Reflection of 2006 for KG

As the fireworks are starting in the neighborhood, and Casey is hiding because she REALLY hates the loud noises, I am finally sitting down for the day and in possession of my laptop now. Someone was hogging both laptops today for the last day of Fantasy Football. (Who could that be???) Fantasy Football is over now, and Brad won!! Woohoo! ( What will he occupy his weekends with, now?! eek!) I'd love for him to buy the Plasma T.V. he's been drooling over for a while now. 2007 is going to be a great year, its off to a great start! But before the year begins, I thought I'd spend a little time journaling our year for Kylie Grace.

The first part of the year, up until about April, is a bit foggy for me because of all that hormone therapy for the second in-vitro attempt. Don't think for a second that because the drugs stopped I was immediately back to myself...not even close. I started to drop all the weight I gained a couple of months after the last injection. And, as I said in my little fun survey for 2006, I didn't regret any part of it. I look at it as just a part of the path that lead us to where we are today, and that is in a much better place-both spiritually and with each other. Of all the choices we made, and those that were made for us, we decided to move forward with our adoption in May, and what a journey that has been (with a long road ahead). Of course there are so many details that fall in between ,but we started our year with our eyes on the wrong "goal" if you will; and we are ending the year with our eyes wide open and on the "right" things. It has been a spiritual journey, and an educational one, with so much love along the way. The year is ending perfectly with our decision to join Idlewild Baptist Church, and our decision to be baptized together. God is so good.

On the family front, my Mom's health has stabilized. No more signs of cancer, but she did decide to stop working part time this year. Mom spends a lot of time cooking for herself (she can only eat little meals at a time, so it requires lots of meals). Mom still lives in Decatur-the same house where I was raised! Paula, my other mom (Brad's mom), retired from AT&T this year, after over 30 years of service. I also helped sell her house and we moved her back to East Cobb from Alpharetta. Paula is now working part time at the bank my sister in law works for, and she also passed her real estate exam for GA, and joined Prudential. Tom, my other dad (Brad's dad), finished his contract at the nuclear plant in AL after 3 years, and is back in CT, for now...he is considering a contract in South Africa for next year. Julie, my sis (in law), is managing a Fidelity branch in East Cobb, and still lives in Woodstock with Cole and her husband Clark. Cole is growing so much, and still continues to be such the sweet boy. Tracy (my BF), has a new boyfriend, Steve, who is from Jacksonville. In fact, they are in Jacksonville visiting his Mom right now. Amber turned 9 this year, and Kylie is 12. Yikes. Time flies when your eyes are on the children. Speaking of children, Lauren Kate turned 2, and Gibson was born. Kathy and Larry moved from Woodstock to Atlantic Station to plant a new church, so Larry is changing careers from being an evangelist to a pastor of his own church, the Midtown Bridge. I'm thrilled for them! Jane is still working from home, and is as fun as ever. Amy, Margie's daughter, moved back to Atlanta for her residency at Emory(I think that's what it is, I'm forever confused about it all). As far as our family pets, we lost Miya (the Collins family cat for 18 years), and we lost Julie's cat, but we gained two Bischon Frises' and two cats (one each for Paula, and one each for Julie), Josie came home with me, and Zoe isn't adjusting well to the Florida critters...she is allergic to everything, and now has a thyroid problem which requires twice daily medication for the rest of her life :-( We had a scare with Casey this year; the specialists thought she might have cancer which developed in her bad leg that was reconstructed in 2003, but it turned out to be a bacterial infection around the pins in her legs, thank God. She just wasn't moving around well at all. Now, I think she's doing better than Zoe, and Casey is 13 - Zoe is 4! (And oh by the way, Zoe has an ear infection, right now, too)

On the work front, the real estate market has slowed this year. It's just balancing itself out, and that's ok, but with both of us being in the same industry, it can be kind of scary. At one point this year, we thought we might be moving to NC, after a short few months in FL for another relocation for B. This of course was after I took my exam, passed, and received my license in FL, with plans to work both markets. That changed rather quickly, as I decided that I really didn't like the business in FL, so I chose to focus only on Atlanta. I did just that, and rather aggressively from around May through the end of the year. I just enjoy the people I work with, and the clients/friends I've made through the years. Starting my business was pretty tough, and I just couldn't let it go. I managed to close almost 4 million in sales and am still producing at the Masters level. The market in Tampa slowed tremendously, and across the board, the developers/builders were starting to reduce their staff. Brad had to let some people go, which is never easy. The company let some other Regional Managers go in other cities, but thankfully, Brad was/is ok. We're still here, and Tampa is doing as well as could be expected. That doesn't mean that Brad didn't have much to do..it just meant that with a shortage in staff, his workload increased and he was (and still is) waking at 5:30a/6a and getting home after 7p/8p. He's always been a very hard worker, but I was actually worried about him this year. The stress of always trying to push to be your best, provide as a husband, and worry about our future and his employee's futures, was a lot to bear. Not to mention our plans to bring a child into our world in 2007 and our plan for me to stay home with her, rather than work for a while!! Whew..

New/Renewed friendships: We spent some time with Shannan M and Jason this year, while we were both in town (Tampa). I met Tiffany, my new hairstylist and friend in Tampa, and a new nail technician, Michelle, who has also become a new friend. I met Amy Harrison, from our FCC Tampa Bay adoption related group. We met Michelle and Neil, and Nicole and Drew from St Pete and New Tampa, respectively, through the adoption community. Michelle and Neil will be traveling very soon for Chloe Grace, their new daughter, and Nicole and Drew were logged in for the wait on Sept 11 of this year. Both of these couples are using CCAI for their adoption services, also. I have enjoyed getting to know Jen S., better this year - as she and Scott are adopting from China, too! I have enjoyed getting to know many people through my business, and have met another family, the Denihan's who adopted two beautiful girls, Chloe and Hillary. They live in Tampa, ironically enough, and are relocating to Atlanta. The journey has brought perspective, appreciation, blessings, and friendships. Even more so, our relationship with God and the church has grown, as well. I wouldn't have it any other way. And the friendships we've had with those that we care so much about have become fuller and allowed for closeness we wouldn't have otherwise enjoyed.

Other 2006 tidbits:

• we finished our 5 month paperchase for a daughter (or twins) from China on 10/27-LID
• I incorprated my business this year, and met lots of great people
• Tracy and the girls came down to visit in Tampa over New Years 2005/2006, and for spring break
• Tracy and I took our annual trip to Orlando for our business conference
• We also traveled to San Diego for our business/personal growth trip for the second time, and spent time with Virginia and Laura
• I spent most of the year traveling back and forth to Atlanta and Tampa, dividing my career with my marriage, but can say that I actually did a pretty good job at keeping my priorities in perspective
• we made other new friends through Brad's work...John and Jamie, Mike...
• I made a leap and changed my hairstylist and nail technician, which was huge for me ;-)
• we missed our relationship with James and wish things could be different - we hope to meet Madeline some day
• we didn't get to go on any trips with Matt and Erin, but Erin should be finished with school soon, and Brad is planning a ski trip with Matt next month
• Paula came to visit in Tampa just before Thanksgiving
• Dad came to visit a couple of times, and Linda was able to join him over Labor Day weekend

There are probably so many things I'd love to mention for Kylie Grace, but I'm sure they are included in my personal journals. I can't wait to meet you, KG, and I long to have you in our arms. You have so many people that love you already!

Happy New Year, everyone... Brad and I are trying to stay awake for the countdown. It's 11pm, now, and we are struggling. The pups are all asleep, trying to figure out why we are up so late. Casey wakes up every so often when she hears the firecrackers - we love her so much - she is laying under her daddy's feet.