Pics of the cruise...

Carnival... Do I need to say anymore!

The last week of January was a dream at least once we made it on the ship! My dear sweet in-laws gave us a trip for Christmas and boy was it nice..Can we say Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, and Cozumel! I'm still dreaming of the sleep I experienced let's just say I've never slept better I don't know if it was the ship rocking me to sleep or being away from the real world but I slept all night every night with no neck or back pain.. Now thinking back I wish I had of checked the pillows because once we came home my neck began killing me again if only I had looked at the tag to see what kind of pillow.. Sigh.... Oh well! Don't get me wrong but preparing for the trip was the worst, packing for a family of five is not an easy task especially for seven days including two formal dinners, ha my boys think jeans and polo shirts are formal so polo shirts and izod kahkis will have to do! I became more and more resistant to going dreading packing and finalizing the trip then comes the sickness and I'm mean it was relentless first Scott came down with a cold virus, then he came down with the most horrific stomach virus. To say I was scared was the understatement of the year I was petrified that we would all get it or get it on the ship, then I got sick with an upper respiratory infection and tried to self treat until I gave up and went in to see our dear friend Richard who gave me two shots antibiotic and cough medicine. Now that I was on the mend I was trying to pack and work and deal with the kids school about being out for a week. Which was not easy by the way until this year it had never been an issue so I was caught off guard at the resistance I mean really they are only in second and third grade and they can do the make up work. I won't bore you with the details but I know why so many people are choosing to homeschool their children. To top the list the boys came down sick the night before we left with fever and congestion and I was distraught so the next morning were running with our heads cut off so now do we run to birmingham just to go to the pediatrician or urgent care here in town..? Decisions so urgent care here we come with our oldest begging for no shots and me praying that they would give them two but boy did he get lucky we rolled out with antibiotics and cough medicine! Now were on the road fever and all here we come no turning back now... Well here we come Carnival sorry we lied the first question they ask is have you experienced any fever or flu like symptoms oh no were all fine with the load of medicine we have were good for two weeks! Well they were so excited to be there and I was relieved and so glad to sit back and breath! Can we say haleilugh praise Jesus we made it here and we are going! Scott's parents, my mom and our family friends Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Jim and Matthew, along with a few other friends we were crusing to paradise! I'll hopefully add some pictures later when I get around to downloading them! I'm so tech challenged it's not even funny, if only I had known I could have turned my phone on airplane mode and could have used my camera on my iPhone but that info came a little late like our last day in port! I was so worried about international rates that they kept texting us that we turned off our phones and put them in our room safes. The trip flew bye and was a blast in Jamacia we went to Doctors Cave Beach in Montego Bay and visited margaritaville for lunch..can we say cheeseburgers in paradise are expensive Jimmy Buffet is making a killing but I still had to have a tshirt! Who could resist no shoes, no shirt, no problem I could live my entire life on the beach. Then we were off to Grand Cayman and boy was it nice I would love to relive that day so relaxing but way to short. Scott and myself laid on the beach at Royal Palms for a total cost of $14.00 instead of paying a ridiculous excursion fee and it paid off. The boys however visited the turtle farm with their grandparents and I think it was the highlight of their trip also! We met a wonderful group of ladies who were cruising on Carnivals Liberty ship out of Miami it was their last port of their trip, but I truly believe God placed them in our path and what a blessing they were their encouragement in our decision to adopt and our discussions on faith were without a doubt one of the best parts of the trip for me strangers who became friends in only a couple of hours. I pray for these sweet ladies and can't wait to get in contact with them and see our pictures we took that day! Then our day in port was over we were on one of the last tenders to the ship barely making it on the ship opps, we were going by their time Miami time oh well we made it back just in time! Now we were off to the Cozumel for what we thought would be a day in the sun on our private island in paradise but the sun forgot to shine that day but it was relaxing and enjoyable for everyone.. Mexican buffet, open bar, and playhouses and trampolines for the boys we were all enjoying our time but it sure flew bye and it was time to take the catamaran back to Cozumel then straight to the ship with a quick stop bye the Ron Jon Shop at the shops at port! Now we were back on the ship for a ride back to the real world with a few more dinners and meals.. I think I gained ten pounds easy but it was well worth it I ate everything even dessert almost every night and it was heaven. Now I'm crying cause my jeans are to tight maybe having this tooth extracted this past Friday will aide in my weight loss ha who am I kidding I doubt it has helped I've drank my weight in liquids and soup. Oh well were officially back to reality along with my tooth extraction this past Friday, Scott was diagnosed with the flu and had to take off work for two days but he was able to take tamiflu and is doing much better and Richard also started me on it and we all stay away from him I slept with Riley and did everything we made him stay in the bedroom and sleep so I'd like to think were in the clear but your never know so say a prayer that were in the clear and can stay healthy for a while. Now I'm resting and the boys and Scott are at church I am so blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life and can not wait to start the official adoption process with him! While off this week he took the time to feel out his paperwork and answer the questions that lifeline asks us parents doctrinal questions on our faith and beliefs. I'm so excited to be on the same page with him on adoption and that God is leading uson our journey. If only adoption wasn't so expensive why and how are the questions that keep me from moving forward I know God is with us we just have to tighten our belts and do whatever it takes to get the ball rolling to bring our baby girl home wherever she may be, God will show her to us he will lead her home and that I truly believe! I ask that anyone and everyone pray for our journey of adoption and that God will lead the way! I pray that God will allow that to be our last trip as a family of five and next time we will be a family of six with our little girl in tow! God bless you all!