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Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Waiting Room...

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TOONES!
(The Christmas cards that we ordered from our adoption friends. Gina designed and printed them and the proceeds help their future trips to Ethiopia for mission work! Easiest cards I've ever done!)
It seems as though I have been spending an abundance of my time in a literal waiting room. Whether it is at the hospital, awaiting my twice weekly fetal monitoring, the waiting room of my doctor's office, waiting for a prenatal massage, or waiting at the chiropractor for weekly adjustments to help my aches and pains, there has been a whole lotta waiting going on... In a more figurative sense though, we're in the midst of the biggest wait of our lives...the "waiting room" to meet our little miracle baby girl.

Our Christmas was wonderful. Of course we missed our families desperately, but I honestly can't say that I missed the hoopla that comes with travel, etc. We enjoyed a quiet holiday, and I made many many sweets and ate most of them myself. :) Lee was great to be able to help me be distracted, we watched lots of old Christmas movies, and hung out a great deal. Christmas eve was especially blessed, we had dinner with our dear friends the Rudziks and attended a WONDERFUL Christmas eve service at a church near their home. The music was AMAZING and it was wonderful to attend a new service. I simply cannot do Christmas without going to church on Christmas eve. Its the one tradition that I hold so dearly. After church, we visited our sweet neighbors the Tafts at their new home. They have moved from across the street and we sure miss them! This is the family that lost their husband/father unexpectedly last year, and Lee has formed a sweet bond with their youngest Clayton. We stopped by to see their new house and check on them and it was especially blessed. Their new house is beautiful and we feel grateful that their new place is only about a mile away. Lee exchanged cell phone #s with Clayton and the kids, and already has seen and spoken to Clay twice since that night. :) It still warms my heart to see their special bond. On Christmas day Lee found an indoor miniature golf joint that was actually open and we enjoyed a crowdless day at the indoor arcade. I REALLY wanted to roller skate, but guess that isn't an option for awhile. :) Lee has had the week between Christmas and New Year's off of work, and although he's gone in for a little bit everyday (he is so dedicated!) we have enjoyed being together with lots of downtime...Can't say that we've totally prepared the dirty house for baby girl's arrival, but we've been getting last minute shopping and some projects completed.

As for me, can I just tell you how absolutely READY I am to have this child? Of course having her in December would mean she would literally cost us nothing (my insurance deductibles and coinsurance amounts are met for this year) and be a tax deduction, and I am miserable at this point in my pregnancy...but honestly I'm just SO ready to see her precious face! :) Everything is ready...I packed my bag, hers, got a manicure, pedicure, hair done, massage, and well, WE are ready. Bottom line is that she isn't and that's ok. We're lucky that we know God has this birth in his hands! :) And, we're confident and sure that she'll come when its right. No need to rush her here artificially.

So, we wait. And wait. And wait. And cherish our last days with eachother. And try to practice our relaxation and breathing. And I lay in bed and enjoy her last kicks in my belly. That will be what I miss the very most. Feeling her move and having her safely inside before we bring her into this big ole' scary but beautiful world.

Christmas Morning
Yule Log music
Daisie sniffing out a "Grammy/Grampy treat"
Our pretty tree. We opted to not go all Martha-Stewarty this year and do our gold/red tree. We went for the eclectic, use-all-Kylie's-ornaments-from-her-whole-life tree. :)
Ready for Christmas
Lee grabbed pic of my belly. I'm eating a sweet treat I'm sure...
Our furry baby with her Uncle Patchie's sweater Grammy sent
New additions-Clarice nad Hermey with Rudolph
"Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" is my absolutely fave' Christmas flick! I have been collecting these figures for years! :) They quit making them, but luckily some people were selling them on Ebay for cheap so I got couple new ones to add to my collection. (See above)
WOAH! Wobble girl making a putt. :)
My husband playing the "air golf club" while some rocking music played...
OY VEY! 38.5 weeks!


39 weeks in jammies from Holly!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Updates and such


Our trip to Kansas was busy, with not a spare moment. After arriving on Wednesday night late, Mom and I spent Thursday getting manicures/pedicures and shopping a little. We also attended Westlink Christian Church's Women's Night where I got to meet TWO of my fellow adoption friends! Jen Hatmaker (http://www.jenhatmaker.com)
is a nationally known writer and speaker, who has authored MANY Bible studies for the busy mom/woman. She is from Haysville originally (lives in Austin now) and visited Wichita to do a talk. It incorporated adoption, so it was a tear jerker since they just returned a few months ago with two new babes from Ethiopia. I was lucky enough to schedule dinner with Brenda Fleming and her little Ethiopian angel Elias. We ate together and attended the talk with my mom. It was SO MUCH FUN to meet in person, women I'd been talking to on our agency's online support group, especially knowing that Brenda lives in Wichita! What a small world. We became instant friends! :)
Ky, Jen Hatmaker and Brenda Fleming
Dining with Brenda and Little Elias!
MELT. MY. HEART.

Lee's Mom Gail and Stepdad Ken flew to KS for our shower! It was so great to spend quality time with them. We had lunch at Old Mill Tasty Shop and dinner with my mom and dad at the Hangar restaurant. Its a great restaurant with awesome airplane paraphernalia. And yummy steaks! :)

Friday was a photo shoot (see previous blog) with Serena Shurtz, and Saturday was the shower followed by another crazy experience! I went back to Holly's mom's house after the shower to hang with my girls Hol and Jen and experienced my first EARTHQUAKE! Thank goodness it was with Holly and Jen, who being California transplants, knew exactly what was happening! The epicenter was in Oklahoma, but since it was a 5.9 earthquake we definitely felt it! Remember the pretty clothesline decorations hanging from the mantle at my shower? Well they were shaking and I was pretty shaken! YIKES!
Hanging at the Annex with Hol, Jen, Mama Kay Kay and Aiden (who loves to Karokee!)
So fun to hang!
On Sunday we went to church, then Lee left and Mom and Dad and I hung out followed by dinner with my dear friend Amy. I left Monday afternoon. It was such a blessed trip! I loved every second of it and loved being able to catch up with family and friends.
Back in Utah, we've been busy. Not only did I enjoy my Utah shower and our Babymoon, but on my birthday we got to go to the airport to welcome our dear friends April and Nathan (see April from shower post---she gave us the Ethiopian coffee and doll!) and their two new children home from Ethiopia! It was SOOO cool to attend the airport party and I can't imagine a better birthday night event and celebration! You can see them holding their TIRED kids and TIRED selves!

We've been SO busy. I'm almost 36 weeks pregnant now and cannot wrap my head around the fact that she may be here in a few short weeks. I'm not ready honestly, despite the fact that I'd like to be able to bend over AND breathe again. :) 26 pounds later, I disagree when people say that I am so "tiny." I wish now I'd have eaten more healthfully, definitely have been eating much differently than I did before pregnant, with less desire to munch on veggies and far more prone to eating dessert everyday. I definitely know this child is Lee's since he is apt to eat a bowl of ice cream and cookies each night. This kid definitely craves sugar, to which her Mommy gives in nightly.
She is growing rapidly and loves to lodge her long legs into my right rib. :) Its been fun to poke at her and watch her roll across my belly. She still finds it funny to stop moving just as Daddy gets his hand placed just right to feel her. Playing games already! She's wild and hyper, yet another characteristic she shares with Dad. :)

Another recent event was taking dinner to our dear friends the Autrys (see previous adoption update post---they just got home with their FOUR kiddos from Ethiopia!) Here I am making fruit and yogurt parfaits for them and Lee had made an AMAZING Martha Stewart 4 cheese macaroni-n-cheese dish!
No pics yet, but TRUST ME when I say they are PRECIOUS! :)

35 weeks. Small? Look again. And then look at:

This. Me at 6.5 weeks. Now doesn't that make you giggle?
I wanted to not only update you a little on our pregnancy, but the adoption as well. I took a fall down three stairs recently, and bounced like a ball on my tailbone. After a quick mental and physical body check, I went to bed and didn't think much of it. The next day I noticed "decreased fetal movement" and after a quick call to my doctor, headed to the hospital labor and delivery to be checked. Fetal monitor for 2 hours revealed and "irritable uterus" but baby girl was fine and her heartbeat strong and steady. I was sent home with instructions to rest. I loved the nurses so the hospital staff eased my fears about labor. I'm happy our hospital is nice and 7 minutes from our house. :)
Adoption wise, things aren't so great. We've been been on the wait list for 7 months and have only moved up 7 spots. That means we still have 38 people in front of us. With the court closures for rainy season, amongst other issues, the referrals have been SLOW. God knew that I needed Baby Girl to tide me over because this Mama's heart could NEVER endure waiting another 7-10 months for a referral! UGH!
Here are some happy Africa cookies from April's adoption shower. They were yummy and well, sugar cookies (or any sugar) always cheers me up! :) Plus they are just so pretty!
In other news, there is lots of movement as our friends have brought kiddos home, and received court dates! Very exciting! Let's hope the referrals start speeding up too as lots of family are longing to bring their babies home!
That may be it for awhile. We plan to be still and quiet for the next few weeks (other than nesting) as we celebrate Christmas alone and peacefully for our last time ever. We got a real tree this year, which we've been unable to do in the past due to travel, and we're looking forward to starting our own traditions this year. Of course, this gal will be making oodles of cookies since they are a staple part of mine and Baby Girl's diet! :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Babymoon! ZION NATIONAL PARK!!!


Lee and I were so blessed to be able to take 4 days to visit Zion National Park for a Babymoon. Lee had never been and I had fond memories of my trek through the park back in grad. school with my best friend Megan. We opted to go the posh route this time (as opposed to camping like I did the last time) and booked a room in Springdale the first night, followed by a cabin suite at Zion Mountain Ranch for the next two nights. We booked the "Romance Package" and loved it so much! It was a little bit out in the sticks, and at 8+ months pregnant that is a little scary, but we went for it and were NOT disappointed.
We hiked several (easy) trails and spent time shopping and looking and exploring. 2 full days at Zion afforded us the luxury of coming back to our cabin early to enjoy the sunset before dinner both nights. Of course we ventured back into Springdale on Sunday so I could shop in the local trading posts.
We felt as if we'd been coming and going lately, with trips and lots of activities, birthing classes and barely time to sit. We needed an escape to get away, re-connect and rest and the trip was PERFECT. It was worth the splurge and we had some of our best ever talks and laughs. Lee was a doll and pampered me the entire time. It was a blessed trip. We know our time as a couple is so limited and our lives are about to change drastically, so this was our chance to enjoy just us before we become a family of 4.
I apologize for all the pictures, I just couldn't narrow them down! :)
ENJOY!

Love it!
Upper Pool Trail on the Emerald Pools Trail. I hiked this with Megan back in 2001 and loved it! :) It is a series of three pools practially stacked on top of eachother. Had to show Lee!
On the trail to Middle Pool
We had the camera timer down pat!
Back down
Falls dripping down from Middle Pool to Lower Pool
YIKES
The OLD Tunnel we had to drive through several times

RIBEYE! YUMMMMMMMMMMMM
My FRESH delicious salad and pasta and chicken (no cheese!) dish the chef made just for me since I'm so picky!
Our "Romance Package" included a fancy dinner two nights, plus breakfast and pastry delivery. This restaurant boasts its own garden, needlesstosay the veggies were all FRESH! Yes, there was still some stuff growing! It was ALL delicious and it was HARD to come back to our non-gourmet food at home. :) We STUFFED ourselves the entire trip and never had a bad meal, no matter where we ate. We even had a Thanksgiving buffet dinner at "Wildcat Willies" in Springdale on Thanksgiving night that included Roast Beef, Ham, Smoked Turkey, all the fixins' and the BEST BLUEBERRY COBBLER EVER!
After breakfast. Go West Young Man!
Heading back into Zion

Love the start of a good arch
Beautiful Canyon!
Riverwalk Trail
Had to stop here. Lee was VERY good about not letting me over exert myself. Admittedly, I have a wild side to me and a risk-taker mentality. What do you mean I can't hike Angels Landing? (where the last .5 miles is steep and requires hanging onto a chain since 1500 foot drop offs surround the trail). Next time. :)
At this point the Riverwalk Trail becomes "The Narrows." You must dress for water hiking into the narrowest parts of the canyon. Definitely want to do this next time!

Canyon Overlook Trail
WOW!
So beautiful! Loved this trail!
GULP!
Me and Baby Girl restin' a spell
GRRRRRRR

Gorgeous rocks!
The classic "under the National Park sign" pose (with a line of cars behind to do the same)
Our little ranch

Hello Mr. Buff


Spa Night before dinner! Forgot our big puffy robes but Lee brought my foot spa and masks ;) Made me a robe from 3 towels :)
Masked men
Our little cabin
View out the front door

Quaint little sunset viewing spot
Lavatory
Champagne tub
View out the window on the ranch
Kitchenette

WOW!
Our "Buffalo Champagne Suite" sat on a real-live Buffalo Preserve. 3 miles east of Zion National Park. It was SO quiet here. We watched the sunset two nights and watched as the buffalo stampeded by each night. Breathtaking!
Those mesa/rocks look are Zion!
Sunset!
Ranch
Sunset again
Quick! Put the camera on a rock, set the timer and run over here!
Emerald Pools-Going up to second pool
Hiking Emerald Pools. First Pool

The Great White Throne
Three Patriarchs-Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Museum
Fuelin' up for Baby girl
AWESOME CLOUDS!