The Streets Of Las Vegas Will Never Be The Same

Today, the City of Las Vegas issued a driver's License to Sky. She is so proud! I am so nervous!

Yes I Am Alive

I know it has been months and months since I last posted. Things have been busy and one day seems to roll into the next. Pretty soon, I have so much to say that blogging almost seems overwhelming. So, let me just take it slow:

The Xmas holidays were a lot of fun. Bash got entirely too many things! I always seem to go just a tad over board. It was a good old fashion family get together. Gianni and her son, Jack spent the holidays with us. Dante and Sky actually seemed to get along this year - thank god!

Found out I had a slab leak on New Years Eve - happy new years to me!!!! Thank god my dad came down to help me fix it. Saved me thousands!!!

Spent New Year's Eve with Kara - my very bestest friend! It was fun - drinking wine, watching the ball drop in Time Square, and chatting the night away. I just love her - and am so lucky to have her in my life.

My 41st birthday came and went. I had a great time!!

All of Bash's paperwork for the adoption is completed - we are just awaiting finalization!!! Hope it happens soon.

We got a puppy - I know - I am crazy. But I just can not help it! He is so cute. His name is Zeppelin and he is about 13 weeks old. He is a black great Dane. I just love big dogs!!! He has fit himself in well.

Irie, my little pom had a run in with Willow my female Dane over a piece of pizza. Irie lost. She had surgery to fix the damage to the tune of 1500.00. She is the only dog out of the 4 that I can not get pet insurance on. Irie is doing well and we are very villigent around here to ensure that no pizza falls on the floor in the presence of the dogs.

Valentines day was fun! It was spent with Sky, Bash, Gianni, and Jack. We went to dinner and to a show. The show was a variety show and it was good - the kids enjoyed it.

Skylar is officially an adult! I can not believe that my baby is 18. Her dad and I bought her some driving lessons (actual behind the wheel lessons). She still has to ger her license - I wish she would practice a little more though. I did, however, miss her birthday. The 1st time in my life I have not celebrated my kids birthday with them. It was heartbreaking. I was in Kentucky for school. I sent her 18 long stem pink roses (they were beautiful) and Gianni took her and Bash to Sky's favorite restaurant, Roys, for me. We did get to celebrate on Monday. I got VIP tickets to Tony and Tina's Wedding. We dressed up like Mafia and rented a limo. The show was a blast. We danced and interacted with the cast - in fact a few of the other people in the audience thought we were part of the cast. It was great! Just like attending a big Italian wedding reception. The kids almost got kicked out for tasting some of the champagne at the table.

I met Dante's new love interest. She seems very sweet and he seems to like her a lot.

I went to Hyden, Kentucky for 5 days! You may be asking "Why Kentucky?" Well, that is where my school is located. It was a great experience - much different then I thought it would be. The history is amazing, the instructors were great, and I met some really great people - all with the same mindset as myself. It was very cool! So April 7th I officially start. It will take me 1 year to get through the Bridge portion (ADN-MSN bridge portion). I then have to go back to Hyden for 4 days for "Crossing The Bridge." Once I have crossed the bridge I will start the didactic portion of the midwifery program. I did find out that just one more clinical class will also get me my Women's Health Nurse Practitioner's license. So I will be doing that as well. I guess my name will have the following letters behind it: C.N.M.W.H.N.P. Much different then the R.N. I have now.

We are in the process of having a pool/spa installed in the backyard. Wow, is it a lot of money and it is very stressful and they haven't even dug the big hole in my backyard. I will be psyched to have it finished though!!!

Last week I got and email from Lighthouse Adoptions, that my application to adopt from Haiti has been approved!!!! I am so excited!!!

I know everyone is dying for pictures. I will get them loaded on here in the next week - so keep checking back.

It feels good to be back!!

LOSER - Capital L

So, I could not do the 3 day fruit flush. I was miserable by the 2nd day. I had a terrible headache, low energy, and was the a total B@#ch. I had to end it! I did lose 3 pounds but I know it is all water weight. I am calling myself a Loser - what a wus I am.

I am just trying to eat good and I am going to start dragging my big fat behind out of bed earlier to walk the dogs. Walking Great Danes can be quite a work out. Kara also promised to go to yoga with me! Yea!!! I love yoga!!

3 Day Fruit Flush

Mmmmm....doesn't that sound yummy? - not!

Today, I am starting a 3 day fruit flush. It is said that you can lose 9 lbs in 3 days. So I want to try it. It also is a good detox. Gianni and I went in together and bought Alli to try and aid or weight loss. The only problem is the so called "treatment effects". These are things like oily, uncontrollable stool - sounds scary doesn't it! So, we decided we would cleanse the fat out 1st to try and decrease the "treatment effects". I plan to keep things posted on my blog so that it, 1 - makes me a little accountable and, 2 - it keeps my faithful readers up to date on what is going on in my life. Here is the link to the 3 day fruit flush if anyone is interested. http://www.wbaltv.com/health/10281092/detail.html

Thanksgiving was really good. Bash and I went to my mother's in Palm Springs. They put on a really good show and after the show we had a big Thanksgiving dinner. It was really good. It was also really good to see my Mom and Buddy. I want to go back soon!

Update on Bash's adoption: I was interviewed on the 20th for the "Permanent Caregiver Conference" This is something that should have been done about 8 months ago but was somehow overlooked. The purpose of the conference is to determine if I am the appropriate person to permanently care for Bash. They loved me and the pics I sent of Bash and how well he is doing here. So, I passed with flying colors. Then a few days later I attended (via phone) Bash's hearing. The judge is very cool and everybody praised how much Bash has changed and what a great thing it was that I was opening my home up to him. His attorney even stated that they wish they had more relatives willing to step up and and care for more children. I just don't see how it could have worked out any other way. I do not understand families that will loose their children to the "system" when they have the means to help. Having Bash come in as a part of my immediate family was the only way it could have worked out. I have the means to take care of him and there is no way I could have lived with myself knowing that he was out there somewhere and still not connected to this family. It has been so great to have him here - I feel so honored to be able to watch him grow into the awesome man I know he will become. I told the judge all of this and asked the court to speed up the process. She would like to have the adoption completed by the end of the year. So, we will see how that goes - I will not hold my breath though.

My niece is still in the foster care system - that just kills me. I still have not heard a thing from child welfare. I did find the lawyers name and have made contact so that they know I am here and available. I wish I could arrange a visit, but that is hard to do when you can not even get a call back. I have heard from my Mom that my sister is doing good! Way To GO!!! I am hoping that the worst has been put behind us and that she will take some positive steps forward. Hopefully, she will be able to get my niece back soon! I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Update on my new job: It has been very good. I like all of the other Clinical Supervisors and my manager is super cool. We do think a lot alike. The hospital isn't set to open until late January. So, for now I am working M-F 8 hrs a day. We are developing Policies and Procedures, Educational material, and interviewing employees.

Update on Haitian Adoption: I think I am going back to VN for my 1st adoption. I would still love to do Haiti as well, but the amount of financial information you have to provide is a little scary and there have been issues with identity fraud as well. I am not making a move till after Xmas. By then I will know for sure.

Other Things: I got accepted to GRAD School!!!!! YEA!!!! I will start in March in class 60 at the Frontier School Of Midwifery. I am really excited! It will be good to get back in school!

The dogs are enjoying the new dog door. It has been so nice to be able to close that back door. There is less dirt in the house and my gas bill is much lower than last year.

The tiling is going good. I had to put a hold on the project to await more funds. Now that I have gotten my 1st paycheck I will be able to start again soon. What has been done looks really great. I have painted the three rooms downstairs:
Office - Spiced Pumpkin
TV Room - Red Stone
Living Area and 2nd floor hall - Flower Wood
All paint is BEHR - I love that paint.
I'll post pics when I get it all done