Extra Cash

Sorry no time to blog today as I have been busy busy working on refinancing the house. You know we need to get some extra cash for our newest adventure. Anyone care to take a guess at what we are going to be needing the money for??!

Flew Right By

The weekend that is. Is it really Monday again already? We did some playing this weekend with friends and enjoyed Saturday at Dac Kids when it was all yucky and raining. Faith is up and walking almost all the time now, except of course when she is whining to be held (which is most of the time). It is hard to put down such a snuggle bug who happens to be so darn adorable!

Anyhow, hope you had a great weekend. Oh and by the way, Sheila and I don't ever get the "Are you REAL sisters question?" Can you see why?

Are You Lonely?

I just read a new blog about a woman serving in Africa right now and has taken in about 14 orphans into her home. Her words on this post are very powerful so I wanted to share...

"Uncle Mike formed a special bond with the "big girls" this past week, especially sweet Agnes. I am so thankful for the sweet relationship they have made. I want to share it but feel that my words will be inadequate...

A little background two of my oldest, Nabayego and Agnes, had a father who died of AIDS when they were only 4 and 6. The only male role models they had growing up were their mother's brothers, all of whom are unemployed and sit around drinking all day. The other two "big girls" Maragaret and Prossy lived in a Sudaneese refugee camp until they were 8 and 10 and then moved in with their uncle who severly abused them. Not pretty. I was shocked when all 4 of them seem instantly drawn to Mike, since in general they are usually pretty unenchanted with men. Agnes especially was just enthralled with this new man in the house. Every night Mike would go into their room and tell them a story and they would just laugh and laugh. So precious.

Sunday night after their story, I went in to kiss the girls goodnight. Wide eyes, Agnes looked up at me, "Hey Momma, is this what it is like to have a dad?" Oh, my heart. I kissed her quickly so that she wouldn't see my eyes well with tears. The next night, Mike put on some George Strait and two-stepped around the living room with Agnes. The other Uncles joined in, taking turns with the other girls. As I watched for where I was cooking dinner, I couldn't help but weep.

I can be a lot of things for my girls. I provide for them, I love them with all that I am, they know I would do anything for them. But the truth is, I cannot be their father. This breaks my heart. So much of how I live, how I love, how I interact with others is based on my relationship with my father and the example he set. I know that my understanding of God's unconditional love stems directly from my dad's unconditional love for me. I remeber so vivdly sitting on my daddy's lap (ok, sometimes I still do) and dancing around the kitchen standing on his feet. I can be a lot of things for my girls, but I cannot be their father. They deserve a male role model who teaches them what it is to be valued and cherished. My heart is so saddened when I think that they do not have this, but I lay it in my Heavenly Father's hands because I know HE values and cherishes them more than anyone on earth could.

Then I begin to think of the children who do not have a mother or a father. Where will they learn love? Who will tell them bed time stories and dance them around the living room? Who will teach them that they are loved and valued and cherished?

Oh, yeah. The body of Christ. Each person who calls themself a follower of Christ takes up the reponsibility to love and care for the fatherless. It is not some special, specific calling. It is the duty of all who call themselves Christians. There are ONE HUNDRED FOURTY SOMETHING MILLION fatherless, motherless, parentless children who are not shown unconditional love by another human being on a daily basis. How will we then tell them that Jesus loves them? I am certain that God did not mess up and create too many children and not enough people to love them. The body of Christ is responsible for sharing His love with the people that we are also responsible for making destitute.

Please join my broken heart in praying for the fatherless, but more than that please pray about how YOU can be instrumentall in loving the fatherless. They are not just in Africa, they are right in your own community."

Bathroom Baby

This is what happens when you leave a toddler unattended for 5 minutes:

Oh and yes please notice the "child-proof" lock that is on the door. No match for little Miss Faith, she can get into anything! Well as you can see she is feeling better today and her wheezing is under control thanks to more steroids. Fortunately her x-ray was clear and she does not have pneumonia, just her crappy RAD (reactive airway disease) acting up yet again. RAD just really means baby asthma.

Anyhow, she is doing better thanks to the meds and lots of breathing treatments. It pains me to think about her in the orphanage without access to these medications since I know how hard it is for her to breathe sometimes. I really hope she is starting to understand that she no longer has to just suffer through the pain. Mommy and Daddy will take care of her and give her the means to breathe without pain! Imagine not being able to do the most basic necessary function in life-BREATHE- without pain :(

Poor Baby Girl

Yes, my little Faith is sick-again :( We were back at the doctor yesterday morning with a whole lot of wheezing and fever-again. Doctor said same protocol as before assuming it is pneumonia-again. WHAT?!?! Yes, that is what they said, so off to have an official xray done this morning. I am going to be very curious to see if it really is pneumonia-again. I went ahead and made an appointment to see a pulmonologist, but that appointment isn't for a couple of weeks. If the x-ray says she really does have pneumonia-again, then my doctor is supposed to try to get us in sooner at the pulmonologist. She is already on Singulair and Pulmicort as preventative measures, but she still gets sick. This is just craziness and my poor little girl can't breathe when this stuff attacks her :(

Sisters??

Ok, here is the latest dilemma in my head these days... What is the best possible answer to some of the "sister" questions I get now? This is how a "normal" conversation might go when I am out and about:

Stranger: They are so cute!

Me: Thank you

Stranger: Where are they from?

Me: China

Stranger: Are they sisters?

Me: Yes

Stranger: No, I mean REAL sisters?

Me: They are now!

Nosy Stranger: No I meant are they REAL biological sisters?

Me: Why do you ask?

Nosy Stranger: Taken back and usually ends the conversation and walks away.

Now here is the deal. I don't really mind the questions as I know people are curious and people are people. But here is where I have to step up to the plate and be the best mom I can be, so I need to decide now while they are young the best "canned answer" for some of these questions. And keep in mind that I could care less about what others think, I only want to answer the best way that matters the most to my girls.

So I am wide open for suggestions??! What do you think the girls would like me to say out and public when asked...Are they sisters?

TGIF

Nothing new or exciting happened this week so I guess that is why I am slow on posting. Believe it or not only one doctor was visited this week. And that was for Faith at the asthma/allergy doctor for her first visit. I think it is just too soon to tell if Faith really has asthma or an allergy for that matter right now. So we will just have to wait and see how things go. Anyhow everyone is feeling well this week so we have been playing outside as much as possible and enjoying the nice weather. I sure hope it stays for the weekend. Have a good one and be sure to spend time with the ones you love :)

Got Your Green On?

Happy St. Patty's Day to everyone out there. Travis was so excited this morning that he FINALLY got to take his Leprechaun Trap to school today that he and his Papa built last week. Travis is so proud of that little shoebox creation Papa designed. As you can imagine since my dad built it, it is one of a kind. Sorry I forgot to take a picture of it this morning.

Have a great day and I hope you have your green on or you may get pinched all day. As you can see me and the girls have our green on today :) These pics are when I was dropping off Shelby at school this morning. Boy has she come a long way with the morning drop offs. Now she actually complains on Saturday and Sunday when she doesn't have school-ha! Boy what a difference a year makes!

Walking

We have an official walker for real now! Faith must have heard me on the phone with Babies Can't Wait on Friday saying how she might need some extra PT (physical therapy) to get her up and moving faster. I have made an appointment with them already to have her evaluated as I suspect she may qualify for PT, OT, and ST (physical, occupational, and speech therapy). However, by the looks of her now, we may get to rule out the physical stuff!

Amy's Gotcha

I just got off the phone with Amy who is in China with her sweet baby girl. Here is little Miss LynnMarie finally with her mommy and daddy! So happy for them. She sure is a cutie pie :)

Smiles for Friday

Just cause Daddy is coming home!

More Babies Coming Home

My good friends Amy and Michael have landed in China-yeah! They are about to pick up their first baby girl LynnMarie in a few days. Here she is celebrating her first birthday. Fortunately this is her last one without her mommy and daddy :)

Amy and I began the paperchase together in 2007 when I first entered the adoption world. It has been a wonderful experience to watch them from beginning to end find their little girl. I am so happy for them!


And here is little Miss Julia who was just united with her mommy and daddy. Her mommy is my old friend Gwen from high school. So happy to see these little ones coming home soon.

Not To Worry

Please don't worry about me being home by myself this week. I am in good hands ;)











PS: Just one of the many reasons my kids think we have the best neighbors in the world!

Single Mom

Looks like I get to be the "single mom" this week since CJ left last night headed to Wisconsin. His stepmom is very sick and in the hospital. CJ will be gone probably until Sunday :( We will miss him, but it has been a while since he has seen his family up there. Hopefully his stepmom will get better soon and CJ can enjoy some time spent with his dad and brother while he is there. CJ is driving so please keep him in your prayers for a safe trip there and back home safely.

So looks like I will have to hold the fort down by myself this week. I am sure I will find plenty of things to keep us busy. Everyone is well for now, so that is a definate good thing ;) We are loving the weather and were out and about walking the neighborhood last night. Faith's favorite thing to do outside is to swing...HIGH! She completely cracks up with each and every push.










PS: Here are some more out-takes and pics from our digit friend outing we had on Saturday. We have the cutest kids on the planet!

Race Day

Look where all my boys spent the LONG day yesterday:










The girls and I just hung out not doing too much of anything. Faith is finally sounding better with her wheezing, oh I mean breathing ;) She is still getting frequent breathing treatments throughout the day, but she does sound much better now.

We had a great meeting on Friday with the Adoption Option group. Lots of little ones running around and fun had by all I do believe. Here are some pics for your enjoyment!

A God Thing

A mere 18 months ago this is what we were looking at:

















And by the grace of God this is our new view!

Baby Bundle

No Comments?

OK what is up with you people?? Is no one reading my blog anymore? I haven't had one single comment all week, is something wrong? Have I offended you in some way?

Well if I have, then please tell me in person tonight at our Adoption Option meeting that will be at my house! I just picked up the yummy Honey Baked Ham for the occasion. Hope to see you soon :)

Hump Day

Seems like this week is just dragging out. Everyone at the house is back to "normal" today and off to school and such. Faith is sounding more and more crackly though so hopefully with some extra breathing treatments today she can cough that yucky stuff up and get it out of her lungs. I saw a sign on a church today that is SO fitting for my family:

"Faith makes things possible, not easy!" I just crack up every time I see it in the mornings. Our little Faith has certainly been a blessing and a handful.

Adoption in general seems to also fit this statement. A lot of people would like to paint a rosy perfect picture around adoptions. But truth be told, adoptions are HARD work and not always easy. Sometimes God asks us to do things that aren't always easy, and that is just a fact. But like I shared with a girlfriend of mine the other day who was a bit stressed...If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it!

One Up, Two Down

Faith is feeling much better today, but now I have Travis and Shelby at home with daddy today with a yucky stomach bug :( Shelby tossed her cookies in the middle of the night, and then Travis woke up this morning doing the same thing-YUCK. Faith is at my mom's today hoping to NOT catch this yucky stuff. Caleb went off to school like normal. Crazy how much sickness has been in my house this winter. Let's hope tomorrow looks brighter and healthier :)

Pics from yesterday...Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Sweetie

Happy birthday to my favorite man in the whole world! What a blessing CJ is to me :) We had a mini surprise party for him today here at the house in the snow. It was a fun day spent with family and friends.