Thanksgiving Break

Yeah! I made it to Thanksgiving Break. That was the first big milestone in my job. I feel good about accomplishing this big task. Next big goal is Christmas Vacation. My class is going well. It is just very, very busy and a lot of times stressful.

I took the kids to get their Christmas pictures today. They were so cute. They love to have their pictures taken. We just went to Walmart, but since their studio has gone digital their pictures are great quality. We bought Grace a new car seat and a toddler bed. I still don't plan on making the transition yet, but we have discovered that she loves the security of being in the crib tent. She always insists that it be zipped up. So, I am going to look for a princess tent to put over her toddler bed. This will hopefully make the transition to a bed her last one. Hopefully. Crossing my fingers.

Last night I went to the movies and it was fun. Since I didn't have work today, I took the opportunity to stay out late. I went by myself, but that doesn't bother me. I have seen many great movies by my self (Lord of the Rings, Chicago, The Village, etc.) Last night I saw Twilight. It was very good.

Friday my mom and I are hitting the black Friday sales. It is so much fun. I plan our route and we will head out in the wee hours of the morning. I did it last year and had so much fun.

Who wouldn't want another one of these?

I have been working on some things for our wedding/vow renewal and I came across this picture. This was two weeks after Grace was placed. This is one of my very favorite pictures. It is no big surprise to anyone that I have been bitten by the baby bug once again. I love kids! It has been nearly 3 years since we welcomed Grace home. I am just trusting God for the answer to the promise for a third child. We added ourselves to the waiting list for a foster/adopt placement and most of my family knows that I am undergoing infertility treatments (well the testing to begin the infertility treatments). Did I mention that I had to go back to the lab again for another set of blood word? Yes, after my last post I got another call that they wanted just two more things. So in my quest to find answers that is 5 lab visits and blood draws.

My family is well. My kids are happy. I had my first parent teacher conference where I was the parent and not the teacher. I was pleased. To a normal person glancing at my son's report card they would see a very low student, but to me it is the best report card in the world. He may be low, but you don't know where he has come from. To go from special education preschool to being able to keep up with private school curriculum and kids. . . I am so proud of you Luke!!!!

Human Pin Cushion

Ok. I was naive. I thought I had experienced enough of white coat lab workers drawing my blood in the past, that running a few tests wouldn't be a big deal. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. After a phone conference with Dr. Patton we are running some more test. I went in last week to begin. I should have known something was going on when she had all these tubes on a tray. Great. How many tubes well 8 to start with. I have never had that much blood taken at one time. I have never had any problems with them taking my blood; however, this time was a little different. After about tube 6 I started to get light headed and the room began to spin. Stars starting appearing infront of my eyes. Great. I thought for sure I was going to pass out. I fought it and was ok. Although they made me sit there for quite awhile before they wanted me to get up. I went back yesterday for the rest of the tests. If they had taken all of them at one time that would have been 11 tubes of blood. I would have passed out for certain.

What are they testing for....fertility things. In all honesty, I really can't tell you for sure. They ran a lupus pannel to let them know all sorts of things from a blood clotting disorder to an autoimmune disorder. They ran glucose and prolactin. So far all the test results I have received are normal. That is good. Still waiting on some more results to come back. My right arm may be badly bruised, but not my spirit.

What I would say

Five years ago today, I answered my cell phone to hear the words that no one can ever prepare to hear, "your dad has passed away." I think one of the hardest realities of when someone close to you dies is that you no longer can talk with them. And unfortunately you have all this time to think about the things that you want to say. So, if I could talk to my dad today this is what I would say.

Dear Dad,
This time of year is always so difficult for me since you died. I can hardly fight back my tears when I see the leaves change color, the smell of the air, or the way fall clothes feel on my skin. Everything about my world during this time reminds me only of you. Yet, somehow I love fall so much. What sense does that make? It has been five years. Five years. Where does the time go? It has been five years since I heard your voice on the other end of the phone. I still remember your phone number 600-0911. Five years since I have seen you drive your white SUV, heard about your latest home sale, or gone to dinner with you. I can’t remember the last time we had a meal together, and when were having that meal it never even crossed our minds that it would be the last time. But that is just the way life is. You never know when your last breath will be. You never know. It has been longer since I last heard you preach, or watched you play your guitar. You always supported me when I tried something. We had a way of connecting. What would you think of me now? I have children. I am a mother. You have grandbabies. And oh, you would have loved them! They are the most wonderfully things. Did you know when we bought this house that they would be living here? Did you know the history that would unfold here?

Still, after these five years, not one day goes by that I don't think of you, that I am not reminded of you. I wish I could ask for your help on how to get a good price on new carpet for our family room. I know you could work a deal. Or advice on buying and selling a home, or hearing your latest story about someone or something interesting. I'm certain if you were here you would be spoiling my kids with funny things like watches and jumbo sized stuffed animals. Only your not. Your somewhere better where things like "war", "recession" and "cancer" don't exisit. You don't worry or feel pain. You are not stressed or limited physically in any way. You are free, in every way that a person can be free. Your spirit of compassion and giving lives on inside of me. You taught me those things about caring for the needy and giving to those who really need it. I mentor families like the ones you fed at our churches food bank. I teach special needs children. I am glad that before you "moved" on you knew that we were in the process of becoming foster parents. I am glad for this house that we live in, and I am more glad that you found it for us. We repainted the living room and bought some new furniture. After five years, and 13 foster kids, things need to be replaced. I miss you dad and love you even more than I miss you.
Me