Favorite Foto Friday #29 - Happy Leap Year Day!

How big of a coincidence is it that my 29th FFF post falls on February 29th??? Happy Leap Year Day!

Here is a picture of Morgan "leaping" for joy while in Mackinaw Island last summer... what a funny girl!



I was hoping to post before and after pictures of Bug's new haircut today, but my little Bug caught the bug that already had me last week, Morgan earlier this week and has yet to hit Grant. So, I will save the before and after pics for later. In the meantime, here is my sick little bug taken just a minute ago... she is so uncomfortable, she can't sleep. Luckily, Nick Jr is still on at midnight to make her feel better (not that I always use TV to babysit during my computer time, but it is working for the moment).


So... no theme for this week's FFF unless you have any "leaping" pictures lying around! But, don't forget that if you would like me to link your FFF post of the week, please leave a comment! I love to see your Favorite Foto Friday pics... they don't have to be themed!

Rachel and her angels in the Philippines
Lauren & The Girls - First FFF!
Rachel, Makensie, Madison, Makan & Max
Farrah & Madisyn
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Carrie & Jumping Girl Savannah
Kerri & Ruby
Beth & Claire
Christina & Dominique, Benjamin & Joshua
Becca & Ella
Many Blessings, Princess & Prince Jellybean
Heidi & Emilia - First FFF!
Tonya & Gabe
Amy & Kayla
Kathy & John
Amy & Joey
Misty, Lyza & Maddy
Lisa & Madeline
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Mandy & Jadon
Christy, H, L & G
Amy, Brooklyn, Regan & Carson
Dena & Allie
Katie, Madeleine & Audrey
Robyn & Gabriella
Linda & Claire
Jenn, Ali & Sara
Allen, Gabriella & Bing
Tracy & Brenda
Corey, Gabe & Lilly
Debbie & Heidy
Gia & Nino's Sidekick Holly
Marianne & Finn
Jennifer, K, F & M
Krystal & Gerson
Kelly & Craig - First FFF!
Christina, Emily, Ashley & Madeline - First FFF!
Jocelyn & Pacey

Love and FROG!

Wordless Wednesday

Help for a Fellow Blogger

I am not as great with words as others are, so I am going to copy and paste a special request for a fellow Guatemama, Erin, who has been fostering her daughter in Guatemala for well over a year and has run into snag after snag to get her baby girl home. A new roadblock has just been put up and she needs our help. Please see a post by my friend, Andrea, to give this family a little help.

Here is the post from Andrea:

Hey all-

Most of you know Erin from our little blog community. If you've been following her story for the last year, you know she and her husband have been caught in one nightmare after another trying to get their gorgeous daughter home. They have uprooted their lives and moved to Guatemala, initially to foster. Through a turn of events that just takes too long to explain, Erin and John are stuck in Guatemala.

Recently, the Appeals Court revoked their approval from Family Court. They now have to meet with PGN in hopes they are let in, and their case is approved through that route. Although I do not know all the details, my guess is this is an uncertain move at BEST.

We NEED to help this family. All Erin and John want is to be A's parents. Since we can't go down and storm PGN, here's what we CAN do-

We can dig deep and help.

I know times are tough for everyone right now. But, Erin and John are living two lives-one in Guatemala, and one in the States. Now you can say they didn't HAVE to go down and live in another country. And that just because they chose to move means we don't have to help now that the case has gone terribly wrong.

You'd be wrong.

They made the choice to live in another country and FIGHT for their daughter. If given the same set of circumstances, I think most of us would do the same thing if we could. Erin and John are brave and wonderful parents for fighting for THEIR DAUGHTER. The bureaucracy of the Guatemala court system has let them down. It's let us ALL down.

So, please, PLEASE help us help this brave family.

For every donation you make, no matter how small (or how BIG!), you will be entered into a drawing for $60 worth of custom items directly FROM Erin. Either three ornaments or three dolls, or any combination of the two. You can even choose the fabric style! Now, you've all seen Erin's work. It's AMAZING. This is a great chance to not only help a fellow adoptive family, but to receive some incredibly beautiful things.

Donations can be made directly to Erin's paypal account. The address is erin stoy 77 at yahoo dot com (most of you know how to take out the spaces and replace the @ and .com parts). We will have this going from Sunday, February 25th to Friday, March 1st. Every donation made between now and then will be entered for the drawing! I will randomly pick a number on Saturday, March 2nd and the winner will be announced on the blog.

I am also asking everyone to post this request on their blogs. You can copy my post, or put your own. Either way, we MUST get the word out. Any help you can give is VERY appreciated!

Thank you everyone for digging deep and donating once again.

Bless you all!

Andrea

Favorite Foto Friday #28 - THEN AND NOW

Still battling the flu bug but getting better! Thanks for all your get well wishes!! I haven't visited very many of my "friends" this week but hope to catch up soon!

This week's FFF is one of my favorite things I always love to see... what our children looked like the first time we ever saw their sweet little faces and what they look like now!

Here is Sophie's referral picture... she was 8 days old. We thought she looked like a little monkey and had her little "thinker" pose going on.



Here she is this week with her Valentines books she received from "D"!



What do you think? Does it even look like the same baby? Of course, I know it is... but wow! They certainly do change very quickly!

We have had several new additions to our FFF group recently, so just a reminder that if you would like me to link your FFF, please leave a comment and I will do the rest! Feel free to do the FFF Challenge or just post your FFF for the week! We are not picky, we just love checking in to see your picture of the week!!

Jennisa, Olivia & Avery
Mandy & Jadon
Rachel and her angels
Rachel, Max, Makan, Madison & Makensie
Kerri & Ruby
Sabra, Hannah, Maya, Caleb & Sofia
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Carrie & Savannah
Stephanie & Maya
Christina & Aiden
Robyn & Gabriella
Kelli & Bella
Sarah, Alec, Zech & Aidan
Amy & Jonathan
Christy, H, L & G
Tonya, Brent & Zach
Kelli & Kaleb
Kathy & John - First FFF!
Lou & Anne Pearce - Private - if you want to view her blog, leave me a comment and I will forward to Lou for an invitation
Lisa & Madeline
Megan & Mackenzie
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Misty & Lyza - First FFF!
Amy, Samantha, Jeffrey, Kayla & Nathan - First FFF!
Soltana, Derek & Cerah
Marianne, Finley & Chloe
Cobe, Jenne & Isaac
Kelly, Kollin, Karly, Karaline, Karson & Kemry
Dena & Allie - First FFF!
Sharon & AnnaMaria
Jennifer, F, K & M
Debbie & Heidy
Alleen & Gabriella
Holly, Gia & Nino
Katie, Arianna & Brayden
Ellie & Angelo
Katie, Madeleine & Audrey
Jamie, Jalyn & Justice
Kelly & Skylar
Kelly & Joshua - First FFF!
Tracy & Brenda
Corey & Sarah
Jill & Mario
Kelly, Craig & Courtney
Jennifer, Elena & Brandon
Kerry & Cameron - First FFF!
Victoria & Braydon - First FFF!

WOW! This was the biggest FFF ever! It was hard to keep up with everybody! I LOVE SEEING ALL THOSE SWEET FACES!!

It caught me...

Despite taking the flu shot... the icky flu bug caught me. I slept most of the day and haven't been able to be on the computer much. Be back as soon as the Tami*flu starts working and I can sit upright for longer than 15 minutes!

Monday Memories

Trying out a new little meme I saw on another blog titled Monday Memories. It is always so much fun to go back in time and look at pictures that make you smile and you can't believe how quickly things have changed.

Here is one of my all time favorite pictures of my little Bug... I have no idea why, but it always makes me smile! She had just turned one year old and was just starting to stand up and cruise along the furniture. Her smile was just so incredible and she looked so adorable in her little blue daisy bubble. It isn't the best lighting and she isn't looking at me, but I just want to reach in and squeeze her! Where did my tiny baby go??



By the way, the bubble was just a size 6 month - she continues to be my tiny little peanut! Not sure if you can tell from current day posts, but she is still wearing 18-24 month clothes and will be three in May!

Thanks Jennisa! I LOVE my new BLOG look!

UPDATE: Jennisa is so awesome that she even helped me "tweek" my background after I found something that I had saved on my computer a long time ago! The new polka dots make me smile - hope you like them too!!

Glad to see that many of you were paying attention to my new "pimped up" blog!! If you are interested in giving your blog a facelift, please check out Jennisa's Blog Designs! She is very patient and works with you to get it right.

Stay tuned for an opportunity to WIN a complimentary blog makeover from Jennisa - coming SOON!

Favorite Foto Friday #27 - SLEEPING ANGELS

This week's FFF theme challenge is Sleeping Angels... there is nothing sweeter than going in each night and checking on my sleeping babies. I have always, since my children were born, gone in and made the sign of the cross on their foreheads after they are asleep to bless them and wish them sweet dreams. Just one of those things that has always been so precious to me... and they never know it. Even when the day has been rough, going in and seeing their sweet faces reminds me of the blessings I have been given when HE gave me the gift of my three children.





Don't forget to leave a comment if you would like me to link your FFF post this week. Even if you do not do the FFF Challenge, I would love to link you! This is one of the highlights of my week and I think a few other people as well! (PS... Blogger is acting up this week and not e-mailing me the comments as it always has... but I will get you if you leave a comment, just may not be as quickly as usual)!!

Lisa & Madeline
Steve, Amy, Ethan & Mia
Jennisa, Avery & Olivia - First FFF!!
Stephanie & Maya
Rachel's Sleeping Angels
Rachel, John, Makensie, Madison & Makan
Christina & Aiden
Farrah, Madisyn & Grace
Soltana, Derek & Cerah
Becca & Ella
Sarah & Aidan
Sabra & Caleb
Kerri & Ruby
Amy & Jonathan
Megan & Mackenzie
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Jacob, Devin & Allie
Mandy & Jadon
Kim & Landen - First FFF!
Kelly & Kemry
Tracy & Brenda
Kelli & Kaleb
Nicole and her niece, Aubrey - First FFF
Jennifer, F, K & M
Sharon & AnnaMaria
Christy, H, L & G
Holly, Gia & Nino
Juju, Little Man & Baby Girl
Alleen & Gabriella
Robyn & Gabriella
Ellie, Angelena & Angelo
Katie & Angelika
Kelly & family
Jennifer & McCaleb - First FFF!!
Krystal, Parker, Brayden, Gerson & Elviz
Marianne, Finn & Chloe - First FFF!
Debbie & Kandi
Kelly & Skylie

Elbow Update & Happy Valentines Day!!

Busy day today... Sophie~Bug visited the orthopedic surgeon and it was determined that she has a fracture in the radial head (the top of the radial arm bone where it meets the elbow). This is a common thing to happen with Nursemaids Elbow when their little soft bones are still hardening. Poor little bug... was not at all pleased with having to stretch her arm out for another x-ray but was very entertained by the friendly nurse who came in to put on her PINK cast. We celebrated her bravery tonight with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles (thus the lovely stains on her shirt)! She ate the whole thing!

The only unfortunate thing is... we had to cut off her little Valentine shirt as the nurse pushed her sleeves up to put on the cast and the arm opening was not wide enough to go back over it.

Thanks to everybody for their thoughts and prayers and for sharing your stories. I know that we will not be playing that game any more around here and I am sure some of you will learn from our mistake as well.

Love and FROG!

Sarah

Wacky Wednesday

How wacky is this???



She is holding her Piggie flashlight that she picked out for her bravery award last night.





My poor bug dislocated her elbow last night while playing a simple game of 1,2,3... Wheeee... you know... when you pick them up by their arms and swing them forward and listen to them squeal in delight. Last night... not so much.

At first, the Urgent Care Doctor determined first, that it was not broken, but Nursemaids Elbow (when the elbow comes out of the socket and has to be reset) and reduced the dislocation and sent us home. However, this morning, she woke up unable to move her arm and in alot of pain. After two trips to the pediatrician, she has her new stylin' sling and an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to see what is going on.

Please keep my little bug in your prayers that it can be fixed easily and she is out of pain. And, please... learn from my mistake... don't play the 1,2,3... Whee game!

Favorite Foto Friday #26 - MESSY FACES

Ready for another FFF challenge? How about Messy Faces!

I actually had to dig back a few months to find one as Sophie has refined her eating skills and does not make nearly as much mess eating as she used to. But, here she is back in October with her orange frosted Halloween cookie... what a mess!



Feel free to post your FFF whether you accept the challenge or not! And, any themes for future FFF's are welcome!

Krystal, Gerson, Elviz, Brayden & Parker
Rachel with Moses
Tracy & Brenda
Becky & Amaya
Christina & Aiden
Becca & Myles
Sarah, Zech & Alec
Farrah, Madison & Gracie!!! - Woohoo!!
Sabra & Sofia
Rachel & Max
Heather, Amazing Jacob & Allie
Greta Jo & Carson
Amy & Jonathan
Lisa & Madeline
Mandy & Jadon
Stephanie & Maya
Kelli & Kaleb
Robyn & Gabriella
Kerri & Ruby
Kelly & Skylie
Holly, Gia, Nino & other Guat Tots
Corey, Luke & Sarah
Amy, Benjamin & Hannah
Katie, Arianna & Brayden
Christy, Hailee, Lainey & Garrett
Debbie & Heidy
Soltana & Cerah
Jennifer, F, K & M - First FFF post!!

Wacky Wednesday

A little background... I am the oldest of four kids... I have three little brothers. My middle brother, Tyler, was born when I was 15 years old and is just the most amazing man (I almost said kid, but he is all grown up now). He is enjoying a gap year between graduating from college and starting life in the real world. He is working as a bellboy at a hotel in Steamboat this winter and gets to enjoy the benefits of his beautiful surroundings on his days off. He sent this picture of himself on the slopes and it is just amazing...



Is that not gorgeous??? I am so jealous!!

Favorite Foto Friday #25 - BESOS

Let's try on a theme for the week and see how it goes... this week's FFF theme/challenge is BESOS (Kisses)! It is one of the most cherished things with my little Bug, as it took her a long time to learn to reciprocate affection. She prefers to turn her cheek to accept a kiss rather than give out kisses of her own. Just recently, she is finally presenting her own delicate kisses and blowing them when asked.

Puckering up...


Blowing her besos...


And the smile that comes with all that love!!!


Ha ha! This is fun!!


Don't forget to leave a comment if you would like me to link your FFF this week! Don't worry about whether you accept the FFF Challenge or not, Fridays are my favorite day of the week because we get to see all those beautiful faces!
Sabra, Hannah, Maya & Caleb
Becca, Dave & Ella
Rachel's 1st FFF!! - Makan & Max
Kerri & Ruby
Tracy & Brenda
Christina & Aiden
Alleen & Gabriella
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Devin, Jacob & Allie
Robyn & Gabriella
Lisa & Madeline
Becky, Juliana & Amaya
Sarah & Aidan
Lisa & Sophia - Happy One Year Forever Family Day!
Kelli & Kaleb
Mandy & Jadon
Kelly & Skylie
Kelly & Karly
Amy & Jonathan
katie, Taylor & Brayden
Debbie & Heidy
Soltana, Derek & Cerah
Corey, Luke & Sarah