Done with Cards!

Well... I typed and I typed... and ... I finished our cards last night!!! (except for the couple that I forgot cuz they arent on my friend/family list)
So, I hoping to have them in the mail tomorrow!!!! Well...not our cards to Guatemala...or Mexico... but... uh.... I'll just blame the post office or something!!

I got the nerve up today to call PGN and inquire about our case! I'm glad I did! I got right through and found out we are with the 2nd reviewer. So... we have not been ko'd yet...but we are not signed out yet either.
In one way, I wish I could have been more practical in being pro-active with our last two cases...but I"m not sure it would have helped. This time, I'm just so damm scared that I'm trying to keep my head up...but its hard. So, the fact I got right through...the fact our entrace date was right!!!!, the fact that we are with the 2nd reviewer, it makes me accept our fate easier. At least for the time being! I will try to call again...but, I'm not sure if I should even bother till the beginning of the year or so. Dh and I have talked about taking another visit. Maybe in Feb/March...athough we have two birthdays at that time... but it would be great to have their birthdays there! Still gotta get little mans passport! Shoot.... I just need to win the lottery!
We have almost dug ourselves out from the snow! Actually dh HAD us dug out...then the nice county plow guy pushed a whole lot of it back into our damm driveway! So, dh had to dig us out again this morning before we could go anywhere. Snow plows... love them, hate them. Now... snowmobiles... love them, love them!

Our Christmas Pics!

I finally got our pictures!!!!!

I am so happy how they turned out! However, I'm very disappointed that I couldn't afford to buy more pictures. So, I guess I will have to make up for it by taking a whole lotta pics with MY camera...hmmm... maybe I should ask for a new camera for Christmas!!! Yea!!!! I'm sure that would be a great plan...

Anyways... I am very happy with our photographer!
She does participate in the Celebrate Adoption Sessions and that is how we found her!
She is a ways away from our house...but I'm so glad that the distance didn't deter us!

I cant wait till Lady L gets home!!! Not only because I want her home...but also so that we can get some more awesome pics!!!!

As for other events....
We had a HUGE snowstorm!!!!!!!! I got the boys out in the snow today!!!!!! Gotta dump the pics...they are cute! E and K had a bunch of fun...but this is F's first cold weather winter (under 50 degrees) I am not sure if he knows what to think or not. He likes it and then a few seconds later he doesn't like it. E likes it as long as the snow doesn't touch his skin. K likes it till he has to move. He must feel like he cant walk in the snow yet. He did fall a few times and he had a fit! Although I did get down in the snow with them and roll around to show them it doesn't hurt ya or anything! I even got them to get into a little snowball fight with me! Unfortunately the snow is not good for packing yet....soon as it is, I am off to build a snowman!!!! E kept asking for one...and I tried to explain it to him...but yea... he didn't get it! I don't either some days...so I cant blame him!

My mom and dad are here right now...so my mom helped me with some wrapping gifts and such! I only have one more bag to wrap...and I need to buy a few small things for our little man. I found out that HE doesn't have a single gift that is his alone that isn't clothes... I feel bad cuz he is just a year younger than his bro's that he is too small for their toys... so, I need to find a couple of things that are for just him. I am NOT looking forward to shopping....but I will do it!

I have been absolutely stalking adoption websites for the past week or so... not that I am not a regular...but I have been checking like multiple times a day....
That is ONE thing I hate... I hate the panic! Especially this time around with the law changing in Guatemala and such. There is even more of an urgency this time around. I just feel like our file HAS to be out of pgn by Jan. 1st...or ELSE! Not that this is reality or anything...but it is MY reality for right now... so, anxiously looking for outs that are around our submit dates! I also might try my hand at calling.... I'll see in the morning how I feel about it. It's like those that fear doctors cuz the dr might find something wrong.... I'm afraid to call and have my hopes dashed due to a previo. But...then again, I could find out good news too! Oh what to do???

Well... I need to finish stuffing Christmas Cards!!!! They HAVE to be in the mail soon... unless I consider them New Years cards... then I guess I would gain a week to procrastinate!

Praying for a Christmas Miracle!

We are finally IN pgn with Lady L's adoption case! Whew.... that is both good news and bad news. Our adoption cannot complete without pgn approval...yet pgn is known as being the big, black, hole...where files go in... and come out months and months later.
We should know.... K's file was in the hole for 6 months... F's was in there for 9 months... I remember the pain like it was yesterday.... I remember the numbness... the fear... the unknown... I couldnt stand to think about how much they were growing while our file was sitting there...and then new papers would have to be done...and then it would go back in.... and sit... and over and over. It was horrible!
However, that was then. That was with our old attorney/facilitator... we have a different attorney this time around.... we werent even IN pgn at 4 months with K or F... so... I guess I should feel different this time around... but with the Ortega law and the Hague just around the corner... I just feel sad. Sad for the little Lady...sad for us.... sad for her brothers...sad for her mom.... and of course, I feel horrible for the children who are going to be left behind if these laws do effectivly stop adoptions.

This year will be F man's first Christmas with us! We are very excited as K and E are kinda getting into the spirit of things this year. I keep praying that Lady L will have Christmas with us next year. I would also LOVE to celebrate her 1st birthday with her!!! I know it is not so much for her....but for ME!
Anyways.... I know this will be a special Christmas! I am almost done with my shopping... just need to order a couple of things and they are coming from online...so it shouldnt be that bad! I have battled the stores already this year... I'm done with all that! I just really need my dad's present...and I'm done...then I get to wrap everything!!! I am working on quilts for the boys... I may get one or two done...but I doubt I will get all of them done.... Maybe if I can get a couple of evenings free from the toddlers I could get them all done...but at the rate I'm going....nope! I have a very good start on one though.... so maybe if I just get motivated enough... it can happen!

I hope the boys like their things this year.... I have sold some of their things from last year already.... they looked sooo fun on tv... but the boys didnt really get into them.... hope the same thing doesnt happen this year. Unfortunatly for them...but fortunaly for us... they are getting quite a bit of clothes this year!!!! Especially pj's! They really need them! I think we have a couple more years of passing pj's off as gifts!

So Sad.....

Ok...so I got all hyped up for the big game...
Had to call comcast and PAY to see the game...

and then... bamm! What the heck happened???? HELLO????

Now Favre is hurt... I'm seeing the season slipping away....

Anyways... we got some nice ice and a little snow last night... we had to run out and get some litter and such and man was it slipperly! The hail even hurt when it hit ya... but it is on its way to melting now.

The snow I love... the ice I can do without!

Tomorrow is a BIG Night!!!!

Tomorrow is the Green Bay v. Dallas game!!!!

Oh Yea!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmm..... Go Pack Go!!!!!!!

I really feel this might be the year... seriously! The only thing that would make me happier than having Lady L home in Jan is to see my boys in the Super Bowl!!!!!

I was at UWSP when the Pack won in 97. Talk about a P-A-R-T-Y! Oh my! I do remember some of it!

I am seriously trying to get our house decorated. I'm running into roadblock after roadblock. Mr. Grumpy (aka gh-Grumpy husband) doesnt seem to be in the Christmas spirit. The boys love seeing the lights this year. Everytime we pass a house with lights, they clap and talk about it. I cant believe that gh isnt wanting the boys to talk about OUR house! Dang...even I didnt like to decorate when we didnt have kids... I didnt even do the tree thing... but with the boys... comeon!!!! That is why we SHOULD decorate! I straighted out 6 strings of lights today... he is going to put them up... or else! I'm thinking the tree might make its appearance tomorrow.... I need to get him out of the house for a while... as long as he is home before KICKOFF!!!!!!!

Go Pack Go!!! Go Pack Go!!! Go Pack Go!!!

Frankie's First Snow!

Well we are in the north visiting my parents and once again we have had snow for Thanksgiving!!!!

So, for the first time, Frankie got to expierence snow!!!! He also now knows that ice is slippery as he hit a huge patch of it and went down on his bum... he probably will be more careful next time!

I love winter!!! Granted...I hate how other people drive in snow... I personally dont mind driving in it though.... but I just LOVE waking up to a new snowfall! It is just absolutly beautiful! I can remember snowmobiling through the pines and seeing the snow built up on the limbs of the trees and how wonderful it looked.

I'm hoping the boys will get some sledding in this winter! That will be a riot to see them on sleds! Gotta find a nice HUGE hill!!!! I used to LOVE sledding!!!

Oh...so... my mom and I were up at 4am yesterday morning to go to wal-mart for their super sales.... wow...what a collossol waste of time! I did get a couple of things on sale...but to get pushed around and yelled at...nope...not worth it!!! I also was NOT buying a television so I was able to manage to stay away from that crazyness...but still.... this is NOT what I consider the Christmas spirit! I sure hope the boys and my dh like their Christmas gifts!!! If not...then I will have to guilt them into liking them...after all.... my mom and I were up at 4am...drove to the store in 0 degree weather...just to get those gifts!

What were we celebrating????

Go Packers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok....well now that THAT is out there!!!!!

Things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving:

• My boys and their sister!
• My parents!
• My husband!
• Health!
• The roofs over our heads!
• Our educations and the fact that our kids will have education!
• Health Care
• Jobs
• Our Democratic System
• The ELECTIONS next year!

Really though... I mean Thanksgiving is such a nice, family holiday that doesnt revolve around presents and such... but still...what are we really celebrating???

The initial premise behind this holiday is imperialism and rascism.

Granted... I am hugely blessed to live here in the US... the more I travel, the more blessed I am. However, I cant help to think about the true meaning of this holiday.

I dont believe it is at all like "popular" though would lead us to believe. White man landing here for the most part was nothing but plundering, pillaging, and massacuring those who were already here. It is difficult to look at my boys who are part indiginious, and think of how many people were eliminated. I know in this day and age that ethinic genocides are still happening. It is all too curious to me why. Yes...on one level I do understand. On yet another level I absolutly do not.

Well.... as long as we are aware of what we are truly celebrating.... as I have been teaching my boys the real meaning of many holidays.... I hope that everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

I know our dinner is now over....and just waiting for my pie to cool.... and then sit in front of the tv the rest of the night while my rugrats run crazy around the house....

Living the dream! Everyday!

Our Visit Trip!

We spent a lovely 5 days at the Grand Tikal Futura with our little Lady L!

She is absolutly fabulous and such a doll!

She eats 6 oz of formula every 2-3 hours, then sleeps for a while.

At night she is sleeping almost all the way through the night! She takes a pacha at midnight and then sleeps till 7:30am or so! If she was on cereal, she would probably make it the whole night.

She is on the little side...but she is larger than her two brothers. She turned 4 months old last Sat and is 10 lbs. Of course, all of the clothes I took down for her are way too big...but we made do. Once she is on cereal, I'm sure she is really going to pack on the weight and she will need the bigger sizes.

As for where we are in the process.... I'm not sure.... our attorney was supposed to get our family court report this week or early next week and then we are supposed to go into pgn.

I cant wait to get into pgn...but at the same time I am absolutly dreading it. Of course, nothing at all can happen without being in pgn....so.... LET'S GO!

I will say I am impressed... we actually got to meet our attorney in person! He has a very nice office in a nice building, very near the embassy.

We also saw many of our friends while we were there... that was very nice. I'm glad that our boy's foster moms still want to keep in touch. We made calendars for the foster moms with the boy's pictures and they really loved them. We also gave everyone a big stack of pictures!

We made some new friends while we were there also...and THAT is always good!!!

I just hope and pray that our case will not drag on and on.... after going through K and F's processes... I know we can make it through....but I'm not sure that I want to do it.... I mean I would totally love it if L could come home before her first birthday. It would be an amazing thing for us. Just gotta keep the hope alive is all!

So much to write....

Well we are back from our visit....

I have sooo much to write about....just soo little time right now to do it.
So.... One of the things I am hoping to be thankful for tomorrow... is time to update this blog!

Our little girl is a complete doll!!!!!!

Oh....and....just so that I can get the winning vibe going....

GO Pack GO !!!

Where O Where Did That Week Go???

Ok....so... I have had a whole week to get the laundry done, get packed, and make my baby girl a blanket.

Uh...well...uh... I'm almost packed! Yea... 10:30 at night and our laundry room is alive and well! Clothes are piled high in the laundry room and the blanket materials are still sitting on my dresser in my bedroom....far, far away from the sewing machine in which it will need to be on in order to be done. I wanted to do it tonight...but... I guess I cant figure out how to type and sew at the same time. Gosh...can you imagine how much money I could make if I could figure THAT out??? Now That is something that could be usefull!!!!!

I think our boys are all over their sickies now.... hopefully dh and I are done with them too! There is nothing worse than having to travel while sick....

I cant wait to post an update from Guatemala City!!!!!

Oh my... we are so in trouble. We got new pics of our little lady...and she is SUCH a doll.
Half of the suitcase is full of clothes.... she is going to be a beautiful model!
Getting excited now!!!! Will NOT be able to sleep AT ALL tommorrow night!!!!!!!!
I just hope she sleeps.... nothing worse than baby that wont sleep. She is young enough that we are going to have to wake up to feed her in the middle of the night....that may not settle well with K-man...but we didnt want to get a suite this time. So, he will just have to learn to sleep through it...or not sleep when she is not sleeping! Hopefully though we can wear him out enough in the swimming pool and at McD's so that he does sleep through the night!

Gotta get on those blankets!!!!

Meeting Lady L!!!!!

Best part of my day today was BOOKING TICKETS TO MEET LADY L!!!!!!!!!!!

I also got to indulge in a little retail therapy!!!

I bought 9 new outfits for the little lady!!!!

I do hate shopping for her though....gawd I was such on pink overload... YUCK!

I think I did pretty well though... kept it under $70 for 9 outfits, 2 pairs of shoes, and a dvd for the boys!

So need to go back there and buy some pj's for the boys... they are growing sooo quick!

but...did I mention that I am GOING TO GUATEMALA CITY SOON!!!!!!!!!!!

I am.... A little excited!!!!!!!!!

Ok...I am a little nervous... but VERY excited!!!!

Hold on Lady L!!!! Momma and Daddy are coming down to meet ya!!!!!

Still Recovering

Wow... we are back from our journey to Ohio...and Ohio will never be the same!!!

I found out once again that it is possible to fit 4 people in a bed...and can that I can have a fruitful day even with about an hour of sleep.

We had a day of many first's yesterday!

The boys ate their first meal at Waffle House!!! (one of their mom's favorite restaurants!)

The boys ate their first meal at Tony Packo's!!! (also, one their mom's favorite restaurants!)

The boys went to the Hungarian Butcher for the first time! We stopped in Toledo (also where Tony Packo's is!) to get kobash (Hungarian Sausage) and abat selena (dried,fatty bacon, topped with a LOT of paprika) sounds not so appatizing...but very good!

We then finally got to my our house, I got dinner in the oven and just kinda hung out till dinner was over with. Had an awesome dinner of fresh kobash, sauerkraut, and cheese dumplings! Yummy!

I then got an awesome night of sleep!!! BY MYSELF!!!!!!

My parents had breakfast with us this morning...and then they went home. I always hate when they go home... the boys keep asking about them...and I tell them they are at home and they look around the house...

Hotel Room Frenzy

Well we are in Ohio and today we enjoyed the Air Force Museum!!!
My dh stayed home...and was out last night... while I was playing a game of "how many people can sleep in 1 queen size bed!!!"
I'm not sure how many people can sleep in a queen size bed...but I'm betting that if we tried to find out with my boys we could fit many more on as each one of them only wants to sleep ON me!

They were so good on the 4 hour drive down here....
We stopped a few times to stretch and restroom breaks... but they were really good.
Then we got here and they saw the P-O-O-L! Wow!!!! We arent going to sleep for 3 days!!!!

They did take a nap.... then went to dinner... then we went in the water....
I killed my back so bad trying to hold three toddlers who cant swim.... in 3 foot of water.... tonight when they wake up from their nap we are going shopping for some floaties!!!!

After the swim, they came up, got showered, and in bed.... 10 minutes was all it took for K to wake up screaming... so I tried to take care of him...but he wasnt having it...so I turned on the monitor and went to my parents room to watch tv.... came back to our room at 12am... K isnt tired... he wont even let me pee by myself... I get ready (with him attached to my leg) and get in bed....
I fell fast asleep... I get woke up by F screaming! I run over to his crib and before I get the 4 steps it takes me to get there...K is now standing in bed in full frenzy!!!!!! I grab F and look at the clock... uh... yea... like 3:45 am!!!!!!!
Of course now E is also awake! Now I have THREE toddlers screaming at the top of their lungs! I would have been waiting for the phone to ring had I not had to unplug it too keep the little ones from calling around the world! I was trying to do my best to get everyone to settle down.... It really wasnt working...but I kept moving kids around to find the spot they would actually sleep.... YEA RIGHT!!!
About 2 hours later... yep...around 6 am... I was finally able to move F back to his crib, E back to his bed, and get K to stop crying.... during those two hours, I was screamed at, kicked at, and the boys fought over who could sleep next to me... mental note... 3 kids...2 sides... doesnt really work!!!!

My phone began ringing at 7:30.... it was my mom...they had woken up early and wanted to go get breakfast.... uh... sure... oh...and the crying started all over again!!!!

But.....we did have a great time at the museum!!!!! We saw soo many planes...and many of the planes that my dad used to work on as an Air force Mechanic! The boys were very good in the museum and they were good at lunch! The best part is... I'm typing right now cuz they are fast asleep!!!!!!!

We are going to dinner...and then having dessert at McD's playland.... Like I have said before... nothing induces good sleep like playing at McD's for an hour or two!!!!!!!

Saying Goodbye

Friday was the first night I had been out without the boys and without dh in a very long time.

I got to go to a bar, have a few beers, and hang out with some friends... It should have been a lot of fun...but it wasnt. I should have had a good time....but I really didnt... I should have been happy to just be away...but I really wasnt.

It was my friends going away party.

The job market in MI sucks so bad that jobs just arent available. Ok...so you can work at Target or Meijers part time...but no full time jobs... So, My friend had to take a job in Iowa.

Dont get me wrong... I am beyond happy for her! She deserves a good job. She will do great at this job!

Selfishly though... I'm hating the fact that she is moving away.

I dont have many friends... in fact I can count them on my hands... so...losing a friend is very difficult for me.

It is also going to be difficult for my boys...as she is their Auntie. She has spent a lot of time with them...she even went to Guatemala with us to visit K for Christmas 2 years ago.

She decorated our house when E came home.

She was there for their baby shower, their birthday parties, and to just hang out with us at the house.

Now... I know Iowa isnt on the other side of the world...but right now it might as well be.

Phone calls are great...im is great.... but it doesnt make up for one on one... it doesnt make up for just dropping in... it doesnt make up for shopping trips.

I would have thought that by the time I was at this point in my life that I would handle these things better... unfortunately that isnt true. I am actually crying right now. It takes a bit for me to do that. I can only hope that we are able to maintain our friendship over the phone and over the Internet....and that we will be able to meet up in person sometimes.

I hope that my very good friend finds HUGE success in her new job!

I hope that her new house is the perfect house!

I hope she finds the man of her dreams!

Most of all.... I hope she doesnt forget us....

Getting there...slowly

Well we had a better day yesterday. The boys actually slept! Well ok...E had to come into my room about 2 am...but still...they took a nice long nap...and then wanted to go to bed.

Our secret weapon to MAKE them want to go to bed???

McDonalds!!!!

Yes...we went to family actitivity night...although they boys were pretty dissappointed... See they have hot wheel toys right now...and they were completely OUT of toys...
What??? OUT OF TOYS??? oh the tears that were shead last night!!!

The only thing that brought them back to happiness was ice cream. Yes... I hate to see my boys cry! So, we treated them (an us, of course) to some ice cream!

Well I am anxiously awaiting new pics of Lady L...and to see how much she has grown over the last month. Oh...and I wonder if she has some earings now??? I hope soo!!!!

We are still debating over a visit trip...but looks like if we do it, it would be in the beginning of Dec. Just wish I knew the right thing to do here....
Anyone have a crystal ball for me????

The croup is CRAP!

Yea....ever heard of Croup??

I hadnt either...but then again there are alot of things I didnt know about until I became a parent.

2 of my boys have the croup. Basically...they cough...and cough...and cough...and cough.
Oh...and then they throw up because they have coughed so much. Then they return to coughing.

This is the first day in 6 days that they have been able to sleep without me. NOw...it does give me a great feeling to know that the boys want me to be near them...but it kinda dims the warm moment when they cough continuously in your face while you are trying to sleep.

I do feel sorry for the little buggers... it isnt their fault that they are so sick. They also dont understand yet that they will get better...they just sit there coughing and crying. It can wear ya down after awhile. But, at least K man is beginning to feel better....so that is good...and they are sleeping on their own...and that is GREAT!!!!!

Maybe now I can get down to the business of writing my damm personal statement for my law school apps.... yea...that is what I need to do!!! Actually...it should have already been done...but I'm a slacker. That is S-L-A-C-K-E-R. I seem to write much better under pressure...but not self inflicted pressure. So, I'm going to have to come up with a strategy on how to get some "pressure" to do this...way before the actuall date. People like me truly need to get their applications in early. I dont have the most attractive application as it is....so I dont need to get it to them after they have had thousands of more attractive ones... I might look better the earlier they see my application. At least that is what I keep telling myself.
I had thought about just using an online profile for my statement...but then again I would actually like to go to law school...and not just waste the 80-100$$$ that it cost to apply to these schools. If it were free....hmmm...maybe.

New Pics K and F!

We finally had time to get new pics for K-man's 2nd birthday and to celebrate F-man joining our family!

I am so proud of my boys!!! They did GREAT during picture time!!! I'm soo happy that we were able to capture pictures that truly show off their personalities!

F-man's Baptism

On Wednesday October 10th, F was baptized into the Catholic Church!

Our friends Jesus and Cony came all the way up from Queretero Mexico to stand is as his Godparents! They were here from Monday till early Sunday Morning! We not only had a great visit, but I'm so happy they were able to celebrate with us and I'm so happy that F has two wonderful Madrinas and A wonderful Padrino!

We were very lucky that Deacon Raphel was at our mass on Wednesday morning so that he could do the baptism ceremony in Spanish so that Cony and Jesus could understand it more. IT was a lovely ceremony!

My Poor Neglected Little Blog

Well...yea...it has been a month or so.
Yea...I suck. No I cannot keep up with this day to day as my life is just NOT that interesting!

Ok...it is...but really....does everyone want to read about E peeing in the toilet??? or K talking??? or F...just being a little attitude man???
Ok...some probably do...but I dont want to write it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So...a quick summary of our lives in the past few weeks....

Took the LSAT. Yes 5 hour tests do totally suck. No I dont know how I did. I will find out on Oct 22.

Celebrated E's 2nd anniversary of being with us!!!

Celebrated K's 1st anniversary of being with us!!!

Celebrated F's Baptism!!!

Slept very little!

Yes...that is the very quick summary... I hope to use the next week or so to catch up some more!

So...I've been missing from posting lately.... life has just taken over!!!!

I am seriously flipping out right now!!!!

MY LSAT IS IN ONE WEEK!!!!!!

ok...so...I would love to say that is all I have been doing...but of course, with a hubby and three toddlers it is very obvious that is NOT all I have been doing....

Well..I am having a root canal tomorrow! I'm soo excited!!!! *puke*

Labor Day Weekend

Well....this Labor Day Weekend did not turn out as we had planned.

My dad had to be admitted into the hospital on Thursday...so dh had to take me up north to my parents house. Dh left on Friday morning....so then it was me, my mom, and the boys. I saw my dad on Friday.... I can say there is hardly anything worse than seeing my dad in the cardiac Icu unit....there is something worse...but I dont want to go there right now.

Anyways...my dad didnt have a heart attack...they dont know what happened...but at least they were willing to help him and change his medicine. So, he stayed a few extra days while they took him off of one medicine and onto another. With his condition they cant take a chance with new medication.

I dont know how my mom is keeping it together. I know it has to be slowy killing her. She wants to do everything by herself...I know she gets lonely....I just wish we were closer so that she wouldnt be so lonely...and so maybe she could have some help with the simple stuff. I cooked all the meals this weekend....I could tell that she appreciated it. We even made gumbolts. It is nice to sit and cook with my mom...I didnt want to do it when I was younger....but I have learned from my mistakes.

We did get to go to the craft show...it has really been going downhill...there was hardly nothing there this time. OK...so like 30 jewerly people...but hardly nothing else. (no offense to jewerly makers!) We also got to watch the boys play at BK! Nothing but the best!!!!! The boys also got to go to the park....but not in the lake. I couldnt take all 3 in the lake by myself. I could once I got to the sandbar...but it would be the walking out there part. Next year it probably wont be a problem. It's too bad too...the boys LOVE the water....I mean L-O-V-E the water! Once they are older they probably will spend the whole summer in the water. They love it that much!

Well...definatly back to reality yesterday and today!!!! Dh had to wake me up at 8am so that he could go pay a traffic ticket....HELLO!!!!!!!! He got a stupid ticket for turning on a red light where it was posted NOT to! UUGGG!!!!!

Oh...then...we spend the day without water!!!!!! Our ice maker broke in our fridge upstairs.... so I finally got on dh's case to fix it...I mean it's only been a flipping month!!! So...instead of fixing it...he decides to put the one in the basement online...well 8 hours, and gallons of water in the basement he decides he didnt do it right... so...he treats us to Wendy's and then he is off to lowes...E & K and I go to the park.... it would be too much to make them sit through his shopping trip! We had a good time at the park...and we were there for so long E-man even came up to me and asked to go home! He was soo tired! It was great! We came home, changed clothes...and off to bed!!!!!

Oh...and dh just fixed the water!!!!!

I can shower tonight!!! and flush! It doesnt get better than that!!!! at least tonight!!!!

So Much Fun!

I tell you what... I cannot believe how much fun my boys can be!

I mean I never really thought that I would have fun as the mom of three toddler boys but they are a laugh a minute!

E-man has developed the art of scarcasm (thanks to me!) and he can now make fun of me! K-man just laughs along...although I have seen him take some physical actions to get us to laugh. He will act like he wants to fall down or he will twirl around and point at ya. K-man is becoming more comforable also as he has begun to laugh more at his brothers and at us. He is the least ticklish of the boys...but hopfully that will come around!

Sometimes I look around at other parents and they look miserable. I'm sure I have had my days (who hasnt) but then again, I usually love being around the boys...especially in public! Long lines are more fun! Sitting and waiting is more fun! I have someone to talk to when I am grocery shopping now!!! I just get a kick out of them! I am so lucky and blessed!

It hit the fan...

Man oh man....when it does rain...it POURS!

It's been a week....I lost an entire week!

Tuesday (last Tuesday) I went to my LSAT class... kinda felt like blah...but I chalked it upto taking a nap and then getting woke up...had a Jimmy John's sub and soda for dinner... and then had to sit down and take a logical reasoning test.... about 10 min into the test I realized that my head was completely cloudy and that I am now freezing. Uhhhh...I know it is like 100 degrees in the room...I wasnt cold 5 min ago...or was I??? I finished my exam and then just stood up and rocked in place. I know I looked like some wierdo or something...but something was horribly wrong. It was my very BEST logical reasoning section I have ever done!!!!

I got in the car...told my hubby that I was sick and that I was going home and going to bed.
I did help him put the kids to bed...I spent 5 min looking at the tv and then went out.

Woke up freezing my butt off at 3am...couldnt swollow...throat was so swollen....head hurt like hell, both my ears were killing me, sinuses were completely blocked. It was horrible. I had to puposley swollow and it was sooo painful. I was sweating horribly...I stunk... I decided to take a shower. Probably not the best ideal I have ever had...but once I got control of my shivering it was better. I cannot believe how sick I was. 103 fever for 3 days. Hubby got me into the dr. I walked in and people started to move away from me. The people who I usualy talk to there took one look at me and felt bad. Saw my nurse friend and she couldnt believe how bad I looked. Took all my vitals then told me to lay down. Fell completely asleep on the little bed when my dr. walked in. She took one look at me and told me I must feel like hell.... thanks....
Well after 2 throat cultures...no strep. Took blood to test for mono...otherwise it is probably viral. Go home and sleep. Gee....I hadnt thought about that. Although it was kinda wierd that she kept apologizing to me. Went home, fell into bed...didnt wake up for another 6 hours.

Thursday I had to watch my two boys and the grandkids while hubby took K-man to his 2 year checkup. What a horrible 3 hours! OH my! All I want to do is to crawl back into bed....and I'm getting sassed by a damm 8 year old! Not my finest few hours. Hubby and K finally got home...and off to bed I went for the rest of the night. I left the house on Friday night....we took all the kids to McD's. I was soo beat after just a few minutes...but I hung in there and the kids had a good time. I did not sleep well that night at all.

On Saturday, my parents were here because they had their 50th class reunion! Congrats mom and dad!!!! We went to breakfast at Denny's (E's choice) and then had to go to the store for dipers and such. I was so out of it. It was really terrible how out of it I was. I slept the rest of the day. Then got up, had dinner, got in an argument with hubby, went back to bed. Felt almost fine on Sunday...at least I could swollow...THAT is a huge improvement!

Logic Games

I spent 3 1/2 hours tonight doing Logic Games. I am not a happy person tonight!

I really want to be a lawyer....I really want to go to law school (ok...I want to be a lawyer without going to law school!) but.... I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE THE LSAT!!!!

I have been taking the LSAT Extreme classes.... 3 times a week for 15 weeks. 3 1/2 hours at a time. I just dont think I am getting it. I want to. I want to think that I am improving...but my scores dont reflect that. I know this isnt a test that people get 100% on...but damm...would I love to get close to that!!!!!

I have two schools that I am going to apply to....but not sure if I should even bother with the one. If my practice scores dont go up sometime soon, I'm gonna keep my $80 for the application fee and buy me a couple cases of beer instead of filling out the application.

Oh..yea...and I need to get going on my personal statements!!! Y-U-C-K!!!!!!

I would rather have an interview...but they apparently dont do those anymore...now you have to write what you think they want to hear about you. I have no ideal what I am going to write about. I mean... I think I am pretty interesting...but come on! I'm not sure these people are going to enjoy the same story... Then....what really do I talk about??? My theory on life? My kids? The time I spend on the computer???
I'm stumped.
I have read a few books on how to write these things...they include samples that are sooo above me it is unreal. Like a 20 year old that finished their masters degree while serving in the peace corps in middle Africa. How they speak 14 languages and hope to learn 10 more, how much community service they do, blah, blah, blah.

Hi there... I'm a 30 year old woman with 3 toddlers who has a bad back who thinks she can do some good as a Civil Rights lawyer.

It doesnt quite fit for a whole page!

Knowing me, my paper will be too political or something and the person reading will be a high strung conservative. My completely left leaning views might be enough to ensure I dont get into ANY law school in the state!

Oh well.... it is something that I am just gonna have to suck up and do!

Maybe in my free time!

Happy 2nd Birthday K-man!!

Happy 2nd Birthday K-man!!!!

Today was K-man's 2nd birthday...but it was the first birthday that we got to spend with him!

We had such a wonderful day and I hope it was as wonderful for him as it was for us!!!

Dh and I were up until 2am putting together his brand new train table and his train set!

We wanted everything to be ready for when he woke up!

So, at 8:30 when the boys got up and came downstairs, they could hardly contain themselves as they came downstairs to see the new toys!!!!

We also had a couple of packs of trains, cars, and a Diego doll for K to open...but it was difficult to tear him away from the train table to open anything else!

He also got the required clothes...but he was happy with those too! He got some new jammies with Thomas and Cars, an outfit to have his pictures taken in, and a new "birthday boy" shirt! He also got an entire pack of Thomas "big boy underware"!!!

We had breakfast at Denny's (boy's choice!) and then it was off to the mall to build a bear with their Aunt P and little D!

Build A Bear was crazy!

Maybe because it was raining all day long...but it was packed in the mall...and packed in bab!

The boys took their time picking out their animals...but soon they had them picked out and we were on our way to get them stuffed!

We also picked out a bear to take to Lady L!

Lady L got a pink bear (what else?) that has magnents in it's hand and mouth that makes it look like the bear is blowing kisses. It's a really cute bear!

We also bought two voice boxes to record on and bought the bear a pink outfit complete with pink satin panties. (the panties for the bear cost me more than my own do!)

E-man picked out Shrek with his voice, K-man picked out the green dino that roars and says "I Love You", I picked out a floppy, soft, puppy for F-man, and little D picked out a black bear!

We all needed to sit down after that expierence, so we went to the food court to have lunch and open a gift.

Auntie P and little D got K-man a little train set that folds up and goes with. There are no parts to lose and of course the boys took to fighting over it immediatly!

We then headed home...and all three boys proceeded to c-r-a-s-h in the car!

Everyone woke up late from naps...so we had a late dinner.

We went to a local Mexican restaurant that we really enjoy.

The boys love taco's and beans, and chips & salsa! So, of course they were thrilled with our choice for dinner!!!!

The owner even brought them suckers after dinner and brought Kinney a HUGE hot, fudge sundae while they sang to him!

Days like today are hard to get through without a lot of emotion.

Not only are my kids growing up...but I also think about the other people in our lives.

C, K's foster mom called us today to wish him a Happy Birthday! I am so happy that she did! I know that she misses him alot! She raised him for 14 months and she loves him like a son! It was so nice to hear from her!

I also spent a part of the day thinking about K's first mom.

This has to be a horrible anniversary for her. While I adore my boys....I still realize that I cannot replace their first families. I cannot make up for the losses that they have already had in their young lives. I cannot make up for a woman not being able to raise her own child.

I would like soo much to be able to have contact with her....just to maybe take the doubt of how he is doing away....to show her that he is happy and healthy and very loved.

I like to think that she misses him and that she thinks about him but at the same time I would rather her not be in pain. I hope she is at peace with her decision.

We also got a phone call from our friends in Mexico today!

They said they will be heading up to see us in Oct!!!

So, we need to check with our priest and see if F-man can be baptiszed while they are here since they (along with his foster mom) are going to be his God Parents!

I cant wait to see them!!!

This will also be their first time meeting the boys!!!

I'm sure the boys are gonna be spoiled while they are here!

I have got to get working harder on my Spanish!!!!!

I am going to be the only translator between dh and our friends!

Scarey!

I'm sooo thankful though that they are coming after the LSAT!!!!!!

I would NOT be able to handle it if they came before!

Although....they may be here when I get my score.... That, in itself could be scarey!

Here is K-man and E-man on Daddy's Harley! They already have good taste!!!!

This has been a very busy but fun week!

Had LSAT class on Monday! Yea for Logic Reasoning!!!!!!

Tuesday I had a emg! Yea for back pain!

Wednesday..... Wednesday we attempted to go to the local county fair.



There were the 5 of us, Auntie Kate, and our friends Auntie P and Little D.

They wanted to charge each of us $12 to enter the fair....to see cows!!!!!!!



Ooooh that did NOT go over well with us!!!!!



Why should it cost that much you ask??? Well admission gets you unlimited rides for the day!!!

That is GREAT!!!!! I'm soo happy that you have lots of rides for the UNDER 2 Group!!!!

Are you Kidding me???? I can see if you want to ride...then buy a wrist band! That simple! But to charge everyone, to the youngest baby to the eldest elder...$12... no matter if you want to ride a ride or not....that is crazy and o so-not worth it!

Dh complained...as did I, but to 2 seperate people.... the wonderful and nice woman that I talked to told us if we only wanted to see the animals that we could go around the gate and just go in to do that....so that is what we did!



After getting in for free, I still felt robbed. There were hardly no animals there at all.... sure there were quite a few bunnies and chickens...but only about 8 cows, a few sheep, some llamas, and that was that. There were some horses there...but they were clear across the fair, and it was raining...oh and I am scared to death of horses so, I was not interested in getting soaked to see them. There were hardly any vendors...so thank goodness I didnt get a booth there...though I had thought about it!



So...we may go to the state fair....gotta work on the dh a little.... I think it would be fun...if anything it gets us out of the house for a while and gets the kids out. They do love their animals! Especially cows! They even moo at them! it's sooo cute!



Well...after the bust of a fair, we decided to do something more fun for the kids...so off to the Golden Arches we went! I never in my wildest dreams thought I would eat more big macs as a mom than I did as a college student! Although... I will say that the McD high of playing in the play area and getting orange drink, a cheeseburger, apples, and a toy does last for a couple of days!!! Maybe that would be a good option for investment!

We didnt have enough at McD's...or maybe we stayed there too long...but we also went for ice cream! Oh how I looove Ice Cream!!!! We had a good time there too as E-man had his spongebob popsicle and Little D had spiderman. The boys then spent a good hour or so running around in the yard and trying to climb the trees. They are sure going to have fun in the next few years all playing together! It is a LOT of fun to watch them all!!!! I'm so blessed to have three wonderful sons (and one soon to be daughter)!



Well...I need to find a Thomas the Train cake and such for K-man's 2nd Birthday!!!

GAFE 07!

Well we have returned from Parsipanny NJ!

We spent the weekend there for GAFE (Guatemalan Adoptive Family Event)!

We had a fabulous time!

We left out of here on Thursday morning...aka 5am! Took the Ohio turnpike to PA, PA turnpike to NJ, and to our hotel! It was actually a very relaxed trip. Dh was very pleasent on this trip, even stopped to look at a Harley dealer in PA, we stopped for a nice lunch at Perkins at bfe PA, and was very nice about letting me find things to listen to rather than kill me by making me listen to rush and hanity and assorted loonies.

The Sharaton hotel we stayed at was beautiful although a bit odd looking. I saw photos online and laughed that they would not build a hotel to look like that...but they did... It is built to look like a castle. It looks extremely strange but it is very nice inside. It had many meeting rooms, a huge gathering area (with free wireless for those people who's mother board did not go out on them) 2 swimming pools (one inside, one outside), a nice bar, a restaurant (little too expensive for us though) and our room was great!

We took little F with us as it is too soon to leave him....and the GP's spoiled E-man and K-man for the weekend... I'm fairly convinced that little F had a great time! He introduced himself to two older boys by pushing them in the stomach and from then on they were insepretable. They really took great care of him and all three seemed to have a great time. Dh seemed to have a great time also! He really can be a sociable person when he wants to be...and in settings like this, he usually wants to be! I had a great time also...but it was not all play! I was actually there to work and that is what I did for most the night Friday and all day Sat. I had a great time though connecting with people I have met before and I met soo many new friends while I was there!

We are planning already on going to the next one! Next time though we will take all the kids. I think it is a great expierence for them. Not only to see kids like them...but to feel some connection to a far away place.... they had so many activities for the kids and it was all focused around Guatemala and Guatemalan traditions... they made kites, they sang songs, made music, had Spanish lessons... etc. The older kids had talking groups and things like that. It seemed like everyone had a wonderful time...and I'm positive that our boys will totally be in their element when they go with us to the next event. I cannot believe how all three of our boys are soo socialble! I'm soo happy!!! I know how hard it is to be more of an introvert and wishing I could do things like this.... I'm glad to think they might not know that pain. I'm thrilled that they are friendly and open enough that they will have many friends and not feel the lonliness that I have felt over the years. It's great!

I cant wait till next year!

When it Rains....

Well....I have been noticeably absent from the online community for the past two weeks... It has majorly sucked!!!!!!!!!!

First.... my desktop was acting up. Running slow.....online connection slow..... not able to successfully save things..... then...... THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!!!

Ok.....so....WHAT NOW????? I didnt panic too bad...just turned the computer off and turned it back on..... whew.... it started up! Well....maybe it did..... uh....is it starting up???????
NOPE!!!!!! THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!!!

So...1800-Im freaking out please fix my dell!!!!!!

We try this....and that....and this....and that....and talk....and complain....and sit in silence....and try something new...and I'm gettin put on hold.....and nope, that didnt work.... and then.... while I see my favorite color on the screen.... I hear silence.... yep.... the phone got disconnected....
So....I sat there dumbfounded.... I have been on the phone with this guy for almost 3 hours.... and now he is gone.... Well...he took my phone number...he is gonna just have to call me back!
.....
.....
Right!!!! So...after waiting for a half-hour it is now 1am....I need to sleep!!!! I call them back.... of course I get a different guy..... he is a complete jerk.
Talks to me for 5 min...criticizies the things I did.... then tells me that everything is probably gone from my hard-drive and I will have to restart everything....tells me it will take about 3 hours.

What???? 5 min and this is your diagnosis???? Me no think so!

So...I very impolitely told him NO Way! and I hung up on him.

I was so devestated.... I had not religiously backed up my pics.... did I lose them all??? did I really lose the pics of my boys???? Did I really lose all of my emails??? How would I get in touch with everyone???

Next morning....we were off to the repair place.... *sniff sniff*

While THIS was going on.... while we were away for the weekend.... my laptop's mother board decides to go out..... so...... soon as we took the desktop in I was back on the phone to get my laptop fixed.....

Friday both my computers are back in business!!!!!
Wel.....kinda.....
The laptop works great...but I still cant get online with the desktop.... call my isp....its not them.... then the guy tells me that they probably messed it up while repairing it! What???? Are you kidding me????

So...I ran out and bought a new modem...and TA-DA!!!!!

BACK IN BUSINESS!!!!!!

Although it has made me open my eyes about backing up....I gotta do it this week....seriously.

Well I am just now beginning to recover! We spent Sunday at the Zoo! We must have picked one of the hottest and muggy days of the summer though! It was H-O-T!

We had a great time though! The boys were perfect all day long! They especially loved the petting zoo! They had about 12 billy goats to brush and pet and all of the boys got a huge kick out of that! I thought that F would have been absolutly scare of the goats...but once he saw the other boys petting them...he was right in there with them.

The only freakout we had the whole day was from F...we were all near the glass watching the hippos swim...well I thought F might want a better look, so I put him right up to the glass...well...I wont be doing THAT again! He really got freaked out by that! So, the rest of the day I just made sure that he kept his distance from the glass/bars and it was fine!

I have to laugh though... E was talking to my mom last night...she asked what he saw... "cows". Are you sure??? Did you see anything else?? "no... Cows". I guess the moral of the story is... save the money and gas and just take him down the road to see cows next time!!!!

I'm hoping the weather cooperates tomorrow and we can go to the water park! It is supposed to be horribly hot this week... one reason I am not thrilled about summer.... bring on the cool weather!!!!

My quick intro!

Well...here it is.... I'm gonna try this thing out.

Our players:

Me - 30, female, Musician by design, Millwright by trade, huntress, political junkie, professional student, beer drinker, ultra liberal

Old Man - 65 (for now), male, my husband, cranky by design, Millwright by trade, hunter, beer drinker, professional complainer, reformed liberal

E-man - 2, male, oldest son, happy, loves girls, juice and milk drinker

K-man - almost 2!, male, middle son, kinda sensitive, loves girls too, drinks juice and milk, wants to be professional wrestler or center for the Green Bay Packers!

F-man - 1, male, youngest son, happiest of all, loves anything sweet.

Lady L - just born! More info to come!