Not Exactly What I Wanted For Christmas

I started having a little bit of a sore throat Saturday night right before I went to bed. I thought it was probably from cheering on the boys at their basketball games. Seth played 1st Saturday morning, and scored 2 baskets :) Coy played that afternoon, and was on fire with defence. Both boys teams won. I do my fair share of cheering/yelling from the bleachers, so I figured that was where my sore throat came from. It was only slightly scratchy Sunday, but when I woke up for work on Monday morning it was still sore. I worked all day Monday with a cough drop in my mouth, and even drank some hot tea w/honey. I talk all day, pretty much non-stop @ work, so I figured that was why my throat was feeling worse. After my 13 hour shift, I called Tim on my way home & told him that I was going to come in & take a hot shower & go straight to bed. He was sweet & had hot chicken soup waiting, when I got home. I drank it, and went to bed.

I coughed on & off all night long. I woke up to get ready for work Tuesday morning, and my temperature was 100.5, and I was now aching all over & nauseated. I called work to let them know I wouldn't be there, took some tylenol and went back to sleep on the couch. When I woke up a little later I felt as close to "dying" as I ever have. I was able to get an appointment with my BFF, who happens to be a Nurse Practitioner. I tested positive for the flu :( YES I took the flu shot this year. I always take a flu shot, I'm a nurse. I take care of sick people. I've never had the flu before now, and hope that in the future my flu shot works.

I did start on Tamiflu Tuesday. It has helped speed my recovery, but this flu has kicked my bootie! I've been wearing a mask (which Gloria Grace finds comical). I've pretty much just laid around. Simply taking a shower wipes me out.

My sweet mom came & got the goodies I planned to give our neighbors sorted out & packaged to give them. Tim delivered them. Mom also took my grocery, and last minute Christmas shopping list & took care of that, too. My mother-in-law made us some soup. Glad to have so much help.

I am hopeful that tomorrow I have the energy I need to begin preparations for Christmas dinner (which is at our house). I also hope to feel well enough to go to Christmas Eve Services at church. I will not cough on anyone, or shake any one's hands :)

I also can not wait to be well enough to give Ms. Gloria Grace a big fat kiss!

Thankful, that the rest of the family has not gotten sick. Everyone started on Tamiflu, except GG, because she is too little. She did get the flu shot, but so did I.

Praying that your house is well for Christmas.

The Christmas Season

Sometimes I find myself going through the motions. Just going along living everyday life. Then there are times when I take a moment to stop, and take it all in. Tonight, as I listened to Tina Hutchinson sing Mary Did You Know, I had one of those moments.

I have really just been going through the motions of the "Christmas Season." I just haven't quite been able to "get into it." Tonight I realized why. It's because I know the true reason for celebrating Christmas. It's not just so we can shop, and buy our kids things they don't need.

This year I'm feeling more convicted than ever about it celebrating Christmas the world's way.


I have already received The BEST gift (not GG, although she is a close second)....Jesus is my savior, and because of Him I need nothing more.


I am thankful for the additional gifts He has given me. . .

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

So Much To Be Thankful For

The Watson Family has so much to be Thankful for. I've been thinking a lot lately about Gloria Grace's birth mother. This time last year, she would have been 6 months pregnant. The pregnancy was not in her plan. She was trying to figure out what to do, and her sister told her about the birth mother program @ Chiquitines. Her sister went with her, in support of her, to talk about adoption.


At the same time, we were waiting & praying. We are no longer waiting, but we are still praying. Praying prayers of Thanksgiving for our sweet gift, and praying for AGB's (GG's birth mother) heart to be comforted & have peace in the decision she made. We have been blessed beyond measure.


We have already enjoyed our 1st Thanksgiving meal of 2010. The boys school invites parents to lunch. The boys have lunch at different times, but thankfully they are back to back. GG likes turkey & dressing :)

I'm looking forward to spending time w/family this week. We'll also be dedicating Little Miss this weekend @ church. Again I say, we have been blessed beyond measure.

9 Months Ago Today

9 months ago today "AGB" Gloria Grace's birthmother was in the hospital in Colombia delivering our daughter. Wondering if she is thinking about our sweet girl. Praying for Gloria Grace's birthmother. Praying God has blessed her with peace.

Thanking God for His beautiful gift!

90 Days!

Wow! Time sure flies, when you are having fun!! July 19th was the day we were able to look into the beautiful dark chocolate brown eyes of God's gift~~making our family of 5. I must say that it is very hard to explain...it seems like we were just there, but then it also feels like Gloria Grace has been in our family forever.

I still get chills & tears in my eyes every time I look at this picture. Seeing the pure joy on the faces of my boys (Tim included). If you could see Gloria Grace's face, she is smiling a sweet chubby cheek smile right back at us. This is a picture of God knowing & overflowing the desires of our hearts.

I have said it many times before; God has blessed us beyond measure. Here is the cutest, sweetest, most lovable 8 month old pumpkin in the patch :)
We are about to have our first post placement visit on Monday, and then we will be visited every 6 months until 21 months post placement. Tim & I were discussing our upcoming 90 day visit last week, when Coy piped up & asked "are we ever going to be done with paperwork." One day love :)

Gloria Grace Is Getting a Little Too Big for Her Own Britches :)

Tomorrow our sweet little girl will be 8 months old.

Today, she's been getting into all kinds of new mischief :~P

Here are two instances ~~ She has turned over the kitty's water bowl:

She has also found the bottom of the stairs. There is no way to attach a baby gate to our banister, so we will have to keep an Eagle's eye on her. You can see in these pictures how very proud she is of her newest accomplishment:

Blessed With One Less

I came across this song/story by Matthew West, on another adoptive families blog. Wow, does it hit home. He talks about how it makes you feel good, but also hits you in the gut. It's 4 minutes....I dare you to watch it :)