Easter weekend

The stress from a few months ago has finally started to subside. I'm not comfortable explaining it all still but I can say Brent is much happier, the kids are dong well, I am still working a lot of hours but I put in my notice and I won't be working after May 22nd. The referral for Sarah should be coming in the next few months. I'm still hoping for May because I really don't want to do a homestudy update - we will do one if we don't get our referral in May just to be safe - if we don't get travel approval and the consulate appointment by the end of August we have to redo one. Travel approval is usually about 2 months after referral and our referral will likely come a week or two after everyone elses because of the process with our agency and the agencies it works with. So, we are looking at early to mid July travel. If we get into August we have to travel that first week.

Brent is taking Maya to a new "home". She doesn't like to "compete" for attention from other animals or from the kids. We have had some nipping issues with the kids and full out fights with Kodi. Kodi is afraid to go outside because that has become Maya's territory so I've had to lock him on the tile when I'm not home - which has been a lot more lately. Kodi has also gotten into the habit of sleeping in the shower in our bedroom because he feels like he can "hide" from Maya. The dealbreaker is the nipping and growling at the kids. I don't think she would ever purposely hurt them but she is as big as Hannah and the kids safety has to come first. I would never forgive myself if my babies had scars or stitches because she nipped too rough just one time. She needs a home where she is the only dog and the kids are older than mine. The kids are really going to miss her - so am I. This was such a tough decision for us - I've really been working with her on the behaviors we don't like but nothing changes. Kodi was here first (even though he was gone for a few months - look back in the archives for that story). We wanted to keep both but we just can't jeopardize our kids.

We are going to decorate eggs this evening. The kids can't wait until the Easter Bunny comes. I need to do some grocery shopping but it may have to wait until Monday - I don't want to fight the crowds. I'd really like my car washed - it is a mess. So, I'm off to do some things around here.

Happy Easter!