We got the call!

Last Monday afternoon we had finished school and Annika and I were getting ready to take a little rest (because she had been up most of the night with her head over a bowl) when we got a call asking if we were interested in a 17 month old girl. We said yes and didn't hear anything for over 2 hours, so we assumed we weren't getting her. We didn't know- this was all new to us! Then I got a call that said we'd probably be getting her and then a call that they'd be at our house by about 5:45. Trav had to teach, so he wasn't even here. Things went way more smoothly than I had expected. She really liked our girls and so that helped tremendously. That girl can give quite a mean look, which I have gotten quite a bit- but it is getting better. :)

I should have blogged then, but I was worn out and the week kept going, then Olivia was up all night with her head in a bowl. So...now it has been over a week and things are becoming a little bit more real. At first everything came without a fuss- eating, diaper changes, teeth brushing, sleeping, etc. I even commented how we'd have a houseful of bio children if our kids were all like this. And then time passed and she got a little bit more comfortable and the fun wore off and reality hit. Most things come with a fuss and a mean look, but that is to totally be expected. But I will be honest. It is not easy. I have about a million emotions going at one time in my heart and mind all day. They wear you out. It is difficult to love a child that isn't your own as your own (not knowing if they will be your own or not); it is difficult to love a child and pour your life into them when they may be gone in a few weeks; it is difficult impossible to not pour yourself into a child just because they may be gone in a few weeks; it is difficult to see things you'd rather not see- like little hands instinctively reaching into the trash can for food. But it is good for so many reasons- this little girl, although not given the love and care she fully needed and deserved, has been spared a lot. And we are grateful. She is smart. She catches on quickly and learns things quickly. She sleeps- very well (despite a tummy bug and a terrible cold). And eats very well- despite being sick and having VERY swollen gums and she can't have any meds to help her (until after her dr appt tomorrow!)
These things are hard for me to share and admit. I knew things would be hard, but I expected them to be hard in a different way. I love kids and this is what God has asked us to do. The things that are hard, honestly shouldn't be hard. But they are. I guess that is where we are reminded we cannot do things on our own.
So really, I think it'd be better to blog another time. When things aren't so crazy in my mind and when we know what we are doing a little better. But it is good to be real and to say that no matter what I am grateful that God will give us what we need to care for this sweet girl and he will watch over her no matter where she ends up. And for that I am grateful and can keep getting out of bed each morning!

Gymnastics and Cheerleading!

I planned to post these pics a while back, but we got a little busy! A couple of weeks ago- before the ice- the girls had show week at gymnastics. They love it and love getting their pictures taken with their medals.

 

The girls are also doing Upward Cheer. I have to say they are naturals! They are so cute! Olivia has learned all of the cheers and likes knowing all of the moves. She has even thrown in a few kartwheels while doing cheers out on the court. Annika really likes it too and does a good job. She adds a lot of hip shaking that is pretty cute! And she can yell loudly! I overheard her tell someone that she doesn't like going though because it makes her tired the rest of the day! :) I have to agree. We get up and race to get there and then get home and we still have the rest of the day ahead of us. But it has been a good experience for them!

January 2011

And to continue...I love to have something to look forward to after New Year's! No one wants the everything is over blues. So we headed to the farm in Perryville. I LOVE it there. So peaceful. There is nothing to do and so much to do all at the same time. It was so cold that day- a little too cold for four wheelers, but not too cold for a two mile walk. (Travis stayed in LR and worked. That is the good and bad of being a professor. You can pretty much go anywhere when you aren't in class, but your work easily travels and lets you work even holidays.) We headed out to the Big Field and it was so fun to watch the kids make the discovery...this tree would be perfect to ride! And they did! It was great and perfect for pictures. I am already dreaming out spring pictures here. Especially with a little tall grass in the background. I will have to talk my uncle into leaving a little patch unmowed!




Annika did amazingly well on our long walk. She only hopped on for a short time. It was so fun to explore, see deer running across in front of us, and try to figure out all of the animal tracks we saw. I can almost feel the cold wind on my face. I would love to be on that walk again right now.

After the Razorbacks had a terribly disappointing loss to Trav's first teaching job, we headed back to TX-also known as the real world. Olvivia was excited to mesh her new Lincoln log sets and build a whole city. It was good to get everything put away and settled back in. And get things going. We started back to school, back to gymnastics, back to dance, cheerleading for the first time, a new piano class, and back to our little family life. I love it and I'm thankful for all of it. I do, however, wonder when we'll be adding to this little family. We should get a call soon. Seems like we got a call about once a month so far. Praying God is preparing us for what that sweet little girl will need.

Whew...that was a lot of catching up! Hope your New Year is going great so far!

New Year's

Now that we've covered Christmas...I love New Year's! I love that every year when the Christmas let down seems to be creeping in, I am reminded we have our annual New Year's party to look forward to. It is family only- except for the year my mom invited her friend that had recently lost her husband, which was very sweet. That was actually my sweet grandmother's last New Year's party. Not that she's missing anything. I am totally certain she's perfectly full of joy!


We always start with champagne tasting. My step-dad does a little trading for some dental work. He scores some pretty expensive bottles of bubbly for us all to sample. He hides them in bags so we all have no idea what we are trying. There are also one or two not as exciting ones he throws in to throw us all off. It is a good time with lots of laughing. I love to laugh.

Then we head out to my parent's deck room- it is really great- all windows hanging out into the woods. My mom loves to cook and make fancy things. We started with this- deviled quail egg and stuffed shrimp. We all asked for seconds on the shrimp! Then we had beef Welllington. And homemade chocolate sorbet and apple strudel. Yum!

Here is my sweet husband. He is cute with his beard- without it too. I am glad to be married to him. And I am glad that almost 11 years later he still makes me smile.




We always get a once a year picture together. Here it is. Probably the last time you'll see us in a picture together until next year. :)

Christmas Part 3

{I am guessing you can see what's going on. Posting a bit at a time. Picasa did 4 pictures this time!}
This gets posted because it the coolest gift ever. My step-brother and sister-in-law ordered the girls puzzles with their pictures on them! They are so neat. Some company out of New Zealand. Anyway, they were very fun!

Here is a picture from our family Christmas at my mom's. We had a kid's team for charades and the rest was on the other side of the room (except Travis. He does not like charades or the happy birthday song). We totally whooped the older team. Everyone knows kids rock at charades. I absolutely love our cousins. They are so sweet and so much fun! I wish we got to see them more often.

My step-sister and step-brother-in-law got the girls hooded towels that are huge and perfect and signed books. Olivia's is signed by Julie Andrews! He works for a publishing company (or something having to do with books) and she came to talk and read her princess book. Annika got a smile book that is great.

And here they are- the book ones. :) And their sweet son who is impossible to get a picture of! He just turned 3. And he can read.

Christmas Part 2

{If you missed the exciting post entitled Christmaas Part 1, scroll down}
Here Annika is making snow. It is really fun. You put a tiny bit of magic snow powder in a bowl and a little water and it fills up the bowl. It is cool, but mostly I just love this picture. I CANNOT believe this little girl is turning 5. It hit me one day and I haven't been the same since. I am not sure why 5 is so hard for me, but it is. Terribly hard.


Ok, back to Christmas happiness. Here the girls (and Travis) are waiting to go open presents at my mom's. They had a great time and got lots of fun things. They are very blessed. Do you see the green animal Annika is holding. It is a cat called Mistletoe Kitten. It is a GREAT book. I highly recommend it to add to your Christmas book collection. It is about a little cat that isn't wanted and has no family. I still can't make it through it without crying- because, of course, I am thinking of little orphans all over the world with no family to care for them. But it very sweet and heart warming.



How do I pick from over 600 pictures- especially since Picasa will only add 3 pics at a time to blogger. I am randomly choosing. Can you tell by the next one? When Olivia was a baby my mom got me some house shoes from the Gap. They were great. Olivia was not great. She did not sleep (much). So at night when I was begging God to make her go to sleep, I would walk her around until she finally gave in for a short while. I always turned on my right foot and totally wore out the sole of the right shoe. Since then, I've gotten new house shoes every Christmas. I love them and since we are home most days, I wear them out quickly. This year mom gave me a pair a little early. I didn't know why since they are an annual Christmas gift. But I found out! She got me 2 pair this year! Now in Aug. when the bottom has worn off and I am finding bits of foam around the house, I can ditch them and switch pairs! {i still have the ones I wore out when Olivia was a baby and my pregnancy test from Annika. That's kind of weird.}

Christmas Travel Part 1

We had a great time traveling around to see family. Now don't get me wrong, it will wear you out. But it is worth it. Plus how else can you take over 600 pictures in just a short time? We first drove to Fayetteville to see Trav's family and this sweet little guy. He has the most gorgeous blue eyes you've ever seen and he's my nephew. It was hard not to pack him up in our car, but I am pretty sure he'd be in princess outfits serving tea to the girls in no time.



Trav's parents were sick, so our visit with them consisted of opening presents together on the front porch the night we left and going to eat and sitting way at the opposite end of the table from each other. It was sad. The girls were looking forward to their annual tradition of making candy cane cookies and lots of playtime.

We drove to LR and the girls both got the stomach bug. That was not a good time.At.All. But thankful we live where we can access all the things we need to help our little ones get better soon. And I am the most thankful it was over before Christmas! Just in the nick of time to have a house full of people over.

My mom got a new hot tub- it is amazing. The girls loved it. It even lights up.



Pink too- although it is the fastest color, so hardest to catch!