Perhaps I can blame myself for Anna's recent love of "lists." She'll carry around any piece of paper, game instructions, index cards, you name it. "What's that, Anna?" "It's my 'ist!"
At any rate, for lack of a better place to put this (why is it my desk never stays clean?), I'm making this for myself right here.
Things I Want to Get Done Over Christmas Break:
1. Clear desk (again!)
2. Catch up on blogging (July-Dec. I bother since it's our family's memory album).
3. Trim goat hooves
4. Gather milking supplies
5. Clean out Sunday School room
6. Paint Sunday School room w/ girls
7. Organize church library
8. Update sidebars on adoption blog
9. Adjust 2nd semester lesson plan schedule as needed.
10. Write, send, and mail Christmas letters
Me thinks I'm being a tad unrealistic. *sigh* How much can one still dreadfully sick mom with three dreadfully sick children accomplish? Lately it's been an accomplishment just to keep up with laundry...
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas Celebrations!
I'm not up to tons of blogging today...we've all been sick as dogs since Christmas. Yup. I'm pretty sure it's thanks to the stress/trauma we were under the week before.
But if you want some pics of what we were up to on Christmas Eve, head over to my sister's blog...pictures of the kids' Christmas Eve program and some of the festivities following are over there!
But if you want some pics of what we were up to on Christmas Eve, head over to my sister's blog...pictures of the kids' Christmas Eve program and some of the festivities following are over there!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Introducing...
...the three newest additions here at Faith Mountain Farm!!!
Butterscotch was due on Christmas Day, and she delivered on the 26th! She is a most cooperative goat...waiting till after the holiday, on a Saturday while Mark was home, going into labor late morning, and delivering mid-afternoon while Anna was napping. It doesn't get much more convenient than that!
Here are her three darling daughters...in the order in which they were born!
The boys were both very helpful during the delivery. After the first one was born, Andrew kept rubbing her to get her warm and dry while I helped Butter deliver the 2nd one...for which Jacob kept feeding out the paper towels for me. After a while we thought we were just waiting for the afterbirth to deliver, so the boys went off to play, and then Butter presented the third one! The boys were happy to come back and hold the first two while we got the newest one cleaned up, and then of course to hold the youngest, too!
All in all, it was only about a 3 hour ordeal from start to clean up (of course, we're not Butterscotch, I know)!
I went back out tonight to check on how everyone was doing, and this was the scene:
All the babies were curled up in the straw sleeping, and Butter was in the other stall eating. As soon as she heard me come in, she peeked around the corner to check on the situation. She has been such a good momma so far. I couldn't resist picking up the lone white one to put her in the adorable sleeping pile with her two sisters, which woke them all up and then they were all hungry! Butter was probably thinking "Thanks, lady. I finally got those babies to sleep, and now they're up and hungry again." Butter had done so well in getting them all cleaned up and letting them nurse already. But I felt better having seen them all nurse again.
All three of them are marked so differently! In this last grouping, the bottom left picture, you can see how strikingly similar the youngest (far right of the 3 kids) is to Butterscotch, with the same spots and all. We think they are all just adorable! The oldest looks most like sire Stinky Pete. (I just went to link to a post about him, and in doing so I realized I have never posted a picture of him, just have posted our shenanigans in moving the stinky boy away from the rest of us. I'll try to rectify that shortly).
But, we're having trouble with coming up with names! I greatly admire cleverness. I want clever names for these kids. But in the past week, we've been through a horrible accident, medical ordeals pertaining to said accident, Christmas craziness, and of course all 5 of us managed to be sick for Christmas, from which we haven't yet recovered.
All that to say this: Cleverness is in short supply these days.
That's where you come in! I don't know if I should tell you our ideas or not, and just wait to see what you come up with? No, then it might seem like we're trying to get out of sending you your prize if you come up with the same thing! (No, I don't know what the prize is yet. Like I said, we're short on cleverness around here right now. If nothing else, you could have your choice etched permanently into the history books of our farm-I know, I know-try to contain your excitement).
We had thought of making the kids' names a play on Butterscotch. Like Buttercup. I think it's cute, but it does have it drawbacks, primarily being that Butterscotch is always just shortened to Butter. I'm sure the same thing would happen to Buttercup. Then we would have two Butters, and how confusing would that be?
So our ideas:
1st kid: Buttercup
2nd kid: Reese's (a play on Peanut Butter...my sister Tricia gets credit for that one)!
3rd kid: Butter rum (get it? Butter Scotch...Butter Rum? Also has its drawbacks...might be expected to name one of them Vodka or something, and we're really not drinking people...)
So, please...put your cleverness to work and leave us a comment with your ideas!
And last but not least...Anna meeting the kids!
Butterscotch was due on Christmas Day, and she delivered on the 26th! She is a most cooperative goat...waiting till after the holiday, on a Saturday while Mark was home, going into labor late morning, and delivering mid-afternoon while Anna was napping. It doesn't get much more convenient than that!
Here are her three darling daughters...in the order in which they were born!
The boys were both very helpful during the delivery. After the first one was born, Andrew kept rubbing her to get her warm and dry while I helped Butter deliver the 2nd one...for which Jacob kept feeding out the paper towels for me. After a while we thought we were just waiting for the afterbirth to deliver, so the boys went off to play, and then Butter presented the third one! The boys were happy to come back and hold the first two while we got the newest one cleaned up, and then of course to hold the youngest, too!
All in all, it was only about a 3 hour ordeal from start to clean up (of course, we're not Butterscotch, I know)!
I went back out tonight to check on how everyone was doing, and this was the scene:
All the babies were curled up in the straw sleeping, and Butter was in the other stall eating. As soon as she heard me come in, she peeked around the corner to check on the situation. She has been such a good momma so far. I couldn't resist picking up the lone white one to put her in the adorable sleeping pile with her two sisters, which woke them all up and then they were all hungry! Butter was probably thinking "Thanks, lady. I finally got those babies to sleep, and now they're up and hungry again." Butter had done so well in getting them all cleaned up and letting them nurse already. But I felt better having seen them all nurse again.
All three of them are marked so differently! In this last grouping, the bottom left picture, you can see how strikingly similar the youngest (far right of the 3 kids) is to Butterscotch, with the same spots and all. We think they are all just adorable! The oldest looks most like sire Stinky Pete. (I just went to link to a post about him, and in doing so I realized I have never posted a picture of him, just have posted our shenanigans in moving the stinky boy away from the rest of us. I'll try to rectify that shortly).
But, we're having trouble with coming up with names! I greatly admire cleverness. I want clever names for these kids. But in the past week, we've been through a horrible accident, medical ordeals pertaining to said accident, Christmas craziness, and of course all 5 of us managed to be sick for Christmas, from which we haven't yet recovered.
All that to say this: Cleverness is in short supply these days.
That's where you come in! I don't know if I should tell you our ideas or not, and just wait to see what you come up with? No, then it might seem like we're trying to get out of sending you your prize if you come up with the same thing! (No, I don't know what the prize is yet. Like I said, we're short on cleverness around here right now. If nothing else, you could have your choice etched permanently into the history books of our farm-I know, I know-try to contain your excitement).
We had thought of making the kids' names a play on Butterscotch. Like Buttercup. I think it's cute, but it does have it drawbacks, primarily being that Butterscotch is always just shortened to Butter. I'm sure the same thing would happen to Buttercup. Then we would have two Butters, and how confusing would that be?
So our ideas:
1st kid: Buttercup
2nd kid: Reese's (a play on Peanut Butter...my sister Tricia gets credit for that one)!
3rd kid: Butter rum (get it? Butter Scotch...Butter Rum? Also has its drawbacks...might be expected to name one of them Vodka or something, and we're really not drinking people...)
So, please...put your cleverness to work and leave us a comment with your ideas!
And last but not least...Anna meeting the kids!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Andrew and Dr's B and P
In some ways life is starting to feel a little bit back to normal, in other ways-not so much.
We had Andrew back at the Dr. yesterday due to recurring severe headaches. We needed to determine the source, fearing bleeding on the brain (and it wasn't just our fear...we were squeezed into an appt. rather quickly)!
After a thorough neurologic exam, Dr. B really believes he's having tension headaches due to the strain on his neck from whiplash. While there is still a sliver of a chance there's more going on in his brain than that, he didn't feel it was worth exposing him to so much radiation just to have a CT scan done.
Our physical care is handled almost exclusively by our chiropractor, Dr. P. She helps deal with everything from skin problems to nutrition and allergy issues to keeping our bodies adjusted. (I count it a testimony to her care that of the combined lifespan of my children being 15 years, Andrew is the only one who has been on antibiotics...once when we were visiting NY and when he had encephalatis).
However, there are times when you need an MD, so it's nice to finally have found a dr. that we like. We took Andrew back to Dr. B, who had seen us in the ER, as he had been great with Andrew, and he is actually the dr. who did mine and Mark's adoption physicals and paperwork.
It was just so refreshing to hear a Dr. say that he would not recommend risking radiation exposure when his exam didn't seem to indicate it...we've all heard of or been to Dr.'s who will run every diagnostic just because. And his recommendations for treatment for Andrew's headaches? Neck stretches, heat, and an anti-inflammatory...and if the natural pain-relief supplements we have been using have an anti-inflammatory, then they should be fine to continue using. Can you believe it? An MD who says it's fine to use a natural supplement. A Dr. who didn't just recommend a bunch of medication. That has been very rare in our experience, and we're grateful to finally have a Dr. that works well with our care mind-set and with the recommendations of our chiropractor.
We had Andrew back at the Dr. yesterday due to recurring severe headaches. We needed to determine the source, fearing bleeding on the brain (and it wasn't just our fear...we were squeezed into an appt. rather quickly)!
After a thorough neurologic exam, Dr. B really believes he's having tension headaches due to the strain on his neck from whiplash. While there is still a sliver of a chance there's more going on in his brain than that, he didn't feel it was worth exposing him to so much radiation just to have a CT scan done.
Our physical care is handled almost exclusively by our chiropractor, Dr. P. She helps deal with everything from skin problems to nutrition and allergy issues to keeping our bodies adjusted. (I count it a testimony to her care that of the combined lifespan of my children being 15 years, Andrew is the only one who has been on antibiotics...once when we were visiting NY and when he had encephalatis).
However, there are times when you need an MD, so it's nice to finally have found a dr. that we like. We took Andrew back to Dr. B, who had seen us in the ER, as he had been great with Andrew, and he is actually the dr. who did mine and Mark's adoption physicals and paperwork.
It was just so refreshing to hear a Dr. say that he would not recommend risking radiation exposure when his exam didn't seem to indicate it...we've all heard of or been to Dr.'s who will run every diagnostic just because. And his recommendations for treatment for Andrew's headaches? Neck stretches, heat, and an anti-inflammatory...and if the natural pain-relief supplements we have been using have an anti-inflammatory, then they should be fine to continue using. Can you believe it? An MD who says it's fine to use a natural supplement. A Dr. who didn't just recommend a bunch of medication. That has been very rare in our experience, and we're grateful to finally have a Dr. that works well with our care mind-set and with the recommendations of our chiropractor.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thank you...
The outpouring of love and concern about our accident has been both encouraging and humbling...we so appreciate all of your prayers, and we've loved all your comments!
We're making progress, slowly but surely. It never ceases to amaze me how God provides for us through gracious friends and family.
On Thursday, my parents came down for the day...dad was entertainer extraordinaire, and mom did lots of laundry and made dinner for us!
On Friday, I had to head to Anchorage (a trip I had already planned for other things, primarily food to feed my family)...thankfully Kindra had to head to Anchorage for an appointment anyway, and was willing to cart us along and have a much longer, harder day than she would have had otherwise. Despite being tired and sore, I felt like I had to get new car it seats sooner than later. More about that on another post, but that mission is accomplished. Kindra was such a trooper...hauling everything for me from chicken feed to Christmas presents. (No, the chickens don't get presents). I was so grateful to have her with me...by 2 p.m. I had hit the figurative wall, and it was touch and go and pain and waning energy from there.
While we were traipsing around Anchorage, my friend Mel and her daughters were at my house watching Jacob and Anna (Andrew was with me), and Mel was a virtual house-cleaning fairy! More laundry done, and floors swept, vacuumed, and mopped! She headed home after lunch when Ben and Rosella arrived for the afternoon shift, and they were continuing work on another major project for me (more about that in another post, too)!
Today Ben finished cleaning out his van and putting on the snow tires (I think we've kept those two busier since Wed. than they've been in a while!), and delivered the van to us this afternoon...we have wheels again.
All in all, things are looking up...we feel incredibly blessed.
A few things to pray for, if you would:
1. Andrew-the majority of the time, he seems completely fine. But, he's started having severe headaches at night. A tad worrisome.
2. Me-I'm not sure which is worse-the fact that I'm still so sore that it hurts to lift Anna, or that I'm feeling either emotionally drained or over-emotional!
3. Insurance-van damage will be assessed on Monday.
Thanks, friends!
We're making progress, slowly but surely. It never ceases to amaze me how God provides for us through gracious friends and family.
On Thursday, my parents came down for the day...dad was entertainer extraordinaire, and mom did lots of laundry and made dinner for us!
On Friday, I had to head to Anchorage (a trip I had already planned for other things, primarily food to feed my family)...thankfully Kindra had to head to Anchorage for an appointment anyway, and was willing to cart us along and have a much longer, harder day than she would have had otherwise. Despite being tired and sore, I felt like I had to get new car it seats sooner than later. More about that on another post, but that mission is accomplished. Kindra was such a trooper...hauling everything for me from chicken feed to Christmas presents. (No, the chickens don't get presents). I was so grateful to have her with me...by 2 p.m. I had hit the figurative wall, and it was touch and go and pain and waning energy from there.
While we were traipsing around Anchorage, my friend Mel and her daughters were at my house watching Jacob and Anna (Andrew was with me), and Mel was a virtual house-cleaning fairy! More laundry done, and floors swept, vacuumed, and mopped! She headed home after lunch when Ben and Rosella arrived for the afternoon shift, and they were continuing work on another major project for me (more about that in another post, too)!
Today Ben finished cleaning out his van and putting on the snow tires (I think we've kept those two busier since Wed. than they've been in a while!), and delivered the van to us this afternoon...we have wheels again.
All in all, things are looking up...we feel incredibly blessed.
A few things to pray for, if you would:
1. Andrew-the majority of the time, he seems completely fine. But, he's started having severe headaches at night. A tad worrisome.
2. Me-I'm not sure which is worse-the fact that I'm still so sore that it hurts to lift Anna, or that I'm feeling either emotionally drained or over-emotional!
3. Insurance-van damage will be assessed on Monday.
Thanks, friends!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sweet and Sobering
Do you ever have those moments when you just about burst with pride over one of your children? I had one of those with Andrew at the hospital, but it was also coupled with a bit of melancholy sadness that at age 7, he carries so much on his little shoulders.
As Andrew and I were laying on beds next to each other in the hospital room yesterday, I really wanted to get a feel for how he was handling all of the stress. He had been asked a zillion and one times and ways how he was feeling physically. But I felt the need to know how he was doing emotionally. And he was laying there so quiet and serious-looking.
So I simply asked him, "Andrew, is there anything you're worried about?"
Yes, there was.
Can you believe his sweet little heart? For those of you who may not know, we've named the baby girl we're in the process of adopting "Karis," and the boys have been faithfully praying for all of our funds to come together for the rest of the adoption so we can bring her home from Ethiopia.
Sometimes I worry that he's too mature for his age when it comes to stuff like this, but at the same time I'm grateful that he's already understanding that it's not all about him...Lord, bless my little boy, keep his heart tender towards the things of Your Kingdom, and help him to cast all of his cares upon You...
As Andrew and I were laying on beds next to each other in the hospital room yesterday, I really wanted to get a feel for how he was handling all of the stress. He had been asked a zillion and one times and ways how he was feeling physically. But I felt the need to know how he was doing emotionally. And he was laying there so quiet and serious-looking.
So I simply asked him, "Andrew, is there anything you're worried about?"
Yes, there was.
"Well, mom, how are we going to get a new van?"
"That's why we have insurance, buddy. Mommy and Daddy send the insurance company money every month. If we don't ever need anything, they get rich from it. But if we do need it, the money is there to help us get a new van or whatever we need from an accident."
"Ohhhh. That's good. I was worried that we were going to have to use our money from Karis to get a new van."
"No...we're still going to get Karis. The insurance will take care of a new van for us, don't you worry."
"Okay. I just thought we were going to need to have like 300 more rummage sales to be able to go get her."
Can you believe his sweet little heart? For those of you who may not know, we've named the baby girl we're in the process of adopting "Karis," and the boys have been faithfully praying for all of our funds to come together for the rest of the adoption so we can bring her home from Ethiopia.
Sometimes I worry that he's too mature for his age when it comes to stuff like this, but at the same time I'm grateful that he's already understanding that it's not all about him...Lord, bless my little boy, keep his heart tender towards the things of Your Kingdom, and help him to cast all of his cares upon You...
Accident
And not the potty training kind, either. It's hard to put a title on a day like today. I will just preface this with the fact that all of us are, despite being very sore and bruised, fine.
This is our van as of about noon today.
The kids and I were headed into town to meet Mark to get some last papers signed and notarized for our dossier, and to get some material at the quilt shop.
On our way south, we pass an old gift shop that has been converted into an office for DOT. Apparently they had just plowed the snow in their driveway/parking space, which left high berms by the road...high enough that the woman pulling out in the pickup truck didn't see us, travelling at about 40 mph, before she pulled out in front of us to try and head north. When she saw us, she tried to stop and turn south, and I tried to go around her on the left...both of which prevented a complete t-bone, which would have been more disastrous, I'm sure. But on ice and with just seconds, it was too late.
Regardless, it was a hard hit. The air bags both deployed, and both Anna and Jacob were screaming in the back (honestly, I'm a little worried about Andrew-I don't think he has cried all day). Thankfully adrenaline takes over at that point, and I hopped right out to try and get the kids out. Anna's side door wouldn't open at all, and I could only open the other side door a crack (one major downfall to power doors). I was opening up the back hatch to try and get to them that way, and the woman driving the truck came and was able to open the side door far enough for the kids to squeeze out. At that point, there didn't seem to be any major injuries. Andrew unbuckled Anna and got her to the door for me, and we hustled into the DOT office to make phone calls, assess injuries, and wait for the troopers and for Mark.
Jacob and Anna seemed to be crying more from fright than from pain. Jacob had some bruising on his hip area from his seat belt, but didn't have any other complaints. Anna never had a physical complaint unless she was echoing her brothers. Andrew, however, seemed to be almost in shock. He had a huge bump on his forehead from hitting the seat in front of him, and very quickly became nauseous. At first we just planned on driving ourselves to the hospital be checked out, but the EMT who responded first urged us to send Andrew and myself by ambulance (I was having chest pain and shortness of breath, so they had put me on oxygen, along with some serious bruising to my left knee). When they checked Andrew over, he had some pain in his hips as well, so they actually collared and back-boarded him for the trip to the hospital. One neat thing about living in a small town...that's actually Andrew's soccer coach who's carrying the board out to the ambulance. But I have never been more impressed with a child as I was with Andrew today. He was so brave through everything...everyone who worked with him gave him great accolades for his cooperation.
Ben came and took Jacob and Anna in his car, Andrew and I were in the ambulance, and Mark finished up details with the trooper and getting essentials out of the van before heading down to the hospital.
This is the DOT truck that pulled out in front of us...seems like relatively little damage.
The woman who was driving was so shaken up and apologetic...I can only imagine how she must have felt seeing these three beautiful little kiddos crying and in pain. She apologized countless times, and I hope she can remember later that I did sincerely grasp her hand, look her in the eye, and say "I forgive you. We're all going to be fine." But those are the kinds of things that can get lost in the shuffle of a traumatic moment...I pray she can remember.
We were at the hospital until about 4:30. They did lab work and x-rays head to toe on Andrew, and there are no major injuries. They did lab work and a chest x-ray on me, and all is fine there, too. Jacob's bruising was superficial. Anna seemed fit as a fiddle. Three cheers for 5-pt. harness car seats.
Every time we pull out of the driveway, one of the kids prays for a safe trip while we're out. Andrew prayed before we left...and I wanted to be sure to emphasize with him that it may seem like God didn't keep us safe, otherwise we wouldn't have gotten in an accident. But he did keep us safe through it all...for the damage done to the van, there was no broken glass to get all over everything and in our hair and skin. We all walked away with our bones intact. It could have been much, much worse than it was. But it wasn't, and we're grateful.
Ben and Rosella are letting us borrow their mini-van until we get settled with insurance to get a new van. Our insurance would cover a rental, but rentals never seem to have snow tires on them. So that's one less worry. Pray for Mark as he deals with the insurance details over the next week or so. And rejoice with us for the God who knows the number of hairs on our head!
This is our van as of about noon today.
The kids and I were headed into town to meet Mark to get some last papers signed and notarized for our dossier, and to get some material at the quilt shop.
On our way south, we pass an old gift shop that has been converted into an office for DOT. Apparently they had just plowed the snow in their driveway/parking space, which left high berms by the road...high enough that the woman pulling out in the pickup truck didn't see us, travelling at about 40 mph, before she pulled out in front of us to try and head north. When she saw us, she tried to stop and turn south, and I tried to go around her on the left...both of which prevented a complete t-bone, which would have been more disastrous, I'm sure. But on ice and with just seconds, it was too late.
Regardless, it was a hard hit. The air bags both deployed, and both Anna and Jacob were screaming in the back (honestly, I'm a little worried about Andrew-I don't think he has cried all day). Thankfully adrenaline takes over at that point, and I hopped right out to try and get the kids out. Anna's side door wouldn't open at all, and I could only open the other side door a crack (one major downfall to power doors). I was opening up the back hatch to try and get to them that way, and the woman driving the truck came and was able to open the side door far enough for the kids to squeeze out. At that point, there didn't seem to be any major injuries. Andrew unbuckled Anna and got her to the door for me, and we hustled into the DOT office to make phone calls, assess injuries, and wait for the troopers and for Mark.
Jacob and Anna seemed to be crying more from fright than from pain. Jacob had some bruising on his hip area from his seat belt, but didn't have any other complaints. Anna never had a physical complaint unless she was echoing her brothers. Andrew, however, seemed to be almost in shock. He had a huge bump on his forehead from hitting the seat in front of him, and very quickly became nauseous. At first we just planned on driving ourselves to the hospital be checked out, but the EMT who responded first urged us to send Andrew and myself by ambulance (I was having chest pain and shortness of breath, so they had put me on oxygen, along with some serious bruising to my left knee). When they checked Andrew over, he had some pain in his hips as well, so they actually collared and back-boarded him for the trip to the hospital. One neat thing about living in a small town...that's actually Andrew's soccer coach who's carrying the board out to the ambulance. But I have never been more impressed with a child as I was with Andrew today. He was so brave through everything...everyone who worked with him gave him great accolades for his cooperation.
Ben came and took Jacob and Anna in his car, Andrew and I were in the ambulance, and Mark finished up details with the trooper and getting essentials out of the van before heading down to the hospital.
This is the DOT truck that pulled out in front of us...seems like relatively little damage.
The woman who was driving was so shaken up and apologetic...I can only imagine how she must have felt seeing these three beautiful little kiddos crying and in pain. She apologized countless times, and I hope she can remember later that I did sincerely grasp her hand, look her in the eye, and say "I forgive you. We're all going to be fine." But those are the kinds of things that can get lost in the shuffle of a traumatic moment...I pray she can remember.
We were at the hospital until about 4:30. They did lab work and x-rays head to toe on Andrew, and there are no major injuries. They did lab work and a chest x-ray on me, and all is fine there, too. Jacob's bruising was superficial. Anna seemed fit as a fiddle. Three cheers for 5-pt. harness car seats.
Every time we pull out of the driveway, one of the kids prays for a safe trip while we're out. Andrew prayed before we left...and I wanted to be sure to emphasize with him that it may seem like God didn't keep us safe, otherwise we wouldn't have gotten in an accident. But he did keep us safe through it all...for the damage done to the van, there was no broken glass to get all over everything and in our hair and skin. We all walked away with our bones intact. It could have been much, much worse than it was. But it wasn't, and we're grateful.
Ben and Rosella are letting us borrow their mini-van until we get settled with insurance to get a new van. Our insurance would cover a rental, but rentals never seem to have snow tires on them. So that's one less worry. Pray for Mark as he deals with the insurance details over the next week or so. And rejoice with us for the God who knows the number of hairs on our head!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Resigned
I have resigned myself to several things.
1. Christmas letters are meant to be written after Christmas (and at least before Valentine's Day).
2. Catch up on blogging is meant to be done the week of Christmas break (not to say I won't post some current stuff, but August-November will just wait)!
3. We are not likely to have Karis home by next Christmas. We still need about $2000 to send off our dossier, which takes 2-3 weeks to be reviewed and translated before heading to Ethiopia. Then a 9-11 month referral wait. Then 4-6 weeks of travel arrangements, visas, birth certificate, etc. So it is still possible. But not likely.
Yesterday's post on our adoption blog was more fun, literally!
1. Christmas letters are meant to be written after Christmas (and at least before Valentine's Day).
2. Catch up on blogging is meant to be done the week of Christmas break (not to say I won't post some current stuff, but August-November will just wait)!
3. We are not likely to have Karis home by next Christmas. We still need about $2000 to send off our dossier, which takes 2-3 weeks to be reviewed and translated before heading to Ethiopia. Then a 9-11 month referral wait. Then 4-6 weeks of travel arrangements, visas, birth certificate, etc. So it is still possible. But not likely.
Yesterday's post on our adoption blog was more fun, literally!
Monday, December 07, 2009
Progress, Progress
Okay...I will post "after" pics of the basement eventually! I decided to first wait for Mark's construction mess downstairs to be cleaned up, to give you the full effect!
Can I just say that Mark is one exceptionally gifted, hard-working, TIRED guy? Two solid weekends of work, and our staircase project is nearing completion!
The new staircase is now in the entryway, shelves for shoes, boots, and baskets of winter gear are hung. Washer and dryer are both moved to their new location (just a few feet down) and are now hooked up for use (man, have we been in a laundry whirlwind the past two days!), AND the spiral staircase has been removed from the living room, new beams put in where the spiral stairs were, and there's a new section of floor where my piano now sits!!!
I could post pics of the livingroom in it's new look, but blogging supports my perfectionist tendencies-I don't have to show you the results until I've re-hung all the pictures where I want them! (Right now there's a bear rug hanging on the wall behind my piano. Somehow, my nice picture frames and candle-holders that belong on the piano just look sorta out of place in front of a. bear). So, little bits to do here and there...and then on to decorating for Christmas! A bit later than I like to get decorated, but having this project done is worth it!
Can I just say that Mark is one exceptionally gifted, hard-working, TIRED guy? Two solid weekends of work, and our staircase project is nearing completion!
The new staircase is now in the entryway, shelves for shoes, boots, and baskets of winter gear are hung. Washer and dryer are both moved to their new location (just a few feet down) and are now hooked up for use (man, have we been in a laundry whirlwind the past two days!), AND the spiral staircase has been removed from the living room, new beams put in where the spiral stairs were, and there's a new section of floor where my piano now sits!!!
I could post pics of the livingroom in it's new look, but blogging supports my perfectionist tendencies-I don't have to show you the results until I've re-hung all the pictures where I want them! (Right now there's a bear rug hanging on the wall behind my piano. Somehow, my nice picture frames and candle-holders that belong on the piano just look sorta out of place in front of a. bear). So, little bits to do here and there...and then on to decorating for Christmas! A bit later than I like to get decorated, but having this project done is worth it!
Questioning the Creator
I've been meaning to ask this for a while, but Eric's post about Jordan's question is prompting me to finally get to it.
Why is it that my boys find any statement to be positively hysterical if it contains the word "bathroom," "underwear," or if it references bodily functions?
Anyone? Is it just my boys? :)
(Okay...off to remove my tongue from my cheek! And anyone that says that boys and girls aren't really that different has never raised both)!
Why is it that my boys find any statement to be positively hysterical if it contains the word "bathroom," "underwear," or if it references bodily functions?
Anyone? Is it just my boys? :)
(Okay...off to remove my tongue from my cheek! And anyone that says that boys and girls aren't really that different has never raised both)!
Sunday, December 06, 2009
She's how old?
Today when we pulled in from church, Sophie was pacing back and forth on the porch, barking towards the forest up by the church barn. Since we were just parking the van, I suggested that we pull up to the church barn parking lot to see if we could see what she might be barking at.
Right there, in front of the old bus, was standing a bull moose!!! While Mark said he wasn't actually a legal bull, he still had a nice rack. Even the boys saw him before he disappeared into the woods, but Anna was disappointed she didn't see him.
But I had to marvel and shake my head at my darling little two and a half year old. My dainty, sweet girl. As I'm carrying her into the house, she scrunches up her shoulders and hoarsely whispers, "I shoot da gun a' da moosh!"
(She repeated this a few minutes later, coming into the room carrying a pole from a plastic rack. I asked what she had..."It's a gun to shoot da moosh!"). Her daddy's girl through and through...
Right there, in front of the old bus, was standing a bull moose!!! While Mark said he wasn't actually a legal bull, he still had a nice rack. Even the boys saw him before he disappeared into the woods, but Anna was disappointed she didn't see him.
But I had to marvel and shake my head at my darling little two and a half year old. My dainty, sweet girl. As I'm carrying her into the house, she scrunches up her shoulders and hoarsely whispers, "I shoot da gun a' da moosh!"
(She repeated this a few minutes later, coming into the room carrying a pole from a plastic rack. I asked what she had..."It's a gun to shoot da moosh!"). Her daddy's girl through and through...
Friday, November 27, 2009
Not Your Typical "Day After Thanksgiving"
2nd UPDATE: Sorry, I realized this morning I updated on facebook but not here...Mark made it home about by around 7 p.m. last night. He parked at a friend's on the other side of the avalanche who drove him up to it, and he hiked over-pizza for dinner in hand. :) Our neighbor Mona met him on the other side and brought him home. Last night we got about 3 more inches and it's coming down again. Only trouble now is that he has a lot of the materials for the stairs in the van. On the other side of the avalanche that won't be cleared until tonight. This is beginning to look like a comedy of errors...
CORRECTION & UPDATE: We didn't get 8 more inches of snow today. It was 12 more inches. I've never been good at estimating, but a ruler helps.
The avalanche is supposedly not going to get cleared for traffic until tomorrow night. Mark is going to head up there now and see if they're letting people walk over, and if they are, I'll send the neighbors w/ 4-wheel drive down to fetch him. This is why he keeps snowshoes in his car during the winter. But right...he has the van today...
*sigh*
This is my day today...
We were at my parents' yesterday for Thanksgiving, and my mom had asked if they could keep the kids overnight. You know that saying "Give them an inch and they'll take a mile?"
Yeah, you know what's coming...I said sure, they could have them overnight, and could they please keep them till Sunday? :)
But we have good reason.
This is our basement. Yes, I'm embarrassed by it's condition. The couch doesn't even belong here...we're trying to sell it for someone who had to move out of state suddenly. Do you see the far corner, to the left of the doorway? After this weekend, if all goes as planned, there will be a staircase there that leads to our upstairs entryway.
Building projects and holes in the floor don't mix well with children...hence the leaving of them at my parents'. And in order for stairs to be there, the tools and such that are occupying the space now need to, well, move. But where to? There's hardly room to walk down there.
That's where I come in. It's not that there's not room...it's just a horrific mess (which is think what happens when you let an area of your house become the domain of men and children...maybe. I'm just sayin'). While Mark is at work today, my job is to tackle this basement, beat it into submission, and have it ready to get down to business when Mark gets home from work tonight.
And therein lies the snag, and the request for prayers!
See, this is what my day looks like on the outside. Last week we got about 6 inches of snow. It got warm and slushy for a day or so, then froze up again. Then Wednesday night, Thanksgiving Day Eve, we got 7 inches of wet, heavy snow. "Thankfully" it cleared by midnight, so we had no trouble getting to my parents' place.
But then we got another 8 inches of wet, heavy snow last night/this morning. Here is Mark's poor little car in the driveway-he wisely chose to drive the van to work this morning.
Now it has cleared and the it's a winter wonderland outside. Except for one major issue.
There has been an avalanche about 7 miles from here. South of here. Between here at home and Mark there at work.
Pray that the avalanche gets cleared quickly, or I may be catching up on blogging instead of helping with a staircase!!!
CORRECTION & UPDATE: We didn't get 8 more inches of snow today. It was 12 more inches. I've never been good at estimating, but a ruler helps.
The avalanche is supposedly not going to get cleared for traffic until tomorrow night. Mark is going to head up there now and see if they're letting people walk over, and if they are, I'll send the neighbors w/ 4-wheel drive down to fetch him. This is why he keeps snowshoes in his car during the winter. But right...he has the van today...
*sigh*
This is my day today...
We were at my parents' yesterday for Thanksgiving, and my mom had asked if they could keep the kids overnight. You know that saying "Give them an inch and they'll take a mile?"
Yeah, you know what's coming...I said sure, they could have them overnight, and could they please keep them till Sunday? :)
But we have good reason.
This is our basement. Yes, I'm embarrassed by it's condition. The couch doesn't even belong here...we're trying to sell it for someone who had to move out of state suddenly. Do you see the far corner, to the left of the doorway? After this weekend, if all goes as planned, there will be a staircase there that leads to our upstairs entryway.
Building projects and holes in the floor don't mix well with children...hence the leaving of them at my parents'. And in order for stairs to be there, the tools and such that are occupying the space now need to, well, move. But where to? There's hardly room to walk down there.
That's where I come in. It's not that there's not room...it's just a horrific mess (which is think what happens when you let an area of your house become the domain of men and children...maybe. I'm just sayin'). While Mark is at work today, my job is to tackle this basement, beat it into submission, and have it ready to get down to business when Mark gets home from work tonight.
And therein lies the snag, and the request for prayers!
See, this is what my day looks like on the outside. Last week we got about 6 inches of snow. It got warm and slushy for a day or so, then froze up again. Then Wednesday night, Thanksgiving Day Eve, we got 7 inches of wet, heavy snow. "Thankfully" it cleared by midnight, so we had no trouble getting to my parents' place.
But then we got another 8 inches of wet, heavy snow last night/this morning. Here is Mark's poor little car in the driveway-he wisely chose to drive the van to work this morning.
Now it has cleared and the it's a winter wonderland outside. Except for one major issue.
There has been an avalanche about 7 miles from here. South of here. Between here at home and Mark there at work.
Pray that the avalanche gets cleared quickly, or I may be catching up on blogging instead of helping with a staircase!!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Miracle #3
Okay...I told you about the Miracles we saw last Tuesday. Some big, some small, as I said. Miracle #1 was fantastic adoption news for our friends. Miracle #2 was about some amazing things happening for both someone we know and someone we don't.
I'll confess that for our 3rd miracle, I am a tad reticent to actually tag it as a "miracle." If you want to question my theology, I understand-I'm questioning it on this point myself. But even if we can't call it a miracle, I would call it "something really cool God did for my son."
You see, I had Andrew with me in Costco about a month and a half ago. He saw a "Space Exploration" kit that he desperately wanted. Problem? He had about $10 saved, and the set was $20.
Naturally, he asked if he could get it. I wanted him to have it...he's thoroughly enjoying our astronomy studies this year. He had his $10 with him, earned as commissions for a few of his chores. We don't pay the kids for every single thing they do around here, b/c it's just not realistic-wouldn't it be great to get paid for every chore you do around your family home? :) But there are a few chores for which they get paid a commission, and from that they're learning to tithe, save for college, save for an item they want to purchase, or just have on hand for spending.
The kicker is this: You can't very well expect your children to learn to NOT live on credit IF you keep giving them credit! Would it have been completely painless for me to pay the extra $10 he didn't have and just tell him to pay me back after he got paid out of the egg money? (He gets a cut out of egg money for doing all the chicken chores). Yes, it would have been painless. Would it have defeated the purpose of teaching him to handle money? Absolutely.
So I simply told him that he would get paid from the egg money before we came back to Costco, and he would have enough to buy it then.
"But what if it's not here anymore?" he worried.
"Don't worry...it's here for the Christmas season. They'll be plenty here when we come back." And I wasn't just trying to make him feel better...I really believed it.
Fast forward six weeks. Andrew eagerly waiting through all of our appts. and errands to end the day at Costco. Striding through the store to get to the book section. Eyes wistfully scanning the displays, worry etched into his features.
And then he spied it. One solitary Space Exploration kit left. No sign of the display. No other items similar nearby, or anywhere. Just one battered and torn box cast off to the side, containing one precious space kit.
Did we get our own miracle that afternoon in Costco? It sure felt like it. Thank you, Lord, for being faithful in your concern for the details of our lives. Andrew is so grateful. And so am I.
I'll confess that for our 3rd miracle, I am a tad reticent to actually tag it as a "miracle." If you want to question my theology, I understand-I'm questioning it on this point myself. But even if we can't call it a miracle, I would call it "something really cool God did for my son."
You see, I had Andrew with me in Costco about a month and a half ago. He saw a "Space Exploration" kit that he desperately wanted. Problem? He had about $10 saved, and the set was $20.
Naturally, he asked if he could get it. I wanted him to have it...he's thoroughly enjoying our astronomy studies this year. He had his $10 with him, earned as commissions for a few of his chores. We don't pay the kids for every single thing they do around here, b/c it's just not realistic-wouldn't it be great to get paid for every chore you do around your family home? :) But there are a few chores for which they get paid a commission, and from that they're learning to tithe, save for college, save for an item they want to purchase, or just have on hand for spending.
The kicker is this: You can't very well expect your children to learn to NOT live on credit IF you keep giving them credit! Would it have been completely painless for me to pay the extra $10 he didn't have and just tell him to pay me back after he got paid out of the egg money? (He gets a cut out of egg money for doing all the chicken chores). Yes, it would have been painless. Would it have defeated the purpose of teaching him to handle money? Absolutely.
So I simply told him that he would get paid from the egg money before we came back to Costco, and he would have enough to buy it then.
"But what if it's not here anymore?" he worried.
"Don't worry...it's here for the Christmas season. They'll be plenty here when we come back." And I wasn't just trying to make him feel better...I really believed it.
Fast forward six weeks. Andrew eagerly waiting through all of our appts. and errands to end the day at Costco. Striding through the store to get to the book section. Eyes wistfully scanning the displays, worry etched into his features.
And then he spied it. One solitary Space Exploration kit left. No sign of the display. No other items similar nearby, or anywhere. Just one battered and torn box cast off to the side, containing one precious space kit.
Did we get our own miracle that afternoon in Costco? It sure felt like it. Thank you, Lord, for being faithful in your concern for the details of our lives. Andrew is so grateful. And so am I.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
P.S....
On a more interesting note than the discourse on allergies below, we have some excitement on the adoption front!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
On the allergy front
We're making some long-awaited changes on the allergy-front here at our house. When we had Anna at the allergist recently (everything came back negative) I learned that the allergist doesn't take a lot of stock in IGg allergy testing (the type that we have had done on the boys, which alerted us to their sensitivities). Her questioning of the testing sent me doing some more research, but it only confirmed what we believed from the beginning...immune system dysfunctions can arise from food intolerances.
Almost a full year ago, we had both boys tested for IGg food allergies, and they are both allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, and citrus. Jacob also to peanuts, Andrew to lima and kidney beans.
Let me just make the understatement of the year: Feeding my family has been the ultimate challenge of the past year.
(If you're new here, and have nothing better to do than watch snow fall, you can get the background story here. And some follow-up to it here).
The recommended time frame for removing culprit foods was 3-12 months. Just about to 12 months, so we had planned on having them re-tested. Due to combined factors, we simply don't have the extra $500 we need to have them tested.
SO...we've decided to go ahead and start the rotation diet. (Side note: In looking at the paperwork from their test results, we realized that Jacob really didn't have enough of a reaction to tomatoes to pull them from his diet. But in our zealousness to rectify health situations a year ago, we removed tomatoes. We're sorry, Jacob. May you always continue to take the same enthusiastic delight in your ketchup-consumption as you have this week).
A rotation sounds so simple. And it's so NOT. I have a spreadsheet that I've been working on, with a full-month menu plan. First, as a family, we created a list of meals that we've missed and would like to rotate back in. (Top of the list: Pizza!). And I created a list of all the stuff I've made up over the course of the past year. I could publish a mini-cookbook. Then, I plugged in meals that I wanted to have in the Crock-Pot based on schedules, and other easy-meal nights based on evening activities. Then I started plugging in the allergy-laden meals...no more than one meal in each restricted food group every four days. I basically went with once a week, taking into account church pot-lucks, etc.
I color-coded the allergy foods, so I could see at a glance my spacing. Okay...we want REAL pancakes on Saturday? Make sure there's no meal with wheat, eggs, or dairy after Tuesday. Oops...let's shuffle these around-can't have pizza on Monday and then breaded chicken two days later. You get the idea. Finish filling in the spaces with the allergy-free recipes, and add in b'fasts and lunches.
There are a lot of things that won't change around here...dairy was relatively easy to do without, and the substitutes work well. They'll still have rice milk instead of regular milk on cereal. I'll still use coconut oil to bake with instead of butter. If I don't have to include one of their trigger foods for a recipe to make it work, then I won't. But I can plan for holiday gatherings, too...just don't feed them from any of their groups the week before a holiday meal, and they should be fine eating like "normal" people. We just need to be vigilant about keeping track of symptoms like ear-aches, sleeplessness, and constipation.
All in all, I'm very excited to have this done. I've been wanting to be more on top of our grocery budget and time anyway, so this was the final nudge. Tomorrow night I'll tackle the month's grocery list.
And is this not the longest excuse for not blogging that you've ever read? Hello, anyone still there? *sigh* Can't blame them...even I'm getting bored by this drivel, too. Back to my list...
Almost a full year ago, we had both boys tested for IGg food allergies, and they are both allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, and citrus. Jacob also to peanuts, Andrew to lima and kidney beans.
Let me just make the understatement of the year: Feeding my family has been the ultimate challenge of the past year.
(If you're new here, and have nothing better to do than watch snow fall, you can get the background story here. And some follow-up to it here).
The recommended time frame for removing culprit foods was 3-12 months. Just about to 12 months, so we had planned on having them re-tested. Due to combined factors, we simply don't have the extra $500 we need to have them tested.
SO...we've decided to go ahead and start the rotation diet. (Side note: In looking at the paperwork from their test results, we realized that Jacob really didn't have enough of a reaction to tomatoes to pull them from his diet. But in our zealousness to rectify health situations a year ago, we removed tomatoes. We're sorry, Jacob. May you always continue to take the same enthusiastic delight in your ketchup-consumption as you have this week).
A rotation sounds so simple. And it's so NOT. I have a spreadsheet that I've been working on, with a full-month menu plan. First, as a family, we created a list of meals that we've missed and would like to rotate back in. (Top of the list: Pizza!). And I created a list of all the stuff I've made up over the course of the past year. I could publish a mini-cookbook. Then, I plugged in meals that I wanted to have in the Crock-Pot based on schedules, and other easy-meal nights based on evening activities. Then I started plugging in the allergy-laden meals...no more than one meal in each restricted food group every four days. I basically went with once a week, taking into account church pot-lucks, etc.
I color-coded the allergy foods, so I could see at a glance my spacing. Okay...we want REAL pancakes on Saturday? Make sure there's no meal with wheat, eggs, or dairy after Tuesday. Oops...let's shuffle these around-can't have pizza on Monday and then breaded chicken two days later. You get the idea. Finish filling in the spaces with the allergy-free recipes, and add in b'fasts and lunches.
There are a lot of things that won't change around here...dairy was relatively easy to do without, and the substitutes work well. They'll still have rice milk instead of regular milk on cereal. I'll still use coconut oil to bake with instead of butter. If I don't have to include one of their trigger foods for a recipe to make it work, then I won't. But I can plan for holiday gatherings, too...just don't feed them from any of their groups the week before a holiday meal, and they should be fine eating like "normal" people. We just need to be vigilant about keeping track of symptoms like ear-aches, sleeplessness, and constipation.
All in all, I'm very excited to have this done. I've been wanting to be more on top of our grocery budget and time anyway, so this was the final nudge. Tomorrow night I'll tackle the month's grocery list.
And is this not the longest excuse for not blogging that you've ever read? Hello, anyone still there? *sigh* Can't blame them...even I'm getting bored by this drivel, too. Back to my list...
Monday, November 16, 2009
Too smart
Anna has lately gotten into the habit of getting up after she's been put to bed to go potty. I know it sounds like despite the fact that she's our 3rd child, we're falling for an old trick. We're not, trust me...there are not-so-good goods delivered by the time she's done.
She's a smart one, though. She will try to stretch it out beyond doing her business. Mark warned her that she could look at one more book, and then she was going to be done.
So she picks up one more book to read. Guess which one?
The Bible.
She's a smart one, though. She will try to stretch it out beyond doing her business. Mark warned her that she could look at one more book, and then she was going to be done.
So she picks up one more book to read. Guess which one?
The Bible.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Who Knew?
On occasion, Jacob will ask if he can bring to church with him one of his most treasured possessions: his little stuffed Elmo. The answer is usually "No," sometimes it's "Sure, but he has to stay in the van so he doesn't get lost."
Apparently that request no longer needs to be made, as there is a new development in this household that I was informed of tonight.
"Mommy, tomorrow, Elmo and my other stuffed animals are going to stuffed animal church, so they don't need to come with us."
As I said, who knew? Glad to hear they getting their priorities straight...no more hanging around in bed all day.
Apparently that request no longer needs to be made, as there is a new development in this household that I was informed of tonight.
"Mommy, tomorrow, Elmo and my other stuffed animals are going to stuffed animal church, so they don't need to come with us."
As I said, who knew? Glad to hear they getting their priorities straight...no more hanging around in bed all day.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Miracle #2
Well, it's actually two amazing things, but they didn't actually happen on Tuesday like Miracle #1 and #3 (forthcoming), I just found out about them on Tuesday. So I'm lumping them into one...hope you don't mind.
First, there's an elderly gentleman with whom we are friends. He's been estranged from his daughter for about 40 years. And he's been hospitalized recently. Someone tracked down his daughter, and she actually sent him a card, offering her forgiveness for the past. And he cried. And cried. And cried. "My little girl still loves me." She's not little anymore...she's in her mid-forties. But there's been one small step of restoration, and we're in awe.
And then there's Stellan, over at My Charming Kids, who had a risky heart procedure done this week...I think they said it was a 20% chance of the procedure being successful. But our God is 100% God, and they made it within their 20%...God answered the prayers of many!
These miracles aren't anything that has a profound effect on our family personally, but they are still reminders of God's power, and we're in desperate need of that reminder right now. So I'm writing it down so we won't forget. God is sovereign. He is the All-Sufficient One. He's the Provider. Amen.
First, there's an elderly gentleman with whom we are friends. He's been estranged from his daughter for about 40 years. And he's been hospitalized recently. Someone tracked down his daughter, and she actually sent him a card, offering her forgiveness for the past. And he cried. And cried. And cried. "My little girl still loves me." She's not little anymore...she's in her mid-forties. But there's been one small step of restoration, and we're in awe.
And then there's Stellan, over at My Charming Kids, who had a risky heart procedure done this week...I think they said it was a 20% chance of the procedure being successful. But our God is 100% God, and they made it within their 20%...God answered the prayers of many!
These miracles aren't anything that has a profound effect on our family personally, but they are still reminders of God's power, and we're in desperate need of that reminder right now. So I'm writing it down so we won't forget. God is sovereign. He is the All-Sufficient One. He's the Provider. Amen.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
What did you do?
For Orphan Sunday, that is?
I tell you what, I may be biased, but my husband can preach!
Here's a bit about ours...
I tell you what, I may be biased, but my husband can preach!
Here's a bit about ours...
Miracle #1
Yesterday was a day of miracles. Some big, some small. But all a reminder of God's presence and power.
We were in Anchorage the entire day yesterday...we were supposed to leave at 7:30 a.m. for Anna's allergist appt. Well, I hadn't yet heeded my note to self regarding my alarm clock...so it was going to be a stretch to get all four of us out the door in the dark and in the snow on time!
I was more than a little frustrated that I was going to be away from my computer, because my friend Jen was expecting big news, and I didn't want to miss it! If you don't follow Jen and Jim, I encourage you to check out their blog! Jen and I went to high school together...not the closest of friends, but we did share our closest friend, Darlene. My perspective then was that Jen and I were just complete opposites, and I sadly did not take the time to really get to know her. The last time I saw or talked to her was at Darlene's wedding, which we were both in. Ten and a half years ago.
I started following her blog two years or so ago, when they were in the process of adopting their daughter from Kazakhstan...I was interested partly b/c I knew her from high school (and we're actually second cousins or something-go figure), and partly b/c my mom had recently gone on a missions trip to Kaz. And bit by bit Jen and I began to communicate-at first just through comments on each other's blogs. But when Mark and I began to think more about adoption, then we began emailing each other more frequently-Jen was tireless about answering my questions! She has shaped so much of our perspective on adoption, and is one of those powerful behind-the-scenes forces in our whole adoption process!
Well, then our connection grew even stronger as we both were in the process to adopt from Ethiopia! We have shared each others' ups and downs over the past year. My perspective now? Jen is one of my dearest friends, and there's not a week that goes by that I don't wish that we lived close enough to get the kids together to play or to go out for a cup of coffee and talk adoption stuff!
Well, yesterday was a big day for them. Very big. Their petition to adopt the baby boy with whom they'd been matched (the most gorgeous little boy, I might add) was to be heard in court. Lately, adoptive families have only had a 60% pass rate...usually due to missing paperwork. If for some reason a family does not pass, their case is heard again in about 3 weeks. Can you imagine having picture after picture of your baby, knowing he's sitting in the orphanage waiting for you, and then having to wait almost an extra month to hold him in your arms just because some paperwork is missing? The very thought of it was enough to keep many of us on our knees for them yesterday! Crying out to God for mercy, knowing it was in his hands.
They expected to hear back, yeah or nay, around 10:30 am Eastern. I had high hopes that they would have heard by the time I needed to leave at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. Eastern. I quickly checked their blog in the rush to get ready. No new post. I left a quick comment, then finished getting the kids ready. By 7:55 we were loading up the van...I checked one more time, with no new update to reward my anxious heart!
A few minutes after 8 a.m., I had to run back into the house to grab just one more thing...and I heard a voice I didn't recognize leaving a message. For some reason, I thought perhaps it was the allergist's office calling about our appt. So I quickly picked up the phone mid-message...when I heard both "Jen" and "court" in the next sentence, my mind started racing to try and think if I had seen a "Jen" who comments on their blog, to try and figure out which friend she had given a list of numbers to in order to share their news! :)
I didn't recognize her voice...it had been ten and a half years since we had last spoken! All of this flashed through my mind in the five seconds it took me to grasp that is was Jen herself, and she was calling to share the news that they had passed court!!! I just have to laugh at it all now...but oh, the rejoicing!!! I laughed and cried my whole way to Anchorage, trying to explain to the kids how great this all was. And had my alarm clock gone off, we would have been out the door at 7:30...and I would have not gotten the news for another 12 hours.
Yes, Jen and Jim and Gigi had a miracle yesterday. But so did I. The miracle of friendship. I don't think I will ever be able to adequately explain what it meant to me to receive that phone call, but it has touched me and changed me- Glory be to God!
We were in Anchorage the entire day yesterday...we were supposed to leave at 7:30 a.m. for Anna's allergist appt. Well, I hadn't yet heeded my note to self regarding my alarm clock...so it was going to be a stretch to get all four of us out the door in the dark and in the snow on time!
I was more than a little frustrated that I was going to be away from my computer, because my friend Jen was expecting big news, and I didn't want to miss it! If you don't follow Jen and Jim, I encourage you to check out their blog! Jen and I went to high school together...not the closest of friends, but we did share our closest friend, Darlene. My perspective then was that Jen and I were just complete opposites, and I sadly did not take the time to really get to know her. The last time I saw or talked to her was at Darlene's wedding, which we were both in. Ten and a half years ago.
I started following her blog two years or so ago, when they were in the process of adopting their daughter from Kazakhstan...I was interested partly b/c I knew her from high school (and we're actually second cousins or something-go figure), and partly b/c my mom had recently gone on a missions trip to Kaz. And bit by bit Jen and I began to communicate-at first just through comments on each other's blogs. But when Mark and I began to think more about adoption, then we began emailing each other more frequently-Jen was tireless about answering my questions! She has shaped so much of our perspective on adoption, and is one of those powerful behind-the-scenes forces in our whole adoption process!
Well, then our connection grew even stronger as we both were in the process to adopt from Ethiopia! We have shared each others' ups and downs over the past year. My perspective now? Jen is one of my dearest friends, and there's not a week that goes by that I don't wish that we lived close enough to get the kids together to play or to go out for a cup of coffee and talk adoption stuff!
Well, yesterday was a big day for them. Very big. Their petition to adopt the baby boy with whom they'd been matched (the most gorgeous little boy, I might add) was to be heard in court. Lately, adoptive families have only had a 60% pass rate...usually due to missing paperwork. If for some reason a family does not pass, their case is heard again in about 3 weeks. Can you imagine having picture after picture of your baby, knowing he's sitting in the orphanage waiting for you, and then having to wait almost an extra month to hold him in your arms just because some paperwork is missing? The very thought of it was enough to keep many of us on our knees for them yesterday! Crying out to God for mercy, knowing it was in his hands.
They expected to hear back, yeah or nay, around 10:30 am Eastern. I had high hopes that they would have heard by the time I needed to leave at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. Eastern. I quickly checked their blog in the rush to get ready. No new post. I left a quick comment, then finished getting the kids ready. By 7:55 we were loading up the van...I checked one more time, with no new update to reward my anxious heart!
A few minutes after 8 a.m., I had to run back into the house to grab just one more thing...and I heard a voice I didn't recognize leaving a message. For some reason, I thought perhaps it was the allergist's office calling about our appt. So I quickly picked up the phone mid-message...when I heard both "Jen" and "court" in the next sentence, my mind started racing to try and think if I had seen a "Jen" who comments on their blog, to try and figure out which friend she had given a list of numbers to in order to share their news! :)
I didn't recognize her voice...it had been ten and a half years since we had last spoken! All of this flashed through my mind in the five seconds it took me to grasp that is was Jen herself, and she was calling to share the news that they had passed court!!! I just have to laugh at it all now...but oh, the rejoicing!!! I laughed and cried my whole way to Anchorage, trying to explain to the kids how great this all was. And had my alarm clock gone off, we would have been out the door at 7:30...and I would have not gotten the news for another 12 hours.
Yes, Jen and Jim and Gigi had a miracle yesterday. But so did I. The miracle of friendship. I don't think I will ever be able to adequately explain what it meant to me to receive that phone call, but it has touched me and changed me- Glory be to God!
Monday, November 09, 2009
Snow!
We finally have snow, so we slowed way down today to enjoy it! I tell you what, the boys were excited this morning about the snow as they are about Christmas morning!
Jacob woke me up excitedly (note to self: figure out why alarm clock is malfunctioning and fix it already!), letting me know I wasn't going to believe how much snow was outside! His perceptions of how that would change our day-to-day lives was amusing to me:
"There's so much snow, mommy! Now we won't be able to play on the swingset, we won't see out the van windows anymore, and no more animal chores!"
Oh, Jacob! I quickly clarified that he can still play on the swingset, that we'll brush off the van windows, and that the animals have to have food and water whether there is snow out or not!
Needless to say, the boys were out sledding by 9 a.m.! Even though we had to get into town to get a new driver's license for me (mine has gone missing), I let them play out for a few hours. A quick trip to town, deliver some eggs, have a very late lunch, and now we're off to do farm chores and try and squeeze in an hour of school before Mark gets home!
Jacob woke me up excitedly (note to self: figure out why alarm clock is malfunctioning and fix it already!), letting me know I wasn't going to believe how much snow was outside! His perceptions of how that would change our day-to-day lives was amusing to me:
"There's so much snow, mommy! Now we won't be able to play on the swingset, we won't see out the van windows anymore, and no more animal chores!"
Oh, Jacob! I quickly clarified that he can still play on the swingset, that we'll brush off the van windows, and that the animals have to have food and water whether there is snow out or not!
Needless to say, the boys were out sledding by 9 a.m.! Even though we had to get into town to get a new driver's license for me (mine has gone missing), I let them play out for a few hours. A quick trip to town, deliver some eggs, have a very late lunch, and now we're off to do farm chores and try and squeeze in an hour of school before Mark gets home!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Treadmill
Can I just say I'm a bit overwhelmed by my back-log of blog? I was so encouraged by catching up through July, but it burned me out!
I would get on August already, but it's got a lot of big stuff in it. VBS. Mark's parents' visit. Chicken butchering. The state fair. Big stuff means lots of pictures. Lots of pictures means lots of time to choose and edit and post.
Okay...so chicken butchering wasn't that big of a deal, and has only a few photos. I suppose I could do that first, but then my chronology would be all off. Okay, bad excuse from someone who posts three months after the fact.
I might have just talked myself into blogging about our first chicken butchering experience. Just to oil the wheel and get me going again. That's all.
PS: If it helps you any, my sisters (here and here) both have new stuff about my kids...esp. Jacob's birthday!
I would get on August already, but it's got a lot of big stuff in it. VBS. Mark's parents' visit. Chicken butchering. The state fair. Big stuff means lots of pictures. Lots of pictures means lots of time to choose and edit and post.
Okay...so chicken butchering wasn't that big of a deal, and has only a few photos. I suppose I could do that first, but then my chronology would be all off. Okay, bad excuse from someone who posts three months after the fact.
I might have just talked myself into blogging about our first chicken butchering experience. Just to oil the wheel and get me going again. That's all.
PS: If it helps you any, my sisters (here and here) both have new stuff about my kids...esp. Jacob's birthday!
Read for Orphans!
Hey, Everyone!
I just posted about our Read for Orphans campaign over on our adoption blog.
It starts November 8th...so if you're interested, it's time to get started! If you're not interested in having your kids participate, we appreciate your prayers for our financial needs to be met for this adoption-thanks so much!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
One Smart Casted Cookie
Maybe this is completely normal for a 2 1/2-year-old, but we're pretty impressed by her memory! For the sakes of those who aren't accustomed to "Anna-ese," I translate after each name she lists. :) I'll post later about the actual removal of her cast!
Today is the day...
that this little girl...
...gets off this little pink cast! Hooray!
I will post later the video of her going over the names written on her cast-she knows who wrote each one!
...gets off this little pink cast! Hooray!
I will post later the video of her going over the names written on her cast-she knows who wrote each one!
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Goats Great with Child Kid
Okay...the long-awaited pregnancy update on my goatie girls.
First of all, I was thankful I had this comparison picture from this past March.
Anna and the girls were enjoying some unseasonally warm spring weather. The girls still have their heavy winter coats on, but are looking almost svelte otherwise!
Fast forward to last week! Now I suppose their size could be chalked up to enjoying too much alfalfa...
But a back-end picture puts it into perspective a bit better!
Pardon the unflattering rear shot (don't tell the girls I posted this...they would be so embarassed)! People will often ask if a goat is pregnant simply because sometimes they just seem so, well, w-i-d-e. But what they are most often mistaking is a full rumen. A goats' stomach system is on their left side. If they have been eating recently, their left sides can bulge-quite a bit, even! But if you look at Butterscotch here, her right side is also rotund, and is actually almost angular! And Sally is just a little barrel on legs! She doesn't have the protruding look that Butter has, but she is also due a month after Butter. They say that there is really no way to tell if a goat is pregnant just by looking at them...but I'm pretty convinced. And unless I totally missed it, I'm fairly certain they never went back into heat-for over a month I took them up to visit Pete, and they were not interested AT ALL!
Now about due dates. A goats' average gestational period is 150 days. I've heard of as few as 142, but never on a first freshener. Some will go even to 154 days. (Any of my goat-world friends reading this, please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this)!
My family has been wondering about plans for celebrating Christmas together, and I kept saying I had to check when Butter is expected to kid, as I didn't want to be away when she's due. So I finally checked the calendar in the barn, where I record all this stuff, and counted 150 days from the first time I bred her to Stinky Pete. Guess when she's expected to kid?
CHRISTMAS DAY!!!
First of all, I was thankful I had this comparison picture from this past March.
Anna and the girls were enjoying some unseasonally warm spring weather. The girls still have their heavy winter coats on, but are looking almost svelte otherwise!
Fast forward to last week! Now I suppose their size could be chalked up to enjoying too much alfalfa...
But a back-end picture puts it into perspective a bit better!
Pardon the unflattering rear shot (don't tell the girls I posted this...they would be so embarassed)! People will often ask if a goat is pregnant simply because sometimes they just seem so, well, w-i-d-e. But what they are most often mistaking is a full rumen. A goats' stomach system is on their left side. If they have been eating recently, their left sides can bulge-quite a bit, even! But if you look at Butterscotch here, her right side is also rotund, and is actually almost angular! And Sally is just a little barrel on legs! She doesn't have the protruding look that Butter has, but she is also due a month after Butter. They say that there is really no way to tell if a goat is pregnant just by looking at them...but I'm pretty convinced. And unless I totally missed it, I'm fairly certain they never went back into heat-for over a month I took them up to visit Pete, and they were not interested AT ALL!
Now about due dates. A goats' average gestational period is 150 days. I've heard of as few as 142, but never on a first freshener. Some will go even to 154 days. (Any of my goat-world friends reading this, please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this)!
My family has been wondering about plans for celebrating Christmas together, and I kept saying I had to check when Butter is expected to kid, as I didn't want to be away when she's due. So I finally checked the calendar in the barn, where I record all this stuff, and counted 150 days from the first time I bred her to Stinky Pete. Guess when she's expected to kid?
CHRISTMAS DAY!!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
regarding the goats
Today was a drippy, snowy day...so I didn't take the camera with me when I headed out to the barn for chores today. I know, you can hardly stand the suspense of seeing pics of goats that "might be, probably are" pregnant. I'll try not to hold out on you much longer.
Family Issue Resolved
So I mentioned yesterday that we finally had a "family meeting" about an issue that has been concerning me for a while.
I tried to keep it light and fun...it was a "Fun Family Activity" to do before bedtime, not a "meeting."
I also made the mistake of warning Mark about it ahead of time. Yes, on this issue he was about as cooperative as the boys were.*
After everyone had gathered with their requested materials, I posed a simple question.
"How many hats does one person need?" You would think a simple question would receive a simple answer, right?
Wrong. "Well, we need one for doing farm chores." "And a play hat." "And one or two to choose from for nicer occasions." "What about a summer hat and a winter hat?" "Well I need this one because I like it." The answers, from the males in this household (all three of them!), came fast and furious and very un-simple.
I tried rephrasing..."How many hats does one person NEED?"
Maybe I am overreacting. Maybe this is a completely normal state of affairs in everyone's home, and they just never choose to blog about it (go figure!). Maybe I'm being too strict.
But if you're the one who is ultimately responsible for both the tidiness of the entryway AND for the rate of speed in which everyone can get out the door, you must draw the line somewhere.
And I drew it here. One family doesn not need to to have in its possession NO LESS THAN 35 HATS.
Check it out...I kid you not. 35 hats. And the hats with ear flaps that can fold down in winter were excluded.
To the girls' credit, we each had only 4 hats. Which left 8 or 9 hats to each of the guys.
I tried valiantly to whittle it down to just 3-4 hats/person. But the list of needs came out as:
1 for farm chores
1 for play
1 for summer to spray bug spray on
1 regular hat
1 nice hat
As they made their choices, they were sure to put them on quick before I took off with them! Ironically enough, the hats they were choosing to get rid of were some of the ones that I wanted them to keep! It was sure a lesson in something, but I'm not sure what...
Sadly, out of 35+ hats, these are the only ones that got weeded out. But, I think it's all about baby steps, and that NEXT time we do this, things might go a little more smoothly.
Here's the kids hat rack at the end of our Family Meeting. 3 kids. 14 hats. Sadly, I think I will still hear, as we try to rush out the door, "But I can't find that hat..." Grrrr! :)
Mark, I only add this last tidbit out of appreciation for your sense of humor and charm. Promise.
*But you all must know that Mark tried to hide some hats by the downstairs door "since I never seem to have one when I go out that way." Like I said, I shouldn't have warned him! Can I just say this man keeps me smiling? He does, he does! :)
Please do tell me if I'm over reacting and that this a perfectly normal state of affairs for every family. It may be just a guy thing. How many hats are at your house?
I tried to keep it light and fun...it was a "Fun Family Activity" to do before bedtime, not a "meeting."
I also made the mistake of warning Mark about it ahead of time. Yes, on this issue he was about as cooperative as the boys were.*
After everyone had gathered with their requested materials, I posed a simple question.
"How many hats does one person need?" You would think a simple question would receive a simple answer, right?
Wrong. "Well, we need one for doing farm chores." "And a play hat." "And one or two to choose from for nicer occasions." "What about a summer hat and a winter hat?" "Well I need this one because I like it." The answers, from the males in this household (all three of them!), came fast and furious and very un-simple.
I tried rephrasing..."How many hats does one person NEED?"
Maybe I am overreacting. Maybe this is a completely normal state of affairs in everyone's home, and they just never choose to blog about it (go figure!). Maybe I'm being too strict.
But if you're the one who is ultimately responsible for both the tidiness of the entryway AND for the rate of speed in which everyone can get out the door, you must draw the line somewhere.
And I drew it here. One family doesn not need to to have in its possession NO LESS THAN 35 HATS.
Check it out...I kid you not. 35 hats. And the hats with ear flaps that can fold down in winter were excluded.
To the girls' credit, we each had only 4 hats. Which left 8 or 9 hats to each of the guys.
I tried valiantly to whittle it down to just 3-4 hats/person. But the list of needs came out as:
1 for farm chores
1 for play
1 for summer to spray bug spray on
1 regular hat
1 nice hat
As they made their choices, they were sure to put them on quick before I took off with them! Ironically enough, the hats they were choosing to get rid of were some of the ones that I wanted them to keep! It was sure a lesson in something, but I'm not sure what...
Sadly, out of 35+ hats, these are the only ones that got weeded out. But, I think it's all about baby steps, and that NEXT time we do this, things might go a little more smoothly.
Here's the kids hat rack at the end of our Family Meeting. 3 kids. 14 hats. Sadly, I think I will still hear, as we try to rush out the door, "But I can't find that hat..." Grrrr! :)
Mark, I only add this last tidbit out of appreciation for your sense of humor and charm. Promise.
*But you all must know that Mark tried to hide some hats by the downstairs door "since I never seem to have one when I go out that way." Like I said, I shouldn't have warned him! Can I just say this man keeps me smiling? He does, he does! :)
Please do tell me if I'm over reacting and that this a perfectly normal state of affairs for every family. It may be just a guy thing. How many hats are at your house?
Monday, October 26, 2009
This evening
This evening I was outside with my goatie girls, pondering their roundness...
I shall try to take pictures tomorrow to see what you would say on their pregnancy status!
And we've had a little bit of an issue going on around here for the past several months, though it hasn't seemed to bother anyone, except me, too much. We finally had a "round table" meeting tonight to sort it out, and I think we're all okay with the solution. I did take pics, and will try to unload the camera tomorrow to chronicle both the issue and the problem-solving that went on.
I shall try to take pictures tomorrow to see what you would say on their pregnancy status!
And we've had a little bit of an issue going on around here for the past several months, though it hasn't seemed to bother anyone, except me, too much. We finally had a "round table" meeting tonight to sort it out, and I think we're all okay with the solution. I did take pics, and will try to unload the camera tomorrow to chronicle both the issue and the problem-solving that went on.
How's that for ya'?
Sure...I go ahead and say I'll try to keep you updated here on what I'm posting on our adoption blog.
I really didn't intend to make identical posts today! Sorry...just a little over-zealous about our coffee store, I guess!
I really didn't intend to make identical posts today! Sorry...just a little over-zealous about our coffee store, I guess!
Coffee Fundraiser!
The Just Love Coffee Store has finally launched!Just Love Coffee Roasters was started by Rob Webb, coffee roaster and adoptive father of two girls from Ethiopia. He forged a way to merge his work and his faith in an amazing way, and Just Love Coffees was born.
He has made available to adoptive parents a seamless fundraiser. His company roasts fine coffees from over the world, makes it available through each adoptive family's online storefront, ships it directly to customers, and the adoptive family receives $5 per bag of coffee.
To many (myself included!) coffee is a life staple...and now it can be used to care for orphans!
We ask that you check out our storefront at www.justlovecoffee.com/Milligan. The neatest option is the 2Buy2 Coffee Club...receive 2 bags of coffee every month of every other month to save on time and shipping! We're definitely going that route! But you can buy bags of coffee individually, too. We will continue to receive funds from the storefront until our adoption expenses have been met. Then, for those of you in the 2Buy2 Coffee Club, you will still be supporting orphan care in Ethiopia through your purchases!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to either leave a comment or email us at milligansnorth at gmail dot com. If you browse around the Just Love Coffee site (which I encourage you to do-it's a really neat story!), make sure you come back to our page (Milligan will be in the URL at the top) to make your purchases.
We would appreciate your help in spreading the word...email to friends and family or post the link to our store if you get a chance! Thanks so much!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Traffic
Blog traffic is an interesting thing.
I keep track of our traffic, so I know that there are just over 30 of you who check in on us regularly. We appreciate that, we do! And for the most part, I know who you are. If I don't know who you are, I at least know where you are! It baffles me that so many of you care what's going on in our little corner of the world, but we're glad you stop by nonetheless! (And feel free to leave a comment to introduce yourselves anytime...)
I started this blog as our virtual scrapbook, since I'm not very good at keeping an actual scrapbook-and to help keep long-distance family in the loop. Both good things, though I never imagined I'd have others stop by daily to take a look at our "scrapbook." Can't say I don't enjoy it, though!
One of the most prominent aspects of our life right now is our Ethiopian adoption, and I'd like to share with more of you our adoption journey. Our adoption blog (www.familywovenbyfaith.blogspot.com) gets only 1/3 of the traffic of this site, and most are different readers. So I will try to post here when I post there, so that you can follow along better on how God is moving in our lives through this process!
I keep track of our traffic, so I know that there are just over 30 of you who check in on us regularly. We appreciate that, we do! And for the most part, I know who you are. If I don't know who you are, I at least know where you are! It baffles me that so many of you care what's going on in our little corner of the world, but we're glad you stop by nonetheless! (And feel free to leave a comment to introduce yourselves anytime...)
I started this blog as our virtual scrapbook, since I'm not very good at keeping an actual scrapbook-and to help keep long-distance family in the loop. Both good things, though I never imagined I'd have others stop by daily to take a look at our "scrapbook." Can't say I don't enjoy it, though!
One of the most prominent aspects of our life right now is our Ethiopian adoption, and I'd like to share with more of you our adoption journey. Our adoption blog (www.familywovenbyfaith.blogspot.com) gets only 1/3 of the traffic of this site, and most are different readers. So I will try to post here when I post there, so that you can follow along better on how God is moving in our lives through this process!
Opportunist, foiled again
I know some people would say about their poor hive-covered, arm-casted toddler
"Poor thing...let's do everything possible to make her comfortable."
I am too opportunistic for that.
Arm in a cast=only one thumb to suck.
Other thumb=covered in band-aid, unable to be picked off due to limited dexterity from cast.
Hives=baby on Benadryl, too tired to cry long about not having a thumb to suck.
We've been unsuccessful in breaking her of her thumb-sucking habit for forever...I'm going to take advantage of this situation. It's perfect, isn't it?
Not quite. Apparently she still can suck her thumb on the casted hand, she just hasn't been. Until now.
Nice try, mom.
"Poor thing...let's do everything possible to make her comfortable."
I am too opportunistic for that.
Arm in a cast=only one thumb to suck.
Other thumb=covered in band-aid, unable to be picked off due to limited dexterity from cast.
Hives=baby on Benadryl, too tired to cry long about not having a thumb to suck.
We've been unsuccessful in breaking her of her thumb-sucking habit for forever...I'm going to take advantage of this situation. It's perfect, isn't it?
Not quite. Apparently she still can suck her thumb on the casted hand, she just hasn't been. Until now.
Nice try, mom.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Oh, to be an allergist...
...as there is not a single one in Anchorage that works on Fridays!
I must say I am very impressed with the NP we saw at the office yesterday. She called me at 8 a.m. to see how Anna was doing, and had faxed a referral to the (closed) allergist office by 8:15, and called again about 1/2 hr. ago to check on Anna.
We were fearful that she had had another reaction last night at my mom's...she was due for more Benadryl then, but it seemed she was far more swollen, red, and itchy than she should have been for just needing another dose.
I woke her at almost 1 a.m. to give her more Benadryl, and then after another dose this morning, the hives seem to be fading and she seems more like herself.
Please just be praying for her, that she doesn't have any kind of reaction to anything before we can figure out what triggered it. Thanks!
I must say I am very impressed with the NP we saw at the office yesterday. She called me at 8 a.m. to see how Anna was doing, and had faxed a referral to the (closed) allergist office by 8:15, and called again about 1/2 hr. ago to check on Anna.
We were fearful that she had had another reaction last night at my mom's...she was due for more Benadryl then, but it seemed she was far more swollen, red, and itchy than she should have been for just needing another dose.
I woke her at almost 1 a.m. to give her more Benadryl, and then after another dose this morning, the hives seem to be fading and she seems more like herself.
Please just be praying for her, that she doesn't have any kind of reaction to anything before we can figure out what triggered it. Thanks!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
This morning (updated)
UPDATE: Urticaria hives. Simply an allergic reaction. It has been sad (because she's uncomfortable) but fascinating to watch the rash change shape and location all morning. About a half-hour after I took the pics below, her entire back was red, and within an hour after that, none of it was, but other parts of her body were worse.
I was quite relieved with such a simple diagnosis. Most likely, she has a newly developed food allergy, as she hasn't consumed anything new or out of the ordinary in the past day (well, maybe zucchini. She never likes zucchini muffins, so just picks at them, but last night I brilliantly hid an entire shredded zucchini in our Chinese Beef and Broccoli, which was lacking the broccoli-hence the need to add something. I suppose if I was really brilliant, I would have checked on the condition of the broccoli in the fridge before commencing dinner preparations. Hmm...add menu planning to my list).
Anyway, knowing her brothers' allergic tendencies, a referral to the allergist is in order...
****
This is my daughter as of this morning. We have an appt. with the doc at 12:45...for my black-eyed, casted-arm and now rash covered little girl. The rash is everywhere-her cheeks, her neck, down the one arm we can see, her back and bottom, her legs. Surprisingly just a little bit on her stomach. Poor baby-this just isn't her month!
I was quite relieved with such a simple diagnosis. Most likely, she has a newly developed food allergy, as she hasn't consumed anything new or out of the ordinary in the past day (well, maybe zucchini. She never likes zucchini muffins, so just picks at them, but last night I brilliantly hid an entire shredded zucchini in our Chinese Beef and Broccoli, which was lacking the broccoli-hence the need to add something. I suppose if I was really brilliant, I would have checked on the condition of the broccoli in the fridge before commencing dinner preparations. Hmm...add menu planning to my list).
Anyway, knowing her brothers' allergic tendencies, a referral to the allergist is in order...
****
This is my daughter as of this morning. We have an appt. with the doc at 12:45...for my black-eyed, casted-arm and now rash covered little girl. The rash is everywhere-her cheeks, her neck, down the one arm we can see, her back and bottom, her legs. Surprisingly just a little bit on her stomach. Poor baby-this just isn't her month!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Jacob's Motorcycle Birthday!
Shortly after giving up the aspiration of being an astronaut, Jacob latched onto wanting to be a motorcycle man when he grows up. No amount of persuading can convince that he can do something else along with that...it's not enough, apparently, to just drive your motorcycle to work!
My mom was able to arrange a motorcycle ride for him for his birthday! Her employer has been a family friend for years, and her employers husband has a very nice BMW Dakar dual-sport (that name means nothing to me. I'm just parroting back info, here). And Rusty was more than happy to have an excuse to have to get the bike out and take a ride before winter!
I was able to find a helmet on freecycle...doesn't fit the best, but we're in general going for "costume" use here! Rebecca's friend had given her the leather jacket from her little boy, and he's wearing his motorcycle t-shirt underneath it all!
We were worried he would be nervous about riding with Rusty, as he hasn't spent that much time with him before. But he was one eager boy to climb up on that bike!
My five year old. *sigh*
My mom was able to arrange a motorcycle ride for him for his birthday! Her employer has been a family friend for years, and her employers husband has a very nice BMW Dakar dual-sport (that name means nothing to me. I'm just parroting back info, here). And Rusty was more than happy to have an excuse to have to get the bike out and take a ride before winter!
I was able to find a helmet on freecycle...doesn't fit the best, but we're in general going for "costume" use here! Rebecca's friend had given her the leather jacket from her little boy, and he's wearing his motorcycle t-shirt underneath it all!
We were worried he would be nervous about riding with Rusty, as he hasn't spent that much time with him before. But he was one eager boy to climb up on that bike!
My five year old. *sigh*
Happy 5th Birthday, Jacob!
Jacob at 9 months old...
2 years old...
3 years old...
4 years old...
Five years old pictures are coming!
Today, you turned 5. Wow-you are so incredibly excited about being 5, even though tonight at bedtime you were already calculating when you would be six and then seven. Slow down-I'm not even used to you being five yet!
Jacob, there are tons more reasons than this, but here are 5 things I love about you!
1. Your smile and your hugs! They can turn any grouchy day into a happy one! (I know I'm putting two in for one, but I wasn't going to be able to keep my list down to just five)!
2. Your laugh...it's completely contagious and joyful!
3. Your imagination. God has such big plans for you, and knowing you, you'll come closer to imagining them than any of the rest of us could!
4. Your wholeheartedness. This is a hard one to describe with just that one word. But you are completely in whatever you are in at the moment! If you're happy, the world knows it. If you're angry, we can hear that, too! If you love someone, your amazing hugs will communicate it loud and clear. If you're not thrilled with someone, much to mommy's embarrassment at times, you're pretty open about that, too. If you're experiencing something, you're in it with your whole body. You could be a walking Nike commercial or something...you just do it. There is nothing cautious about you, which has caused me the white hairs I have and the scars you have. You just live life...more intuitively than even other children. I mean, you're only just turning 5. And you've been like this for forever. Yet there are sad, distracted people in this world paying big bucks to life coaches who instruct them to live the way you do...wholeheartedly. I love that about you. (Can you wholeheartedly be five, too, instead of wishing for six or seven or eight)? :)
5. Your love for God. You love His Word. You talk about Him. You think about Him. You're asking questions, always seeking to understand Him more. God loves that about you, too...and your life will be blessed because of it.
I love you, my medium-boy Jacob. I simply cannot imagine my life without you, and I would choose you again and again if given the chance! Happy birthday...enjoy being five!
2 years old...
3 years old...
4 years old...
Five years old pictures are coming!
Today, you turned 5. Wow-you are so incredibly excited about being 5, even though tonight at bedtime you were already calculating when you would be six and then seven. Slow down-I'm not even used to you being five yet!
Jacob, there are tons more reasons than this, but here are 5 things I love about you!
1. Your smile and your hugs! They can turn any grouchy day into a happy one! (I know I'm putting two in for one, but I wasn't going to be able to keep my list down to just five)!
2. Your laugh...it's completely contagious and joyful!
3. Your imagination. God has such big plans for you, and knowing you, you'll come closer to imagining them than any of the rest of us could!
4. Your wholeheartedness. This is a hard one to describe with just that one word. But you are completely in whatever you are in at the moment! If you're happy, the world knows it. If you're angry, we can hear that, too! If you love someone, your amazing hugs will communicate it loud and clear. If you're not thrilled with someone, much to mommy's embarrassment at times, you're pretty open about that, too. If you're experiencing something, you're in it with your whole body. You could be a walking Nike commercial or something...you just do it. There is nothing cautious about you, which has caused me the white hairs I have and the scars you have. You just live life...more intuitively than even other children. I mean, you're only just turning 5. And you've been like this for forever. Yet there are sad, distracted people in this world paying big bucks to life coaches who instruct them to live the way you do...wholeheartedly. I love that about you. (Can you wholeheartedly be five, too, instead of wishing for six or seven or eight)? :)
5. Your love for God. You love His Word. You talk about Him. You think about Him. You're asking questions, always seeking to understand Him more. God loves that about you, too...and your life will be blessed because of it.
I love you, my medium-boy Jacob. I simply cannot imagine my life without you, and I would choose you again and again if given the chance! Happy birthday...enjoy being five!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Movin' Right Along...
Okay, I did it. I finished posting July.
I am now officially only 2 1/2 months behind in blogging. All in an effort to catch up in time for Jacob's birthday...which is today!
Which is also why I've had time to blog. Andrew has been working on finishing Jacob's birthday present (a bunkbed out of popsicle sticks for Jacob's little stuffed Elmo), so we haven't done as much school as we would normally. Besides, Jacob has been very happily playing with the new toys he rec'd from our family party yesterday...happily playing since 6:30 this morning. And I have a pretty nasty head cold. So...I blogged!
Enjoy the catch-up, and I'll try to post pics of Jacob later tonight!
I am now officially only 2 1/2 months behind in blogging. All in an effort to catch up in time for Jacob's birthday...which is today!
Which is also why I've had time to blog. Andrew has been working on finishing Jacob's birthday present (a bunkbed out of popsicle sticks for Jacob's little stuffed Elmo), so we haven't done as much school as we would normally. Besides, Jacob has been very happily playing with the new toys he rec'd from our family party yesterday...happily playing since 6:30 this morning. And I have a pretty nasty head cold. So...I blogged!
Enjoy the catch-up, and I'll try to post pics of Jacob later tonight!
Basement Project
This is my basement. This is my basement in the middle of a construction project. We had a wonderful work team come and start the project of remodeling part of our basement into a small two-bedroom apartment, (which I'm sure I posted pics before, but can't for the life of me find the post. I guess that's what happens when you post anything within a four-month time span of when it happens...no way of locating it by date).
At any rate, we needed to get it finished up in time for our VBS team, so a bunch of us from church put in a very long, late-night week finishing up.
Kristin is a true servant...scrubbing the free-but-very-disgusting toilet that had been donated.
Tommy lovin' doing the drywall!
David and Mark figuring out cabinet placement.
Keith leveling out the countertop.
Our children eating popcorn and watching movies late into the night while we worked!
At any rate, we needed to get it finished up in time for our VBS team, so a bunch of us from church put in a very long, late-night week finishing up.
Kristin is a true servant...scrubbing the free-but-very-disgusting toilet that had been donated.
Tommy lovin' doing the drywall!
David and Mark figuring out cabinet placement.
Keith leveling out the countertop.
Our children eating popcorn and watching movies late into the night while we worked!
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