Going to Cali!

Woohoo! I just booked two flights to California! Chuck and I haven't been out to see his family in way over 2 years now. And the cool thing is that we will be there for Chuck's birthday, too. Yippee! I can't wait!

Inn n Out, here we come!

We will also be meeting our nephew Jake, who was born in August.

Yeah!!

Dr. Appointment

I just got home from a doctor's visit. I'm still pregnant! 8 weeks and 1 day to be exact. We saw the heartbeat again and the baby was actually "wiggling." Fun. I also get to stop taking the progesterone. Yeah!! It was gross.That's all for now.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

We hope you and your family have a truly wonderful Christmas Holiday.

We are taking it easy. We went to bed early last night and watched an episode of House. Then we slept in late (yeah, I got up 15 minutes ago). It will be a nice, quiet relaxing day around here. This *should* be the last one. We said that last year, though. While we HATE that our boys aren't here with us, we are totally taking advantage of not having kids and enjoying the quiet.

If your day is full of hustle and bustle today, please don't forget why we celebrate!

I Puked

That's right. It happened. I brushed my teeth this morning and then stood there in front of the sink fighting the gag reflex. It won. Daddy Bear was kind enough to come in and hold my hair.I can literally count on one hand the number of times I've puked since 4th grade. I sure hope this doesn't become a common occurence.I was smart enough to have not eaten breakfast prior to brushing my teeth. That will be my practice throughout the pregnancy - brush on an empty stomach.I know, I know. What a lovely Christmas Eve post!

Feeling Better

The nausea has subsided!! Yeah!! Thursday I felt so sick between nausea, the sniffles, and a headache that I cried.Friday I woke up with next to no nausea. It was a good thing, too, because I babysat all day for a friend who just had a baby. Yesterday and today have been the same. I'm kind of burpy, which is yucky, but it is way better than being nauseous. I was scared that maybe I'd miscarried since I felt so much better, but I still have some other pregnancy symptoms (such as nearly puking when brushing my teeth!).So, if you prayed for me, thank you. I was beginning to think I wasn't cut out for pregnancy!On another note, I've been looking for a new doctor because I've been really disappointed with the staff (not the doctors) at my current office. I just can't imagine working with those people until August. I think we've found a new doctor. She's the Chief of Staff of OBGYN at the hospital I want to deliver at. I'm really hoping they are open tomorrow morning so that I can schedule an appointment. A prayer request would be that they could get me in THIS WEEK. That's all for now. It is time for bed!

Cried Like a Baby

Okay, I have to share this because it is hilarious.Have you seen the Tide commercial for loads of hope? If not, I'll give a brief run down. Tide has this semi that they take to devastated areas (like New Orleans and Southern California) and they pop it open and it has all kinds of washers and dryers. So they go to these devastated areas and do laundry for people because "clean laundry gives hope." Yeah, it got me good.I saw the commercial for the first time last Sunday on AMC. Chuck was in the kitchen and had to rush to the living room to find out why I was audibly crying and laughing. I was crying over the commercial and laughing at myself for crying over the commercial. By the time Chuck looked at the TV, the commercial was over so I had to explain. I was laughing hysterically at myself while wiping away my tears. So when I got to the line about how "clean laundry gives hope" I lost it all over again.Then, today, Chuck saw the commercial for the first time and called me in to watch it. Due to the miracle of Tivo (which has revolutionized my life!) he was able to rewind it and we watched it together. And yup, I cried again. And it's not just like a few tears. It's full on messy sobs.Ah, blessed hormones!

December Photos

Noah

Samuel

Samuel

Samuel

Samuel

Every once in a while we get more than one photo of the kids. This month was Samuel's turn for a photo shoot! Gosh, I can't wait to have them in my arms!!!!!!!!!! Lord, please, soon!!

Don't forget to read the post below for some awesome adoption news!

Praising God!!!!

We just got the most wonderful news!! Our adoption is complete in Haiti!! We just received an emailed copy of our Adoption Decree. Noah and Samuel are ours!!

What a wonderful Christmas gift!!

Next is passports and visas. Passports are taking, on average, 4 months. Visas are another couple of weeks. Of course, things could speed up or slow down.

Wow!

Apology

I'm apologizing in advance for the late Christmas presents and Christmas cards.I had really hoped to mail stuff today, but that didn't happen. I haven't even located the Christmas cards that I bought months ago.I woke up with a cold. Adding the sniffles to nausea is not fun.Please, dear Lord, let my morning sickness end at 12 weeks.

Thoughts on Morning Sickness

Most of you know that I was pregnant before. When I got pregnant before, I wished for morning sickness so I could lose some weight. Well, I never got morning sickness and the pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 9 weeks.This time around I definitely have sickness. I don't know if I would call it "morning" sickness, though. I wake up feeling great and then about 30 minutes later I start to feel like crap. For the rest of the day pretty much. So, in my opinion, the term "morning sickness" is a lie straight from hell. It should be called something like "pregnancy sickness." Or "feel like crap most of the time sickness." Or even just plain "sickness." Using the word "morning" is quite deceiving.Now, you'd think (if you've never experienced morning sickness) that I'd be thrilled because now I can lose some weight like I dreamt about durning the first pregnancy. Not so. What I've learned about morning sickness is that it isn't so bad if you keep something in your stomach. So, in order to not feel like total crap most of the time, I have to eat something most of the time. It is a complete oxymoron, but it is true. I met a woman in September who told me she was super sick her entire pregnancy, but she gained 60 pounds. I couldn't understand that for the life of me. Now I do. God help me if I gain 60 pounds.When I tell some people of my morning sickness, they say something like, "Oh, good. I mean, it's good that you're feeling sick because that means your body is reacting to the pregnancy hormones." Yeah, I can be grateful for that, I guess. But really, ultrasounds and bloodwork can also confirm my pregnancy and out of control hormone levels.In my years of ignorance, I thought morning sickness had at least one good quality - weight loss. But now, I am here to tell you that there isn't a single good thing about morning sickness other than the idea that I will probably stay pregnant this time.Here are some anti-nausea recommendations I've been given:
Saltine Crackers - they do help
Peppermints - not so sure about these, I don't like them
Jolly Ranchers - haven't tried them yet
Potato Chips and Lemonade - weird combination that I'm afraid to try

Welcome

I've created this blog to track our journey as we go from having zero children to three.The first two will come through international adoption. We are thinking they'll be home in May or June.The third will be our first biological child, and he or she will be born in early August.We know people think we are crazy. They tell us they are concerned for us. But we are trusting God that His hand is in all this.I created this blog as a SAFE place to share my thoughts and feelings. I will mainly track the pregnancy on this blog because we have a blog for our adoption. We wish to remain completely anonymous on this blog, so I will be called, "Mama Bear." My husband will be called, "Daddy Bear." Our adopted kids will be called, "The Dynamic Duo." And the baby will be called, "The Lil One."I ask that if you post comments, please don't use our names. We will not connect this blog with the adoption blog either, so unless you know us in real life, that one is off limits. I also need to ask that you not link this blog on your own. Sorry. We need to protect our adoption.So, thanks for checking things out here. Since I'm sick a lot with morning sickness, there will probably be a lot of whining. I'll apologize in advance. I don't do sick well.That's all for now!

Before and After

Well, the majority of our painting is done. We just have touch ups and tape removal left. We originally thought we'd paint all the wood trim white, but we are kind of liking the wood with these colors. Poor Chuck worked his butt off Friday through Tuesday (with lots of things inbetween, otherwise it would have taken less time). I only did minor painting. Our bathroom is done, too, except for touch ups. I do touch ups, so when I get around to them they will get done.

Fun Christmas Survey!!

You are tagged if you read my blog!

This is fun - it's a Christmas Survey! Please post it on your blog or do it through email.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags when available

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Getting a real tree in the stand is no fun. It can cause fights at our house.

3. When do you put up the tree? Hopefully before Christmas. This year we’ve had it in the garage, ready to go, but we were painting and wanted to finish that first. (We just have touch ups and need to take the tape off.)

4. When do you take the tree down? As soon as possible. I once took it down the day of Christmas. The cats like to torture the tree.

5. Do you like eggnog? No, it is sick.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch Kid

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes

8. Hardest person to buy for? My Mom

9. Easiest person to buy to buy for? Chuck

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Yarn. For real. And it was used.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Probably the Home Alone movies, although after reading my sister's answer I must change it to Elf. My favorite line is, "Santa's Coming! I know him! I know him!"

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Just in time to get them shipped priority mail.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, it’s called regifting. It's a wonderful thing.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham biscuits – they rock. Never had them until I moved to The South.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? We use clear, but I’d love to have the old school colored ones with the big fat bulbs. Remember them? Yeah, I know they make something similar now, but they are just not the same.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Sleigh Ride, done by the Chipmunks is my absolute favorite.

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Both, though I prefer to be in my own bed.

19. Can you name all of the reindeer? No

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Bow

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The rushing around.

23. What I love most about Christmas? Getting together with people.

24.) Favorite winter outdoor activity? Sledding! But I don't do it so much here in Virginia :(

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Love,
Juli

Painting

Last week the painting began.

Chuck started with our bathroom. It had awful blue wainscoting. We are turning the wainscoting white and the walls above it brown. It will be the same as the bathroom in our old house. We had just bought all the stuff for that bathroom before we put the house on the market and we liked it, so we are doing the same to our bathroom here.

Today we've been taping off the living room, dining room, and kitchen. We are doing burgandy and burnt orange with some grey. We finally have a big enough space to do some really rich colors. I'm excited to see how it turns out. We will also be painting ALL the trim and doors in this house white like we did at the old one. It just completely changes and updates the look of a house. We aren't starting the trim for a while, though. I learned last time that it is a HUGE undertaking.

We have big plans for a few other rooms, too. Upon putting together a race car bed, I realized that they do take toddler mattresses. My mom had assured me that they take twin mattresses, but they don't. So, we bought some Cars bedding sets and the boys will have a Cars theme in their room. We've decided to go a little crazy with color in their room - one wall will be red, one will be yellow, one will be blue, and the final wall will be painted with chalkboard paint. Cars makes a border that we will put up as well. That should be fun for them.

Our spare room is a pale green. We only need to paint the trim white to finish that room up. One day it will make a nice nursery. For now, it serves a great purpose as guest room.

I'm not sure what Chuck is planning to do in the office. He really wants blue and tan. We'll see. That will probably be the last room we do.

We want to paint our room a sagey type green. I'd love to get a new comforter set, but it's not a priority and they are so expensive.

The main bathroom needs an overhaul. We have wallpaper to take down and a vanity to replace. The tile in it is black and white, so we need to look for a theme that will go with the black and white tile. We also want it to be kid friendly, but not a total kid bathroom.

Oh, and the grey that we are doing in the main rooms will be the color for the hallway. Since our hallway is mostly doors and doorframes, the grey won't be too depressing.

Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures of our finished living room, kitchen, and dining room this weekend. I'm bummed that it's nearly 3 p.m. and we haven't started painting yet.

God is Good

He really is. Chuck and I have been blessed in so many tangible ways lately, it's almost like God is trying to show off. I just had to share that.

Bummer of an Update

Well, our paperwork hasn't moved yet. Here's the update I woke up to this morning:

Hi Chuck and Juli
I hope this email finds you well and that you had a lovely Thanksgiving.
Your dossiers for the twins are still in process for 2nd legalization. We anticipate their completion very soon, though. This is exciting because it will mean the completion of the adoption process itself. You will then have MOI, passports, INS, and visas!! Just so you know, as the process draws closer to the end, I will email you more frequently with necessary information or steps you need to do in addition to your monthly updates. As always, please email me if you have any questions.

Yeah, so I am bummed. I take some comfort in the "very soon" part of the email, but only time will tell.

I was so hoping our news would be better than this.