Busiest Week Ever!

I think this past week has been the busiest one ever! I am so behind on blogging and reading everyone's blogs. I'll get caught up one of these days! :) So, what's been going on? Well, obviously I have lots of catching up to do.......I need to blog about my baby shower and Veronica's visit, but first I thought I'd just let you know why I'm so behind! Plus, this weekend was such a great one that it seems I'm finding that there are no words to really be able to describe it!

The Sunday morning before Veronica was set to come visit, Lily woke up throwing up everywhere. I didn't think much of it because Veronica wasn't set to come in until Thursday evening and I figured she'd be fine by then. But then, Tuesday morning, Kaylee and Morgan both woke up throwing up and they had flu-like symptoms and horrible fevers. I was really worried that Madison and I would get it and Veronica would have to cancel! :( And, by this time, Lily was having horrible diarrhea. Lily ended up staying home until Friday!

In the meantime, Tuesday night, Madison and I left all the sick peoples at home and went to her Open House at school. Here she is with the science class bunny. :) Her teacher asked if she wanted to hold it and she was like, no that's okay! She has 4 teachers this year and they all raved about how well she is doing and how quiet she is. Ha!
By Wednesday, Morgan was back at work/school and I kept Kaylee home that day just to be safe, but she went back to school on Thursday. Thursday morning, I texted Veronica at 1:45am (my time) and told her Lily had just woken up throwing up violently everywhere and I wasn't sure what was going on! That morning when I woke up, Lily had a fever too. I was like, what is going on here?!! I was so scared and worried about Veronica coming in. I still wasn't sure if we were contagious and if Madison and I would get it and I hated the thought of Veronica coming all this way and us all being sick and getting her sick for the ride home. I was really not handling it well at all. I just felt so defeated. Veronica had planned this trip and the enemy was hard at work trying to stop it. I was so afraid she would be so disappointed and feel she had wasted her time and money coming. It was down to the last few hours when she just decided to go ahead and come as planned. And luckily by then, Lily's fever had come down and she was beginning to feel better. I know everyone's prayers were working!

In the midst of all of that, Madison had picture day that day.
Lily was supposed to have her Open House that night too, but we didn't go since she didn't go to school that day. Madison also had dance, so I dropped her off and this freak rain/lightning storm blew through. It hadn't rained in 6 months here barely, and this was happening as I was scheduled to drive to the airport to pick up Veronica?! Seriously?!! Anyhow, I picked up some italian food, and got everyone back home safely and then it was time to head to the airport! Luckily, it only sprinkled on the way, but Veronica said she could see the lightning from the plane and it looked really neat! Another freak thing that happened that day was I backed out of the driveway and ran over a package the mailman had left. Why they insist on leaving packages right outside my garage, in the exact spot my tire will land, is beyond me! Luckily, it was nothing breakable. I keep meaning to leave a note for them.......this is not the first time that has happened!

I'll do a seperate post about Veronica's visit, but we took this picture on Friday. Since it was just me that picked her up, we didn't get a picture at the airport and then we were so busy talking that we forgot to ask Morgan to take one once we got home. Ha! I told her that we better go outside on the swing and take one of ourselves before we got in trouble. LOL! Luckily, everyone went back to school on Friday (even though Lily is just now getting over her diarrhea!). Everyone was saying how we could be sisters and we didn't even realize how much we looked alike until we looked at this picture. How neat, huh?! Soul sisters, for sure!! I just love her!

We had so much fun on Friday......we didn't really have time for any sight-seeing, but we went to lunch, shopped at Hobby Lobby, and then it was time to pick up the girls and head to dance. That night, we also went out to eat again.

Then Saturday was my baby shower. It was one of the most special days of my life, really!! Having Veronica there was a dream come true, as well as all of my most special friends and family. My friend Julie who gave my shower did such a beautiful job on everything. I can't wait to show y'all all the pictures! I got a ton of precious things!!

Sunday was a rough day and I was so emotional over Veronica having to leave. I'm so glad that her travels went well and that she made it home safely.

Morgan asked me that night how to spell Matthew and I was thinking, you should probably learn that Daddy! LOL! Anyhow, I looked up later to find this:

He cracks me up. He put this on our sign that I won a few years ago from a blog giveaway. I guess we need to update it! I think it's finally setting in for Morgan that we really are having another baby! :)

Tuesday night, Kaylee had her Open House. They did this fun thing where you had to read these facts about them and try to guess which one was hers. We definitely knew which one was hers when we read about how she loves dancing and has a chihuahua.

And finally, yesterday was Lily's picture day. I love her expression here. :D I'm just so thankful that she is on the mend. I started sending her lunch to school on Friday and have been doing that ever since and it seems to be helping. For some reason, going through the cafeteria line was making her gag every single day. I'm not sure why and can't quite figure it out. We are still working with her on adjusting to Kindergarten and at times, I just want to keep her home and shelter her and homeschool her, but I know that what is best is to keep encouraging her.

I also was able to go back to bible study last night and enjoyed that. So, if you made it through this huge long post, you can see why I haven't had much time to do anything lately! I did finish up buying the last few things I need for Matthew yesterday. I also had a doctor appointment yesterday and everything is looking great. Five more weeks!!! Can you believe it?!! Only 35 days left!

Exciting News!

I am SO excited!! My baby shower is in 2 weeks and guess who is coming to it?!! VERONICA!!! Can you believe it?! She is flying from CA to TX and staying 3 nights with me! WOO HOO!!!!!!

I am just overwhelmed with joy that she is going to be able to come and we will finally be able to meet! At first, I was a little anxious because y'all know I hate driving to Houston, but the Lord totally worked that out too when we discovered she could fly into the smaller Houston airport that is closer to my house, in an area that I drive often. I told Veronica that I would not let the enemy steal from me what the Lord intends to be a blessing, and this is such a blessing! Plus, poor Veronica has to drive 3 hours just to get to the airport and then another 3 hour flight, so I think the least I can do is drive 45 minutes to pick her up! Haha! That weekend is going to be so special, with all of my favorite people. Even my Dad, Stepmom, Stepsister, and her 2 little girls are coming in to spend the weekend with us!

It's going to be so much fun! And then my friend Julie is planning such a special day for my baby shower. I just feel so blessed! That weekend will be the 7 year anniversary of my mom's death and I am amazed at how much the Lord has changed my life since then. So many unexpected blessings.......a wonderful family, amazing friends, and a new baby on the way. It's so much more than I ever could have imagined or dreamed possible! If there's one thing my life represents, it's that there is always hope to be found in the Lord!

Morgan's cousin is expecting her first baby boy a week before Matthew is due, so I made her this shirt today. :) I'm making one soon for Matthew too, but his is going to be a black shirt and will say "Rock Me". Ha! I love baby stuff!!
I know I should quit buying stuff for Matthew, but I can't help myself! I found this little set today. It's hard to see because it's wrapped up in this gauze-like fabric, but it's a brown little onesie with a hat, socks, and pants. So sweet! I had to get it since it says "little brother"......I had to! Look how tiny the little socks are! Awwwwww!!!!!!!

So, that's my exciting news! We have so much going on these next few weeks, plus in October the girls have a weekend dance workshop thing that we're going to in Houston. Then, there's our annual Fall Festival and Halloween......and before we know it, Matthew's due date will be here! (Nov. 9th)

P.S. I'm pretty sure meeting Veronica was on my bucket list, so check! :)

Sweet Feet, Praises, and a Bucket List!

Is there anything cuter than Lily's sweet, little painted toes?
I have a feeling these will end up being the feet of a talented pointe ballerina........if you look very closely, you can see the callouses on top of her toes, because she walks on her toes all the time. Not like walking on her tiptoes, she curls her toes under and walks on them. I've never seen anything like it!
Kaylee wanted Madison to take a picture of us yesterday, because she took that picture of Madison and I the other day.

My friend Bethany, over at Happyascanb, posted her bucket list the other day and I thought that might be fun to think about. It goes along with the whole "One Month to Live" theme we're studying at church too. This is much harder than it seems and I'm sure I'll think of more things later too.

Oh, before I forget..............I have FABULOUS news!!!! Do y'all remember my friend Serena from high school that had a brain tumor and I asked you all to please keep her in your prayers? Well, they operated on her and she's been on chemo and her last report was that the tumor has not returned and things look really well!!!! I see her on facebook and she is one of the strongest, most courageous women that I know, and throughout the entire thing, she NEVER stopped praising God! Thank you so much for joining me in praying for her!

Okay, so here's my list in on particular order:

1. Write a book about my story of adoption, loss, faith, and God's overwhelming love!

2. Visit Hawaii with Morgan and the girls.

3. Take the girls to Disney World, because I've never been either!

4. Have a convention with all of my blog friends! I want to meet each and every one of you!!!!

5. Sing at the Grand Ole Opry. (Is this supposed to be realistic? I don't care! LOL!!)
6. Witness all of my loved ones who are not saved accept Christ!

7. Own a maternity/baby boutique.

8. See my girls grow up and have children of their own.

9. Publish my Mom's adoption story that she wrote to me in some form or fashion. Hey, that gives me an idea! I think I may do that here on my blog. It's a great story!!!
10. Grow old with Morgan and have our home become the gathering place for our children, grandchildren, and other family members to come home to for the holidays.