getting ready to leave!!...

well, more than likely this'll be my last blog posting until we get home from haiti... we're leaving tuesday morning VERY early & between now & then, man, i'm swamped!!... tonight we're heading out to get all the 'last minute items', pick up some things out of the camper, etc... tomorrow we've got to head to the airport to make sure they're still allowing 'containers' & not making you take everything in duffle bags (boy, that'll be a pain if they are!)... we've got 8 FULL containers packed & waiting for spike to drill holes in the corners & add zip strips to them for the security aspect... brit & mom are already packed & i'll be completely packed tonight & then there's spike... UGH... he's not even started!!!... i'm sure he'll make it in time, but i sure couldn't wait until the last minute like that... we've already talked to barbara & she's got things planned for us to do while we're there & we're sooooooooo excited!... i'm the last one in our family to have been there, but that's been 1½ years ago so to me, it's been forever!!... brit's never flown & her first flights out of the country, how cool will that be for her... mom's never been to haiti & we all are looking so forward to going & seeing our little chicklets birth parents as that's always the highlight of the trip for us... i'll post again when i get back & add pictures too... all of you that pray, please pray for us while we're gone (until the 9th of october) that we stay safe, have a good time, stay well & get much accomplished while we're there... god bless you!!

my pappy...

well, i lost my pappy tonight... he was well into his years & had lived a long life, but it's still hard when they're gone... he was a very good man, hard worker & father of 4 daughters (my mother being the youngest)... when i was younger, they tell me that all my older cousins called him papaw, but then i came along & i called him pappy, but he was alright with it... i know i've heard stories where they say i'd take a big handpicked bouquet of flowers to him & say, "i picked you some fluffies"... i know he got upset as they were his flowers that he'd worked so hard on & there i was at 3 years or so, pulling them all up!... here's a picture of him in these later years along with my mother... he'll for sure be missed, but i know he's in a much better place where 'fluffies' are all around him & no one will pick them!!... he's with my memaw & their daughter kay & many other family members as well... we miss you pappy, but we'll see you again soon... we love you... toodle-doo (the same word he said every night before retiring to bed)...

where's the time gone?...

well, barbara left last thursday morning to head back to haiti & we've already gotten emails from her saying how much she misses us & our cool weather! (we just love her *smile*)... we've now gotten back into the routine of it just being 'us' around here & everyone's doing rather well... kiara & ruby go to school every tuesday, wednesday & thursday & that gives karleigh & i some 'us' time & we're loving that... we went to the library last week & we're going shopping tomorrow... i've already started putting layaways in for christmas so i don't get hit hard when the time gets here... my best friend's been in pennsylvania for a week & just got home last night (it's sure a good thing she's back!)... i wasn't able to chat with her today due to me having a bad headache & so i took a nap today (can't even tell you when i did that last)... it'll be good to chat with her tomorrow as i've so missed that... she'll be the one that'll be watching our 3 little chicklets when we go to haiti (3 weeks from today!)... they're excited, but kiara keeps saying, "can i stay with angela during the days & then come home to 'you & daddy' at night?"... she's the one that likes to be home & on 'our schedule', so i'm hoping she'll do alright... she loves spending time with angela & her family, but she's a homebody too, so we'll see how it goes... we'll certainly be praying for angela & her family as she'll have 6 children in her care that week (10 days total), between her 3 & our 3 she'll have: G6y, B4y, G4y, G3y, G2y & G2y... well, it's getting late so i'd better get to bed - early mornings around here, ya know!... i'll write more tomorrow...

whew, have we been busy!...

well, last week a friend of mine, lynn from california was flying to our home to meet up with barbara walker... barbara was bringing lynns little girl, josie 'home' & indianapolis was the meeting place... barbara had more work to be done on her teeth so they opted to arrive here, then barbara would stay for the tooth issue & lynn (along with josie) would fly home... well, nothing in that whole plan fell into place at all... lynn was already on a plane when i found out that barbara wasn't able to get a flight out due to the hurricane that was affecting haiti UGH... when lynn got here i told her of the news & she worked very hard to make things work together... i was able to get barbara & josie another flight scheduled for yesterday, september 5, but that meant lynn would be stuck in indiana until then... she worked it out at home with all her other children & so she's been here since then... we'd a camping trip with our family this past friday, saturday, sunday & monday so we just took lynn along for the ride & we all had a wonderful time... we arrived home yesterday afternoon, got ready & headed for the airport... her daughter & barbara came in last night at 8:30pm & man, was it good to see them both... lynn's chosen to rename her daughter naomi faith & she loves it! YEAH!!... lynn & naomi's both leaving tomorrow morning & then barbara will be flying out thursday morning... it's been so nice having them all here & boy, have my girls enjoyed all the added attention *smile*... well, i'm bushed & it's only 11:30pm, but i've got to get up for another busy day at 5:30am so tata for now & i'll write again tomorrow (tomorrYO as kiara says it!)...

busy next few days...

well, thought i'd better write now as the next few days are going to be extremely busy... tomorrow (tuesday) i'll get ruby on the bus & then i'm off to clean up this house ~ WHOA!!... i'll then need to leave the house by 2:30 to go pick dustin up from work & take him home... i'll stop by our house to scoop up brit & ruby & we'll then race off to the airport to pick up a friend of mine that's flying in... we'll go shopping, running around town, etc. on wednesday & then we'll head to the airport again on wednesday night as barbara will be bringing in my friends daughter *smiling*... we're all so excited!... i've not gotten to see this gorgeous little girl since january 2005 & believe me, i can't wait!!... they'll stay overnight again with us & then thursday afternoon my friend & her daughter will head to their home & barbara will stay another day or so in order to have another tooth worked on... not sure at this point how long she'll get to stay, so we'll see... we'll then pack on thursday night as we're going camping on friday for the holiday weekend & won't be returning home until monday.. needless to say, i may not be blogging for a few days!!

yesterday...

well, yesterday was spikes birthday (52!) & we went to my brother in laws house for a get together... it was a combination of party for spike & a party for their secretary that just retired... the kids swam, we all ate & had a great time... we remembered that it was 4 years ago yesterday (august 26) that we first heard about kiara & started the process... man, how time flies!... well, we're heading out now to go eat lunch & then do some shopping so i'll write more later!

this weekend...

well, tonight we opted to just stay at home so after eating dinner, we played with the girls & then put them to bed... i was able to get things done around here (straightened, etc.) so we're ready (kind of) for the weekend... i've been soooooooooooo tired/drained & sore today as i went for bloodwork this morning & it wasn't the reading they wanted so it's really tired me out WHEW! (i know i'll get yelled at from my mother as i didn't tell her!... she's dealing with a bit of her own 'body weary' things & i know she's got enough on her plate - don't be mad mom *smile*)... anyhow, i'm fine & will get better with each passing day, but for today, man i'm bushed!... here's some pictures of the chicklets that i took tonight when we were playing... aren't they adorable ~ nite!

rubys first week of school...

well, ruby's been in school now for 3 days (she only goes on tuesdays, wednesdays, & thursdays)... she's loving it already & her teacher's great!... here's a picture of her on her first day & also 1 of her & her teacher, kristyn... everyday when she's gotten off the bus, she's smiling from ear to ear & starts signing, "ruby", "friends" & "school"... she's a sweetheart!!

we're home from camping...

well, even though there was a HUGE threat of rain over the weekend (friday night, all day saturday & sunday until midday), we went ahead & went camping, praying we'd stay dry & we're sooooooooo glad we did... we'd a wonderful time as did the girls & also my parents (whom went with us)... don't ask my how i managed it, but i came away from the weekend with NO PICTURES!!... i took video, but forgot to get out my digital camera!... ugh... we're going again in 2 weeks (labor day weekend), so look out, there'll be tons of pictures from that campout... we'll be going with dad & mom again & also spikes sister & her husband (russell & vickie) will be coming along so it's sure to be a good time!... more tomorrow as i'm bushed!!

our day started with...

the girls bringing me beads that they'd found in their beds this morning!... i couldn't believe it, they all brought me some at different times, not knowing the others had done the same thing!!... they've had this hairstyle in for just over 3 weeks & we still had a week or so to go (or so i thought)... i went to put the missing beads back, but found lots of bands had snapped & it just wasn't worth it... i began with ruby, taking each & every braid out (remind me again, who was it that wanted micro braids in their hair???)... i then moved on to kiara & finished with karleigh this evening at bedtime... they're all ready to jump into the tub tomorrow morning & play for as long as mommy will let them... then it's off to the drawing board again to come up with another style... here's a picture of what we decided to do (& it only took 5 hours to get them all 3 done!!)

a bittersweet day...

well, this morning we all got up, dressed & was out the door at 10:30am... we headed to muncie to eat at brits favorite place 'carlos okellys' (mexican)... i'd decided to take her out for 'her day' as today was her last day of summer... she starts school in the morning & she's a bit nervous as she'll be a freshman & is so scared she'll get lost in the high school... after eating a wonderful lunch, we headed back to the other side of indianapolis to dj's beauty supply house for yet, MORE BEADS for our little chicklets!... after going there we went to target as brit wanted to get a certain outfit for the first day of school (nothing like waiting till the last minute!)... after that we went to pendleton for dinner with my parents & spike met us there... we ate pizza at 3rd generation & boy was it YUMMY!... we then came home to 3 little chicklets not feeling so well... kiara's complaining of needing to choke (you know what that means), ruby's got a temp of 103.3º & karleigh's running one of 101.3º UGH... well, we'll for sure be home all day tomorrow... i'll post more then!!

what we did this weekend...

well, this past weekend we went camping at clifty falls state park with our best friends (caswells) & their children... they've 3 little ones from haiti (6y, 4y & 2y) & along with ours (4y, 3y & 2y) there's never a dull moment... they're the same family that went with us to myrtle beach this summer (boy, does that seem like a long time ago - we're already looking forward to seeing mickey mouse next year!!)... it was so nice that when we got there friday night, angela had already made homemade cornbread & garden greenbeans over the fire & kyle was cooking chicken on the grill & man, was it a gooooood meal!!... we got up saturday morning & went to their town (madison) & spent the entire day walking around & they were able to show us all over... they took us to a fabulous lunch at the downtowner & we'd highly recommend it!... they serve sandwiches, chips, soup, salads, etc. & they were soooooooo good... we had campfires every night & then had to leave on sunday, but not before spike hit angela square in the eye!... yep, you read it right, he was holding a hard rubber ball (about the size of a softball) & had been holding it for quite awhile & went to throw it over to our camper, but when he went to release it, it hesitated as his hands were sweaty & about the time it did release it met up with her eyeball & boy does he feel bad now!... here's some pictures of the kids while we were out...

kiaras day wasn't so hot...

well, since we've come home from haitian camp kiara & karleigh have begun showing signs of being ate up with mosquitoes... karleighs have been driving her crazy (itching!), but we've noticed that kiara hasn't been bothered by that at all... this' been odd as kiara's our 'scratcher' anyway & scratches all the time for comfort (ie: when she's tired, sick, scared, upset, etc.)... i began noticing kiaras 'bites' on sunday night at the same time i noticed karleighs... i began giving both girls benedryl for itching & it seemed to help... i lotion the girls down 2 times daily (morning & night) & did so on monday night as well (feeling the bumps all over them)... karleighs are mostly on her arms & back, where kiaras are ALL OVER HER!... she's got them on both legs from ankles to very top of leg, both arms, shoulder blades, wrists, face, etc... when she got up yesterday (tuesday) i went to lotion her & upon starting at the high part of her left thigh & moving towards her ankle i felt something NOT RIGHT... i turned her leg over & all down her left calf was huge blister type things where the small 'bites' had been... i knew then they weren't an ordinary mosquito bite so i called her pediatrician... we went in yesterday for them to say they had no idea & for us to go to a dermatologist... we went this AM & he didn't know what it was UGH... he did want to biopsy it (which he did) & will send it off to a lab & should have the results middle of next week... here's a picture of what it looks like... we're just praying that things come back alright & there's nothing to worry about... BTW, she did fine during the procedure although she did get a pickie (numbing shot)... she wasn't very happy (alright, screaming), but in the end went out smiling (just like kiara!) & was very polite to all that she spoke to...

well, we're home from haitian camp...

well, we had haitian camp this weekend (friday/saturday/sunday) & had a blast!... there were several families that stayed the entire weekend & then other families just came for the day on saturday... the food that was served was wonderful & we all got to spend so much time together just visiting... there was swimming, chatting, eating, playing, bonfire, singing, testimonies, stories, etc., etc., etc... we were able to use our camper for the first time & it worked great... here's some pictures from the weekend... i've even posted one of all the kids that barbara's adopted out...

heading to haitian camp tomorrow...

well, we're heading out to haitian camp tomorrow for the weekend & we all can't wait... we're going to be able to use our new camper for the first time & we're very excited about testing it out... the girls all had a horrible time getting to sleep as they're sooooooooooooo looking forward to heading out in the morning... i'll post pictures as soon as we get home too...

our time with barbara...

well, barbara got in several days ago & has been staying with us since then... we're having a very good time & really enjoying her company (as always)... today she went to visit some haitian children near us that have been home a couple months... they really enjoyed seeing her again & she was very happy to see that they've grown so much!... this evening we had brit watch all the 'little people' at our house & spike & i took barbara out to dinner & to the movies... here we had no children to take with us & what did we go see? "the ant bully" (a kids cartoon movie!!)... it was cute & we had a good time so i guess that's all that matters, huh?!?!... tomorrow we're planning on doing some shopping & then we're heading over to spend some time with my mom, who's going to haiti with us in october... the girls haven't seen dad & mom for several days & that's all i heard today was, "can we go to nanas house??"... i'll try & post some pictures of girls kids & barbara tomorrow...

our new (to us) camper...

well, we've been 'moving up' as far as campers go for several years now... when we married we started out with a tent (one that leaked no less!) & moved up to a popup/fold down... we then sold it & purchased an small, old motorhome as it was only spike, myself, dustin & brit & we had plenty of room... we then decided to add more to our family tree so we sold the motorhome to pay for an adoption... we knew that 'one of these days we'd get another one'... we had a very close friend of ours phone us about 1½ - 2 years ago & said that he'd aquired an older motorhome, didn't want it & just gave it to us!!... we were back in the camping business (whooo)... well, since then we've added to our growing tree AGAIN & had been thinking about getting another bigger one, but just knew that we'd get one when we found that 'perfect' deal... well, last week spike was on his way to work & spotted a motorhome for sale... he stopped & fell in love with it... he phoned me to go look at it, i did, we both loved it so it's now ours!!... it's a 1998 34' coachman mirada & has everything inside that we'd wanted & only had 24,000 miles!!... it's in excellent condition & has only been stored inside... here's a picture of 'our new camper!!'... we already had camping plans for the next 3 weekends in a row... this weekend's haitian camp (bedford, IN), next weekend's camping with the caswells (madison, IN) & then the following weekend it's camping with my parents (greenfield, IN) & hopefully many more yet this year... oh, we're so excited to finally have a bit more room!

been looking at houses...

well, we spent all day looking at model homes... whew, what a long day (fun, but long)... we've narrowed it down to 3 homes, but our absolute favorite's the statton home... here's a picture of the outside of it... we'd do this elevation, but choose different brick, etc... not sure what we'll end up doing, but it's fun to dream, huh?... barbara is on her way to our home now... she should be here in about 30 minutes & will be here from 1-2 weeks (YEAH!!)... well, i'll get off here & will post again soon...

yesterday at the cookout...

we went over to my brother/sister in laws house last night for a cookout with spikes whole side of the family & we had a blast... here's some pictures of the girls playing in their pool (i did take pictures of brit, but she kept sticking out her tounge so i opted to not add them!!)... all our little ones jumped off the diving board & thought they were big stuff (even karleigh, who's the chicken of the bunch!)...

our kings island trip...

well, we returned home sunday, from a wonderful trip to kings island... we'd taken all 5 of our kiddos along with dustins girlfriend, suzy & we had a blast... we were at the park all day on saturday from 10am - 10pm & boy, were we bushed at the end of that day!... our tiny tots enjoyed meeting dora the explorer, diego, scooby doo & more, while the bigger kids were all over the park from 1 rollercoaster to another... kiara (our 4y old) rode her first ever rollercoaster (front seat & alone i might add) & she's now hooked!! (YEAH!!)... believe it or not, karleigh's the one that's always trying to act all big & bad & she's the biggest chicken of them all!!... monday, i took all the girls to dad & moms house & started braiding hair... mom mentioned how cool it was on their big front porch & that if i came over there to do their hair, then the other 2 could play outside & not be stuck indoors all day... i got rubys hair done on monday (8 hours) & then on tuesday i did karleighs (3½ hours) & also kiaras (6 hours) so all in all i braided for 18 hours!! UGH... it'll now last for 1 month & they better not decide to brush it or play in sand!!