IT'S COLD!

School was cancelled 1 1/2 hours early today because of the cold and suspected snow fall coming on top of the ice already on the roads. I called the school about 10 am asking if they were closing (saw on Internet schools by us closing) they said they haven't heard anything! At 11:30 they decided to close at 1:15. So now dealing with Marissa tummy hurting, my stomach hurt all weekend I've got to try to entertain these two! I pray for 630 to come really fast so Paul can take over and referee.

Stay inside and stay warm! I'm turning my fireplace on tonight!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

It's official, my 9 year old has a better social life than her parents.

Brittany had her birthday sleepover this past Friday night. 5 girls running around, laughing and screaming half the night was fun. I decided (right after we told Brittany she could have a sleepover) that Andrew and Dominick would go to Grandma's for the night, THANK GOD they did. The little bit they were here they chased the girls and teased them. I know it's all part of having siblings, but there's only so much I can take. Brittany was OK with Marissa staying the night, as Marissa just sits and watches everything...which is what she did.

Out of 6 girls invited, 4 were able to attend and 2 made it past 9:00. I finally went to bed at 11pm and Brittany, Ellie and Maddy were going strong. I woke up at 3am and the TV was still on, the girls were sleeping but they hadn't been sleeping too long (i think they FINALLY crashed about 2 0r 230). The girls then woke Paul and I up at 6:45AM!!! OMG.

That was Friday to Saturday morning. Then Saturday night Brittany was invited to a sleepover birthday party (for 1 one of the girls invited to hers). So Brittany went to Alex's party at 4pm Saturday with only a 10 minute nap all day. Talking to Alex's mom this morning the girls were up until 1230 or 1 and up at 7.



That brings us to today (Sunday) we have a birthday party for my cousins baby (who's 1) this afternoon! I'm exhausted, Paul's already sleeping, and 3 out of our 4 children are sleeping...can you guess which one is still up...BRITTANY.



All I can say is THANK GOD there is no school tomorrow. We are staying in our PJ's all day and resting!

left to right: Madeline, Ellie, Brittany, Alex & Maddy

Dominick 1 year "GOTCHA" Anniversary

Today marks Dominick's 1 year Anniversary of being home. We celebrated by going bowling. We had a ton of fun and as I type this post we are relaxing comfortably on mommy and daddy's bed eating ice cream and watching "Surfs Up".

I cannot believe how fast time and flown and how much he has grown. Dominick is incredibly smart and very affectionate. He has brought so much joy to our house and hearts!

We met Dominick (Gustavo) January 19, 2006. We were on our visit trip for Marissa (2 months old at that time). I took one look at Dominick and was instantly pulled towards him. He was shy and reserved, but when he smiled he lit up the room. Paul and I returned home from our visit trip and even though I had little contact with Dominick, Paul and I discussed our options. Well as you can see, we put our faith to the Lord; as it always has been and have a very energetic, happy, intelligent sweet little boy.

Many adoptive parents consider their Gotcha day the first day they picked up their child, we consider ours, the day we arrived home and had family and friends with us to celebrate.

First Time we met Dominick...Fell in love instantly!!

That smile melts me!

Casa Quivira Agency and Orphanage

Although we didn't use this orphanage it's an orphanage in Antigua Guatemala that was heavily raided this past August. All charges have been dropped and all the children have been returned to the orphanages care, the orphanage has not gotten back their beds, cribs, diapers, formula, ect. The families of Casa have compiled a CD of 200 photos of Guatemala to use for fundraising. 100% of proceeds are going to Casa to help supply them again with daily essentials needed to care for the children and babies.

Here is the post:
Hello All,I'm happy to announce that the photo CD, "Guatemala in Pictures" is finally ready!This CD will be sold to raise funds for the Casa Quivira Foundation. 100% of the profits will go to CQ. I'm suggesting a donation amount of $20.00 with the check made payable to The Casa Quivira Foundation. Order forms (you'll find one in the"files" section of the CQWaiters site) and checks should be sent to me. I will send out the CDs and forward the checks to the CQF treasurer, Lisa Mantia.The CD contains over 200 beautiful, high-resolution digital photos of Guatemala including pictures featuring Antigua, Tikal & El Peten, Flores, Lake Atitlan,Guatemala City and more. There are photos of Guatemala's indigenous people,colonial architecture, landscapes, daily life, plants, animals, etc. It is a stunning and diverse collection of photographs. Email me if you would like to see a list of the photos.You can use the photos to make prints for creating photo albums, use in scrapbooks and lifebooks, get enlargements to frame, create a fabulous photobook, or just view them as a slide show on your computer. The photos may not be used for any commercial purpose, however.A big thank you to the Porters, the Lockharts, Dana Scott, Alicia Santamaria,Karen Peck and Dennis Kaiblinger for contributing pictures.Please help spread the word about this fundraiser! If you belong to an adoption forum, adoption support group, adoption list serve, or any other group that you think would be interested - let others know about the photo CD. If you have a blog or website, feel free to advertise this fundraiser there as well. Anyone interested can contact me at mayesfamily@... to get an order form or for more info.Thanks!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTANY!

Brittany will turn 9 years old at 7:15 pm tonight. She weighed 6lbs 4 oz and was 19 3/4 long. My beautiful baby girl is now turning 9! I want to cry...kids grow so fast.

Brittany's pregnancy wasn't the easiest..numerous hospital visits due to pre-term labor, gestational diabetes and so on. On one hospital stay the doctors couldn't stop labor, my room was FILLED with all kinds of doctors and nurses, specialist and machines. The neonatal specialist had informed us of their equipment and procedures, the doctors had given me steroid shots that went directly to Brittany's lungs to help her survive when she did deliver...doctors predicted by the next night we would have a baby born at 23 weeks gestation.

Everyone was praying and praying hard.

God listened.

Labor stopped

Doctors, specialist and nurses were stunned.

I knew my baby was strong and would be a fighter

Full bed rest was prescribed

Then partial bed rest

She made it the full 9 months...then didn't want to come out.

Doctors had to induce me.

Today Brittany's attitude is still "I want it now or forget about it". She's very strong willed and will fight to the end for what she believes in and wants.

Brittany "britter-bo-bop" we love you SO SO much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!