Dr. Ivy Makes House Calls

Here she is in her full Dr. attire before heading over to Mom's for her post surgery check up. Looks like she is prepared complete with prescription pad. I called Mom after Dr. Ivy was there to make sure she was still in one piece. I've been "treated" by Dr. Ivy and I can tell you that she is fairly thorough with her questions. However, every symptom I've reported including upset stomach, allergies, sore throat, mosquito bites, has been met with the same conclusion by Dr. Ivy. "I'm going to have to cut it out."

Let's Hear It For The Girls!!!!!!

Specifically two very good friends of mine, Mary and Andree'. I am blessed to be able to have both of these women as friends. Earlier this year, Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer. They caught it early so the prognosis is good. She has handled this diagnosis with all the courage, humor and faith that makes her so special. You may have noticed comments on here from "Mary(get your mammogram)" and "Almost done with ratiation". That is Mary. Today, August 24th, was her last day of radiation treatments. Woo Hoo!!!!! Hopefully she does not read this for several days as she is headed to the beach soon to recharge.

That brings me to Andree'. Her mom is a breast cancer survivor but unfortunately she recently lost a cousin to the disease. This weekend she is walking the Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day 60 mile walk for the cure. She has been training for months. She has four very active kids and her husband travels frequently for work so she was already pretty busy before she started training. Oh yeah, and she had to have surgery herself during the training but that didn't stop her. Her team has raised OVER $16,000.00 for breast cancer research.

Mary and Andree' have never met in person. Well, they may have met at our wedding but I doubt it since everyone was so focused on me....and maybe Jon, but mostly me. Yes people, that is sarcasm. Anyway, they may have never met in person but they have been in each other's thoughts for a while now. Andree' is dedicating mile 24 of 60 to Mary (last day of radiation treatment). I think Mary said it best in a recent email to me..... "Godspeed Andree'!!!!"

Happy Bleeping Birthday!!! **UPDATED**

Tomorrow is Mom's Birthday. And boy does she have some BIG plans for the day. At 5:30 tomorrow morning my Dad is taking her to...............................the hospital for surgery. How's that for a birthday celebration? Over a week ago, Mom broke her ankle in two places. Yep, she busted it up something bad. How did she do this? Well, being the crazy fun Grandmother that she is, she took the Grandkids to the water park on the last day of their summer vacation. Apparently while she was performing some type of dangerous water park trick she fell and broke her ankle. So, she has been off of it for over a week now waiting for the swelling to go down. Tomorrow she will be getting a brand new ankle complete with a titanium plate, screws, pins, nuts, bolts, whatever it takes.

I know the past several days have been tough for her. Picture if you will, the energizer bunny on speed (and without the annoying drum). That's Mom. She is ALWAYS doing something. And it's not that non-productive, spastic type of frenzy that I MIGHT manage to work myself into once a year or so. Nope, it is focused and productive. Frankly, it can be downright annoying sometimes. There is always something to be cleaned, cooked, ironed, straightened, mended, sewed or there is someone to have lunch with, someone to be visited, a meeting at church, a party to go to....you get the picture. Taking it easy is not in her nature. I am not sure that she has totally given up her usual ways. Rumor has it that she was recently seen sitting down, with her foot propped up and holding a yard stick with a towel wrapped around the end so that she could clean the corner of the bathtub. No, I will not reveal my source although I can say that I do consider the source VERY reliable.

During all of this, Dad has been taking very good care of her. He has been doing the grocery shopping, cooking, and waiting on her hand and "foot", mostly foot. Although he apparently missed a speck of dust in the corner of the bathtub, we will let it slide. A couple of days ago, Mom was frustrated about the fact that she would have six weeks of recovery time after the surgery. It was shortly after this post and Dad told her "not to worry, six weeks would go by in no time." She told him if he said that again, she was going to send me to scratch his eyes out. Ahhh she may be down but she's not out. Good one Mom!!!!

So Happy Birthday Mom!!!! Do we get to sign your cast?

UPDATE - The surgery went fine although the ankle was shattered really bad. She stayed in the hospital overnight but made it home today. Lee-Anne, hilarious comment about the butt paste. It won't help the ankle although the cast was irritating Mom's skin and my Dad suggested butt paste for that earlier today. I kid you not.

If You Are Looking For An Adoption Update...

I've heard from some friends and family recently that they check here for adoption updates and haven't seen anything specific lately. The fact that I ramble on about butt paste and disco parties is my way of saying that there really isn't an update. Originally we thought we would be meeting our child this year. Yeah, as in 2006. Oh, that is funny. Then here, I mentioned that it might be 2007 since wait times were expected to increase between 2-4 months. Oh, an increase of 2 - 4 months, those were the days.

At one point I thought that we had experienced our last Christmas, last Mother's Day, last Father's Day, etc. with just the two of us. I TRY not to look at things like that anymore. I am trying to cherish the "just the two of us" time. My birthday was Sunday. I turned 42. Luckily Jon and the friends we were with only made me blow out 1 candle. I could not help but wonder who will be there next year.

We spoke with our Agency today. I really appreciate the effort our Agency is taking to keep us informed. Unfortunately all they are able to tell us is that the current wait is approximately 13 months and the wait can get longer or maybe even shorter. Well that clears that up, doesn't it. There are many complicated reasons for the increase in wait times. Some of it is fact, some of it is speculation. I'm not in the mood to explain it here. I found a way to reset my expectations from a 6 month wait to a 12 month wait. I am in the process of resetting my expectations to an 18 - 24 month wait just in case. I'm not there yet. I know that a child (biological or otherwise) is a blessing, a gift and not something that I am entitled to for any reason. It hurts to admit that but I know it is true. That doesn't mean that my head is not full of "whys". It is.

So, all I can say is if you are reading this, the only update is that we likely still have another year. I've been saying "another year" since last October. Some people must think I am a crazy lady that thinks she is adopting. I'm either running in place or someone is moving the finish line. You will know if there is any news. I wish I could tell you more.

Also, I have said it before but I will say it again. Please refrain from using any of the following:
1. It will be worth the wait
2. Everything happens for a reason
3. It will be here before you know it
4. This is happening so that you can be matched with the child that was meant for you
5. Maybe you will get pregnant before then - ( Yes, we may get pregnant. Goodness knows we aren't doing anything to prevent pregnancy. This adoption is not a substitution for a pregnancy and no we aren't doing this to "save" a child. It is how we chose to grow our family. Period.)
6. Everything worthwhile is worth waiting for
7. Anything similar to the above

If you do say any of these things to me in the near future, I will want to scratch your eyes out. Of course I won't actually do that since with all the delays I will have to be fingerprinted again. But I can't promise that I won't fantasize about it.

Oh, but feel free to leave lots of comments about how I don't look a day over 41!!!!

Have Buttpaste...Need Baby

(EDITED FOR CLARIFICATION)

I guess my Mom wanted to top the stellar present that she gave Jon last Christmas. When she was here recently she presented Jon with a 16oz jar of Boudreaux's butt paste. 16 ounces!!!!! That is a lot of butt paste!! ( It was sort of a gag. Right Mom? A useful gag though. Looks like Jon is going to be changing some diapers!!!!) A few years ago Jon and I tailgated at the Cotton bowl with my parents and the Boudreaux Butt Paste RV was parked near my parent's RV. Jon thought that was the funniest thing he had ever seen. I am pretty sure we have pictures somewhere.

Just in case you haven't heard of this miracle butt paste, people swear by this stuff. It's not just for diaper rash. I had a rash on my finger that nothing would get rid of except for the Miracle butt paste. Of course, we are partial to this particular recipe since it comes from just up the road from my hometown. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting my Mom and complain about ANY type of skin ailment, she will have some butt paste on you faster than you can say Boudreaux. Although the company was recently bought by a company in Indiana, I really hope they keep the production in south Louisiana. Seriously, with Boudreaux in the name, it really can't come from anywhere else.

When I saw the size of this jar, I thought "great, now we can worry about the butt paste expiring along with our fingerprints." But, it seems like it is good until May of 2009. Too bad, I could have orchestrated an essay contest where people could write me explaining why I should bequeath the butt paste to them. Actually, that could get quite scary, never mind.

So, the nursery may not be started and our daughter doesn't have a name (besides LuLu) but at least Mom can stop worrying because we are loaded up with butt paste.

Traded Our Disco Shoes For Some Rock and Roll

Last night we went to the Tom Petty concert with some friends. Even though it was an outdoor concert and it was about a bizillion degrees outside, we had a blast. Very good show. We saw The Rolling Stones last November which was excellent but even despite the sauna situation last night, I think I enjoyed last night's concert more. Yes, he just released a new album but I only counted a couple of songs that were "new". Lots of the old favorites. My voice is a little shaky this morning from singing and screaming. I am sure if everyone would have been quiet and Tom could have heard me, he would have invited me onto the stage. Oh, and Stevie Nicks joined him on stage!!! I wasn't aware that she was joining the concert in some cities so it was a very pleasant surprise. They sang a few songs together including "Stop Dragging My Heart Around." She stayed on stage with her tambourine for most of the concert and took a bow with the rest of the band at the end.
Anyway, I AM TIRED. The last couple of weeks have been nonstop with the nieces/nephews and then a crazy week at work last week. Next week is shaping up to be a "two city" week so I think I am going to be taking it easy this weekend.

Highlights and Lowlights of Camp Jon And Karen

Ok, you may be tired of hearing about it but I couldn't help myself. Thanks to Julie for the idea (she did one of these a while back) and her suggestion on some very helpful software. And for "Anonymous" that asked why there weren't any pictures of me on the last post.... Well if you watch close, you will see me in all my Disco glory!! Fortunately for me, the lovely act of falling flat on my you know what as Jon tried to spin me around the dance floor wasn't captured on film. Trust me it was lovely. I should have done a practice run in those platform shoes!!