Facebook Statuses--Part 2

I need to write a real post about our three week marathon vacation but I'm just too tired.  So, until then, here are some facebook statuses from the last week.  (In reverse chronological order.)

I just got a notification that I have to go to a hearing because my trash cans were out on the street too long. Seriously? Who cares! I know the police in this town have more important things to do.

Sara did not want to leave the house today. We have a really long errand list and she reminds me at every stop that this is not how she wanted to spend her day.

Picking out mom's clothes today. (It's clear I need some help in the style department.)

Gotta love a home made sign.

Longest prayer ever tonight. I think she just found another way to prolong bed time.

Anyone else think we should just go back to the days of arranged marriages?

She just sat at the counter and started praying. Guess I should get started on dinner.

Best purchase I've made in a long time. ‪#‎knotgenie‬ ‪#‎notearsthismorning‬

My plans to sleep alone did not go well.

I'm super excited to sleep in my bed alone tonight. I've shared a room/bed with Sara for the last three weeks. Now if I could just convince her to sleep in her own bed....

Home. Tired and a bit crabby.

100 more miles. Ugh.

Trying to figure out how to get home without driving for 10 hours tomorrow.

Maybe I shouldn't have laughed so hard when Sara wet on my dad's lap the other day. You know what they say about karma.

Still no car. They just called to say they hoped it would be ready in the next couple of days. I informed them it WOULD be ready by the weekend or they would have to figure out how to get it to Chicago. She then said it might be done tonight.

Big girl.

Our generation gets a bad rep but check out the grandmas at the park today.

We are going to my aunt's house for lunch. Sara apparently has additional plans.

Last I heard (a week ago), my car is supposed to be ready tomorrow. Now I have to decide when to make the dreaded drive back.

Sara now says "wove ya!" Melts my heart every time.

This is his I feel about it. Sara isn't extra special because she has an extra chromosome. She has Down syndrome but she's extra special because she's sweet and sassy and smart.

Poor baby has been asleep on the floor of my parents' very busy house for two hours. Summer has caught up with her for sure.

Rob to Sara: "I guess you can eat this in the living room. Your mom has different rules than our house."
Poor kid is so literal. He doesn't understand why Sara doesn't have all the rules he does. He chased her around this morning because she was touching the dirty part of the fly swatter. He's not supposed to touch that part. 
Now he's telling her that her crumbs are going to attract mice and her mom is afraid of mice. 
Our presence stresses him out a little.

Views like this make me contemplate moving back here.

Circle C Ranch. Some things don't change. 

My girl is growing up way to fast. She's grown up two years in the last six months. I brought home a frightened little toddler and I now have a confident little preschooler.

Super excited to visit Circle C tomorrow and visit with Ryan Howard Morgan. I can't believe it's been 20 years since my first summer working there. (I can't believe I'm old enough to say "it's been 20 years since...")

Sara's first canoe ride.

We went to a vow renewal reception today. Rob announced very loudly:
"Natalie! You should go out there! They want all the single ladies for something." 
Shhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Help! There's a munchkin asleep on my neck!

I'm convinced my child has the sharpest elbows in the world. Just ask my dad. 

Work is changing insurance providers. None of the specialists Sara has seen are covered. Lovely. Thanks a lot, Obama.

I promise.  I'll write a real update when I get out from under the three weeks of luggage and sleep deprivation.  

Facebook Statuses

For those of you who are not in my Facebook world, here are a few status updates from the last week that give you a glimpse into our daily lives.  Believe it or not, there is a lot that I don't share on Facebook and even more that I don't share on the blog.  I love using Sara's story to encourage and educate others but I also think that privacy is very important for a child.  I will occasionally allude to the struggles we have day-to-day but I don't outline them.  It's not necessary.  Any way, off my soap box.  Here are some statuses:

There is a groupon for dance classes in Orland. I think it's a sign.

I heard footsteps up stairs and then they stopped. Apparently she got tired while looking for me. This is the kitchen floor.

Sara has some amazing sleep avoidance tactics. The problem is that I've never employed any of these tactics so I don't know how to counter them. I've never avoided bed in my life. Ask my mom or anyone I've ever lived with!

A glimpse into my morning.

Me: Sara, are you going to be crabby like this for your teachers?

Sara: Nope. 
Well I guess that's good.

Sara has been up every day before 7 since she's been off school. (Except the day after the wedding.). Today she goes back to school and she's sound asleep. Ugh.

And now she's calling me Natalie.

First Sunday in a month we haven't been traveling. Sara gave me a very weird look when I told her we were going to church. She wants to go to school instead.

Sara has been watching her Gotcha Day video for the last few days. I wonder what she's thinking.

Working on a blog post about the wedding with tears running down my face. (It could be partly because I "slept" with the Thrasher last night. I'm exhausted.) I can't get over how loved and accepted my little girl is. Everywhere we go people tell me how wonderful she is. I definitely won the "Adoption Lottery." Thank you to every one of you who love her for exactly who she is.

Travel much?

Sara's officially tired. She's dancing but making everyone hold her while she does it.

Will you all please join me in praying that Sara takes a nap on the way to the wedding today? It's really the only way we are both going to survive this experience.

A year ago, I was convinced she was never coming home. Today she's the flower girl in a friend's wedding. 

Today's word of the day is pool. Sorry to disappoint you again, hon, but no swimming today. You do get to put on a beautiful dress and dance until you're exhausted.

Twice today Sara saw swimming pools and stripped her dress off in record time. 

1. That dress comes off way too easily. 
2. We might need to have a chat about modesty. 
On a side note---when we pulled up in front of Jeana's house today, she instantly said agua. We've only been there once and she couldn't see the pool from the front of the house. This girl's memory amazes me!

Miss Independent doesn't need help anymore.

Sara is running around the house saying Cool. 
Sorry, Chica. No school today. 
She only has one more week of summer school. August could be long.

Happy 4th of July from our family to yours. (Means just a little more to me this year!)

It's not a wedding rehearsal unless the flower girl and ring bearer both cry---at the same time.

Sara has been puking randomly every few days for the last two weeks or so. This can't be normal.

So, there you have it.  A little glimpse into our daily lives.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  

And, just for fun.  A couple more pictures from the wedding!

Tag Your Friends and Win a Prize?

So far, I've given away 2 scarves and gotten lots of free publicity for the auction. Here's the next twist. (Are we having fun yet?) Tag 5 of your friends in a picture of an item you think they would be interested in. Must be 5 different friends that do not already "like" the auction. This is especially important for those items that are location specific! As usual, I will put all your names into a drawing and the winner will win a scarf in their choice of colors. Leave me a comment and let me know that you did it. I don't see all the tags on the pictures. This contest will go until 9:00PM on Sunday, July 1st.

Auction Page on Facebook

If you don't have a facebook account, you can email the auction post to 5 friends. Again, leave me a comment and let me know you did that.

Auction Post on the Blog

Here are the color choices for the scarf.

Once again, thank you all who have donated, bid, and shared. These might seem like simple things to you but they are a huge encouragement and help to me. Sara's story is getting out to new people every day.

Let's Get Some More Auction Donations and Win a Prize!

So, I had a fun idea. (At least I think it's fun....) I still need some more donations for the auction for Sara that starts on Sunday. Here's what I'm going to do: Everyone who shares the blog post or the facebook page on their facebook or blog, and asks their friends for donations to auction off, will be putting into a drawing. I will make a scarf like the ones in the auction for the winner in the color scheme of their choice. Leave me a comment here and let me know you shared and asked. I will draw the winner at 9:00PM on Wednesday, June 27th.

Blog Post

Facebook Page

Yarn Color Choices

Message me or leave a comment on the blog if you get a donation!!!

I got to meet Henry!

Today, I got to meet Henry (and his mom). Henry was adopted last year from Reece's Rainbow. His mom and I are facebook friends and we've been following each other's blogs. I met up with him and his mom at Cracker Barrel for lunch.


It was so nice to chat with someone who understands things like:

*Just waiting for the final homestudy approval from DCFS....

*My I-800A is ready and waiting...

*My Dossier is almost done....

*I have no idea where I'm going to get the rest of the money I need....

*I've done a Give Away and now I'm doing a Puzzle Fundraiser....


And someone who can answer questions like:

*Why not adopt domestically?

*Why a child with special needs?

*How can you afford this?

*How can you be so in love with someone you've never met?


There are some other RR moms in the area. Sadly, they couldn't make it today but I look forward to getting together with the whole group---and introducing them to Sara!