Our poor flooded town

So many have been affected by this awful flood. It crested WAY higher then they ever imagined it would. It goes down in history as the worst flood here ever. So many businesses and homes are lost and ruined forever. The hair salon I went to sometimes was right on the river and it was top notch. They won't be rebuilding. Friends with businesses that have mold, rotted sheet rock, colapsed floors, homes ruined, it's just awful. And they say the home owners can get up to 28,000 in funding but most are only getting $2500 because there just isn't enough money. It's sad because some in those homes are older and the house was in their family for generations and now they have nothing. And those businesses that have reopened are hurting because their not seeing the traffic they used to see because so much of downtown is still closed. The interstate was even closed for awhile here and many other roads. It was like living in LA because it was taking 2-4 hours to get to a place that usually only took 30 minutes. If any would like to help please contact some of the local churches that are doing all they can.

"MOVE!"

Getting a hair cut! We all got our hair cut and the girls behaved very well.

I got 12" cut off my hair! It's much shorter in the back then gets longer in the front. But it is so much faster drying it and getting ready now!
The little Miss still likes her Pacifiers!

That's what Miss Paisley says when her sister gets too near her Mom! "MOVE"!! She's 19 mos. old! I can't believe it. She signs milk, but also says milk now and water. She says chocolate, but only I know what she's saying when she says that! She says, "shoes, side, (for outside), bwankie, baby, puppy, kitty cat, elbow, mouth, toes, eye, hair, bath, ba-ba, nighty night". And probably some more I'm not thinking of right now. She now goes up and down stairs. Her sister taught her that so she would go upstairs and play in the play room, then she scoots down slowly. Her favorite thing is swimming in any pool, swinging in her swing and sitting on your lap while you read her books. She's still a bit tubby and i think she's over 25 lbs. now. she has been healthy as can be. If she's been sick at all it's been just a little virus with a slight fever that's gone the next day. She is getting the tan I've always dreamed of. all she did was go out in the sun in her pool for an hour and she had cross marks on her back from her suit.

The kids had so much fun at the ozarks at grandma's and grandpa's for the 4th. They did pretty well in the car. When Pais was needing to get out to stretch she let us know! They just built a pool at their house so we had so much fun in that. Pais was happy as a clam in her floaty or sitting up on the raft. Ryker went on the jet ski and boat and had a blast. Raven changed her clothes 6 times a day like usual. Most of Jeff's family was there as well as friends of ours and their little ones so we had a house full but it was a blast.

We sold our home after it's been on the market for just over a year. And they wanted a fast possession so we're renting a house for now till we decide what we're going to do. Relocate somewhere warm? Build again? Buy exisiting? What's meant to be will happen. I also sold almost everything in the home to the new owners as well so I get to shop for all new! I'm going for a completely different look. maybe an old hollywood glam theme, with a splash of color and more modern mixes with it. Love to redecorate. Can't get too crazy since we're just going to be in a rental house.

We had the busiest weekends this past weekend. I rented a limo for my b day and had my cousin and wife here and some friends and we went down to my cousins Italian place that is divine! then the next night the family together for dinner out, then a party at our house for my Aunts 85th b-day with about 40-50 people. Plus I'm packing and all that! Whew!

At least I had time to post a little update!

Paisley loves her "Am-Ma"!

My Mom is so in love with Paisley and loves it when Paisley runs up to her and says, "Up!". Now that she says "Am-ma" Mom is really gleaming.

So today when I was trying to do taxes and paperwork, I got Paisley her blanket, bear, and pacifier, and Paisley went up to "Am-Ma" and said, "up!" and cuddled up to her. Mom said, "I didn't think it was possible to love someone so much that didn"t come from you".

Mom's come a long way from being sooooooooo against us adopting "anothers child!" She was really ANGRY with me when she learned we were adopting. At first she didn't want to talk about it at all, so for the longest time I didn't bring it up. But I'm used to sharing with my Mom so that was really hard for me. I kept asking her why she couldn't be happy for us? If I had just gotten pregnant she would have acted differently and I tried to explain this to her. She just comes from the generation where it's not talked about and not as common as today. So I would print things from the internet and give to her to read, and just mention tibits of the adoption. Once we got the picture, she was in love. I was so thrilled it happened that suddenly. I was suprised she fell in love with her picture the way she did. Now Miss Paisley is wrapped around "Am-Ma's" little finger! I'm so glad!

My social butterfly

We went to an event at Ryker's school tonight and Miss Paisley just wanted to get out of her stroller and run! Usually she wants me to hold her and doesn't let me out of her sight. Tonight the place was filled with parents and kids everywhere. She just wanted to take off walking down the hallway. And she would have no part of holding her big sisters hand. Then she was so cute when she spotted Ryker in his room by his desk and just shot forward heading in his direction. When she would walk into a new room she would wave at people and say hi! I was cracking up! Normally she is just much more clingy to me so this was a new thing. It was quite comical to watch. A friends Dad said he would take her walking down the hall. She barely looked at him but was just thrilled to be walking some more! Jeff was at the end of the hall and I was afraid he wouldn't recognize the man and think he was taking his girl! But she spotted her Daddy and wouldn't go any further. She loves to blow kisses and makes that noice to go with it. She also signs "thank you" and "please" now. She's signed "more" forever and the first night Grandma watched her through dinner she had no idea why she kept doing those motions. It's cause the girl likes to eat and ALWAYS wants "MORE"! She out grew her size 5 shoes I just bought her 2 months ago. Some tops she can wear a 24 mo, most outfits fit her in a 18 mo. She's been very healthy. She had a couple of really fussy nights and a runny nose so I was just sure she had an ear infection. I took ANOTHER trip to the DR. to find out she's great! I am going to have the whole family tested for staph because I keep breaking out with boils that tested positive for it. I'm not on my 5th one! And many rounds of antibiotics! The first one they cut open in the drs office and my poor mom could hear me from the waiting room. ( I feel like I blogged about this already) The second one had to be cut open in the operating room and I had to have a nurse come to my house daily for 2 weeks to pack the 7" hole it caused. Being the picture happy person I am, I took a discusting picture of it. So nasty. But anyway a baby from Paisley's orphanage recently tested postive for staph so that made me think I may have gotten it from her because she had a couple of boils on her head when we first got her. They went away very quicky and she's never had any problems since, thank God. I'd rather it be me going through this then any of my kids.
Her hair is now long enough to put two cute piggy tails in it! I still need to post updated pictures from Easter. I'll get there! They are cute as can be!

OMG I forgot to post about MARCH 6th!!!

I kept thinking of doing this, but of course never got around to it and then JUST remembered I wanted to post on this day because it's been one year since we first saw pictures of our baby girl. I will never forget the day. I was taking my girl to dance. Got the call, dropped her off and asked friend to bring her home, run home and get on the computer. Of course I called Jeff in the mean time and tell him to stay by his computer. I prayed for lots of hair, silly I know. But she had some hair! So now that she is home with us I can finally post her referral pictures! She's everything we dreamed she'd be and more.

Below is Zoe from New Zealand that volunteered at Paisleys orphanage. She checked in on her for me.

Lori graciously took a ton of pictures and video which I will always treasure while she was there with her girls.