Update

Hello friends and family...

I have not updated my profile in 10 months. There has been so much going on with Ellie and the adoption. For confidenitality... I didn't want to post any new photos of her on-line. Although my blog says it is private and for friends and family only... I don't want to take any chances because I've been through so much this year.

There was a meeting for Kaylynn in mid-May. I was told she would have weekend visits with her bio-dad for a couple months and, then, weekday visits (Monday-Friday) for a couple months as she slowly transitioned to that home. She left at 2:30 in the afternoon the following Friday for a weekend visit and never came back. It was so sad. It was hard on our whole family... especially Ellie and me. Ellie fell behind in her speech and I became very distrustful of "the system".

We have run into multiple obstacles during Ellie's adoption process. We thought it would be complete by October 2009... now, it is looking like March or April 2010. Can't really discuss the details, but it is turning around and looks better now.

My sweetie, Austin, turned 7 .... I know, SEVEN!!!! at the end of November. There were only 3 kids in his class accepted into the gifted program at his school and he was one of them. He is in the 1st grade and reads at about a 4th grade level. He is so smart and clever and witty and funny. But... he is a boy, so farts and poop and spelling a-s-s are just hysterical to him.

Even though he is a boy, I think he is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

I cannot wait to post new photos of Ellie on my blog and on Facebook. As soon as it is official, I will blog regularly and update photos often. She is such a big part of my life and I didn't feel like I could do a good job of blogging and expressing my feelings when I wasn't allowed because of confidentiality. Once the adoption is final, I am excited about documenting my family's life experiences.

Our Disney Cruise was amazing and it pained me not to be able to post all of the photos... especially the photos of Ellie dressed like Snow White actually meeting Snow White. Those photos were priceless.

Although 2009 was an emotional rollercoaster, I am sure that 2010 will be the best year yet.

Woo Hoo... updated twice in ONE WEEK

Austin and the Chick-Fil-A "Eat More Chicken" Cow outside Charleston Civic Center


Pretty good picture of Disney On Ice... Charleston Civic Center, Saturday, February 21st

Ellie eating Cheerios and sitting on Grandma's (George's mom's) lap.

Austin and Aunt Carolyn (George's sister) at Disney On Ice

Ellie and "dada" at Disney On Ice

Update... Finally

Austin with Daniel Striped Tiger at Pittsburgh Children's Museum

Ellie the Birthday Girl!

Go Steelers! Austin waving his terrible towel. I'd say IT WORKED!!!

How happy and pretty is this little girl?

George loves when people say "She looks just like her daddy" LOL

Kaylynn had her turn waving the Terrible Towel.

Tummy time for smiley baby. She is happy and healthy! She is almost 11 months old. She is growing quickly. She just started wearing 6 - 9 month clothing. She is up to 15 pounds!

Oops! I haven't updated since the beginning of January with pictures from CHRISTMAS. I've been addicted to Facebook, but I don't put photos of the girls on Facebook. I'm not sure what to blog about... most of the "goings on" have to do with the girls and I'm not supposed to talk about it, let alone publish it on the internet.

We are all doing well. Austin is taking swimming lessons at the Y and Art Classes at the Parkersburg Art Center. He also alternates Saturdays between Lowes and Home Depot and does kids' projects with George. He is so smart. He is really into multiplication and is reading 3rd grade level (he is in kindergarten!). I'm so proud of him.

Ellie had her 1st birthday on Friday, January 23rd. On Saturday we went to Pittsburgh Children's Museum and, then, my brother had a little party with cakeS and presents at him home. On Sunday, we went to the Carnegie Science Center.

On Saturday, February 21st we headed over to Charleston for Disney On Ice. We've been keeping busy and having fun.

We still have both girls. I have not had any update on Kaylynn since November. We are hoping to adopt Ellie. That's all I can really go "into" right now.

I am considering giving up Facebook for Lent. I will try to keep the photos current on this blog either way.

peace... Sandi

Pictures with Santa

Updated Photos

Both of the girls are still with me. Their situations change constantly and I'm just going to focus on the fact that they are with ME at this moment in time.

Crazy busy with the holidays. Austin is doing great in school. He won a Young Illustrators Award and has a picture hanging at the Parkersburg Art Center. He is just turned 6, is in Kindergarten and reads at a 3.1 level. He is working on his times tables (0, 1, 2 and 3, so far)

He is looking forward to Christmas, but will be disappointed when he does NOT get Wii. There are other, more important, family gifts I would like much more than Wii... like a digital video camera that records to DVD... or a new computer for the den. I have been using a new laptop in the kitchen... but our main computer in the den is a Gateway we bought in 1999. Fred Flintstone called and he wants it back. Seriously, 10 years is like 100 computer years.

He said something funny last night. He asked if he could get married when he was 29. I told him that would be great because I would want him to finish college and get a good job. and that would be a great age he finds the right woman. I told him there is no hurry. Then, he said "how am I supposed to pick only ONE woman?" OH, NO... I'M IN BIG TROUBLE with that boy!

We went to the Try-Again Homes Christmas Party on Friday night and went to Pittsburgh for the weekend. We lived it up in style at the OMNI William Penn and took in the Christmas sights in Downtown Pittsburgh and Station Square followed by a day at the Carnegie Science Center.

Ellie at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh contemplating the origins of the universe. She is deep in thought.

You think K is happy?!?!?! I thought Ellie was a smiley baby. This little girl giggles and smiles everytime she lays eyes on me. I must be funny looking!


The girls made a page for the Try-Again Homes 2009 Calendar. Their month is April and I made their handprints into flowers.

Updated Photos

On Austin's 50th day of school they dressed like they were from the 50s. Austin wore a wife beater undershirt with a short-sleeved white dress shirt and jeans with the cuff rolled up. We brushed his hair back and put gel on it and put a black comb in his back pocket. He was soooooooo cute!

Speaking of cute, check out Ellie in her "vintage lace" dress. Too cute.

Tiny K is a hot, little mess ... but we love her.

FACEBOOK

I am now on Facebook and have been having fun with that. I will still post updates and photos on this blog and I put this webpage address in my Facebook profile. I'd like to still have this blog for the friends and relatives that like to check it and because I don't feel comfortable putting the girls photos on Facebook. I'm not even sure I'm allowed!

Austin wearing his LUCKY AND CHARMING T-Shirt... yes, he is!

Updates:

Austin was tested with the accelerated readers in the first grade (he is only in Kindergarten!) and his reading level is 2.1-3.1... which means 2nd grade, 1st month to 3rd grade, 1st month. I figured he could read books in the 3rd grade level, but it is nice to have something in writing. It was great of his teacher to let him test with the 1st graders. When she sends home the Scholastic book order forms, she sends me one from the 2nd grade teacher also. She is so excited about Austin's enthusiasm for learning. He is working on his multiplication tables and loves science.

Also... Austin won an art award for Wood County Schools. One of his "pieces" is on display at Parkersburg Art Center through January 9th.

He is also very musical. He is going to be a multi-talented individual. Although, I fear, not in the area of sports. He is just not into the sports like other kids his age. He takes swim lessons at the Y and just started Karate. I think he wanted to take karate because SpongeBob does karate!

He is a great-looking, smart, amazing kid... but, he got none of his mother's athletic abilities : )

All is well today at the Faber Household. I am listening to Christmas CDs and cleaning my house. I'm staying in today because Kaylynn is sneezing and it is soooooooooo cold outside.

Austin is off tomorrow and we plan to go on a MOMS Club Field Trip to Petland and CiCi's Pizza. Good times.