Quick update-- 3-14-10

Hi Everyone--

What a roller coaster that the past week has been!!! We spent the better part of last week on cleaning, cleaning, and MORE cleaning as we sought to prepare our house for the last post-placement visit. At one point, Emmy even asked, "So, aren't we basically just lying to the homestudy lady?" "WHAT??" I responded. "Our house is NEVER clean. It's the house where kids come to play!" Well, I guess that I'm glad that she views our house as THE hot spot for kid activity in the neighborhood :)

The post-placement visit on Friday went very well. Pam, our case worker, got a kick out of Ellie-Kate, and it was very cool to reflect on just how wonderfully that everything has gone in the past year.

After the post-placement visit on Friday morning, we quickly shifted gears and turned our attention to the Girl Scout birthday party and sleepover for that afternoon and evening, Chelsea's district band competition (also on Friday), Chelsea's symphonic choir concert on Saturday evening, and the 4-H meeting at our house today (Sunday). What a blur of activity, but all went well, and the house stayed amazingly clean even with the flurry of kids and playtime :) Tonight, we watched the NCAA Selection Show and Amazing Race... Fun story with Amazing Race-- Ellie-Kate was sitting on the floor and pointed to the kitchen, saying "Izzy, Izzy." I looked up and noticed that the cat was on the counter. "Thanks, Ellie-Kate," I called as I dashed to scoot the cat off of the counter. She smiled and then climbed up on to my spot on the couch, settled in, and announced, "MY couch!" I'm not sure if she planned to seize my spot from the outset, but we all laughed... Snatching spots on the couch and love seat is quite the sisterly pasttime during our shows, and she certainly has already figured out how to get the prime corner on the "good couch." :)

However, the week was also tinged with sadness... On Monday, we learned that Tim (Britti and Chelsea's uncle, their dad's only living sibling) was very ill with an infection. He battled the infection and then liver failure throughout the week, and, sadly, he passed away yesterday. We're headed down to Roanoke for the visitation and funeral tomorrow. Additionally, Friday was Robbie's (my brother) birthday, and it was tough to juxtapose happiness over the post-placement visit and fun with the GS party while we remembered that he was no longer with us to mark another birthday. We miss you, Robbie!!!

These losses during 2010 really make me grateful for all of the special, everyday moments that we share with the girls. Britti had a blast playing princess with Ellie-Kate this week in the newly clean basement! Chelsea's having a super time with track, and Emmy is excited about playing softball next month. We're so blessed for these special time and the chances that we have to host them and their friends, such as the sleepover party.

Thanks much for caring about our family!! I'm headed to bed now, but I'll upload updated pictures soon.

Christie