Hair Bows!

Olivia came across a box of Megan's baby hair bows. Megan wore these when she was under the age of one. So, they are a little tight on Olivia. She didn't seem to mind as you can see by these pictures. She was having so muh fun playing and wearing them. What a cutie!

5 Months!

WOW! I can’t believe we have had Olivia for 5 months in our lives. I hear so many people say that they feel as though they have been a part of their lives forever and that they can’t remember their life before the ‘child’. Well, I can’t say that. I still remember my life so clearly before Olivia. I don’t know if it is because we thought having our second child would be so easy. I just took it for granted that I would get pregnant, carry the baby to full term and bring home a healthy child.

Well, we all know that didn’t happen. I still look back on those years of TTC (trying to conceive). The ovulation kits, doctor appointments, surgeries, inseminations, miscarriages, IVF, more doctor appointments, losing Rachel, more doctor appointments, and then another try at IVF again.

After all of that we then switching to adoption. When we started they said we would have a baby in one year. As we all know that didn’t happen. As the wait continued all of paperwork expired and we had to re-do everything. Finally after 2 years 3 months from starting the paperwork we brought our baby home.

If someone would have told me over 8 years ago that I would have to go through all of this I would have said "no way". I guess that is how life is. When I re-read what I have gone through I am overwhelmed... but I didn’t do it all in a day or a week not even one year but 8 years. Guess that is how I was able to handle it without going crazy. I took it one day at a time.

Anyway, back to having Olivia in my life for 5 months. I still have to pinch myself that it isn’t a dream. She is a wonderful child, I love her so much and I feel very blessed to be her mother. I think about if we hadn’t gone through infertility and the loss of Rachel we would have never considered adoption. Then we would never have Olivia in our lives.

So, life definitely is a journey. We might not understand why we are going through things in our lives and we ask God "why?". But I can look back on the last 8 years of my life and I look at Olivia and I understand "why".

Colette

New Out-Fit from Nana

Isn't this out-fit sooo cute?!? My mom got it for Olivia. THANK YOU NANA!

Hastings, Nebraska

Nana & her grand-daughters.

Mom & Colette

Aunt Ann & Olivia

At The Lake

We went to the lake with my brother and his wife (Steve and Judith). This was Olivia's first time on a boat. She looks so cute in her life jacket!

Steve with Megan and her fish.

Sisters (Megan & Olivia)

Uncle Steve & Olivia.

Olivia & Aunt Judith.

Visiting my sister (Julie) and family.

Bob, Olivia & Julie.

Olivia, Aunt Juju & Uncle Gary.

Kids in the pool.

Julie & Colette

Kyle, Olivia, Julie & Megan

Mangers Family Reunion

Art & Maggie's grandkids. All 16 of us (8 boys & 8 girls).

John P. Mangers family.

Me with my sisters & brothers. In order from youngest to oldest; Colette, Ann, Stan, Julie & Steve.

Sick Baby

Late Friday night Olivia woke up with a temp. She was coughing and stuffy nose. This continued through the weekend. On our way home on Monday she started screaming (very inconsolable). We were guessing an ear infection.

I took her to the doctor late Monday afternoon. She has an ear infection and the croup. She is on 2 different meds.

This is Olivia's first sickness since we have had her. I hate when a baby is sick. They can't tell you what is wrong. They cry and are very crabby (I mean fussy).

Friday, Saturday & Sunday night while we were on vacation, Olivia would wake up at least once an hour. Well, Monday night (Olivia's first night @ home). She slept through the night. I heard her wake up coughing a few times but she would go back to sleep on her own. YEA! Makes for a better mommy... getting some sleep.

Olivia is still fussy today but I am sure by Wednesday she should be feeling better after being on the meds.

We leave Wednesday morning for Nebraska. Bob is driving the girls and I half way and my mom is picking us up. Bob will come next Thursday to join us. We will be gone 2 whole weeks.

Camping With Friends!

Leaving on vacation (Olivia & Megan)

Bob, Tom & Bernie

Tom, Olivia, Natalie, Alex & Debbie.

Alex, Debbie & Olivia dancing.

Olivia & Debbie