Stomach Flu...Anyone? Anyone?

The plane door hasn't shut yet...........I'm getting ready to vomit for the bazillionth time that morning (ok not really bazillionth time but definitely the 6-7th time)- I boarded the flight against my better judgment because I really wanted to make our adoption finalization court appearance in Hawaii- I realize that the vomiting is not going away but getting worse- I lean over to Matt and tell him I think I may need to get off the plane cause I am going to throw up AGAIN!! I get up out of my seat and walk up to the stewardess standing by the door and tell her that I think I may have the stomach flu and I'm wondering if I should just get off the plane now instead of taking the flight to our first lay over and seeing how I feel- She agrees its a good idea and I am escorted off of the plane just in time to vomit (into a doggy bag) on the tarmac..........The 2 pilots and every window seat on the left side of the plane can see the vomit show I am putting on-  I make it through the terminal, only vomiting a couple of times- drive back home, crawl in bed- vomit some more.................Poor Ryan came home from school yesterday not feeling well- Ellie experienced her first stomach bug starting today........

We were supposed to finalize our adoption at 9:30 a.m. this morning in Hawaii- But instead we will finalize in early Nov.- We are working out the logistics with our attorney in Hawaii whether we will be flying back over to Hawaii or whether the court will approve a teleconference here in Oregon for our finalization- Matt and I are hoping for a teleconference but will be grateful either way- we just want to finalize already!!   I keep reminding myself that God is in complete control and our adoption will finalize- Maybe not in my time frame or how I envision it but none the less- IT:S GONNA FINALIZE

Hope you all are having a GREAT Wed. :)

Going Private....

Whenever I use the word Private it makes me think of some sort of inappropriate to talk about body part........'Ryan!! You may not kick Eli in the PRIVATES when your mad!!'

I have been going back and forth the past month or so if I should take this blog private ('Stephanie!! Cover up that blog's private parts!!)....... :)
When you have a blog that is open to the general public it get's 'hits' by random people- meaning that if some random person types in certain words together (Hawaiian Adoption etc..) my blog comes up in their search engine- and again, because my blog was not set to private, they could view my blog and read all about what is going on-  It feel's like (and this may change after our adoption closes) now is not the time to display our life (even though I am only displaying little snippets......is snippets a word) to the world-

Please be praying for us as we near the end of our adoption process-
God Bless you all and thank you so much for the messages to my inbox with your e-mail addresses!!!

Hugs,
Steph

The Farmer and His Cow...hee! hee! hee!

Poor Ryan has been home sick the past couple of days- He had his first asthma attack when he was 6 months old and has continued to battle asthma since- This has been one of those 'asthma' weeks :( 

I let the boys pick out Ellie's Halloween costume this year- I had in my mind that she would be something cutsie (lady bug, ballerina, etc).  I knew the minute we saw the cow costume at Costco that my boys were going to pick it- 

Ryan will be a farmer (Eli will be to if I can convince him to dress up) and Ellie will be the cow- I've had her costume hanging in her room for weeks (I keep meaning to order in her cow bell). Since Ryan has been home this week he has asked if he could dress her up in it just to see what she looks like-

Go For It Ryno!!!

The last 2 pics are my mom and I getting pedi's this morning- Thanks so much mom, I love you.

Sleep or Win The Lottery?

I am just waiting for Ellie to finish eating and was cruising through posts I have typed out but never posted to my blog (drafts)- I came across this one and cracked up- Ellie was on a roll- 3 full nights sleep!! That was then and this is now..........currently up 2 times a night-

10 things I have to say about 3 straight nights of all night sleep..........


-My eye's don't burn and have this weird red fuzzy line around my cornea (or whatever the whites in your eyes are called- I know 2 words in eye lingo world- Pupils and Corneas....I know what a pupil is but not really sure about cornea)

-I don't walk around my house frantically searching for my car keys- only to have to drag out the spare cause they are no where to be found......later that day, when I open the fridge, I remember that I set them down to grab Elle's bottle- Had I only thought to look in the refrigerator for my car keys

-I actually remember what I ate for breakfast

-My boys tell me that I look different- happy and not grumpy

-I don't feel like I am in a fog- a fog that no amount of coffee can lift

-I don't think to myself when I am in a room of people 'I wonder if anyone else is in this room is as tired as I am right now but just acting like they are not'

-I don't have a nagging headache all day

-I can see my eyelids again!! When I am really tired, the skin below my eyebrows swells so you can not see my lids- some people get bags below their eyes- mine are above my eyes........go figure

-I don't feel like If someone gave me the option to win the lottery or have a full nights sleep I would choose the sleep.......seriously I would!!!

-I FEEL NORMAL-

Dear Isaiah,
We all miss you!  Please come visit us soon (bring your dad and auntie too!!)
Love,
Matt, Steph, Eli, Ryan, Ellie, and Oklie

FEELINGS & Fun Fall Foto's...

OR..........Should I have typed my post pheelings & phun phall photo's??      

This week has been a rough one   learning curve- lots going on with the behind the scenes of our adoption- I went on a long walk this morning, without any distractions, and psycho analyzed my emotions/feelings when it comes to the behind the scene's of our adoption (NOTHING to do with parenting Ellie or the relationship we have with her birth mom- strictly the dealings we have had with our attorney)- 

I came to some pretty solid conclusions and sorted out emotions that have been over whelming at times....Our adoption needs to close before I share the post I wrote in regards to sorting out my feelings but what I can share are pictures I took on my walk!!!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Sat.!!

A Precious Little Girl In Need Of A Forever Family

I Follow a blog that featured the story below- My heart went out to this precious little girl-
If you would like more info please click Here
May God Bless and keep this little one and may she be blessed with a wonderful 'forever family'
Hope you are all having a great Mon.!! I can't sign off this post without wishing my dear friend Deb A Happy Birthday!!!


Steph


P.S. Please feel free to 'share' this blog post on your face book page or with anyone who you think may be interested!!
__________________________
Family for Her?

I "met" this little girl a few times on different lists...she has been
sitting around waiting for about 2 years. I know I don't have that
many readers, but if this little one strikes a chord with you,
please take alook at her file. She is listed with CHI for now.
They will have her file until early November. Then it is up the
powers that be to decide what is next for her.She has Osteogenesis
 Imperfecta-brittle bones ( they think) but look at that face!
She needs a mommy and daddy.  I committed to praying for her
for the month of Sept, but God does not seem to have her in
mind for us. At least help pray for a family for her.

Who Wants To Go To Russia For A Year......

ARIELLE DOES!!!!!!!!!!

My friend Debbie's 17 year old Daughter, Arielle, has an opportunity to spend her senior year of high school as a foreign exchange student in Russia- She left this past August and will return next year!!

Arielle, we are all so proud of you- The courage it takes to fly to a place you have never been, stay with people you have never met, and go to school where your language, for the most part, is not understood IS PHENOMENAL!!!
May God Bless and keep you as you follow such an amazing adventure- We are praying for you and thinking of you lots- You are missed (but again, we are so so so proud of you)

WE LOVE YOU!!

Grandma (Darlene), Mom (Deb), Steph, Treva, and Kristi

Left to Right- Treva, Steph, Deb, Darlene, Kristi

Arielle's Grandma Darlene

Arielle's mom Debbie

Treva :)

Kristi

Happy Birthday Deb!!

Arielle (this pic was taken of her in Russia)