Sunday

With the help of the neighbor across the street, the dirt pile has been spread to the bare spots on the lawn. Husband was at work yesterday. I don't know how I could have done it myself. Neighbors are good people. It had to get done before the rain came. Lots of mulch left under the tarp. It'll eventually get put around trees in back.

Since there's so much rain today, it's inside work today. Still have to give the dogs baths and clean the house. So why am I writing a blog post??

Have you ever felt like you've accumulated so much "stuff" in your house that you don't even know what you have anymore? That's what I feel like. I want to rip everything from boxes and closets and desk drawers and cabinets and find out what we have and then get rid of stuff we don't need. And then get the rest organized. How do we do that when I know it can't be done in one day? I suppose when we put on the addition or move to a bigger house, it'll have a chance of being done.

So if you have nothing to do today feel free to stop by and help with the cleaning. We really need it!

Is the small font ok or too small to read?

Changes

If you ever had any doubts, I am Wonder Woman!

Husband and I did something I've been wanting to do for years... finally dug up the bushes and grass by the driveway in front of the house and put down dirt and mulch for later planting. We'll probably go with hostas and ground cover. It was fun doing it together and we did it all in just one evening after both of us worked during the day. Nice weather to work outside and great success!

Still more dirt and mulch to haul around and grass to plant. Tomorrow will be a busy day. The house needs to be cleaned for our adoption home study interview this week and I need to finish my autobiography. And the dogs need baths, desparately. And I have to write an appeal letter to our insurance company (they declined to cover some of the fertility testing done this year). And I need to figure out how to convince Time Warner Cable that we only have ONE digital box, not two. And then cancel our cable service! I have to run back to Goo Goo Gaa Gaa to straighten out a duplicate transaction and hope I don't buy anything more. And return some pants to Kohl's and shorten another pair. That is enough for one day, right?

Maybe I'll relax and take a few pictures to post on my blog during the day, as well.

It's good to be part of a team, working hard and goofing around together, and still have myself as a separate entity.

Mulch and Dirt

Mulch and dirt were delivered today. We managed to spread about half of the mulch. No progress on the dirt. The landscaped part of the yard looks pretty darn good with new mulch! My back is sore. The bed looks more inviting than ever!

Answers

I took the different job at work. Husband got a new set of keys for the lawn tractor and cut the grass in front. Husband also had dogs outside a lot today. Brillo called with exciting news about 2nd story plans being ready to show us.

I might get 8 hours of sleep tonight. All-in-all a good day...

Today's theme: Lost Keys

I am going to have to decide about work soon. Do I move on to a different project or not? I promised "the boss" I would do a pros/cons list to help the decision along. Maybe I'll do that as I fall asleep tonight...

Misplaced the keys to the lawn tractor sometime between last fall and today. Husband turned the house upside down and couldn't find either key. And the grass grows longer everyday. If you have any suggestions for where we should look, please let me know!

The dogs got out for TWO walks today. And Molly sat still long enough to get brushed. Baths for both of them this weekend. They really stink. They need to smell nice when the social worker comes to the house next Wednesday for our 2nd home study interview. If I don't post for another week, you'll know that I got lost in my long list of "house cleaning" to dos.

Dogs are crazy tonight

They are growling to go outside. More demanding than kids sometimes, are they.

Four days without a post?

Four days without a post? How'd that happen? There has been progress on the adoption paperwork. But there is still plenty to do. I have yet to make the list of to do items for what is left but I am feeling good that we are on track with the timeline of getting the homestudy done and dated by 6-15-2006. I'm glad we have a goal. I will be adding the I-600A form and passport paperwork to the list soon.

Progress has been made on the house addition, as well. The survey dude will come in the next couple of weeks and the design dude should have something for us to look at in the next couple of weeks. I also have been looking thru bathroom remodeling magazines for ideas on the things we'd like.

Of course, the painting of the existing bathroom isn't finished yet. We tried green. It definitely isn't the right color. Blue is next on the list. I have one picked out but need to get the paint yet.

And mulch and dirt are being delivered this week. Husband and I will have lots of hard labor activities in the yard in addition to getting our adoption home study medical exams, seeing the banker about a construction loan and helping husband's 10 year old with his science project. And I should work sometime in between all that, too.

I'm going to need to make my work decision this week. I have learned a lot about decisions this past year. Black and White and Right and Wrong don't apply. There are always reasons to do it and reasons not do. The best decision is the one that allows you to continue on the path you want to go.

Today's photo is Molly pretending to be a cat. She has been a little sick the last few days. I'm sure it has nothing to do with all the treats I've been feeding them! They're both lying on their backs right now fast asleep. Until I had a dog, I never knew they slept on their backs so much! That should be the next photo...

What happened?

I was very excited to come home from a work outting at the Riptide to make homemade chocolate chip cookies. But I am hanging up my apron early tonight. I should have opened that new bag of flour instead of seeing just how much was left in the flour jar! So packaged goodies for tomorrow's treats at work.

Husband says Molly has been barking a lot today. I had very little time with her and the kids are gone. I think she is lacking the attention she thinks she deserves.

There she goes again - and it was just me hitting the back of the desk with my foot. Those little 'thumps' around the house set her off. Max jumps up to see what all the fuss is and then comes by me as if to tattle on Molly "she's doing it again..."

Our 10 month anniversary is today. I'll try to find a wedding picture to post. It was beautiful and we had perfect weather just like my husband promised. I'm finding it hard to relax and enjoy the time. The stress of unknowns at work plus the adoption plus financing for an addition on the house keeps me wound pretty tight most days. I'm taking Friday off. Perhaps I will read a non-work, non-child rearing, non-adoption, non-infertility, non-self-help, FICTION book outside in the warm sun of my very own lovely patio.

Adoption paperwork

Slow progress on the adoption paperwork today. I spent some time last night working on my autobiography. I got confirmation about what pieces of my husband's divorce decree are needed. It seems so far away, that day my child comes home to me. I wonder if she's conceived yet. I wonder about the woman who will give birth to her. I am sad that such a devasting moment has to come to any woman, to make the decision that a life away from the woman who gave birth is best for a baby. I am also grateful that I might have a chance to be a part of that baby's life.
Then I think of all the happy moments there will be when our daughter is home with us, making up silly songs with her dad and giggling when he tickles her and calling out for her older brother to play with her and having her big sister teach her how to play Barbies and dress-up. And I'll get my camera out and take more pictures than I took of my fabulous puppies!
The puppies had two walks today so they are fast asleep in the living room. Molly now has a full stomach. She's been refusing to eat the "old" dog food and has waiting almost a week for me to get a new bag. She's content again for a while.
The drain in the basement is backing up when the wash machine runs. Does anyone know why that is or who we should call?

My first blog post

Max and Molly are my two cockapoos. The very cutest pets you've ever seen (well, except yours, I'm sure). I expect I will be interupted several times by Molly wanting to sit on my lap as I type. Yep, here she is. She didn't want my lap. She just wanted the jelly beans on my desk.

I have started my own blog because my husband has one as does my sister. And I'm the one in IT, so I should have my own. My husband writes about politics mostly. He's a very good writer. You won't find any of that on my blog (politics or good writing). Mine will be filled with a lot of comments about my dogs, step-children, husband and future child. We have just embarked on the most important journey I can imagine - we're adopting internationally! We've already talked about names and a baby's room. Soon (though not soon enough) I'll be Max and Molly and -----'s Mom!