Welcome Jade Caroline Saad....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

At last I am posting some photos! I came home Thursday evening and things have been great!! She is work, but all worth it. Ian is loving it...just like the rest of us. Jade sleeps good and is a happy baby thus far...only a few days old. Thanks for all the email, prayers, cards. etc....what a great way to be welcomed into the world.

I should be sleeping.....

I have tried to sleep...not happening tonight...at least yet. I can't believe in only a few hours I will be holding our new daughter. It seems so weird to have it all planned out...last time was so expected, but unexpected.
Ian is fast asleep...knowing that the next time he sees me I will be holding his sister. He is also hoping that my belly is smaller...I am hoping the same. Jeff is also sound asleep...only getting up about 20 minutes before we leave...must be nice.
I promise I will post some photos of the baby! I can't say how soon, but I will. I hope to come home on Wednesday...they think I may be able to this time. I will keep you posted...I would ask Jeff, but he only hears about this blog thing at work.

I am soo close to posting some photos....

I have so many to post I think I am just going to put them in a scrapbook type thing on here...I tried last night and couldn't find all the ones I was looking for to post. I am offically on the countdown to birth...only 6 days left at the most. I have this abundance of energy and I have been getting everything done around this house...I even cooked last night!!

Ian is ready for Easter...I mean I have him ready. We are planning on having an egg hunt on Saturday....I still have to fill those eggs but everything else is ready for Easter morning. He doesn't believe in the Easter bunny so he knows we do it all, but he is very excited to see what he gets this year. I thought it might be a few more years before he didn't believe, but he explained to his dad and myself....A huge bunny doesn't go around giving candy and presents to kids on the day that Jesus rose from the dead...you know the empty tomb??? You guys do know don't you?? We just sit there and were shocked, but pleased with this knowledge. If you know Ian...he couldn't stop there...he went on to explain Santa does not exist....it isn't possible and it is about the birth of Christ not a guy with freaky little elves going around the world delivering gifts...it wouldn't even have the time. Ok...enough said.

Anyway...I am off to my last doctors appt. I will let you know if anything happens early....

Promises, Promises....

I know that I said I would post photos of my house last week....and it didn't happen. My computer went down and I have NO knowledge of how to fix it. This has been a crazy past 6 weeks...and it is only beginning with the baby arriving anyday now or at the latest Monday April 13th. Here is a really quick rundown of the past few weeks....

Our entire house was painted inside( I will post photos, although they won't do it any justice because you have to see all the cool things that Dirk did at my house!!)

We got new windows in the house. Not any big deal, but they were so needed.
We got an alarm system put in the house...after having one in England...I like them.
I have gotten rid of so much stuff at this house..I don't know where this all came from...some is going to auction, Ian is having a sale, and the rest to Goodwill

The phone rings about every 5 minutes here....this is the truth....I think I used to talk on the phone ALOT...don't really care to anymore.

We don't watch TV here anymore...only a few cartoons and Dancing with the Stars...

Ian had his first doctor appt. for an illness...yep...he even had to get on his first antibotic...I know he is almost 6, but still I was hoping this day wouldn't arrive...he ended up having a reaction to the meds and is covered in hives as I write this post....

I have been ill as well....after suffering for a couple of weeks found out I had strep....

THE GOOD NEWS IN ALL OF THIS...JEFF IS FINALLY HOME!!! The 5 weeks went really fast with all the chaos and sickness here, but it is great to have him home...I can actually have the baby now. I am really holding out for 40 weeks...Ian only went 39...we will see. The truth be told...Jeff has a haircut on Saturday, Ian on Monday and myself on Wednesday...if she could hold on until then....I am fine. My bag is packed....I will keep you posted....

AND YES....WE DO HAVE A NAME....I THINK...AT LEAST UNTIL I SEE HER!!!

I really am going to post photos....

Before I go any further....I will post photos...I just haven't had time to get the cord out that goes from the computer to the camera!! I will tomorrow or the next day...if I find the time or energy. We are back and in full swing of life...I think that is what it is...crazy, insane, busy...nonstop running!! I have been trying to pack all the painting, carpet cleaning, re-doing Ian's room, doing baby's room, getting rid of excess junk at our house, getting the bathrooms redone into 3 weeks....not the smartest thing to do, but I am short on time. Everyone is progressing fine...except the me. I have met my match in this baby...she tucks right under my rib cage and and takes my breath away...I sound like I have smoked 20 packes a day for at least 30 years!! Needless to say, I am moving slower than usual...the "real" Tina would have had all her stuff done by now...this "pregnant" Tina needs a couple of more weeks.
Everything else is running smoothly...Ian loves being home. I love it!! I do have moments that I miss those friends I met and will probably never see again or at least not anytime soon. I than get caught up in the daily life here and move past it. I went to the doctor today and the baby is doing great!! I actually got letters of her name for her room and returned them today....I know this is where everyone claims we have a name and aren't telling....I only wish that was the truth. We do have it narrowed down to 2 names.....yep that is right 2 NAMES!! I have 5 weeks to decide.
The trip home was uneventful for the most part. Ian kept telling people that he was moving back to the US never coming back again....I think he listens to his dad way too much. We did see Lotoya Jackson at the airport...she was leaving London after Celebrity Big Brother ended...she is about as big as my thigh..I am not kidding. We ran into her about 5 times....5 times too many...she was actually very friendly..it was the first time I had ever encountered anyone with a nose smaller than mine...that was an adult. It was VERY sad leaving the house, the village, my stuff, and of course Jeff. He has been keeping himself busy with dinner invitations and working out with Kent. I guess that is enough until I post the photos....yea, yea, I will already!!

I can't believe it is already here....

It just seems like yesterday that Jeff came into the kitchen and asked it I wanted/would move to England. We are not movers...we were very settled in our home. We decided to go ahead and move because it would be a easy move...you know it is still English. I look back and laugh at that now.
It is now over and it has flown by so slow/quick...if that makes since. I had those days that just flew by and those days when I just wanted to talk with my sister or mom...face to face.
I have LOVED my neighbors!!! Saying good-bye to them has not been easy..they have given us so great going away gifts to remember them and England. Our village was awesome!! Our travels were great!! I do plan on making an album to post of all the fond memories here.
I love it that Ian has had this experience of living here and traveling the world. I don't know how much he will remember someday, but I hope the photos will keep it alive.
Thanks so all the great ladies I have met here...all the fun times that Ian had with the other ISE kids, and too many other things to list!!!

Gettting packed up....

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I should be doing about one million other things....but it is not happening. I always seem to do this and than kick it in at the very end. I have gotten most of the stuff organized and ready for Jeff to finish up....ugh!! Tomorrow is Ian's last day of school...he is so excited about moving home!! That makes it so much easier...I have been a little sad about him leaving his school, but he is fine with it. I was looking through some photos of us when we first arrived...Ian was so little...he has grown so much. I have gone from light to dark hair...and long to short. It is amazing how you don't realize how much you change until you start looking back.
I really do like Bush..someone just handed us a sign during a protest and we thought we should be polite and carry it. Anyway, I really NEED to attempt to continue to do some things around here...time is ticking away!!