$150 Flush

No, this isn't a post about a poker hand.

Today has been one of those days. It should have been a great day. I actually planned early enough to get us out the door so we could go swimming at the community center. The kids were excited, we had a great time swimming, there was minimal whining. Mia even ate her pancakes this morning instead of just looking at them. Swimming always makes my kids super hungry and since I had some cash in my wallet, I took them to the fast food place with the big M. That's what G calls it. I made sure the car was locked as we went inside, we ordered, ate, and G hurried so he could play on the play equipment. All was good until he came back and said he needed to use the potty.

Had we been outside, he would've just dropped his drawers and peed on the slide, but thankfully he came and got me so we could use the facilities. I grabbed my keys and wallet and ran after him into the ladies room, helped him do his thing in privacy and then flushed for him as I yelled for him to remember to wash his hands before leaving the bathroom. All this happened in 30 seconds or less.

It should've been fine. Except I came out without any keys. Then I remembered I heard a jingle just as I flushed the potty. I rechecked the bathroom, no keys. Checked the table, no keys. That stupid power flush toilet ATE MY CAR KEYS. I still can't believe it. We got a ride home from a friend that works nearby and then came back for my car (did I mention Jared is in Salt Lake today?).

The ladies up at M wanted me to leave them my name and number so they could call me if the keys were recovered.

I think I'll just let the keys go, thank you.

First Steps!

I just wanted to share M's first steps with you- she's been so close for such a long time, thus the long delay in posting. I was sure she was going to take her first steps any day and it finally happened yesterday!

Jared continues in school and is doing well- his first three classes he has gotten a B+ or higher. One of them he actually scored perfectly in! I am so glad he is enjoying his classes this time around. It makes all his study time worth it.

I am busy with the Activity Days girls (8-11) on every other tuesday. We have a good group of about 15+ girls that come to my house. They are very sweet and full of energy. G loves having all the girls over- he started crying big crocodile tears last time they left.

G continues to be super active all the time. His cardiologist is pleased with his activity level, but we are continuing to be watchful, as his heart is feeling the strain from his valve defect. In the meantime, he is learning lots of new things. His favorite things right now are shapes. He loves the Baby einstein Discovering Shapes DVD. In fact, he and his cousin watched it so many times while I was in North Carolina, they wore it out and Jared and I had to buy a new one :o)! He can spot circles, squares, ovals, triangles and rectangles just about everywhere.

Baby M is still the happiest baby ever. We've had to go to the doctor a couple of times for ear infections or illnesses, but once we get there, she breaks into a big smile and no one believes that she's sick. Fortunately red eardrums are hard to hide. One of the grandmas at church watches her and will tell me, "I saw her almost cry today!"

Hope you all are looking forward to a great summer. Hopefully I can keep up with the news a little better :o)

If you are getting this post as an email and you can't see the video, click on the link below

jaredandgillie.blogspot.com

Easter Fun

I tried something new this year and got G dyeing Easter Eggs.

He is learning his colors and so it was lots of fun. For the next 2 mornings he wouldn't eat breakfast until I pulled out his colored eggs and set them on the table next to him.

Saturday we went downtown and had breakfast at our favorite place- The Wagon Wheel. Then we headed over to the park for the annual candy grab, I mean egg hunt. G still fits into the youngest group, though I'm sure some parents were wondering if he was to old for the 1-2 year old section because he is so tall.

Easter morning was great, too. G loved his Easter basket and searching for eggs outside. M was excited about her toys, too. It was really nice to be mostly over our colds and we had a great weekend being able to listen to General Conference and hear counsel from the prophet.

I am sorry that I have not posted in such a long time. In addition to not being able to use the computer while little ones are on the move, Jared now is using the MacBook all night, every night. He returned to school just over a month ago in a communications degree program. It is an accelerated program and hopefully he will finish with a bachelors degree in about 17 more months. I am really glad that he has returned to school and he is enjoying his classes so far.
I hope you all are well and that you had a great easter weekend!

Pictures as Promised

We just received the pictures we took the day Malihah was sealed to us, so here are a few of my favorites









I tried not to duplicate the ones Dion published on her website, so you should head over to her site, too.
Here's the link
http://dionsenecaphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/forever-family.html

Christmas Letter 2009

If you look closely at this card, you may see the frostbite forming on our fingers and noses. We had our holiday pics taken on the coldest day possible in December. I know I've turned into a pansy, but it was only in the 30's that day. Since then temps have gone back up to the 50's and low 60's. That's more like it.

This year has been quite an exciting one. We started out in January trying to get approved to adopt again as soon as possible. After G's finalization and sealing in May of last year, I knew that we needed to be ready to adopt again, because there was another child coming to our family. I have to admit, I've always thought it was a little hokey when I'd hear of people that said they felt there was someone missing in their family, but that's exactly what it feels like. So, we were ready at the start of the year, but God had other plans. It seemed like every road block possible came up while we were trying to get approved. Finally in mid March, our case worker called us and let us know everything was ready and our profile would be available online for expectant parents looking for an adoptive family. She asked us first to make a paper copy of our profile that she could show to someone the next day that was coming into the office. So I scrambled to put pictures together and make them look nice and I took it over to their office. And then we waited, but not very long.

On April first our caseworker gave me the best early birthday gift I've ever gotten. She brought a birth announcement and letter from our daughter's birthmother. That night put us into motion for the next couple of months. We were so lucky to be able to get to know her and her family before the birth. They have been such a blessing in our lives.

Our daughter was born in June and she turned poor G's world upside down. He hardly knew what to think of her, but at least he was so busy doing and going and growing, that he didn't have time to be jealous of the new usurper in momma's lap. He's growing so fast. The beginning of the year, he was just newly walking and now he just runs everywhere. He has such a sweet disposition, he loves to be with friends and he now loves his little sister. When she is sad, he shares his woobie (blanket) with her and he helps her play her musical toys to keep her entertained. I love to watch him play with other children his age because he loves to share although I'm not sure where he got that from :)

Jared and I are so thankful this year to be surrounded by family and friends who we love. We hope that you feel the love of the Savior in your life as we have this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Twice the fun

G and June bug had a great halloween this year. G really got into decorating his own pumpkin. We let him use magic markers for the occasion.

He wasn't really sure about sticking his hand inside the pumpkin when it came time to clean out the one we carved, but after a few tries, he finally got his hand in and pulled out some goop.

Very scary.

Jared and I then headed off to Africa on Safari. We found a lion cub and a baby giraffe that we just had to bring home. Surprisingly, they were easy enough to smuggle through customs.

Boy, that lion really got into collecting candy. I had no idea they could have such sweet tooths.

Our little June bug wasn't feeling so great over the weekend. She is getting her two front bottom teeth at the same time. So, here's a pic from earlier this month with her usually happy attitude.

Hits or Kisses

I went back to work 1 1/2 weeks ago and it went pretty well- I only cried once I got there and I only cried when I was by myself, so at least I avoided making a show of myself. Fortunately also I didn't have the sickest baby in the unit like I did my first night back after we got G. It would have been nice to take another month and a half off, but family finances being what they are, my paycheck is needed. I really do enjoy my work, so that is a good thing, and it seems I have been hogging our June bug all to myself, because it took me leaving for her to really get her daddy wrapped around her little finger.

Baby girl was looking so cute the other day, I thought I'd take some pics. She is more awake now and has started cooing and smiling which just melts my heart.

G man has a difficult time sometimes deciding what to do with her. He is really good for the most part. I think he steals her binky when I'm not looking. He doesn't get to have his, so why should she get one? It is hard to tell though, because she still spits it out quite a bit on her own. He doesn't hit her often, only when he's mad at me. Most of the time he just tries to kiss her. It's very cute. I wish you could see it, but G just gets interested in the camera when he hears it turn on, so once the camera turns on, the kissing stops. Here is what I did get, though.

I hope they will grow up to be the best of friends (as all parents do :o)).

4th of July

I hope everyone had a great 4th of july. We are still recovering a little from our trip up to Salt Lake, but here's some of the highlights of our trip.

On Friday the 3rd we went to Hogle Zoo. We saw Lions and Tigers and Bears a plenty, but G-man's favorites were the snake he got to touch, the monkeys,

and the Elephants.

It was a really sunny day, so the inside of her car seat was all our June bug got to see, but she slept most of the time anyway. Here is G-man riding in style in the new double stroller.

Daddy and G riding the carousel. He looks very focused here, but he enjoyed it a lot.

The rhinoceros was okay, but Grampa's kettle corn was the BEST!

Here he is learning that it is best to let sleeping cats lie.

On Saturday, we spent the day with my sister in Provo. We went to the parade downtown, we had great parking and good seats and a good time. I won't bore you with pics of the parade, although Miss Utah did look phenomenal on her pig float. Baby M looked super cute with her patriotic outfit and her red bow brain-squisher and she was happy as long as she was being held.

G looked very patriotic too as an All American Boy

Later in the day we got together at someone's house that had a great view of the fireworks from Stadium of Fire. G and his cousin took the best seats early.

We set off lots of our own fireworks. This is June bug's close encounter with a sparkler.

The official fireworks were great, but the highlight of the night was G and his cousin and another almost two year old playing with poppers.

Baby on Her Way

It looks like today may be the day our baby girl is born. Our birthmom is in labor and Jared and I are just hanging out at the hospital in the NICU breakroom. G is at home with grandma- hopefully taking a good long nap. I will let you all know when I have any announcements to make.

Easter Weekend

Here we are at the park before the rain started.  We ate at the pancake breakfast before the easter egg hunt.

G was not really keen on waiting for the countdown to start.

It didn't take much time for him to figure out the drill- Pick up candy...

Put candy in the bag.

After the hunt, we picked up G'ma and G'pa and drove to the Clark County Fair.  G especially loved all the animals.

I think we may be raising a cowboy.

Hope you all had a great Easter weekend!

Too Lucky for Words (but I'll write some anyway)

Just a little update for you all.  We met with our new birthmother yesterday.  She and her mother came to the agency to meet Jared, G, and I.  It went really well.  Jared said he was just as nervous as when we met Michaelene.  I was okay because I felt like I knew a little bit about what to expect.  Garrison was pretty good during the meeting, even though he doesn't feel really well.  She and her mom are really sweet and they seem very excited about the adoption.  She is 16, really pretty and quite mature for her age.  Her mom reminded me a little of my mom.  She is a convert to the church and she is very protective of her daughter.  I would tell you all more, but she lives locally here and nobody knows she's pregnant, and she'd like to keep it that way until she's ready to talk about it.  Both she and her mom knew we were the couple they wanted once they looked at our profile, but her mom waited until she had picked us to say anything.  All I can say is that I feel really blessed and lucky right now.  I don't really feel worthy to be so lucky, but I'm not complaining.  I just know there are a lot of really great couples waiting for children through adoption.  I am just so grateful that God sees fit to bless us with another child so quickly.  And lucky us that we get to have Michaelene, this new girl and their families become part of our family, too.

I am excited to have a little time to prepare for the arrival of our little girl, too.  She is due June 12th, so we have just over 2 months.  I have been invited to come along for the next doctor's visit, too.  I'll have to mind my P's and Q's so I don't get myself uninvited ;o).  

Lots of Growing Going On

The other day I caught G reading the morning paper.

He may be more advanced than I thought...

We are working hard to get the garden boxes together so I have a place for all the little seedling plants that are taking over the kitchen.  G wanted in on the action.

Notice my domestic prowess extends to power tools as well.  I only had to ask Jared once why I couldn't get the drill to go into the wood (it was spinning the wrong way).

Did I tell you he is smart?  He's getting so good at helping, sometimes too good.

Now the big news.  Jared and G came to my work to visit on Monday night with our social worker.  Here we are checking out the ultrasound pic of our soon to be little girl!  Jared felt the need to document for posterity.  We are super excited that we have been picked so quickly and we are looking forward to meeting our new birthmother on friday.  We will keep everyone posted on developments as they come.

Not the kind of Call I like to Get

While I was posting that last one, I got a call from Jared as he was driving himself to the emergency room. He apparently had an accident while playing basketball at the church and broke his face. Can I tell you how much I like church ball? About as much as I love ER visits. Well, he now has a broken zygomatic arch on the left side of his face and he has about a ping pong sized divot behind his cheek bone. We saw an ENT doc yesterday who is going to do surgery on tuesday to make him beautiful again. Jared says he's not in too much pain now, but the doc says it will be worse after surgery. He's really excited about the liquid diet, since it's kind of hard to chew right now, but it will be worse later. Thank goodness he has those free smoothies for a year!

Thank you

I thought I'd post our little addition to the book we are giving Michael McLean as a thank you for doing a free fireside concert at the end of this month for our FSA November celebration.  His concert will celebrate adoption and is taken from this book and music CD.

Dear Michael McLean, My husband and I never thought we would have first hand experience with adoption.  After many years of infertility treatments however, it became clear that our family would have to start another way.  We started the adoption process in October of 2006.  It felt a little like a popularity contest for a while.  I would spend hours online looking at all the profiles of people that were waiting to adopt and cry because I wanted every couple to have the child they dreamed of.  I felt like I would be taking someone else's child if I adopted.  How would I know that the child we adopted was meant for our home and not someone else's?  Despite my doubts, we plowed ahead with the paperwork.  We became active with LDS family services in April 2007.  And we waited. 

 

That summer we attended the Families Supporting Adoption national conference in Salt Lake at my husband's insistence.  We were blessed to hear the experiences of many adoptive couples and birthparents and especially Glenn and Tania Beck.  Because of that conference, our eyes were opened to the vision of adoption.  We made some changes in our profile and our life and were contacted by several birthmothers via the internet.  Despite one especially promising relationship, I began to feel very depressed.  We decided not to pursue continued communication with her and prayed that Heavenly Father would lead our birthmother to us. 

Within two weeks we were contacted by our agency who told us a birthmother had chosen us.  Her reasons for choosing us resonated within our hearts and we felt the love that our Heavenly Father feels for her.  Our son was born the same day we met his birthmother.  Her expectations of having time with him in the hospital were cut short when the nurse discovered that he had a heart murmur.  Because of my experience as a NICU nurse, I was able to travel with him and be at his bedside until his birthmother was able to be there as well.  We were able to develop our relationship as we sat next to him in the hospital.  

He is now almost a year old and is currently in good health.  When I consider the events of the last two years, I see God's hand in every event.  I am especially grateful to our son's birthmother who had faith that He would lead her to her son's parents.  She sent us a copy of your book and CD, "From God's arms, to my arms, to yours".  Adoption truly is about love and your music captures that for us.  Our son is truly a gift of love from our Heavenly Father through the loving arms of his birthmother.