Kaylee got to go to Fiesta Texas yesterday with a bunch of friends. She had a blast!!

Rough Week

I know I haven't been here in a while...and the amazing thing is that I am not actually here now. I have figured out how to blog using ny new Droid x. Simply amazing!

Anyway, on to my girl...she has been having nose bleeds quite often lately. This week consisted of a sinus infection and 3 nosebleeds in the last 24 hours. Poor monkey.

Please pray that the nosebleeds stop and the sinus infection gets better.

Do You Remember?

Do you remember when you found out you were having a baby?

Do you remember how incredibly long you waited for your baby to get here?

Do you remember how you felt when you first laid eyes on your baby?

Do you remember how it felt when you held your baby for the first time?

Now, couple that with waiting YEARS for your new baby...

And couple that with being overwhelmingly appreciative of the best gift anyone ever gave you...

That's how most adoptive parents feel...especially those who have waited for a foreign adoption.

Read to learn about how a friends love of missions turned into giving a child a home.

What a great story!

Bluebonnet Contest

My daughter recently got her portraits taken in the Texas Bluebonnets by my boss.

Now, one of my favorites is on the Love Stories Facebook page as part of a contest.

I would love for you to head over there and vote for your favorite bluebonnet portrait...even if it isn't of my girl because the competition is a portrait of my business partner's children.

Just vote! Either way...it's all good!

Ladybug Birthday

I have a great friend that gives me some leftover party supplies every year. I usually take what she gives me and add my own touch each year. Last year, she gave me some ladybug stuff and after watching it sit in my garage for a year, it was time to make it come to life.

First, the party preparations:

I found the red buckets at Hobby Lobby for 50% off. I grabbed those and a Sharpie and started circle-ing away. I added sticker sheets, also from Hobby Lobby and also 50% off, ladybug garden tools and ladyug bug catcher, both from Dollar General and a ladybug wood cutout to color from Joann Fabrics. I think they turned out precious!

Then, for the ladybug dress-up!

I made the antennae with headbands from Dollar General (6 for $1), pipe cleaners and pouf balls (isn't that the official name?). I took 5 pipe cleaners per set. I twisted 2 around a pencil to make them cork-screwy. I then twisted a pouf ball onto each end. I twisted the other end around the headband. Once the antennae were secure, I used the remaining pipe cleaners to twist around the headband, covering them completely.

The wings were made of posterboard. Between the red and black layers, I attached some elastic for the children to thread their arms through to wear the wings on their backs.

Preparations complete!

I even found it necessary to have ladybug snacks. A little google search and blog-stalking and I found a few precious things to eat!

The ladybug bucket that the plates are in and the ladybug stand that the brownie pops are on both came from Hobby Lobby - again, 50% off!

The recipe for these precious ladybug crackers can be found here.

A mixture of Chex-Mix and Goldfish. The 'swarming ladybugs' are ladybug buttons glued to the ends of wire. They were in the original hand-me-down-party a year ago.

Someone posted brownie pops on Facebook and the moment I saw them, I knew I had to make them - ladybug style!

Even though many of my FB friends thought I should make the cake myself, I decided to buy one from a local bakery instead. I think it turned out precious!

Kaylee's super cute shirt came from here! Yvette and Sheila are my heros!

We did a super easy - and super messy - ladybug craft.

Small paper plate, painted red. Add black spots and head (that I had pre-cut from posterboard), googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennae.

Along with the bouncer and the craft, the kids played a ladybug beanbag toss game. The beanbags were ladybug shaped and the kids tossed them and tried to get them to land on large leaves that were cut out of green butcher paper and laminated. We had these scattered on the floor and steps.

Also, notice the simple decorations in the background. Red streamers and black balloons...so lovingly hung by my almost 12 year old son!

Don't you just love that stance!

She is loving the gifts...and it looks like her big brother is too (HA!).

So, even though it took a lot of prep work, this was by far the best party I have given.

I hope my girl remembers it for a lifetime!

Kaylee's 4th Birthday Tea

WOW! So long since I have been here!

I really think Blogger should figure out a way to send a photo for blog updating...much like FB posts can be done!

Anyway, it is that time of year again, Kaylee's Birthday!

We went to tea today. This year, we chose a teacher friend of mine. Her 'red thread' to Kaylee is that they are both adopted.

Barbara brought Kaylee a book that was Barbara's as a child!

Such a sweet gift!

Kaylee actually tried tea this year!

Peach Ginger with a touch of honey!

See that crazy tray of sandwiches? They were all for Kaylee.

Needless to say, she didn't eat them all!

This year's teacup - chosen by Barbara.

What We Are Thankful For...

We went to the hematologist last week...just a regular check-up.

He came back with the dreaded pink paper...the one with 'the numbers'. This time, it read 204,000!!! That's CRAZY! We have NEVER been in the 200s!

After a bit of bantering back and forth, he said, 'I think we are done'.

'You mean, DONE, done?'

'Yes, I think we are chasing our tails. Her last 5 appointments have been FABULOUS and she hasn't had steroids in almost a year. I think she has outgrown this. You know what signs to look for and when you might need to call me, but I think we are done'.

'Fabulous! and not to be rude, but I hope to ever see you again!'

So, it looks like my girl might have outgrown her ITP. He told us in the beginning that 85% of kids outgrow this condition, just never thought we would be one of the 85%!

Praise and Glory to the Great Physician!