Happy 2008

I hope this finds everyone having a wonderful 2008! January is flying by so I thought I would update you on the happenings in our household.

Our adoption continues to drag along and I must admit we are looking at other options. It has been a heartbreaking process and I am afraid I don't have what it takes to keep holding out. We are being told our wait could reach 2011 before we bring our daughter home. For those of you out there who have wanted a child you know that 2011 seems like FOREVER!!! I am struggling big time and I ask that you pray for me. Greg is busy with work so he has to put his thoughts into other things. As for me, well all I think about is "I still don't have a child". I will continue to keep you in the loop...just know right now it is a touchy subject.

Over MLK weekend, my sister and her girls, and I made a quick road trip to Missouri to surprise my mom for her 57th Birthday! I think she was surprised and thrilled to see us! My nieces did wonderful on the 11 hour car trip! They are awesome travelers! They make their Auntie so proud!

Our dear friends Carrie and Brian returned January 3rd from China with their precious Gracie! She is adorable and is just amazing! We spent this past Saturday evening with them. It was so wonderful to see them as a family of three!

I am still doing my Bikram Yoga and I am still loving it! I am improving on my practice every week. It is the most challenging exercise I have ever done. People think Yoga is a bunch of meditation, with candles and soft music...well not Bikram! Greg has promised that he will go one time with me when I reach my goal weight. I hope I reach it by May! I am still holding at 55 pounds. I guess I have hit a plateau and need to turn it up a bit. Hopefully next time I write I will be at 60 pounds!!

We are going to my sister's house next weekend for the Superbowl. We have really enjoyed living closer to them. I love that my nieces know who their Auntie is. Lilly will be two in Feb. and she calls Auntie "TT". We assume she can't say Auntie. Too cute! Lilly also loves Riley. I think he is her best friend. She loves to sit in his kennel with him with the door shut. I know it sounds crazy but if you can't find Lilly, well you know she is in the kennel! It irritates my clean freak sister so much! She really enjoys getting in it when she is all clean! Children are so fun!

I hope this finds you all doing well. Thanks for checking in on us. Take care.

Love,

Alicia

Merry Christmas...a little late!

Hello Family and Friends,

I am sorry I am late posting this. I guess the season got away from me! I did get my cards out on time. I received several comments about my Christmas letter. The main one being that I am/was a Bah Hum Bug this year. Maybe I am/was just a little. There didn't seem to be a lot of good news this year. After rethinking about the year, I noticed I did have quite a full year!

In March my friend Lori came from North Dakota to visit for a weekend. She had never been to Texas and was not so in love with it. We did have a great time visiting the Fiesta store in Galveston, visiting Old Town Spring, and just catching up!

In April, my sister and I planned a 60th Surprise Birthday party for my dad. We really surprised him as he thought we just showed up for his Birthday. We had a about thirty people come to his party. We had several show up from Kansas, so that was great to have them! It was fantastic to see the surprise on my dad's face!

Then in May, my dear friend Elizabeth came to Houston for a scrapbooking weekend! Let me tell you, that is all we did! We did tons of scrapbooking and lots of chatting! It was wonderful to see her again!

Heather and the girls came June and July for a week of swimming in the pool. It was fun to watch Heather chase Lilly around the pool. Summer learned to swim and even learned to dive! Her Auntie was quite proud of her. She is only 5 years old!!

All of us girls also took a road trip in June to the lake. It was fun! Then in August Greg was able to take a week off and we went to the lake again! I guess we really love going to Table Rock Lake!!!

In September, we went to Fort Hood to see our wonderful friends Bill and Suzanne. We were named Ryan, Ben and Sarah's God Parents. What an honor! Suzanne and I have been friends since our time at Ft. Rucker together. Which was over ten years ago! It was great seeing them and catching up. Bill is an Apache pilot and left for Iraq in October. Please keep them in your prayers.

I went to San Antonio many times this year. My favorite visit had to be Halloween! I was able to see the girls for the big night and go out trick or treating with them. Summer was Jasmine and Lilly was a grape! They were very cute! We also found out that we are going to be an Auntie and Uncle Gregie again! My sister is pregnant with her third baby girl! She is due in May! Please keep her and the new baby in your prayers.

We have gone many times to the Gingerman, a local pub here with our adoption friends Carrie and Brian. We also have visited Chinatown several times. Not a place I am in love with...the food that is!!

Overall, it was a good year. It has been wonderful being back in a warmer area.

Greg and I had a different Christmas this year. I visited my sister and parents in San Antonio the weekend before Christmas. Then I came home to be with Greg for Christmas Eve and Day. It was different just him and I, but we made the best of it since he had to work. We spent Christmas evening at the neighbors having yummy enchiladas.

For those checking my site to see how much weight I've lost........drum roll please..........55 pounds!!!

Wishing you all a wonderful 2008!!!

Love,

Alicia

Riley is 4 today

Just wanted you all to know that our first child Riley is celebrating his fourth Birthday today! He had a Birthday bath, followed by two donut holes! He is one happy Bully!

We Passed!

I am late posting this as we had computer problems. Our news is great! We passed review! We are officially in the Matching Room!! Now, that still means we have a long wait ahead of us but we are cleared through China to adopt. This is a huge relief for Greg and I. I will post more later.

Oh and if you would please send me your email address. Our computer crashed so a lot of people I lost email addresses for. Thanks!

Love,


Alicia

Happy Thanksgiving...Go Kansas!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family! There is nothing new to report on our adoption this month. We are still in review. We have not heard anything so I am hopeful we won't! We are headed to my parents Tuesday for a week! We are so excited for Greg to have some time off. He definitely deserves it!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk! We are having a blast watching the football season this year. Every year Greg would say "Next year will be our year". Well he finally got his "next year". We went to College Station and watched KU beat A&M! We had a great time with our friend Chris. We know he hated to see his Aggies lose to us! Keep cheering on the Jayhawks! Don't forget in all the excitement that Basketball season has already started. We are 3-0!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Love,

Alicia

In Review

October is flying by so I thought I would let you all know I am doing much better this month. Our paperwork is officially being reviewed this month by the CCAA. This basically means we will be one step closer to holding our baby girl. The wait is still super long, but getting through this will be a huge relief! This is the time China could disqualify us because of my Rheumatoid Arthritis. So, please pray this does not happen. I have a wonderful letter from my Rheumatologist so I don't think this will happen, but lets be honest it is a foreign country and they can do whatever they like.

I am happy to report that I have lost 45 pounds! Yeah for me! I have enjoyed trying new things and have really taken a liking to Yoga. I have a friend, Dinah, who is certified, so she comes over twice a week for my own personal session. My RA is doing so much better with my healthier living too. It is quite amazing! I have a lot more to lose, but slowly but surely I know I will get there.

I am flying to my parents tomorrow and will be there until Sunday! I have the best hubby for letting me do this. He has been working like crazy and yet he still is letting me fly home for a little time with my parents. Thank you Gregie! You are the best!

I hope this finds you all having a great Fall. It is pretty warm here still. I am so looking forward to the cooler weather of Missouri and the fall leaves!
Love,

Alicia

One Year....

This has been a very emotional month for me. Today is our One Year Anniversary for our Log in Date with China. We have been “pregnant” for one year. I believed we would have Mari in our arms by Christmas of this year. However, that will not be happening. I don’t mean to be a downer but, sometimes it is hard not to be. I don’t understand why we can’t be blessed with a child. I don’t understand how two high school sweethearts, who are best friends, financially stable, and have so much love to offer can’t become parents. Having RA hurts me physically, but no amount of physical pain can compare to the pain my heart has by not being able to share my days with a little one.

Hopefully next month we will have better news. I guess you could say I am pretty negative about our adoption right now. I hope this finds you all doing well.

Love,

Alicia