Saturday the 12th, I went with my friend Michelle on a Transport. Basically, we drove a leg with some dogs who were coming from a kill shelter in Kentucky to a no kill shelter in Wisconsin. She and I picked up 8 dogs - Momma dog and 6 puppies, and a chihuahua named Festus - in Oak Lawn, IL and drove them to the drop-off in Gurnee, IL. The dogs were wonderful, and are all in their own little foster homes. I very nearly came home with Festus. He was an amazing little guy, and spent the majority of the trip with his head on my arm or my chest. I got as far as filling out the application for him, and being approved...but we decided that it wasn't a good time for us to be bringing another dog home. As wonderful as he is, it's just too much now.

Last week was mostly spent in bed with the flu. Oh the flu...not pretty. I'm still a little weak from it, and I lost 12 pounds (10 of which are still gone). I'm feeling fine now, but I wouldn't wish that sweaty, chilled, gross feeling on my worst enemy. I think my immunities are down, because I think I may be getting a cold. Oh my kingdom to just be done with it!

On a super good note, Jeremy and I finished cleaning out the garage last weekend, and we are parking BOTH cars in there. Just in time for the snowfall last night - it is so nice to go out there and start the car and leave - and not have to wait for the car to warm up, not have to scrape the windows, not have to shiver in a cold car (especially in Jeremy's car with the leather seats!). It has been blissfull...and we're going to keep it that way...I can't go back to the old ways now.

Well, it's been a hectic week! I went back to work on Monday - the new temp job is about 5 miles from home, and it's kind of long term. The woman I am filling in for is having back surgery and will be out through the first week in April at the most, so I may be here for the long haul. The place is nice and casual, and the people are really nice. I like the work - there is a lot to do, and I am able to keep busy. I hate when I am just sitting with nothing to do!

On Wednesday, I found out that our last situation didn't pan out, the mom "M" decided to parent, so we're moving onward and upward! Our counselor told me that "It's raining babies here lately, so I could be calling you back any day!" I have my cell phone on at all times :) There have been a lot of babies showing up among my adoption friends lately - one of my girls just brought a baby boy home yesterday kind of out of the blue! It's an exciting way to become a parent, that's for sure!

In other news, I just bought the cutest lambie from my friend Anita...she crochets them herself, and she is one of the most talented crafty women I know!! Check out my lamb and the rest of her little guys at her Etsy store...I might go back and pick up her little Gumdrop Monster one of these days! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5415385

My friend Liz also has a store for baby-related stuff, and I will be buying a Moby Wrap from her pretty soon. The Moby is the coolest baby carrier around. It's a long expanse of cloth and you wrap it around yourself and tuck the baby inside...it is absolutely perfect for bonding - especially for an adoptive parent! http://www.myadoptionshop.com/main.sc

I'm hoping to update with some good news soon what with the raining babies :)

Jeremy and I drove to Indiana today to meet a friend of mine from an adoption forum I frequent. She and her husband were there from Texas picking up their brand new son and we figured that since we were close, we should actually meet in person since we had known each other for a year and a half in cyber space. It was so nice to finally meet her, and she let me hold that perfect little baby boy almost the whole time! I could have held him for days; he's one of those marvelous babies who melt into your chest when you hold them...and he is quiet and sweet - even when he cries, it's not for long.

She and her husband gave Jeremy and I these little silver medallions with the word "Faith" on them, and she told me that they had been carrying them for the past three months as a tangible reminder to have faith that their child would come to them in the right time. They gave them to us in hopes that we would have our child soon, and to have something to hold on to when we feel impatient or bummed.

We're both carrying them in our pockets, and will pass them on when we bring our own child home! What a loving thing for them to do - thanks guys!!

Once again, we have gotten a call...this time for a baby girl! Born on November 24th, she would be the fifth November birthday in our immediate family - and the 4th within a week of each other. She would be only a day apart from her cousin!

She was a little bit premature, but came out like a champ - she never had any kind of breathing apparatus and she had high APGAR scores (which were REALLY high for a preemie, because theirs are usually so low!) and she gained weight really quickly - all of which makes me think that they biffed on her gestation, and she is really older than they thought. She is in the agency nursery - ready and waiting for her family (whomever that may be).

What an exciting way to start the new year :) Happy 2008, indeed!

Now, about those resolutions. I think I want to get back to the gym - I haven't been since I sprained my ankle, and I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. That's about it. I really can't think of anything else that I want to quit or start...

What are your resolutions??