Life Continues...

I will be among the many -- or thousands -- who blog about the Prince and Duchess today.  The Royal Wedding.  How fabulous.  I decided not to wake up early since I went to bed so late.  But, I'm relying on Scotty and Annie to have recorded it for me.  I did, however, catch Good Morning America this morning when I woke up with Samantha, and I have to say, I thought Kate, now Catherine, looked  beautiful.  I'm all for the natural look.  Loved her hair and that gorgeous veil (I'm a veil girl)...the lace sleeves.  As if my opinion matters...I say "nicely done."  If I never get to watch the recorded wedding, then I'll watch it on their 10 year anniversay when it's rebroadcasted...like I did as a little girl watching Princess Diana marry Prince Charles.  Marcus thinks William and Kate will divorce.  I sure hope not.  I want them to be the Nicole Kidman/Tom Cruise...wait...how about the Jennifer Aniston/Brad Pitt....uh....are they really doomed?  I sure hope not.  The romantic in me still believes they'll hang on like Lucille and Desi...ahhhh.  Enough.  No more.  I see a future similar to that of Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman!  That's right.  Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.  Will and Jada Smith...now that's what I'm talking about.  Kevin and Kyra.  Ok ok ok

I'm at the hospital today with Nathaniel.  He's doing better, though he's still heavily sedated.  It reminds me of moments in the hospital with Samantha, but this is something that Marcus and I never had to experience -- weeks in the hospital.  I feel for Scotty and Annie.

Plans for Sweatin' for Sammy are moving forward.  I can't believe it's so soon.  A woman from the newspaper came and did an interview.  She's writing an article about Samantha.  A photographer is coming on Saturday to take pictures of her.  Wow.  This seems so unreal.

I'm continuing to do what I can to prepare for Girls' Camp.  I'm excited to be one of the assistant directors, but it is one more thing to think about right now.  I'm confident in the young women I'm working with, though, so it'll all come together fine.

I take back Nathaniel being heavily sedated.  He's heavily medicated, but I just spent 15 minutes holding his hand and stroking his hair.  Everytime I stopped, he squirmed.

Callie went had a rough week last week, but the past few days she's been so sweet.  She has been actively playing and trying to engage with Samantha more.  I guess she always has, but it's just different.  It's almost as if she's matured.  Why does saying that make me tear up?  But she has.  She more clearly understands Samantha.  She jokes with her and Sammy smiles back.  Callie knows how to play differently with Samantha.  She doesn't want Samantha to go to school in the mornings because she wants her around.  It's so great to see their relationship deepen.  I love Callie.  She makes me smile every morning when she wakes up, comes in the room and says, "Good Mooooorning." 

Life continues to move on.  I feel like I've been going at a frantic pace for so long.  I'm not keeping up with everything I had hoped to.  My book is on hold the past little bit as I try to be there for my own family and extended family.  But, I'm ok with that. 

Ok...time to help out again...

Down Payment -- Paid

I've been in a constant state of stress the past couple weeks.  I feel like there's so much I'm juggling, and the balls keep falling ... as much as I try to keep them up in the air.  It's really not that bad, but I could be less-stressed...we'll put it that way.

One huge thing checked off my "To Do" list is secure Samantha's therapy session at Now I Can.  And, ladies and gentleman, without further ado -- I hearby announce to the world that Samantha is officially attending intensive physical therapy at Now I Can in Orem, Utah for September 19 - October 7.  And we are so excited.  That $700 reservation fee came from our dear friends and family who attended Chevy's and who are continually giving giving giving.  We love you and can't wait for you to see Samantha in October.  Trust me, there will be video!

The Park

Callie and I get to spend a lot of time together.  As much as I would have liked another baby by now, I feel I've been blessed to have so much one on one time with my little girl.  Though Samantha gets special treatment -- let's just face it, it's true -- and attention because of all these different therapies, etc, Callie gets her share of attention and love.  It's just different. 

So, what are some things that I get to do with Callie?  One thing we both like to do (and she LOVES to do) is go to the park.  Callie is so adventurous and fun.  And she can climb up any jungle gym like it's nothin'.  The girl is amazing to watch, and she's been this way since she was a baby...just wants to jump in and do it.  She's so agile; she's fun to watch.  Once a week I try to go to the park with other ladies and their kids from church, but that doesn't always happen.  No matter what though, we get to the park.  One of the many things we do together.  I love you Callie Belle.



Oh happy day

Shoveling with Wyatt

hmm Maybe the park is more about Wyatt than the slides.  Check out this stud!

I love that spring is in full force.  Look at the color.  It makes me happy.

For the Love of a Child: The Journey of Adoption by Monica L. Blume

I've been wanting to read this book for awhile now. I felt it was time to read it. It's a book I knew I wanted to have on our bookshelf -- for that day when Callie is 16 and has certain questions...the day when she just wants to read about adoption in her attempt to get some answers and figure things out in her own mind. I thought this would be a good resource for the entire family.

So, I bought and read the book. It was a good book, though different than what I expected for some reason. It was filled with interesting statistics and facts that I thought were important, and, well, interesting. The first part of the book is written by Monica, as an LDS Family Services caseworker. Though it was interesting (gosh, can't I think of a better word here?), I felt some of it was repetitive. I attribute that, however, to reading this while I worked out, having a harder time focusing, and being overall too busy. So, perhaps I wasn't in "the zone" as I read it. The second portion of the book is written by adoptive parents, birthparents, extended families on both sides, and those children who have been adopted. To me, this was the best part of the book. And, again, maybe it's because it aligns with a project I'm currently working on and so it naturally interested me more. But reading these personalized stories and heartfelt accounts and testimonies -- that's what made the book so fantastic. The first part seemed to talk about why adoption was the best option in certain circumstances. I guess, I already have strong feelings about adoption, so maybe that's why it seemed redundant. It was the writing from the birthmothers and grandparents, etc that brought it home. It's a good book, and I think it's a good book to have on our shelves.

It's a fantastic book, however, for those who are struggling with the idea of adoption -- who are struggling to decide their overall stance on adoption, for those who are trying to decide if they should choose adoption for their unborn baby, and for those trying to decide if adoption is the right path for them in creating their family. It is certainly a great book for family members who want to be supportive to the pregnant woman in their family choosing to place her baby for adoption, and for the family members who will be welcoming a baby into their home through adoption.

Make-up Troubles

A few weeks ago, Analisa had a friend visiting.  Callie and Sammy's room (aka Bryan's bedroom) was now occupied, and Analisa generously offered to have them both sleep in her room.  And here the story begins...

One night after putting Callie to bed, he heard some noises.  He went in to see this:

Is Callie preparing for a battle?  Perhaps.  But, what we do know is that Analisa's makeup has used by this fine lass and it was a mess.  Try disciplining your child when she looks like this...and try explaining to her that we need to take a picture of it so we can remember that this isn't what we do.  Try doing all of that with a straight face at 11pm.  It's not easy.  But after the inital sternness, we had some smiles.  I mean, she couldn't help it.  She thought she looked pretty great. 





Ready and Waiting

Not too long ago Marcus and I received an email.  It was regarding a young woman who was pregnant and interested in getting more information, possibly even speaking over the phone.  It was an exciting thought, however, I had just finished reading a book about adoption, which reminded me that this process is that...a process for all involved.  I immediately made the assumption that there were several families she was probably considering.  I'm glad I did.  We never made contact.  I can safely assume that this young woman has chosen another family.  And that's ok.  It really is.  In fact, I found myself praying for her, that she would find the right home for her baby...and it was sincere.  I wanted her to find her baby's family...not be persuaded to choose us somehow.  It was a sincere, true charitable love that I felt for her -- a concern for both she and her baby.  Anyway.

That email came at a time when I was terribly frustrated with our current adoption situation.  At times it feels like things are just taking too long.  I'm 30 (I know, I'm still young...blah blah blah), have 2 kids, and if I want a big family -- which I do -- then we got to get crackin' here.  But then, sadly, I realize that what I ought to be thinking is "If Heavenly Father has a big family planned for me..." instead of what I want.  And, that can make me even sadder considering the possibility that what I want is so far from what Heavenly Father wants for me.  (sigh)  So, I was stuck in these kinds of thoughts when we got this email.  That email was enough to boost my spirits.  I began to feel like there was hope.  After all, someone was looking at our profile...maybe our birthmother will too. 

The problem is, it's now been a couple weeks, and I get sad from time to time.  I'm extremely busy, which is good I suppose.  But I want another baby.  I wonder how that would work with everything going on.  How could we possibly have another baby?  But it's right, ya know?  I have found myself checking the email account that we rarely use but the one that we received the adoption email on, multiple times a day...just in case. 

The day will come when I hold a baby in my arms again.  I will brush his or her hair, and feel the soft baby skin.  I'll look into her eyes and wonder if it's possible for this little baby to comprehend how blessed I feel, and how full of love I am.  I'll teach Callie to properly hold her new sibling and indulge her mothering side.  I'll introduce Samantha to her new brother or sister and wait patiently as she begins to understand that this baby is stickin' around for a good long ever.  We'll smell baby lotion and formula.  There will be stinky diapers and funny pictures.  And most definitely, Marcus and I will sleep less...but love more.

I think we're ready...and waiting.

Bum-Deal Bro



emily maynard and brad womack on After the Final Rose



Wow!  Did not see this split coming.

for any of you who are unsure, this is full of sarcasm.



I didn't follow the show, but watching this episode was tragic.  I mean, really.  It was obvious that these 2 were not going to make it.  And as silly as I think the show is, I like the idea of happiness and love...no matter where you find it.  I mean, being happy is a good thing.  And finding love is a good thing.  So, if somehow some couple does get beyond the ostentatious bachelor with extravagant dates and vacations (that no real person could afford on their own) and and and...then great.  I'd like people to be happy.  It does, however, come as no surprise to me when these "engagements" don't work out.  A real part of me feels bad for them -- for the time wasted in their attempt to find "the one" but, oh well.  Why I feel compelled to share my opinion on this, I'm not sure.