Spring is here!!

Spring is finally here!! I love the warm sun on my face! I love being able to go for a walk after dinner and not freezing..or walking in the dark.

Today, Ethan and I decided to take a walk after dinner. He rode his Spiderman bike and I ran/walked next to him (depending on how fast he was going)...well we didn't make it far before meeting our neighbors....everyone had the same idea today since it was such a beautiful day. We have more and more young people moving into our neighborhood and I am so excited because when we moved in, we were the youngest couple by about 10-20 years!! We now have young children all around us! Hope great that our kids will have neighbor kids to play with!! We need to have a block party to meet all the new people in the neighborhood......Maybe we will host one this summer. How fun that would be.

The Grumpy Spider

Ok so this story is totally not adoption material but it has made me laugh all night long hysterically every time I think about it.

My husband was in a lousy mood this evening. The day started out by getting up early, having pancakes for breakfast, and going to church. After church, we went to see "How to Train Your Dragon". It was so cute....but on the way there my husband decided to stop at the Hyunda place and look at a car. After the movies, he stopped back by and we ended up spending 1 1/2 hrs there talking to the dealer! (but we did leave with a car for an overnight test drive which is a good thing since my car is in the shop) But we still had to go to Walmart afterwards to get groceries and fix something for dinner once we got home. Everything put my husband in a foul mood and he was a bear in the store!

I left the store early with Ethan to go to the car and get cleaned up (we are still trying to potty train...got peepee down but poopoo is another story). Once we got to the car, Ethan says, "Daddy's grumpy. Why is daddy grumpy?" and without thinking I replied "something must have crawled up his rear end". Well Ethan rode home with his daddy from the store and evidently he told his daddy that I said something crawled up his butt and wanted to know what is was! He somehow came up with a spider ..... The grumpy spider!

When I got home David walked past me very mad and told me that Ethan had asked what had crawled up his butt. I was shocked but wanted to laugh so hard but the look on David's face said that I shouldn't. All night long, the giggles overtook me and finally after dinner, I burst out laughing. When David asked what I was laughing at, I told him and the whole story came out. David finally admitted that it was funny and as we put Ethan to bed, he began to joke about it to.

So now when anyone you know is in a bad mood, just know that the Grumpy Spider got them!!!!

Spring Break

We had so much fun this past week but back to real life now and dealing with my car!

The hotel we stayed at was having problems while we were there. First the electricity kept going off...they were somehow throwing a breaker over and over again and didn't know why!! That was the first problem...next on the first night we were there, the lady across the hallway decided to smoke in her non-smoking room and set all the fire alarms off at 4:00 in the morning!! Luckily, David was able to make ours stop screaming by taking it down off the ceiling so that Ethan didn't wake up but we were awake listening to all the commotion going on in the hallway and especially when the fire department showed up! I was slightly mad when they beat on our door and asked if we were smoking too!!! The lady that started the whole fiasco was mad and didn't know why it was such a big deal that she was smoking in her room....and she wasn't smoking a little! When David opened our door, the smoke came billowing in and stunk up our room until it finally aired out again! It was crazy! A day later, we came back to the hotel only to find the fire department there again...this time we had no idea why but they were down by the breakers. It wasn't a bad hotel in all but I wouldn't stay there again.

All in all..our trip was great! I really didn't want to come home. The zoo was awesome and we will definitely go back again. We also went to the Pink Palace Museum where Ethan got to see dinosaurs! He was so excited. We walked down Beale St and ate some awesome BBQ and listened to great music. We just took our time with everything and walked a lot.

But back home .... glad I cleaned the house before we left.

I finally filled out the application for Dillon..we have decided to do the Waiting Child Program in China!! I noted in the Dillon contract that I am going to have to make my blog private...so I guess that means if you are not a friend, you can't see it. Not real sure how that works but if you want to keep following us on our journey, just send a request and I will approve you if you are a friend or a supporter.

We are getting ready to kick off our major fundraising efforts and are needing help to sell the ads for our games. If you would like to help, please send me an email at tiffanydpt@yahoo.com and I will let you know place, time, date, and details. If you can't be here in person ...please pray from where you are!

ZOO

I love the zoo!! Watching the bears, monkeys, and other animals and comparing them to people. My favorite was the panda...she was sitting leaned up against a tree and eating cane in the morning and had only moved about 5 feet by late in the afternoon. Sometimes this is how I feel but never get to do!! Some of the other animals were in constant motion which is how I usual am with my 3 yr old who only stops moving when he is sleep. He would fit in well with the monkeys!! In the panda exhibit, we got the feel of China and got more excited about our child to be! In the gift shop, my son bought a stuffed panda and I got a jade hanger of Kwan Yin. Kwan Yin means "One who hears the cries of the world, and comes." The most celebrated goddess in Asia, she is the goddess of mercy or compassion, the protector of children and goddess of fertility. It just seemed appropriate! and it is very pretty!

AHHHHH!

Just when I thought everything was going right....the transmission went out on my car!!! It is going to cost $1308.00 to fix it! Well there goes almost all the $$ we have earned so far......yes I will try to replace all of it but will have to work some Fridays and that takes away from my Ethan time. This really sucks!!! I will never buy another Ford. It has been nothing but trouble since it turned over 80,000 miles and the guy at the Ford dealership told me it was just time for stuff to start going wrong! That just isn't right! Next time, I will buy a foreign car like a Honda or Nissan or Hyunda.

Oh well, just one obstacle in a long process. We will get over it and continue to push forward. Please pray for us...we need it right now!

YEAH!!

We made $477.00 at the Rhea Lana sale. We are so excited and I found out that there is still the Duck Duck Goose sale to put items in!! We want to thank everyone that shopped.

I think we have made our decision. We are going to stick with China and Dillon. I can picture my little China doll named Ivy and am sooooo excited. Now to begin our paperwork. I have everything that I need for our first application. Doesn't look too complicated but I could be wrong. I do know that I will have to make a trip to ACH for my oncologist to write a letter clearing me. I have been cured for 15 years and my last chemo trip was 13 years ago. I was discharged from my oncologist 2 years ago. I was very excited until I talked to my mom who said "doesn't that make you nervous? You won't have your yearly checkups anymore!" I wasn't nervous until she said that!! but was still very excited. I was finally set free!!!!

I still go back to ACH to visit occassionally but rarely know any of the nurses anymore. I love to go back to visit....maybe I can be an inspiration to one the cancer patients one day.

Decisions, Decisions

I never knew it would be so hard to pick a country for our child to come from. I thought we had picked China until today an adoption agency called that I had inquired about. They perform adoptions from Poland. We are very interested in Poland because my great grandparents came from Prussia (Polish Russia). This is a country that I was greatly considering early on because of my heritage but was having trouble finding an agency that did Polish adoptions. I found out that this is because only 3 agencies in the US do these adoptions. After further research, I have found that the stay in Poland is really long or to be broken down into 2-3 trips because they require a bonding time before you take your child home. That sounds great in theory but I don't think I could be away from Ethan that long! I have never even spent a night away from him. We would probably have to take him with us....But wow would that be a looooooooooooong flight with a 3-4 year old and then 2 kids on the way home! I just don't know .......... so stressful just picking out a country. HELP

Allergies, Allergies

How can something as beautiful as Easter flowers cause such agonizing congestion and pain? I was so looking forward to warmth and the beauty of a blooming world....until the last 2 days as my head has become more and more congested and began to pound. I love not being able to breath!! Spring is my favorite season minus the allergies that come along with it. I love the warmth of the sun, the trees and grasses turning green, and the very blue skies. I love seeing animals coming out of hiding and the birds tweeting in the trees.

I got married in the spring for a reason...it is the most beautiful season of the year. We are fixing to celebrate our 11th anniversary this year!! I can't beleive it. We have been together for 15 years (since I was 16, yes so very young). But he stole my heart then and still has a hold of it today....

Work or maybe play

I love interacting with the residents that I work with. They can really brighten up a room but can also sometimes be a real downer. Right now I have one particular patient that likes to recite poems and today this was her poem......

"If you see a frog up a tree, squeeze its tail and think of me."

Hee-hee! Just made me giggle. There is never a dull moment at the nursing home. I love being the patient advocate for the patients I have and don't have (but will one day have, they all come to PT sooner than later) and it makes my day when I hear one of my past patients refer to me as their favorite therapist!! The little things in life are what make it worth living.

Daylight savings time is totally throwing Ethan off. I am trying very hard to get him to go to bed on time and here it is 9:50 and he is still up. Yes in his room with the lights off and in bed but he has now gotten up 2x. He is in a stage that he is afraid of "shadows". We have made shadow puppets on the wall and tried to explain to him what they are (make that 3x that he has gotten up) and that they will not "get" him. He is now in bed with a horse flashlight and a book. Maybe he will settle down and finally go to sleep so that I can make my own way to bed. Daylight savings time is rough on us all!

Cancer Story

I want to say first that we have already raised over $200.00 at the Rhea Lana sales and the doors do not even open to the public till today at noon!! Yeah!!

Last night, I watched "My Sister's Keeper" for the first time. I was not real sure I wanted to because I knew what it was about and yes I cried for the whole movie. But it got me to thinking about my own cancer story. The girl in the movie used humor to cope and so did I because it is either laugh or cry and I prefer to laugh. So I did make jokes that only my dear family and friends thought were funny and I did make light of the whole process because I didn't want to drown in it.

I have a few stories from the hospital that I did not control that I look back on now and laugh at. I do not actually remember a tremendous amount from those morphin induced visits. Some of the stays were fuzzy and I was admitted to the hospital every other week for longer than I wish to think about. Some of these visits were fun and others were because I had mouth sores from the chemo that were covering the surface of my entire digestive system! Those are the ones I don't remember alot about. However, I do remember the balloon that my little brother brought for me. It was a butterfly that was jointed at the wings and when you pulled on the string it looked as if it was flying! Through the morphin, it really did look like it was flying and looked real. I remember thinking that a huge butterfly was in my room and it was soo pretty!

I had roommates at the hospital very infrequently because the smell of food made me puke. But the one time I did have a roommate, she was a blast and around my age at the time. However, she scared the pee out of me one night! It was around midnight and I got up to use the bathroom. I groggily dragged myself to the bathroom pulling my IV pole along with me. I turned on the bathroom light and when I turned around, I screamed at the top of my lungs. Everyone came running. My roommate had taken off her prosthetic leg and propped it up next to the commode. I didn't know she even had a fake leg! It looked so real. She laughed her butt off and so did everyone else. To this day, I think back on that and laugh to. I asked about her a few years ago and found out that she had had a relaps and this time didn't make it. I cried and cried...that could have been me. But GOD called her home for a reason and had other plans for me.

I remember the only night that my mom left me alone at the hospital. It was so cold outside. I had an outside room at the hosital so I had a wonderful view of the capital all lit up at night. I woke up to a freezing cold room. I called the nurses and told them I was freezing. I think I had to call back again to tell them to hurry. When the nurse finally made it to my room and turned on my lights, we were both shocked to find that the window had blown open. I was 3-4 stories up and the windows were not suppose to open! They didn't have screens or anything. If my mom had been there, she probably would have hit her head on the window when sitting up from her uncomfortable little couch bed. They had to move me to another room so that maintenance could come in a fix the window. They don't know how it happened. Only to me would that happen!! My mom never left me there alone again.

My mother stayed by my side the whole time. She was with me for every visit till I went to college and then I went by myself if I didn't have any major procedures. I love my mother dearly. She is my best friend! I learned how to be a great mother by watching her. She is one of the reasons I made it through everything. She was holding my hand through every spinal tap, bone marrow, and the bags and bags of chemo therapy. I couldn't have asked for more. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and support system.

My family is very excited about our adoption and have been supporting us in every way. My oldest brother is designing the "I Support Adoption" t-shirts (he is a graphic designer). Tony and Kim have donated clothing and toys for Rhea Lana and have helped with ideas on promotion of our game. We receive prayers from all.

I want to say "I love you" to my family.

Rhea Lana

This is the first day of the Rhea Lana sale and I am so excited!! Not only because of our fundraiser but because I also shop Rhea Lana and Ethan needs a little table that he can sit at and color, eat, etc. It will be his desk while his daddy is doing his homework so that he can do "his homework" too. They had so much stuff at the sale this year. I know because I was there till 11 o'clock Thursday night dropping stuff off. I was one of the last consignors to leave. I didn't get home till 11:30 to a dark house with everyone already sleep. Oh well..what I won't do for my kids (the one I have and the one to come). Wednesday, I dropped off the 1st batch while the tornado sirens were going off! Was kinda scarey.

At these sales, I also pick up little girls clothes. We have only nephews and I don't have any clothes for a girl so we are trying to get a few here and there..so we don't have to buy everything at once.

Well signing off----your sister in Christ

Ha! Going back over my blog, I realize that I repeat myself in many blogs. HUH....I guess my husband was right I probably do tell the same stories over and over again. HEEHEE..

Our visit with Dillon was very insightful. She said one thing that really stuck with me. She said that adopting internationally was really "a rescue mission". I like the thought of that. I long to give our little girl the love and protection that a family can provide for her. I like to think that my kids will long for nothing. I dote on the one I have now! He is spoiled..I admit it...but I can't help it. I love him dearly.

We set up a Facebook group tonight. I am soo excited. It already has 29 members and has only been online for about 1-2 hrs. We want to thank everyone again for your support. I probably can't say this enough. Love you all!

Game Changes

Well we missed the deadline to have a booth at our local festival so we have decided to make the game for the capital and sell it in the River Market. We are hoping that we can get a major tv station and the newspapers to advertise for us. This way maybe we can sell 1000 games! Now that Rhea Lana is all done (for the season), I can focus all my energy on the production of the game!! We are so excited.

Looked at cars today. Looking to get a car that gets good gas milage and fits 2 forward facing car seats in the back seat easily. Today looked at Hondas. I like the CRV but just don't know. David thinks they are ugly. I will keep looking.

I was trying to think of a good story today but can't think of one. Oh Well. I will get back on if I think of one!!!

Need to do better!

Ok so I know that I am not the best blogger!! I am having trouble finding the time between work, family, Rhea Lana fundraiser, and trying to find enough time to sleep (which I have not been doing a good job of). I have been staying up past midnight for a week trying to get everything ready for the next Rhea Lana sale. I dropped off 1/2 our stuff last night with the tornado sirens going off and will drop off the rest tonight. Tuesday night, we met with Dillon adoption agency and I fell in love with them! They offer so many benefits and are a non-profit, Christian agency (which is important to us). Now we have to pick what country we want to adopt from. Still leaning toward the Asian countries. The LORD will lead us to our child. I have a feeling we will just know.

A sorority and faternity from a local college has agreed to help us raise $$. We are soooo thankful to them and are open to anything that they want to do as a fundraiser. I am soo excited!! It seems like it is finally coming true!!

Well better go and return to work:) HEE-HEE I just made time today to post something. Thanks for all your support!!

Gotta Love 'em

I love how brutally honest kids are and I always thought the story parents told were hilarious until my son hit age 3. I will never forget the day that I took him to work with me late one afternoon to help a friend prepare for a "Dude Looks Like a Lady" contest we were having for Relay for Life. The one man who could have me fire (the director of the nursing home) stopped by to see what we were doing and my son proceeded to pat him on the belly and say "man you have a big one". I couldn't apoligize enough!! I then had to have the "that's not nice" talk with my son. The director laughed it off and looked at Ethan and said "yes I do!" Several days later, he tells me to tell Ethan that he was going on a diet. Ethan's little outburst was his wake-up call. I was mortified!!

Weeks later in the bathroom at the Rhea Lana sale, I sit down to pee and my son begins to chant "Momma I see your big booty!!" very loudly over and over again!! Ok so I am on a diet already!! He did not have to remind me why. KIDS:)

Well adoption wise? We found out we missed the sign up to get a booth for our local festival and it is a lot sooner than we thought it was. Oh well, the booths were $200 each. Ouch! We will just have to find another avenue to sell our games and stuff. The second Rhea Lana sale is coming up fast and I have little done! I will be spending all weekend preparing for it. This next tuesday, my husband and I are attending an adoption seminar given by Dillon adoption agency. I am so excited! I have been researching agencies and countries still. Thing is ....I don't care where our child comes from. Nationality does not seem a big issue for me. I would love a child of any nationality. I do feel as if GOD is leading us all the way and closing and opening doors to fit his purpose. HE will lead us to the right child when the time comes.

Sorry for the break in posts!! This blog thing is a lot harder to keep up with than I thought it would be, but I will try to do better in the future.
Love your sister in Christ