[Leigh131313]

unless anyone knows of a not-for-profit toy shop out there? haha

you mean ToysRUs isn't not-for-profit? I'm SHOCKED!! LOL



Happy Turkey Day y'all!

[akcskye]

Well, we just had our first official Thanksgiving lunch with our children (plus my mom and dad and 2 sisters), and minus my precious Grandmother, Hazel, who would have been 90 tomorrow had she not left us in August.

It was actually better than we could have imagined it to be. I am totally exhausted from all of the cooking...I did EVERYTHING but the baked beans, cobblers, and pies, of which, my mother did.

I did enlist the kid's help on the homemade chicken and dumplings though, and they worked them like little pros (we did a test run back in October because it's Grandma Hazel's secret family recipe).

Everything was just great, and I'm just basking in the glow of full tummies, new motherhood, and just having a happy day in general today.

[Lovebug]

Hey Girlies!

Hope everyone had a good day! We had a blast and my dinner was terrific! I "brined" the turkey this year and OMG it was amazing! I was really pleased and glad everyone had such a good time. We rolled everyone out of here, cleaned everything up and put it all away. That is even the nicer part that it is all done, kwim?

So tomorrow starts the countdown to Christmas. I can't believe it is that time of year already! DH's bday is on Saturday. We aren't even sure what we're doing yet. He's in denial that he's a year older and we are no closer to completing our family. Depressing, huh?

Well, I hope you all had wonderful days with your families and here's hoping that we need to all set an extra place at the table next year!

Hugs, Renee

[tyiakoum]

Renee, day 4 of Byetta.. I feel awesome. BGs are great. Fabulous. Like I am not diabetic. No vision probs. No lows either. I ate "normally" for thanksigiving dinner, was cautious about stuffing and dessert...

Got to say, SPIT HAPPENS! Gila Monster spit/poison is the best thing I've ever encountered w/regard to my 32 year battle w/diabetes.

Best of all, no binging... supposedly will lose the 10 lbs I gained on insulin and then some (well, I don't care about more than that, I am still weight prop. to height even having gained 10 lbs but would feel better and the clothes would fit better).

I have no nausea or any of the side effects. I use the minipen needle vs. the long needles... it is like pricking your finger to draw the bg numbers... no biggie. a challenge to inject twice a day (only because right now we travel a lot, to friends' homes for dinner, also, to the surroangel's area out of state). One at breakfast, one at dinner.

My morning #s are fabuloso. And I'm not even on the 10mg dose which is standard. I am thrilled.

Consider it. I know it is hard to think of injecting... seriously, once you do it a few times it is like the least of your worries!

Hope everyone had the best turkey day. I know I am thrilled because this week is the fertility clinic and contract week and also, the parentprofiles contact has made contact w/our agency to get the ball rolling for possibly adopting her child to be born in the spring. Maybe the best case scenario will happen and I will have my two babies within a year! Oh joy.

Surroangel should be ready for the first ICI Dec `14-15 so therefore, we should know maybe by xmas if we are gonna truly be parents....

We had a great thanksgiving, traveling from house to house, ate at friends' home for lunch, my bro's for dinner. It was great. Fun, we laughed... the kids were just killing me and Andreas. All in all, our turkey day could not have been better. Now Andreas is sick w/a cold so the rest of the weekend (we were scheduled to go over friends' homes every day for lunches/brunches or dinners) will be him stuck in bed and me knitting and reading since I don't want to go w/out him.

Hugs to all,

[Lovebug]

Tammi - I am sooo glad to hear that the injections are working well for you!!!! I will talk further to my doc about it. Can't wait to hear how everything goes at the clinic!

Where is everybody today? Out shopping? We went out and about a bit, but are done shopping so just browsed around some.

Ok to reheat leftovers!

--Renee

[Leigh131313]

actually the entire forum is slllllloooowww...you americans take your thanksgiving and subsequent shopping SERIOUSLY!! lol


Glad things are going well Tammi....let's hope something works SOON!


I'm going to my inlaws this weekend...Now don't go getting TOO jealous.. ha


I called the agency today....asked about my homestudy...she said she'd get it out "either today or early next week" she agree'd that it had been a ridiculous amount of time....gee, ya think?


eff.





anyhoo.....not much else here....I get to have coffee with canadianmomtobe...THATS a bonus!!

[missw005]

Hey girls!
It's been a looooooooooooong day with the boys. We did have ice cream at Dairy Queen with a friend and her son this afternoon, which was nice for me, except J kept acting up. Ugh.
Then we just came back from getting flu shots - all 3 of us - which went ok. My arm is sore already, though, so hopefully that's not a bad sign!!!!

No shopping for us today. Not when I'm trying to save up for adoption expenses!!!!!!! Besides, the nearest mall (a mini one) is an hour away - big one is 2 hours away - and that was just NOT happening. Besides, too many people!

They couldn't take J's stitches out today. Oh, guess I didn't tell y'all about that. He smashed his hand through a pane of glass in our entryway door last Saturday night, during a nasty tantrum, and has been messing with the stitches all week. We've had to go back to the emergency room twice in the evenings to have them repair the damage he's done. He's pulled out most of the stitches in the small gashes, but the big one (almost 5 inches long, between his elbow and shoulder) is NOT healing because he keeps messing with it. So when they tried to take them out today, the Dr. decided it just wasn't healing right and that she would try again on Monday. And couldn't I get him to leave them alone?????
Yah..............like I've been ENCOURAGING him to mess with them. Ugh.

So....................the boys just got in trouble for messing with the Christmas lights in the front yard. Now I'm debating whether I'm taking them to the Christmas parade at 5:30 (yes, just 12 minutes from now) or not. Ugh!!!!!!! Be a proper parent, stick to my guns (hence the cowboy) or be the nice/fun parent and go to the parade????????? You'll have to wait and see.

Either way, I'd best be off. Hope everyone checks in over the weekend..................hello!!!!!!! It's just Thanksgiving for cripes sakes!!! This board is MUCH more important!!!!!

Sandy

[Leigh131313]

We just got BACK from the Santa Light Parade...it was fun, but chilly!! -14 Celsius...which is..well COLD. It's been above zero pretty much all winter but as soon as we HAVE to do something outside....FREEZING.

Tomorrow is the big Santa Clause Parade in a small town about a half an hour from here...we'll be going....and the forecast? -20 with snow. ... Nice.


If it really is THAT cold, we may not go....I worry about the little man's toesies...even in his Mega-Poof Gear. The kid could hardly move!


Sandy, Do you ever think, Oh. My. God. I am going to strangle you?? The stitche-picking would drive me insane. You are one patient cookie!

[NurseNikki]

Hey there everyone! Yes, it has been several days since I have posted, things have been very busy! Between my new responsibilities at work, and getting ready for the class I will be teaching in two weeks, and the holiday/shopping bonanza, I am beat!

My MIL, SIL, and I spent the majority of the day shopping today, and it was time well spent. I am well over half done, just a few more things to pick up for a few more people. Yesterday, I had two dinners, one with my family - usually totally crazy, but this year, it was actually nice. I could go into long detail, but it wouldn't make much sense, my family is soooo crazy! Then for dinner we were with DH's family - so much fun.

Tomorrow is my niece's 2nd Bday party! How fast time flies! Should be fun, lots of friends and family together. Never a dull moment around here!

Oh, and the weather was BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Like, 58 degrees beautiful at the end of November! It was AWESOME! So sorry to hear about the freezing weather, Leigh, you should come down to Illinois to visit.

Catch ya all later!

[missw005]

Originally Posted by Leigh131313

Sandy, Do you ever think, Oh. My. God. I am going to strangle you??

Oh, Leigh...............you have been reading my mind again. Girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl, you have NO idea.

The stitch-picking would drive me insane. You are one patient cookie!

Yah, well............it's all a big facade. Many times I am literally banging my head against the wall.
Sometimes physically.

Some people's kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And NO, we didn't go to the parade. Turns out that not only did they mess with the lights, they messed with the outside power box AND the timer for the lights..................so NO parade. They did get to have a LOVELY timeout on the steps while mommy read a book. (too bad that's not a drink in my hand!)

This morning I woke up and thought, "SALES ARE GOING ON WITHOUT ME!!!!" I thought I'd become ill with the thought of missing them.
So...............even though I swore to myself that I would hold off, that I am saving for adoption expenses, I went anyway. And it was FUN!!!!

I know, I know.

"Hi everybody."
"Hi!"
"My name is Sandy, and I'm a shopoholic."
"Hi Sandy!"
"I try so hard to avoid Target, even though I love it so.....................but it calls to me."
"What happened? Did you forget your goals?"
"Well, I didn't buy any baby clothes."
"Sandy............."
"Ok, one little pair of pink jean pants. Sooooooo cute and only $2 at Target."
"Sandy.............."
"Come on! They were $2!!!! Helloooooooo!!!!!!!! I am a fantastic bargain shopper!!!!!!!"
"Don't tell us that's the only thing you bought."
"Well, I had driven over an hour to get there!"
(you know the rest )

So..............not so good about saving for the adoption expenses. In my defense, it has been over 2 years that I've been waiting, and I do have the final fee payment in my savings account..............no, nothing beyond that.............it's so hard to save!!! I need Darth Vader at that bank, I think.

But I did get stocking stuffers for the boys, a birthday present for my nephew, a mini-trampoline for the playroom - exercise for me (in theory!!!) and energy-user for the boys, some cute AA Christmas boy and girl resin figurines (less breakable and only a buck!), cereal (Q can eat a box a week all by himself!), apple chips and granola bars for J's daily school snack, kitty litter, jeans for J, a new shirt for Q (on clearance!), thermal pj's for J (on MAJOR sale!!!), a bowling set for Q for Xmas, Justice League puzzles for J for Xmas (was able to sneak that by them while they were WITH me!!!)........................so it's not like I bought stuff for myself or anything.
AND I let the boys have lunch at McDonalds!!! I should get a reward or something.

Anyhoo....................that was most of our day. Then we went to a friend's when we got home, so my boys and her girls could have a playdate, and ended up staying for supper. The kids got along really well, and everything went great until we had to leave. Q just bawled and bawled, as they had just started the Little Mermaid video (which he just LOVES) and he was just heartbroken. Then my friend told him that he could bring the movie home to watch tomorrow, but by that point he was crying so hard he couldn't stop.
He's just a LITTLE melodramatic. Geez.

Tomorrow we may put our first ever fake Christmas tree up. Something to do more than anything. Otherwise, it's my usual Sunday of Laundry, Laundry, Cleaning, Dishes, and Laundry. I'm not as fast as this yellow guy, though. That and I use a dryer as it's just too flippin' cold up here and I have a thing about hanging clothes outside. (I know, I'm weird.)

So......................anybody do something fun this weekend???????? Come on, Spill!!!!!!!! I live vicariously through you girls, you know!!!!!!!

Sandy

[lauriesch22]

OK all, absolutely NOTHING new to report! How boring is that??? I seriously sometimes think that I am no better off than this guy .......a fish swimming all day and getting no where. I feel sometimes that I am just kidding myself that this will ever work out. I mean what am I getting myself into???

Turkey day was same old same old. Although most of the day was spent at hubby's 91 yr old aunt's house. She has been under hospice care for about 3 weeks, and is steadily declining fast. I have become the "leader" in planning all her care (she is at home with 24 hr care, so I have to "schedule the aides we have hired, and then add and fill all the extra time slots with friends and family. Yes it is as bad and hard as it sounds. But I would do it all over again, cuz his aunt is fantastic. But she is getting to the point now where she doesnt know who she is sometimes (heavy pain killers) and can get a little nasty at times (again not her fault).

But still I think, I am doing all of this out of love for family, so when will MY family come together? Why cant the world reward me for being a good person?? Then I get all depressed and think that it might never happen.


Does this self-service pity party work or help?? Of course not, but it makes me feel better!

Anyways, I am just checking in, seems everyone is beaing busy beavers getting ready for Christmas. Believe me, hubby and I are planning something special for Christmas! We are taking a trip to VEGAS!!! ALONE WITH NO FAMILY! WHOO HOOO!!!

[tyiakoum]

Whee! Lori sent me Greek grapes through this site. I'm so thrilled someone here sent me a gift... thanks Lori!

love, Tammi

[missw005]

Originally Posted by lauriesch22

... so when will MY family come together? Why cant the world reward me for being a good person?? Then I get all depressed and think that it might never happen.

Laurie,
You must be reading my mind with Leigh.
I think this ALL THE TIME.
As a foster parent for many years, I look at these folks who cannot or will not care for their children, and think, "I'm a good person, ******, why can't I have a baby of my own????? How is this fair?"

Of course, the world is NOT FAIR, or this forum would not exist!!!!!!!

On the other hand, I'd trade most of y'all for a baby. Nothing personal, girls!!!!! You know I love ya! But a baby of my own??????????? and you know it!!!!!! Oh, come on.............you're all thinkin' the same thing.

So Laurie, I am soooooooooooooooo with you on this one.

Sandy

[akcskye]

Laurie,

My heart goes out to you.

I spent the last year (from Sept 15, 2005 to August 3, 2006) caring for my grandmother in her home, after a fall she had that broke her hip and severely tore her leg, which led to an amputation below the knee because of unknown vascular disease before the fall.

For the first few months, I was there every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and every other day, I spent the night.

I have 2 sisters, and an elderly mother who herself needs a knee replacement. At first, both sisters were helpful.

But a month into it, one decided to take care of herself and essentially quit it to get attention back on herself.

The other one let you know that she did NOT like doing it in the form of constantly being late (VERY LATE, like, supposed to be at grandma's house at 9 p.m. and not showing up 'til 1 a.m. without a call), and then would come in, get her bed set up, and go to the bathroom and read until grandma was asleep. Totally ignored her.

Then, when grandma's heart failure started acting up again, she was put in the hospital in January of 2006, and my sister was "on duty" that night, and as soon as the ambulance came for her, she says "I need to go home and sleep"...grandma could have been DYING...her oxygen saturation was in the 60's when EMS got to her.

After grandma survived this episode (against all odds), the choice was to put her in a nursing home, or have me take care of her 24/7...well, you know what happened...I took it ALL over.

She was also on hospice care after the January episode, but we declined all of the nursing services except for medications and bi-weekly checkups, and I did all the bathing and occupational therapy (of which, she didn't need, she could still do everything like dress, etc).

Grandma may have been 88 and turned 89 last November, but she was totally with it in the head, and a nursing home would have killed her spirit.

So, from January to August, neither sister helped, only the one who was attention needy would occasionally call...and then in June, we got matched.

Move in date was set for August 15. Family panicked.

Mom wanted to sell her house and grandma's house and buy a new home that would accomodate everyone.

Grandma said "don't do ANYTHING yet...you'll see, something will show up that will take care of everything".

August 3, I had to take care of my chickens and I left grandma's house (who was totally fine and as a matter of fact, I had her in the garden weeding the night before), and mom called me, screaming to get to grandma's house.

I had to bust down her door because she had chained it.

She had had a serious stroke that paralyzed her left side (thankfully, the side of her amputation), and then August 8, she had another major stroke which paralyzed the other side of her body and she died that night.

The funeral was August 11, and as promised, the kids moved in August 15.

You know, I don't know WHY I posted what I just did, but I guess it's just to show you that all things happen in their due time, but we just have to have faith and be patient, as hard as it is.

And, from my story, you can see, I totally identify with you on where you're coming from.

As a matter of fact, here is a picture of her with her physical therapist, learning how to walk...and another showing her in the garden...the strength of her spirit...absolutely amazing...

caughtme.jpg

grandmawithjosephine2.jpg

[Vogi2002]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

Okay so My mom's dr (who she told about us) called my mom a couple months ago about a young couple who was thinking about adoption. My mom said that we were still interested but didn't say anything to us because they weren't sure. Well her dr called her back a week ago and asked for our number and email and my mom told him that we were on parentprofiles. Well I thought "whatever, we'll see" figuring that we'd never hear from them. My mom saw her dr 4 days after they spoke for my little brother and the dr was SHOCKED we'd hadn't heard from them. Shocked. He said they were so sure and had done research and were positive they were going to call and so excited (of course they remake their decision and can change their mind BLAH BLAH BLAH, yall know what I mean). Well I just got an email from them through parentprofiles (I know it's them, they said they found us through thier dr, etc). He is 21, going to school, she is 20 and a cna. they are sad about having to adopt but are not financially or emotionally ready for a child and know that this is the best thing. They want an adoptive family they can trust and we look like a very loving couple. OMG OMG OMG OMG

WTF do I say back? I am going to email them but I don't know what to say!! OMG everything sounds stupid.

Wow. I thought I would be calm. NOT. EEEEEK

I'm so excited but reserved at the same time. I am mainly nervous. Nervous!!

Okay, ttyl, will talk more...gotta try to write a not-too-impersonal yet not-too-needy yet witty yet not too stupid sounding, interested yet not clingy email.

Natalie