Just a little R&R

Sometimes it's just difficult to relax. Mishayla is resting on Carmen's tummy - baby due February 10, 2008. Aren't cousins great?

Go, Huskies!

A little bonding time with Melania. The UW volleyball home games are shown on the internet, so Melania and I get to watch on the "bigscreen!" The Huskies will be starting the NCAA tournament this evening. When I adopted Melania, they won the national title. Coincidence? Maybe. Anyway, we will look forward to watching the game(s) this weekend to pass the time. It is Carmen's opinion that Melania has been completely brainwashed. She goes around saying, "Go, Huckies!" anytime a sporting event grabs her attention. Update: Huskies win in 5 games. It was closer than I like to see in the first round, but will take the "W". Melania fell asleep at the start of this one, and I didn't have the heart to wake her even though it was a very exciting game. She has not been on the most regular of schedules of late!

It's true, Mishayla's already 1 week old.

It is amazing to me how sleepy Mishayla has been today. I called the nurse at the hospital just to make sure everything is OK. She said, "As long as she is eating, don't worry." So I guess that's that. I'll probably still keep trying to wake her up so she can smile at me... Playing with Aunt Carmen a couple of days ago. Happy kicking. "Hey, watch this, I can make my hands and fingers disappear!"

Back to eating - Melania is just the one to make sure Mishayla gets all the nutrition she needs to grow up healthy and strong. Melania is very serious about helping with the baby... She loves to hold the bottle and pat Mishayla's back to help her burp. Melania also carries diapers to the trash, saying, "Icky" and "Yuck" on her way.

Sleep is underrated

Before and after!

This is how we spend our time... Thankfully, everyone slept better last night. It is safe to say that I do not remember this picture being taken. They warned me about situations like this during my hospital SIDS teaching, but Carmen was watching to make sure I didn't roll over or drop Mishayla.

'Sweet Caroline'

Caroline, my 10 year old foster daughter, pictured with June,

the best (and soon the busiest) childcare provider around.

A special "Thanks" to Caroline, who helped to let folks know about Baby Mishayla.

Caroline has been showing Melania what it means to be a 'big' sister. Caroline is in the 5th grade, and her reading just keeps getting better. This fall at the Pumpkin Patch.

Mishayla

Memories of Melania's Birth

This slide show is of my first 6 days with Melania. It is so hard to believe it was nearly two years ago. She is growing up to be such a sweet girl. In time, she will love being a big sister!

Melania has a sister!

I definitely didn't know much about having a blog a couple of years ago when I adopted Melania. I still don't know much, but it seems like a good thing to do. I plan to use mine to remember Melania's milestones and report on Mishayla's happenings. So, my first posting finds me at the Days Inn hotel in Willoughby, OH, waiting to complete Mishayla's paperwork so we can return home. My sister, Carmen, is here from MT to help make sure everyone gets enough attention.

Birthmom Cortney called me on Tuesday, Nov. 20, to let me know that her Dr. was planning to induce labor at 8:00 pm. I immediately left work for home to make some travel arrangements, no easy task on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Lisa drove Melania and me to the airport for our 8:39 pm flight to Cleveland with a plane change in Las Vegas. Melania loved the lights and casino noise at the Las Vegas airport. We arrived in Cleveland about 7 am, rented a car and drove to the hospital, not sure if the baby had been born yet or not.

We met Nate ("Neat") and Rachel in the hospital parking lot, and they graciously spent the day with Melania so I could be with Cortney during the delivery. Mishayla was born at 3:13 pm. She was 20.5 in. long and weighed 8 lb. 4 oz. Quite the chubby baby cheeks. Carmen arrived Thursday evening. She agreed to forego the pumpkin pie and travel all day on Thanksgiving. Baby Mishayla was discharged from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. All along she has been just so sleepy, quiet and sweet during the day. The nurses told me that she was quite unhappy at night, but I didn't really believe them. Let's just say that now I do. We went to Sunday morning meeting earlier today, and spent the rest of the afternoon napping in preparation for tonight...