Ahhhhhhhhhh...

Kids are back in school today for the first time since mid December. Thank Heavens I live in an amazing area with fabulous public schools. 5 weeks is much too long for winter break! This year round thing takes some getting used to.

Thank you Miss McManus, Mrs Evans and Mrs Tutor. You are both amazing and we are so blessed by all of your efforts.

A Braverman kind of day...

So last week I talked about how much I loved watching the ABC Shows Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice episodes dealing with adoption... They just really got it right. (Not so much now the Private Practice part though. Hello!!!! You loose one baby and quit trying all together. What a WIMP!)

Anyway, my Aunt Jimae, my cousin Nicki and a few of my sisters have been telling me for 2 and a half years that I have got to watch PARENTHOOD on NBC. They tell me it is totally my life. I missed the first few episodes and I don't like to get in on a show in the middle so I just never got into it. But after being asked by Jimae, Nicki, Mitzi and Lani SO SO SO MANY times if I watched this or that episode, I finally decided it was a good time to watch the show. I went online and found it available for $13 for the entire season 1 dvd set.

Well, in the first 42 minutes, I cried 7 times! ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? It was so right. They got it so perfect. I love that they have the extended family being such a huge part of the struggle to understand the autistic son, Max. I cried the hardest when Max came out worried about his game and the whole family (Aunts and Grandparents included) jumped to get him to the game. The aunts helped with team snacks, the sister ran to get his uniform. It was my favorite scene. It is me life. It is why I LOVE living in Cary, and having 3 sisters and their families so close by.

The part I laughed the hardest at was when they FINALLY got in with the behaviorial specialist and needed to "rush" to get to the appointment. I hadn't ever seen this show before, but yet I totally started laughing before the scene even finished because I KNEW what was going to happen. YOU NEVER RUSH A KID with this issues. And then the dad turns off the tv!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!! I WAS ROLLING on the bed by this point. HILARIOUS!!! These writers are BRILLIANT!!!

Thanks for encouraging me to watch it Aunt Mae, Nicki and sisters. I love that you think of me when you watch it. Yep, that is EXACTLY how it is.

Hahaahaaaa... the dad turned off the tv. What a rookie mistake! Again, hilarious.

And Lani, last Thursday when I cancelled out on going with you and the girls to yoga at 8pm... I had just had a VERY BRAVERMAN kind of day, and I was exhausted. Thanks for being understanding... It really helps.

Super Brighton up in the trees. He loves to climb and never gets scared... no matter how high or huge the tree is!

Brighton does not feel pain like other people do. We are actually having him tested to find out more about this. He can endure intense pain before he fells it which can be good or bad. He also is going to start seeing an Autism behavioral specialist in 2 weeks. We are really excited to see how it works. I loved it when the mom and dad on PARENTHOOD went in to the doctor and I KNEW they were thinking, tell us he hasn't got it. Tell us it is a mistake. And then when the dad asks how long he will have it, like it is the flu... HILARIOUS! Again, GREAT SHOW!!!

Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice

I've been there. Totally been there. Actually been there twice. It is terrible, but it also is kind of great. Holding that baby for the first moment, falling in love, loosing her, then finally getting to hold her again. Loved the Grey's ending. Loved it. Been there, and it is the best feeling ever!

Feb. 2009
This is Savannah, or who we thought was Savannah. I got to see the sonogram, hear the heartbeat, stay awake all night for labor, I even got to cut the umbilical chord! She was an amazing experience that was horrible to live through.


But somehow the last day, I knew what was going to happen. I denied it... but my heart knew.
In Private Practice, during the horrible part of holding that perfect baby, and then knowing that you would never hold her again, she says, "How am I supposed to believe that? How am I supposed to believe in anything ever again?" Hated this. Been there... Worst feeling ever.
I don't watch Private Practice much, so it was kind of a surprise to see what was going on. I love it when they get it right. Capture it so well.

Ok, so I actually meant this post as a happy/thankful/look at how amazing this is kind of a post. So here goes:

I don't ever miss an episode of Grey's Anatomy and I love that they took the story and made it so real, and true to life. Anybody watch these shows? Your thoughts?

Well, when they started with Zolla as a storyline, I loved it. I had just gotten my own delicious little sweetheart, and they looked so much alike! And with her special needs, it felt so close to our Cole and his story.

I don't know if having a baby is ever easy. Maybe biologically it is easy emotionally? I don't know. But adoption, in my experience, is the craziest roller coaster ride in life. But you know how after you get off the roller coaster, and you realize it was the greatest thrill you could imagine? Well, in my life, I have gotten three roller coaster rides that were somehow unspeakably life changing. I am not making sense... so here is what I mean. This is why it is worth the heartache part.
October 2009
This is the moment I first met my princess Savannah and somehow I knew it in my heart... She was mine forever!




The moment the judge officially decreed that Savannah Kea Ohana was ours forever.
Addison, Meredith... It is worth it! I promise!!
I would have missed the pain, but I'd of had to miss the dance.

Thanks ABC... you got it right on these two.

Families are forever...

Forever.
Eternal.
Families are together as a unit throughout all of eternity.

A long time ago, our Father In Heaven brought all of his children together in a grand council in Heaven. Here we learned of the plan our big brother, Jesus Christ, had to offer when we came to earth. We would live on Earth as families, and we would have agency, the freedom to choose for ourselves. As we choose to follow our Savior's plan, we will be reunited with our families after we leave this Earth life. We will live in the Celestial Kingdom with our parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, children and cousins. Our cousins...

Tonight one of my dear cousins is getting close to returning to Father in Heaven long before any of us planned for him to go. He will leave behind two amazing children and a very young, wonderful wife. David is the kind of cousin everyone would want to have. He is fun and inventive, but more than anything else, David is kind. He loves people. All people.

Goodnight David. Our lives are all better for having you in it. Father, please be with Christina, Joshie and Jazzie. They are the greatest blessing to David's existence. They will need your help understanding your plan.

I love you cousins...


David is the one at the top back in the red and white striped shirt. I am 16 years old here and my baby sister Tiffany is in my arms. I grew up with so many happy memories with these cousins.

I have been so blessed.