Lucky Number 7

Did I ever tell you that I LOVE odd numbers. 7 being one of my favorite number right after 17 and 21 but before 11 and 13. I think I really started to embrace the odd numbers because Gerard loves the even ones so much.

All my houses have been odd numbers in combinations of many of these numbers above. I guess that is why I feel they are lucky. I have always felt that each one of my houses has been wonderful and will hold a special place in my heart.

Now this is not what you want to hear about. Today makes Lucky #7!! 7 weeks of waiting is over. I could not be happier. Scratch that I would be happier if I was on a plane but for today I am happy. If I have to wait another 7 weeks I hope the wait is similar or better then how it has been so far.

With each leg of the journey that I complete I sit back and say that was not so bad but the next part will be worst. First it was the paperwork that was so intimaditing, then it was the wait for a referral, then it was the wait for the first trip, then it was coming home and now it is the wait between trips.

As I look back however I see that I have really faired well. Actually I think I am a better person now then I was when I started this process. I have a better relationship with God and actually Gerard since I started the process.

Secretly I have had little projects along the way of thinging about this blogger friend or that one. Reading along and praying to myself God I can wait another week but she can not. For those of you who do not follow other adoption blogs the wait time between trips varies so much. Some people will wait only 8-10 weeks while other will wait 7-8 months to see there little one again.

I remember reading 2 blogs in particular when I first started and thinking who she traveled fast but now she is waiting so long between trips. I have always worried about how I would be in between trip 1 and trip 2. To be so close yet so far away. I am surprising myself daily.

Now my newest worry is traveling alone for trip 2. Not because I am afraid but the legistrics of getting from point A to point B. Can I handle being alone with Little Banana YES! Can I handle it with extra bags?? I am not super sure. I know it will all work out in the end it always does. I would rather stress and think about this being the hard part then think about missing her.

Attention Target Shoppers!

I am in the market for 2-N's or 1-S. I happened to be in Target and found them in the section just inside the front door. Gosh I love the dollar area. I think they were about 2.50 each.

I was not able to find these letters and I wanted them for her room. If anyone happens to find them I would be very willing to pay for them as well as the cost for shipping them to me.

When I told Gerard about my hunt for them he looked at me puzzled of course and said "I think you should see if she wants her name or monogram on the wall first."

Okay lets all put this into perspective me decorating her room is mostly for me. Not to mention that she does not speak much so I think I should be able make most of these choices before she is able to give me her input. I have heard that once a girl is able to give input life as you know it is over.

It is so cute that he is thinking about her and what she likes. He just knows how to make me laugh when I need it the most. He is so convinced that she will be more like him and less like me. I of course am thinking the opposite. As if you did not know I am a bit of a free spirit and he is way more controlled in his actions. We both love to laugh so I hope she is like both of us in that respect.

What's the word mocking bird?

Well, I could not stand it another minute. I have started the emails to my agency to see if they have any news. First of all I just want everyone to know that I have not expected any news up until this point so I am not disappointed really about there being no news about a court date.

I think I am going to start marking it on my calender however to remind myself to call them. I know that sounds crazy and a little OCD but I am a little OCD with my calender. I mark everything down in it.

Having an organizer in my phone is nice but it is so not the same. Which brings me to my phone. Remember how I told you that I could not figure out what was wrong with it that I could not send an email from it. Well I figured out what the problem was. I put in the wrong email address. When I realized it all I could do was laugh and say "What a Maroon"

March of Dimes Walk

For the first time this year the weather was HOT, 90 degrees to be exact. The walk was at my old college. It was weird to look around and see what changed and what has stayed the same.

My walking partners were Amy and her children Kevin, Ryan and Matthew along with Meridith. Amy and I actually went to nursing school to together. A couple of years ago I talked her into going back to college for her BSN and now she is on to her master's degree. We were able to raise 400 dollars. 130.00 dollars was raised by my blogger friends. I am sending out a big Thanks to everyone who supported me either with a pledge to just a quick pray that I would actually make it to the finish line. I did take pictures along the way and even one at the finish line. You all have made a difference!!

During the walk I thought about many of the babies who we have cared for as premature infants and I was even surprised to see one of our graduates. I also walked and thought about another baby that I am sure many of you know or follow his story. My prayers go out to Stellan. I even put together a quick art project with his name. I will be sending the picture to his Mother who is in Boston along with my prayers. I was over joyed (parden the pun) to hear the good news today.

As promised here are the photos.




















At the finish line with Amy and Matthew

A Date with George Washington

The plan for Saturday earlier in the week was to get the house power washed. Now doesn't that sound like fun!! Gerard has a friend who does this for a living and they trade off services every once in a while. I was excited about the power washing because the house needs it. Here is where the BUT gets inserted and the plans changed.

The power washer man got in trouble. Apparently, he has been working everyday for the past 2 weeks and his wife is mad. So today he spent time with his wife. Gerard was afraid that I would be mad but I said "Heck no I am not mad. I just wish we could spend the day together and do something fun too." See Gerard works a lot, work is one of his hobbies. He would work everyday of the year of I let him.

I guess this got Gerard thinking. So Friday night he asked me if I wanted to go shopping for a tree for the front yard. We went to one of my favorite places to purchase trees and picked out one for the front yard and one for the back yard.

I insisted on a tree that flowers and as you can guess we decided on a cherry tree. The tree that was in the front yard was as Gerard puts it "Looked haphazard." I think it looked like a dancing dog personally.

On the ride home we started to talk about Little Banana and the wait. He told me that he is surprised that I am taking it so well. Honestly, I am doing far better then I ever thought I would do. I started to tell him that I know she is safe and healthy and that I will get to be with her soon. I did shed a couple of tears that is when he told me to look in the glove compartment and what did I see? You guessed it one of my favorite pictures of her and that made me smile.

When Little Banana comes home I will take her picture next to this tree.

6 Weeks Down

This week has flown by. I can not believe that it is another week down. Yesterday I emailed my home study agency for the new addendum to the home study with the new requirements for the US Embassy in order to get Little Banana home.

To my surprise the paperwork was done in about 1 hour from the time I emailed them. So off on a road trip I went. 1.5 hours north to pick up the papers, then 1.25 hours to the quilt store for one more smocking lesson and then a quick trip to Trenton.

I feel good that some of this paper work chase is coming to an end. It looks like I will have one more trip to Trenton this week to pick up these documents. The last thing that I need to complete is the medical tests. I will call today or tomorrow to schedule the EKG and Chest X-ray. Then I fear I might have the paper work done. This was a really good week for me even though I am still missing her.

When she goes fishing...

Living in South Jersey fishing is a big sport.Yes there is a North and South Jersey and the funny thing is for such a little state there are quite a few differences between those who are from North Jersey and those who are from South Jersey. I do not live close to where the "Housewive of New Jersey" live. I live in a regular folk portion of New Jersey.

In South Jersey our hair is not nearly as big. The division line between North and South Jersey is just above where I work so it is funny. I actually grew up as a little girl in Florida and did not come to New Jersey until I was in the 4th grade so I have always wanted to be a Southern girl. Wow am I way off topic.

Back to fishing, Gerard calls me today to ask me

Gerard "Do you think she will caught a fish next year?"
Me "Well, I do not know"

Then the conversation went to "Does she have to have a pink fishing pole?" According to him pink is her favorite color. Part of the reason why is because he saw a pink pole at the sporting goods store. I of course have always insisted on fishing with pink lures so I guess he figures she will too.

What cracks me up is that she is only 18 months old right now so this time next year she will be a whopping 30 months old or 2.5 years old. I am not really sure that she will have the same level of fishing skill and determination as he has. I guess he just wants to be prepared you can not blame him for trying.

I love these types of phone calls. I hope he never stops calling me with fun stuff like that.

What a find I have found!

Last week was not all bad believe me. I got the chance to go shopping in Delaware with AM (Gerard's sister) and Gerard's mother. See Delaware does not have tax purchases the way NJ does so I do love shopping in Delaware.

We went to the mall that is just over the bridge with the sole purpose of finding a shower gift for one of AM's friends and of course ended up in the Pottery Barn for Kids. Now I love the PBK but I do find them to be a bit pricey so I love to look for ideas.

Low and behold what did my eyes see but the bedding that I have been looking at for over a month on clearance!!! My hands started to sweat and my poor aching feet could not get to the bedding fast enough. I scooped it all up and started to sort through it. What a find. I got 2 curtain panels that I wanted, 2 duvet covers, 1 set of white sets with rick rack at the edge, 1 decorative pillow, and the pillow sham to match all for the grand total of $251.00.

I feel like I really cleaned up. I also feel like her room will come together nicely now. I also saw a canopy in yellow and white stripes that I love. I think I will hold off on it because I am not sure if she will be old enough to understand that this is not for climbing on and patching the ceiling if she pulls in down will not be much fun.

As soon as I get everything washed and together I will post some pictures. My neighbor has lent me a crib that is virtually brand new. I know it sounds crazy but I have not even started her room. Better get busy!

Pictures from my smocking lesson.

Well the smocking class was fun. Mostly we just went over what I need and what are the best types of fabric t smock and picking out patterns. I picked out a pretty simple dress with little puff like sleeves. There is a little bit of smocking around both the waist and the sleeves.

I plan on making the dress in white with pale pink accents. This way I can use it for the day she comes home and for after the christening because the dress that I have picked for her christening is very long. I am pretty sure that I will be able to finish it up before she comes home. The one trick will be sneaking in time to sew.

Carol the teacher is a very funny lady. She is rough, tuff and hard to bluff. I love people like that. The funny thing is as tuff as this woman is you can tell that she has a heart of gold. I saw some of the dresses that she has made and they are truly delicate and beautiful.

You know me I like to know the whole story and I have not gotten Carol's yet. She talks about other people's children and grand children but never her own. She spends quite a bit of time at the quilt shop from what I understand. I think that God has a knack for putting people into your path and I feel like He has put Carol into my path for a reason.

So here are some pictures from my day at the quilt shop getting my smocking lesson.





The quilts hanging are ones that I have made a number of years ago and have not gotten around to finishing up. The blue and white quilt is a small lap quilt that I plan to finish in the not too near future. The other is a white and multicolor quilt featuring the Ohio Star block. The colored fabric is made entirely out of 1930's inspired fabrics and is a twin bed size.

In the past couple of months I have thought about machine quilting this piece but to be quite honest I do not have the time, energy, space to machine quilt this one. I need to finish the handmade quilt first but I really wanted this one done too. At this quilt shop I was also very lucky to find out that there is a woman who does do machine quilting for hire so I purchased the backing fabric and batting. The quilt should be done in about 3 weeks.

Gerard says that I am back to his getting things done girl. Now I do have to go house work is calling my name. I can only avoid it for so long!

Clean the house or learn to smock?

This was not a hard decision at all. I will always choose to play if given the opportunity. I have been wanting to learn how to smock for a number of years actually. I know in some areas of the country this type of clothing is very popular but not so much here in NJ. That of course will not stop me from putting little smocked dresses on her and yes a bow in her hair.

Is it wrong to use crazy glue in her hair to keep the bow in place? Okay probably it is I guess I will just have to bribe her with candy instead.

Last week when I traveled out to Trenton for the apostilles I stopped at a quilt shop that I usually only go to once in a blue moon because it is over an hour from my house. I got to talking to the owner and apparently there is an older woman who is willing to teach smocking to me.

So today even though my house is still a little messy I will be in my car shortly and on my way for my first lesson in smocking. I can already tell that I will enjoy this art. I figure in the not so near future taking a day to spend at a quilt store and learning a new sewing technique will become increasingly difficult if not impossible.

As Gerard loaded my sewing machine into the car he asked "You will not have homework, right?"

Silly man of course I will!

5 Weeks down!!

Well 5 weeks down also know as 35 days. If you want to get technical I would say 840 hours or 50,400 minutes. After all a minute is a really long time. Have you ever tried to not think about something for one whole minute?

I think it is impossible. That is one thing that makes humans so unique. At work there are times when I have to time things for 1 minute. It does not matter how many times I have to do it I still start thinking WOW a minute is a long time.

As far as the wait goes I have my good minutes and bad minutes. I am trying my best to keep all my minutes filled with things to distract me from missing her that are positive. Sometimes it works and other times it does not.

I am making it through slow but sure. After all the turtle did win the race! What would I do if I just had one more minute with her? I think I would just probably stare at her in amazement.

I have so many things to write about but I fear that I am really boring.

Trying to keep it real

In the beginning of my wait for a court date I did hit some pretty rough spots. When I got home from Russia I was off for a number of days and I could not be more thankful. Usually I schedule myself for vacation right up to the day I have to come back to work.

I would have never been able to go directly back. I was in shock. The fog that I experienced when I was waiting for a court date was back. I had a very hard time figuring out what day of the week it was although that is not unusual for me. I think that is a by-product of not working a set schedule. I honestly do not know how others can know that they will work every Monday through Friday. As an adult I have never had that type of schedule which for me has always worked to my advantage.

I remember complaining week 2,3 and half of week 4 of a terrible headache. I had such pain in the bottoms of my feet that it hurt to stand. This week the pain in my feet is gone and now I have a strain in my neck and shoulder that I just can not shake. I know that this must be how my stress over the wait is manifesting in my body.

I am writing about this because at first I thought there was something wrong with me and there is I miss her a lot. I have a small book of pictures that I have been carrying with me and that is like my security blanket. As much as the video (which I only started to look at regularly this past week helps I have started to criticize myself for not holding her closer to me and kissing her more.

I remember thinking that I did not want to scare her. In my brain I know that I did the right thing because she had no tears the entire time that I was allowed to play with her. I feel like I got more time with her because she was not upset. When they picked her up for the last time something was said in Russia and she started to look sad again and then she was gone. I did not even see them leave the room with her. I know that this was probably their plan from the beginning so that I did not cry or so that she did not cry but for some reason it is really hitting me hard the last couple of days.

I know I will be fine. I have no choice but be fine. I just think the feeling of shock is starting to wear off a little. Actually the feeling of shock was probably a good thing because it has protected me for the past 5 weeks. I know the 3 days of rain and cold weather have probably not helped.

Hoping for sunny weather.
Hoping for a warm day.
Hoping for a fast court date.
Hoping that she will remember me.

***By the way I told Gerard I need a crib too. What a good man he said anything you need we will get! Thanks for all the input***

Bed or Crib? ***Edited to include a picture***

Well last week Jaime and I went to Ikea because she wanted to buy a few things. I broke the news to her that she is now banned from traveling farther then an hour from the hospital. She is getting too far along to be that far away. As a result we had to make a second lap around Ikea to make sure that she got everything that she wanted.

I have been tossed between a toddler bed and a crib that converts to a toddler bed. Gerard and I had thought that we would put her crib in my room for at least a couple of weeks until she is used to being here.

I think co-sleeping for attachment is not a bad thing and really I can see it as doable for me because of our schedules. I only will consider co-sleeping because it would just be her and I. Even though she is small she is big enough for me to not mistake her for a pillow.

Lets get honest my house is small. I love the fact that it is small house so I know I will hear her in her room. I am very torn. I guess once she is here I will make the final decision.

Back to the bed. I found this bed that is a toddler bed that converts to a regular twin size bed. It is actually 3 different sizes so it will grow with her. The bed is a creamy white iron bed. I have no fear of her falling out of it because it is pretty low to the ground. I have no fear of me falling out of it and breaking my foot (True Story) so I think we will be safe if I have to lay down with her at night.

**Disclaimer** If your child is an infant and you want to co-sleep PLEASE use a safty device. Accidents happen and usually the results are devastating.

March of Dimes Walk

In the next 2 weeks I will be training for the March of Dimes walk that I am participating in on April 26, 2009. I am trying my best to find positive things to do while I wait and when this chance popped up I was elated.

My sister Jackie called me last night and she is going to try to come over with the boys and walk with me too! I love it when people get fired up for a good cause. I have emailed many of my family and friends with the link to March of Dimes link asking for donations. I have added a PayPal link to my side bar if you would like to donate to the March of Dimes through a secure account.

Everyday dollar donated is greatly appreciated. No amount is too little. I have committed to match all donations up to $250.00.

Off to get some new sneakers!

Did I ever tell you about Russian TV?

I only remembered this the other night because this show came on and I started to laugh because I remembered seeing it in Russia. Ready it was Pimp my Ride!

I know it seems a bit odd that this is a show that I would watch. I think I just like the creativity of the show. Neither Gerard or I have a pimped out ride. Okay I do but not my choice. My new car has additional lighting that changes colors to pink, purple, blue, red and white. It actually impresses most 5 year olds so I like it.

The funny thing is watch this show and now picture it being translated into Russian without the emotion and enthusiasm. I laughed through the whole show.

Ring, Ring, Ring

At 7:30 am the phone started to ring. Who could this be? It was Tom from the lab. My test results are in!!! He told me that he already faxed a copy to my doctor who I know is not there today but at least the results will be there for Monday morning.

Today I was able to take one of my favorite pictures. I completed all the supporting documents with the exception of the medicals which will be done in a couple of weeks because of the extra things that are needed.

Without further ado here is my picture!!

Dottie snuck into the picture which I thought was cute.

4 Weeks down

In the spirit of trying to stay positive here is my run down of week # 4. I am visualizing my blood being tested, then the lab results being entered into the computer. All this in preparation for me to pick them up tomorrow.

I think 4 weeks is a big mile stone.

If my wait is to be 5 months then 20% of the wait is behind me. For that I say thank goodness.

If my wait is to be 4 months then 25% of the wait is behind me. For that I say I can do this.

If my wait is to be 3 months then 33% of the wait is behind me. For that I say only 2 more to go.

If my wait is to be 2 months then 50% of the wait is behind me. For that I say YIKES! I better get something done.

Thanks for waiting with me.

Waiting for the seal of approval

Every time I have to drive to Trenton one song runs through my head. Ready?

"Over the river and through the woods...."

I know it sounds crazy but the drive is not a bad one but from my house to Trenton the drive is pretty rural in areas. Which is quite a switch from the parkway where most people drive a minimum of about 75 to 80 miles per hour even though the speed limit is much less.

I drive the parkway every day so to drive at 45 or 55 miles per hour on a 2 lane road it seems so different and a bit relaxing almost.

As of today at 3:08 pm I have officially dropped off all the documents that I need to send to Moscow. What a relief to know that tomorrow at 3:09pm I should be able to pick up these documents and send them out to the agency for their long trip to Moscow. Amazing how a few pieces of paper are so critical to being reunited with Little Banana.

Sometimes Change is Good!

This morning I fell asleep watching some video of Little Banana. Sorry Family I thought that I would have been able to get it together sooner so that you all could watch the video sooner but I am a little scatter brained. Soon I promise. I have to keep the surprises coming.

I love and hate my new phone. I can get my emails and I read them as soon as they come in but I have not been able to figure out have to send an email. I know it is easy that is what everyone tells me but I actually think there is a problem with the phone. Wow I am way off topic.

So I woke up this afternoon and read a fresh, hot off the press email from my coordinator. Can you guess what the topic was?? No it was not about a court date but the medicals.

Apparently, the clinic in Moscow is being investigated. I will need the 8 doctor medical evaluation and once again I thought easy I will just do it in Moscow. Well, the clinic is now asking for us to bring a few new things. Mostly lab tests but the trick is these results can not be more then 3 months old. That is when I usually go Hmmm!

If I do not know when my travel date is then it is difficult to time the medical stuff correctly. It can be done as a matter of fact I know it can be done. I am looking at these changes as good news. Honestly, I am happy about these changes because even though there is some level of guess work some of the guess work has been eliminated.

For any who is stressing about the medical stuff here most of these tests are VERY easily obtainable with the exception of the Hepatitis D as per my experience. I would also say that most of these tests results should be back within 2-3 days.

One thing that I will stress is that in the U.S. Hepatitis D is not a test that is usually ordered. This is not part of a standard Hepatitis profile so if you are having these tests drawn in preparation for your trip to Russia PLEASE I beg you make sure that the Hepatitis D is ordered separately and that they know that you know this is not a typical test for the U.S.

So how does this effect me you say. Well it means that I am done with the paper work that I needed to have to AAI by April 9th. YEAH!!!! :)

Tomorrow I will drive to Trenton to get the Apostilles started. I spoke with my coordinator and hopefully I will get an update about my case some time after April 20 because the coordinator in Russia is on vacation until then. All in all this is a wonderful day. With God's help all things are possible.

Praying for Forgiveness

This is probably going to be way to long so I warn you now. As you all know I had committed to trying to complete some of this outstanding paperwork today. If it were all up to me it would have been done but it is not. I have to depend on others to complete their portions in order for me to get it ready to send out.

My home study agency is usually closed on Mondays so I called and left a message. I also emailed them the changes that need to be made to my home study. I feel really good that this will work out and that I will have the approval by the time I am in Moscow to bring her home.

Then it was out in the teaming rain and I mean it was really coming down to check up on the accountant. I had decided that if she could not give me a time frame for when this could be done then I was going to go else where. Before I went into the office I said a quick prayer that this would all work out because honestly I feel spent when it comes to thinking about this paper work.

To my surprise the accountant had time in her schedule and she called me into her office. We went over the paper work together. I answered a couple of questions and got everything signed. I left the office and for the first time in about a month thought that I could finally start to breathe.

Off to the hospital to collect my lab results and take them to the doctor to have my medicals signed off. Easy right? Wrong. I waited my turn in line and asked if my results were back. Paid my 1 dollar fee and then collected my lab results. I reviewed them twice and realized one result was not back.

I have been trying to not be too critical about the length of time that it has taken to get these lab results. I really want to practice patience, compassion and kindness. So last week when I inquired if the results were back I swallowed hard when I was told that they were not back. I know that certain things just can not be rushed. In my mind however I know the labs that were drawn and I know as a professional that these results should have been back sooner.

Apparently there was a comedy of errors not just one. The test Hepatitis D was not ordered on 3/27 when I had my labs drawn. When I went to inquire about the results on 3/30 and 04/2 I was told they were not back when in reality everything that was ordered was back. In fact all the labs ordered were back on 3/30 when I first inquired but this was somehow missed.

The Hepatitis D is a send out which means that the lab in hospital sends it to another lab to complete this test. This test takes 11 days for the results to come back not counting weekends. Which makes it more like 3 weeks. Essentially I would not be able to get the medical clearance for about a month. This would push my court date back by over 1 month.

This is where I stopped breathing again. The one consistent thing is the things that I thought would be easy are not and the things that I thought would be hard are easy. I spoke with the director of the laboratory department. I kept my cool. I just explained how serious this is and the results mean that my daughter will be left in a orphanage for 1 month longer then she needed to because of this error. I know he has children and I asked him to put himself in my shoes and imagine not being able to see his children for 1 month because someone just did not follow through.

If this mistake had been noticed on 3/30 I would already be 6 business days into the 11 business day wait. I left the lab upset and tearful not crying but tearful. Even now thinking about this makes me tearful. I sat in my car and called Gerard to tell him the news.

I started to pray and think about if I were the one that had made the mistake. I know I would be remorseful and sad that my error had such a large impact on another. I prayed that I could find forgiveness in my heart. After about 10 minutes I started to calm down and accept that I am not in control over most of what happens in the adoption process. I tried to remember the reading of the gospel from this week's mass. I started to forgive those who made the mistake and pray that a solution be found.

Here is the happy twist to this very long story. The director of the lab called me on my drive home to tell me that he going to overnight my blood to California and more likely then not I will have these results by Friday afternoon. I do not doubt that the power of prayer and forgiveness has been the reason why these results will hopefully be in my hands by Friday.

Still Waiting on the Paperwork

Today will be another paper work day. My lab results are finally back so I will drive to the hospital pick them up and take them to the doctor so that he can sign off on my medicals. I feel like that is a big step forward. One thing off the list.

Next are the financials. I still have not heard anything positive about that as of yet. The account has been very busy. I can not help but think she might be holding a grudge. Please let this not be true. I want to have faith that she is not and that she will just sign off on them, let me pay her money and be on my way.

I got my FBI background reports back. I sent in 4 copies to be stamped and only one came back. My coordinator told me that it was okay to just copy the one that I have and then have them all notarized. So that is the plan.

Which brings me to my latest issue. The approval letter or I-171 has changed a bit since April 1, 2009. Now my home study must reflect specific medical diagnosis that I am able to care for in order to be issued a VISA for a child who has a medical diagnosis. By the way all children in orphanages have medical diagnosis. So now I will have to have yet one more update to my home study.

This new updated home study must be sent to the Department of Homeland Security so that I can get a new I-171. Without this I-171 I can not bring her home. So to those who are reading this and think that this is not a big deal it is. Probably one of the most important papers that I will need.

So here I wait. I feel like I really have not made much progress with the paper work but mostly because I have to wait for others to complete their portions. I had hoped to be finished with all this paperwork but I am not even close.

I have been banished to the garage

Back in December my TV broke in the living room. I was so sad to have to buy a plasma screen TV. I know that makes me sound crazy but I just can not see where it is that much better.

Plus the one really sad thing for me was I had to get a new entertainment center. I loved the one that I had. It was the first piece of furnature that I purchased new that I really loved. Gerard had to take it apart somewhat so that the new TV could fit on it.

Trying to find a new entertainment center is harder then you think. I looked everywhere. I did find one that I loved but at the tune of 3900.00 dollars I just could not bring myself to buy it. Plus it had doors that Gerard really did not like. His answer was I can just take them off. My answer was heck NO not if I am paying that kind of money for one.

So I conseded and we got an unfinished one that I am finishing. I went to pull into the garage and Gerard had completely unpacked it and set it up for me to finish. I guess I have to finish it so that I can have my spot back. I really like to park in the garage mostly because I lost my house key and have not made a new one yet.

Hello Where is the spell check??

I have been busy proof reading my past blog entries because I am in the process of putting it into a book format. You all have been so kind. I have one question how can you possible read this blog with all the spelling errors. It must drive you all crazy.

How sweet that none of you have pointed it out to me!

3 Weeks down

So I am into the wait 3 solid weeks since I last saw Little Banana. I know it sounds crazy but ever since I started this process I have always counted the wait according to weeks not months. In my personal calenders it is all maked off according to weeks.

This method has helped me so now I will inflict it on to all of you guys who read this blog. I think the counting in weeks comes from all the time that I spend at work, we talk about pregnancies in weeks and days not months.

The funny thing is I have asked for a vacation day in May so that I can have an uninterrupted time frame for finishing touches to her room. When I asked Lynn (the one who does the schedule) for the day off I looked at her plan sheets to my amazement she had my wait counted out in weeks also.

That made me laugh because the minute I saw her notes in the corner of her plan sheets I knew exactly what they meant. Everyone at work is so excited for me. I could not be happier. The support that I feel from all my friends at work is overwhelming in a good way.

I am keeping busy. Very busy. Tons of shopping but alas no grocery shopping yet. Maybe Saturday. I have so many things to post about I am working on it.