Happy Birthday Josiah and Olivia!!

I still have a hard time comprehending that these two are HERE, and are all ours!! After 6 years of praying, hoping, losing, and losing (our pregnancies) again and again and again, and praying and pleading some MORE.... Trying to hold on the the promise God gave me in May 2010, that we would have at least one more child ( a son)...I will admit, I lost hope more than a few times, and doubted God, and even blamed HIM.... I didn't know he was preparing us... Preparing us for something greater than I had planned or had even imagined....

In the least year, I have tried to soak up every moment, every memory, and every snuggle... I have gotten to watch every milestone, and celebrate each accomplishment with them... Our whole family has GROWN both by size, and in LOVE... we are beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to adopt donated embryos, and see what God would do next... Its nothing short of a miracle!

Happy Birthday sweet babies!!!!!!!!

1 year later....

A year ago I made a post announcing we had adopted embryos and would be undergoing a transfer of said embryos nov 12th...

This year, I am snuggling my 4 month old twins ... 😀😀😀 

God is good!!!!
 

We have a special announcement!

We adopted this year!!!

That's right!!......

BUT, not in the traditional sense.... Let me explain... 

Traditional domestic/international adoption is something we have always wanted to do but have never had the money for... At around $35,000 for domestic newborn adoption who can?! At least not without taking out loans... (Sidenote: we do our best to live 100% debt-free, so doing loans etc. it's just not something that we ever want to take on again.) Not to mention how many times the adoptions fall through... Heart breaking...AND, you never know what the babies have been exposed to while in the womb, or what medical issues they may develop as a result of the genetics being unknown , which is true of any form of traditional adoption....

So with domestic and international adoption being too expensive, and a lengthy process, and one we dont feel 100% at peace with, and foster care being put on hold, (due to some concerns with the agency) how can I say we are "adopted" if we are not adopting internationally, domestically, or through foster? 

Let me introduce to you...

EMBRYO ADOPTION 

That's right, we adopted embryos this year! 15 embryos to be exact!! 

Embryo adoption/donation is another option that people are not very aware exists... Heck a year and a half ago I didn't even know it existed and I am pretty up-to-date on all of the in vitro/ high tech methods of getting pregnant due to the nature of my past gynecological history/ childbearing years, and activity in support groups of that nature. Anyway...

How it works- 

When couples go through in vitro fertilization, they hyperstimulate the ovaries to make a bunch of eggs... Then they retrieve the eggs from the ovaries using a special device ... After that they put that and the sperm together,  and if they fertilize, then those cells become an embryo (aka Babies)- Many people who go through IVF end up having leftover embryos after their treatments that are in storage, frozen in time. After they have completed their families and choose to not have more, they are left with a decision on what to do with those leftover embryos. Some choose to destroy them or donate them to a science for stem cell research which at the end of the day, kills the embryos... 

But a lot of people are starting to realize that there is another option...Donating your leftover embryos to people who cannot have children/more children of their own for what ever reason (genetic issues, Low ovarian reserve, recurrent pregnancy loss due to immune issues,  failed reversals etc, some people have genetic conditions they don't wish to pass to children and thus don't want to use their own genetics, or don't have the money for IVF/PGS testing). 

There are many clinics that run a program (which is 99% of the time anonymous ) with donor embryos, or you can choose to privately match with someone (yes there is a site for that! Lol)  and go through attorneys, and usually use the donating couples clinic for services (like the transfer of embryo into your uterus), as well as decide how open of a relationship you want to continue to have with the donating couple should the cycle result in a baby etc...There are even clinics aborad that offer super low cost options, and agencies that can also aid in helping you "match" with a donor and embryos. 

So after you have chosen which way you prefer to obtain your embryos, then you narrow down and choose which embryos you are going to adopt, (people's preferences for choosing embryos varies greatly, we are not very particular- we were more concerned with previous pregnancy success and health of the donors). 

You do have to go through a psychiatric evaluation in order to make sure that you are clearheaded about using third-party reproduction and if all goes well you will be given the go ahead to "adopt them" (it's not really adoption - our government has decided that a baby is not a baby until after birth -or after 24 weeks - it is technically a transfer "property" - unfortunately our government does not believe life begins at conception- I digress 

Thrn, the legal stuff is all done (it's very minimal for anonymous, just notarizing  a few forms- there are quite a few more papers that need to be drawn up by an attorney if you are going to have a privately matched  open adoption, where you will be in contact with the donor family for life) 

 Then, after all that - you need to have medical testing completed . A regular STD panel etc. .. They also like to make sure your uterus looks good enough to carry . If All goes well ... Then they (medical team) gets you prepared with some hormonal medications to get your body in a good state to support a pregnancy . You are Essentially mocking hormones you would have if you were doing this naturally. The dominant hormones that are used are estradiol valerate and progesterone in oil. Or other variations of those medications/hormones.  They also do a couple of ultrasounds to check the uterine lining, and some blood tests while you are taking your estrogen and progesterone injections. Once  your body reaches the optimal stage to receive a embryo that's ready to implant, (usually embryos are at day 3 or day 5 of development)  they then they thaw the embryos, (some don't survive the thaw- but most do) and if all goes well they are then transferred into the uterus of the adopting mom via a very small catheter that goes into the uterus (usually no more than two are transferred- depending on the stage of the embryos they can include up to four) 

... After that you hope and pray that the little embryos attaches and snuggles in  and sticks! 9 -12 days later you go for a blood test to check and see if it worked.

... If they stick, And if all goes  well, in about nine months you will be giving birth to your adopted a child... 

Having all of the time to bond and feel the baby inside of you, being able to give birth, and most importantly knowing you have 100% full prenatal control and a good environment for the growing baby... Something you really cannot be sure of when you are adopting traditionally... 

One of the other BIG benefits about embryo adoption is that it is MUCH less expensive than regular high-tech methods of getting pregnant, or other methods of adoption... IVF can run you anywhere from 10 to $25,000 (not including $6000 in medications) ... If you need an egg donor, throw in another $10, 000 on top of that... Never mind even considering surrogacy which is another $30,000 -80,000 on top of whatever you paid for IVF and you don't get to carry the baby...Plus its not legal is some states...

Embryo donation runs about $4000-8000. (only 1900 in  a few of the European countries)  Essentially you are just paying for the administration fee and The transfer of the embryo into your uterus... though the individual costs vary from clinic to clinic .The embryos are technically donated, so it isn't really adoption, but it's easier for people to grasp the concept when you say adoption VS donation...

 You are not ever allowed to actually "pay" for embryos, so the money you are paying is just covering the costs of the embryo storage, and all of the coordination fees, and about $1800 for the actual transfer. (again all of these prices vary depending on the doctor and clinic) . But again, its so much more doable financially than MOST other methods...

And for those who were already OK giving up having a "genetic" child , but felt sad they were going to miss out on pregnancy, this is the best of both worlds. and FOR ME, this is extra important after so many losses... For those who do not know, we have a immune issue that is sort of genetically related though the match of HLA's... The short version is, my body attacks pregnancies that are created with only OUR genetics... Through the years we have had over 13 documented losses ranging from 4 weeks to 19 weeks along (few more were not documented in my medical file).

You might be thinking , "So how can this work for us if I have problems with miscarrying? "

So because our issues are immune related, but, triggered by a genetic component, each time we make a baby together, with OUR genetics it triggers the issues causing my body to attack the pregnancy ... Because the embryos we are adopting are NOT ours genetically, my body WONT attack, and the pregnancy progresses like normal! And my reproductive immunologist (Jeffery Braverman) said that if I can carry a pregnancy (donor embryo) to term, my body may eradicate the antibodies that are responsible for all the other miscarriages and various other auto immune issues... Amazing right!? 

There are many many reasons why we feel embryo adoption/donation is the right choice for us (and don't think it was an easy decision and we didn't consider every other option fully) and I know there are going to be people who won't agree with it, or US wanting to add to our family in general (no one's business and nobody's place to judge)  But, I personally think it truly is an amazing gift and blessing to have the option of going this route...For us... For anyone struggling... 

And as a Christian I think it's up to us to fight for these little souls on ice... How can we get riled up about babies that have been aborted  already, but not stand up for these little ones that actually have a chance? A chance to be the next president or the next mother Theresa... 

If We believe life starts at conception, then those  little embryos are lives... Who deserve a future... Who deserve love and a family. 

We believe that this is the way we are called to grow our family since we are not able to do so on our own anymore (and NO our issues are NOT a result of "God saying stop", we don't believe God puts illness on people).... I can't explain it any other way other then it just feels "right". God has confirmed it more than a few times...  And thankfully, insurance will be paying for a good portion of this so the financial burden is minimal. 

So this November 12th, we will be undergoing a frozen embryo transfer, putting in adopted babies, (two) and hoping for a little one or two, summer of 2016!! 

If we are successful and have another child or two we will be re-donating the embryos to somebody else! The cycle continues! 😀

Prayers are soooooooooo appreciated!

Update- 5/2015

Hello everyone!! 

I hope the start of this year has been good, or at the very least, not super terrible for all of you... 

I am sorry for the delay in getting this post out there... I will be honest, things have been pretty busy and the thought of making a super long detailed blog post was just not very appealing, but also, I wanted to give it a few months before I decided to publicly let everyone know What was going on... Just so I wouldn't have to eat my words if things got bad again. 

This year has been phenomenal for me... 

For those of you who don't know I will give you the quick version: 

In 2013/2014 I started having some major health issues, which included very numerous swollen lymph nodes throughout my body (mostly in my lungs and abdomen but a few and my neck too ) which seemed suspicious along with seizures and other problems in my lab work... The doctors were extremely concerned but could not figure out what was wrong. I had markers for certain things rheumatological wise, but they didn't seem to add up to make a solid diagnosis that the doctors felt comfortable with. I was on a lot of medications, and dealing with a lot of severe pain for who knows what reason at that point. I was being evaluated by about 10 different specialists. I underwent bone marrow biopsy's and surgeries to remove lymph nodes , had two MRIs three CT's and a pet scan, along with EEGs. I had a couple different hospital stays .. I was a hot mess to put it lightly... It all started in the fall of 2013 but by the summer of last year was the worst ever. 

In November/December of last year I started to feel like things were getting better healthwise... I had already weaned myself off a couple of prescription medications and had plans to finish getting myself off of everything (outside of my thyroid medication, which I have switched to a natural replacement versus the synthetic version anyway). I was also doing biofeedback therapy, which I believe along with prayer and healing from God was a big reason for the improvement I was feeling... 

 I had my initial consult at city of hope late December. The doctors there were absolutely wonderful ! Honestly it is one of the best facility as I've ever been to ... I can honestly go on and on about them but I'll stop here ... Moving on... They were reluctant to do another surgery and seemed to be pleased with the results that they had from the previous biopsy, that Beaver medical did, which stated that everything was benign. But they did want me to see a couple of other specialists in their facility first, to rule the infectious disease stuff and also meet with their rheumatologist. So they took some blood again that day and I made an appointment for a follow up in January. 

January came, I was feeling even better and was now off all prescription medications other than my thyroid. I was still doing the biofeedback therapy, and had started moving on to taking herbal things to manage my symptoms. A couple of those supplements were Tumeric, Wobenzyme N, and a couple of sub lingual homeopathic remedies. Which was encouraged to me by the physicians at city of hope. (they did not give specific recommendations but did suggest that I look into alternative methods for pain and symptom management versus prescription). 

I went back for my follow up-

I met with their rheumatologist, and infectious disease specialist. At this appointment things were very encouraging as I had no signs whatsoever of any swollen lymph nodes and my lab work was pristine. (minus my body showing a Hashimoto's flare). Everything seem to have calmed down and they were extremely pleased to hear that I was off all the prescriptions (mainly the pain pills and Nerve blockers they had me on)  . They gave me a clean bill of health and told me to enjoy not having to see doctors for a long time! I do have to go back in about a year for a recheck just to have a scan. But other than that I am free to live life. :) 

We went over some of the reasons why some of this could have started... They believe a lot of it was a combination of my immune system flaring and getting worse with Hashimoto's, combined with stress, combined with multiple doses of very high strength methotrexate to terminate ectopic pregnancies. (I had four ectopic pregnancy's between 2012 and 2013- three of those were terminated with methotrexate and the fourth one (sept 2013), just a mere two months after the third , needed surgery, and they accidentally cut my bowel open in the process.), all of the methotrexate seem to give me an adverse reaction... combined with the  immune problem that i have in my body that causes it to attack pregnancies, all of that , basically created a firestorm in my body. They (City of hope ) were the only ones who really took into account my history in the last few years when they were making opinions about it all...  Of course we will never really know exactly why or how or what went wrong.... But it did make sense.

At that point all I had to do was hope and pray that I wouldn't have any more seizures (which they think was a result of being put on Xanax) and then I would be able to drive again in March... We were very excited but also very cautiously optimistic... I was terrified things were going to come back and get bad 

again...

But the months have ticked by, and things have only gotten better. My biggest struggle right now is just getting my thyroid back in range, along with making sure I keep my salt intake Up so dysautonomia stays at bay , and that seems rather small in comparison to all of the  issues that were going on last summer... 

So that's what's going on... We are thanking the Lord for all of his good work, and are just enjoying life right now. It seems like as soon as my health got better life got really really busy! But I'm loving it and I'm very thankful that I'm capable of doing the things that need to be done ... 

Oh and a quick foster care update: We 

Are still waiting to get in for training it has been really difficult with Jared getting a promotion and his schedule changing. Agency is rather small and does not have a lot of options when it comes to the training so it's taking a lot longer than we anticipated, but we still plan on following through with it. We hope to adopt from the foster system eventually. Our hearts have always been open and wanting to adopt, but of course cost is a huge factor so this will open up the ability for us to do so without costing 30 - 70,000 bucks ... So we are also looking into other ways of adopting... 

Prayers regarding all of that are also super Duper appreciated! :) 

Thank you all for your prayers throughout the months I know that is what made all of the difference! We are so very thankful for all of our friends both near and far, and extremely grateful for the church body that God has placed us in, here in California. We are looking forward to seeing what the rest of 2015 is going to bring!! :) 

Dear Mom of younger children...

  Dear Mom of younger children:

     I was sitting here the other day, thinking back to a time in my life (about 8/9 years ago) when I was much younger, and my kids were also, MUCH younger. You know, those ages when you have to do EVERYTHING for them, and you literally cant wait to take a shower, because it meant you MIGHT get 5 minutes alone and not attending to 3 little people's every. single.need. all.day.and.night.long...Wiping noses,wiping butts, making snacks and filling cups....Late night feedings, and early morning giggles, another cup of milk spilled, and spaghetti sauce dribbles...You go to bed exhausted and wake up even more exhausted...SOMEHOW, you manage to get the kids all dressed, fed, and out the door NOT crying simultaneously, and stroll into church once a week, where you muscle through the morning with babies who have missed a nap, and are in need of a feeding, and JUST as you are about to walk out that door, feeling as though you might have just ran a marathon, and praying that the kids are going to crash from the church cookie sugar rush, and nap, so maybe, just maybe you can get 15 minutes of shut eye...

And older woman steps in front of you, and grins as wide as can be while looking at your little ones who are clearly cookie covered and overstimulated, and she says to you... "Enjoy every moment of this...It goes by so fast!"...And just like that, she was gone, and all you can do is stand there, somewhat frustrated and frazzled at what just took place..."enjoy this"? Do you NOT see these dark circles under my eyes, and snot covered shirt?...And then, before you can finish your thought, you are beckoned by your minion, and head off to the car to listen to the wiggles for the bazzillionth time in a row...

That was ME 8 years ago...

Today...I am here to say..."Enjoy. Every. Single. Moment."

Seriously...Enjoy it!! I cannot believe how just a mere 8 years can go by, and it seem like almost an instant...

Suddenly...I am not "needed" as much anymore...All my kids are potty trained...No more sleepless nights...No more sippy cups and pacifiers...No more toddler tantrums (although I think teen tantrums are a bit worse, in comparison...) No more "kiss my Boo Boo and make it better" requests...No more nap time schedules, or cutting up every food into tiny bites...They are all in school now, and for the MOST part self sufficient...Of course we still have our struggles... They are just different now. The kids need a different kind of guidance and support...And that will change even more as they get older and grow into adults. But, as I sit here, pondering, I can't help but think of all the times I had people say to me "enjoy this time" or some variation of the saying, and how many times I discounted it, or even eye rolled at them a bit...

But now, I understand...Now, I am the one spouting of that stupid cliche' phrase at new mothers, and those with younger kiddos...Now I am the one who would give anything to go back to those quiet moments at night when you are nursing your newborn, and they hold your finger with their tiny hand, and look in your eyes...I would give anything to hit rewind now and again... I LOVE who my kids are becoming and who they are today...But those special times when they are little ones are so precious...You never really understand HOW precious until the moment has passed... Hindsight is always 20/20...isn't it?

So, Mom's of younger kids, remember, the chaos you know, also known as "life", wont always be THIS chaotic... Your kids wont always NEED you THIS much, and you wont always be this sleep deprived...One day, you too will wish you could hit the rewind button... So for now, humor us old ladies who are feeling baby fever, mmmkay?

Sincerely,

Mom of older kids

1 year ago today, I lost a part of my heart, again....

As many of you know, due to my being very public about our pregnancy losses, which, I am aware turns some people, off, but at the risk of sounding like an ass...I really don't give a darn...I feel it is my right to speak up and out about the miracles we were given even if they do not walk on this earth and stand up for those who also mourn the loss of their precious children and babies...

For more than 3 years we tried to have another baby, and in those 3+ years we suffered many traumatic losses....I never had  "trouble" getting pregnant, just STAYING that way...To date, we have had 13 documented pregnancy losses ranging from 5 weeks to 19 weeks along...Many of those were consecutive losses, in the 3 year time period I am speaking of, though a few were in between the kids I do have on earth.... We also had many unconfirmed, undocumented early losses (I stopped counting)...

 Anyway..At the end of those 3+ years of trying and loss after loss after loss, we finally found out, after seeing a specialists in NYC, what was causing our "issues" carrying to term, and it turned out to be very complex, (allo immune implantation issues, combined with HLA matches and HY restricting genes that developed after the birth of my son.-- very rare issues) and VERY difficult to treat without VERY expensive medications not covered by insurance...We decided to stop trying, and go back on birth control, look into adoption...That was May/June of 2013...

August 30th, 2013....I was feeling "off" and much like when I was in early pregnancy in the past, but was more or less just thinking it was the hormonal pills I was taking, but, something told me to "be sure"...Sure enough...My suspicion was confirmed...

 With as many losses as we had, and not being on the correct medication, I knew there was little hope....BUT, I prayed, maybe, just maybe, this would be it...It would be a miracle...

The endless days of blood test after blood test came and went, and after a few days, we were told to expect to miscarry again...Of course, I was devastated

I went from "giving up" and saying "okay,  I am moving on from all of this", to "surprise, even though YOU decided to stop, this is happening, so get ready!" to " maybe God really IS going to do a miracle this time, because I "let go"...  how cool would that be!", BACK to " Hello grief, my friend, we meet , yet again"....

I prepared to miscarry....All while simultaneously praying God would do the impossible...It was such a mix of emotions...Each day, I didn't know what the day would being, a miracle, or another loss...I waited and waited...

And then, Sept 14th 2013 rolled around...I felt searing pain on my right side....I knew something was not right...

Off to urgent care I went, a quick ultrasound and blood test revealed the baby was in my tube, and I was about to rupture inside...I was driven to a bigger hospital via ambulance, where I was met by a friend and my husband...I was already prepped in the blue cap and starting to feel sedated as I kissed my husband and was rolled through the doors to surgery to have my baby taken...In the process they had to take out my right Fallopian tube and also NOT in the plans, had to have a reinforcement done on my bowel,, because the "nicked" me in the surgery by accident...How "fun", right? 

I awoke, feeling like id been hit by a truck, and was emotionally drained, and broken...I still remember the sounds and smells of the hospital, even today...I remember feeling, yet again, like every other loss, a piece of ME was taken away inside, a part of my heart, never to be healed, or given back again...Even today, I feel empty inside from the things we have had to endure and even still, my heart aches when I see a new baby, or belly....Wishing we could celebrate that in our lives again, or even just be happy for someone else, but instead, it just brings back such painful memories...Feelings of hurt, and abandonment, and I pull out the "why me" card again....Even today...the pain has not gone away....It is still an ever present ache, deep in my soul....

I drove home, and tried to put on my "brave face" for the kiddos at home, (which are true miracles, and I am soooo so thankful for them, but just like when you lose a parent, having the other one present does NOT make up for the loss of the other, nor does having children already make up for the loss of what could have been, what SHOULD have been) and all the while, I just wanted to go home, scream in my pillow and cry, and cry and cry...WHY God, why would you allow this to happen, if it meant more loss, more hurt, more complications, and almost my death!?? why?....I don't get it!?

I still don't have those answers from Him yet about any of that ... Even though, I  am now  faced with more issues, not related to babies and bellies, but none the less, major health issues, and the feeling of being sooooo BROKEN in my body, I cant help but wonder, what the purpose of all of this is...And WHY? Why sooo much pain, suffering and unending grief, and hurt?

All I can do, is keep looking at what I decided to place on my body (a mere 4 weeks before this took place last year) as a memorial to all our babies gone to soon, and for every hard thing I have endured in my life...

Romans 8:18

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Help me lord to focus on the JOY that will come, when you decide to reveal it, and not my past, present or future circumstances here on this earth, in this season of my life....

Feels good to be back...

Back "home"...Back on the mountain...Back in good ol California...

I have been finding myself filled with much more peace and joy, despite my health circumstances. I think it is a combination of  fresh mountain air, the sunshine, amazing landscape and views, being close to family, and connecting with old friends, in this new season also meeting new friends who have brought a richness to our lives...

We have been greeted by strange weather, (severe thunderstorms, dust storms) earthquakes, all kinds of wild life, including a HUGE bear who likes to stuff himself with our garbage...lol...California is such a DIFFERENT place compared to New York...It has been a great change for all of us...Its like each day is a new adventure...Even though these are my "old stomping grounds" I feel like it is somehow different than it was when I was younger...I have lived a LOT of life in the 12 years I was gone, and now, have returned with a new appreciation...And and expectation...I cannot explain it, but there seems to be a weight that has lifted off of me, and I can really BREATHE...I can stretch out, and really be ME...Crazy, silly, fun filled ME....

He still has a plan...

You have been sitting in the ash heap of your broken heart and burned up dreams. You had to rest and be still there a while, because your pain was so immensely great. You felt stuck, but had to be still for Poppa God to heal you. He sat there next to you in your great pain and grief. At times you couldn't feel His presence, and this pained you, because the depths of emotion were so dark and lonely.... Many friends and family were there at the beginning, but they finally stopped hanging around. In your time of isolation, you were being held under the very wing of His love. His shadow was protecting you from the harsh exposure of your brokenness. You were laid out bare and feeling naked. False shame and the soot of your ashes made you feel unlovable and unworthy. You felt that all eyes saw only your mistakes and your rejections -your ashes; but He was washing you gently. Pulling out the splinters and shards of glass that penetrated your heart. The abandonment you felt was so heavy, you thought you could never be loved again, but He was with you all the time. Some nights were so long and so lonely, your tears fell like waterfalls. Your pillow was soaked at night. You bravely smiled in the daylight and told others you were fine. Your soul was being strengthened. Your resilience was emerging. Your faith was growing through the thickets and briers ...stronger, reaching high to the heavens. You didn't know this, but the saints were cheering you on. God Himself was holding your hand when no-one would comfort you. Your tears have been collected carefully in His perfume bottle. His oil of gladness is now replacing the sorrows for songs of joy. Rise up, Beloved. Out of your ash heap you will rise. He is pouring out His sacred, sweet oil on your head. He is the Glory and lifter of your head. Those who look to Him are radiant and their faces are never covered in shame. The traces of the ashes are no more. Your robes are radiant and white, glimmering like diamonds -just as the afternoon sun shines on a lake. There will be scars from what you overcame, but they are your marks of beauty for His glory and purpose. The pain will fade away, but your strength and faith will remain. You will rise, Darling. You will stand on the heap of the enemy, with his head crushed under your feet. You will walk in honor and beauty. You will be celebrated as one who is a mighty and brave warrior -a princess anointed as queen at the table of the King of Glory. Do you hear Him call out to you? "Rise up, Beautiful One. You are my Beloved, and I am faithfully yours." 

~Jenny Williams, Ruby Wives/ A Modern Day RuthCopyright 2013.

Photo Bomb of the last two days to travel to CA...

Things have been a whirl wind sine we started out at 4 am from Colorado Springs, CO, headed out on a 14 hour drive day to get to Mesa AZ...We stayed over in Mesa, (visited with my brother) and then the next day drove the 5 hours to the mountains where we are now living...I really am exhausted from my DR appt today (will make separate post) or I would elaborate on the trip more, but pics or more fun than  my rambling...So here goes...

 Me and my bubba, with my little man doing the most awesome photo bomb ever!

 Pic

of what we drove...minus the detour to CO...



Now here are some pis of the area we are in in the San Bernardino mountains....

 elevation 7000 feet-

 Me and my momma....

 

Pis from around the house/neighborhood...so quiet and peaceful....I am glad to be home....

 

The thrill is gone...

Yup... Soooo over driving ...

Thankfully made it into Colorado Springs tonight and bypassed all the storms in the Midwest... We literally missed a few tornadoes by a couple of hours... Feeling thankful for all the traveling mercies... But so ready for this to be over.... Struggling physically pretty bad today ...

Tomorrow will be our longest travel day yet,  with 11 hours and 40 minutes of drive time,  not including stops- but the day after that will only be 5 1/2 hours....

Here are some pics from today- crappy cause of the bug splattered window etc lol 

Swim time :) 

Day 2

Today we left OH around 6 am ... We traveled through Indiana, Illinois, through Missouri, and on into Kansas... We have stopped over for the night in Junction city... Got some swimming and hot tubbing in to relax ... Kids are now in bed and I'm about to head there myself but wanted to update ...

I am Feeling super blessed because all of the hotels are booked out totally for 100 miles ... There's some kind of country fest and military stuff going on,  with deployments etc.... It was so God that we got this room ... I just happened to call ahead of time to make sure that they had a room available,  which we had planned not to do, just in case we wanted to go further than anticipated if we felt like it... But something told me we needed to stay in this area, and to call ahead and sure enough there was one cancellation,  literally called five minutes before I did...

We hit no traffic again, no bad weather, and despite a few grouchy mood the kids and the dog has been amazing... I've probably been more uptight than anyone... Lol ... But really I just want to get to California...

Here is a photo bomb of the day ...as much as I could get anyway - in between dealing with kids and dogs and bathroom breaks and snacks,  switching movies over and of course being the navigator..

This is how far we have gone since yesterday morning :) about half way there!!! 

Random pics -