Three Years Ago

I love my guys. Then ...


and now!

San Antonio Sojourn

Each year for the past three, I've traveled to a different part of the country to meet up and spend a long weekend with some amazing women. This year's trip was to San Antonio ... strolling (and cruising) the Riverwalk, a carriage ride to ooh and aah over beautiful mansions in the King Williams neighborhood, touring the Alamo, mojitos and nachos served with a side of mariachi music, and of course, lots of laughter and late night gabbing.

I first met these fabulous friends during the long, sometimes tortuous process to bring Owen home. When we get together we squeal like schoolgirls and fall into big group hugs. Then and now, they understand the unique joys and sorrows of being an adoptive mom. We talk openly and honestly in a way that those who have not walked this journey may not understand; and it is good and vital to have their support, encouragement, and counsel.

We share memories of living in Kazakhstan - the good, the bad and the smelly - and like moms everywhere, brag about our charming kids and commiserate on the occasional frustrations of being a parent. We laugh and cry and debate and well, just have tons of fun together.

Yes, these women are strong, independent, fiercely funny, beautiful inside and out - and I treasure them always.


All of us and our buddy Jack the horse


l to r: Le Anne, Susan, me and Alison at the Alamo


Susan and Le Anne on the Riverwalk


l to r: Angela, Alison, me and Le Anne enjoying a little music and refreshments on the Riverwalk


Le Anne and Angela and their brunch hurricanes at Pat O'Brian's


Alison with a gift from her mini baby shower. She's due in May!

As for Owen, he spend the weekend with Nanny and Daddy, dancing to oldies, creating with play-doh, reading books and watching movies (and showing Nanny how much he loves the new TV!), and having a good ol' time.



Thanks to Nanny, and my mom and dad for helping to make this weekend possible. I truly appreciate it!

Breathing Lessons

He's fine, he's fine, he's fine.

Deep inhale ...


and out.

Repeat. Repeat. I'm trying to breath again.

The doctors, paramedics and medical journals all agree: the type of febrile seizure Owen suffered last Friday night - brought on by the one-two punch of a fluctuating temperature and his first ever stomach virus - is relatively commonplace and should have absolutely no lasting ill effects on his health or mental capacity. In other words, a rather benign occurrence in ER land.

Not so much in this mother's heart.

It was, in fact, the single most terrifying thing I have ever experienced. Seeing my baby boy's arms and legs fling out from his body and go stiff; hearing the fear in Cearra's voice and the just-this-side-of-controlled panic in Bob's as they call 911 and our friend/neighbor/doctor. Holding him as his eyes looked at nothing and his lips and fingernails turned faintly blue. Begging God for mercy.

He's fine, he's fine, he's fine.

We got home very early Saturday morning and camped out on the big brown couch for most of the next 24 hours. Slept there, the four of us, both nights. It felt necessary to be all together.

Slowly, we all start to exhale. We still watch Owen with hawk eyes (and I know I will for a long, long time), take his temperature every hour, resist the urge to fill his sippy cup with Tylenol.

Owen is fine - and loving the attention and his new Sponge Bob balloon. I'm reminded of the parents who live with seizures and illnesses and fear all the time. My heart aches for them. I think of parents who face even worse. My heart shatters for them. I respect my brother and sister-in-law even more - if that's possible - for the strength and faith they show everyday with Hannah.

So, not a week later, Owen is happy and active and back to gymnastics and Play-doh and laughter. Bob, Cearra and I? Well, we're still healing, but we'll be OK with time. We just keep taking deep breaths.

The Holidays Wrapped Up

Picking up from the "Rada" post ... Cearra is here and we have a quiet night as just the four Mechems. Nice dinner together then relaxing on the new, big brown couch (we love it!) to exchange presents from us to C, and C to us.

Although the flash makes it very hard to see, this mirror says "Whatever" - kind of an inside joke and one that I couldn't resist!


Cearra brought Owen this cool doctors kit - he loved it and immediately started giving us all physicals and shots.


Wednesday night Walt, Audrey and Jenna arrived. For those that don't know, they are some of our oldest and dearest friends from Virginia Beach. They are living in San Diego (I know, lucky!) for a year but we all wanted to revise our old tradition of spending New Years Eve together. We ate and drank, talked and laughed, stayed up way too late, and were very happy they could spend a few days with us!


Jenna has been a Ravens fan since we gave her a little cheer leading outfit years ago; we decided it was time for an upgrade!


The Strojny's left on Friday and Bob, Cearra, Owen and I packed up and headed to Cumberland. First stop, Nanny's place. She always has lots of neat things to play with and Owen was captivated by a music box - I love this picture:


Saturday kicked off with the arrival of Uncle Todd, Aunt Maria and cousin Hannah, a big, yummy breakfast, and presents.


The best gift we all received this year was that Hannah was feeling good after her recent surgery!


We gave Todd a Steelers mug because we knew he'd need it to drown his sorrows after the Ravens took care of eliminating the black and gold from the playoffs ...


and Todd gave Bob a Ravens Mr. Potato head, because, well, you just need one of these, right??


Yep, Owen now thinks Christmas lasts for weeks!


Before heading home we got to visit with Pap and Charlene, enjoy a delicious meal, and exchange more presents!


Owen was thrilled to get belts!



So that's it for the holidays. For us they were filled with travel, food, snow(!) and the most important things in our life - family and friends. And although we loved opening our shiny presents and enjoyed all of our new toys and goodies, we are most thankful for the gifts of health, happiness, and you.

Let's make 2010 a year to remember!

Can You Hear It?

So I need to write a post about New Years and our Christmas celebration in Cumberland, but for now, please smile along with me at these pictures of Cearra and Owen having fun. They always make each other laugh and it's the sweetest sound in the world!

I think if you listen hard enough you can even hear their giggles ...