We Did It!

We spread a little hope today. I printed out the hope cards from Hope Revolution's website and we left some in random places. A couple of the places we went to were Target, and left one on one of the shelves and then at Toys R Us, I left one in the cart when I was done using it. The thing about Target though is I go there like 2-3 times a week and they pretty much recognize me (what person doesnt go to Target a gazillion times). But once I had Ella set the hope card down on the shelf, I noticed all of the camera's in the ceiling.....They probably think I'm some kind of freak! I could just picture them watching the cameras and thinking 'What the hell is she doing?', then they would go to that aisle and pick up the card and still be like, 'What the hell is she doing?'. In any case, I figured....I just spread some hope. Maybe I was over reacting and some random shopper will find it instead of the security guard (fingers crossed).

Either way, Ella had fun. She would keep staring at it as we walked away as if to be saying, 'Are we sure we want to leave that there?' and then ask me if she could do another one.

Good times.

Hope Revolution

I came across a wonderful blog/website today called Hope Revolution. Seems alot of people have caught onto it, I feel like I am coming in at the end of the line.

Krystyn Heide, the creator says: This is the Hope Revolution. It began one evening when I decided to hide encouraging notes around New York City and inadvertently inspired other people who heard about it to do the same in their cities.

How cool is that? It reminds me of that guy on the internet with the Free Hugs Campaign As I am thinking about leaving these notes everywhere, I am not only thinking about the joy that it might give the person who receives it, but I can also pictures myself giggling as I place them and either casually walk away or run!

Sounds like a good idea to me. I think Ella and I could have alot of fun with this. I say we join the revolution!

It Felt Like a Photo Day....

Family Day

We went to the lake the other day so that Ella and Daddy could go fishing. We had just gotten her a new fishing pole and Keith told her when it was spring time that they could go fishing together. While they were fishing, Mommy layed out a blanket and relaxed in the sun. Once Ella got bored, she was free to roam the fields to pick dandilions (her favorite past time right now) and "dandilion fluffs" ( those things you used to make a wish with and blow them away). I dont know what they are called but thats what she calls them.
In any case, we had a great afternoon. I love to see them together. :)

....And Now, The Rest of The Story (Show and Tell Sunday)

**So I came upon a blog that does Show and Tell Sunday, so I thought I would join. Hopefully I can keep up with this every week. Sounds like a great idea. In any case, here's my first show and tell.......

Almost 10 years ago, my husband Keith had something very unusual happen to him. He went to a gas station on the way to work to get some smokes and some cash for the week. As he went to the ATM to take out a $20.00 bill, the cash machine ended up giving him 279 $20.00 bills! Totaling $5580.00. You can imagine his shock as he sat there and it spit out one bill after another. He ended up calling the police later that morning after getting to work and turning the money in, but his story made the headlines. All the local news channels and papers were calling our house trying to get an interview with him. We even had the BBC call for interview. It was really kinda cool. But that wasn't the the only cool thing that came out of it.

The bank that owned the ATM gave him two child sized backpacks and a big hearty thank you for returning the money. Woo-Hoo. After the news stations got wind of that, I think they ended up feeling like dumb asses because no one was impressed with the gift given to the man who returned almost $5600.00. A representative from the bank called after seeing the news reports and he ended up getting $500.00 and two front row tickets to a Minnesota Vikings game. That was much better than two child sized backpacks.

But the best gift of all that came out of it was from a stranger who lived across the country. We received a package a couple of weeks later from an old woman who was impressed by Keith's honesty. Inside the package was a statue of Diogenes with a handwritten letter.

The card that came with it stated:

DIOGENES(400-323 B.C.)
-Was a Greek philosopher who believed that only virtue brings happiness.
-It is said that he searched Athens with a lighted lamp in broad daylight, looking for an honest man.

The letter says:


Dear Keith,

It was a pleasure to read about your experience with the cash machine. Read the card with the figurine and you will see this is Diogenes - Who has found his honest man!

His name is on the base and seems to have something green tucked under his arm.

This came from Greece, imported into the USA at Tampa Springs, Florida, a Greek fishing village, also known for its tourist. I was there about 30 years ago and I spotted Diogenes.

Please Enjoy.

Sincerely,
Florence K.

We were so touched by this gesture of a complete stranger. The fact that someone reached out to him to say 'good job' and send him this beautiful statue was extremely kind and generous. We treasure the statue and display it proudly in our house to this day.

Creepy Realization

So we're out in the front yard a week or so ago and one of my neighbor's comes walking over. We have never talked to this neighbor before or waved when passing by or anything like that in the 8 years we have lived in our neighborhood. I thought she was going to say something about my driving since I had just driven past the gazillion kids at her house each day.

She began explaining to Keith and I that in her big passenger van she has one of those rear view cam's to see if there's any kids behind her when she's backing out of the driveway. She said that when she backs out of her house at night time, the only picture that comes up on the cam is of a little girl sleeping in her bed.



It took a second, but then it clicked. The baby cam that we have in Ella's room was sending a signal to her van. "Way creepy", was the first thing I said. One of the other questions we asked was "How long have you been seeing this image?"

She replied, "Well, she's not in a crib anymore."

NOT IN A CRIB ANYMORE!? she hasnt been in a crib in over a year! Then it all came rushing back to me.....the many times I have gone into Ella's room with only my underwear on or NAKED! All the times in the middle of the night that I have gone in to comfort her or put her back to sleep.

I was slightly uncomfortable at that point, needless to say.

We had a couple of minutes of pleasant conversation. We found out that she does foster care for the county (which would explain the gazillion kids at her house all the time). She has 5 of her own and had 4-5 foster kids at the time. Then she excused herself to go home and make dinner.

I didnt get her name. I was too shocked that she was staring at my daughter in her bed at night. She said she didnt realize whose house it was until she saw us out playing in the year. We are apparently the only ones in our neighborhood with a little girl.

In any case, we do still use the camera, but only for like a half hours at a time, so that we know Ella has fallen asleep and is not playing in her room when she should be napping. I then go in and unplug the thing for the rest of the time.

Note to all.....You never know who's looking!

Creative Photos by Chema Madoz

My friend Stacy turned me onto this wonderful link of the most creative photos I have ever seen. Just to think of what goes on in this guys head boggles me. I wish I had half the imagination this guy has. So in order to give you a glimpse of what this guy does, I thought the picture below best fit my personality and life. Going through fertility treatments most certainly allows you to see sperm in ways you never would have imagined.

Click here to Enjoy - Chema Madoz

How Do You Know When It's Time To Lose Weight?

When you are riffling through the laundry basket to find a pair of underwear....and pass one by because you think it is one of your toddler's t-shirt's.

Because they are THAT big!

Getting So Big!

Ella got a bike from Santa for Christmas. She started riding on it the other day and is doing really well. If she rides in the driveway, she needs me to hold onto her because she is afraid she will go out into the street (trying to teach her to steer...), but once she gets in the garage, she tells me to let go so she can do it by herself. I just cant believe how big our little girl is getting.

Our Anniversary

Today is our 8 year wedding anniversary. Who'da thunk? Keith and I have been through alot in the years we have been together....all the way back to highschool. But I feel so lucky that we have eachother. After years of infertility, I believe Ella is the best proof of how much Keith and I love each other. We are proof that if you believe in something enough and keep holding on, that wonderful things can happen to you. I love you Keith. You are my world.