Ellie's New Trick

Elliana has surely perfected the art of GROWING TEETH! As you may recall, she sprouted her first two at 4 months. Just recently her "eye" teeth emerged, and now we have the top center two teeth peeking through the surface. She gets a bit gumpy, but otherwise has handled it all very well.

In other news, we have been enjoying the many treats that come with the arrival of fall.

I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again- Life is Good!

Throw Back Pic of the Week......

Recognize these little sweeties?
Gabi and YaYa (aka Allie) circa 2005 :)

Torture at the Airport

If you know me, you know of my love for coffee. You know also that it doesn't get any better than Dunkin Donuts coffee in my world. The sad part is that I live about 35 minutes away from any DD (although my wallet appreciates the distance).

Anyway, I digress. Yesterday I saved some of my coveted WW Points for the sheer purpose of picking myself up a DD coffee on the way to the airport to pick up my Mom. I even allotted myself extra travel time for the sole purpose of this beloved cup of java.

Imagine my horror when I approach the drive through only to realize that it's (GASP) closed! I quickly recover by assuring myself that I will be able to grab a cup at the kiosk at our fine local airport.

I nearly RUN up the escalator towards the soft glow of the orange and pink sign, enthralled by the promise of all it has to offer. Enter "brick" wall. Actually, enter cheap ass plexiglass barrier, guarded dearly by a proud employee who in a former lifetime I would have rudely referred to as a "rent-a-cop". (Of course being the mature person I am today, I would never use that dismissing term).

As I make my way towards Barney Fife, I conjure up my best sugary, sweet smile, knowing this is going to be a tough situation to overcome. He DOESN'T even flinch. He tells me that I am not in fact entitled to walk the five feet to the other side of this clear wall and then has the AUDACITY to suggest I go grab myself one of those vending machine cups of coffee! As IF!!!!!

I saunter my way down the hall to the "ENTRY" point of security, (as this is apparently the "Passenger Meeting Point") to find a group of 5 "Security Guards" sitting on their bums eating McDonald's that was without a doubt obtained from the other side of the wall. (You must remember this is SMALL town USA and the airport is about the size of my living room). I attempt to wittingly bribe my way to the other side. Nothing. No movement. I pull a sympathetic looking one to the side (non-chalantly of course) and offer up FIVE bucks for the safe pick-up and delivery of coffee into my hands. He says "I'm sorry Maim, I can't help you." MAIM?! WTF- when did I become a MAIM? I throw a hasty "Yah, I can see how busy you all are" at them and stomp away.

It is at about this point that I realize I am not going to be getting what I want. And I find myself near tears. I HATE being told NO. I HATE not getting my way. I know it's a dumb and stupid reason to pout, but I couldn't help it. Remember the good ole' days when you could walk right down to the gate and meet your loved one as they disembarked? Those days are long gone. It's all just another reminder of how those demonic, selfish, brutal, horrific, disgusting men have changed the way that we all live. I HATE that this is our new reality.


My viewpoint.......if you look closely you can see the seam of the plexi glass wall.

Autumn Days

Sue and I spent the afternoon shooting photos of the kiddos at a local waterfall. It was a beautiful day, and I'm not sure who had the most fun- the kids, the babies, or the Mommies!

Make a Smilebox photobook

THESE are the Days

Indeed they are. A few people have been asking about the meaning of my blog name.

This song quite perfectly describes where I "live". I have the family I've always dreamt of, fantastic life-long friends, and a job I love.

In fact, for me THESE are the Days...

Just try to listen to this song without feeling like the sun is shining on your face and that all is right with the world. It's impossible.

These are the Days by 10,000 Maniacs
These are days you'll remember.

Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this.

And as you feel it, you'll know its true that you are blessed and lucky.

Its true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.


These are days you'll remember.

When may is rushing over you with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour.

You'll know its true that you are blessed and lucky.

Its true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.

These are days.


These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break.

These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face.

And when you do you'll know how it was meant to be.

See the signs and know their meaning.

Its true, you'll know how it was meant to be.

Hear the signs and know they're speaking to you, to you.

Four Eyes

Today, I picked up my new glasses. I only need them when I drive so I went with something a little funky knowing I don't need them to match outfits. ;) While we were there Gabi tried on some glasses too. HOLY COW did she look cute! Does anybody remember the time I nearly cried when she passed her eye exam? Darn it. No glasses in her future.

Answers.....

Finally.



Yesterday, my Mom had her stress test. In her words she "failed miserably." Actually, after speaking with the doctor, I agree. He was amazed that she was functioning normally. Twice while hooked up her heart skipped beats. First, it skipped four beats and then three. He told her if she passed out while that happened the only way to get her out of it would be to shock her. Considering she lives alone, this was unbelievably disturbing news. He scheduled a angiogram/plasty for first thing today.



The angiogram revealed complete blockage in two of her arteries. The LAD and the circumflex. He immediately inserted stents into both sites. Ten hours later- she is feeling very well. Amazing. Hopefully, she will be released tomorrow.

It is SUCH a relief to know what was causing all of her symptoms.

Here is a picture of us from last week when she was in the ER. We were trying to pass the time by being goofy. It's how we roll. ;)

"Hair" We Go Again....

At the request of a few.... here is a better view of Gabi's new 'do.

We got Gabi's hair cut again today. She didn't think it was SHORT enough!? She requested it to be ABOVE her ears. Lemme think, umm NO!

The woman who cut her hair had the patience of a saint- let me tell you! Gabi was in one of her terrible wiggle-worm-can't-sit-still-for-a-moment-and-I'll-complain-if-you-dare-try-to-make-me moods. Of course it promptly commenced the second she sat down! Ugh.

Anyway- funny conversation:

Hair Stylist: Honey hold still, I don't want to cut you're ear.

Gabi: Well you should have chosen a different job if you didn't want to cut me.

Mom: (shrinks slowly into herself)

Hair Stylist: Really, nobody has ever told me that. What job should I have chosen?

Gabi: Probably McDonalds.

BOOville!

Arugh

In a perfect world anyone who has to wait months and years INDEFINITELY without the comfort of a due date, or the certainty that must exist when one feels their child swimming around inside of them would forever be exempt from anymore waiting. I mean shouldn't there be an unwritten rule that says "Oh, you are an adoptive parent, well you've certainly paid your penance for waiting, skip to the front of the line." But alas, this is no perfect world that we live in.

There hasn't been one particular experience that has brought this thought to mind. There have been many. Most certainly, all of them mundane enough that I should shut my mouth and be happy. But, still I find myself perserverating on my distaste for waiting. One would think that after having waited for so long for my children to be placed into my arms that I would be an expert at the art of patience. But I am clearly not.

I have deluded myself into wanting things when I want them. Now. Crazy, I know. For example, I went to three different "walk in" eye Dr's for an exam the other day. None could provide for me at that very moment- but offered appointments within hours. I was annoyed. In trying to call customer service for a product, the automated machine announced that the office was closed until Monday. I was aghast at the thought that someone wasn't perched by the telephone ready to meet my every need.

My Mom ended up back in the ER this week and was subsequently admitted. One who enters the hospital in anticipation of immediate answers will be "sorely" disappointed. (I just came up with that, it should be on a fortune cookie or something, no?). The medical community is clearly facing a huge deficit for Dr's and nursers. A sign of the times. But when it's MY Mom I don't care about that. I want someone to fix her. Now. But, we still have no answers. She has been released, and has a stress test scheduled for Tuesday (something the Dr required her to get "immediately" when she was in the hospital two weeks ago- this was the soonest it could be scheduled). She is feeling better, and so I must focus on that. Not on all of the time that passes between the questions and the answers to them.

BLSM

Blossom. My baby spelled (or tried to) her FIRST word phonetically today! She came to Howie and I with a beautiful picture of a flower and the word Blsm written by it. She asked "Is this how you spell Blossom?" HOLY COW! A month ago the girl could barely write all of her letters. My heart is swelling with pride!

Flower Girl

She was AMAZING!! That's right, she walked down the aisle like such a PRINCESS! We are so proud of her. :) What an honor for her to be chosen to serve as flower girl on Carrie's special day. We are so happy to have shared it with her and Don.

"Going to the Chapel...."

The whirlwind weekend has begun! Gabi is a flower girl in our friends Carrie and Don's wedding tomorrow. She has been counting down the days for a year now!! Tonight was the rehearsal dinner. I was afraid that she wouldn't want to walk down the aisle- which in itself would stink-but my fear was more about the way she would express herself! She tends to be er, LOUD when she is adamant that she DOESN'T want to do something. Thankfully, my sweet little girl did just fine! Her Daddy was at one end of the aisle, Mommy coaxing her from the other. Once she saw me, she nearly ran into my arms, but SHE DID IT! SHE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE ALONE!! OMG!! I'm not going to lie, I handed her a dollar bill when she reached the end. :)

Pray that tomorrow is the same. :)

Here's a sweet picture of her in the car on our way to the dinner.