Gettin' down to Business???

Growl!!!!!!!!!!!! Been fighting this new camera long enough. All of the pictures of the two spring outfits I have shown here were taken with the same lighting and camera settings...so why the uneven quality??? This was supposed to be a LOW overhead start up so that the maximum amount of money could go to an account to provide aid to Mari's birthfamily and help with shipping all the shoes I'm collecting down to Guatemala! The labels came and were reasonably priced..... I have feelers out to get this boring Blogspot template BLINGED and hope to find a reasonably priced geek/graphic designer who can get an eBay template designed as well! The photography is just sooooo sub-par and I know it's the CHEAP, CHEAP camera I bought to replace the fatally dropped Olympus. I just do not know how I can justify getting the $800 Sony that has given me a huge case of 'camera envy'???? That kind of money would take a powerful lot of sewing to earn and then there is none left in the bank to use for aid!! Guess until that problem works itself out I'll have to keep getting bottom dollar on eBay :( Big favor of my blog friends....can those of you who have little girls offer up opinions on what type of unique clothes on which I should concentrate my time and attention? Please feel free to pass on my link to any friends you know who buy this kind of custom sewing for their children so I can get their input too!! Up until know I've gone for the super fast and easy holiday outfits with the thinking that since I know I can't command top dollar at this time at least I can go for quantity. So far, they've almost all sold but not for enough over costs to realize much change in the "Guatemala Account". These are the two latest creations. This first is typical of what I've been doing up until now...a pillowcase style top with little matching capris($25-$40 depnding on fabric selection and size). I use all cotton when I can find it but I do also use cotton/poly when the print is super cute. All of my seams are serger finished. This 'Cute as a Cupcake' dress also is fully lined and has a sewn in eyelet slip(This one is a size 3 and I'm hoping for $40). My appliques are done with a real satin stitch! I can do matching bows too but must admit I'd rather be sewing than fighting with ribbons :)! This is the 'kitchen' that Mari's birthmother cooks in.... ...and this is the 'house' that they call home!! I have a strong emotional need to try and ease the hardship of their daily life! How much can I take from the third world in my selfishness without giving anything in return?? Sewing may not be the avenue that brings me the financial resources I need to help them but for right now it is what I have to offer. Since I am looking for honest constructive advise I'd ask everyone to look at what I've been posting on eBay. My eBay id is Drsilk1. Bring it on!!! Because I'm itching to start a little Easter outfit with this fabric!!

Julia was blog tagged!

Arianna over at http://www.mommyslilblessings.blogspot.com/ tagged Julia today. The game is that Julia has to tell 10 random things about herself and then tag someone else. Since we were out a 'little' too late celebrating Grandma's birthday she dictated them for me to post...her typing could take awhile!(My commentary will be in parenthesis!) 1) I am a tomboy! I love my cars (hot wheels & etc) and the bike my mom and I made!!! (Tricked/pimped an old Schwinn Pixie with a sissy bar, flame designed banana seat, and chopper bars and put flame decals everywhere!) 2)I wish I could live in Texas or Tennessee because I could own a horse and become a jockey. (Don't know why those two states because she's mostly ridden in Florida?!?) 3)I love to watch PBR and play the game on my PS2. (for the unknowing that would be Professional Bull Riders and when playing the game she almost always opts to be the BULL!!!!!) 4)Secretly I love Pooh but since I love SpongeBob too I just tell the kids at school that SpongeBob is my favorite show.(At that stage where W. the Pooh is for baaabies according to the peers) 5)My favorite PS2 game is Guitar Hero.(...and if I hear Eye of the Tiger one more time I may go insane!!!!) 6)My clothes need to be comfy! (Oh yeah, she TESTS every garment before I buy for 'itchiness' and would be in fleece jams 24/7 if allowed) 7)I would be in heaven if I could eat Outback's mac n' cheese everyday!!(Been her birthday dinner choice for three years running now!) 8)I HATE the dentist and wiggling my loose teeth....YUCK!!!!(Go figure since I'm her dentist huh?!?! She is the WORST patient BTW and has not yet made the connection that REGULAR brushing will change the cavity count!!!) 9)I am NOT a fan of milk but love, love , love ice cream. (Yep, the MD slices hairs by saying she's 'milk sensitive' since that was one of the few allergy tests that did not come back positive....handed her the excuse on a silver platter he did!! Told me that it was very COMMON for hispanic children to have 'issues' with milk and that I shouldn't worry as long as she ate cheese and yogurt....bet he's not the one trying to get his kids to eat!! Can't wait to get to the next appointment to tell him how at 8 yo she's already a 'fan' of coffee...must be in the genes???) 10)I'm going to have lots of animals when I grow up! (Interesting......since our cocker spaniel Kelty had to go live with Auntie Peggy after asthma clinic gave her a series of allergy tests and all the pet/dander ones came back off the chart HIGH?!?! I really do hope she 'grows out' of these allergies and her asthma because she does adore animals especially horses and dogs. Very ironic that the one who loves animals the most is the one who needs to stay away from animals!) So there is Julia's tag assignment and now she is going to tag Katie at www.fourchildrenrus.blogspot.com.

A Few Firsts

Well I just couldn't go to bed without showing you guys a few of the pre-digital pics that actually figured out how to scan into my computer. The dog got to the vet, the outfits got finished and mailed, bread was made, but the laundry is well......waiting for me to stop living in avoidance mode! Instead of multi-tasking and running loads while I scanned the photos I just walked down memory lane. There are thousands more to scan so I wonder just how long I can go before the underwear and socks are all dirty???

This is the picture that changed our lives forever! Little did Patrick know how his simple act of opening an e-mail would send us down the road of international adoption and thus parenthood. This picture of 16 mos old Mari is the first one we have of her.

The first clear picture we had of Julia! She looks so "normal" in this view but as a preemie who didn't even tip the scales at 5lbs she was the tiniest baby we had ever held!

The first minutes after becoming a citizen!! Yes, that is the lad who was eager to see her "turn white" which is what he thought would happen once she became an "American girl".

The first picture of the sisters! Notice Mari's big smile? That was because she had not yet figured out that Julia was going to be around for a while...a long while....a very, very long while.

The first picture of our whole family! I love that Julia was already smiling for pictures at only 6 weeks old!!!!!

The first time the "gang" met Mari. This was taken moments after we got off the plane as we walked to the luggage area. I had one of those jolts today when I looked at this picture!! In my memory of the moment I recall Mari immediately taking to her cousins and I always tell people how easily she transitioned.....but looking at this record of the moment her blank stare is jumping out at me!!! How did I miss her obvious state of apprehension?? I could just cry for her when I think about how utterly confusing this moment must have been...like being plopped onto the surface of the moon!!!! Though the white lines you see are the strings of balloons which they brought to celebrate the occasion and she did REALLY enjoy that since hers had Barney. This made me feel better though!! Taken the next morning as she explored her new bedroom she is clearly a happy girl!

This is Julia's first birthday! We kept waiting to get the obligatory icing on face shot but noooooo our little birthday girl would only dip her two fingers in the icing and daintily licked them clean. This shot was taken as Mari came to 'encourage' Julia to get dirty :) Really need to find some willpower and get to bed so I have enough energy to spend another day avoiding the laundry room.

Fav Foto Friday......just barely!

Typing fast as I can so that I technically post on Friday!! LOOOVE this pic of "the gang". Have hundreds more scanned today to post later.

Fav Foto Friday......later?

You'd think by my advanced age I would have learned the consequences of not keeping up with ones "homework"!! Here I am at Friday with a ton of laundry to catch up on, days of blogging to catch up on, and a few little outfits that were ordered as a result of my eBay foray needing finishing touches so they can be mailed in time for the holiday.....oh, and I promised to get my sister's dog to the vet before 10am! Still in avoidance mode I decide to take a quick trip through a few blogs of friends and discovered that Rhonda has given me a Life is Grand award!!!!

Yeah, I finally won something!......wait there's this fine print to read....oh, I have to list five things that are 'grand' about my live and then tag five friends!! Five 'grand things' will be no problem but I really don't think I have five more friends than she already tagged who have blogs???? I know Sharon, Melissa and Diane are tech saavy enough to start one because they use their computers waaaaay more effectively than myself but alas they don't have one. Agnes would have a marvelously entertaining one if she ever figures out how to sign onto the internet! Vanessa has already been tagged a few times. Oh well, guess I'll list my 'grand things' and get back to you on my five nominees.

1. Hands down Patrick is the best husband in the world!!! I jokingly use the fishing term "a keeper" when I refer to him but in all seriousness there is nothing on earth that could part us. The kindest, most gentle man who loves all his girls mightily and spoils us endlessly. The rock on whom I have often had to cling during wild emotional storms and a sage on who's wisdom I have matured.

2. My first heart's jewel who God moved heaven and earth to bring to me, Mari. The smart and stubborn, artistic and messy, tweener who loves the morning snuggle. A child of my DNA could not be anymore like me than this little lady! I'm blessed to be her Mom!

3.Second only by age is my easy going, loving little special delivery named Julia. This horse loving tomboy was most likely God's way of giving Patrick an ally in our home. The teeniest little baby who ate every 2hrs just melted right into ours hearts and there she shines as her nickname "Jewels"!

4.FAMILY!! Life is GRAND when you have been given an embarrassing riches of family. Parents, 8 siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, 7 brother-in-laws, 5 sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and I could go on...and on....and on. Great people who round out a very full life!

5.Tough call because I'm torn between Friends or Health?!?! Having just received the great news on Patrick's response to radiation I would be remiss not to consider health but I have so many great friends how can I NOT aknowledge their enrichment of my life? I know the anwer....it's a TIE!!!! I have been blessed with the good health with which I am able to spend wonderfull moments with all my friends.

Came across some pics that qualify for my FFFriday but it will take some more of my over-commited time to scan them into a file in order to get them on here to share. I promise at least a couple will make it on here by tonight!

Laughter Lives Tuesday!

Well here we are back at Tuesday again!! As part of a series called Laughter Lives Tuesday started by the Riggs family we are asked to post funny stories with the theme "A funny thing happened at......" To see more just click on the Praying for Abby link to the right of this blog. Shortly after our eldest daughter came home from Guatemala, while she was still in her Spanglish period, my mother's first cousin died. Being Irish one does wakes, I mean we DO wakes! It was a longish drive to the funeral parlor so I decided to see if our Diva had ever experienced a death or funeral and we chatted....and chatted. I explained how she would look like she was asleep and how her spirit would go to be in heaven with God. I instructed her in what prayers to say while kneeling before the casket and how after that she could go play with all her cousins. The Diva was like a little lady waiting so primly in the receiving line and prayed up a storm when we made it to the casket. As we turned to offer our condolences to the family one of the woman's children said, "At least her pain is over and she's probably parked in front of God's big screen right now watching her soap's." Well....the Diva gave a big stomp and crossed her arms across her chest and said, "Mal Mommy!" after which she stalked to the back row of chairs and plopped down glaring at me. I went back and asked her why she was mad at me??? She said, "You made us late!" Bewildered I asked her what we were late for and she responded, "I quiero ver her spirit coming out her body and ello say she in heaven ahorita!" Translation: she wanted to watch "the spirit" leave the body as it "went to heaven"!!!!!!!!!!! As for my finger dilemma...... H.L.H but did figure out a way to get exam gloves on and off all day. That would be the thumb cut from an XL glove taped firmly over the gauze and I used XL gloves on the right hand. You gotta do what you gotta do!...and now I am going to get a pain pill.....

Luck O' the Irish??

Yeah, NOT so much!! I've always wondered how that little fallacy got started or if it excludes the Kerry and Cork lines of Irish? Just as I'm building up steam and getting quite a few little outfits made and up on eBay

there's one of life's little reality checks!!!!!!! More details will follow in the coming days but story so far is that I had a teeny tiny little twinge on the tip of my right index finger Saturday night as I headed of to bed. No big deal because if you ask any sewer/crafter our hands are always getting little pin jabs or hot glue burns. No mind just brush off and move on...I even laid out the next batch of holiday prints to get cracking on in the morning.

Well yesterday the twinge got a little stronger...mostly just when I actually used the finger like to type or dial the phone but no real sign of what was the cause. By last night I had decided to put warm compresses to see if I could get it to come to a head but barely anything could be seen....until this morning!! Unfortunately I didn't think to document the before...then again maybe that was a good thing for you guys to miss :) I finally decided that with all the nasty bugs going around lately that I better not lance it myself so I went to see the MD

As you can see he did open and drain the abscess!! The culture will be back Wednesday and you better not be laughing right now Miss Vanessa!!!! I'm on drugs for the "worst case scenario" and am brainstorming with my co-workers on how I can get gloves on and off this hand 76 times tomorrow because I'm the only DDS on call for tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish me luck because it really does not come naturally to us Irish no matter the blarney you've been fed!