What a Weekend! And Week...

These last few days have been action packed and exciting to say the least. Here's a recap:

SATURDAY: My brother came into town to help Michael get our washer and dryer from the lakehouse. They made a day of it and went "frolfing" (frisbee golfing), kayaked across the lake, drove Papa Carl's cool truck, and stopped at a old car show on the way home. (On a sad side note: the washer and dryer they picked up turned out to be the wrong ones. [sigh] I am forced to do my laundry at a family/friend's house again! Argh!)

Mommy and Billa helped Aunt Kellie clean her "pit" and then went to lunch at Maudie's, where we received a phone call from my grandmother to invite us to her house to hang out with the family. Remember a few months back the Saga of Mia? Well, I am happy to report that Mia is officially part of the family as of last Wednesday! The adoption was finalized and Erin and her family can move on happily. My cousin's family, her parents (my dad's sister and her husband), my grandmother, my cousin Jeff and his wife Abby and their twins Garrett and Wyatt, and Jeff's parents were all there. Talk about a full house! Lots of babies and children everywhere. It was a lot of fun, but alas, I have to wait for pictures on this one since Michael and Philip had the camera.

The Marino and Guerra Families (With Philip)

Kellie & Kelly being silly!

SUNDAY: We had originally planned on going strawberry picking but because Michael's aunt and uncle and cousins from California were coming in that evening, we couldn't go too far out of town. Instead we went to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Preserve with the Marino family. Anthony doesn't normally have weekends off so it was a real treat to have him with us for once! The kids had a blast running all over the preserve, looking at the flowers, and hiking the trails. We got to take some beautiful bluebonnet pictures (thanks Anthony!) and then went home to make hot wings and milk shakes. Yum! After the Marino's left, Michael and I went to his dad's house and visited with his Aunt Kelly, Uncle David and all his cousins, who are here in town for the wedding next weekend. The only bummer was that we had to leave early due to Billa being overly fussy.

Kelly & Philip...hard to believe that he's my little brother!

MONDAY: Unfortunately, the fun ended Sunday evening. Billa was coughing so much through the night that none of us really got to sleep until about 1 am. When I went in to nurse her at 6:15, she was wheezing pretty fierce. Michael and I decided she needed to go to the doctor. I took her to the doctor around 10 am and by that point her wheezing was even worse. Being an asthmatic myself, I was very worried about her. The doctor administered a breathing treatment in the office with a nebulizer ad albuterol, which is the same drug in my inhaler. Her breathing improved considerably, and we were sent home with a nebulizer of our very own and prescription for some more albuterol.

The doctor didn't diagnose her issue as asthma, but said it was probably made worse by allergies. One of the pitfalls of spring in Central Texas! Of course all of this is compounded by the fact that Little Bit is teething again. We have two new teeth on the bottom for a total of eight - four on top and four on bottom. I'll try to get a picture if Billa will let me :o) Poor kid was so exhausted from the weekend, her poor sleeping, and the allergies that she slept in my arms in Target while we waited for her meds. She NEVER does that, so I knew she wasn't feeling well at all.

Today we are at home taking it easy and administering her breathing treatments every four to six hours as prescribed. Billa is getting lots of 'toon time and Mommy is getting some belated housecleaning and organizing done while also trying to accomplish some work! We'll keep you posted as to how her followup appointment goes and more pictures later!

Family photo: Philip, Kelly, Michael & Sybilla

Until next time!
Kelly & the Gang

The Saga of Mia: Concluded!

Hello all!

Just when you think nothing is going right, something good and unexpected appears...per my Aunt Ann below:

It's over! The court terminated the parental rights of Mia's parents and the adoption is scheduled for January 30, her first birthday!
We are so relieved and happy, what a Christmas gift she is. They were here for Thanksgiving and we enjoyed her so much. God is good! Ann

Thank you to everyone for your prayers, well-wishes, and good thoughts! We are so blessed to have Mia as part of our extended family and thankful that this trial of hardship is OVER.

Happy Friday to all!
K & Co.

Mia Update #3

Hi all! Here is an update from my cousin Erin on the Saga of Mia...Please keep praying/crossing your fingers/thinking happy thoughts, things seem to be looking up:

Well I don't want anyone to waste time praying for us tomorrow, cause we're not going to San Antonio after all! : ) Mia's biological father did not do what he needed to do for the visit to occur, so it is indefinitely postponed. It's not over, but it's really good news for us. We'll let you know any more news as it comes along, for now we are very happy and relieved and we have lots of hope for the future.
Thank you for your prayers!
Blessings,
Erin, Nick, Bella and Mia

Mia Update #2!

Hi all! Here is another update from my cousin Erin on the Saga of Mia:

Hi, first thank you for all your prayers and now we need to ask you for a few more.According to her caseworker, Mia's biological father is strongly considering terminating his rights so we can adopt her, but he has not made the decision yet. He would like to meet us and the baby so we are going to San Antonio next Thursday for a surpervised visit with him and his wife. Please keep us in prayer as it will be a stressful time for all, including the father. Based on Mia's absolute cuteness (I attached a picture) we are worried that he will fall in love with her, but she doesn't really like strangers so we're hoping that comes across with lots of loud crying during the visit : ) We'll give you an update as soon as we know more, thanks so much for your prayers.

Blessings,

Erin and Nick

Mia Update!

For all of you who have been praying for my cousin Erin and her family, below is an update from my aunt. Please keep sending those prayers and good vibes out and thank you all!

From Antie Ann: I spoke with Erin yesterday and they are hoping no news is good news but there is still no resolution to the dilemma re: the paternity issue. Mia is oblivious to the turmoil in her parents hearts and continues to be a delight in their lives! She passed an OT evaluation yesterday with flying colors so all is well. BUT, don't stop praying, since the dad has not responded to the department does not mean that this is over by any means. There is a hearing scheduled for Dec. 4 so we wait anxiously.......... : )

Prayers for Mia!

Hi all,

Some of you may remember awhile back that some of my family members were in town and that Billa got to meet her second cousins Isabella and Mia. Mia was adopted 6.5 months ago (she's 8 months now) and we just received word that the paternity test came back and the biological father is considering having Mia removed from my cousin's home and placed in his. We're asking for any and all prayers, well wishes, fingers crossed, etc in hopes that he will not make this decision. My cousin and her family went through so much and have opened not only their home but their hearts to Mia. She hasn't known any other family besides my cousin's and Erin is worried for how this might affect Mia.

Mia and Billa playing together at my grandmother's house - 8/08

I may not be that religious, but I do believe in the power of prayer and that where one or more are gathered in His name, He is there. Thank you in advance for your prayers and hopefully we will have some good news soon!

Love, Kelly and Company