A post to catch things up.

I'm back! Well I guess I have always been here so I am back writing at least. I think I needed a few weeks off to re-evaluate everything that has been going on in my life. It is all stuff that is way to deep for today but maybe one day I will write about it.

So much has happened in the past couple of weeks. Anna is back to school after a very nice winter break. It felt like it took forever to take down the Christmas decorations in part because I love having them up but I was feeling a little blue that the holiday was over. As I told Anna when she got sad we can start to plan for next year.

I started my classes. The beginning is always a bit rough until I figure out how to fit it all in. My goal as always is to get my homework done during the week so that I have my weekends free with Anna and Gerard. So far it has been a 50/50 victory. This trimester I will need to travel to Missouri again for a week. I already am missing them and I have not even left. While I am there I hope to spend every waking moment studying and completing projects so that when I am home I can spend more time with Anna.

I almost forgot. I took Anna to see Disney on Ice! We got a very good deal on Living Social so I took advantage of it. Me-Me & Hans, Sarah (my friend) & Julia (her daughter), and Tabatha (Anna's school friend's mom) & Nicole (Anna's school friend) all went. The girls dressed up like princesses. Hans wore a Flounder hat. The night was so much fun. Anna, Julia, Nicole and Hans all keep talking about it.

Jenny my sister is finally 28 weeks pregnant!!! The triplets all appear to be doing fine. Baby A is a little smaller and our biggest worry right now because her fluid is a little low. Jenny looks good so that makes me VERY happy. Our new goal is to get her to 33 weeks which is easier said than done. I pray that she does not deliver while I am out of town because that will make me a wreck. I think Anna is getting used to the idea of a bunch of babies coming. I have seen a few signs of regression but I totally expect that and we just keep reminding her that she is our little baby.

I also have some news that makes me a touch sad. My Brother in law Reggie (not Me-Me and La-La's father) lost his fight with cancer this past weekend. Joanie was by his side to the end. Here is a link to there wedding this past August. He slipped away peacefully. I am so thankful that he was not in pain or uncomfortable. This is a stark reminder to me that life is very short. Tell your loved ones that you love them often.

So the New Year has begun

This week has been a pleasure mostly because Anna was home from school all week. It did remind me that I get very little done when she is home mostly because it is "Mommy you be a Mommy horse and I will be a baby horse." I did have to remind myself that these days will be numbered and I want to treasure each one of them.

I worked a little extra this week in the hopes to save a little extra for my summer vacation. I actually worked a day shift which I have not done in close to 15 years. I love working during the day but I would miss so much with Anna so for now I will stay on the night shift. I worked on New Year's eve so Gerard let me sleep on New Year's day. He brought Anna home sound asleep. I was busy making zebra for dinner (steak but Anna will only eat it if we call it zebra meat) and she was sleeping away on the sofa. I knew it was in my best interest to not let her sleep long, so I picked her up and snuggled with her while she was still asleep. What an amazing feeling.

Anna almost never slept in my arms. I can count maybe 3 or 4 times when she feel asleep and I was not totally exhausted and asleep in 2 minutes also. I insisted that Gerard take our picture which of course he thought I was crazy but took the picture anyway. I love holding her but because I take many of the pictures I am usually not in the pictures. So we have very few of Anna and I. Somehow holding her makes everything perfect. I can not imagine how empty my life would be without her.

For those of you who may not know Russia has banned adoptions to United States citizens. This is a very sad day for me. I pray that those who are waiting to return to pick up their children are allowed to do so. I pray that this ban is lifted quickly for all parties involved. I believe that another Russian adoption was not in our future but know that the possibility is gone makes it so final.

I am taking today to clean up the Christmas tree, set my home back to the pre-Christmas state, and reflect about the past year. In the past I would take the time to make a spread sheet of our finances and I think if I have time I will do that again this year. I want to stay on the path that we are on but of course it can be difficult.

I love fresh starts and the beginning of the new year is a perfect excuse to start fresh. There are a few things that I feel need to change with the up coming year. I like to think of myself as a positive thinker so I want to make sure that our focus this year is on all things positive. I find it is very easy to get wrapped up in negativity.

So in keeping with the Russian tradition of not making a resolution but making many New Year's Eve toasts here we go....

May you all experience good health in the up coming year.

May your homes be filled with so much love that they burst at the seems.

May we all learn to love and cherish to little things in life like a kiss from your baby even though it is sticky.

May every child who is waiting for a home feel comfort until they are held forever by their parents.

Happy New Year!