Happy Photos

While I was working in Kentucky this past week, I saw several things that made me go, "Hmmm..." and I wanted to share some of my happy photos that I took of these things so maybe you can get some "happy" out of them too. You'll understand my warped sense of humor as you scroll through them.


For some reason, this just made me giggle while I stood on someone's front porch. It reminds me of the "Eat More Chicken" campaign by Chik*Fila (spelled right?).

As I rang the bell of this house, I looked down and saw this. It's not surprising that the owner had two big chunky labs living in their house. I'd like one of these doormats.

Since this was out front the week before Christmas I thought it was pretty funy.

People, people, people ... can you say moderation???

Same house - different angle. Holy smokes.

And last, but probably the thing that got me downright giddy with excitement was the Big Boy. When I was little Shoney*s was the Big Boy and then there was some lawsuit or something and they couldn't be the "Big Boy" anymore. I remember when they (Shoney*s) had a drive-in that my mom and I would go to. I had a Big Boy rubber bank that I played with all the time in the tub. It's one of my earlier memories. I stopped and turned around to go back to see this. The "Big Boys" were a LOT like Mc*Donald's Big*Mac sandwiches, as I recollect. Ahhh... good memories.

Christmas Pictures

I had this great (read the irony here, ok?) idea to take photos today of Josh and Ellie for our very late Christmas card. I picked Josh up from school and had planned to go out and inspect three houses, but it was misting and I decided to just "knock those Christmas cards out". Everything in my life seems like a good idea and a simple process when I think of it. You'd think I'd learn by now.

Ellie had a doctor's appointment scheduled for 2:30 because I thought she had an ear infection. That alone should have been enough to make me realize she was not going to be a smiling, charming princess. By the way, she has a cold, not an ear infection, but she is one pitiful acting little girl (until the doctor came in and she acted like a smiling, happy princess so I looked like a crazy mama).

Josh, on the other hand, was a very cooperative, helpful big brother and good example for her, but, true to form, she was much more interested in Joshua, crawling on the table, pulling on the tree, petting the dog, throwing things off the table, standing up, and, toward the end, alternately crying and yawning.

I did manage to get the cards printed today, but when Kevin picked them up and brought them home, there were no envelopes. ARGH. How I even managed to get three photos that were usable for a card I'm not sure, but here are some of the, um, more interesting ones.

She sees Josh over to the side (she NEVER looked at the camera) and lights up like the tree.

Checking out a very large ornament.

Trying to eat Joshua's face.

OOOooohhh... I need to pet the dog.

WHAT is this look?

Quickly tiring of all the "work" involved in this process. Meltdown in process.

EXHAUSTED -- being a Princess is hard work.

There are TONS more that aren't even worth putting on the blog they are so silly. Oh well, we had fun!!

For Fun

While I was working today I heard a song on the radio and it got me to thinking about what the first music I purchased was. And then I began to wonder if others remember the very first music you bought and what format it was in (CD, tape, record, 8 track, etc.).

So, for fun, leave a comment on what yours was.

Oh, and mine: Does Your Mother Know, by ABBA. And, it was a 45 record. I bought it at JCPenney. Can you believe that they used to sell music?

Bulgarian Orphanage Special on TV

I was wondering if anyone had seen the special on TV last night called Love Knows No Borders regarding adoption reform in Bulgaria?

It was VERY, VERY ineresting and if you haven't seen it, try to catch it. There were interviews with orphans who were adopted to the US as well as interviews with APs and officials in Bulgaria.
The stories of orphans in orphanages and the difficulty in bringing them home always makes me so sad.

However, the success stories shown in this story is so refreshing and the progress hopefully being made in Bulgaria to get special needs children home more quickly and to allow adoption again in this country warms my heart.

Were I looking for another adoption, I would most certainly consider this country. There is such a need and the children are so beautiful.

Second Tooth

Ellie's second tooth is coming in right beside the other one on the bottom. Still can't "see" them well enough for a photo, but as soon as you can, know that you'll see one! In the meantime, here's a photo of Ellie being reunited with "Aunt" Jennifer yesterday.

Power Blogging

It is now time for some serious power blogging to catch up. So buckle your seatbelts and prepared to be tired (just like me) after reading through my last four days.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday night we took Joshua and Ellie to get photos made with Santa here. They give you a free photo with Santa and you just can't beat that deal.

Josh informed me, upon arrival that this will be his LAST photo with Santa because he is "too old". I explained to him that I would not ask him again, but that I really wanted him to be in Ellie's first photo. He agreed, reluctantly and had one photo made. I am a very sad mama about this, but I understand. Here are their two photos from Ellie's first time with Santa and Joshua's last.

Ellie didn't cry at all. She leaned back, settled in and then promptly began to rub his beard while he asked me where she was from. We talked shortly and she stared at him and touched his suit and beard (which was real!!).

THURSDAY

Ellie is eating more "table food". She has also learned a new trick. She can now eat her foot -- for those times we don't feed her quickly enough.

FRIDAY

We had a WONDERFUL play date at our friend Kat's house. They brought Charlie home from Kyrgyzstan back in the summer and were there on their pick up trip while we were there on Trip 1. Kat made this incredible home cooked meal of meatloaf, new and sweet potatoes, green beans, and a yummy luscious chocolate pecan tipsy cake with ice cream. YUM again.

Charlie and Jia were dressed at pixie fairies when we arrived and I swear they were adorable. All three kids played so well together. I can't get over the difference in Charlie from the time he came home until now. He looks fantastic and is running around playing like a madman. His masculinity is not at all offended by wearing this fairy costume either. He and Ellie had a nice time "reuniting". Anybody know where I can get my hands on some of these Lego Primo Duplo blocks? Ellie loved them. We are so lucky to live in an area where there are currently three Kyrgyz children and hopefully more coming home soon!!

When I got to school to pick up Josh, I thought it odd that he had the "DARE" lion. In fifth grade at our school, the kids all go through the Drug Awareness Resistance Education program. As part of their "graduation", they have to write a one page paper on what they learned in DARE. Apparently, one member of each class graduated "with honors" and Josh was the one from his class. He got a DARE Lion, a medal, a pen, T-shirt, certificate and button. He was most proud of himself. His friend Braiden one in his class so I had two lions to bring home. When I went in to kiss Josh goodnight, he had "decorated" his room with his things and even had slept in his DARE t-shirt. Too sweet.

SATURDAY

Saturday morning we went to Grandmother's nursing home for their Christmas

breakfast. Now, we don't move really fast or well early in the mornings -- especially if we all have to be somewhere. Imagine, then, needing to take sausage and biscuits (cooked fresh, of course), muffins, Christmas presents, a camera, two adults and a baby and leaving the house by 8 a.m. HA!!! We did manage to get there just in time for the start at 9 a.m.

Grandmother said at the end of the morning that it was the best Christmas she had had since her husband (my grandfather) died some 30+ years ago. I'm glad it was nice for her.

The nursing home had "The Grin*ch" and Santa with Mrs. Claus so Ellie had her photo made with them. Josh had fun hamming around with the camera as well. Here are photos from all that fun.

After our time at the nursing home, we came home to begin putting up the Christmas tree -- a task always done the weekend after Thanksgiving but because we were in Florida has been pushed a bit too far back for my liking. We got the tree up Saturday afternoon; Kevin and Josh got all the lights on Saturday night and it took until late Sunday night to get all the ornaments on. Ellie seemed to enjoy taking it all in. As normal, there was a cat under the tree before we finished putting it up. They love the tree.

After starting the Christmas decorations, it was off to a basketball game for Joshua, home and then out to make a photo memory book for my friend Dianne who was having a SURPRISE birthday party on Sunday afternoon. That took several hours to complete and I managed to purchase the "Death Ornament" (a separate post coming soon about that -- you are sure to enjoy that one!), get a few more Christmas presents while I waited for it to get finished.

SUNDAY

Today was the surprise birthday party for my friend Dianne's 40th birthday. I spent the morning making mini brownies for the party and then went over to help set up. We had such a great time and she really was surprised. I took tons of photos for her and I can't wait to give them to her. We had a great time, and Ellie was a great hit since we got to see lots of people who haven't gotten to see her yet. I didn't get back home until around 6 this evening. We finished putting up Christmas decorations; terrorized the dogs with the reindeer antlers; Josh finished a States project that is due tomorrow (why not wait until the last minute -- wonder WHO he gets that from??), and then I have "power blogged" for the last hour. It is now time to GO TO BED as I'm tired.

I feel CERTAIN she was surprised.

Ellie trying to steal the show at the birthday party.

Kevin and Ellie filling the Advent calendar with goodies.

Bear with his reindeer hat on

Sunshine sporting her reindeer look.

So, as you can imagine, we are tired cookies around our house this week. I'm hopeful next week will be better.

Tagged

Thank you, Janiece. I've been tagged.

List these rules on your blog. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as a link to their blog Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I would love to be a veteranarian if I weren't "so old" and life weren't already complication enough. I just don't have eight years lying around to go back to school.
2. I don't like green peas and blame it on my mother who made me eat them once at a cafe in Walgreens. She says I mashed them up, even with her telling me not to (imagine!?) and so she made me eat them. YUK.
3. I had a doll named "Good Baby" growing up. I also had an invisible playmate called Marlo.
4. I lose something every single day.
5. I could eat pizza every day.
6. I don't like rollercoasters or really fast rides.
7. My favorite saying lately is, "Would someone just shoot me now??"

And, while I'd love to tag seven people and link to their blogs and leave comments on them, it's 11:00 p.m. and "The Princess" will expect a bottle about 3 a.m. and I need to sleep while I can. SO.... if you feel inclined, consider yourself tagged and you can link back to my blog and leave me a comment so I can come read some really cool things about you.

Adoption - Blessing or Curse -- My Thoughts

I was reading fellow Krygz AP, Janiece's blog tonight. She wrote a post about something she had read on this blog. Becing a sucker for a link, I clicked over and read it -- then I re-read it. I was going to leave my comments on Janiece's blog, but decided I was intrigued enough (and sleep deprived enough to think myself capable enough) to make a post about my thoughts on it.

Take a moment to click over now and read the blog post from this adoptive mom and then come back.

First off, I LOVE the T-shirt her son is wearing, "My mom is blogging my life." Ha -- I need two of those, huh?

Now, on to more serious matters. I am adopted. I was adopted when I was 21 months old. I was reunited with my birthfamily about five years ago. I had never had a desire to search for them until I had my own son and I wanted to know if he looked like me. It was a crazy reason to search, but it was the thing that started it all. My adoptive (aka "real" as far as I'm concerned) family were supportive of my endeavors to find them, although worried about what I might find.

It took almost three years to go through a process whereby Tennessee's adoption records were opened. During that time, I attended Supreme Court hearings discussing the potential of opening the records, voicing my support, searched on my own, found my birthmom independently of the "system" but did not make contact. When the records were opened the first time, only a few people got theirs before a lawsuit closed them again. Finally, when they opened the last time, I was pretty far down on the list but did eventually get my records, paid the fees for the search and made contact with my brother initially, then with my two other brothers and sister and finally with my birthmom.

The story surrounding all this is just background for the rest of my reasoning in this post.

J-momma wrote, "My son lost his birthfamily. He lost his culture, his race, his DNA, his genetic connection to anybody, his history, his lineage, any birth siblings, and more than I can ever know. " This was true in my case, although I did not lose my race as mine is not a transracial adoption. One of the things I struggled with when I found my birthfamily was the overwhelming sense of loss of the connections I should have had with my siblings -- to the life they had without me, to the memories we didn't get to make and the times we didn't get to share. However, the environment that they were raised in was not one that would have been beneficial to me. My life would have not been anything like the life I had because I was adopted. I look at Ellie's country and the extreme poverty and I hurt for those people and their needs. However, Ellie was not given up for adoption due to poverty. Neither was I. Both of our birthmoms made choices to relinquish their rights due to what I consider personal choice and the fact that their pregnancies were not convenient at the time. Yes, I spent years telling doctors that I didn't know my medical history due to being adopted. Was that a problem? No, but each time I said it, there was a little frustration there. Now, through my reunion, I have a connection to my sister to get all the medical information on my family that I need.

J-momma also wrote: "It wouldn't even be "lucky" for him to have stayed with his birthfamily. It would be normal. That's what he's entitled to, isn't it?" Yes, most children do stay with their birthfamilies. However, sometimes, just sometimes, it is through the grace of God and of a bigger plan that children do not stay with their birthfamilies. I firmly believe that God has a plan for each of our lives and some of us are allowed opportunities to leave what "should be" in society for a place that allows growth and development far beyond what our birth environment would allow. Had I not been adopted, I would not be married to the person I am married to, serving in the church I serve in, impacting the lives in the community that I do, have the children I do and most certainly would not have adopted a child from another country. Joseph, in the Bible, would most certainly not have been able to save his family from starving in the famine had God not predestined his life to be lived out in a place separate from his birthfamily. "What you meant for bad, God has used for good."

J-momma followed by writing, "They don't talk like his people or eat like his people or live like his people, for the most part. Yes, obviously we are all human beings, and Americans, and blah blah blah, but come on, everyone would admit there are differences in the way people of different races live. And family is supposed to be comfort and acceptance and the one place in this world where you can be yourself. What if you don't know who yourself is? And what if your family doesn't feel like your real home, or you're not entirely comfortable there? Then what do you have? Nothing. You're lost. And that's the worst place to be. Lost. " I most certainly cannot replicate what Ellie's life would have been in Kyrgyzstan. Nor, in all honesty, would I want to because, as far as I'm concerned, she is American with Krygyz ethnicity and origins -- just like all the immigrants who come to America, she will integrate to our way of life. We will continue to tell her the stories of her country's history, to teach her of their holidays and customs, to tell her of her beginnings and will support her desire to search for her family if that is her desire. We will provide her with opportunities to formulate friendships with children who are Asian as well. However, her life now is that of an Asian-American girl who was adopted from Kyrgyzstan. I am of the opinion that the process of learning who one is is an individual journey that each of us must make and should not have anything to do with what our family's ethnicity is. However, I am not naive enough to believe that my daughter's Asian ethnicity will not have an effect on her life. Part of my job as her mother is to develop in her a sense of self-worth that has to do with who she is in God's plan, how much He values her and her life and to develop her confidence in who she is, outside of what her skin color is, who her parents are or, to be honest, the fact that she was given up by her birth family. I know how that feels. I know the heartache of wondering why and what was wrong with you that your own birthmom wouldn't love you. It took me years to come to the place of understanding that it had absolutely nothing to do with me and everything to do with a decision that my birthmom made. I hope I can pass along that knowledge to Ellie. I hope I can help her not feel lost.

There were many points that J-momma made that were so very thought provoking and I think she is courageous to address this subject so honestly. I admire the way she tackles her inner struggles with this process in writing in an effort to come up with a way to deal with those feelings. In a perfect world, adoption would not be necessary and those who wanted children would have them and those who didn't want children (or need them, in all honesty) would not. However, in our sin filled world, that is not an option, unfortunately. Adoption is not perfect, by any means. The process is hard, usually expensive and emotionally taxing for all involved -- including the children. It affects our lives not just during the process or at the time of adoption, but the rest of our lives. We, as a family, are not the same people as a result of our adoption.

I do consider Ellie's adoption a blessing in our family. Every morning when I wake up and go in her room and am greeted with her wide happy smile, I am blessed anew. I am thankful her mother did not choose to abort her. I am thankful that in a country where prenatal care is little, where her mother lived in a mountainous farming area with little in the way of medical care and where she was born prematurely that she lived. I am thankful that God matched us up to be her family and for her to be our daughter. Do I believe we are lucky? No, I believe we are blessed. I believe that before time God ordained her to be a part of our family just like I was chosen to be part of my family.

Guess What I Can Do, Dad??

Little miss Ellie has learned a new "trick". I knew it was coming as I've been working with her on it for a while -- not really intentionally, just something I'd do with her. While she was playing in her crib and I'd be cleaning her room or hanging up clothes, I'd stand her up and let her hold the edge of the crib. Inevitably, she'd fall back into the crib and then she'd try really hard to climb back up, but she couldn't. Then, she started getting up on her knees and using the bumper pads to pull up with.

Tonight, she was in her crib and Kevin came downstairs to get a pacifier and when he got back upstairs, I heard him say, "Well, what have you done??" I asked what and he said she was standing up in her crib.

So, I suppose tomorrow we'll need to lower the mattress.

Today, she and I went shopping. It was really our first true shopping outing since we've been home. She was adorable (and yes, I'm prejudiced and will admit it) in a cute little Christmas dress and I can't tell you how many people stopped us to "talk" to her and tell her how cute she was. She just takes it all in and either gives them a huge smile, which really makes them keep going on, or just stares at them like she's confused.

She's becoming very, very attached to mama -- a bit to the extreme. She likes both Josh and Kevin well enough, but at bedtime, she really wants mama. If someone else holds her, she reaches for me. When we were in the store, she would ride in the cart for a bit and then would reach her hands out for me to carry her. Sweetest thing: when I would get her out she would put her arms around my neck and lay her head on my shoulder and coo. Yes, my heart melts. However, I want her to be just as attached to her daddy as well. The doctor indicated that it was very typical for a baby who is around nine months to prefer the mother over the father. So, while I'm please that she is developmentally on target, I want her to love daddy a whole, whole lot too.

The neatest thing now is to watch she and Josh play together. He loves to blow raspberries on her belly and she just cackles. Then he'll tickle her tummy -- more cackling. Tonight at dinner, while we were eating (and she was fussing for her own food), she was just staring at Joshua. If he would talk to her, she would just laugh and smile. It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy to see them getting along -- ah, if it would only last forever!! *smile*

OH, and Happy Belated Birthday to my friend (and traveling friend), Jennifer, who had a "0" birthday on Saturday!!! You all can just guess which "0" it was because I'm not about to tell!!

Bloggy Makeover for Christmas

Don't dismay if you find yourself not liking the new "look" (although I do -- it's like moving the furniture around every once in a while!!) as it is just my Christmas look. It's like I've put up a virtual Christmas tree for us all to enjoy while we wait for Santa. Now, lest anyone complain that I don't know the "true" reason for the season, I certainly do, but I think the concept of a friendly pleasingly plumb fellow in a red suit with a beard flying through the sky with his sleigh and reindeer and coming down my chimney to bring me presents is just priceless and I want in on that!!

So, enjoy the new look until it's time to move around the furniture once again, after the trees are taken down, the wrapping paper thrown away (or recycled!!) and the excitement of the holiday is over. Then I'll unveil another new look!! It's better than hair color, women!!

Josh's Big Wishes for Christmas

Josh hasn't said much about what he wants for Christmas this year. Normally, he is all over it. At one point he made a statement that he knew he wouldn't be getting much this year, "because Ellie is here now and I'll have to share." I'm not sure if I'm happy that he understands or sad that he thinks of it that way. I'm still mulling it.

However, one day I did get a verbal "list" out of him and almost fell over in my chair as he rattled off the "top" items on his list. When he finished, I told him that everything on that list would cost me a month's salary and that our Christmas budget was certainly not that big. I'll continue with the "story" after I share his list:

• Electric guitar and lessons
• Playstation 3
• Xbox 360
• Ipod Touch
• A laptop

I said, "Josh, aren't there any smaller things you'd like to have?" He replied very innocently, "Well, the I-pod is small". Ahh... yes. Then there is the game system issue. We have a Wii, a Playstation 2, a Playstation (the original), a Nintendo DS, and a Gameboy and Gameboy Advance. We will not be getting another gaming system this year. He doesn't even play with the ones he has. He's hit up the grandparents for the electric guitar. Further questioning has revealed that this is the "most important" gift for him this year.

I have since heard from him that he'd like to have the Guitar Hero game for Nintendo DS as well. Nothing else, no lists, no comments, no talk of Santa. Do you think the magic has left? I suspect it might have, which makes me very sad. I suspect the fear is that if he talks it might slip out and he's still in the "afraid to ask" mode for fear of getting nothing. All of this is code for one sad mama because I still believe.

It remains to be seen what Santa will bring for Josh this year. I will continue to keep you posted.

Anniversaries and Birthdays

Today is my parents' 46th Anniversary!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. I hope Kevin and I can stand each other for 46 years!! Thank you for "standing" each other as long as you have as well. *smile*

Today would have also been my brother, Derek's, birthday. Unfortunately, he passed away three years ago. Derek was a blessing in my life for a short period of time. After searching for my biological family, we found one another and would spend hours on the phone talking. He was so much like me and I felt like I had found a kindred soul. I still don't understand why God chose to take him home at such an early age, but I know that he is most definitely in a better place. But, I still miss him. Sometimes I'll hear Josh say something and I'll catch my breath because his voice, just for a second, will sound like him. I'll hear something funny and want to call and tell him. I wanted so badly to tell him about Ellie and share all our excitement with him. There was so much more we still needed to talk about. My heart physically hurts thinking about him just now, I miss him so much. Days, even months, will pass now when I might not think about him, but then, when I allow myself the time to go there, it is still very, very painful and such a loss. I am glad, so very, very glad, that we found each other. I know he was very happy about it too. Happy Birthday, Derek.

First Tooth!! and Power Naps

This morning, I was rubbing around in Ellie's mouth (why???) and felt a little tiny edge of what I thought was a tooth. As the day progressed and I rubbed more, it became quite clear that it is her first tooth and by tonight, I could see it coming through her gums. I suspect the mystery of why her face was so red has now been solved.

While working the other day, I saw what we need to purchase to take Ellie around in. Here it is...

Here is a photo I found on my memory card from last week when Kevin took Ellie back to the doctor for her TB test results. I'm not so certain she was very happy about this look as she smiled in NONE of the pictures.

And last, I don't think I've blogged about Ellie's "Power Naps". We call them that because every morning between 8-9 there is a 15-30 minute nap. Then, in the afternoon, she has the second of her "power naps" between 4 and 5, again lasting 15-30 minutes. She usually takes a better nap around lunch time, lasting an hour - two hours. The Power Naps are just enough time to shower and get dressed in the morning or cook dinner in the evening, so I'm thankful for them, I suppose. Here are a couple of photos from this morning's power nap session.

Ellie's hair is starting to crack me up. Today after her bath, I didn't comb her hair down (actually I never comb/brush her hair -- there just isn't enough to bother with) and it has stuck straight up all day long -- kind of like a buzz cut all over. It's getting longer and darker, but not thicker. The little bald spot she came home with is almost completely gone now.

She has really begun to want "real" food. Thanks to my friend Heather, I bought her some Gerber Stage 3 diced apples and she has really liked them. She likes the "puff" snacks and dried apple pieces (also Gerber). If you are eating, there had best be something in her mouth too. We have started trying to "learn" how to use a sippy cup with handles for juice. Right now, she just gnaws on the mouthpiece, not really drinking. It will come with time. This is more for introduction right now. She continues to drink 8 ounces of formula about 4 times a day. My arms are starting to hurt if I have to hold her long periods of time. I have a muscle on my left arm. *sigh* If I could only lose some weight in the deal.

So, that's our Ellie update for now.

Rash Update

The rash seems to be pretty much gone on Ellie's face, but under her chin is dry and scaly. We were attributing it to just where her pacifier and drool were drying it out, but after a comment from fellow AP and blogger, Rachel, I'm not certain it might not be eczema. I'm going to spend some time looking into it.

This weekend, we had fun attending the Pleasant View Parade where Josh and his football team had a float. Ellie and I watched from the road. I can't say she was very excited (or excited at all) about the parade, but she seemed fascinated about why people where throwing things (candy) at her and she kept looking at the ground as kids picked the things up.

After that, we attended the Bethany Christian Services Christmas lunch. It was nice for them to get to see Ellie for the first time.

Tonight, Josh's football team had their banquet. It was a nice dinner and the boys got their trophies, photo books and year-end gifts which included a cool 20x30 poster of photos of them. They will get their Super Bowl rings later (yes, they actually get RINGS) as they have not come in yet.

I did not take my camera anywhere this weekend so I have no photos. I'm a blog slacker, I know. Leaving the house with all the things I need to care for everyone is just a daunting task and usually adding one more thing is more than I can carry!! I promise to get some new photos to post this week.

More Than You Wanted to Know

I was reading Jes' blog and saw this neat list of things you can highlight if you have done and I thought it was pretty interesting, so here goes:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Feel free to do it yourself.

What IS It???

I'm going to offer some background and then I'll take opinions from the smartest readers in the world.

Ellie has been home six weeks today. We have been together a month and a half. On Tuesday this week, she had her first set of immunizations (HIB, DTaP, TB test (neg) and a flu shot). We were told (and expected) that she would be cranky and possibly run a fever for 24-48 hours. On Tuesday, I pretty much carried her around in the carrier all day because she was just lethargic. We gave Tylenol every four hours.

By Wednesday, she seemed to feel better and I went out in the field to work and she stayed with Kevin. Wednesday night's sleep was fitful and not sound.

Thursday, I was with her all day and she was clingy, cranky and not smiley like she normally is. Thursday night she woke up at 11:00 and did not go back to sleep until 1:30. She was crying and fitful. I started to notice a red face rash.

Today I've noticed a very red (not raised) rash on her cheeks and under her chin. I attribute the chin one to drool and her pacifier as she pretty much has that all the time, but now it's very red and her cheeks are too. She doesn't seem to be running a fever, but I gave her some Tylenol a bit ago -- just in case.

I've checked for teeth breaking through -- none. She's not tugging on her ears.

She was at the doctor's office today just for the nurse to look at her arm to tell us the results of her TB test and Kevin said she didn't say anything about her cheeks being red.

So... what in the world is causing her to be so fitful, unhappy, crying and red-faced? It's just not her "typical" behavior.

Any tips/suggestions appreciated!!

How TV Time Helps with Homework

I LOVE LOVE LOVE "Josh-isms". But sometimes the logic just blows right over my head. This is one of those times, but it was kind of funny so I wanted to "save" it for him for when he is older.

We were driving home (from aforementioned DGS) and I asked how he thought he did on his social studies test today. He said he thought he did fine and that it was open book. I asked him how in the world he could be expected to learn when the test was open book. He said, "It was a hard test." He then proceeded to tell me how the first question was about why the US and Spain were fighting the Spanish American War. We had just studied this the night before so I was CERTAIN he would get this one right. I said, "Why?" He replied, "Taxes".

I thought my head would twirl off my head as it spun around to look at him. WHAT?? I said, "We studied this; how could you get it wrong?" He said, "I don't know." I said, "What was the real reason, Josh?" He replied, "It was over Cuba." Right.

And then he said the following, "Yes, I should have known that because I learned that on George L*opez." Huh??? "You know, that time when George and his father in law go to Cuba to save his wife's uncle." Oh.

I'm still pondering the relevance of it all. In his mind, he knew what he was saying, I suppose. Regardless, he got the answer to the question wrong -- on an open book test. HOW???

I Found It -- Christmas Spirit was Hiding in the Cookies

This afternoon, I made an impulse decision to offer to make gingerbread cookies with Josh. He'd been asking for quite a while -- since I bought a mix kit. He was so excited. He has always loved to cook with me, but we just don't do it often enough. Last year, we'd even purchased him a chef's hat and apron from P*mpered Chef. He shared the hat with Ellie for photo ops.

Turns out, when we started, we had no butter so a quick trip to the corner market (didn't have any), turned into a long trip to the D*llar Gener*l Market. Ellie had not made her debut there yet, so she was appropriately "ooh'd" and "aah'd" over by Nova (who works there), Lisa (my friend who just happened to be there) and several other DG employees.

On the way home, Josh got in the Christmas mood by singing (loudly) along with the Christmas songs. I wish I could have taken a picture of Ellie's face while she watched him. She acted like he was some kind of alien. We had a great time on the way home -- singing all the way. Keep in mind this is highly unusual of my little man these days. He's all "hormonal" or something and one can never guess what the mood will be, but it's not frequently singing and happy. I felt like I had my true boy back!!

When we got home, we put Ellie in her Bumpo up on the counter and gave her some of the cooking items to hold and play with and made her a part of making cookies. Chef Josh had a wonderful time making cookies. We turned on more Christmas music so we could dance around the kitchen while we were working. We had the greatest conversations about just regular "stuff". I thought about those last couple of Christmas seasons when we were talking about bringing "Ellie" home -- back when she was just a concept. Now, here she is -- making and eating cookies with us. Amazing blessing from God.

Ellie got a little fussy (aka ready to bounce around and be held!!) about half way through and I held her. As I was standing there, holding her, smelling baking gingerbread and watching Josh making cookies, all along listening to Christmas music, it hit me -- the spirit of Christmas. And while we've decided that this year is not going to be a "go all out" Christmas financially, I felt happier about Christmas than I have in a long time. Family, love, togetherness -- that's what it's all about, not about a material present. The best gift -- the one given by Jesus -- was not material, by any means.

While we were cooking, we heard helicopters going over on maneuvers and I stopped to say a prayer for all of those men and women who won't be home for the holidays with their families -- so that I can live here and be safe. I specifically remembered Jason, my friend Terri's husband, who has just been deployed -- again -- and Terri and her children who miss him terribly. Thank you to each of you who do what you do. It's small; it's words, but we truly appreciate you.

After the cookies began to be finished, we had to "test" some of the misformed/broken ones. Ellie became distraught that we didn't give her any, so I gave her a pinch. Let me just say, The Princess LOVES gingerbread cookies and ate quite a few of them. I'm going to try to post a video clip of her and Kevin -- funny stuff.

So, all in all, we had a great time. I hope there are many Christmas spirit moments in your family this season!! I think I'd rather have several more of those moments than any present anyone could give me.

8 Month Check Up

Today was Ellie's 8 month check up. Now, typically, she would have had a six month, then a nine month, I suppose, but we are anything but typical.

She had gained another 1/2 pound (equally distributed between her cheeks and tummy, I think) and is now a whopping (haha) 14.5 pounds. She has grown an inch is now measures in at 25 inches. She is in the 3rd percentile for weight, 4th percentile for height and 11th percentile for head circumference. Once again, I have a big-headed baby. The doc is pleased with her growth and I'm happy that she's on the chart.

She got three shots today and a TB test. Youch! She has been quite lethargic this afternoon, and I pretty much just put her in the sling and carried her around until Kevin came home and then he carried her until bedtime. She was just laying on us -- very tired. Hopefully, she'll feel better tomorrow. It's two months now until her next series of shots.

Not a whole lot of news to report from our house right now. I'm tired and heading off to bed.

$2000 Raised for the Kids to have Christmas in Krygyzstan!!

Forget anything I could write about how wonderful it is that this amount has been raised. Go here:

http://lajoyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/11/holy-macaroni-batman-you-did-it.html

and here:

http://actofkindness.blogspot.com/2008/11/pies-flying-at-big-event.html
http://actofkindness.blogspot.com/2008/12/moment-you-have-been-waiting-for.html

to read for yourself what everyone who chose to give to this cause has managed to do and how God has blessed your giving. What a wonderful blessing for all these children and adults who will be blessed because of your giving. It's not too late to give to other causes this season, so continue to search your heart for the cause that is near to your heart. Can you imagine what a wonderful memory this will create for the children that will be the recipient of this wonderful day of food, fun and presents? I would love to be there.

I heard today that the Salvation Army in Nashville normally has 8,000 kids on their Angel Tree list. This year, it is up to 14,000 kids in the Middle Tennessee area who need help to have Christmas. Consider how you can help.