You want to do what???

So yesterday I had to have a diagnostic mammogram. I found a lump a few weeks ago and had the doctor check it out and they sent me to have a diagnostic mommogram. I apologize to any male readers (actually, I think Deanna is the only one who reads this anyway!!, this may seem a little graphic. If you have never had a mammogram, I don't recommend one. They pull your breast into a vice-like device, smash it, stretch it, then clamp down on it with the force of alligator jaws. Then you have to hold your breath so you don't accidently tug your way out. You couldn't get out of that thing if your were all lubed up with olive oil. I have never felt anything so uncomfortable in my life. Not to mention, having a radiologist with ice cold hands treating your most intimate parts like pizza dough.
So after that, there was an ultrasound. That was fine, no big deal. The doctor came in and said that it was simply a fluid cyst and suggested that we go ahead and drain it. They gave me a shot of lidocaine to numb the area and stuck in a 9 inch needle to drain it. After the fluid was removed they put air back into the cyst area to try and prevent a reoccurance. Then, just when I thought I was in the clear, they knicked a blood vessel on the way out with the needle. Blood literally started shooting out. The doctor said it was not a big deal and gave me an ice pack for it. It turned black and blue, bruised all to hell.
I know that it is important to have all abnormalities checked. I know that mammograms are life-saving and that my outcome could have been much worse. Someone could have told me that I had cancer (something I don't plan to hear ever again in my life!). But, wow, after that it will seriously make me have second thoughts about wanting to get something checked. It ranked a close second only to child-birth. Hopefully, I won't have to do that again until I am 40!

Are you kidding me?

So I have just spent the last hour looking online for "mom's groups". I have never done anything like this before but thought that it would be a good way for me to meet some other mothers and try to make some friends here in Charlotte. It is so daunting! There are a million groups to choose from and I don't think that I fit into any of the categories. "Super mom-the group for mothers who can handle it all". "Fit mommies-for the mom that loves to exercise and already has her prepregnancy figure back". "Shopping moms-we power-walk the mall and look for great bargains". "All about our kids-for the moms who want to live vicariously through their children".
How about groups like, "what the hell am I doing?" and "Does anyone know a good babysitter?" and "I'm just trying the best that I can!"? and I would also like to start a group called, "I am never going to fit into my skinny jeans again, and that's okay."
We bought a kitchen table on Craig's list and when we went to get it, the couple had 3 month old twins, a boy and a girl. They were beautiful and very tiny, especially compared to Luke, even when he was that age. The mother kept telling me to call her and she would show me around Charlotte. She stays home and would love to have some company. I heard a certain desperation in her voice, "For the love of all that is holy, PLEASE come and hang out with me so that I can remember what it feels like to have an adult conversation!" Being a mother is scary. I have had it easy so far, I think. As awkward as our situation has been, I haven't really been alone with Luke yet. Brian or his mom have been with me since the beginning. Frankly, I am terrified of the day that Brian goes back to work and it's just me and Luke. I don't know how I will handle it. Maybe it will be great and I will magically have all of my free time back. Luke will start feeding himself and changing all of his own poopie diapers because he knows that they make me want to vomit. He'll have the coffee ready by the time I roll out of bed, and I can go and take a shower because he's just going to watch some Veggie Tales and read the paper. Okay, so I know these things aren't going to happen but I just don't know how it will be. I hope that I am ready for it. Really, I am just a little scared!

Extreme Makeover

So now that there is no more Sunday night football (boo hoo), I couldn't find anything to watch other than "extreme Makeover: Home Edition". This show gets me every single time. These families that are so needy, that have nothing, or have special needs to survive...it just tears me up. Tissues come out, and the waterworks come on.
I started to watch this tonight and thought back over the last year. The year that was so rough for us. I realized how truly blessed we have been. At no point, was my child sick. At no point, were we without a roof over our heads, even though it wasn't always OUR roof. There was never a time that we were hopeless, desolate, hungry, broke, tormented. In our eyes things were rough. We had gone through a rash of things that we have never experienced before, but we were cared for and we found this great new love. There is just nothing like the love that I feel for Luke. I tried to explain how different it is from what I feel for Brian, or my family and friends. It's not stronger, but it's just different. That love has changed so many things for me.
I understand what it means to want to sacrifice for him. I would give every single thing that I have on this earth and in heaven for him to be happy and healthy, and to shelter him from any heartache. I told him tonight how proud I am to be his mommy, how blessed I feel and how God chose him just for me, so that I could be his mommy. I know that he doesn't understand it but I always want him to know.
So the Garvin's, or at least this Garvin, have had a sort of makeover this year. I have never, ever, ever felt that God loves me as much as I feel he does now. I feel like I want to live a better life and be faithful to commitments and friends and family that I cannot ever replace. I want to be the very best that I can be to show God my gratitude for sustaining us though our rough spot and for teaching me so many lessons along the way. I just want to be better. It's just so easy to say, and something totally different to do...

Another birthday!!

On the first day of every year, not only do I get to welcome in another year, I also get to celebrate another birthday. This year was a little different than what I am used to. We were here in Furman and there wasn't much to do. For New Year's Eve, Brian and I went to the drive-in. We thought that it might be a while before we get to that again so we thought that we would take advantage while we still have a babysitter. It was cold but we really enjoyed our night out. We got home in time to watch the ball drop and leap into the new year (thanks Matt).

I guess the saying, "Out of sight, out of mind" really is true. I don't expect a real fuss over my birthday anymore. The older you get, the more it really just becomes another day, but I do look forward to hearing from my friends and family. This year though, I only heard from a very small handful, and, unfortunately, text messaging has replaced the usual phone calls. Luckily, my parents don't know how to text message so I did hear from them. I guess that it's just nice to be thought of on that one day and to feel special and loved. I know that I drop the ball quite a bit on the birthday thing. My Space birthday reminders have become a lifesaver, sadly enough. It's not like when you are a kid and you get all your friends together, put on party hats that match the plates, the napkins and everything else in the room, and have a huge cake in your favorite flavor. Brian tried very hard this year to find a coconut creme pie, which is my favorite, but couldn't get one. We settled for boston cream cake which is a close, very close second.

My point (I'll get to it eventually) is that I really want to be that person that remembers birthdays and anniversaries and calls and sends cards. I don't know if I can be that efficient, but I am going to try!!

2007 recap

So here is a quick rundown of the last year in the lives of the Garvin's, the stuff I can remember anyway.

I turned 30 in January
I was a giant pregnant woman by February
Brian went to look for a place for us to live in March
Brian turned 28 in April, I had my baby shower
I weighed 462 lbs in May
Luke was born in June, and Brian lost his job
Brian had throat surgery in July
I had leg surgery in August, and we put the house on the market
We sold our house in September
We moved in with Brian's mom in October
Luke got two teeth in November
Jake tried to leave us in Decemeber

So now we start a new year, headed to a new house at the end of the first week. I am not turning 31 this year. Instead I have decided to go with something a little more popular, so I will be 22 this year! Luke will learn to talk and walk in this year. We will be getting settled and making a new start in Charlotte this year. I will have 3 MRI's on my leg to make sure that my tumor is not back this year. We will, hopefully, be happy and well-adjusted to our new environment. I hope that all of you have a great upcoming year. We are looking forward to ending the year that was, with it's ups and downs, and getting, what feels like a fresh start. New Year, new city, new house, new challenges, new victories.
Happy new year!!

Am I a bad person?

Today we went to lunch with Brian's mom, brian's stepbrother Gib, his wife and two kids and his wife's parents (did you get all that?). We had the baby with us so it's always a race to the finish to see if we can get out of there before he can't take anymore and starts to fuss. We ordered our food, salads, appetizers, drinks, all at once. Our server disappeared and we literlly did not see him again for about 20 minutes. He had one other table that had finished eating shortly after we sat down.

Okay, let me back up. I worked in a restaurant for a very long time. I know how things should work and I know when they are going horribly wrong. I hate excuses for long food times, bad service, cold food and no drink refills. Nothing makes me angrier than a bad dining experience. I don't get to go out very often and I just expect to be taken care of, not catered to, when I do go.

So back to lunch. OUr server literally disappeared. No one had drinks, our appetizers never came and he never came to check on us. We had seperate checks at the table and told him that as we ordered. Well the first thing to hit the table was my mother-in-laws lunch. No salad, just her food. It was brought by a different server who didn't stay long enough to ask for a refill on my tea (I hate being thirsty). Twenty more minutes before anyone else came back. Madeleine was still the only one with any food! I was about to blow a gasket when the manager came by with some more food. Still no appetizers or salads. She smiled and asked if we needed anything and that was it for me. There were 3 out of the 9 of us that were eating, no one had drinks. I just told her that we were very unhappy with the service and told her what we needed. Anyway, long story not quite as long, we were there for 3 hours. When the server brought the checks, they had all been discounted by half, except for mine. Mine was free. When I told the server there was a mistake on my check he said, "no, yours is free because you were so angry". I realized that I had become "that customer", the one all servers hate, the one you can't please, the one you hate to see coming. I felt really badly but then wondered if I should. I am paying for a service. The server started telling us that he had only been working there for 3 days (which is another pet peeve of mine that servers do), but he didn't have any other tables but ours! The reality of it is that he was probably out drinking last night and just couldn't quite get his crap together today. The restaurant was not busy, at all. Ask for help if you are "in the weeds", but don't make excuses for not knowing how to do your job. I know that I am probably a little harder to wait on than the average patron but I am also an excellent tipper and appreciate a job well done.

I have decided that I may be that customer but I think that I am okay with it. I will just have to go to a different restaurant every time we eat out so that no one will know me as "that customer". I am getting awefully cranky in my old age!

The Random compliment

The other day Brian and I went to a coffee house in town. We were the only people in there for most of the time. Just before we left, an older woman came in. She was very pleasant in her exchange with the waitress and had a very warm and comforting face. We stood up to leave and I headed to the bathroom. She stopped me on my way and said, "You have the most beautiful hair". I thanked her, of course, and we left. I thought about that for the rest of the evening and how nice it was. It made me feel so good about myself that a stranger would pay me such a random compliment. I wondered why this doesn't happen more often. I see people all of the time that I could say nice things to but I don't. I think it to myself and move on. But something as small as that could change someone's day or outlook that they have about themselves. I have decided that I am going to make a point of paying compliments to strangers when I feel that they are necessary. I think it's a great way to make someone smile.

Who am I?

I realize that I am having a difficult time finding my identity outside of being a mother. Women take on many roles in their lifetimes: daughter, sister, aunt, friend, wife, mother, partial bread-winner. The transitions between each role aren't always easy but I think the transition into motherhood might be the most difficult one. Before I became Luke's mom, I juggled many roles and they all seemed to mesh into one another. But now that I stay at home, I have traded in my worker hat for the full-time mom position. Being a mom encompasses a whole new set of responsibilities: homemaker, housekeeper, nurturer, teacher, chef (if mixing up rice cereal can be considered "chefing"), dog-walker, boo-boo kisser, and wife. It is so hard to find the time to do the things that I used to enjoy so much, such as curling up on the couch with a good book or cooking a big meal that did not utilize the microwave oven or paper plates.
Brian and I talked about the importance of having my own identity outside of being a mom. We both feel that is very beneficial for a child. It is important to know that you mother has other things going on besides just drving their children to soccer practice and ballet lessons. I want to give Luke a well-rounded view of life. I want him to eventually marry someone who is independent and self-sufficient, and I think that men do learn a lot about the type of girls they want to date based off the example they get from their mothers. I want Luke to think that I am more than just his mother. It's just such a hard place for me to be in right now. I am going to find a book, I'm sure someone has written one, on finding and defining the many different roles that women are faced with. If anyone knows where I can get one, let me know.
In the meantime, I am embracing this new identity as a mother. I love watching Luke grow up and change every day. I love to teach him new things and watch him copy what I have shown him. But at the same time, I have to remember that I am a person that was once not a mother and that i had hobbies and interests and great loves. I have passions that I need to also embrace. I need to remember that I am still just me with a new role.

Please pray!

Just a quick note to ask you to please pray for my friend, Lisa Van Hamme (formally LIsa Doolittle for those of you that went to EC). She is 29 years old, married with a 9 month old baby and has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is having a total masectomy next week and will also have to undergo chemotherapy. Lisa is in good spirits but knows that she and her family are about to face some rough times. Please keep her and her family in your prayers and I will update her progress here. Thank you so much!!

Like the corners of my mind...

So here a summary of the last 4 months:
Luke was born in June.
Brian had surgery on his throat in July.
I had surgery on my leg in August and was on crutches for a month.
We sold our house in September.
Now it's October and we have to move.
For anyone who knows me, you know that I didn't exactly have a normal upbringing. I lived in a bus and traveled with my family until I was about 9. Once we settled in a house we never stayed there for very long. Until now, the longest I have ever lived anywhere was as good old EC. I have been in this house for 4 years. I got married and came here. I had Luke and brought him here. Brian and I have had wonderful times with all of our dearest friends and family in this house. We have also had some of the most trying times ever here. The memories are difficult for me to let go of. I know, I know...I take them with me. And I will but I will still miss this place. This has been the place that I have settled. I have made countless dinners, bottles, and beds. I have hosted chiristmas parties, birthday parties, football parties, and no reason at all parties (those were the best ones). We sat out on the front porch, the back porch (more like an alley), the back yard around the fire pit, and poker around the pool table. It's been a beautiful thing. And I love every person that has shared all of those times with me, and I miss them even now.
So as I put all of everything I own into boxes, I am thinking of all of you and what you have given to me in this beautiful home, and I thank you, from the deepest part of my heart. Let's make some new memories soon!!

I'm Back!!

I haven't posted in some time. I have been so busy keeping up with My Space and our family blog that I haven't taken the time to keep up with this. However, I need a place to ramble so I am going to start up again. There are so many things going on right now that I just need to be able to get it all out and to inform my friends of the events. So stop by and check it out and I promise, I will try to keep them shorter then they have been in the past!! (just for you Amanda)

Responsibility

There are various responsibilities that come along with being married. I don't mind most of them, and that includes scrubbing toilets and doing the dishes. But there is one task that I absolutely dread! I cringe when I know the day is approaching. It may not seem like a big deal but I HATE cutting my husband's hair. I understand the reasoning behind not going to a professional. It's not like it is a difficult task. You just take the clippers and shave it up. Sounds simple, right? NO! Brian has a tendency to wait until it gets dark outside (which is where we do the cutting) and then ask if I will do it. It's very hard to see even with the light on. I don't have the steadiest hand to begin with so that adds to the challenge. The one thing that I never contemplated, and the worst case scenario, came to be a few months ago during the cutting process...If you don't feel my pain in this, you have never suffered a bad cut. I had the clippers in hand finishing up the back of Brian's head. It was pretty long so there was quite a bit of hair falling to the ground during the process, which distracted me from the fact that the guard fell off the clippers. It was pretty dark out and a combination of the falling clumps of hair and the shadows from the porch light obstructed my vision enough that I shaved a rather large patch bald...to the scalp bald. As soon as I noticed it (not soon enough) I froze. I stared at the bald spot and tried to figure out how I was going to explain what had happened. Brian, of course, asked me why I had stopped. I didn't know what to say. So I casually mentioned that the guard fell off. He looked around, picked it up and handed it to me very mater-of-factly, not realizing that the damage had been done. I stammered a little and explained that it wasn't that I couldn't find the guard, but rather that I didn't know that it was gone. He frantically started rubbing the back of his head trying to determine the severity of the bald spot, and it didn't take him long to feel it out (it was a big spot!). He was so upset and I could do nothing but apologize. Then I took the route of, "well you know I hate doing it. You shouldn't ask me." I ended up having to shave the entire thing and he told people that he lost a bet.
I post this now because I know the time is rolling in where I am going to have to get the clippers out and I abhor it! I also say this for anyone who is in or ever wants to be in a serious relationship. If there is something that you really don't like to do, or think that at some point in your life you will start to hate it, DON"T EVER DO IT!!! It's dating that gets us in the most trouble. We say things like, "I love this band too" or "I don't mind doing dishes at all. I actually enjoy them" or " I think your farts are so funny!". We try to put that best foot forward and seem like the perfect mate and I guarantee, it will get you into trouble at some point. You'll hear, "But I thought you really liked -insert various words/phrases here-You did when we were dating". And then you're stuck. Honesty is the best policy right from the beginning!!

Congratulations are in order!

I just received an email from Kirk and Stephanie McConnell. They are expecting a little bundle of joy around August! It's very exciting, and for those of you that know Kirk, terribly frightening! Kirk as a daddy??? All joking aside, if you see them or hear from them, make sure you offer your congratulations. I know that the child with be blessed to be in such a wonderful family!

New Year's Resolutions

Every year I do this. I have had the same resolution for the last 3 years: Diet and exercise. One year I joined the gym and I went 3 to 5 times a week for about 2 months. I loved it. I felt great. Then I went on vacation for a week and never went back to the gym. I was paid up for a year and it was a big, fat waste of money. Last year, I started with a basic diet. No soda, no fried food, lots of veggies, fruit and salad with fat free dressing. I got bored and hungry (see previous "gravy" post).
This year, I have once again made it my goal to diet and exercise starting January 1st. Okay well, that's my birthday so January 2nd. But I have that day off and I can't start on a day when I have nothing to do. So here I am already making excuses for why I can't do it. I have also spent this past week packing on as many last minute pounds as I possibly can. I've had apple pie (about a half of one) an entire batch of homemade banana pudding, 3 twenty ounce bottles of Coke (just today in fact), Carrabba's for dinner last night, and a dozen trips to the Wendy's drive thru (it's right across the street). I also had a handful, okay two handfuls, of Hersey's kisses. I'm out of control! I just want to be skinny again. I remember those days at EC, taking a late night trip to Arby's or Waffle House, eating every fried and fattening thing I could and chasing it down with a Jamoca milkshake. AND I NEVER GAINED A POUND!! The day that I turned 25 I could literally hear myself getting fatter and I haven't looked back. I am unhealthy, which is the biggest thing (other than my thighs). I never have any energy. I would rather come home and take a nap than any other thing in the world. So this year starting January 3rd, I will start exercising and eating healthy. I will drink water and take the stairs. I will go to the gym at work because it's free and I will go back to my yoga and pilates classes that I attended for a week 3 years ago. I will do it and I will like it. And I will be comfortable in my skin again! And if I hate it...Well then I will resort to trying to find out where I can catch a nice eating disorder or a tapeworm!

Merry Christmas???

It doesn't feel like Christmas this year AT ALL!!! First of all, I live in central Florida. It was almost 70 degrees here today. I wore a sweater anyway just because it should be cold, it's five days to Christmas!!! I just did my Christmas shopping today and let me tell you that Target five days before Christmas, is a nightmare. A lady with a crazed look in her eye practically tried to wrestle a fire truck out of my kung-fu grip! It was the last one and it was what my nephew wanted. I wasn't leaving there without it. Apparently when I turned my back, she thought my cart was fair game and tried to take it! I was appalled. I let her know that it was no longer available. Once it hits someone else's cart, it become off limits, consider it sold. It was just so frustrating! I had to get the tree and decorate it on my own this year because of the situation with Brian's stepdad. He got really behind in his school work for his Masters and just didn't have the time to help me with it. My sister came and helped me though, which reminded me of my childhood. That was cool. The last reason it doesn't feel like Christmas is because I will not be able to spend it with the person I love the most. Brian needs to be with his mom right now and I don't have any time off work to be able to go with him. We are celebrating tomorrow night with dinner at Cracker barrel (my favorite) and then coming home to open our gifts. I will be here with my family, which is always nice because there is nothing like seeing my nephews open there gifts! They get so excited and rip into the paper so quickly it's dizzying. Then we play with their toys all day.
I know the true meaning of Christmas, I know what it's all about. Don't get me wrong, I am unbelievably grateful for the birth of Christ. I am thankful for my family and that I will be with them on Sunday. I will just miss my husband so very much. I never thought that we would ever spend another Christmas apart. When we first started dating, he went home for the holidays. We had only been together for a few months and he was only gone for three days. It was awful. I think that I will be inconsolable this time.
I'm also having a birthday in two weeks. I don't care about my numeric age, I just hate birthdays. I don't usually have a party or cake. In fact the last time I had cake on my birthday was when I was at EC and Kristi and Jamie Cain baked one for me and the two of them sang to me. It was very sweet. I just don't get into birthdays anymore for some reason.
All of that being said, I do love this time of year and I wish all of you a merry Christmas. I promise that after the new year rolls around I won't be such a "wet blanket" with my posts.

Thank you!

Thank you very much to all of you that have sent your love and prayers. The funeral was Monday and it was a very beautiful service. There were about 400 people there. One of the perks of living in the same small town your whole life is that you know everyone. It was amazing to see everyone come out to take care of Brian's mom during this time. It was comforting for us to know that she has that kind of support system. She has to be the strongest person I've ever known. As difficult as this has been for all of us, she has managed to smile and thank God for the 5 years they were lucky enough to have together. She doesn't know why it all happened but she truly believes that God will take care of her and that this all falls into his plan. It's unbelieveable to me that she feels that way. I don't know if I could. As much as I like to think that I trust God and that everything fits into his plan for us, I can't imagine that, in a situation like this one, I would be so able to smile and believe. She was most grateful that she was with him and held him while he drifted off. She was able to tell him how she felt and that she loved him. Some people lose loved-ones and never get that chance. It's been a very difficult last two weeks and I know that there will be rough days ahead. Brian is going up there to be with her during Christmas break (he's a teacher) and help her out around the house. I will miss him but I know that it's necessary. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness. My immediate family may be small, but my extended one is infinite!

Kenyon McKenzie

My mother-in-law, Madeline, and Keny's two sons decided yesterday to take Keny off of his life support. This process began at around 3:00 pm. For several hours, he was able to breath on his own, but his breaths were very shallow. He died at around 9:30 last night. Brian and I were having a Christmas party when we got the news. All of our close friends were here and we were very thankful for that. They have been very supportive and it was nice, especially for Brian, that they were here. Madeline is understanably very shaken. I could not imagine being faced with that type of decision. She is such a strong woman. She is going through a range of emotion and has questions that can't be answewred. But she trusts that God is holding her. Brian and I talked last night about the importance of teaching our kids about Keny and the man that he was. He was wonderful and warm, gentle and sweet. I miss him.

Latest

We are currently in Savannah checking in on my father-in-law. The extent of his injury is more sever than I realized. He had massive hemorrhaging in his brain which caused a severe brain stem injury. The doctor told us today that they can keep him comfortable for as long as the family wishes but he won't regain consciousness, never be able to swallow on his own, and never have any brain activity again. No one has ever recovered from a brain stem injury that is this serious. My mother-in-law, Madeline and Keny's two sons have been discussing how long they should wait before they take him off life support. He isn't in any pain, which is a wonderful thing. He doesn't deserve to for even a moment.
Brian and I have to head back to Florida in the morning. We know that we need to save our days at work for bereavement leave very soon. It will be very hard for us both, especially Brian, to leave his mother here. Madeline has had a very difficult life. She is one of the strongest people I have ever known and always thinks of others first. She welcomed me into the family immediately and has made me feel as if she was so honored to do so. She said tonight that she doesn't know why God has allowed this to happen to her, to her family, to the love of her life, but she trusts him so implicitly that she will let God direct her path from here. She feels honored to have been married to Keny for the last 5 and 1/2 years and knows that God gave him to her for a season, to prove that he had her under his watchful eyes.
I know that God can work miracles. So if you pray, that is what you will need to ask for. Also, Madeline could use some strength and peace of mind right now, as could the entire family. I am trying to be strong and supportive for my husband, but we are at the point where we are all just crying together. Please just keep us all in your prayers.

Prayer request

My father-in-law had a stroke today. I don't know all the details except that he is unconscious but breathing on his own. He is in the hospital in Savannah, GA. His name is Keny McKenzie and he is the most wonderful man you will ever meet! We may be heading up there in the morning but we are not sure yet.
I will keep you all posted.

Church Search

I realize that I haven't posted about the church search so I thought I would fill you in. After week one of the search, we had a hurricane that came through so we were unable to attend. The week after that, I sinned and skipped church to go to a Bucs game. I know that my priorities are a little out of whack seemlingly, but if someone offers you a free ticket to a Bucs game, the general rule in our house is that you go. Last Sunday we went to a Baptist church. The preacher was a really nice guy. As far as the music, I knew I was in serious trouble when the pastor introduced a new song to the church--"Shout to the Lord". For those of you that went to EC, you know that we wore that song out about 10 years ago. So they were a little behind the times as far as that was concered. Thus the search continues. I did enjoy the message though. It's an interesting process. With all of these trial runs, I am getting a perspective from a variety of different preachers and I like that, for now. This weeks church is still up in the air. We have asked around for different favorites in the area so we are trying those out. I have taken a more open mindset though which is helping me to enjoy the search a little more. It's not such a chore and it's not as frustrating as it was at first. We just have to be patient until we find our home!