This is what I want.

Sturbridge Village August 2010 (nini and cici)

Time is tick-tock-ticking away and before I knew it -my little babies are now in third grade, and my boys are now 9 months old! Life right now is wonderful. It's busy and full of of diapers, slobber, messy rooms, late nights, tired mornings, heavy lifting, and lots of cooking. My dad asked me on his most recent visit, "this is what you wanted?" Now the background behind this comment: It was the end of a long day, it was 7:00 and neither he nor anyone eaten yet, The Hawk had just thrown-up after choking on a rice puff, the boys had to be changed, diapers and clothes, for bed; neither were happy about being changed and I looked like I had just been slobbered, spit-up on, and run a marathon ( only I didn't)!

Boston Commons August 2010 (time to go!)

Now, back to the comment. the "this" has to be emphasized and you now get how it was asked. My answer was instant and with an enthusiastic YEs! Now the background behind my answer: I've thought a long time about the way my children have graced our lives. I thought about the first year we were married and remembered that there wasn't anything I wanted to do, but be a mother. Night after night, I prayed and cried until we made the decision to wait. Then when the waiting was over, we realized that the real waiting began. Still, my dream was to be a mother. Infertility sucks! There is no other better way to describe it. The days are long and the sorrow is constant. I am blessed to have had my children grace my life through adoption and by having the burden of infertility lifted and the miracle of birth bless my life. I can't think of any better dream than this and with an absolute Yes - this is what I want.

Has infertility affected your life?
Is or was motherhood your dream?

Happy Birthday Boys!

The Wait:

A week ago today the long awaited day of the boys arrival finally came! I was hoping for a natural delivery and minimal healing time but that was not in the cards. I arrived at the doctor's office last Thursday hoping for the good news that I would be delivering as planned on Friday. She dished the bad news quickly that the hospital had an induction back log of seven women and I was at the end of the list. As of that moment, I was on the induction waiting list for that weekend. I called frequently, hoping that they were closer to my induction, but by Sunday morning I was fourth on the list.

Monday morning at 7:15, we received the phone call that they were ready for us and to come in as quickly as we could. We were in and ready by 7:45! We were escorted to one of the delivery rooms and thus began another long wait. At 8:00 p.m., with the help medicine, I was ready to receive the next dose of medicine that would start my contractions. By 1:00 a.m. and after three tries, I received my epidural - thank heavens for small miracles. I contracted every two minutes through the night, but had only dilated to 3cm. The quickly did an ultrasound, which showed the boys literally head to head vying for who was going to be first. They were stuck and the decision was made to have a C-section.

The Birth:

Saving all the gorie details, the only thing I will relish out of this experience is that this was the only way the boys could be born. It was amazing to finally see them and that I was finally able to see their faces. Again saving all the gorie details, my body was not taking to the anesthesia. I could feel more pain than I should have had to endure. I was able to see both of my sons, before the pain intensified and I had to be put all the way under. It was an experience I am grateful is over and one I don't plan on repeating.

The Hospital:

It was such a relief to finally step outside and be taking the boys home. The hospital policy because of the H1N1 flu, in the nursery wing, refuses any visitors who are children and are not the spouse or the person assisting the mother. As a result, it was a bit like being in prison ( although, in prison, you can't send your spouse down the hall to the vending machine!) The girls did not see their new brothers until Saturday. My parents were able to sneek-up a few times to see the boys. The best part was spending the one on one time with the babies and getting used to the sleepless nights with the support of Craig who spent every night at the hospital with me.

At home:

Now at home, I am finding myself extremely busy, tired, and on the mend. I don't know which is harder, taking care of the boys, or the girls wanting to help and hold the babies. It has been a lesson in patience for me and for the girls. The first night was the hardest. We had to manage their expectations and their excitement. The important thing is that they adore their new brothers and love to help. We picked up a cake last night and celebrated with a happy birthday in french and english to the zero birthday!

Names and photos:

The boy's names, just like our girls, will not be published over this blog. If we are not friends on facebook, email me, and if I know you well enough I will forward you their birth names. Otherwise, we have lovingly nicknamed them Mr. T and The Hawk or Mr. H. Mr. H's cry sounds exactly like a hawk - it's hilarious and we couldn't resist this nickname for him! There will be lots more photos to come, but for now, here are a few photos we took this week:

The first look...

...this is Mr. T, born just over 6lbs...

...this is The Hawk, born just over 6lbs...

...Daddy and Hawk getting some needed Z's...


...just home, Craig gets the girls ready to hold their new brothers...

...being the best big sisters ever...

...thank you to everyone for your kind words and support. I look forward to sharing more moments with you!

The anatomy of pregnant woman.

My due date was the 20th, yet here I am this photo taken on the 22nd with the same big belly and puffy face I've had since my 5th month. Let me say before I go on, that I am absolutely thrilled that despite the problems I have had during this pregnancy, the babies are healthy, huge, and apparently very happy in my womb. I was due to be induced on Friday, but because of a backlog at the hospital, I was last on the list of seven. I just got word that it should happen today or Monday. Until then, this photo is exactly how I feel. Huge, puffy - but happy to be up and about. My last ultrasound on Thursday said that the babies were almost 7 lbs! Well, I am off to pray for that phone call and plan for another walk :)

Saying goodbye to the four of us.

It wasn't long ago that our small family of two became four overnight. And as it happens with many happy stories, it was the start to something wonderful and full of adventure...

We started at the best possible place for fun, at the park across the street from our home in Utah. We spent many happy days here...

We met wonderful friends that joined us on this special day, when our new family of four became a forever family and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple...

Since there were two little ones the same size and age, we improvised together. This allowed mommy to do her make-up in the morning and comb her hair. Since this little one liked to get into everything...

We got messy and celebrated birthdays together...

We made several trips to the zoo...

We traveled together, and walked in the sand together ...

We made smores together...

And made many trips to Disneyland together when we lived in California...

We planned mommy and daddy dates with each other, even when the weather was cold at our new home in Montreal...

We experienced milestones together...

And showed them our favorite places, like here at Mt. Vernon in Virginia...

We canoed together...

And just hung out...

We witnessed several visits from the tooth fairy...

...posed together...

...miniature golfed together...

...we celebrated six father's days and mother's days together...

...And made our first Sugaring-off together...

...And now, all the things we have been able to do together, we can now share with the boys. From eating pizza in front of a warm fire in the living room, to movie night, to vacations, to snuggles - it will all be about the six of us now! And as in all happy stories, we can share our old adventures with them and make as many new ones as we wish!

I have less than a week left until they induce me. I am hopeful that it will be before this Friday - but so far the boys just want to stay!

To laugh or cry.

I am getting many looks these days, some full of sympathy, agony, or shock. Perhaps it's the way I walk or that my stomach is so far out it arrives first for everything. One such look of shock and awe came from a very unsuspecting source. On the way home from a doctor's appointment, I stopped into the grocery store to quickly pick up a few items. After paying for my purchases, I began to slowly make my way out the automatic door. On the wall above the door was a camera and TV screen that records the exit point of the store. I was not looking directly at it, but I was able to catch it's movements out of the corner of my eye. I moved closer to the door and noticed that there was something very large and green moving across the screen. It took me by surprise and I looked up quickly to see exactly what was behind or next to me. I focused my eyes on a woman with a green sweater wobbling to the door with a very large stomach, looking very uncomfortable and very pregnant! I started laughing, as I realized that the large green blob was me. I guess I could have cried, but the shock of it all was too much.

Update: My doctor's appointment today went well. I am scheduled to be induced on the 20th of this month, although, I am very outspoken that I wouldn't mind delivering any day! The boys are over 5lbs, in fact one is almost 6! I can't sleep, I can barely walk, but I know that it is all worth it to deliver these babies at a healthy weight.

Do you have a funny pregnancy story?

Surviving Bedrest.

I know there are many mom's who have gone through the trials of bed rest. They know, and I know, it's all for a good, marvelous, wonderful cause. As a mother of twin seven-year old girls, I could not shut myself in my room and expect everyone else to take over. I still fixed them breakfast in the morning, lunch, did projects around the house, and even picked them up from school. I prepared quick meals and rested "most" of the day. I had some help off and on, but was still trying to do as much as I could. One early evening, after picking up the girls from school and preparing a cake for a family member, the dull pain I had had all day became so intense that I made a trip to the emergency room. I had started premature labor and spent four days in the hospital, all while missing my family and hoping that I can hold on to my twin boys a couple more weeks. It was clear that I had to let go and let others help me. There would be time later to do all those mommy things and soon enough I would be busy with my boys.

My friend Amanda, from APstyle was told at 16 weeks that her identical twin girls had TTTS or Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Amanda put it another way, "We had 2 healthy babies but a very uncooperative, unfriendly placenta that statistically was going to take the lives of our unborn girls at any minute". While her home town doctors gave her no encouragement that her babies would live, Amanda took to the internet finding a doctor several states away that specializes in TTTS. His medical advice was bed rest with bathroom breaks only. While her local medical team thought it was a waste of time, she still wasn't going to give-up.

One thing I learned from hearing Amanda's story and even conversations with my own doctor, is that bed rest isn't always a guarantee. Now that my boys are at 31 weeks gestation, I feel much more comfortable that if I deliver them today - they will survive. Early in my pregnancy, it was much harder to have a positive outlook. Amanda put it perfectly when she said, "As I crawled into bed after that phone call, there were no guarantees my efforts would matter. Our local medical team thought it was a waste of time. But given I had no alternative, I stayed there for 15 weeks. I watched the days turn into nights, and the winter become spring. I wrestled sleep and found solitude a finicky companion. I befriended my worries and fears, and I sought hope and solace at least once a day."

Here are a few things to consider, to think about, to ponder, and do when faced with your own bed rest, or dealing with friends and family who must endure through weeks of uncertain bed rest:

1. Have clear bed rest instructions. I have been on varying levels of bed rest starting from my 8th week. When your doctor makes bed rest an order, have him or her be clear with the extent of your bed rest and if you are allowed anytime up and about. Can you climb stairs, take showers, have a few outings, eat dinner at the kitchen table? Understanding the extent of your bed rest will allow you to worry less and give family members a better understanding of what your doctor expects.

2. Realize you will need help. Let's face it, being ordered to bed rest means the normal things you do as a mom, could hurt your chances of carrying your baby to full-term. Even when you do not have children at home, you still may not be able, like Amanda, to get out of bed for any other reason than to use the bathroom. This means that someone needs to bring you food, take you to doctor's appointments, and keep the house running. There are many things you can manage from your bed, but you still need feet, legs, arms, and hands to accomplish these tasks. Extra help outside of your spouse and family may not be needed if you do not have children at home, but when you add children already at home and bed rest - think twice before saying no to the helping hands around you. If no one is offering, suck-it-up and ask.

At week 18, I was put back on bed rest after a month reprieve. I took bed rest lightly saying to myself that I am still a mom with two children that need me. I planned and prepared crock-pot meals, my husband took the girls to school and I picked them up. I ate breakfast with my family and a few other menial chores. Soon enough, however, I went into false labor and hospitalized for four days. I realized that I was the only one who could get these babies to a healthy gestation, and the only one ruining their chances of getting their. After my hospital release, I headed back to my bed where I have stayed since.

3. Divide and conquer. The shoulders of one person do not have to bare the brunt of a mom on bed rest. Make a list of all the people in your life you know are willing to help. It is more than likely these people have already offered up their assistance and all you have to do is ask. While I have had my mother with me for the end of my pregnancy, there were many times during the summer months I had to keep two six year-olds busy and fill there day with normal fun summer activities. I had many offers from friends for help. I bit my pride and asked. Suddenly, my children were playing during the days at a friends house and in the evening my husband would take over. My mother-in-law even helped while I was in the hospital and waiting for my mom to arrive.

4. Letting everyone in on the secret. Whether you are a first time mom or not, letting everyone know your situation is better than keeping it a secret. We have been very open with my girls about the need for me to stay in bed and the consequences if I don't. I've taken them to several doctor's appointments where they can hear first-hand why mommy can't go outside and "play" with them or why I can't make dinner and do other mommy things. My family knows my limitations, church knows why I haven't been at church in months, teachers at the girl's school call and ask how I am, and friends seem to know just how to help.

Letting everyone know your situation also allows you to be open with friends and visitors as to your emotional situation during your stay in bed. While you may be open to visitors and friends popping in and out, others may not feel up to letting anyone in during what can be a very hard and painful emotional time. Amanda said that she kept visitors to a minimum, "because of our daily ultrasounds and the emotional up-and-down tendencies of this complication, I had absolutely nothing left to give anyone else. My focus: getting our girls to 30 gestational weeks. It became a mantra". Even if you don't want help now, or your friend doesn't think she needs help, there will always be time after the babies are born and the stress of the pregnancy is over to reach out and lend that helping hand.

5. Getting through it. Getting through bed rest is easier said than done. The one thing that I can say is that it goes by more quickly than you might think. It is frustrating to sit and not be able to do the things you would normally do, including shopping and preparing for the new baby or babies! Keeping your time filled with books, visitors, journaling or writing can take much of the day. Also, using the Internet to create the nursery you desire is a great alternative to shopping in the stores. All you need is someone to put it together. There are many days I am surprised at how quickly the time passed, yet there are those few days when nothing can stop me from moping at staying in bed all day. There is no one solution, or one idea that will help. Searching the Internet for articles and ideas about bed rest can be comforting.

6. Celebrate the milestones. There was nothing better than passing 30 weeks gestation. It was completely comforting to know that my babies had made it that far. One friend of mine had a party every week her pregnancy progressed. Celebrate those milestones with acknowledgement, a special dessert, or something fun.

A special thanks to Amanda for her wonderful and thoughtful input. I am currently on my 31st week gestation and have spent 15 weeks on bed rest....and counting!

96 hour hosptial stay.

Tuesday night, I was grateful to see my own bed and be in my own home. Four days earlier on Friday night, Craig and I rushed to the hospital because I had been having minor pains all day that turned into major pains by 5:00 p.m. The pain exceeded anything that was "normal" and I knew something wasn't right. Thankfully, my doctor, was at the hospital birthing center that night and assisted with a lot of the testing. They discovered that my cervix had suddenly shortened considerably and my interior cervix was starting to funnel. They immediately ordered a 48 hour stay for observation at the Royal Victoria Hospital here in Montreal.

The following days were hard to endure, but I knew it was needed. My children were not allowed to visit due to the increase cases of Swine Flu. They did finally concede to allow them for no more than an hour per day since I was not allowed to remove myself from my hospital room. One of the tests they performed was a sugar level test. I had taken one several days before that showed a positive result for high blood sugar. They retested me while in the hospital, and lucky me, now has gestational diabetes. I was visited by an endocrinologist and a dietitian to decide how they wanted to proceed.

I'm not sure how much stricter my bed rest could become, but at least I can still go up to use the bathroom and take a shower. Other than that, I am confined to my room. I have only been downstairs once since I got home! My diet has changed drastically due to the onset of g. diabetes. I am testing my blood sugar seven times a day. That means seven pricks on my finger per day - if the needle actually works. I hope that by next Thursday I will be able to test once or twice a day. My mother-in-law is helping and my parents arrive on Tuesday to help out. There is nothing I can do but stay down and keep growing these babies! I am very very grateful for all the help I have been receiving. It's all worth it - I know!

How is everyone?

SPT: Summer growth.

My summer has been all about growing. From a size 8, to going on 46" in girth, I have been expanding and stretching for these boys. Despite my utter joy that I am pregnant, I still find myself wondering if my body will ever return to a state of "normal". I know this must be normal and push it out of mind for much later!

Out last ultrasound went really well, with the boys growing to 2lbs so far at 26 weeks. My doctor is trying to "hold" my pregnancy until 34 weeks. This would put my delivery around Halloween. I am completely scared that they will come earlier. The girls are taking their role as big sister very seriously. This summer was hard for me as I wanted the girls to experience an enjoyable summer without having to hang out with me on the couch everyday. My wish was answered with a 30 day reprieve from full time bed rest in mid-June, my sister's visit with all her kids in mid-July, my parents in August and just recently, and a family friend filling in the rest of the girls family fun!



My time has been filled with shopping online for Halloween costumes, cribs, birthday presents and anything that the girls needed in the next four months, anything the boys will need, and trying to keep some semblance of normal for my family. I've read many books, written some, recorded in my journal, and did some crafts and scrapbooking. I know what's at stake if I don't keep down. With this consolation, it hasn't been that bad. Plus I know after the boys are born, life will get busy and crazy. With all this lying down and sitting, I'll be ready for the craziness!

Check out Lelly's Self Portrait Tuesday Challenges here.

What did you do this summer?

More than surviving.

Our family has received more than just a little help throughout my pregnancy. Here are a few things and people that have helped us more than just survive...

A good pizza and a salad has got us by many a night. My favorite plain old cheese!

All this photo needs is a red cape...Craig has been a super hero during these past months. From grocery shopping to laundry to riding bikes with the girls - he has truly been a wonderful help. He also had to drive his mom across the country, all while suffering from an awful case of poison ivy he got at Acorn Cottage. I just love this man!
This hasn't been used as much as I would have liked. But starting next week, it will be our primary source of dinners. I'm tired of pizza! I've planned several meals that Craig will help with, but that I can put together in 10 minutes.

Lovingly named the "clipper dipper", this dollar store find has been a helpful addition to our house. We have one on each floor and I use them everyday. I am not supposed to lean over - so what can a girl do -but use this clipper dipper!

These superheros come in a smaller package. From helping organize the refrigerator to taking the garbage out, Cici and Nini have been absolutely wonderful helpers. I've taken them with me to my appointments so that they can hear first hand what the doctors are saying about my bed rest. They certainly understood and have been fantastic. Here they are getting the refrigerator ready for the groceries that Craig had to buy at 8:00 p.m. last night. The most I could do was sit with my clipper dipper and point! Heaven help me!

Unexpected help has come our way several times. An old friend I hadn't seen in three months came by with a rice and chicken dinner and these Ukrainian dessert pancakes. I know she is going through a lot and I was blown away that she would take the time to bring dinner. I'll get the recipe from them, because they are sooo good!

"Missed" so to speak.

I had been on my own for several nights because my husband had to fly to Utah for a couple of days. The girls were at a friends house spending the night and playing with her three kids during the day. It was lonely, but with my survival items of books, embroidery, computer, TV, and telephone- I kept myself busy. I looked forward to the girl's noises through house, but also wondering what kind of help could I really give them during this period of my full time bed rest. We snuggled into my bed that night and turned on a couple of shows that I had taped for them. One of them was the children's show Arthur. One of the children had made a concerted effort to be "kind" and was feeling that no one was appreciating them.

Soon after a Christmas Carol like character appeared to him to show him what it would be like if he wasn't around to have done those good deeds. He quickly realized that no one would have done them. He commented that it would have been nice if someone had thanked him. And his wise mentor explained that there is one person he knows that works all day and never really gets a thank you. They appeared in his house to show his mother working over the dishes by herself. The next vision was of her making the choice to quit and do nothing. With dishes piled to the sink and the house a mess, the mother goes off on vacation leaving the boy by himself.

At that moment, I had a little self-realizing ephiphany. I went through my head the people who have helped me during this process and counted at least nine. Nine people to help take up the slack for one mom bound to the couch and her bed. Seeing that I was "missed" so to speak, actually helped me relax and settle my thoughts of being an inadequate mother during this time.

I am so grateful for my friend Kathy who miraculously went through bed rest with her twins and keeps telling me this is her way of "giving back". She has been such a wonderful help even when Craig is home by taking the girls during the day during the summer. Monday night when they brought the girls home, her family didn't just drop them off, they brought a family home evening lesson with them a game for the kids to play, and dessert. Afterwards, Kathy and her husband both stayed and did the dishes for me. I am completely overwhelmed with support and am looking forward to the day I can give back. I go in for another doctor's appointment today and will keep the blog updated with any new information!

Have you had any mommy epiphany moments?

Fireflies and off to work with Daddy.

By luck or by heavenly design, on a dark summer night when the rain had finally ceased, our family witnessed a beautiful sight. We had just crossed the border into NY from Quebec. There were no other cars around when we spotted them, so we pulled off the side of the road and watched for ten minutes at what seemed like over 10,000 fireflies giving us the best firework show we've ever seen! I wish I could have recorded them, but it was too dark and I'm not that tech savvy with either my camera or video camera. We've driven past this same spot several times just to see if we can recreate that night.

Soon after this experience, I discovered this jar at a craft store in the NY Adirondacks. I hope that this will help the girls keep this memory. I've looked online to find something like this for you to purchase and found this link at the Victoria Trading Company.

Now, what to do with my girls while I lay on my side on doctor's ordered bed rest? While the boys are busy kicking and kneading their little feet into my ribcage, the girls are off to work with daddy. With DS's, books, and a few leggos to keep them busy, they are ready for a half day hanging around Craig's office. It's a holiday for most of the employees, but for Craig he had some business to attend to and invited the girls to come along. Plus, they get to eat lunch at Subway!

I was ordered back to bed rest after my last appointment. My cervix, she explained, is looking like a 7 month cervix, when I am only almomst 5 months along. At this stage, I am on my side most of the day, but at least I can get up and shower and fix a quick lunch and snacks. Our dinner tonight, thanks to Natalie, will be her amazing (and I mean amazing) lasagna from our freezer. She gave it to us a couple days before she moved - we'll miss you guys!

We take each day as it comes! How else would it be done?! My husband is absolutely amazing, doing dishes, cooking dinner, helping with laundry, the girls, and still keeping his work schedule. I have a friend come in to help with keeping our jungle home clean - for this I am completely grateful!

It's time...

They said I would have two

But until now no one knew

Was it pink or was it blue

or a combination of the two?

It's time I now reveal

The answer to my riddle

Their are two little boys

hangin' around my middle!

Any bets?

20 weeks

Thursday is the BIG day! I will find out what I am having - boys, girls, one of each? My guess is one of each - what do you think?

My sister over at ahalffulllife has been visiting us for over a week now. We introduced them to Acorn Cottage and the joy of smores and hot dogs over the fire. We've been busy, which means blogging has been hard to get too. Take care and I will keep you posted on facebook the day I found out and later in the week on my blog!

10 things of consequence.

Bird Inside house

#1. The bird in the above photo, is it outside or inside? This little guy flew through the chimney and found it's way into these fake trees in our window. It felt quite at home, with no plans on leaving. We opened all the windows and doors and it finally flew out with a little bit of help from Craig!

#2. Today (Sunday) was a huge day for us at church! When we moved to Montreal we attended a branch; which a year later merged into Montreal Ward and a separate singles ward. Today, we saw another amazing testimony of growth in the Mormon church in this area. We are a huge ward spread across the entire city of Montreal center towards east island Montreal. Some of the people on the outskirts of our ward boundary traveled two hours by bus just to get here - quite the feat when you are bundling large families up to spend four hours every Sunday in the cold - plus the three hour block. Now, these people on the east side of the island have their own branch!

Last year, the Bishop of our ward began praying and fasting that our ward would grow large enough to allow our ward to be split. In a matter of six months, 40 new people moved in the ward and today marked the 21st new member baptism in 12 months. It was absolutely amazing to see the growth of the ward in such a short time frame. We are happy that travel time will be less for the new branch, but sad to see them go.

Enjoying Natalie's dinner.

#3 I have been so blessed to receive so much service from so many very busy women. You never really understand how "it is" unless you experience what others have gone through. Best rest sucks! But, it's all for a good cause. I had a particularly sluggish nauseating day. It was 5:15 and I was heading downstairs to put something together for dinner. Kristin, another ex-patriot from the states, called and said she had made an extra batch of chili and could she bring some. I have learned not to pause so much when people offer their help, and promptly said - "that would great!" Her chili and a loaf of bread made a great dinner and saved me from my ordering pizza for dinner. That same week, Natalie, brought by dinner to us. We sat down and ate her yummy lasagna for a couple of days - the girls were so infatuated by the taste - they kept saying " this is the best dinner ever!" What sweeties! Natalie thank you! One thing that I don't get much of, which one friend has been so awesome to give so much of is - time. She comes over several times a week and chats with me. Wow, another something I've learned I should always give freely - time to others.

Monday night, sans dad, self portrait

#4 Craig had an overnight business trip Monday to late Tuesday night. We enjoyed being cozy and watching a movie I had taped from TIVO called the Babysitter's Club. They have been so awesome, I am just more and more in love with these girls. Which is hard, because I already think they are great! We had a lot of fun trying to get Nini in this photo. We finally got one, but I had to show this one, since it took so many shots to get her to get herself in the photo!

Rolfe and the girls.

#5. "They are mere shadows of themselves..." said my husband this weekend. Rolfe, one of our little dogs, was diagnosed with diabetes two months ago. He's 10 and has completely lost his eyesight. You won't find a sweeter animal. Our other dog, Inga, is 15 and both dogs will not likely make it through the summer. We've been trying to prepare the girls for their inevitable departure from our family to doggy heaven. My emotions are much worse with this pregnancy, so I know that it's going to be very difficult to let them go. Inga we got on our 1 year wedding anniversary - they both we'll be missed.

#6. Blog love and goodmail. Claudia and Kim Sue have been so gracious in sending goodmail up my way in Montreal. Everytime I see one of these sweet envelopes - I can't help but walk a little quicker to the mail box! Also, I have had a chance to finally get some of my own goodmail out - watch for it!

#7. Check out this link for some of the cutest blog layouts I've seen in a long time. They are easy to use and free. She does accept donations, it's worth it!

#8. Perhaps it's this pregnancy, but I can't seem to take a "cute" picture for the life of me. My self-portraits have become ridiculous. I will show my new hair cut, when I can capture a good photo. Picky, I know, but a girls got to look good - right?


#9. Is probably the happiest for me. After over 175 shots - I am now done taking injections. My butt is, shall we say, utterly and completely sore - healing time will probably take three years! Although it was hard, I had an end, and it was completely worth it.

#10. I've finished the biggest book I've ever read - Anna Karenina! It took a month, but I did it! I'm now on to the Book Thief, The Shack, and many others that I've put off until I could get through Anna. I'm sticking to a few smaller books - for now!