there are so many negatives! I have to have a step stool to get Mom into it, it's a rougher ride, even compared to my husbands Tundra, there's only 3-cup holders, not as much room in the back, and only fits 5 people. So with our precious 3rd child coming sometime this year I've been thinking about a different vehicle. My husband is laughing about this because he's always hated the H3. Kinda a long story, but I bought it fast because I was mad at him for bidding on a 68 Camaro on Ebay. Long story short, his deal fell through, and mine didn't. I really need a car that can haul more people. I need that 3rd seat. And more room for traveling. Our last trip in the car for over 5-hours was not fun in my little car. We had 3-kids in the back and it felt cramped. So I've been checking out the vans. I put way too many miles on my vehicle a year to want a V8 suv. If you would have told me 5-yrs ago that I would drive a van one day, I would have bet you BIG money against it! I guess we all grow up at some point. (I think that's my husband's quote!) 15 cup holders! Tons of storage, I'm getting the dvd system and sunroof. AND I'm looking for a used one, since I have this fear I may not keep it long. But who knows? It will just be so nice to get them all in and out of, including Grandma! And I'll have plenty of room for all that baby stuff! God is telling me I better get more practical with this 3rd child coming. And I'm LISTENING!

dreaming....

I am so obsessed with ready others blogs that have traveled or are traveling soon to Vietnam. Check out little Lucy who gets to head home to the great US tonight as well as baby Gracie, that will also be coming home soon. It was so much fun reading about their trips. We have so much to do before we go. I haven't even started on her room, it's that time of year for a ton of paperwork for my business, I'm contemplating buying a mini van! I know that comes as a suprise to many of you, for me to be so practical, but with 3-kids I am in need of convenience. And on our last journey to Missouri my vehicle with only 3-cup holders and not much space didn't cut it! I'm just worried about getting around in it in snow and ice. I've had an SUV for a very long time.
Anyway I'm just dreaming of our referral!!!!!!

My sis is making the trip!

My husband is figuring there is no way he can take off work for that long of period. It could be May or June when we travel, who knows?! So Hubby and maybe 10-yr old Son will be there at least a week -10 days and then my sister from California is meeting me there. Luckily she can take the time off work and since she's much older than me (23 yrs!) she doesn't have to leave any little kids behind. Just her 4 girls that are around my age and 11 grandchildren! I'm so happy she can make the trip! It scares me to death to be there by myself and even more so to make a 24 hour trip home with a baby! I've traveled IA to CA and back with babies and it is always a challenge when it's just you. My baby girl was only a year old when we both got major flu out there and had to delay the trip by a day. Then when we got to the Dallas/FW airport I had a long layover and walked the LONG walk thinking it would be good exercise forgetting how weak I was from the flu, THEN we arrived in Chicago LATE one time and I had bronchitis and had to RUN through the airport with her in her umbrella stroller, having to bypass a bathroom break, diaper change, and new bottle since they were announcing our name on the speaker! I was gasping for air, coughing and sweating when I got to the gate.(I didn't want to have to spend the night in Chicago! Been there, done that!) So baby and I get on the plane with everyone glaring at us, like it's our fault! We sit down and guess what is on the seat in front of us? Dried Barf! Could have died. Try to keep a toddler from touching everything! Stewardess put paper towels over it. Then what happened? The girl in front of us puked in her barf bag, yes I could hear and see the motions! She hands it across the isle and her dad asked if she ate too much junk! THEN she has the nerve to let my baby grasp her pukey finger! I was in need of some antibacterial big time! I didn't travel again with my kids for awhile and the hubby went with that time. So I will be preparing my body to fight of any sickness for my big trip! Lots of vitamins, exercise and herbal medicine. I keep saying, "I don't get sick! It's all in your head!" Then I pop some vitamin C! I still have to get shots for the trip! Finally have time to do that but haven't made the call to the Dr. yet. Why do we always have soooo much to do? I take my Mom twice a week to appointments and it takes most of the day. Dr. office forever, or therapy, trip to grocery store for a couple of items, (I keep telling her to buy MORE at a time!) then she wants to eat out, by then my kids about home from school and I didn't complete 90 % of my to-do list.

She had her own tree!

I did a tree for our baby we have yet to get referred too! It was fun. Our little girl would show everyone that came over her tree and dolls and books we've been collecting. I'm finally posting picture of it!

Moving on up......

WHEW! I made it through the busy Christmas Season! Then we find out we were to start the paperwork asap! So the DOSSIER is done baby! It's all state certified and sent to our agency. We've had several referrals go out so now we're number 3!!! They said they have 3 more infant referrals that were born in November and/or December but no medicals yet. So it could be awhile yet but who really knows. I'm not getting my hopes up yet so if it comes early then yeah! Congrats to Susan who just got a referral of a precious little baby girl and Laurie who was referred an adorable 9-year old! She was born the same month and year as my son!

We just got back from the Lake of the Ozarks for the New Year Weekend to celebrate Christmas with my hubby's family. We rented a huge house on the lake with everything you could possibly want. It had 4-huge master suites plus other bedrooms. So we never felt cramped. The kids had a great time! But ooohh we ate and drank too much! My in-laws are so much fun so it was very relaxing and enjoyable!

Happy New Year Everyone!