Yesterday Marked 3 years....

Ok.. for those who don't want to read sobby stuff... YOU CAN STOP READING FOR NOW!

Back in June I posted a little about my Niece Christina who had passed away. Well yesterday was the 3 year mark of her passing... Some poeple call it an Anniversery Date... Well to me Anniverserys are for Celbrating... This was not a day of Celebration...

Anyway... Christina was not very Religous through life, but was trying to find her way to God towards the end... Instead of having a priest doing a service it was family, and I was the one that did it at her grave site.

I still have the letter I wrote and read... it is as follows...

“Season’s Change”

By: Aunt Ellie

Spring brings us new life; Summer is the time of growth,

Fall brings us through maturity; And Winter is the time of dormancy.

This is the Cycle of Life.

Some people have longer Summers and Falls,

And unfortunately some have shorter ones.

Everything happens for a reason,

We may not like, agree, or understand why,

We sit here and wonder with a great sigh,

Why did the season of winter come so soon for you?

This question will never be answered for us.

But, you have done the work that was needed from you here,

and you were called home.

I know that you are surrounded by many loves one that have proceeded you,

including you twin brother Christopher.

I know you waited so long for a miracle to come, you told everyone to be strong.

Now, Can you touch the soul of heaven?

you have taught us a scared lesson,

you heard the universe calling, and went.

Even with the shortest seasons you had,

You had a full life,

experiencing things that not many people would in a life time.

From ballet, modeling, skiing, scuba diving, fishing, hunting, a college degree, living on the west coast to the east coast, and back again, going out of the United States, living on an Island in the middle of the ocean, and creating a new beautiful life, Kristen Rae for the seasons.

As I sat going through hundreds of pictures,

I realized, that life passes us by so quickly, and some how,

we seem to forget a lot of stuff that has happened in the past.

Once I started looking at the pictures,

a flood of memories come rushing back.

I am going to miss you more than words could ever say. I

have not only lost my niece, but I have truely lost my best friend.

I admire the desires and strength you had in you.

You are a remarkable woman.

Life is the precious gift that is given to us at birth,

you came into the world fighting for you life, and won.

For the last few years you fought the toughest fight of all,

All the way to the end, and you never gave up.

I promise you will never be forgotten, your voice, smile, laugh, hugs, jokes, tears, love, happiness, will always be with me.

Granted, I will miss our daily emails and phone calls,

to see what is bringing in the new day,

but now I have you next to me all the time.

You have been one of my Princesses,

and now you are one of my guardian angles.

And boy, with you on my side, I have nothing to worry about!

I just hope when my season’s change,

I have the strength and courage you have shown us.

You have taught me a very valuable lesson, never give up.

We weep in sorrow for our loss,

but we will celebrate your life everyday.

Your memories and spirit will be kept alive for your daughter, and family.

Good-bye is the hardest words to say.

Now that I have to say these words I will cry,

it breaks my heart to see you this way and say good bye.

So its not good-bye,

but until we meet again.

I Love You

Aunt Ellie Puls

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW....

GINGER NEWS...

She is home, with Maya... YEP.. I broke down and tracked her down last night... She is doing wonderful, and is VERY HAPPY THIS IS OVER... But little does she realize...

IT HAS JUST BEGUN!!!!

She doesn't have access to a computer where she is and said she will be going out today to try and post something...

But, she is ok and VERY HAPPY!!!

Welcome home MAYA... WE LOVE YOU!!!

AUNTTIEE ELLIE, ANGELENA, and ANGELO!!!

Happy Birthday to me...

Boo Hoo... I can't believe that I am 40 years old today...

And now I am suppose to be all grown up... So why have I been crying all day???

POST OF A LIFE TIME!!!!

WELL IT IS FINALLY OVER FOR GINGER AND MAYA!!! As I type this they are in the air (hopefully, wouldn't you know it... HURRICAN WEATHER) on their way to the USA!!! Just look at their faces... They are SO HAPPY... I have been waiting to post this for a few weeks, because I KNEW they would be coming home.

Not only is this going to be a historical day for Ginger and Maya, but it is a historical day from the Weather... Hurrican Dean made land fall at a Cat 5 along the Yuktan Penninsula... Just north of Guatemala, it was thought that Guatemala is on the safe side of the Hurrican... But, heck, the only safe side, it NO SIDE AT ALL! Something Maya and Ginger can say... Even weather couldn't keep them from coming home!

Congrates to you and Maya, may your travels be safe, and WELCOME HOME... The newest Little American!!!!

2 Down, 1 to go...

HUGS TO YOU BOTH!

The PeePee Dance...

Ok... As many of you know already, when we made the transition to CA, we didn't go into a house of our own. We are Temp. staying with my sister until something happens to the house in TX... Sell, Rent, BURN DOWN... What ever.... JUST KIDDING!

Anyway... I don't really know what has gotten into my little Angel... She has been changing SO much, and growning up right before my eyes... Where is the Pause Button...

You know how when come home from work, and your dogs see you... They get really excited, run in circles and prance... Because they are happy to see you... Well, guess who is doing this...

Angelena... She runs in cirlces, stomps her feet, raises her arms up and tries to jump all at the same time... And of course she thinks she is talking... But nothing but baby talk comes out... IT is quit commical.

I want so bad to get this on video tape, but of course, my video camara is packed away... So all I have is my Digital Camara, and NO cable for DOWNLOADING the pictures. I don't even have a Computer to dump my pics in. I have to go to Wolfs just do download...

GINGER IS PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAYA IS COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!



Just found out... Her appointment is set!!!! Stay tuned for details!~

Somber Day...The ups and downs in life

Well, all was going well yesterday when I got home from work. I rush out to the mailbox, to see if the LabCorp package was there (even I already knew the results)... It sure was... I have the picture of a lifetime for Angelo. His birthmother is holding when the DNA was taken. She hasn't changed much, her hair a little longer, but she still has that Not So Happy look on her face. Which I completely understand. And, Angelo is wearing the one of the outfits I took to him when I seen him. I am so glad that these kids don't really remember the pain and heart break that is around them when they are so young. I have thought about asking to meet the Kids Birthmother when I go to pickup Angelo. I am not sure about that yet... So back to the evening... I am in my bedroom looking at the results with my mom, and my cell phone rings...

First let me explain my sitituation... When we moved from TX, we put all our stuff into storage, and am staying with my sister. Where we are located, no animals are allowed. So, I ask my bother to keep one of my goldens, and my aunt to keep another. All was going well. Until my it was getting a little rough on my Aunt... So, I had called a long time family friend Penny and Bonnie, which happened to of had Jasmine's (my dog) Grandmother. They were willing to take Jasmine until my house sold in TX, and we found a place here in call. Last week, Penny emails me and joking around she indicated that she was going to put Jasmine in diapers. I asked why because I knew she has Liver problems, but if it was starting to effect her kidneys. Penny said no, she is just getting lazy and does her duty by the back door that is open, instead of going all the way out side. I kind of thought that was odd, because Jamine is well house trained, and when she does something like this, there is something wrong, including being depressed. Penny said she was fine, not to worry about it. Ok, back to the phone call.

Penny calls and asked me if Jasmine has ever had Grand mal seizures. I confirmed no. Well apparently she was having one, and it was extremely violent. So I told her I was on my way, and she was calling her Vet to see if she could come over. I get up to Napa , and Bonnie is sitting on the floor with Jasmine by the front door. Jasmine looke a little perky, but I noticed that half her face was drooping. I mentioned, she looked like she had a stroke. So I get down on the floor with Jasmine, and start talking to her and petting her, and she starts to have another seizure. Bonnie helps me and holds on to her, I tried to pull her tounge out of her mouth, but couldn't (note to self, NEVER stick you hand in a dogs mouth when they are having a seizure... Their mouth's have teeth). This seizure lasted about 3 minutes... We get her camled back down. Penny tries to call the Vet again, and appearently she is in San Diego. She suggested that we see if she has another, and if she does take her to the emergency vet, otherwise if she stops, she will see her in a few hours when she gets back into town. The vet hangs up and Jasmine goes into another seizure. This one isn't as rough, but it is longer. I couldn't stand to see Jasmine go though this again. She was my baby, she was my best friend, she was 16 years old, and had a wonderful life. So, we get her into the car, and I drive like a mad women to the Vet, I carry her half way in, and they come out with a gourney, and take her the rest of the way in. (I don't know where I got the strength to carry her myself, she is almost 80 lbs. I just scooped her out of the back seat, and started walking. Well, after a few discussions with the Vet, I called my mom and we thought the best thing for Jasmine was to let her go. This was one of the most hardest things in my life that I had to do.

This is one dog, that will truely be missed... I love you Jazzy....

One Year Ago Today...

Was the day Angelena was put into my arms for the first time. Our eyes meet and we had a very intense emotional moment, that I will never forget. She looked at me as if to say... Who are you? What is going on? Where is this going to lead? Then I place her in Grandma's arms, and the looks started again.

It was an amazing feeling that feels just like yesterday... Here is the post from that first meeting...

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"There is so much I can say, but don't really know where to start. Angelena is Amazing, Healthy, Happy, Adorable, Sweet, Precious, Cute... I can go on and on...
We arrive in Guatemala at night went though customs, collected our belongings, and made our way through the crowds at the enterence of the airport to the shuttle bus and off to the Hotel. We checked in and went to bed... It was a very long night, knowing that I will be finally holding Angelena in my arms in the morning.
We were in the lobby by 9 am and waited and waited and waited... I ahve been told people in Guatemala have no sense of time... I finally called the interpiter 11:30 am and was told that they had been trying to call the room. Well guess what... We were told to wait in the lobby!!! Apparently there was a problem with the foster mother and she wouldn't be able to get to the hotel until 4:30 that afternoon.... So now what??? I know.... SHOPPING!!! Everyone knows me by now... My stress releaser is SHOPPING.. We walked to a Mall, and checkout some things, but alot of the stuff we could get here in the states, I wanted to buy some Guatemala stuff... So we went to a another section of the city and did some bargining!!! I got a couple of really cute Guat outfits and a blanket. They we went back to the hotel, waited some more, and then.............THERE SHE WAS 5:30 pm... I had my baby in my arms for the first time! OH MY GOD.... What an amazing feeling. Works just cannot express the feelings. We talked a little while with the Foster Mother, and then she left, and we had Angelena the whole time. I didn't let her leave my sight. It was so wonderful to bond and hold her. We went swimming, played in the community room, went for walks through the hotel, meet alot of wonderful family, had fashion shows, and just enjoyed our time together, getting to know each other. She is one of the sweetest and happiesst babies I have ever seen. She was even happier once she did #2!!! I changed the first one, Aunttie Ginger Changed the second one, because Cousin Lizzie Ran from it, and I sort of changed the 3 rd one... It was going on when she was in the bath... Lucky me! But, it wasn't really that bad. She does who ever like to be clothes free... I think because it was just so hot... Anyway... She slept anywhere form 7-10 hours a night. On the shorter nights it was becasue I was making noise to wake her up so I could play with her (haha). She even does RASBERRIES and makes lots of bubbles... I think she is starting to Teeth too! And that hair... It goes everywhere! She has so much of it!
The hardest part of the whole thing was handing her back. It completely broke my heart, and that is something I will never forget. My heart feels so empty without her, but I know she will be coming home soon. I do have that to look forward to.
I have well over 500 pictures, and 3 hours of video. I look at the pictures everyday, but haven't broke out the video's yet. I am saving those for the days that seem completely unbearable..... Well thats all for now, I will post more pictures later!!!"

A little tid bit... I NO LONGER USE RUBBER GLOVES TO CHANGE HER DIAPERS!!! Well... mostly... now I only use them when she has complete blow outs... And not only do I need rubber gloves, but I need HAZ MAT SUIT!!!!