Thursday, March 10, 2011

the flight & day 1....

Our flight going to Vegas was just PLAIN AWFUL! There are honestly no other words to describe it! We left Charleston at 1030am, flew to DC, then to LA, then to Vegas...We arrived there at 930pm[vegas time], 1230am SC time! SOOOO, it was a LONG day! I have never gotten sick on a plane before BUT I did on the flight from DC to LA. We went through HORRIBLE turbulence for almost an hour. I literally had the blue bag in my lap opened. I thought for sure I was going to be using it:(



my reading material:)
Our flight from DC to LA to Vegas was very long and short lay overs so we had no time to eat dinner WHICH left us starving by the time we actually arrived to Vegas! We decided we would get our luggage and car, and then find somewhere to eat on the way to the Trump. I was completely at a loss for words as we walked through the airport. I’ve honestly never seen anything like it! Show signs were up everywhere along with slot machines covering every possible space you can imagine. Kaz’s bag came through time the conveyer belt started BUT mine was NO WHERE to be found. We literally waited for close to 25 minutes for my bag. I thought it had not made it to Vegas...To say I was worried is an understatement! BUT FINALLY it came through, AND I was SOOOO HAPPY! On the way to the hotel, we stopped and ate at Panda Express. That was one of our favorite meals of the trip! We were starving and it was SO SO GOOD!
We checked into Trump and went to bed! Saturday morning we woke up around 530. I had a very hard time sleeping most of the trip because I was so excited:) SO, we decided to put on our exercise gear and go for a walk on the strip. We had a lot of fun exploring the scenery and all the different hotels. I honestly didn’t know what to expect of Vegas....I’ve heard things but I went into it completely open. I was/am still stocked at the amount of “open porn” in Vegas. It’s EVERYWHERE. Men and women stand on the street corners during the day and night trying to pass out business size cards of naked women. Those cards of course get thrown on the ground so they are everywhere. It really is very sad...We were walking around by 630am and some people were still out from the night...gambling, drunk as could be...It’s very sad.
BUT I enjoyed walking around! The inside of most hotels are unbelievable. The closest that I came to a celebrity was seeing the ROCK[who by the way is my favorite:)] outside the wax museum. When Kaz saw it was him, he just rolled his eyes because he knows I love the Rock. 








Saturday afternoon, I went to the spa at Trump for a classic Trump massage. It was amazing and so relaxing! I also had scheduled for a makeup artist to apply my makeup that night since we had big dinner plans! I LOVED everything she did except 2 things....She made my face really shinny AND put on fake eye lashes. There wasn’t enough time for me to take the makeup off and start over once I got to my room so I tried to “fix it” the best I could....BUT I didn’t like it:( We had dinner reservations at N9NE at The Palms for 815. Whenever I go on vacation, I try to “fit in” to that scene so I made later dinner reservations than we would normally make...I have learned my lesson NEVER to do that again. We finished eating at 1030. I was so tired my eyes were completely bloodshot. I ate 1 tiny piece of steak and struggled to enjoy the whole meal because I was so tired. LESSON LEARNED! We did take 2 pictures BUT I MUST SAY, I HATE THEM....They show how tired I was and I hate the makeup:(

After dinner, we went back to the trump and went to bed to get rested for our trip to the Grand Canyon....more tomorrow!

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

exhausted....

We are BACK! We had such a fun trip...I honestly hated to see it end...BUT I say that with every vacation:) Our flight going and coming back were awful...We took the redeye this morning at 12:15am[Las Vegas time] and got back to Charleston around 9. We were/are SO TIRED! I was so tired at the airport, I even laid on the floor[VERY unusual for me]. SO, I'm off to take a nap:) But until then a small preview.....







Thursday, March 03, 2011

see ya next week...

We are FINALLY leaving for vacation! I'll be in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon the next couple days! Be back late next week:)

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

lately....

lately I've been.....
EATING strawberries and kiwi every morning for breakfast ALONG with 100 calorie pack Mister Salty Choolate Pretzels:) VERY nutritious huh? 

lately I've been....
WATCHING every season of Dawson's Creek on DVD. I was never allowed to watch this show growing up, but got hooked on it in college. My mom bought me every season on dvd and actually watched them all herself:) I've started watching them again and I can't stop:) This is one of my all time favorite shows! Partly because I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to live on a creek...wake up and see the marsh everyday! AND partly because I really like Joshua Jackson[Pacey!] I never wanted Joey to end up with Dawson because Pacey was always my favorite! NEEDLESS to say, I LOVED the finale:)

lately I've been...
PREPARING for a women's bible study that I'm leading on Thursday nights...Leading a study isn't really my thing so we shall see what the Lord has in store, BUT I'm really excited! Some of the girls in our Sunday School class will be studying Beth Moore's Breaking Free. I did this study back in college so it's been interesting to see how different my responses are now from then...

lately I've been....
BORED without Miley here. It's CRAZY how much more work I can get done without her here, BUT then once the work is done I'm all alone...She's not here to play with outside or take on walks...I miss my little buddy. BUT she's having the best time at my parents house until we get back from vacation. She LOVES staying there[sometimes I think more than staying here]. My dad spoils her and plays with her all the time. My mom feeds her marshmallows every night. NO WONDER she likes it there! She was so happy last week when I took her out there. When my dad walked in the door, she started smiling, LITERALLY. She shows her teeth when she's happy[it looks just like she's smiling]. She smiled for a good 5 minutes!


lately I've been....
SHOPPING!!! Kaz told me I could buy a nice dress for Vegas. Instead of super nice, I decided I would rather buy 3 for the price of 1:) I'm not quite sure that's what he meant! HaHa
I'm so excited about these dresses! They will be perfect for our dinner reservations while in Vegas:)
Charlotte Russe [photo credit]

 Forever 21 [photo credit]
My dress looks just like this BUT has 3/4 sleeves...I bought some navy blue tights to go underneath:) VERY CUTE outfit!

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

YoPlait Yogurt!

I love eating strawberry YoPlait yogurt in the morning for breakfast along with whole wheat waffles:) YoPlait has so many delicious flavors of yogurt! 50% of the daily value of calcium is one cup of YoPlait yogurt! That’s a huge plus for me:)
MyBlogSpark recently promoted the YoPlait brand and sent me a wonderful prize pack including a duffel bag, coupon, water bottle, etc. I wanted to pass along a wonderful coupon for YoPlait yogurt! To print the coupon, click here. If you have trouble getting enough Calcium in your diet, you should definitely start including YoPlait into your daily eating habits...That’s just 1 of the benefits:)
"The coupon, prize pack, information and giveaway were all provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark."

CSN Product Review...

I recently purchased a Corner Wheeled Duffel bag[in Navy Blue] from CSN. Kaz and I have been short on luggage and this bag was perfect for us to travel with! The original purchase was a XL and when I got it in the mail, I realized it was way too big to travel with so I called a CSN representative to see if I could exchange it for a smaller size. The process was so easy and fast! The representative was very easy to work with, emailed me a return label, and placed the new order for me. I had the new order within 2 days! The duffel bag was great for our vacation! I love the fact that it is a duffel bag but also rolls. There is so much room and it’s made to be very sturdy! I’m in love with our new luggage BUT also with CSN. The whole process was very easy and the customer service that I received was top level! 
If you haven’t already visited CSN stores, PLEASE do so! They have everything you could possibly want:)

weekend fun...

It has been a LONG weekend! I went up to Columbia Friday afternoon to spend some time with my friends Anne and Dawn. They cooked a yummy Mexican dinner! It was great seeing them and catching up for a bit! 
Saturday, I had a wedding in Columbia! It was a very beautiful wedding[Preview here] BUT a LONG day! 
I got up early Sunday morning, came back to Charleston and started editing the wedding pictures! I worked on them for about 5 hours straight[my eyes were tired:)] before Liz got here! She came to visit because Kaz has been in Asheville for work and Miley is at my parents house. We had such a fun time together! We ate dinner at Taco Boy downtown, walked around for a bit and grabbed dessert at my favorite, Kaminsky's. 

  

Chocolate Cheesecake...
Tollhouse Cookie Pie[my fav!] 
It was an early night...We were both exaushted so we watched a little of the grammy's and hit the bed! Monday we did a little shopping at the outlets:) I bought a few tops BUT this is my NEW favorite top from the Gap! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
OH YEA, Liz introduced me to a song that I can't get out of my head! I LOVE it also:) Forget You by Cee-Lo! I'm constantly singing it...
It was a GREAT weekend, full of fun times and great friends!



Monday, February 28, 2011

whooooo hoooooooo.....

That's what my dad says anytime something good happens! Well, I have GREAT news! I have reached a milestone...a VERY HARD one! For the last 3 months I have continued to loose inches BUT NOT pounds. I have been fighting and fighting to break 160! My current weight when we got married was 155 and that's my first goal. Yesterday, I weighed 158.4!!!

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO! 3.4 pounds to go for my first goal!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

miley is a mess....

Where to even begin...Miley is a MESS! She makes me laugh at least 3 times a day. She has the personality of a person..She loves for you to play with her, and at times tries to get you too. If I'm not paying her any attention, she will go find a sock, my underwear, or whatever she can find that she knows she's NOT supposed to have...Once she gets it, she will walk right by me with her head down BUT her tail wagging....She knows what she's doing! She hates to get in trouble! If I pop her on the butt for something, she has to come get me to try to rub her OR even jump in my lap. She can't stand getting fussed at!
She loves laying under my office desk while I work....If you mention the word goldfish, she knows she's getting a treat[even if it's not goldfish.] That's her word for treats. If you say the word WALK, she's at the door. She loves going in her kennel at night and sometimes will even go before we are ready for bed. She sleeps ALL the time! 
My favorite thing to see her do is play with her bone. If I try to grab it, she PLAYFULLY growls. She loves playing this game...What makes me laugh though, is the closer I pull her to me the louder the growl gets. She sounds like a car parked and someone is pressing the gas. Kaz took this video last night[it's only 40 seconds]. 

she jumped out of my arms...
 yawning...always sleepy!




 I let her lick the top of the bbq sauce bottle before I threw it out! She LOVED it! Yes, it was AFTER I USED IT! :)
she made a mess in her kennel and tore up her pillow! She's NOT getting a new one!

 After she got in trouble yesterday, she jumped in my lap! The Mac camera caught this:)
She's getting ready to spend a few weeks at my parents house while we go on vacation. I sometimes think she likes my dad more than us! She is my company throughout most days, since I'm at home AND I love it! 

Monday, February 21, 2011

headless horseman and Boone hall....

This past Saturday, I had a wedding at Boone Hall Plantation. Boone Hall is my ALL TIME, MOST FAVORITE PLACE in Charleston. I absolutely LOVE it. I go there as often as I can to take pictures...BUT being there all day, and photographing a wedding was honestly one of the best ways to spend a Saturday, not to mention the weather was gorgeous! 

I LOVE Boone Hall for so many reasons: the long dirt road with huge oak trees leading down the drive to the gorgeous house, the cotton dock on the marsh, the feel of the old time plantation, etc. You will never have to persuade me to go to Boone Hall...if the words are mentioned, I'm there. 
Boone Hall was also where parts of the Notebook were filmed. As I tried looking for a specific scene from the movie to show you more of the plantation, I stumbled across this video...I thought it was really neat. A husband and wife did a video about their vacation where they went to all the places in Charleston that the notebook was filmed. What a fun little adventure! Looks like something I would do...:)

The wedding ended around 1030 Saturday night....I had a bit of a long walk back to my car down the old dirt road...THANKFULLY, my 2nd photographer Buddy was with me. I've never seen Boone Hall in this way, and to be honest I don't know that I ever want to see it again this way..[although, I should have taken a picture]. The place was COMPLETELY DARK, except for 1 tiny little light, shinning up on the house. It was something straight out of a haunted ghost movie! I felt like at any moment I would see the headless horseman coming down that dirt road....:) 
Buddy's no help...He, of course, tried to scare me BUT I tried to keep my calm. I don't like the dark ONE BIT. I will sleep with as many lights on at night as Kaz will let me:)
Even though it was creepy, I still enjoyed seeing Boone Hall at night. It's an incredible place and I really want to take my parents to visit next time they are here. It's gorgeous! SO, if you've never been, you should DEFINITELY GO! AND you should watch the Notebook...it's a classic:) 


Friday, February 18, 2011

being real....

The WHOLE reason I started this blog was to be real...honest...and hopefully to touch the lives of other women struggling through infertility. Sometimes being real is scary...but for me writing is much easier than actually talking to someone about my feelings. SO, what I’m about to post is me being REAL. I’m in NO WAY writing it for people to feel sorry for me, or even to hurt for me...I’m writing it because I have to be real with myself. My mom reads my blog everyday[she’s the best!] but I always hesitate when I write hard stuff because I never want her to hurt for me..or cry. So mom, please don’t cry:) I love you!
I have had a very hard time this week with the adoption...After we found out everything last Thursday and Friday, I honestly didn’t want to talk to anyone about it. That’s not me at all...I normally want to talk to people BUT this time I didn’t. The only people that I talked to besides Kaz, was my mom and Liz. All other communication was through text or email with other friends. If I’m honest, I still haven’t wanted to talk about it...The story itself is really sad. We had a very close relationship with the birth mom and really got to know and care for her. When Kaz and I knew last weekend that we would go back on the waiting list, I was completely, 100% scared out of my mind. This is the reason: I had NO CONTROL. At least with us knowing the baby was due in June, we had control over our schedule. We knew June was the date. I kept telling Kaz, lets wait until after our Vegas trip before we go back on the list. He asked me why...My reasoning, because I had no control. The thought that we could get a phone call at anytime, really really scared me. This week, just the opposite. I would trade Vegas or any other plans,any day for a baby...
Yesterday, I bought some diapers like I have every week when I grocery shop. When I buy them, I see the picture on the front and it brings up emotions BUT what really gets me each week, is when I have to put those diapers in the empty nursery. Kaz and I have had the nursery door closed for months now. We only go in there when we need to. Granted, all the doors are closed in the house when Miley is loose, but that door ALWAYS stays shut. I’ve been thinking lately about “preparing” the diaper bag. Especially now that we are on the waiting list, I thought it might be a good idea. BAD IDEA....I can’t tell you how much I cried after putting everything in that bag. I cried for a couple hours yesterday...I just couldn’t stop. I’m NOT mad at the way anything has happened. I’m NOT running from the Lord. I’m NOT angry, but I do hurt...I am sad.. I imagine the way that Kaz and I feel in a sense, is the same way someone feels whose had a miscarriage later in their pregnancy. We didn’t carry that child physically, but we were apart of every doctors visit. We heard the heartbeat for the first time with the mom...We saw all the little tiny parts of the baby with the mom....We have prayed for this baby everyday since we found out...We have prayed for this mom and cried over her hurt in life....We in a sense, have had a loss. It’s been very sad. BUT I am trying to move on. Neither Kaz nor I, regret the last 3 months...We haven’t once questioned the last 3 months...The only way I can explain how, is the Lord. He truly has given us both a peace. BUT I do question the timing...I question when will it happen now? I question why we have to keep waiting....
I talked with Kaz last night about why he thought we have kept the nursery door shut. We both had the same reasons...It’s just easier. It’s the same reason I haven’t talked to anyone about what’s been going on...It’s just easier....The same reason, I’ve left all the ultrasound pictures in the car from last week’s appointment...It’s just easier....
I’m beginning to see, that the Lord doesn’t care about whats easy...Obviously, there is a plan in all of this. Nothing in me, wants to wait...BUT WAITING I MUST....It won’t do me any good to run from this...I have learned that. 
So today, I’m “trying” to put an end to some of those things that seem “easier”....I’m opening the nursery door and walking inside and praying for the baby we will one day have....
I got the ultrasound pictures out of the car and am putting them away....
And I finally talked to a friend about what has been going on...I may cry 100 times a day, but thats ok. Without HOPE, my soul would die. I refuse to let that happen...I’m going to fight, instead of run....
I’ve mentioned several times that this blog is my journal. I’ve printed out the first year of my post into a book. It just so happened that the 1 year mark, was the same day that we found out about the baby. I wrote a letter describing everything that happened..I didn’t want to forget anything.. I read this letter yesterday...It’s the last page of my blog book. I have also avoided that book because of that one post...BUT I’m not ashamed of it. It simply wasn’t meant to be...That I know...Just like the party. Even though plans were made, decorations and candy were bought..it just simply wasn’t meant to be. No one except Kaz and Liz have seen these pictures or letter, but it’s my way of moving on. It’s not easy for me to share. I have cried the whole time I’ve written this post, BUT I do want to remember days like today because I’m fighting AND I KNOW THAT MY GOD IS FAITHFUL. HIS PLAN IS PERFECT AND ONE DAY SOON I WILL SEE THAT...
pictures we took as decorations for the party...

 the day we heard the heartbeat, the baby was the size of an avocado...



The day I found out about you...[the letter I wrote]
The day I found out about you was one of the happiest days of my life! I woke up[at my parents house], spent time with dad and miley, and ran 6 miles in Hartsville. 
Before heading back to Charleston, dad and I went to Wal-Mart and ate a sub at subway. 
Driving back to Charleston, I kept dreading the holidays because it was another year that we would be childless. I got a call from Kaz, saying that Bethany had sent out a recruitment email and the baby was perfect, however there were a lot of legal risk involved. Once again, I got down and wondered when we would ever get to hold you in our arms. 
I made a few stops on the way home by Target and Wal-Mart. Once I got home, I had to catch up on the tv that I had missed the last few days. I started watching, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, when I got a phone call from Kaz. He said that our social worker had sent him an email and asked if we could talk sometime that day. I tried so hard not to get my hopes up. I thought, surely she’s just wanting to talk about the recruitment email. I kept thinking about it, and finally I stopped and prayed that the Lord would guard my heart and allow his plan to prevail. After 20 minutes of waiting, Kaz called me back and told me about you. 
He said that your mom wanted the best for you. She knew that she couldn’t provide that for you. He said that she had chosen us to take care of you. That she was 8 weeks pregnant and you were due June 16, 2011. My heart couldn’t have been any happier. 
I wanted to know all the details....Your dad and I both have been waiting so long to hear something about you, to meet you, to tell everyone we know about you. I was so happy that I wanted to call and tell everyone I knew. So many people have been praying for you....
After talking to your dad, I prayed for you and your mom. I was so anxious to see Kaz that I wanted him to come home right then! We both agreed not to tell anyone until he got home, BUT I couldn’t wait! I called Anne. I told her everything! She started crying because she was so happy to meet you soon.
As soon as Kaz got home, we talked about you. We were so happy. We called Cy, Peter, Emily, my mom and dad. We couldn’t wait to tell them! We had to go drop off a U-Haul right down the street, so on our way we stopped by sonic and ordered a route 44 peach tea to celebrate you! 
That night we had previously made plans to eat dinner at Moes with our close group of friends[and community group]. We had always talked about how we wanted to meet them for dinner at Moes the night we found out about you. The Lord worked those plans out perfectly! On the way to Moes, I called Blythe, Liz, Pam, and Helen. Everyone cried when I told them...they were so happy. When we got to Moes, it was hard not to say anything at first. We wanted everyone to be there! Once everyone got there food and sat down at the table, Kaz asked if he could pray. I could tell he was so excited but wanted to make sure everyone was listening. He told everyone about you. The table applauded with praise. Everyone was so happy. They have been praying for you for over 2 years. All night long, the questions kept coming about you. The joy and excitement from our friends was amazing! Before we left Moes, we took a few pictures to remember that special night. 
On the way home, I called Dawn and Baylis. Before we went to bed, we prayed for you and thanked the Lord for his blessings. We had been praying to have you by Christmas, and while we wanted to physically hold you in our arms we were comforted knowing that this was our first christmas as a family of 4. Even though you weren’t physically with us yet, you were alive. You were growing and would be with us soon. 
We love you sweet baby. We have cried and prayed for you so many times. The Lord has heard our cry. He has blessed us. AND we can’t wait until that special day when we get to meet you. Boy or girl[although I know you will be a girl], it doesn’t matter. You are our baby[on loan for awhile]. We promise to love you, provide for you, tell you all about Jesus, laugh with you, cry with you, and most importantly pray with you. 
Until we meet you-
Love, 
Mom and Dad[and sweet Miley]
Just as I wrote in this letter, and I prayed the Lord would guard my heart and His plan prevail...I can honestly say that He has/and is doing this. The last 2 weeks show me that. You see, by me being real, what REALLY is happening, is the Lord showing me His faithfulness in my life.....
2 Thess 3:3
For the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you....