Can we get a #4 in the house??

This week we moved from number 5 for girl to number 4 we are getting so close. We are number 1 for boy under 3. I think about these children I don't even know each and every day. We have the bed and everything ready and waiting for these two little love bugs. Maybe next post will be with referral news!

"5"

Talk to susan yesterday and we are officially number 5 for baby girl. we are so excited we can't wait to see her face, to know who she is,and how old she is. We long for the day we are in Ethiopia picking up our children. Our little boys referral will soon follow and we are just as excited about knowing who he is. So right now 5 for baby girl and for boy 7 or so since boys come faster.

The wait!!

We have officially been waiting on our little lovebugs for one month now. It has been nerve wrecking. I thought the paper work was the painful part but each and every day I am waiting to see who our children are makes us more anxious. So I guess we will have to wait it out day by day until the right day comes along. Until then heres to torn nerves.

Adoption plans

Our hearts have been moved to go ahead and request a boy age 3 or younger and baby girl. Our dossier is in Ethiopia and we have been waiting for the call. I hate this wait its the worst not knowing who are children are. As of today we are number 1 on list for boy and 12 on list for girl so hopefully it will be soon. I will update soon. Hopefully with new of little ones.

Poem

"“Some babies are so special,
They come in different ways
Some must wait for their babies
For days and days and days

Some babies come from close by
The Mom who had them could not’t stay
Other Mommies are waiting for them
For a baby they pray and pray and pray

Other babies are born in a far-away land
The mommy who had them no longer there
But some Mommies fly across the sea
A baby’s love to share

You may have a different skin color
Or a different kind of hair
But the love Mommy has for her baby
Will truly always be there

No matter how you or I look
One thing will always be true
You are my precious baby
And I will always love you"

Tossing and Turning

I go to bed at 8 every night since kids started school, but for some reason I toss and I turn all night. VERY ANNOYING. When I'm not tossing and turning I do like I did last night, sleep really good then 3:30 BANG I'm awake for the day. I usually get on the computer or watch tv. I have even laid in the bed once and tried to go back to sleep till the alarm went off at 5:45 and NOTHING! so by 4 I'm up and cleaning the house. Then get kids up at 6 on bus by 7. The rest of my day is a blurred tired mess but I know if I go to take a nap I will not go to sleep that night. I have these dreams that are just plum crazy don't even know if they would be able to be put into real life anything. VERY STRANGE I guess its better being awake and thinking about our new little princess then asleep having some weird dream about who knows what.

Packing.....

I started getting things together to go get our baby girl. I CAN'T WAIT!!! We will only need to do this another 8 times to equal 12. I just don't think Jason is going to go for it he said maybe 3 more. He is such a good dad I'm really proud of him. Of course we have our issues over the way he is so rough with the boy but it will be ok. I got three bags so far packed, I hope this is normal. We are changing names again our friends beat us to the name Laila so we are going to do Leia no idea about the middle name yet. Jason says Tia.... hahaha Leia Tia Brown I don't think so. I like Leia Faith or Leia Hope. I don't know we will figure it out. If its twins of boy/girl Silas and Leia, or Jacob and Leah, girls will be Leia and don't know yet. Anyway we will figure it out. That's all for tonight.

More Dossier stuff

Illien called and well we had to redo some pages in our dossier. Four passport photos CRAZY!!!! WHO NEEDS THAT MANY PASSPORT PHOTOS THEY SUCK, ALL THAT SUCKS!!! We don't even have a referral yet and we are talking a boy by this time next year. Its crazy how much you can love someone you never met even stranger than being pregnant. We just can't wait.

Family Basketball Game

Lots of fun! Even though the kids say mom and dad are cheaters hmmmmm...... maybe we need to work on that part!

Dr. offices

I took my nephew to the Dr. today and sat there forever. Not many people in the office but the Dr. just took foever to get into the room. We thought my nephew had been running fever because of an ear infection but nothing there. The Dr. gave him some anitbiotic that will clear up what we think is a bladder infection. This is something my daughter always fought with and still does if she isn't drinking enough during the day. I didn't think boys had those problems though. I guess you always learn something new.

Arkansas update!

Well timing was off for Arkansas. Horray!! (in some ways of course) Come to find out this is probably for the best. Our friends are actually moving and we have forever LOVED their house, so we are going to jump on their house even though it is smaller than ours. Our friend remodeled his house and he is a bit of a perfectionist so it is beautiful. Of course the girls will have to share a room for awhile but OH WELL!!! what is a 14, 8, and baby sharing a room. =) There is an apartment in the backyard so later Ash can move into the apartment if she needs to get away. Maybe someday we will get away from this town just won't be this year.

Dukes of Hazard and sleep walking

First let me tell you my son loves dukes of hazard. So with that being said we bought him and his dad season 1 and 2 of dukes of hazard and he has done nothing but watch it. So after a full afternoon of watching dukes of hazard he starts to feel bad and tells us he's going to bed it is 8:00. About 10:00 he comes running into my room with a cup and a t-shirt since he sleep walks a lot of times I just asked him what is he doing and this is what he said:

K: (with t-shirt and cup in hand) I broke this missle
me: really how?
K: I don't know it just broke
me: ok go lay down
K: I can't see the mayor is importing illegal moonshine into hazard and now I have to have to help Bo and Luke
me: ok
K: Hurry I need to hide this Bo and Lukes kids are waiting in the car for me
Me: Hurry go put it over on your dad's side of the bed
K: (running puts t-shirt down on floor) I will come back and plant this later

Me and DAD: laughing non stop

update

Our dossier is on its way to Ethiopia. We are so excited!! Tomorrow we have to drive to Lubbock to get fingerprinted for I-600 I really wish there was somewhere closer or even here in Odessa to do this. We will do whatever it takes of course.

Kids have school pictures done tomorrow and I hate that they have to wear their uniforms for pictures. It stinks since they have cute clothes they could be wearing. In fact Haleigh still has brand new clothes hanging in the closet right now she doesn't wear since on the weekend all she wants to do is hang out in her night clothes.

Well thats all I have right now about to get ready to go make some money.

Dossier Finished

We went and took our passport photos this afternoon,this was a big hang up on our dossier for some unknown reason. But we got it done and our dossier is officially in the mail and will arrive at Illien on Tuesday. We are so excited can't wait to meet our daughter. I'm sure she will be everything we have been dreaming about.

Swine Flu???

Well my daughter brought home a nasty cold on Friday. She ran fever all weekend of 103.8 terrible. We were planning to take her to hospital on Sunday morning if fever didn't break. Luckily, through during Saturday night it broke. The unfortunate part is now the rest of us have it and it stinks big time. I just wonder if it is this swine flu junk. On the brighter side of things we have to take our passport photos and our dossier is ready to GO!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAYS

Sewing sewing sewing

I went and picked up about 6 different patterns and am now on my way to sewing and more sewing. I had to find myself something to keep my mind busy since I did end up putting the kiddos back in public school. So I cut the patterns and fabric and my mom gets the joy of actually sewing them,baby clothes of course. Soon as I get them finished I will post them.

Waiting children

I have recently thought about these three waiting children, twin boy/girl and a 6year old girl. My heart is really pushing me in this direction, but I'm afraid in some ways I will fail at handling it. I always wanted a big family 12 kiddos to be exact. So I don't really know what there is to be scared of. I have faith god will lead our hearts in the right direction.

Garage Sale Successful

Had another garage sale today and for the most part it went really well. Day one raised 500.00. YEAH!!!! I had so much stuff donated it was a mess to set up. But after getting up at 5 and getting out there to put things out I am pretty satisfied with the results. Another day to go though... hopefully as good as today.

WOW! BUSY WEEK!

This week as been crazy. Getting kids to school is crazier than I remembered. On top of that I am having a garage sale tomorrow to help raise more of my money needed. I just hope is goes as well as it did 6months ago. I joined a Illien yahoo group and it seems that referrals comes QUICK so now I am so nervous that I'm not going to have all funds in time. Don't get me wrong I love the fact that paperwork goes in and I could have a referral within a month or so. I love this child more with each passing day which is crazy since we have no clue who she is. I LOVE IT!!!

School in the morning!

My eight year old has been wanting to go back to public school every since the summer began and I didn't really want her in public school. Me and Jason had agreed before putting them in homeschool that if one is to ever want to go back it would only be fair to let them. sigh..... so after a lot of hoping she would change her mind we decided public school maybe right for her after all. We will enroll her first thing in the morning into 3rd grade. Oh how I hate this. 3:15 isn't going to get here fast enough tomorrow. I will still have the older two here with me but it isn't going to be the same. Why does she have to be so independent???

We got our poppy dips in today!!!

These dresses are so cute can't wait for the baby to be able to wear hers. My daughter didn't know about it until she put it on. See she doesn't like ANYTHING ITCHY and just as I suspected its not itchy. Thanks so much Sallee for such cute dresses. Oh and my son thought he wanted one also as you can see in the picture he was feeling a little left out. Sallee should find something for the boys. =)

Wordless Wednesday

Hmmmmm Arkansas??

So my husband is leaving for Arkansas in the morning for a week for work. He is going to check out the place. we will probably be moving there soon as the baby comes home which hopefully doesn't take too long since eventually he will have to stay in Arkansas to work while we stay in Texas to wait. We can do it. Lets just pray that the adoption runs smoothly and referral comes quick and court soon after. Never been to Arkansas everyone says its pretty and I guess anywhere is prettier than TX man this place is ugly, no trees.... no water.... nothing. I have lived here all my life so you learn to look beyond your surroundings but it does get old after awhile. My youngest has been crying thinking if we move her out of Texas that means she isn't Texan anymore....shhhhhhhh we told her she will always be Texan. In her heart she always will be that little stinker.

Finding a name

We have thought about names every since we made the decision to adopt. And have went through oh I don't know about 15 different names so far. Jaida, Zophia, Avery, Abigail......... list goes on but the newest is Laila and I really think its going to stick. Its meaning is dark beauty. I thought that was cool cause I like the name and when we went to look it up we find out the meaning and it was awsome. Of course we will keep babies given name as a middle name and may even decide to call her by that name. Who knows?? By the way if its twins Laila and Leah.

So nervous

Last night I had this dream and it just made me a nervous wreck. I dreamed that I had got a referral and..... hate to put this but I dreamed that the child was just ugly and we hated to say no. Is this normal has anyone else ever had any kinds of feelings like that before. Not to sure what it was about cause that has never came to mind any other time just in my dream and all day today that's all I could think about. I know no matter what we would love the child but having those dreams makes me feel like maybe I'm not ready or something. I had weird dreams like that when I was pregnant. Is this the same??? In fact when I was pregnant with my oldest I dreamed she came out a monkey and that really freaked me out for awhile. Then with my son I dreamed he was born the same size as my daughter who was two at the time. PLEASE someone tell me if this is normal.

My nephew cracks me up

This is Samuel and he is 1 1/2. He is so crazy everytime you ask him for a kiss this is what you get on your cheek so gross but as you can see in this picture he finds it pretty funny because his little smile is being held back. And clothes are non exsistent to him he hates them unless you say outside then he will grab anything to follow you. SO CUTE!!!!!

Dumb things people ask

I have encountered a lot of dumb questions from people here lately especially when they hear that we are going to adopt from Ethiopia. The first thing out of peoples mouths is " What if you get the baby home and find out she has AIDS?" oh let me see send her back..... so dumb of course I hope that isn't the case but if it happens it happens and we're confident we can handle the situation if it arises. Or I hear "How in the world are you going to take care of a black girls hair?" so you mean to tell me people wouldn't love a child because of hair? ITS HAIR FOR CRYING OUT LOUD you learn to take care of it. Sad thing is some of these dumb things actually come from friends mouths. No comment there....... Maybe they are just trying to look out for us.

GOT FOLLOWERS?????

SO HOW DOES SOMEONE WELL LIKE........NEW START TO GET FOLLOWERS? PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING!!

Found a school

Well I was talking to a friend today and she gave me some information on a homeschool that has the kids get online and listen and speak to the teacher on a daily basis. THANK GOD!!! This is what I need someone other than myself my kids will be listening to.

To HOMESCHOOL OR NOT TO HOMESCHOOL THAT IS THE QUESTION??

So for the last two years I have homeschooled my kids and my oldest is awsome she just takes her books and does her work and at the age of 13 she is doing 10th grade work. I'm so proud of her she will graduate in two years. But as for my other two I feel that maybe I'm doing something wrong cause they don't always do their work. I have looked into our schools around here and just hate to see them go back, our school district is so bad teachers are terrible to the children not patient at all when it comes to their learning. So I don't know to go ahead and homeschool and not worry about the amount of school work they do in a day or just send them back and try this homeschool thing again another time. I hate decisions like this.

craiglist

A few weeks back I asked all my friends to start going through their things so I could have a garage sale in October. I have this wonderful friend who donated all kinds of stuff including 3 iphones that she went and upgraded just so she could give me the old ones. She kept telling me to put them on craiglist but I always put things off or forget. (my kids say I have Dori syndrome from Nemo) Anyway I put them on craiglist last night and with in 15minutes......THEY SOLD!!!! Wow that craiglist is amazing. Plus praying to god for the funds for our baby helps also. I was just amazed $400 closer baby girl.

Our son Me and my hubby

our children

Father and daughter so sweet

Miss sassy pants.

We are the Brown's

Well to start off we are the Brown family. We have 3 children and are currently in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. We are very excited about this and can barely contain ourselves right at this point. We are hoping for twins of girls or boy girl doesn't matter to us. Not to sure we are wanting to wait for twins so we are also willing to except one. We are using Illien and if anyone has used or are using Illien please contact me with experiences especially if you have adopted we would like to get an idea of how things work after you send your dossier which by the way ours is ready and waiting for October 1. thanks hoping to meet others who have adopted from ET.