tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16287535211529517812024-03-12T19:51:06.287-07:00Love: For The WinnsWe love each other, adoption, CrossFit, the Gospel, and finding beauty in an otherwise ordinary world. <br> Above all, we <i>love.</i>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-69693107111282674412012-09-24T14:54:00.002-07:002012-09-24T14:54:51.056-07:00I'm Good & They're Great!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been ages since I've updated, so here's the gist of what's happened since you heard from us last:<br />
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In a surprising twist of events, BENJAMIN came home from the NICU first, on June 13th. At 5lbs 15oz (I believe?) He was still quite a peanut! <br />
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D.O.G. took to him quickly. He spent his entire puppy life preparing to be a big brother, and at last his dream came true! <br />
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Sullivan followed Benji home shortly after, on June 18th. His delay was due to constant Bradying (Bradycardia - the stinker would just STOP breathing). Now, at 4 months old, he still does it sometimes while eating from a bottle. Suck-swallow-breathe is quite the challenge for him, but he'll eventually outgrow it. "Slow" flow bottles aren't much help, either. Milk just seems to gush out of them, and when he gets overwhelmed he just, uh, stops trying to breath. Thankfully we recently discovered Dr. Brown's PREEMIE flow nipples. So amazing. Even if your baby has no problem with fast flowing bottles, they're great at preventing breastfed babies from getting too lazy, hehe.<br />
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Once home, they proved to be every bit as pleasant and easy as they were in-hospital. Even 4 months later, they rarely scream or fuss (especially Ben, who is the definition of easy). <br />
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At first I slept downstairs in the living room with them. One would rest in the Sleep N Play Rocker, which is what Ben is in next to D.O.G. in the piicture above. Twin #2 would either sleep in a pack n play, in my mom's arms in the recliner, or in my arms on the couch. I pumped almost exclusively for 3 months (it felt like an eternity, but that's a story for another day!), so the constant bottle warming and diaper changes were easiest to handle in the living room, right next to the kitchen. I wasn't yet comfortable sharing a bed with them, and bottle feeding in bed was too difficult anyway. <br />
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Early on, I (tried to) make sure they at least got naps in their crib, so that they'd be comfortable in the nursery without me. <br />
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This hasn't been a problem for us yet though. It's true what they say about spoiling newborns - it's just not possible. About 2 weeks ago I started transitioning Benjamin into the crib at night. It's been a breeze! Sullivan I also put in the nursery; however, until they're a bit older and no longer at high risk for SIDS, I'm keeping them separate, each with their own motion monitor. So Sully sleeps in the Rocker, with a Snuza monitor, right next to a sound monitor (so I can hear if it alarms). Then Benjamin has an Angelcare monitor under the crib mattress... why? Because the kid LOVES to belly sleep. On his back, he gets MAYBE 3 hours in a row. Flip him to his belly, and he's out for a solid 5+. So, Angelcare it is. I sleep soundly at night this way, so it's been worth every penny. <br />
Now that they're a bit bigger (and they don't scare me so much), I now just kick the dogs out of my room and bring them to bed with me around 4am-ish (or whenever their 2nd wakeup is).<br />
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Here they are during their first bath, at around 1 month old:<br />
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Then bathing at almost 2 months:<br />
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And then at 3 months: <br />
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And then last week: <br />
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And then not so happy:<br />
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This is them on the 4th of July:<br />
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And then this is them sunbathing:<br />
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Because Sullivan is super cute:<br />
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Because Benjamin is adorable:<br />
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And then, as if you weren't already drowning in cute:<br />
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<br />This is them in their Sunday best, sleeping through Relief Society:<br /><br /><br /><br />Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-60500986210412234402012-07-15T15:32:00.003-07:002012-07-15T15:32:43.894-07:00Deployment Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Goodbyes are always hard, and this was the toughest yet. <br /><br />Donald left for Afghanistan on June 11th, in the wee hours of the night. We spent our last few hours together in the NICU, hanging out as a family. <br /><br />After 6 years of marriage and several months-long goodbyes, I've never cried during departure. This one got me though. Thankfully it was a small group leaving, and I hopped in my car when the tears started flowing, pridefully well hidden. I followed his bus until they exited the freeway toward the appropriate air field. Under any other circumstances, that'd be creepy. Donald would still probably say it was. <i>Meh</i>.<br /><br /><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/536122_10150885022052393_1325587749_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/536122_10150885022052393_1325587749_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Hours later he phoned me. Their flight had been delayed, and he needed his iPad charger and laptop.<br />Out the door I ran! I would soon be getting just one more kiss! Ant fellow military wife knows that <b>rush</b>. </div>
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Then he called again, when I was 90% there, to inform me their flight was suddenly un-delayed. Typical Army. <br />After briefly guilting myself with what-if's (I had stopped at Jack in the Box to get him breakfast... an unnecessary surprise and fatal delay!), I decided to swing by the hospital and spend time snuggling my babies instead. If I remember correctly, I was in pajamas. Sans makeup. Puffy face. <u>Haggard</u>. </div>
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The babies didn't notice or care though, so it was a nice visit.</div>
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And that was Donald's deployment day. <br />He'll be back in late February or early March, and we can hardly wait!</div>
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<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-84180273155673183442012-06-06T11:35:00.000-07:002012-06-06T11:35:38.153-07:002 Weeks of tWinns<div style="text-align: center;">
Our beautiful little boys amaze us with the strength and resilience they've exhibited in the 11 days since their arrival. </div>
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Sullivan was born uncomplicated, and was placed on my chest shortly after being born. He was beautiful and perfect in every way. </div>
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Then we waited to see if Benjamin would flip head-down to arrive in equally uneventful fashion. Unfortunately, he did not. They went in for a manual breech extraction (um, most painful experience ever). His head was stuck, and 3 different doctors took turns trying to dislodge him. The worst 15ish minutes of my life later... they shouted something about a section, and I was out like a light. <br />In addition to being stuck, his cord had pinched. My poor little Benjmain, they'd later discover, suffered a stroke during this process. <br />While unconscious, they sectioned me and dislodged his head, and then guided him out. So, technically, they were both born vaginally... with a "C-section assist". <br />What a unique way to be born, right?</div>
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<b><i>Meeting Benjamin for the first time. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Kangaroo care with Sullivan. </i></b></div>
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He was only on the CPAP mask for a few days, but I didn't like that thing. It made him look far more frail and ill than he was, and it hid his beautiful face.</div>
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At some point on the day they were born, Donald made a trip from my recovery room to deliver colostrum to the NICU. While there, he held our Sully (who was not on the CPAP mask at the time, thankfully). </div>
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Sullivan, under the lights to zap that jaundice! </div>
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<b>Benjamin's cooling cap: </b></div>
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Sullivan doing Kangaroo Care with mommy, with that yucky CPAP mask on</div>
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Benjamin, a few days after birth, free from the cooling cap</div>
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<b>Sullivan, momentarily out from under his oxygen hood.</b><br /> His beautiful eyes!<br />The pressure from the CPAP mask caused a pressure <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumothorax">pneumothorax</a>, so they had to place a tube in his chest to relieve pressure. They then put him under an oxygen hood, but his nurse was kind enough to free him from the hood long enough for us to enjoy a few moments with him. </div>
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More kangaroo care with Sullivan</div>
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<b>Daddy and Benny</b></div>
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(Do you see his little hand up in the air? That's one of the first movements we saw from him. Each tiny stir was a miracle to us, as we had been warned that his brain damage was extensive and to set our expectations low. Now, 2 weeks later, our little Benny is keeping pace with his brother, only a day or two behind. He is our miracle.) </div>
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Happy Memorial Day from Sullivan! </div>
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Benjamin, fresh off the vent for the holiday! The best Memorial Day EVER! </div>
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Holding Benjamin for the first time.</div>
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Daddy holding Benjamin for the first time</div>
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Benjamin smiling up at his papa</div>
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My little Sullivan</div>
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Their first presents from daddy. Hairy Benjamin received Chewy: </div>
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And Sullivan, with his prominent ears, got Yoda: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LxvDsezyA2a2fZU-MloYX0_0ZxBrESS4FqrV3oBRKEJ4xExDwtwRMNL8GFKA8FKIiNhIBxY07JuZST5VuCR8W4Fp8-OT9QlLmzX98KZMCxm2ny2akZHf_cCnmRpFWmd8xtHDNbaVYnqI/s1600/-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LxvDsezyA2a2fZU-MloYX0_0ZxBrESS4FqrV3oBRKEJ4xExDwtwRMNL8GFKA8FKIiNhIBxY07JuZST5VuCR8W4Fp8-OT9QlLmzX98KZMCxm2ny2akZHf_cCnmRpFWmd8xtHDNbaVYnqI/s400/-8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Daddy and Benjamin </div>
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Sullivan got daddy's ears!</div>
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Milk drunk Ben:</div>
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<img height="400" src="https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/182780_10150861225052393_478680244_n.jpg" width="298" /><br /><br /><br />They each look so different, and already have such adorable personalities, completely independent of one another. <br /><br /><br />We're so in love! <br /><br />They are now completely off all supplemental oxygen and IVs, and are working through some minor feeding issues. They also continue to Brady (Bradycardia); they suddenly stop breathing and their heartrates drop. This typically now only happens when they eat (particularly Sullivan), which makes it fairly easy to catch. If they can stop Bradying and tolerate their feeds well, they should *hopefully* be home in another week or two. <br /><br />They're so squishy and snuggable. I can't wait to go visit them again today! Squee!!<br /><br /></div>
<br />Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-87027349231467705962012-06-05T21:32:00.000-07:002012-06-05T21:32:00.138-07:00Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Birthday, my sweet Fletcher. </div>
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In the 13 days since Sullivan and Benjamin were born, I've experienced joy and fulfillment like I never thought possible. </div>
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However, a small piece of my heart will always be missing. It belongs to you, sweet boy. </div>
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I wish things could have been different. </div>
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Maybe one day you'll know how much you were loved by a random woman across the ocean.</div>
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I hope Ukraine appreciates your presence; you're a blessing, and they're lucky to have you. <br /></div>
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Happy 5th Birthday, Arthur. </div>
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<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-13885393257066700192012-05-28T21:54:00.001-07:002012-05-28T21:54:21.067-07:00Winn Twin Arrival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Sullivan Joseph Winn</b></div>
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May 23rd, 4:52am</div>
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4 pounds 15 ounces</div>
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16" long<br /></div>
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<b><br /><br />Benjamin Hinckley Winn</b></div>
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May 23rd, 5:22am</div>
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5 pounds </div>
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Length not yet taken </div>
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We are so in love!!<br />
Benjamin was in critical condition for several days, but has since greatly improved.<br />
More updates on their health to follow.<br />
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They are beautiful, and perfectly perfect in every way! <br />
<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-19613122494186503742012-04-07T13:33:00.003-07:002012-04-07T14:16:54.432-07:00Oh Belly<div style="text-align: center;">I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">large</span>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">At 23 weeks I measured the equivalent of 32 weeks with a singleton. I'm now 28 weeks, so you can just imagine how big that is. My guesstimation is that I'm about 41cm fundal height (so 41 WEEKS big). We'll find out at next week's appointment!<br /></div><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">14.5 weeks<br /></span>(when the bump first appeared!):</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutPJXI95cIRCnwPQUyc7c_lrMPhm4BYJJC7e6Ul9yPg588u3R8wDB2oJqw-NM6JSl3sJsNmOEHcZvYtuGVUiWSgNDfF3q6ESdLFCBn4Fy8AbDLa8_n0a1dhdB3y_Gvk-FH8LOu5OYiuR-/s1600/388732_10150468958897393_747962392_8609469_280514461_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutPJXI95cIRCnwPQUyc7c_lrMPhm4BYJJC7e6Ul9yPg588u3R8wDB2oJqw-NM6JSl3sJsNmOEHcZvYtuGVUiWSgNDfF3q6ESdLFCBn4Fy8AbDLa8_n0a1dhdB3y_Gvk-FH8LOu5OYiuR-/s400/388732_10150468958897393_747962392_8609469_280514461_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728770051933749170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">16 weeks:</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY8cAGy0O8TFgZ6jKkHA5pZzi8OEjljyL0zK0svNDgjsblUjQZOKfRB1-XAD7rSJAiYDW08-eK3d8M_wjulU79JFBVyCysrptmL1L_NSJ9r0efXUWTRaVtNB5QIhC45SUVoh2-xhTVxjN/s1600/388815_10150485421817393_747962392_8666385_705107123_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY8cAGy0O8TFgZ6jKkHA5pZzi8OEjljyL0zK0svNDgjsblUjQZOKfRB1-XAD7rSJAiYDW08-eK3d8M_wjulU79JFBVyCysrptmL1L_NSJ9r0efXUWTRaVtNB5QIhC45SUVoh2-xhTVxjN/s400/388815_10150485421817393_747962392_8666385_705107123_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728770287506850610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">19 weeks:</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrorWYqBul19BxdyRFWuyAKoQCgvluRqsPXuXhxXSzkakhL74L7ztVTih_KuBPYrO2xaFIkn-0l8aF1g-1KYkEZwJrJxNbk5aSf9h0UnwuV_rLFzZCRXy6A8LhGVteL6JFiyoWWDluuEak/s1600/430858_10150535617052393_747962392_8820413_122239628_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrorWYqBul19BxdyRFWuyAKoQCgvluRqsPXuXhxXSzkakhL74L7ztVTih_KuBPYrO2xaFIkn-0l8aF1g-1KYkEZwJrJxNbk5aSf9h0UnwuV_rLFzZCRXy6A8LhGVteL6JFiyoWWDluuEak/s400/430858_10150535617052393_747962392_8820413_122239628_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728769055228242658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">23 weeks:</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLDlC3cVUBPkzjgem6zBESyK4utC98NqZ9snnXA7njnPYHsiCLvUwDPiccRX7gqb8qR0WPC4QpUymuaWD1TuvqWHJGM5sb4Znv7X65q_Vkx0fEk8NXkm6tyxNvfTyFGwJ0r8zvAQrO1gt/s1600/426079_10150594808362393_31105707_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLDlC3cVUBPkzjgem6zBESyK4utC98NqZ9snnXA7njnPYHsiCLvUwDPiccRX7gqb8qR0WPC4QpUymuaWD1TuvqWHJGM5sb4Znv7X65q_Vkx0fEk8NXkm6tyxNvfTyFGwJ0r8zvAQrO1gt/s400/426079_10150594808362393_31105707_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728769206861751202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg54TojhhEdfwzaqklrEBI2QDpUpio3l-SqOE15ICmndq7qBY07kCMNolTARCmQ3l22Hg8_Y2PdWQs_W8nIYL8VtrRsI_3CI4AMEzUQkiKSOQNZX57QgZZK8jA3SLaz2UXY8E33gDJxcz/s1600/423442_10150594808627393_747962392_9003239_197444369_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg54TojhhEdfwzaqklrEBI2QDpUpio3l-SqOE15ICmndq7qBY07kCMNolTARCmQ3l22Hg8_Y2PdWQs_W8nIYL8VtrRsI_3CI4AMEzUQkiKSOQNZX57QgZZK8jA3SLaz2UXY8E33gDJxcz/s400/423442_10150594808627393_747962392_9003239_197444369_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728769328433419634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">28 weeks:</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-3xsuf3QI7_puFmtaM2kx5PH6PMGMZzdvBbQ0GIk8lTD1ghDUNgRkCkvPoyro7gMSosv3rnMg2w5m1ey-uFWltrucm0qThVXjSF5RG3F7Ypw9x1LYWUuIClUBVoMMY42xTrX0hhg153j/s1600/542806_10150654172672393_747962392_9226212_639525243_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-3xsuf3QI7_puFmtaM2kx5PH6PMGMZzdvBbQ0GIk8lTD1ghDUNgRkCkvPoyro7gMSosv3rnMg2w5m1ey-uFWltrucm0qThVXjSF5RG3F7Ypw9x1LYWUuIClUBVoMMY42xTrX0hhg153j/s400/542806_10150654172672393_747962392_9226212_639525243_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728769490316494290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Stretch marks finally showed up at 26 weeks. Based on my size and rate of growth at that point, I'd likely have flown through a singleton pregnancy unscathed. Oh well, it's not like I'm regularly sporting midriff-baring ensembles anyhoot. Guess I'll have to splurge on a pair of Spanx if things don't snap back. Ain't not thang.<br /><br />Growth since Wednesday has suddenly rendered me unable to bend over by more than a few inches. If I want something on the ground, I'll be squatting or getting onto my hands and knees for it.<br /><br />Half of my maternity shirts are getting too short, Donald's jackets no longer zip up, and only one of my sweatshirts fits. And non maternity pants? Forget about it.<br />However, I <span style="font-style: italic;">refuse</span> to spend more money on larger and ill fitting maternity (read:ugly) clothes to accommodate this watermelon for 6-9 more weeks. So forgive the camisole-covered lower baby-bump that's now popping out of many outfits, but I've got two robust boys growing up in here.<br /><br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-61368707104128575372012-04-06T14:48:00.003-07:002012-06-13T06:30:27.514-07:00Good FridayKatrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-13285865391277285802012-03-24T11:12:00.005-07:002012-03-24T11:19:32.569-07:00Chunky-DunksThe boys are growing well, as evidenced by their 26w ultrasound pictures.<br /><br />Just look at these cheeks!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8PyfEdsNFr78MZvXarcwR9-gv9lqL1ZFNWySgTEWQiGnr7evzlkAgETlUP5TZEg8FTYLrhtY82NiJO5SQAgFKXPxvyeFUv4iX2oiEqfCvy9afc-FzZJaeiezPBSwqLEuHu1fbjVQQPAW/s1600/552810_10150629214722393_747962392_9131858_866765081_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8PyfEdsNFr78MZvXarcwR9-gv9lqL1ZFNWySgTEWQiGnr7evzlkAgETlUP5TZEg8FTYLrhtY82NiJO5SQAgFKXPxvyeFUv4iX2oiEqfCvy9afc-FzZJaeiezPBSwqLEuHu1fbjVQQPAW/s400/552810_10150629214722393_747962392_9131858_866765081_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723529238808534850" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmoK8LmzjCMkTsChdETu3iXI4gUYacH3TQWBPfuuQeZ8UqNSUhiWa94dgvCIcABwkq9JpyAKfsHAnbgr9hiSHL3TjHaj8G7OLYYC4Abt331dVOQ-uCfKL5HPelc3Ng8Z7bVaCbGpKQ09U/s1600/552996_10150629224052393_747962392_9131867_1804860468_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmoK8LmzjCMkTsChdETu3iXI4gUYacH3TQWBPfuuQeZ8UqNSUhiWa94dgvCIcABwkq9JpyAKfsHAnbgr9hiSHL3TjHaj8G7OLYYC4Abt331dVOQ-uCfKL5HPelc3Ng8Z7bVaCbGpKQ09U/s400/552996_10150629224052393_747962392_9131867_1804860468_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723529369033566306" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8PyfEdsNFr78MZvXarcwR9-gv9lqL1ZFNWySgTEWQiGnr7evzlkAgETlUP5TZEg8FTYLrhtY82NiJO5SQAgFKXPxvyeFUv4iX2oiEqfCvy9afc-FzZJaeiezPBSwqLEuHu1fbjVQQPAW/s1600/552810_10150629214722393_747962392_9131858_866765081_n.jpg"><br /></a>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-19964578433908038312012-02-02T19:28:00.001-08:002012-02-02T19:47:28.082-08:00The Lovely Us<div style="text-align: center;">A few months ago Donald and I had a session done with <a href="http://www.merrileedphotography.com/">Merrilee D. Photography</a>. It was a fun day, and the results were beautiful.<br /><br />All the pictures turned out awesome, but the following are our favorites (if you click on them, the resolution improves greatly!). I'm just sorry it took so long for me to decide on our favorites and get them posted!<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5dxWKHzbg6dATjgsJq90h0sfuP72OabtbSt2MZ50lpViiK_d7sLDBvuCLyygYX-YTHrrwavRV08c13RVxbF3ZQcT8O3mD7MeBy1EBT0ZYu86TFHdx6MJMj0LWad_HoR8xw3aRa794rBv/s1600/Winn8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5dxWKHzbg6dATjgsJq90h0sfuP72OabtbSt2MZ50lpViiK_d7sLDBvuCLyygYX-YTHrrwavRV08c13RVxbF3ZQcT8O3mD7MeBy1EBT0ZYu86TFHdx6MJMj0LWad_HoR8xw3aRa794rBv/s400/Winn8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704747240323619202" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVgrEhZ55puiMO5vLnAqULl1Exci9BhFTqFZiKrPP6XCXr9nXGMUpXQi2-LdXliHG8nDr96DW24_w_W8Z1HiK7agByJb5AnFF-w2CqGWi7V6teDWkVwIgOEZA_w3L9qv_gmL217e11TMJ/s1600/Winn14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVgrEhZ55puiMO5vLnAqULl1Exci9BhFTqFZiKrPP6XCXr9nXGMUpXQi2-LdXliHG8nDr96DW24_w_W8Z1HiK7agByJb5AnFF-w2CqGWi7V6teDWkVwIgOEZA_w3L9qv_gmL217e11TMJ/s400/Winn14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704746978923093826" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E9P_bnJe7lMFTj1oS59QEpKjVP2Q5fOgtrtjLtnCHUabIDWB8Kix24XZZjdn4cVj2LXgdiOCZ1Xd9OZBfFGWzHg4cLTCxnJ_uz8uG_uuwZqKtLwFMDhp6PHPv5NoKhbIDpe2zwpwOaF_/s1600/Winn96.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E9P_bnJe7lMFTj1oS59QEpKjVP2Q5fOgtrtjLtnCHUabIDWB8Kix24XZZjdn4cVj2LXgdiOCZ1Xd9OZBfFGWzHg4cLTCxnJ_uz8uG_uuwZqKtLwFMDhp6PHPv5NoKhbIDpe2zwpwOaF_/s400/Winn96.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704747527574729938" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DREFaV1940YLoqaSS42pcyPtKTlq3IhVbAxevw-THAp2OslchonnrZsCg-atP6TaWSg5GdtSupBnmB4T2kn4Mg9yHWAf9Lf9ur0JhRcnbvWyUB68qX3E8yk_FtvRXDGgxVeBlaUIcjSq/s1600/Winn4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DREFaV1940YLoqaSS42pcyPtKTlq3IhVbAxevw-THAp2OslchonnrZsCg-atP6TaWSg5GdtSupBnmB4T2kn4Mg9yHWAf9Lf9ur0JhRcnbvWyUB68qX3E8yk_FtvRXDGgxVeBlaUIcjSq/s400/Winn4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704749653916330738" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKGLsmgpo8m2zGNVzERsrb1npui3tdD6YK2JrbgCOKiaxxjlE0A2jOYlrEziH4CpsKIhocOtURyPu70BZ4vsPsR7SaPZeNz6vFe6jcEtKNNtwoBBkhtlTF5hNQ5_s4NwazDFMFzFi87LP/s1600/Winn112.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKGLsmgpo8m2zGNVzERsrb1npui3tdD6YK2JrbgCOKiaxxjlE0A2jOYlrEziH4CpsKIhocOtURyPu70BZ4vsPsR7SaPZeNz6vFe6jcEtKNNtwoBBkhtlTF5hNQ5_s4NwazDFMFzFi87LP/s400/Winn112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704749852723092562" border="0" /></a>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-57389499711552569412012-01-23T09:45:00.001-08:002012-01-23T10:00:21.627-08:00Gender Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">Baby A (or was it B? Eh, <span style="font-style: italic;">one</span> of them) is a <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">boy</span>!<br /><br />Twin B was a bit shy. We saw <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span>, but said thing was not conclusively a <span style="font-style: italic;">boy</span>-thing.<br />My pathological need to shop the baby girl isles has me holding onto hope that the undetermined <span style="font-style: italic;">thing</span> we saw was merely a hand or other gender-neutral piece of anatomy, but we should know for sure next week.<br /><br />Until then, Donald's taken to calling them his boy<span style="font-weight: bold;">s</span>. And, after a particularly vivid dream last week of me conversing with two adorably chunky 2 year old boys in matching overalls, complete with their father's frontal cowlick on both, I've happily hopped on the "boys" bandwagon too.<br /><br />We'll know soon enough though!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-60493040201292737112011-12-29T19:17:00.000-08:002011-12-29T19:36:46.035-08:00Things are ChangingWell, at 14 weeks pregnant I'm now showing with these two rascals.<br /><br />The crippling morning sickness is better. At around 12 weeks I graduated from non-stop-all-day-nausea to "I feel great! Oh, hold that thought... vomit"<br />Most nights I still find myself very suddenly heaving for no obvious reason, but for the most part that's a vast improvement, and I'm counting my blessings.<br /><br />Other notable things:<br /><br />My pre-pregnancy pants are now barely wearable. They button, but not without effort or discomfort.<br /><br />My belly button is increasingly less "innie" every day.<br /><br />I've developed a taste for spicy foods, along with chocolate. The cravings of Donald's children, undoubtedly.<br /><br />I'm irritable. Almost all the time. I just don't enjoy people.<br /><br />I can barely breath when our Newfoundland decides to snuggle on me at 4am, and I have an (ir)rational fear that he's going to smoosh them at some point.<br /><br />My previous preference for very light salad dressing has been replaced with a "ranch soup with greens" approach.<br /><br />Donald gets very angry when I poke or jostle my belly. He doesn't appreciate my attempts at early sleep training, and insists I'll do brain damage.<br /><br />I'm currently reading "When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, and Quads", which contends (with profoundly convincing evidence) that I need to be consuming 176 grams of protein every day... which is my first official shortcoming as a mother, because that's a lot of protein.<br /><br />And that's about it.Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-63138219603729506662011-12-08T11:25:00.000-08:002011-12-08T11:30:16.071-08:00You Gotta Laugh<div style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure which of these I love more.<br /><br />Adopt? Have twins?<br /><br />Neither has technically happened for me yet, but simply experiencing the pre-stages of both made me giggle at these.<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mm9b6C9hBZ4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tT-lgB_HGEE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-23298530743600361222011-11-24T12:42:00.000-08:002011-11-24T12:55:53.497-08:00Gratitude Is...<div style="text-align: center;">Eating for <span style="font-style: italic;">three</span> on Thanksgiving!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgZfL7uHnZW-StG5Osm6KsC1CVzVFfJn1PQ9nTBcSX8akHjWgjDJLQbvYK8GVGDvR-JAQSJwtuN4HMbD-IRNYgUdpuLCI4i839HUcMFE4EB48Py0wPxHQcPnxyOyuF-wVmJh4DejdPT1Y/s1600/8w5labeled.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgZfL7uHnZW-StG5Osm6KsC1CVzVFfJn1PQ9nTBcSX8akHjWgjDJLQbvYK8GVGDvR-JAQSJwtuN4HMbD-IRNYgUdpuLCI4i839HUcMFE4EB48Py0wPxHQcPnxyOyuF-wVmJh4DejdPT1Y/s400/8w5labeled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678665671636020466" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The twins will be arriving in June.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Happy Thanksgiving! </span><br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-69548044011175043742011-11-11T20:28:00.000-08:002011-11-11T21:01:07.108-08:00Halloween Wedding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KoxprgBo9fvtAn5u2bXSit8R7atalVAPzVKKUGhXfT5Wi07oepSfqkeJlfH5YxPjTyIMhuLkTPeVJK6uZVI8A353dQzYkAYLenQjpmDV1EIHEDdc2FSUd4ZDb5Lv-Z1NKNWCfcMhMjbA/s1600/300406_243735959015215_124801280908684_638651_1265898448_n.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRtvnMv02GcJEnNas6eIKu9eZWjZvOObRvmMSLks2k1wtFVIhhhAZDucYrK1awOcgXr1H5JGHh3EKVP1EfXRs8-sGsh5I4VnLL4idnjDZv-W-RxedGFcDmJNg4td8095WV8k9vNsPff3K/s1600/316793_243727989016012_124801280908684_638564_425945293_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRtvnMv02GcJEnNas6eIKu9eZWjZvOObRvmMSLks2k1wtFVIhhhAZDucYrK1awOcgXr1H5JGHh3EKVP1EfXRs8-sGsh5I4VnLL4idnjDZv-W-RxedGFcDmJNg4td8095WV8k9vNsPff3K/s320/316793_243727989016012_124801280908684_638564_425945293_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673964449765678498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFihJA0TT1Xtdczs7vgAIEPllis8cY-D1IiXLVOlTQHOl8akr_wIAd2bHYc-LTdzRgU4cCaWE5n020nKQRKAnNJDQTMwqMD6dFaznC726nrdVpQZLtirdsJUhyqAQ32dFZZ72guR1D8UL/s1600/374240_243729742349170_124801280908684_638579_1755106976_n.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQs9XPHuev3VBjR4iQKqLpdNjnF5rM9pj0LPqJTGz1w5K1VnSxAA_KK9Ub0v5rJs4o8NRkWaZ37hnJQvTHGAdCDu12WxTzfvYWAUlJjyqRHXodn_n519rMBxvgLsVJEZjNXjDWckRWxs2/s1600/391288_243734505682027_124801280908684_638634_71688071_n.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One of my best friends was married on Halloween this year. For me, that came with the honor of being a bridesmaid.<br />Everything about the night (freezing temperatures while trying to take pictures on the dock aside), was picture perfect. Life is never dull with Crystal, and her wedding was no exception.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2TiNyxNrRBY_ZOXUvra4uFydSPbvkmlAuJn3zjevS8mR7kMx6Z_oOpZrrtzncNwWHTuvnfbJMKufB8deXMWilqE3rqepcMDSBLVmAxYAH9yc1dKU-h4-07vE2SpeQDbjTaoHONu_QA1l/s1600/299746_243733392348805_124801280908684_638620_1532281611_n-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2TiNyxNrRBY_ZOXUvra4uFydSPbvkmlAuJn3zjevS8mR7kMx6Z_oOpZrrtzncNwWHTuvnfbJMKufB8deXMWilqE3rqepcMDSBLVmAxYAH9yc1dKU-h4-07vE2SpeQDbjTaoHONu_QA1l/s320/299746_243733392348805_124801280908684_638620_1532281611_n-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673962524176044818" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDuty2zIVvuNcb3WS0ZWgYJzyzhcRz_uwuTlh5wLcIqA9gQD3l6NAEKduzbaQR5Zmx5FEb8UGt3PNq4L_ZkdzlUGTJIKBZqzfQFXFz-bcKOgQ9J3RI0bpmBSXHNjvkXFAOAGeeInpldaS/s1600/385840_243730419015769_124801280908684_638587_2005263452_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDuty2zIVvuNcb3WS0ZWgYJzyzhcRz_uwuTlh5wLcIqA9gQD3l6NAEKduzbaQR5Zmx5FEb8UGt3PNq4L_ZkdzlUGTJIKBZqzfQFXFz-bcKOgQ9J3RI0bpmBSXHNjvkXFAOAGeeInpldaS/s320/385840_243730419015769_124801280908684_638587_2005263452_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673966606651409938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here I am, on the left!:<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkgG91gh1DvuugJoXNfNEKCGqpoQ7R8cD6rzEtolhFQsLZ5tY4VzubX5fWn5MzVSxMnQAThlxNGsxNTP4J4kHADSmPOM5usfgO-khwaFHdVJn72R2mntq3KBp1DXckM_oXhbHZKAWTZoo/s1600/390669_243732342348910_124801280908684_638610_1540376429_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkgG91gh1DvuugJoXNfNEKCGqpoQ7R8cD6rzEtolhFQsLZ5tY4VzubX5fWn5MzVSxMnQAThlxNGsxNTP4J4kHADSmPOM5usfgO-khwaFHdVJn72R2mntq3KBp1DXckM_oXhbHZKAWTZoo/s320/390669_243732342348910_124801280908684_638610_1540376429_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673963542937104386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQs9XPHuev3VBjR4iQKqLpdNjnF5rM9pj0LPqJTGz1w5K1VnSxAA_KK9Ub0v5rJs4o8NRkWaZ37hnJQvTHGAdCDu12WxTzfvYWAUlJjyqRHXodn_n519rMBxvgLsVJEZjNXjDWckRWxs2/s1600/391288_243734505682027_124801280908684_638634_71688071_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQs9XPHuev3VBjR4iQKqLpdNjnF5rM9pj0LPqJTGz1w5K1VnSxAA_KK9Ub0v5rJs4o8NRkWaZ37hnJQvTHGAdCDu12WxTzfvYWAUlJjyqRHXodn_n519rMBxvgLsVJEZjNXjDWckRWxs2/s320/391288_243734505682027_124801280908684_638634_71688071_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673962530129584882" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5IgSC8r40ksPygQJGzkqT61ENTKDyEXT2WadzP1nrMis3rp_J0OTlII-whvAIQCQltXrSUSrmyYGLlil-ZSA94aS4IKIqzjahfN9o8LRfucK9uxEp3hKyhR7qBC9F3GLLTPdGb-eZ-ms/s1600/374432_239028466152631_124801280908684_623245_1679671722_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5IgSC8r40ksPygQJGzkqT61ENTKDyEXT2WadzP1nrMis3rp_J0OTlII-whvAIQCQltXrSUSrmyYGLlil-ZSA94aS4IKIqzjahfN9o8LRfucK9uxEp3hKyhR7qBC9F3GLLTPdGb-eZ-ms/s320/374432_239028466152631_124801280908684_623245_1679671722_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673963546909918450" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQs9XPHuev3VBjR4iQKqLpdNjnF5rM9pj0LPqJTGz1w5K1VnSxAA_KK9Ub0v5rJs4o8NRkWaZ37hnJQvTHGAdCDu12WxTzfvYWAUlJjyqRHXodn_n519rMBxvgLsVJEZjNXjDWckRWxs2/s1600/391288_243734505682027_124801280908684_638634_71688071_n.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidygFHr15kWuign504FLCYgLZ4oduSCffdy4uW0pc5FNck09fLu0Tc5y79NmEugLLh8DCcpkuLCtstf-eiXOIngaYlEh2UIZqzXZ3WXO2Fz9tjGqKaDfLt13AsB_FQCT0UvugnoNdl9ALj/s1600/374240_243729742349170_124801280908684_638579_1755106976_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidygFHr15kWuign504FLCYgLZ4oduSCffdy4uW0pc5FNck09fLu0Tc5y79NmEugLLh8DCcpkuLCtstf-eiXOIngaYlEh2UIZqzXZ3WXO2Fz9tjGqKaDfLt13AsB_FQCT0UvugnoNdl9ALj/s320/374240_243729742349170_124801280908684_638579_1755106976_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673962508952627202" border="0" /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeZdXbwZySZ0VZyrXiZfK5SScsmBI-_FyskmVW8HdfrAoOiiw10cLravmJ384KAQOGA5acQ8YABTRPgeOjb26Ja7m0b-XuqoQq211v2RSSGDsg2dwt6GDXdRkiwevgQeG5-z5Y-p0k917/s1600/319978_243730012349143_124801280908684_638582_2091893779_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeZdXbwZySZ0VZyrXiZfK5SScsmBI-_FyskmVW8HdfrAoOiiw10cLravmJ384KAQOGA5acQ8YABTRPgeOjb26Ja7m0b-XuqoQq211v2RSSGDsg2dwt6GDXdRkiwevgQeG5-z5Y-p0k917/s320/319978_243730012349143_124801280908684_638582_2091893779_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673963532604981842" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFihJA0TT1Xtdczs7vgAIEPllis8cY-D1IiXLVOlTQHOl8akr_wIAd2bHYc-LTdzRgU4cCaWE5n020nKQRKAnNJDQTMwqMD6dFaznC726nrdVpQZLtirdsJUhyqAQ32dFZZ72guR1D8UL/s1600/374240_243729742349170_124801280908684_638579_1755106976_n.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriKUbMetE5QeISN-gNUd0MbZl20Fsr0CKK_G8s7Em-hJ8fIoCujq_2Ky7nOJNkEj1DAIVqfTPB0V4m2LqAXmpXmohX2CYmGYEm_YCvAW8l6HyWj7gewoS7aKLu8X1pFHsbDG9hI-bU59f/s1600/375512_243728302349314_124801280908684_638568_1140349709_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriKUbMetE5QeISN-gNUd0MbZl20Fsr0CKK_G8s7Em-hJ8fIoCujq_2Ky7nOJNkEj1DAIVqfTPB0V4m2LqAXmpXmohX2CYmGYEm_YCvAW8l6HyWj7gewoS7aKLu8X1pFHsbDG9hI-bU59f/s320/375512_243728302349314_124801280908684_638568_1140349709_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673963533460359378" border="0" /><br /></a>Crystal and Marcus, the charming couple:<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubupaPb-VzQHzE4gdOhClHChLtk0XHs06onvQUvbdjoIm2uc0l8OGVIwh2XvQRShvJVVhg9zGb8IPfi1-l_ygNietOm-a95_Y_-A9WZrc0kwq2OBuAdYC3J3S7RyNwUbCFUrDsekQLNl0/s1600/385535_243735895681888_124801280908684_638649_1548811376_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubupaPb-VzQHzE4gdOhClHChLtk0XHs06onvQUvbdjoIm2uc0l8OGVIwh2XvQRShvJVVhg9zGb8IPfi1-l_ygNietOm-a95_Y_-A9WZrc0kwq2OBuAdYC3J3S7RyNwUbCFUrDsekQLNl0/s320/385535_243735895681888_124801280908684_638649_1548811376_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673964445502219090" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KoxprgBo9fvtAn5u2bXSit8R7atalVAPzVKKUGhXfT5Wi07oepSfqkeJlfH5YxPjTyIMhuLkTPeVJK6uZVI8A353dQzYkAYLenQjpmDV1EIHEDdc2FSUd4ZDb5Lv-Z1NKNWCfcMhMjbA/s1600/300406_243735959015215_124801280908684_638651_1265898448_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KoxprgBo9fvtAn5u2bXSit8R7atalVAPzVKKUGhXfT5Wi07oepSfqkeJlfH5YxPjTyIMhuLkTPeVJK6uZVI8A353dQzYkAYLenQjpmDV1EIHEDdc2FSUd4ZDb5Lv-Z1NKNWCfcMhMjbA/s320/300406_243735959015215_124801280908684_638651_1265898448_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673964442574487314" border="0" /><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The dinner was so festive! The settings, decorations, and linens were just gorgeous.<br />(oop, and there I am again, ruining the shot!)<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvVY-M22a7CV9gkzUq3nR1NXUDxl2Z8FXx4lUInt15KAREAx7wuF_obMasMteW2vPFQ5ExjxQ9JrOpwYp9IXoSPoF2nBAeyeJBuleHkv7VhPG6ro9h4FWyQtWZI3bW9DPyzujpZfiqwmj/s1600/303072_243736669015144_124801280908684_638659_1148184413_n-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvVY-M22a7CV9gkzUq3nR1NXUDxl2Z8FXx4lUInt15KAREAx7wuF_obMasMteW2vPFQ5ExjxQ9JrOpwYp9IXoSPoF2nBAeyeJBuleHkv7VhPG6ro9h4FWyQtWZI3bW9DPyzujpZfiqwmj/s320/303072_243736669015144_124801280908684_638659_1148184413_n-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673966613937385986" border="0" /><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLtWItS3Um6TRJph-1C8-hJ8UKLzpcLTDHz_Czwd8WjyEZ0-SSzkzYOPOxJFePQQBj0EATlirlLTm6y0QYKemPjnRpX42owq3G39MZvWTKfTeCAQC2a2SRAV23lK9fStVUmNXb5i06XLs/s1600/312675_243735662348578_124801280908684_638647_1014778796_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLtWItS3Um6TRJph-1C8-hJ8UKLzpcLTDHz_Czwd8WjyEZ0-SSzkzYOPOxJFePQQBj0EATlirlLTm6y0QYKemPjnRpX42owq3G39MZvWTKfTeCAQC2a2SRAV23lK9fStVUmNXb5i06XLs/s320/312675_243735662348578_124801280908684_638647_1014778796_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673962514970129938" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">To Crystal: The most adventurous and beautiful bride I've seen in years.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Photography by http://lauramcconnellphotography.com/</span><br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-78607398207650667712011-09-01T14:02:00.001-07:002011-09-01T14:57:02.624-07:00Deuces, Summer!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1BmhRl8SAKrNCXumuhko8BGR_jmmbU6IVpROgPRodJ5EdzoV0HNrt0GX7d8NkeAcqMra40cgWGNhaKq1Js19VPdgcot8EDvM5nDl_bfxiJ-5xuAT4ngFfCojYgN3A63qgQ5LORE2DFVr/s1600/IMG_3434.jpg">
<br /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">ADIOS, Summer of 2011!
<br />I can't say we'll miss you.
<br />
<br />Class(es), Disneyland mid-September for Mom's birthday, Donald coming home from training in late September, being a bridesmaid in a friend's Halloween wedding, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the holidays</span>, and....
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<br />...not having to shave my heat-sensitive baby wildebeest anymore!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1BmhRl8SAKrNCXumuhko8BGR_jmmbU6IVpROgPRodJ5EdzoV0HNrt0GX7d8NkeAcqMra40cgWGNhaKq1Js19VPdgcot8EDvM5nDl_bfxiJ-5xuAT4ngFfCojYgN3A63qgQ5LORE2DFVr/s1600/IMG_3434.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1BmhRl8SAKrNCXumuhko8BGR_jmmbU6IVpROgPRodJ5EdzoV0HNrt0GX7d8NkeAcqMra40cgWGNhaKq1Js19VPdgcot8EDvM5nDl_bfxiJ-5xuAT4ngFfCojYgN3A63qgQ5LORE2DFVr/s320/IMG_3434.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647509774395457394" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SOxJq-53shv4P9GY5EnXiWhsu4UvCjQE2apNtZCWVAiK0Szm398RFvd6j3Cz4Nt3vNVQUMZrSOwd0ngErTpY-7RVyGYgLGCVLF4njExenztUn8bR3MXWwJglKmLyRtOgV_1DOMIpLcbC/s1600/IMG_3437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SOxJq-53shv4P9GY5EnXiWhsu4UvCjQE2apNtZCWVAiK0Szm398RFvd6j3Cz4Nt3vNVQUMZrSOwd0ngErTpY-7RVyGYgLGCVLF4njExenztUn8bR3MXWwJglKmLyRtOgV_1DOMIpLcbC/s320/IMG_3437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647509864214652290" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfTVh0tvgaEtUbJTMR10MNFTUfPyur0RSZK1devbiIeqDPYVPeVmpzc_SHAgqolrIcssrxjMlMCGc6wTTlQmlkL-MeF3Kc82bDzH7gL2lSXY__veYlFgsd5pDrRhhrggptOFMPC2LLRWR/s1600/IMG_3442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfTVh0tvgaEtUbJTMR10MNFTUfPyur0RSZK1devbiIeqDPYVPeVmpzc_SHAgqolrIcssrxjMlMCGc6wTTlQmlkL-MeF3Kc82bDzH7gL2lSXY__veYlFgsd5pDrRhhrggptOFMPC2LLRWR/s320/IMG_3442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647509974973164146" border="0" /></a>Here's two from the time we tried shaving him like a gorilla ("big" and fluffy up front, bare in the back. Like a canine-style-high-and-tight). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzAONiwhWX7HXTE94bvBfOR0E1jtYuwoVyOohboqR-d-Ac71ab_zXfuat1c8F8_iTnDwzBYP4P4uypJWglYV7aa_JdG_o4ePKZrKAVE0uQkJOWIMQvViPuY0RvEsXkL8LZC26V5B3vxPv/s1600/IMG_3446.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzAONiwhWX7HXTE94bvBfOR0E1jtYuwoVyOohboqR-d-Ac71ab_zXfuat1c8F8_iTnDwzBYP4P4uypJWglYV7aa_JdG_o4ePKZrKAVE0uQkJOWIMQvViPuY0RvEsXkL8LZC26V5B3vxPv/s320/IMG_3446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647510056979926002" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITfbB72WsWprn5eK8H9bQnHsYLcHopBC5WBXVVLVCtt-TJ0KL8c4blSeHNFAZt-xWc9ivueQlB0dfXxxgaMWkvQdIpm2hsp7pxALlhzJu-p2t_vyUXDl5AeRmyJ9pDDIQo77M0Wma7_RE/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITfbB72WsWprn5eK8H9bQnHsYLcHopBC5WBXVVLVCtt-TJ0KL8c4blSeHNFAZt-xWc9ivueQlB0dfXxxgaMWkvQdIpm2hsp7pxALlhzJu-p2t_vyUXDl5AeRmyJ9pDDIQo77M0Wma7_RE/s320/IMG_3449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647511169129433266" border="0" /></a>
<br />It didn't go over well, so now we clip him evenly and he's much cooler and happier for it.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM0NB6_5L5-nS4x_mb_mtMiyvukV9Y3i_Ja6vWgpfdKo0Ek31Gk5axLwlLYTQSEhimIkT7pRpHVTxN1EtHlsMug2RE5ZcMdJ6tcnQ7Tjhk6oCI7TqRYKy7UeNu9MUwxfplqRpVIFFSBPN/s1600/IMG_3637.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM0NB6_5L5-nS4x_mb_mtMiyvukV9Y3i_Ja6vWgpfdKo0Ek31Gk5axLwlLYTQSEhimIkT7pRpHVTxN1EtHlsMug2RE5ZcMdJ6tcnQ7Tjhk6oCI7TqRYKy7UeNu9MUwxfplqRpVIFFSBPN/s320/IMG_3637.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647510144938566514" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR03pHIeMp37vWYwexI8XNdq0_mjs_ldbL709DvhqSXpDoUeYH7knyGOQaavhMVStQgR7CTXY_oANZaAPCMi3olsto9DHjUHkDEUviMZmlrkqKj0x6kqQKG1k0xD-6jjArjARkyIkHNyX/s1600/IMG_3630.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR03pHIeMp37vWYwexI8XNdq0_mjs_ldbL709DvhqSXpDoUeYH7knyGOQaavhMVStQgR7CTXY_oANZaAPCMi3olsto9DHjUHkDEUviMZmlrkqKj0x6kqQKG1k0xD-6jjArjARkyIkHNyX/s320/IMG_3630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647510291566458402" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Both</span> our cold-loving dogs are as thrilled as us to throw DEUCES up to this year's summer.
<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-50673271865031022062011-08-12T18:32:00.001-07:002011-08-26T22:50:14.652-07:00Forgetting<div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes it's while I drive home from work, while other days it's not until I'm making dinner. But at least once a day, when I'm alone, I find myself completely overcome by sadness about the adoption falling apart.
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<br />It's a deep, confusing, sorrowful anguish. Yep, it's every bit as dramatic as it sounds. And then, because I need to, I pull myself together.
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<br />Generally speaking, I'm doing well. At least 23 hours a day, I'm composed, functioning, and very happy. Compared to what orphans looks forward to in life, my situation isn't that bad. Donald and I aren't the worse off party in all of this. Life continues for us... but for the orphans? Nope. And that's what kills me most. While we are quickly working on Plan B for our family, I am always mindful that these children have no Plan B. What they were dealt in life is what they get. On the surface, this adoption falling through has altered our life very little. Life continues for us. But "normal"? I don't think I'll ever return to my pre-adoption self.
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<br />When the life of a child is involved, there is no forgetting.
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<br />Even if all three of "our kids" found permanent homes(remember? <a href="http://apairofrealwinners.blogspot.com/2011/04/one-less-orphan.html">one did!),</a> there would still be 147 million more faces just like theirs. Lost, alone, and forgotten by everyone but God... and a handful of people around the world, like myself, broken hearted for them.
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<br />I'm still trying to figure out how I fit into the adoption world now. Given my current state, I've tried (poorly) to distance myself from it. I will continue to advocate for children needing families. <span style="font-style: italic;">Everyone</span> can play a small role in redeeming these angels, even if it's not as parents. Still, I find myself having to be cautious about how deeply I allow myself to delve into the adoption world, because I'm just not strong enough for it at times. In fact, at the threat from Donald of blocking ReecesRainbow.org on my computer, I've agreed to not browse through the hundreds of sweet faces because <span style="font-style: italic;">we can't bring them home</span> and it rips me apart.
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<br />Am I sounding crazy yet? Well, I'm not.
<br />I'm recovering, and holding on to the knowledge that one day, though it may be a few <span style="font-style: italic;">years</span> from now, adoption will be a part of God's plan for our family. Until then, I continue on with my happy little middle-class American life to my very best ability, and enjoy every moment with my husband, friends, and family that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;">But forget? I never will, and I think that's what God wants from all of us.
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<br />Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-48959411151623192152011-08-05T10:45:00.000-07:002011-08-05T10:52:23.711-07:0029<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcULYVOnFoq6I6ci-JwRhsYMGCImBfhf8AgvHT0NJPDKyRcSuhmQiCXd1Bti-MPsMIXOQg4IOLpp6_MnO_eGXhW-PtOOmSazZwxaM_I9WZgp0CWHu5nbYRnmoIzCLzMexvrncvCKTQpZZ/s1600/228497_1862234514689_1205744182_31809183_5704744_n.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />Donald Robert Winn</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcULYVOnFoq6I6ci-JwRhsYMGCImBfhf8AgvHT0NJPDKyRcSuhmQiCXd1Bti-MPsMIXOQg4IOLpp6_MnO_eGXhW-PtOOmSazZwxaM_I9WZgp0CWHu5nbYRnmoIzCLzMexvrncvCKTQpZZ/s1600/228497_1862234514689_1205744182_31809183_5704744_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcULYVOnFoq6I6ci-JwRhsYMGCImBfhf8AgvHT0NJPDKyRcSuhmQiCXd1Bti-MPsMIXOQg4IOLpp6_MnO_eGXhW-PtOOmSazZwxaM_I9WZgp0CWHu5nbYRnmoIzCLzMexvrncvCKTQpZZ/s400/228497_1862234514689_1205744182_31809183_5704744_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637430721904027810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Born 29 years ago today.<br /><br />The planet Earth never saw what was coming.<br /><br />Happy Birthday, Baby-Love!<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-55939958229036364302011-08-03T18:20:00.000-07:002011-08-05T10:53:45.572-07:00No Speculation. Just Bad News.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuWQ5lLnOLWG58FuCL0gbOcUvv0CXHOLfbmVNZc1n8DzIUVZeaozbqRWRxmkwdcsHF8kW2taHPj1SRFn_xuHIiwWcvgEWznEnUNRGS9cAVDjTGbR8CdZ-ohVHsg6jdVlKFMHuQM-H52s_/s1600/Fletcher-edited01.jpeg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTLxZVbFrrYfqNDRUK_5lPeUSex36YtWD8sXgrFMvSIks4-Zb4yMXBXIxOQR15CRUnlQEfRK9-NyQrlygTcUC_eqP5wYiFTLw-6yrwMEXKJUlqeNV-iyBOCeccR_N6KG4nQhviEow3Bz2/s1600/%25D0%25A4%25D0%25BE%25D1%2582%25D0%25BE-0634_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTLxZVbFrrYfqNDRUK_5lPeUSex36YtWD8sXgrFMvSIks4-Zb4yMXBXIxOQR15CRUnlQEfRK9-NyQrlygTcUC_eqP5wYiFTLw-6yrwMEXKJUlqeNV-iyBOCeccR_N6KG4nQhviEow3Bz2/s200/%25D0%25A4%25D0%25BE%25D1%2582%25D0%25BE-0634_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636809977101442322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhaXUU2cbheFkRci55ynT0dvfUErgkhPPX5L9PunnHfdpKL8y4rfRasHr9FRbHjmMLESUliNZVABzXqdNMeU7fYcion1OUbqQLigohreQ5zSTkCucajwbiN4prz-ZbBJ_Lj0AwDtbU_P3/s1600/DSC02924.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhaXUU2cbheFkRci55ynT0dvfUErgkhPPX5L9PunnHfdpKL8y4rfRasHr9FRbHjmMLESUliNZVABzXqdNMeU7fYcion1OUbqQLigohreQ5zSTkCucajwbiN4prz-ZbBJ_Lj0AwDtbU_P3/s200/DSC02924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636809745327288418" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuWQ5lLnOLWG58FuCL0gbOcUvv0CXHOLfbmVNZc1n8DzIUVZeaozbqRWRxmkwdcsHF8kW2taHPj1SRFn_xuHIiwWcvgEWznEnUNRGS9cAVDjTGbR8CdZ-ohVHsg6jdVlKFMHuQM-H52s_/s1600/Fletcher-edited01.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 119px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuWQ5lLnOLWG58FuCL0gbOcUvv0CXHOLfbmVNZc1n8DzIUVZeaozbqRWRxmkwdcsHF8kW2taHPj1SRFn_xuHIiwWcvgEWznEnUNRGS9cAVDjTGbR8CdZ-ohVHsg6jdVlKFMHuQM-H52s_/s200/Fletcher-edited01.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636810488053276802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Aren't they beautiful? </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We didn't know it when we committed to them, but all 3 have hazel eyes of identical shades to Donald or I.</span><br /><br />Several weeks ago we thought the adoption was over.<br /><br />Then we had renewed hope.<br /><br />Now, it's 100% official, and for the worse. We've withdrawn from the adoption process. No if's and's or but's. It's done.<br /><br />We continue to hope and pray that U.krain.e allows children under 5 to be adopted again. When that time comes, I pray that Alyona (Brigitte) and Valeriya (Virginia) have families out there who will find them.<br /><br />However, our adoption journey has ended. The universe has made it abundantly clear.<br /><br />Reece's Rainbow is awesome. I have nothing but positive things to say about them. They're a blessing and truly do what they do for God's most favored and forgotten children.<br /><br />We had 99% of the paperwork complete. We had every dollar needed to make it happen. But the reasons went so far beyond the tangible.<br />My iPhoto is filled with their pictures, along with Fletcher's. A very broken piece of my heart will always be reserved for 3 HIV+ orphans across the ocean who I will never get to hold.<br /><br />I'm angry and miserable, but it is what it is.</div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-81689827234773001792011-07-19T20:29:00.000-07:002011-07-19T20:52:58.867-07:00Holding on to Hope<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Recent news coming out of Eastern Europe (through our facilitators and friends) has been very encouraging, in regards to HIV being added to the list of special needs that allow children under 5 to be adopted.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Many believe that HIV (along with many more conditions) will be added any day, and all are almost certain that it will be approved by October at the latest.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So there you have it. Reason to hope.<br />Nothing is ever certain in the country we're adopting from. Things change quickly and often, but even the women my mom works with here in Washington, who formerly lived in that country, say that the entire nation is in an uproar about the new restrictions, and that many politicians and citizens are speaking out against it.<br /><br />I was finger printed for immigration last week, and Donald did his today. We should have approval any day, and I'm scrambling to amend a few documents that will allow me to travel alone in the event that Donald is deployed or has training.<br /><br />We could be ready to submit within a week or two. If only the law changes.<br /><br />So essentially, we are now waiting. Waiting for things to change - hopefully sooner rather than later. It's terrifying and, at times, very discouraging. But we will be ready.<br /><br /><br />Just look at these girls. Waiting and ready. If their cute little faces don't give me reason to hope, I don't know what could.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZHOBagX0BRp5FCr7OFKn6IXOtMlCS0HNKPyadSGoaX9aU8L-oPLG9bFP4G9lrQCx92t56kBNH3z6wuS1175efBAA8vgykWTjzy5Acv5q9XRmuv5Ucd1RFunHth45wNZot93Dw7FTbd4T/s1600/272407_1844807441751_1287577593_31562494_3036021_o_2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZHOBagX0BRp5FCr7OFKn6IXOtMlCS0HNKPyadSGoaX9aU8L-oPLG9bFP4G9lrQCx92t56kBNH3z6wuS1175efBAA8vgykWTjzy5Acv5q9XRmuv5Ucd1RFunHth45wNZot93Dw7FTbd4T/s400/272407_1844807441751_1287577593_31562494_3036021_o_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631274657553923250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu79m41Z6RMRYaw2g3zqA7O8FEkObXVvh97A5ec12NVwMXb8G2l8YQ9u07kTrodACHDo0nPJci9dyMBACiaVhOc85vuQneYk9YKDWTBXmB6eBSq_e8yzR6T4Jme2n38BSSAw0FoPo2PxW/s1600/DSC03004.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu79m41Z6RMRYaw2g3zqA7O8FEkObXVvh97A5ec12NVwMXb8G2l8YQ9u07kTrodACHDo0nPJci9dyMBACiaVhOc85vuQneYk9YKDWTBXmB6eBSq_e8yzR6T4Jme2n38BSSAw0FoPo2PxW/s320/DSC03004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631275016024181426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A huge thanks to <a href="http://oldhouseonwashington.typepad.com/ouradoptiononwashington/">Missy</a> and <a href="http://followusthere.blogspot.com/">Kim</a>, who took these pictures of the girls while they were there meeting <span style="font-style: italic;">their</span> little ones.<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-1774694679787274462011-07-18T14:37:00.000-07:002011-07-18T22:32:26.393-07:00Harry Potter Night<div style="text-align: center;">On Thursday, in the hours prior to the midnight premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, I had a little Harry Potter-themed shindig at my house.<br /><br /><br />I created a make-shift night sky in the dining room, likened unto Hogwart's great hall, dressed up like a Ravenclaw student, and made various HP treats to feed on.<br /><br />It was nothing too exciting and the crowd was modest, but it was one of the BEST NIGHTS OF MY LIFE.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnQmgCuO3m4MJjlIt2afMRA2wm44vT4k-9J2cdagkJuAcYGozLENwse1axL63StoQmPBwRy4XNrkiHmoFXY6MI8_x1MfC-TEzF5fKPdwb0FJDcTXhLaGzhyl55zvs2kw3RHHhgXE_78Ok/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnQmgCuO3m4MJjlIt2afMRA2wm44vT4k-9J2cdagkJuAcYGozLENwse1axL63StoQmPBwRy4XNrkiHmoFXY6MI8_x1MfC-TEzF5fKPdwb0FJDcTXhLaGzhyl55zvs2kw3RHHhgXE_78Ok/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630810240085748930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and the cursed lightning bolt scar? It just might have been permanently tattooed there that morning. Or might not have. That's up to you to decide.<br /><br />Pictures from that night: (sorry for low picture quality on some of these. My friend Erin and I quickly snapped a few pictures, but we were too busy partying to be worried with photography. The better of the photos were thanks to her. :-)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk2K3X7qNtxCAnopEtcEyvWIQAYAYasNLMrkzaEe9AJx_uC7bOo24fHCYJva6Xx4v2jKtHbKQ__xb3oZ4ex1QUOsZ3iI4XXYZF5Ewl65g2zEmbFvM_nluUOycn3y77VoRrJjvhULUVR_F/s1600/IMG_3515.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk2K3X7qNtxCAnopEtcEyvWIQAYAYasNLMrkzaEe9AJx_uC7bOo24fHCYJva6Xx4v2jKtHbKQ__xb3oZ4ex1QUOsZ3iI4XXYZF5Ewl65g2zEmbFvM_nluUOycn3y77VoRrJjvhULUVR_F/s400/IMG_3515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630917346452897778" border="0" /></a>I "enchanted" the my dining room to reflect the night sky, just as in the great hall.<br />(It's a really dark picture, but shows up a bit better when enlarged. ENGORGIO!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWGd69ZkTNcvcawrfOhKofQHdrCEil17fZ6cv7Y5xr4-aStXYSNPJQkod9GyjgXD2i21FT7jBsfVbo2_W40rYyb9aafq6326cJjEFuVZhCUyYZsmcjvHrPBBBZG-rdjZs-mDSHMYkITi_/s1600/IMG_3514.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWGd69ZkTNcvcawrfOhKofQHdrCEil17fZ6cv7Y5xr4-aStXYSNPJQkod9GyjgXD2i21FT7jBsfVbo2_W40rYyb9aafq6326cJjEFuVZhCUyYZsmcjvHrPBBBZG-rdjZs-mDSHMYkITi_/s400/IMG_3514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630921513128304242" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL3z1cxuKdRf8e2Zjr5XbpUMkwG2YJVrG8-wxD6vfpscG7pwxC2JaYXRZuyuJH_RQK_VTtCeNJYVuhJprf4IKPcfhyadOTkvPnq0Aspdx2kdeaejNEXTBkQgjqz12XLl7X67V7jfsuKqW/s1600/IMG_3530.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHufDVzbdFezB5LBbxziT91BpWZoJSr9vbbestA-V5obexL4vhhEp8EQCyvbegT8XK-KNS75sFcIMM-pOJzxVeS-n5mzkspw1mm5vYe3pCTgQ0sZoThMIYPDbOpJSPwCZSyAEhR5WcO4G/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHufDVzbdFezB5LBbxziT91BpWZoJSr9vbbestA-V5obexL4vhhEp8EQCyvbegT8XK-KNS75sFcIMM-pOJzxVeS-n5mzkspw1mm5vYe3pCTgQ0sZoThMIYPDbOpJSPwCZSyAEhR5WcO4G/s400/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630922023762617026" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhJs7PPFatKbJGO114cgRPsWMR9L0VwflYZvsBYh4OqP58FVHjEE3EIYsNnQ9FNu1oQGQGWXCODvnYJv6LJxaFxehAbU0OwLxBDKV8nynOb4KLYlOu27w6hOHFtU5mDU84Qyfoi0gciRk/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhJs7PPFatKbJGO114cgRPsWMR9L0VwflYZvsBYh4OqP58FVHjEE3EIYsNnQ9FNu1oQGQGWXCODvnYJv6LJxaFxehAbU0OwLxBDKV8nynOb4KLYlOu27w6hOHFtU5mDU84Qyfoi0gciRk/s400/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630922210360187218" border="0" /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Can you see me in my Ravenclaw uniform? In the back, toward the left? I think I'm clearing something yummy out of my teeth.<br /><br /></span></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUwOB2GlQTLLNlK9KjbLkgmqzNTOK8lS9KNBXFAhNSSdiGWMoOxjBJRfbV3UfpCs3Z9iMkR7UmatBMau77M6Qc1BR3Pk2vuIVH_bScU6bZw-jwRlvO-FQVHEstZN0_awAGzHvrnMwyhyphenhyphenh/s1600/IMG_3518.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUwOB2GlQTLLNlK9KjbLkgmqzNTOK8lS9KNBXFAhNSSdiGWMoOxjBJRfbV3UfpCs3Z9iMkR7UmatBMau77M6Qc1BR3Pk2vuIVH_bScU6bZw-jwRlvO-FQVHEstZN0_awAGzHvrnMwyhyphenhyphenh/s400/IMG_3518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630922514834397986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySGrCj-1hLGAtDZAZ6qb9NJxUwPFpJVuMrF3u03-zRUCDBiiBvJR-TBIT4GuReX1ZZA6JW9rBw8O4j8cKtI4o3U2ZwpXR1RgdiZISyi-tvW7PnkVPznjt-d7Bw1Wckbw0f8kdqQb-Y6y6/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySGrCj-1hLGAtDZAZ6qb9NJxUwPFpJVuMrF3u03-zRUCDBiiBvJR-TBIT4GuReX1ZZA6JW9rBw8O4j8cKtI4o3U2ZwpXR1RgdiZISyi-tvW7PnkVPznjt-d7Bw1Wckbw0f8kdqQb-Y6y6/s400/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630923393673665074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Treats:<br /><br />Chocolate Frogs!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYNnmUS7DStwgjAGzXR8jvQvFBcPI0gpjMZUC7Bw-tBBCiWvAcAGGYSgyHDFVhCW0tHJu91hZZr4Tb5oio_EZqyIwmKLN7dLLAAXGR29y0yIg7gYhqZh33YjmQzCLrwXQYiHSv6EYCACV/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYNnmUS7DStwgjAGzXR8jvQvFBcPI0gpjMZUC7Bw-tBBCiWvAcAGGYSgyHDFVhCW0tHJu91hZZr4Tb5oio_EZqyIwmKLN7dLLAAXGR29y0yIg7gYhqZh33YjmQzCLrwXQYiHSv6EYCACV/s400/012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630921011579255090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Adorable Peppermint Toads! Deliciousness evidenced by half of its body's absence.<br />Tutorial found here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeJ7YHCYk4xPAhdR2YWUGHUWQOqYkteoGM3eIBy-5yMWqYpQ-EuE3PY8wpIdy9uY_R8SNF4_odC8fOukvD4PAN_vy-sekTH9A79Cg3MeShnzfh4Q2I4rsE-vEuiI1UYank_IiqcPZR_34/s1600/IMG_3542.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeJ7YHCYk4xPAhdR2YWUGHUWQOqYkteoGM3eIBy-5yMWqYpQ-EuE3PY8wpIdy9uY_R8SNF4_odC8fOukvD4PAN_vy-sekTH9A79Cg3MeShnzfh4Q2I4rsE-vEuiI1UYank_IiqcPZR_34/s400/IMG_3542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630921281050968754" border="0" /></a><br />Cauldron Cakes. Pam arrived early and made the delicious frosting for me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt2Zzn1KycV-2EKWfPxLXxUmKnC7m9ZZn6XwiufBq6a7JRwOaHwG0XPzCeK-Nx8FX6oDdnA6s_YlSyU98UNrR-GUXxAAAHeWhjd3ezrDingmzxn-WNA7auqrSMgS9YF6AbU4bJ1ig1It-/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt2Zzn1KycV-2EKWfPxLXxUmKnC7m9ZZn6XwiufBq6a7JRwOaHwG0XPzCeK-Nx8FX6oDdnA6s_YlSyU98UNrR-GUXxAAAHeWhjd3ezrDingmzxn-WNA7auqrSMgS9YF6AbU4bJ1ig1It-/s400/013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630921087475977794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The problem with throwing a party 7:30pm in the summer is that it's bright outside, making a "magical" environment tricky. Simple fix: duct tape trash bags into the windows.<br /><br />So here are things prior to trash bags and lights out:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kj-8xIBaX9xwTfhPHOYtZKa_i7UEZnnPWz-z98j9OFXv9qThwcFyY9R57Gc1gf3FAALiCaMduJPjPLrWYItZN_QxMd_lKhQbkcLncXoPFiAe5pFsd0-uKxfjql6bkfYZXNNGKk8w_6si/s1600/IMG_3523.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kj-8xIBaX9xwTfhPHOYtZKa_i7UEZnnPWz-z98j9OFXv9qThwcFyY9R57Gc1gf3FAALiCaMduJPjPLrWYItZN_QxMd_lKhQbkcLncXoPFiAe5pFsd0-uKxfjql6bkfYZXNNGKk8w_6si/s400/IMG_3523.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630916975370817058" border="0" /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYbGRU5EmPZMWG0zgN5cdQe8WVEwgDKlMX-WnQvPbUX9Vqu5uZLVbSlvlReDE7OvjWTPnAzpmPSWqJ4_Qh9Whk6aBTXGDN_SnGuLUgu9xYha5erOV2-q2GdChtLlRz6LST-C9olfB_a6e/s1600/IMG_3525.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYbGRU5EmPZMWG0zgN5cdQe8WVEwgDKlMX-WnQvPbUX9Vqu5uZLVbSlvlReDE7OvjWTPnAzpmPSWqJ4_Qh9Whk6aBTXGDN_SnGuLUgu9xYha5erOV2-q2GdChtLlRz6LST-C9olfB_a6e/s400/IMG_3525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630917908321783890" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGhEv1mu5gPc5BsNWzgq3I_f-XeVc98jN2OPZgpfdMqlRHC7U0LmfRJc7fo289eRukJWKkAJnnOKaIALwz7YqqaqZaE0itrzlfYseROafEb6ix36YKZ8UE-6mDconRSRtgP-UdsCTA-xW/s1600/IMG_3526.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGhEv1mu5gPc5BsNWzgq3I_f-XeVc98jN2OPZgpfdMqlRHC7U0LmfRJc7fo289eRukJWKkAJnnOKaIALwz7YqqaqZaE0itrzlfYseROafEb6ix36YKZ8UE-6mDconRSRtgP-UdsCTA-xW/s400/IMG_3526.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630917697600140386" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYMfYZ5RnBwDEYCUiSReNy02seJPnm5ocjwNYNycsvIp0i5EH146g9VHyufpz-1La8wekVsEpujBQ7gBrXSh_HTdfUi8UCYKskqKJ26MDUUKe1nYO8rYmuhMK22GmbW_XUZWz0IfhQB6H/s1600/IMG_3506.jpg"><br /></a>My "little" cousin <strike>Gray </strike> Draco Malfoy, helping with the enchanted ceiling.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYMfYZ5RnBwDEYCUiSReNy02seJPnm5ocjwNYNycsvIp0i5EH146g9VHyufpz-1La8wekVsEpujBQ7gBrXSh_HTdfUi8UCYKskqKJ26MDUUKe1nYO8rYmuhMK22GmbW_XUZWz0IfhQB6H/s1600/IMG_3506.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYMfYZ5RnBwDEYCUiSReNy02seJPnm5ocjwNYNycsvIp0i5EH146g9VHyufpz-1La8wekVsEpujBQ7gBrXSh_HTdfUi8UCYKskqKJ26MDUUKe1nYO8rYmuhMK22GmbW_XUZWz0IfhQB6H/s400/IMG_3506.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630916702299491058" border="0" /></a><br />More of Gray, sporting one of the sweet Dark Mark tattoos <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75201818/5-movie-style-dark-mark-temporary">I found on Etsy</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HffHtwxBbNAidSIBrRlvLiR4umGFH1ET88H3TOhDhn9kFP01fP84UCm4IlFcz-Z3llNQDXFUcVwy2Pxo4dECGZp407V2MEwGfCd_aCHzs9CO39W8Ad1mfDfx0CLHAzElaewzmYMQuIUf/s1600/280499_229878247042689_100000615475678_712714_2938007_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HffHtwxBbNAidSIBrRlvLiR4umGFH1ET88H3TOhDhn9kFP01fP84UCm4IlFcz-Z3llNQDXFUcVwy2Pxo4dECGZp407V2MEwGfCd_aCHzs9CO39W8Ad1mfDfx0CLHAzElaewzmYMQuIUf/s400/280499_229878247042689_100000615475678_712714_2938007_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630928872371867442" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL3z1cxuKdRf8e2Zjr5XbpUMkwG2YJVrG8-wxD6vfpscG7pwxC2JaYXRZuyuJH_RQK_VTtCeNJYVuhJprf4IKPcfhyadOTkvPnq0Aspdx2kdeaejNEXTBkQgjqz12XLl7X67V7jfsuKqW/s1600/IMG_3530.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL3z1cxuKdRf8e2Zjr5XbpUMkwG2YJVrG8-wxD6vfpscG7pwxC2JaYXRZuyuJH_RQK_VTtCeNJYVuhJprf4IKPcfhyadOTkvPnq0Aspdx2kdeaejNEXTBkQgjqz12XLl7X67V7jfsuKqW/s400/IMG_3530.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630926734523974130" border="0" /><br /></a><br />The Jesus picture in the entryway took one for the team that night, and had a HP wanted poster taped on top. Who wouldn't sacrifice for a Harry Potter party though, right? Surely not our Savior.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3KEUIqTNnqs8jRAqF-irZuc91_23QlUNM0yK8SN3vGhSRSNWzANtZujxDiW8iQZblItBeoSlWmKEHU9v5FwOowgdN7n24fGHnRuENFIbF2xtWxN5vyGh_x5Utcnv7ihdkBqG8cZh6PD_/s1600/IMG_3529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3KEUIqTNnqs8jRAqF-irZuc91_23QlUNM0yK8SN3vGhSRSNWzANtZujxDiW8iQZblItBeoSlWmKEHU9v5FwOowgdN7n24fGHnRuENFIbF2xtWxN5vyGh_x5Utcnv7ihdkBqG8cZh6PD_/s400/IMG_3529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630929938990909138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Um, pretend the random Spider Man glass wasn't there.<br />Mmmm Pumpkin Bread. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrD7oh5DslW7V6f8Ev4o-eb6QFF36aG_jMpNYYuHKZqCwxpBjZMGZIHFup3O9BxbvkbaneRcwruVZnDMZp91nl8pWP9ri0stdPWMF3VZXb3VSsMk77NC0Qs7vkvDFQq3HP5kZXIqBqxw1/s1600/IMG_3508.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrD7oh5DslW7V6f8Ev4o-eb6QFF36aG_jMpNYYuHKZqCwxpBjZMGZIHFup3O9BxbvkbaneRcwruVZnDMZp91nl8pWP9ri0stdPWMF3VZXb3VSsMk77NC0Qs7vkvDFQq3HP5kZXIqBqxw1/s400/IMG_3508.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630917148435395954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Me. 3am, post-movie. A blotchy pink, swollen, makeup-smeared mess.<br />I had sobbed for about 20 minutes in the theater, so there you have it.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIwBviKrOYnWSRBCYZ1XHAjhwT4rkVdf-IByNadnOGMXWCezvAwahVV0it19ljGxV9FFyE72MAL4sD7vzhj2hyow8zM-wqfduu3Fn-cXL3td6Lz-1Q0zxcwdtJonnqvC55VxzCS0XFZT_/s1600/Photo+on+2011-07-15+at+03.12+%25232.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIwBviKrOYnWSRBCYZ1XHAjhwT4rkVdf-IByNadnOGMXWCezvAwahVV0it19ljGxV9FFyE72MAL4sD7vzhj2hyow8zM-wqfduu3Fn-cXL3td6Lz-1Q0zxcwdtJonnqvC55VxzCS0XFZT_/s400/Photo+on+2011-07-15+at+03.12+%25232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630931506824117442" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ3BCI94A-SjTKLlA-0RCWLVFnBqPWjebiUNEYGEfVVmoBGkBHDCtrz-UCdexuYWuxph3_y_YAP5JKaqlj2uNVF1WMCY2ee7pWWW78iI4G0FagA0GMJ0S82DJUAX9S19TfxhpEKxAM64s/s1600/Photo+on+2011-07-15+at+03.14+%25232.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ3BCI94A-SjTKLlA-0RCWLVFnBqPWjebiUNEYGEfVVmoBGkBHDCtrz-UCdexuYWuxph3_y_YAP5JKaqlj2uNVF1WMCY2ee7pWWW78iI4G0FagA0GMJ0S82DJUAX9S19TfxhpEKxAM64s/s400/Photo+on+2011-07-15+at+03.14+%25232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630931618630820082" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-27723371963107795052011-07-15T21:29:00.000-07:002011-07-15T21:58:02.818-07:00Bittersweet News... and Discouragement<div style="text-align: center;">The country we were adopting from (<span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> adopting from?) has decided to keep their adoption program <span style="font-weight: bold;">open</span> after all. PHENOMENAL, right?<br />Except that children under 5 - our girls - are <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> adoptable anymore.<br />Kids with <span style="font-style: italic;">special needs</span> are adoptable, but HIV does not yet meet their definition of SN for this purpose.<br /><br />Hours before we received the email, Donald and I made the official decision to move on - from adopting at <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> for now. We were putting it behind us. My heart couldn't take much more, and potential deployments in the near future was the deciding factor - we simply didn't have time to complete a new adoption, from a different country, before he left.<br /><br />Then... wow. Nothing is ever certain in our world, lol. The email arrived.<br /><br /><br />So then, with little hope that we'd be allowed to bring home the girls, we had all but decided to adopt a sweet 5 year old boy (who lived in the same orphanage as the boys we were previously hoping to adopt). We were just days away from submitting the official paperwork for him.<br />Until suddenly, he wasn't listed anymore. We soon discovered his posted birthday was inaccurate, and that he was also too young.<br /><br />The upside:<br /><br />It is looking increasingly likely that HIV might be added to the list of approved conditions for the adoption of those under 5 (STOP - insert me leaping joyfully here). However, it's still far from certain, and the time-line for when it may be approved is equally unknown.<br /><br />We've also recently learned that Donald may be deploying this October, rather than next June.<br />We're waiting on official word.<br /><br />And he'll be in Arizona from early August through late September for training. So, if HIV is approved and we're allowed to adopt the girls, then we'll go for it even though I may have to travel alone for the trip, and *possibly* bring them back to a home where daddy is in Afghanistan. FAR from an ideal situation, but having a deployed daddy is far better than being an orphan, right? That's the conclusion I came to, anyway.<br /><br />We're frantically praying that U-country adds HIV sooner rather than later, because once Donald is deployed there will be no way for us to get the appropriate paperwork updated and/or amended (things such as physicals and notarized copies of his passport).<br /><br />Time and hope feels like it's slipping through out fingers.<br />I just want our kidlet(s) home - whoever, and wherever, they may be. I'm ready to stop worrying and writing depressing blogs about the process and HAVE THEM IN MY ARMS instead!<br /><br />Eventually. In His time.<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-67520051568267415882011-07-15T11:04:00.000-07:002011-07-15T11:18:52.718-07:00Divine CourageI love missionaries; particularly the sort that proselyte door-to-door. Even when they're of a differing religion from me, I find speaking with them to be a very uplifting experience.<br />It takes guts, and a complete surrender to faith, to knock on a stranger's door in hopes that the 1 in 1,000 who's willing to listen is out there. The path to that one lost sheep is discouraging and often humiliating and painful. Amen to that type of divine courage. <br /><br />It was a Jehovah's Witness that knocked on my door today. He shared a beautiful verse from the book of Revelation with me, and it was a wonderful way to start the day.<br /><br />While we had faith in Jesus Christ in common today, I would find a non-Christian missionary just as inspiring. To serve in faith like that takes such a deep sense of surrender to your convictions. If only more of the world were willing to seek out and share good things with an equally reckless abandon. What a courageous way to live.<br /><br />Here's hoping we can all find something we believe in so strongly. :-)Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-24417815853356471152011-07-12T16:14:00.000-07:002011-07-12T16:48:20.380-07:00Dirty Dash<div style="text-align: center;">Donald "competed" in a local mud-run with a large team from CrossFit Infusion on Saturday.<br /><br />I'm still not sure how he and our friend TJ ended up wearing super hero underoos for the event.<br />All I know is this - we ran into Walmart that morning, hoping to find cheap board shorts he could destroy without guilt. Instead, we left with Captain America man-panties (and The Flash ones for a friend). <br />The moment we laid eyes on them, it seemed like an AMAZING idea, and we headed to the register without hesitation.<br />Then they put them on.<br />Donald's ghetto booty was half-hanging ala' Victoria's Secret style the ENTIRE day. I'll be saving these pictures for posterity, believe it.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I forgot to bring the "real" camera, so you won't be enjoying his tooshie in high definition. I know. My apologies.<br /> I'm always impressed with the iPhone's pictures though. They turn our pretty well, for camera phone images.<br /><br /><br />The day's events, in chronological-ish order:<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s4ufo3sLyKqKuCkR-Te6rdXGuWJTiSNNeXn9-ECOdiO6VHyTpaxq4mvHn5RzEpT3KyWhNaJ_xI-7HWMilg2Bpfm9v3SKuj04HEklNWnDQI1WFc3HxvQ8m7LSr8f62zxVktTPXrX0GVlJ/s1600/268463_10150241717942393_747962392_7319744_270639_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s4ufo3sLyKqKuCkR-Te6rdXGuWJTiSNNeXn9-ECOdiO6VHyTpaxq4mvHn5RzEpT3KyWhNaJ_xI-7HWMilg2Bpfm9v3SKuj04HEklNWnDQI1WFc3HxvQ8m7LSr8f62zxVktTPXrX0GVlJ/s400/268463_10150241717942393_747962392_7319744_270639_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628614729447850258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Donald and TJ. Mud-Run <span style="font-weight: bold;">Studs</span>.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFprg9soJ-s1G8b3GJeB7O7PG-OLX7saBeeEHCX6fDjThIqdjsUBMBwY0CT6Sb1XOubDIaZZ7Rvt8EgZVY9S8KHb2DE7oCGrg5i-_iawPab8JXoCIoCnRM9spAlXUhradZk9LmBwWCfem/s1600/261865_10150241714502393_747962392_7319694_489609_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFprg9soJ-s1G8b3GJeB7O7PG-OLX7saBeeEHCX6fDjThIqdjsUBMBwY0CT6Sb1XOubDIaZZ7Rvt8EgZVY9S8KHb2DE7oCGrg5i-_iawPab8JXoCIoCnRM9spAlXUhradZk9LmBwWCfem/s400/261865_10150241714502393_747962392_7319694_489609_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628613613386402146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1UMXaZr_rlRky_3QuxYlFGOwfTIN5YMAKSmTRKCp-U-9BA-OvkTYzg4lD1WwC8RtHfsKS5YUpPosVt9cUZHBRN0lY89RqGTSGuCNpB9_Gh3JuP3oz-OWMQafTY4XFjKjeaXFOxTY5BrR/s1600/263158_10150241810672393_747962392_7320600_7094711_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1UMXaZr_rlRky_3QuxYlFGOwfTIN5YMAKSmTRKCp-U-9BA-OvkTYzg4lD1WwC8RtHfsKS5YUpPosVt9cUZHBRN0lY89RqGTSGuCNpB9_Gh3JuP3oz-OWMQafTY4XFjKjeaXFOxTY5BrR/s400/263158_10150241810672393_747962392_7320600_7094711_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628613724546139410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5a0TkpzxTU9rzDGyMxz0Q7wJ_w9wyDj2TPaZ6Dg7pd0rv__mDpsGp6Z413iPkocc39FjZInntGU_JTfF0bLrCeIMpcInsST4VXMuwPVkjXCykR32DugwDCjZIxGV56_6Yg1E371bUL0L5/s1600/269484_10150241808217393_747962392_7320540_7645387_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5a0TkpzxTU9rzDGyMxz0Q7wJ_w9wyDj2TPaZ6Dg7pd0rv__mDpsGp6Z413iPkocc39FjZInntGU_JTfF0bLrCeIMpcInsST4VXMuwPVkjXCykR32DugwDCjZIxGV56_6Yg1E371bUL0L5/s400/269484_10150241808217393_747962392_7320540_7645387_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628613787129142258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRLIeqFdWgl0SdhuZveYeMxS8_mt8eO8ieBteJMO279ixDyYhO-bRukAXDXESCBS58BV06Mp9U4Rfve7dnppZmPuMFpqRzBcmkVUF9Ada664rjuhZhy0g0bmlLaPCbpC8TRV396oocAog/s1600/269791_10150241807207393_747962392_7320525_6215157_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRLIeqFdWgl0SdhuZveYeMxS8_mt8eO8ieBteJMO279ixDyYhO-bRukAXDXESCBS58BV06Mp9U4Rfve7dnppZmPuMFpqRzBcmkVUF9Ada664rjuhZhy0g0bmlLaPCbpC8TRV396oocAog/s400/269791_10150241807207393_747962392_7320525_6215157_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628613828845566882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We unexpectedly ran into my cousin Laurel too! What a nice surprise :-)<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaF0gRUSBGDwqEeqmJelAX7o-_8tv5NVW9iZD85RLfiJaP29_jW_FRiQ0RWFllK10wXQKAaz8-ziCHlGPQjqmNh6zDce1iVJWNnG2oiCkDHt7khpHb4gXUE7ZLL6gmHyXQbmvcssGDth_A/s1600/261576_10150241805647393_747962392_7320501_8254616_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaF0gRUSBGDwqEeqmJelAX7o-_8tv5NVW9iZD85RLfiJaP29_jW_FRiQ0RWFllK10wXQKAaz8-ziCHlGPQjqmNh6zDce1iVJWNnG2oiCkDHt7khpHb4gXUE7ZLL6gmHyXQbmvcssGDth_A/s400/261576_10150241805647393_747962392_7320501_8254616_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628613910347390194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSiSbL-mBgkk0myDVaqXS3ecwcJafiNSXWCR-98drbHxB-o03UmFRMwGgPvDKc839zbLgvZEa0wvz1DsYhjrPRdeDB5fhjzTqyMHxbe6GcadS7sW1kFt0YQLyUK67yUpUqWTVMeyFhjQs/s1600/263740_10150241864082393_747962392_7321231_5234278_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSiSbL-mBgkk0myDVaqXS3ecwcJafiNSXWCR-98drbHxB-o03UmFRMwGgPvDKc839zbLgvZEa0wvz1DsYhjrPRdeDB5fhjzTqyMHxbe6GcadS7sW1kFt0YQLyUK67yUpUqWTVMeyFhjQs/s400/263740_10150241864082393_747962392_7321231_5234278_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628613973049936978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkmuRdsHl7nzKKsoLnxUv4JxUU_f5l2MF1sZ2N4bRglPyBIrwf9_ZBAJpov4GaZW04zCWEF2UeXlZG15rTil35XVv-uIxOQtSD4gNFbr8oRBzJNvQXW_TcUM-dhMjXnPQCZEurzAyeiRW/s1600/268298_10150241825132393_747962392_7320764_398450_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkmuRdsHl7nzKKsoLnxUv4JxUU_f5l2MF1sZ2N4bRglPyBIrwf9_ZBAJpov4GaZW04zCWEF2UeXlZG15rTil35XVv-uIxOQtSD4gNFbr8oRBzJNvQXW_TcUM-dhMjXnPQCZEurzAyeiRW/s400/268298_10150241825132393_747962392_7320764_398450_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628614055276078338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvGdMZju2XR4z4GoBxQdtJq_kkTgjk40TyO7cEtZSt3n9SHwwSYqX4P3dy6x526GEhzWynL5_BDURDt0CfGYfiuEXh3T15Nftlsfh688e526m9Pyfx-5NAwt5bGPwSp0_wtlffoP4DU7v/s1600/264628_10150241869562393_747962392_7321264_3913713_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvGdMZju2XR4z4GoBxQdtJq_kkTgjk40TyO7cEtZSt3n9SHwwSYqX4P3dy6x526GEhzWynL5_BDURDt0CfGYfiuEXh3T15Nftlsfh688e526m9Pyfx-5NAwt5bGPwSp0_wtlffoP4DU7v/s400/264628_10150241869562393_747962392_7321264_3913713_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628614120828886738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOggmL-BCNm8YrqCPShQfTyYv98M-1eBBSh6VFJ59cQmk5mDRoyKdr7KmweDgkAF28iMwjE1y7u8IOeivUG72Ko5pLfglSO0Jf2e4kYR9P0_CPfwdkbLasIlH7gApLUQtFHfpKwiVPlxih/s1600/268124_10150241870942393_747962392_7321299_1906243_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOggmL-BCNm8YrqCPShQfTyYv98M-1eBBSh6VFJ59cQmk5mDRoyKdr7KmweDgkAF28iMwjE1y7u8IOeivUG72Ko5pLfglSO0Jf2e4kYR9P0_CPfwdkbLasIlH7gApLUQtFHfpKwiVPlxih/s400/268124_10150241870942393_747962392_7321299_1906243_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628614180331441234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Alright, enough eye-candy for one day.<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-49556672845770882572011-07-09T19:16:00.001-07:002011-07-09T19:20:44.546-07:00Adoption Loan APRsWhy is it cheaper to finance a car than an adoption?<br /><br />The cost of financing our Prius: 7.24% APR<br /><br />The cost of financing our Tacoma: 3.6% APR<br /><br />Average cost of financing <span style="font-style: italic;">the saving of a child's life</span>: 9+% APR<br /><br />:-(Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628753521152951781.post-89375755865652254032011-06-27T17:52:00.000-07:002011-06-27T18:46:50.843-07:00Air Assault Graduation<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-h6skFm5G5YW2KOqiVtt4li-_fRv7oXR7tlXvobIXalwWeX0T4ANiwqlRd_tcjz6ZQUkhA7iL4U12xkskY7h0geeIa6mhOHWLWeFSThXBV7s0NTzbr1JuqgJuykkQvOIGxG-SnaqklUj/s1600/IMG_3502.JPG"><br /></a><br />Recently, Donald graduated from Air Assault School in Oregon, a few hours south of here. The class was about 2 weeks long, and because of the long drive and my busy-ish schedule, I hadn't planned on driving down for graduation.<br /><br />During the class, our friend Drew was getting ready to move to the east coast, and during his final days here (after moving out of his apartment) he was staying with us.<br />After several delays, he was finally set to head to his new duty station a few days later than expected, on <span style="font-style: italic;">the same day Donald would be finishing his class.</span><br /><br />Drew is a genius.<br /><br />He saw that the timing was perfect. I was wrist-deep in grey paint when he knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to surprise Donald the next day.<br />Um, of course!<br />It wasn't exactly on the way for him, but Drew is a champ, and was happy to make the slight detour.<br /><br /><strike>We drove down together</strike> Drew drove the whole way while I slept. It was great.<br />Donald and I aren't exactly the "surprise type", so this was new territory. Honestly, I wasn't sure if he'd take it well.<br />He did :-)<br />They were getting their group picture taken when we arrived.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOGLRPYiLNzbhAUYXIFuKQ3CMkmJMO27TuE8fwT4qUe7Q4_tzT5yl2IDqg5zxSl0n1rMNXwWitMKS50i4oXhP_e2muJKMXIJ2CFpPKMQHMielQ63rtsZQVU2Kkh2VDzZGDC7bkl0cgRnf/s1600/IMG_3492.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOGLRPYiLNzbhAUYXIFuKQ3CMkmJMO27TuE8fwT4qUe7Q4_tzT5yl2IDqg5zxSl0n1rMNXwWitMKS50i4oXhP_e2muJKMXIJ2CFpPKMQHMielQ63rtsZQVU2Kkh2VDzZGDC7bkl0cgRnf/s400/IMG_3492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623072301022590338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He was so excited to see me, in fact, that he had to pee.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4p7NnrDRxUsFqHRbUJglsUkVQ6Jvsa7ysR0hubpBlCkTbM1i9MQui4vsXzglMiUVXaXo7X-Z5icORYox4MTXgbb0YUtnpIQ0bU28IJJOy1UoiL4cdo__RWtTXbX1kVj-8PJDVhT_tqdV/s1600/IMG_3494.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4p7NnrDRxUsFqHRbUJglsUkVQ6Jvsa7ysR0hubpBlCkTbM1i9MQui4vsXzglMiUVXaXo7X-Z5icORYox4MTXgbb0YUtnpIQ0bU28IJJOy1UoiL4cdo__RWtTXbX1kVj-8PJDVhT_tqdV/s400/IMG_3494.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623072654440426802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The ceremony was nothing fancy. They lined up, some Colonel gave a long speech about the purpose and intensity of the Air Assault Course, and then they were pinned with their wings.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpziWx0aoQTlFu8HlRDmWI2WnS7DRw3Qu6QGO0VPZne6wUV5wdRznk-30d01k6fuRp32yTeijPSK8guskvQTCya6mG8e6Xc_ZJtYD9xS5dCTrGap7aewQoXL4De3EnqmtvuwEYY9m506K/s1600/IMG_3495.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpziWx0aoQTlFu8HlRDmWI2WnS7DRw3Qu6QGO0VPZne6wUV5wdRznk-30d01k6fuRp32yTeijPSK8guskvQTCya6mG8e6Xc_ZJtYD9xS5dCTrGap7aewQoXL4De3EnqmtvuwEYY9m506K/s400/IMG_3495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623073278541792994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Family members were allowed to do the pinning, so here I am, giving SSG Winn his wings:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62aoVR9NNWiqGVV_cBtvZVbakGHYqaTh7V27TnWs33mQ5FCmZK-Tb3Eziz_6dvFGC1TSRHd9cUlhskzN__G3xlywY0b8GLTrOGSIZDG3n3d0J1Qy8NXNclHA_OjVx-H0CmkbWPNjvmAQ-/s1600/IMG_3497.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62aoVR9NNWiqGVV_cBtvZVbakGHYqaTh7V27TnWs33mQ5FCmZK-Tb3Eziz_6dvFGC1TSRHd9cUlhskzN__G3xlywY0b8GLTrOGSIZDG3n3d0J1Qy8NXNclHA_OjVx-H0CmkbWPNjvmAQ-/s400/IMG_3497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623073428875798514" border="0" /></a><br />He was hidden amongst hundreds of other average white guys with brown hair in ACUs, so I almost didn't find him!<br /><br />Ah, here he is!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_56m4EfZ2_MHVBky40Vzu8p5q00WZqoptGPPR9GUra2aYEx9UN2pyRC2STBr-VgsUMtN23vZ3ye8B0XIq7sIcSza6Er15AjXNYg2kZ_9b0jfJG7VRL59Kgu353nRT2pedb4xeyOotXpnv/s1600/IMG_3501.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_56m4EfZ2_MHVBky40Vzu8p5q00WZqoptGPPR9GUra2aYEx9UN2pyRC2STBr-VgsUMtN23vZ3ye8B0XIq7sIcSza6Er15AjXNYg2kZ_9b0jfJG7VRL59Kgu353nRT2pedb4xeyOotXpnv/s400/IMG_3501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623074754542419090" border="0" /></a>...Furthest row back, 4th in from the left!<br /><br />My handsome soldier rarely smiles for cameras, so I'm sure he's happy that these are on the internet now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbyB9-T3rT2qRdob5plX8BvIuWkhupwndpyIpIsb4A85Mj9vmhz8SejGDYjFOGBf63pdA9Z29SneEIqrizFe4RChgOL416_LSppa733yTT7xBhxBPGlIBCAeGp4r2-SC2ZruDSyXhA3_N/s1600/IMG_3498.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbyB9-T3rT2qRdob5plX8BvIuWkhupwndpyIpIsb4A85Mj9vmhz8SejGDYjFOGBf63pdA9Z29SneEIqrizFe4RChgOL416_LSppa733yTT7xBhxBPGlIBCAeGp4r2-SC2ZruDSyXhA3_N/s400/IMG_3498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623073934074326674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxdHWFWD6KhxHQ8r0-sjbBrzg1jcoY1zDVXaWOVia8X9Lt07kAZ_RDCctz_mPVfew3lw2LqYT57kpezsTsepNm4wAfLkBGCn8KppmF8MCtFeQ17ouHqnlMyW0907V16xf0uwKJGiNhjy0/s1600/IMG_3499.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxdHWFWD6KhxHQ8r0-sjbBrzg1jcoY1zDVXaWOVia8X9Lt07kAZ_RDCctz_mPVfew3lw2LqYT57kpezsTsepNm4wAfLkBGCn8KppmF8MCtFeQ17ouHqnlMyW0907V16xf0uwKJGiNhjy0/s400/IMG_3499.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623074115312004882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And here we are together, after dismissal:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-h6skFm5G5YW2KOqiVtt4li-_fRv7oXR7tlXvobIXalwWeX0T4ANiwqlRd_tcjz6ZQUkhA7iL4U12xkskY7h0geeIa6mhOHWLWeFSThXBV7s0NTzbr1JuqgJuykkQvOIGxG-SnaqklUj/s1600/IMG_3502.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-h6skFm5G5YW2KOqiVtt4li-_fRv7oXR7tlXvobIXalwWeX0T4ANiwqlRd_tcjz6ZQUkhA7iL4U12xkskY7h0geeIa6mhOHWLWeFSThXBV7s0NTzbr1JuqgJuykkQvOIGxG-SnaqklUj/s400/IMG_3502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623075203529670866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />After the ceremony, we said goodbye to Drew and then headed back home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the parenthood front, we're looking into becoming foster parents. Donald has more military training in August and September, so it'd be no sooner than October or November that we'd be licensed and ready to take placements... and that's if we move forward with it.<br /><br />Until then, we enjoy walking around the house half <span style="font-size:78%;">or fully</span> naked, and are living a child-free life to the fullest.<br /></div>Katrina Maye Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05249868998394661638noreply@blogger.com3