Our Trip To Orlando!!!

We just got back from visiting our dear friends in Orlando. It was Lilly's first big trip since getting here last spring...and she did great! She slept on the plane going down, and entertained the passengers on the way back home. We went to Sea World Friday with Farzana and Zaki, which Lilly LOVED. Saturday we saw Zaki's soccer game and splashed in giant neighborhood puddles. Lilly is still talking about the "big puddle."

Overdue Pictures of my Easter Lilly!

These are all from Easter...sorry they are so late! Easter morning was cute...she found her basket and was DELIGHTED to discover there were goldfish crackers in the plastic eggs (I know - I won't be able to get away with that for long). After a breakfast of goldfish, we headed to church, and then later in the day (& another outfit later) my family came over for dinner...hence the "I love chocolate pie" picture. It was wonderful to have everyone together. And, it certainly did not go unnoticed that the day after Easter last year was when I finally got the call we were out of PGN. She will always be my Easter Lilly!

On the adoption paperwork front (yes - still filing paperwork here there and everywhere)...we are very much closer to being done. The readoption came through, her name change is official, and Friday I received her new Virginia birth certificate in her new name! Yea!!! (& for those of you who are curious - yes - it says she was born in Guatemala, but that the birth is now registered in VA so she can get a VA birth certificate whenever she has to do paperchasing for things like passports, adoption, security clearances, etc). All I need to do now is change her social security card to her new name, get a new certificate of citizenship, change her medical records.insurance card to her new name and then get her a passport! YEA!

3Ps: Palm Sunday, St Patricks Day and Playing!

Just had a bunch of cute pics to share...

Not sure who likes the palms form Palm Sunday better...Lilly or Didgy?

The St Patrick's Day shirt is from an Irish co-worker who recently went home to Dublin...so its the real deal! ;) The shirt says "GORGEOUS Just Like My Mummy" And, no, in the picture with the hat she isn't flipping us off, she is demonstrating my bad housekeeping skills by highligting a bunch of "fluff" (aka cat hair) she has found. "Fluff Mama!"

And here she is in my shoes. My ugly, worn, flat, black loafers that I KNOW qualify me to be on TLCs "What Not To Wear," (and yes, I wear them with black socks) but don't even bother to tell me how ugly or out of style they are. There have been others who have tried to intervene before (ie Maren & Sue M), but its a lost cause. At least Lilly likes them (for now anyway).

Ollie!

Maren has been in Belgium on business, so her dog Ollie has been staying with my parents...which makes Lilly ssssooooooooo happy. She just LOVES playing with Ollie!

Random Thoughts...

Thought #1: Daylight Savings Time is much more of a challenge with a 2 year old than with only myself. However, the evening is much nicer when we can be outside after dinner. Tonight was the first time in an embarassingly long time that I did not emply the TV, TiVo or DVD player as a babysitter for part of the evening. She and I had a lovely dinner w/ no tv...then headed outside to play until bath time. A girl could get used to that. Just a slight struggle to convince her it really was bath time even though it was still light out...but all ended well.



Thought #2: I was watching some tv show this weekend and it was looking at the question "where were you 5 years ago...." And, it struck a real chord for me. As I rocked Lilly last night, with my cat curled up on us as well, I couldn't help but be struck by how far my life has come in 5 years. In March of 2003...I lived alone (no cat, no kid). I was in a job I didn't really like. I was in a relationship that wasn't really healthy. I hadn't exercised in years. Fast forward to March of 2008...I have a cat and an almost 2 year old daughter. I run (sort of...well I did do a half marathon in 05, and I have started running again recently...though maxing out at 3 miles). I like my job, my boss, my coworkers and the direction my career is headed. But most importantly, I come each night to my family instead of an empty house. I can't tell you how much happier that makes one's soul. Life is so much better!!!!



Finally...here are some fun pictures of when we went to the circus weekend before last. Lilly LOVED it...especially the animals. She was so excited leading up to it that she didn't sleep during her nap, so she did briefly crash at the circus, but woke up in time to see the elephants. (Ok - technical difficulties...I promise to try again on the pics.)

It's Official!!!

Got a message from my lawyer today...and the local judge signed the readoption order, which makes the adoption registered in Virginia AND legally changes her name to Lilly Marta as opposed to her original birthname. YEA!!!! While its not the final step in the paper trail...it is a big milestone, and one that I am thrilled to be celebrating!!!! When I told Lilly her name was officially Lilly she gave me this weird smile that seemed to say "mom, you are so weird, but you seem happy so I will play along."

As for pictures...these are hilarious. . And...before anyone emails me about safety in the bathtub, know that my bathtub fills sooooo slowly and is never hot...barely lukewarm (unlike every other faucet in the house, but go figure).

Over the weekend she was really starting to resist taking a bath and would throw a big fit when I would go start the water (which takes a while due to how slow it is...). So, Sunday evening she and I were doing her favorite thing - pushing "Baby" and Elmo around the house in strollers and the plastic grocery cart while wearing appropriate hats (us, not Baby and Elmo). So, while we were running around the house, I snuck into the bathroom to start the bathwater. Then I proceded to push Elmo around the house (she had Baby) and went into the kitchen. Then it got quiet...not a "something is really wrong" quiet, but rather a "my kid is up to no good" quiet. And, I was right. I zipped into the bathroom and sure enough...this is what I found...she had crawled in, fully clothed, leather shoes and all. And, she had brough Baby in with her (Baby isn't exactly a waterproof toy!). Notice the dead man's float Baby is demonstrating. Very nice. Lilly was so pleased with herself and had no idea that she had done something she shouldn't have...she just looked up at me with a big, proud as punch smile and said "Bath Mama!" Too funny.

As for Baby...Mama was smart enough to realize Baby needed an identical twin for exactly such unforseen circumstances. So, while the wet baby was rigged up out of site to drip dry near the hot water heater, the identical twin stepped up to duty, and Lilly was none the wiser, and went to sleep. Yea!

And as for sleep...still going well. I would say that we have passed the 50% point...where now more than half the nights are good...THANK GOD! She sleeps 8 - 4/5 about 70% of the time now. Love that.

Happy Valentines Day!

Soo...Lilly had a big Valentine's "date" with Jackson! Ok...so the two families went out to dinner at a local sandwich shop. And, they both were as delighted as always with each other. But, this time I caught it on film! How cute are they?!?!?!?!?

A long way from last Valentines (pictured here)...when I was with Lilly in Guatemala in "our" hotel room, and still months away from the big light at the end of the tunnel.

Anyway...today I ducked out of work at 3, and Lilly, mom, Christine & I headed to the Zoo and then out to dinner. We had a great time!!! No animal pics...but the best part was Lilly's reaction anyway.

Finally...a note of thanks & prayer request.... during my long wait for Lilly I "met" a wonderful woman online named Damaris who was also in a long wait for her daughter. Damaris speaks fluent Spanish, and translated letters for me to give to the foster family, etc. But, she was also a great emotional support for me. Well...while I have now been home for 9 months with Lilly, Damaris still waits. Her beautiful daughter Nidia (see picture) will be 3 in a few months, and that will be 3 very long, excruciating years for Damaris, her husband and their son...not to mention Nidia. Their case has spent a long time in investigation, and hit every unfair and irrational speedbump imaginable, and then some you can't imagine. For a while, Nidia was even removed from her foster home and put in an orphanage. But, through it all, the love and perserverance a mother has for a child continued. She is not home yet, but this week they had a HUGE break through...their case was FINALLY released from Minors Court/Investigations and returned to "regular" PGN. Please join me in thanksgiving for this huge milestone. But, then she has already been kicked out...AARRGGGHHH!!! Please pray they can get the problem corrected quickly and resubmitted for a VERY quick and speedy approval from PGN to bring Nidia home to her family who has been waiting so long for her. And, pray for Damaris that her strength continues in this homestretch.

More from today...

We had a really fun afternoon, so I thought I would share some pics. It was INCREDIBLY windy here today, so I thought it would be fun to go to the park by the water and fly a kite. Ahh...it is the best plans that tend to fail. It was WAY TO WINDY. The kite was ripped apart in 30 seconds...and Lilly ended up wrapped around my leg crying "MAMA!" I snapped this pic, and you can see the tail of the kite (pink) blew around Lilly's face, and clearly my hair is having a great time.

So...always ready to punt, we bagged the kite and headed to the other part of the park. She climbed on the playground stuff and the light was great, so I got some good pics. Some classically pretty, and some classically Lilly. And finally, she ended the day trying to get every last lick out the Graeters Ice Cream container. Ahh...she is definietly my girl. Enjoy....

Cutest Butt Ever

Well, I have to post this type of picture now, because in another 3 months she'll have figured out to be embarassed by them. Here she had escaped from the bathroom while teh tub was running and insisted on staying and reading with her grandparents. But really...all bias aside...isn't that the cutest behind you ever did see?!?!?!?!?

She is still doing really well. Sleeping is still going well too. She doesn't slepp all teh way through the night, but maybe half the nights this week I was able to keep her in her bed and me in my bed all night. Major victory!

She continues to be an opinionated spitfire just like her mama. And, we are having so gorgeous weather these days, so she has just loved getting outside and playing as much as she possible can. Her foster mother said she didn't let her play on teh ground because it was dirty and she could get sick. She would be horrified at the site of my mud-covered, grass-stained kid with a wet behind from going down the slide before it was totally dry stooping over to poke sticks at pine needles and rumage through piles of leaves!!! I guess what she doesn't know won't hurt her ;)

Could the ears be the trick??!?!?!?

GUESS WHO SLEPT FROM 9pm to 5:50 am last night??!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I am wondering if the ear tubes have helped her sleep...she really does seem to be doing ever so much better...with last night being the best in ...well...ever!

I know its been forever since I posted (sorry). So...a quick compilation of the past few weeks:

• FIRST SNOW! She enjoyed everything EXCEPT for when the car was covered in snow. Took her a few minutes to understand I was cleaning the snow off the car and we would in fact still be able to go to her grandparents house to play. She fought me hard on wearing the boots, hat, mittens, etc - but once we were out playing in it, she had a great time. Though...it melted very quickly and I have to admit that I think her favorite part was jumping in the puddle of melted run off water. Hmmm....still a lot of Guatemala in her!



• First Parent /Teacher conference: Hilarious at 20 months old...but helpful, actually. I got a chance to review her "report card" with her teacher (which I am so embarassed to say I reacted like I always said I wouldn't...WHAT...she does way better than that when I am around!). And, as I am explaining to the teacher how she is very verbal at home and using multiple word sentances and trying to get her colors down, Lilly promptly starts to eat the report card. So much for genius, huh?



• First forray into potty training: She was soooo excited about having a potty chair her own size. She loves sitting on it. Loved putting toilet paper in it. Loved reading the potty book my friends gave us (thanks Chris). But, actually SITTING STILL long enough for ANYTHING to happen was nowhere in sight. It was just too much too soon, and during her nap on Saturday the potty chair misteriously disappeared until further notice.



• First daddy comment!!!! WAY EARLIER than I expected. But, we were reading a book about adoption where a mommy and a daddy adopt a baby. She points at me and says mama and then sort of ponders the daddy. I simply said that some families don't have a daddy, and some do. I reminded her Jackson has a daddy, and now every time we read the book she points at the picture and tells me "Jackson Daddy!" Whoa. Only 20 months!

ANd...this last pic just made me laugh. SHe was quite impressed at my ability to stand on a kitchen chair and change a lightbulb, so she tried to copy it. Her chair didn't reach QUITE as high...but she had the advantage of wearing a fabulous hat that her Aunt just brought her from Mexico!

OK...have to run...enjoy the pics!

She Did Great...

A quick note to say the surgery went really well. She handled the anesthesia amazingly well - even went out to lunch for a hot dog a pickles before her nap (which would make me ill anyway but she loves). Will post more later...but wanted to thank everyone for their prayers & let you know she is doing really, really well.

Ear Tubes this Week

Just a little note to let everyone know Lilly will be having her ear tube surgery on Thursday. While the idea of the anesthesia has me a little nervous, I am actually delighted to be getting the tubes. Everyone tells me the procedure itself takes less than 15 minutes and that the kids are new people the next day. Hmmmm....don't need a new girl...just a healthy one who can go more than 7 days without getting an ear infection.

Lilly spent the weekend w/ her grandparents and I got a very needed break. The past few weeks have been a lot to handle with my little one, and I needed my focus and patience back before she heads for surgery! SO - I got TWO (count 'em 2!) full nights of sleep AND got to weed out my closet, her closet and the overflowing toy bins. AND I finally feel like I am winning the battle against plastic crap in my house ;)

AND I got to watch the Packers win in a perfect snowy playoff game...and since Dallas lost they get to play at home again next week (see...how many of you knew I have been a Packers fan all these years???? How can you not love a team that is owned by its little nothing town in the cold northland?). Yes - I love the Bengals too, but they are never on TV in my part of the world. And, I love the Bengals out of a sense of my history...I just love the Packers for themselves!!!

Happy New Year!

Despite the chaos of the last week, 2007 has been wonderful. I am a mommy!!!! My daughter is home!!!! What could be better?

Here are some pictures from Christmas Day....

And some from our "New Year's Celebration" tonight. For those of you who aren't Brits...the hats are from crackers - a tradition I have had since I lived in England as a little girl. Wanted to introduce Lilly to it early on! Then she and I shared some "champagne" (aka sparkling grape juice) and took turn saying CHEERS. Here she is cheering to you...

My resolutions for her...as I told her tonight 2007 was about getting her home, and 2008 will be about sleeping through the night and being potty trained!

Another Friday, Another Night in the Emergency Room....

I promise to post Christmas pics soon...but not in the same post as this pitiful tale!

Let me preface the story by saying Lilly is doing great now, so no need for great alarm.

After the last post, Lilly did really well for a few days, and was WONDERFUL and totally healthy on Christmas Day. However, the next morning when she woke up she had two weird bruises under her eyes. I figured she had played a little too rough with some of her new toys on Tuesday and didn't think much more of it. Then when she woke up from her nap, she was itching through her skin and her trunk, thighs & privates were COVERED in spots. So, I called the pediatrician and whooshed her off to see the doctor (at this point thinking she had chicken pox). The doctor said it wasn't chicken pox, but an allergic reaction to the antibiotic she was on for her ear infections (see...I told you being smug always bites you back in the end). SO, we were to head home, stop the antibiotic and start benadryl for the hives. Good plan. Very doable. So, I got the medicine and did as instructed, but that night was really bad, and the next day was worse. She was having fevers of 102 and itching through her skin, and the rash was turning to bruising circles in a deep purple all over her body, and she was MISERABLE. Anyway, to make a long story no quite as long, we saw the pediatrician again, and she wanted us to go to the emergency room at the children's hospital in Norfolk yesterday afternoon and let them decide if she needed to be admitted or not (yes...I was quite panicked at that point). So, mom, Lilly and I headed to the ER at CHKD. She was eventually diagnosed with erythema multiforme, a wicked reaction to either a virus or a drug (they aren't sure). Its not contagious, but also not treatable, and can last a really long time (weeks to years). They said they thought the rash would go away in a few weeks, and to just keep giving benadryl for itchiness and motrin for the swelling and joint pain (oh - forgot that part...her hands and feet are really swollen...can't even get her shoes on her!). The fever they thought was from a virus (maybe the one that caused all this fun). The good news is that she has a very mild form of this reactive process, because the more severe form can be very horrible, require admission, and can be fatal. Thank God we just got the ugly bruising rash!!!!!

She is feeling MUCH better today. Her fever seems to have gone, and she is bouncing all around teh house playing with everything Santa brought her. SHe still looks...well...like a leper...but, she is feeling better. She does seem to know that her tummy looks bad, and she was quite embarassed to let anyone see it. But, I finally got a picture yesterday...keep in mind that this is the improved shot.

I am grateful, exhausted, drained, and relieved. But I think more than anything, I am in awe of how I managed to adopt a little girl from around the world who is so like me!!! As I have reflected on that today, I have decided that God knew she might need a mommy who could easily adapt to quirky medical issues that fit no text book. Of course, she is like me in many other ways - and I had really hoped for her sake she would not be like me in this way, but isn't it bizarre?? I keep having to remind myself that she is not actually genetically linked to me. I promise fun Christmas stories and pics soon. But, I need sleep!!!

A Grinchy Tradition? I hope not...

So, Lilly had not been herself, but hadn't really had fevers like she usually does when she is sick. But, learning to trust that mommy ituition, I took her to the drs last Tuesday...and found her to have two ear infections and a sinus infection. Ugh. But, smuggly patting myself on the back for listening to the intuition and getting her checked out - especially early enough in the week to have the antibiotics kick in BEFORE the Christmas festivities.

Let me warn you...smug always backfires. Friday afternoon I left work early to go to Lilly's day care Christmas party. When I got there she looked flushed a felt warm, but she was be-bopping around teh party and seemed to feel fine after I took off her sweater. The party was about 30 minutes long, and we were out the door around 3 ish. Walking out into the parking lot she seemed worse - a lot worse - and then as I put her in the car I felt her back and forehead and knew she had a high temp. SO, I tried to call the pediatrician to get in (meanwhile already driving in that direction). The pedistricians office was booked solid, and by this point I was 1) hitting shopper traffic and 2) Lilly was squeezing her eyes shut, shaking (not convulsions, but more like severe shivers), and had stopped making any noises. Promptly freaked me right out. And, I headed straight to the Emergency Room back at work. On the way into the ED from the parking lot she threw up all over both of us. But, at least that had her crying and not in that scary non-communicative shaking thing.

Turns out her temp was 103.5 - not as high as I had expected, but high enough. Considering she had been on antibiotics for 3 1/2 days already, I didn't think it could be her ears. The nurses were great and had her temp down to 101 in an hour or so. Docs checked for RSV, flu, infections, you name it...and all came back clear so far. Theory was just a bad virus on top of her already existing infection. Poor thing!!!! While all the culture from her blood work & urine cath (miserable experience!) haven't come back yet, she is doing much better, which makes me a believer in the virus theory. She had high temps that night and some yesterday, but seemed like herself again today.

So glad she is getting back to her mischevious self and should feel good for her first Christmas at home. We had to miss our friend's baby shower today (Sorry Jenny!!!) because I just wasn't ready to push it with her yet. Friday night really drained me. Restraining your sick and highly feverish screaming child so they can catherize her and draw blood just plain sucks. Thank God mom came and my aunt Christine brought the diaper bag over to the hospital or I wouldn't have had diapers or even a sippy cup. The lucky blessing was at the Christmas party the kids had drawn names to exchange gifts. Cosmically connected as they are - Jackson & Lilly drew each others names. But, Jackson wasn't at the party since he already left to go visit his grandparents. THANKFULLY his brilliant mama had left a package for Lilly to have, and it was in my purse. And, she knows us well as teh present was stickers - tons of stickers. "tons" being a technical term for "enough stickers to distract a sick child through several hours in the emergency room." Don't know what I would have done without them (thanks Kendra!)

If you recall...last year on the Friday night before Christmas just as I had gotten home from work I sprained my ankle and ended up in the very same emergency room. I am hoping two data points does not a trend make...as that would be a horrible tradition!!!! Very Grinchy indeed!

But, as the drama is hopefully behind us, I am so looking forward to the next few days. I have this vision of me waking up with her Christmas morning (we sleep together in this giant king size mattress on the floor when we are at my moms). She might as well be wearing a bow, as there can be no greater gift. I promise to share pics and stories of all the chaotic gluttony...but I don't know how it can get much better.

Merry Christmas...may yours be HEALTHY and happy and surrounded by the ones you love...Carrie & Lilly

Sorry Its Been So Long!

November and December seem to have gotten away from me somehow.

Lilly & I went to DC to visit her AUnt Maren & go to the Zoo LIghts at the National Zoo. It was our first big adventure/road trip (ok, not counting the trip from Guatemala to Virginia!). We were only in DC less than 24 hrs (so all my buddies in DC please don't be offended I didn't call). Picked her up at "school" 5 minutes before nap time on Friday, and then drove home at nap time on Saturday. That was supposed to make her sleep during the drive...didn't totally work, but it wasn't too bad. ENjoy some pictures from our recent adventures....including decorating the tree, the zoo lights, etc ect etc