Fun and Busy Week

Mostly written on Saturday:
*Monday we went to our gym class.
*Tuesday we went to the preschool where Grammy works. She is off on Tuesdays but there is another class that meets on Tuesdays with other teachers that haven't met Karla yet. So we had snack time and some singing time at the preschool with Grammy and the 3 and 4 year old class. Karla was a little shy but warmed up during singing time when a boy next to her told her he had a boo-boo. Then she showed him her boo-boo and she instantly felt more comfortable and started doing some of the hand gestures that went along with the fun songs.
*Wednesday Grandma came over from Ohio with Karla's three cousins. They played, ate lunch at Chik Fil A (we're going there often now!), and played some more! I love seeing Karla together with her cousins. I love my 3 nieces so much and miss seeing them as often as I did when we lived in Ohio. So it was a special day to just see the 4 girls together playing and getting along so well.

*Thursday Karla talked about her cousins much of the day. :) We also went to my bible study and unfortunately this time Karla gave me a hard time about leaving her in the toddler room. But, I ended up leaving the toddler room and she cried for a minute or two and then was totally fine.
*Friday Karla's cousins came over again! They had this past week off for spring break and their mom had Friday off and she wanted to come over! I wasn't going to argue. :) We had fun eating mac and cheese and chicken nuggets for lunch. The girls played inside and outside. Aunt Brenda came over for a little bit and while Karla was napping I got to sit down with her and Beth (Shayla, Angelina, and Audra's mom) and talk for a while. I enjoyed that time so much! I wish it could happen more often.


*Friday night I went to Shirley's house with Julie for "crochet" night. We were all pretty tired so not a lot of crocheting was done...plus my hand is still bothering me. Lots of talking, eating and tea drinking was done. It was nice to sit down and relax. Shirley's house is like a little vacation for me. She made us corn chowder for dinner and bought my favorite brownies. I love it too because she always insists I get the biggest brownie. :) She knows how much I love them. Daddy stayed home with Karla and it sounds like they had fun together and bed time wasn't TOO horrible.
*Sleep is getting better very SLOWLY. Jason and I are writing everything down so we can see the improvement and are motivated to continue being patient. I gotta admit...I'm still pretty tired most of the time. It is like I am afraid to fall into too deep of a sleep in case I am going to have to get up to tend to Karla. I just know this won't last forever. She hasn't had a night sweat in 4 nights! I'm hoping it stays this way! She had some tests done last week at the doctor's office and all results came back normal. Whew.
*Saturday Grammy and I went to a consignment sale. We got lots of summer clothes for Karla and I got her a few books as well. I want to count how many things we got! Warm weather - we are now ready!!! This evening we took a family trip to the mall to look at twin beds (mattress and box springs) and refrigerators. We've been looking for a while and have decided we need to make a decision about both in the next few days. We have now decided on what bed we are getting and know what frig we want - but want to look at two more places around here to find the best price. Jason says that we WILL have a bed for Karla tomorrow. We want to get her up off the floor- she is still sleeping on a mattress there.

In case you are wondering, I did have to look at my calendar in order to remember what all we did this week. It was a busy but fun week! The week ahead looks slower and more relaxed. It has also taken me more than one day to type all this.

*I am going to try to spend less time on the computer in the evenings so I may not post on my blog as often. I feel like I should probably do other things in the evening....like finish Karla's "lifebook" that I started when she was born. I would like and enjoy that too! I want to get back to a little scrapbooking if possible!

Written Sunday (today!):
*Karla slept all night again last night. The second time in recent memory!
*Karla now has a brand new mattress and box springs. Daddy and Pap-Pap rented a truck and went and got it today. So far...she's sleeping well. She seemed a little nervous at bed time (screaming when I put her pajamas on) but it didn't last long.




















*We took a family trip to Home Depot tonight and got a great deal on a new refrigerator! They are having free delivery and 10% off major appliances. We aren't having it delivered for another week though. The frig we have now is probably as old as our house and it is small and basic. I didn't realize how small and "basic" it was until we started looking at new ones last month. I am pretty excited now. Our new one has a freezer on the bottom and french doors on the top.
*The three of us had a wonderful time at Home Depot. I was a little hesitant about going tonight since our week has been SO busy but we went anyway. Luckily, Karla was a little angel and for some reason REALLY liked the "Lady" that was helping us with the refrigerators. The lady liked Karla too and soon we had two other older men helping us - well, doting on Karla really. I guess Home Depot wasn't too busy. Anyway, they were so nice and friendly and Karla ate it right up. Before we left - and we were there for a good hour - the "lady" (that is what Karla kept calling her) brought Karla two stickers AND a brand new Hannah Montana flashlight that looks like a microphone...it came with batteries too. I never knew they gave gifts to children there. :) Oh, and I guess one of the older men told Jason that he's going to have his hands full in a few years because Karla will be breaking hearts... I can say this stuff cause I am her mom and think she is the cutest thing ever! I think we were all a little sad to leave tonight. Maybe cause we gave them so much money for the frig too...
*We counted how many clothing items we got at the sale yesterday - 33!! Shirts, outfits, dresses, shorts, and skorts! I couldn't believe it! Karla is ready for warm weather!
*After Home Depot, for a special treat, we ate pizza in front of the TV and watched the new show "Special Agent Oso" - there is a free episode on-line. It starts this coming Saturday on a weekly basis. It was a good show! Very age appropriate for Karla.
http://disney.go.com/dxd/index.html?channel=17174&contentPlayerID=dxd_vid_player&#/disneygroups/playhouse/
*Ach - I just had to go upstairs - right on time Karla had a night sweat. It is always 40 or 60 minutes after she goes to bed for the first time. She went right back to sleep so that is good.

Good night!

Weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

We decided it was time to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's again. It had been a while...and last time sleeping (naps and bedtime) wasn't easy - mostly for Mommy.

We had a great time. Karla is definitely comfortable there now. She enjoyed playing with her 3 cousins...

...her aunts and uncles...

...washing dishes with Grandma...

...and going outside to "help" Grandpa grill while wearing her cousin's coat.

I got lots of pictures, of course. I will try to upload them to flickr later today. Grandma bought Karla and her 2 year old cousin Audra princess dresses that came with clip-on earrings, shoes, tiara, and necklace. Karla LOVES the shoes - surprise, surprise. She also loves the earrings. She is currently wearing them and she gave me the tiara and necklace - I hope I remember to take them off if someone comes to the front door. :) She isn't in to putting on the dress yet.

We went to gym class this morning. Karla continues to be a bit shy there. I'm not sure if it is because there are so many kids or because she is one of the younger kids. She has fun though.

Sleeping at night is improving...slowly.

Yeah!

Karla slept ALL night last night in her own bed. She also fell asleep last night in her bed not in the rocker - she didn't want to be rocked like we usually do. Jason and I both woke up at 3:30a.m. and decided I should go make sure she was breathing. We don't really expect it to happen again soon since that was the first time since....well, I'd have to look back through my blog. We are just so happy we got so much sleep!!!

Patriotic Princess

Karla and I had a nice day today. We went to gym class and Karla participated more this week and it was so fun for me to watch her running around with the other kids. We also went shopping for Daddy's birthday gift - his birthday is tomorrow. She told everyone at the store - "Daddy gift" so that everyone knew we were getting a gift. :)

We took a walk this afternoon and she insisted that the seat be reclined all the way back so she could lounge. (this was after her nap too!)


She also carried her flag that she got last week on Adoption Day around for the afternoon and waved it high throughout the whole walk. It was kind of funny. She must have had experiences waving flags before because I have never showed her how to wave a flag like she does! I took pictures on my phone. :)

Adoption Day recap

Thursday morning kind of felt like Christmas to me. I had tried to get everything ready for the day on Wednesday so the three of us could enjoy being together Thursday. Karla got two gifts - the Little People "busy day home" and some foam letters and numbers for the bathtub. We thought the house would be a good gift because she loves pretending, especially "mommy, daddy, and baby" and that is what came with the house. She is also showing interest in letters and numbers and can name a few...plus she loves the bath so I thought it was a good little gift!

The house was a hit! She sat and played with it the first time for 45 minutes. She probably would have stayed longer but I had to get up because my legs were falling asleep. She has played with it a lot since Thursday. I'm not sure many other toys have been gotten out - other than a new one she got at her shower/party a week ago.

We ate lunch and then put Karla down for an early nap. We weren't sure how that was going to work since the hearing was right during the time she would normally be asleep. She went right to sleep and we had to wake her after an hour.

We got to the courthouse and both my parents and Jason's parents were already there with red, white, and blue balloons and flowers. My friend Jennifer and her mom were walking in just as we got there. A little while later my sister and Carey and Lola arrived!

I have never really been in a courtroom before and I was nervous! Excited, but nervous since I didn't know what to expect, what I'd have to say, etc. We were in the older part of the Butler County Courthouse in a beautiful room! The judge was so nice and so was our attorney. I had never met our attorney but Jason had. Anyway, all the grandparents sat at the table beside ours and we sat at the table with our attorney and Karla, of course. Aunt Brenda and our friends sat in the front row right behind our parents. It was nice and comfortable. Luckily Jason had to speak first since his birthday is before mine (that is how our attorney decided to do it). Then I knew what I'd be saying and questions I'd be answering. Nothing difficult by any means but I was still excited and nervous. First we had to state our name and address. Then it was mostly answering questions like "Do you promise to love Karla as you would any natural children you may have in the future?" Duh!

If you know me, you know I'm emotional. I tend to be emotional when I'm nervous, really happy, sad, etc. So, as soon as it was time for me to state my address...I was choked up. Good thing there weren't any HARD questions!! :) I was hugging Karla close while both Jason and I spoke and she didn't object at all. She even had her hands in my hair as you can see from a picture or two. Then when I started crying she looked up at me and said "Okay, Mommy?" and then looked at Daddy and told him to get a "tissue"! That just made me want to hug her tighter and cry harder! I can't imagine loving her more so to know that all the paperwork is in order and complete both in Guatemala and the U.S. just confirms what we've felt since Nov. 17, 2006 when we found out she was a week old - she is our daughter, born and carried (for too long if you ask me) in our hearts.

Enough of that. :) After the hearing which lasted about 15 minutes (I think) we did photo shoots! The judge even had her clerk take a picture of our group. The judge came down from the bench and talked to Karla. Then she posed in pictures with us. Jason and I still had a few things to sign with our attorney afterwards and then we took more pictures. We stood around at the courthouse for quite a while and then Aunt Brenda, the grandparents, and the three of us went to Red Lobster. Karla was well behaved and stayed in a chair or lap the entire time.

What a sense of relief to know the whole adoption is over. Nothing hanging over our heads! Words can't really express what a wonderful day it was...so I will stop trying to.

We decided this will be our "adoption day" every year. Some families have what they call "gotcha day" and celebrate it every year on the day they were united with their child forever. Since we visited 3 times and on the last visit both arrived in Guatemala on different days we didn't want to choose one of those days. Plus those days were happy because we were with Karla but also extremely stressful since dates of completion were not certain till the very end. We didn't want to pick Nov. 5, the day we arrived home together because that is five days before Karla's birthday. So, March 12 it is! I am glad we decided to wait for that date because it was such a happy day! No wondering, waiting, worrying, etc.

On another note, we are still really struggling with sleep at night. I apologize if I have not called someone back, emailed, etc. It is hard to get much "extra" done during the day right now. This too shall pass...even though it has been going on for months. I think we are making SLOW but steady progress.

Here is one last picture. Karla last night before bed. Isn't she the cutest?!?

I love this picture

This was taken right after the hearing yesterday. Karla was sitting in my lap, her fingers playing with my hair, and her hand wrapped around my finger. I guess she could feel the love!!

I spent my time this evening looking at new templates for my blog and changing mine a bit instead of blogging about yesterday. You'll have to keep waiting. :)

Adoption Day!!

Today was what we are going to call "Adoption Day" and what we are going to celebrate every year with Karla! Her adoption is complete and her name is officially changed!

We had a wonderful experience at court with family, friends, and a great judge. Today Jason was off work so we gave Karla 2 gifts this morning and then spent a lot of time playing with them! It felt like Christmas. It was a great day.

I have been waiting for this day to change my blog. I hope to be able to do that in the next few days. We are still having very difficult nights. Karla is already awake after being in bed for only 40 minutes. I'm just going to go up to bed with her...I'm tired. I am keeping track of everything she eats, when she eats, when she sleeps, when she wakes up and when she has night sweats. If this is still continuing by Monday...it is back to the doctor. It is just SO weird because she is okay during the day.

I will look forward to blogging more about our court day! Jason posted pictures on flickr. We're done - we're done - WE ARE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!