Karmen's Journal

I still can't believe that after 14 years of waiting and praying ... I'm finally going to be a Mom.  It's something I've dreamed of for so long!  Will I be a good one?  Am I ready for this?  The entries in these pages will explore my heart and soul as I embark on the journey of a lifetime.
45  August 26, 2010
Simple Things  August 19, 2010
Meet Princess  August 05, 2010
Meet Chewy  July 20, 2010
14 Days of Referrals  July 20, 2010
Slipping Away  June 17, 2010
Bullies ...  June 05, 2010
The Long, Long, Long, Long, Long. Long Line  June 20, 2010
Mother's Day, Baby Showers, Domestic Disappointments and More  May 14, 2010
The Long, Empty Staircase  April 27, 2010
The Silence is Broken  April 02, 2010
4 Years of Waiting!  March 01, 2010
It's My Time!  February 25, 2010
Adopting from Haiti  January 23, 2010
The Pain of Infertility  January 18, 2010
Our 4th Christmas Without Ella  December 15, 2009
North to Alaska  November 10, 2009
14 Amazing Years ...  October 07, 2009
Busy, busy, busy ...!  October 07, 2009
A SLOW Perspective  September 10, 2009
A Sad Goodbye  August 11, 2009
Another Round of Paperwork  July 03, 2009
Murdered by a Lead Foot  July 08, 2009
More Scandal in China  July 03, 2009
Hannah and I  June 25, 2009
Father's Day Thoughts  June 21, 2009
Married Bliss  June 07, 2009
Somewhere in the World Today  June 04, 2009
Living Life with Gusto  June 04, 2009
Lumpy and Me  May 08, 2009
It's a Girl!!!!!!!!  May 04, 2009
Disappointed Yet Again  April 24, 2009
I'm back ...  April 10, 2009
"Coolness" and Feeling Better ...  February 22, 2009
The Incredible Shrinking Woman  February 17, 2009
Adoption Update  February 06, 2009
Pantyhose and Pumps  February 01, 2009
On the mend ...  February 01, 2009
Pain, Parvovirus and Fuzzy Black Socks  January 21, 2009
I'm SO Ready for Christmas!  December 19, 2008
It's Only Money!  December 10, 2008
Our adoption ... the only slow thing in our lives!  December 10, 2008
Taking Care of My Baby  December 10, 2008
Thanksgiving Thoughts  November 27, 2008
Was my Face Red!  November 27, 2008
Another Bad Referral Month ...  November 07, 2008
Middle of the Night Feedings and Daylight Savings  November 04, 2008
Sweetest Day Screw Ups  October 21, 2008
God's Timing & The Empty Nest  October 17, 2008
Counting my Blessings ...  October 10, 2008
Prayers for Sam  October 07, 2008
A Very Stinky Anniversary Date  October 04, 2008
The Joy of Children  October 02, 2008
Babies ... Am I Ready for This???  September 20, 2008
All Boys ...!!!  September 16, 2008
Grief & Loss  September 14, 2008
9/11 -- What a Day to Celebrate!  September 11, 2008
No Doubt -- The Downhill Stretch  September 05, 2008
Good Wishes  September 01, 2008
Tuning the World Out  August 30, 2008
Tragedy Strikes China Adoption Community  August 27, 2008
A Note from an Old Lady  August 27, 2008
Enjoying the Olympics  August 20, 2008
I'm a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad Girl!  August 17, 2008
Some Special Gifts  August 17, 2008
Seven days closer ...  August 12, 2008
Making Memories at the Fair  August 07, 2008
Happy Valentines Day!!!  August 07, 2008
Dear Sweet Daughter ...  July 29, 2008
Deep and Wide  July 26, 2008
So Long Kermit!  July 26, 2008
Why Can't We Be Color Blind?  July 22, 2008
Tagged ... Twice!  July 17, 2008
Love Never Gives Up  July 13, 2008
Strawberry Blonde from China???  July 09, 2008
Greg at Work  July 08, 2008
Ode to the Dating Shows ...  July 08, 2008
Ouch!  July 05, 2008
Frustrated & Embarrassed  July 03, 2008
Strawberry Patch Abuse  June 24, 2008
Dusting  June 21, 2008
I've Got a Sickness ...  June 19, 2008
A Baby Poll: Out of Style???  June 12, 2008
Another Batch of Referrals  June 12, 2008
Missing Dad ...  June 03, 2008
This Moment  May 30, 2008
Maria  May 22, 2008
Earthquake Orphans -- Adoption Opportunities?  May 16, 2008
Chinese People In Need  May 16, 2008
Poopy Diapers  May 12, 2008
Digging to China  May 10, 2008
Faith  May 04, 2008
I Want Dandelions!  April 30, 2008
'No' to Busyness ... 'Yes' to Life  April 28, 2008
Make Your Own Kind of Music  April 25, 2008
Little by Little  April 22, 2008
Add my name to the Encyclopedia! I Beat the Elephant!!!!  April 20, 2008
Alecia, Albert & Mrs. Arcuri  April 20, 2008
45 ...  April 20, 2008
An Orphanage for Cows  March 21, 2008
A Road Trip with LOTS of Boys!  March 21, 2008
It's Only Money ... Right?  March 14, 2008
One Child-Policy to Remain for Now  March 12, 2008
I'm Killing My Dog ...  March 05, 2008
China Mulls Change to One-Child Policy  March 04, 2008
They're on our year!  March 03, 2008
Saving the world from Baked Potatoes ... and Autographed Garlic Chicken Breasts  March 02, 2008
Two years and counting ...  March 01, 2008
A Day for Hearts and Roses  February 14, 2008
My Uncomplicated Husband  January 21, 2008
Those Guys in Green  January 21, 2008
The King Pin  January 13, 2008
Out of Control ... and Flying Blind!  January 11, 2008
Faith Adventures  December 26, 2007
We're Through!  November 30, 2007
Keeping My Eye on the Goal  November 26, 2007
Feeling Blue about Blue  November 21, 2007
Mr. & Mrs. Smartie Pants  October 30, 2007
Look at this Room!  October 17, 2007
Fish Fried Steak, Dad and Barry Manilow  October 16, 2007
When, God, When????  October 11, 2007
12 Wonderful Years  October 7,2007
Totally Excited ... Totally Scared!  September 27, 2007
A Candy Bar  September 22, 2007
My Love for Oscar  September 14, 2007
I Thought You'd Be Here By Now ...  September 11, 2007
Another Year Older  September 10, 2007
September Referrals  September 03, 2007
Summer Hiatus ... We're Back!  September 03, 2007
Busy, busy, busy ...  August 07, 2007
My Crazy Mind ...  July 25, 2007
I've Really Got to Get Out More Often!  July 09, 2007
Missing the Beach Blues!  July 05, 2007
Alone and Going Batty!  June 20, 2007
Someone Stronger  June 18, 2007
Production Photos  June 20, 2007
Finally ... Some Good Adoption News!  June 01, 2007
Settling for Puddles  May 18, 2007
Ancient Chinese Torture  May 09, 2007
The Smell of May  May 09, 2007
Rose Colored Glasses  May 04, 2007
Living Every Moment  April 25, 2007
The Party's Over!  April 19, 2007
Happy Birthday "Greg the Great"!  April 18, 2007
Have we heard anything yet?  April 13, 2007
Sad News for one Adoptive Couple  April 08, 2007
Earthquake  May 15, 2008
In My Easter Bonnett ...  April 06, 2007
Lumpy's Parenting Lessons  April 05, 2007
Oops I Did it Again!  March 25, 2007
Pooped!  March 23, 2007
I Hate Bath Day!  March 18, 2007
Flat Stanley  March 09, 2007
Just like an Elephant!  March 05, 2007
Can I Go Home Now?  February 27, 2007
My Baby ... A Real Prince!  February 24, 2007
Welcome Baby Kaylan!  February 21, 2007
Carmen Curlers  February 18, 2007
Prize Winning Meatloaf and Valentines  February 14, 2007
Blessed!  February 13, 2007
It's not about me!  February 11, 2007
Uh, oh ... Are We In Trouble???  February 02, 2007
Just Dreaming ...  February 02, 2007
As A Little Child  January 26, 2007
The Trouble with Lunchmeat!  January 21, 2007
Insomnia ... Good for Something!  January 12, 2007
Too OLD!!!!!  January 11, 2007
As I Walked Out in the Streets of ...  January 11, 2007
Paula Zahn, Go Home!  January 11, 2007
Give me your old, your fat, your poor ...  January 10, 2007
How Much Cereal Are You Willing to Eat?  December 22, 2006
Sciatica ... A Nervewracking Situation!  December 22, 2006
A Visit from Secret Santa  December 22, 2006
Taking Time for What's Important  December 21, 2006
The Long, Long, Long, Long Road  December 02, 2006
Look at this house!!!  November 24, 2006
Each Day is a Gift  November 18, 2006
Baby Showers  November 14, 2006
No Longer 21!  November 06, 2006
AARP and the Senior Citizen Discount  October 29, 2006
Adoption ... A Different Perspective  October 28, 2006
Robbed!  October 20, 2006
I Love Baby Clothes!  October 14, 2006
Fill in the Blank __________  October 12, 2006
Basket Weaving Anyone???  October 11, 2006
Our 11th Anniversary  October 08, 2006
First Baby Dream  October 04, 2006
When Will I Feel Rested???  October 03, 2006
Diets, Speed Walking & The Nearest Tree  September 26, 2006
Oh Where, Oh Where Can my Little Girl Be?  September 25, 2006
New Blog Home / The Wait Begins  September 14, 2006