Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Happy Birthday Anna!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Happy Birthday Meskerem!
Today is Meskerem's 7th or 9th birthday depending on how we look at it. On paper she is nine, but according to the doctors and dentist she just turned seven. I don't have pictures of today yet, but I can tell you how the day has gone so far. Splendidly!
Last night we made yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting, per her request. She added some sprinkles and a little cupcake pick that came with the cupcake holders. We had to keep one unfrosted for her friend who didn't like chocolate. I forgot and she reminded me so we wrapped one up for him and kept that separate. She really likes to take care of her friends and friends are important to her.
This morning she snuggled in bed with us, and daddy told her she looked like an old woman to which she took offense because she is not 100 years old, and to be an old lady you must be 100!
She wanted to wear a dress to school, she loves dresses for some reason, so she picked out a pretty white sundress. She had a waffle for breakfast and it only got better when she got to school. Her friends came running over screaming, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!!!" They lavished her with hugs and kisses and the happiness on her face was a picture moment, but I didn't have my camera! Ack! They walked her to class with other friends running up and wishing her a happy birthday, and while all the kids were putting their backpacks and jackets on their hooks they broke out in to song singing Happy Birthday to her. She was so happy and it was only 8am!!!
Later we're going to buy her a bike, a request from months ago, a Mario DSI game, because she and her three sisters are always battling the use of the ONE that we have, and then to Sonic because they have Slushes. I drove the little girls through one day after school last week when we hit their drink Happy Hour and they enjoyed grape and orange slushes along with a small french fry. I figured they needed a little treat after being in school all day and then mom loading them in the minivan to take a drive to the doctor to drop off a medical form for Meskerem's post-adoption report.
Happy Birthday, Meskie (as her dad calls her), and I hope you grow to be and old lady of 100 some day!
Last night we made yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting, per her request. She added some sprinkles and a little cupcake pick that came with the cupcake holders. We had to keep one unfrosted for her friend who didn't like chocolate. I forgot and she reminded me so we wrapped one up for him and kept that separate. She really likes to take care of her friends and friends are important to her.
This morning she snuggled in bed with us, and daddy told her she looked like an old woman to which she took offense because she is not 100 years old, and to be an old lady you must be 100!
She wanted to wear a dress to school, she loves dresses for some reason, so she picked out a pretty white sundress. She had a waffle for breakfast and it only got better when she got to school. Her friends came running over screaming, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!!!" They lavished her with hugs and kisses and the happiness on her face was a picture moment, but I didn't have my camera! Ack! They walked her to class with other friends running up and wishing her a happy birthday, and while all the kids were putting their backpacks and jackets on their hooks they broke out in to song singing Happy Birthday to her. She was so happy and it was only 8am!!!
Later we're going to buy her a bike, a request from months ago, a Mario DSI game, because she and her three sisters are always battling the use of the ONE that we have, and then to Sonic because they have Slushes. I drove the little girls through one day after school last week when we hit their drink Happy Hour and they enjoyed grape and orange slushes along with a small french fry. I figured they needed a little treat after being in school all day and then mom loading them in the minivan to take a drive to the doctor to drop off a medical form for Meskerem's post-adoption report.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Playground fun at White Tank Mtns.
Uncle James & Isaiah
Uncle John and Isaiah
Adah & Abi
Isaiah & Adah-Love the next two pictures!
Addis
I
Monday, April 16, 2012
Hiking
The girls went back to school today. We've had fun over the last two weeks while they were off of school. The first week we went to Sarah's at stayed at Luke Air Force Base. We went to the White Tank Mtns and hiked on two different days. We were able to avoid the Teddy Bear Cactus that Joe got
into the last time we were hiking there.
We took the Waterfall Trail and a few other trails. One of them we were a little anxious because the Jumping Cactus (Teddy Bear Cactus) were very close to the trail and we really didn't know how close we had to be for them to attach their little evil balls to our skin.
Just to make sure I carried Adah on my shoulders.
Adah & Meskerem at the end of the trail.
Sarah & Isaiah
into the last time we were hiking there.
We took the Waterfall Trail and a few other trails. One of them we were a little anxious because the Jumping Cactus (Teddy Bear Cactus) were very close to the trail and we really didn't know how close we had to be for them to attach their little evil balls to our skin.
Just to make sure I carried Adah on my shoulders.
The flowers were making their appearance on the cacti.
Adah & Meskerem at the end of the trail.
Petrogylphs along the trail
Sarah & Isaiah
The boys at the end of Waterfall Trail.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Care Package!
Even though we haven't been able to bring our little one home from Ethiopia yet we do send her a care package every now and then. This is what a traveling family took over for us. We received a really cute picture of her with the sunglasses on. Under the bunny ears is a little PINK car. I totally HAD to buy that when I saw it.
Through the years we've sent over many care packages. From our first two adoptions of babies in 2007 to our adoption of older sisters in 2008 to now. I know they enjoy receiving things even though they're not quite sure what to do with it!
I've always used a gallon sized zip-lock bag and I STUFF it as full as I can with little things I think that aged child might enjoy. In this care package because she is preschool age I sent the glasses, some board books, a necklace, bracelets, bunny ears, a car, a dress, socks, and some chapstick. It's always fun to get a picture of them opening their gifts. Enjoy little one!
Friday, April 6, 2012
MIA
I'll be up and running again soon. I've had computer issues which resulted in a new computer. Yay and boo! I knew how my old computer worked and now need to figure this one out.
We went to Sarah's this past week and hiked in the White Tank Mountains. Total desert atmosphere and we tried really hard not to get attacked by the Teddy Bear Cactus which attacked Joe two years ago. :-) We were successful!!! I'll post pics soon.
We went to Sarah's this past week and hiked in the White Tank Mountains. Total desert atmosphere and we tried really hard not to get attacked by the Teddy Bear Cactus which attacked Joe two years ago. :-) We were successful!!! I'll post pics soon.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Someone turned two!
Makenna turned two! She spent the night with us the night before her birthday so Grandma had to get doughnuts for breakfast. Here she is blowing out her candle in her donut.. :-)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Sisters!
When I was at Target a few weeks ago they had they shirts for $2 on the clearance rack so I bought them for these two.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Steve & Vik Out on the Town
When my daughter-in-law had her bachelorette party in 2009 we rode the ferry across the San Diego bay from downtown San Diego to Coronado. We then went to an Italian restaurant and had a delightful evening out on the patio. I had told our friends that we should do this sometime. Recently one of our friends was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer so we decided we better do it, since it had been over two years that we had wanted to do it. Better late than never!
This is me and Steve on the ferry from San Diego to Coronado. You can see how the Bell's Palsy has affected my face and that was about three months after the onset.
This is me and Steve on the ferry from San Diego to Coronado. You can see how the Bell's Palsy has affected my face and that was about three months after the onset.
The gorgeous view of the San Diego downtown area. Yes, this is in the middle of winter. Don't be jealous!
The guys enjoying their dessert.
Steve & Dan
On the ferry over to Coronado
Friday, March 16, 2012
Meeting Sissy
Last month we went to AZ and visited Sarah, Nathan, and baby Isaiah. We hadn't visited our oldest daughter in quite some time and needed to see baby Isaiah. He needs to know Grandpa and Grandma and that's not going to happen six hours away! Meskerem Amy also needed to meet her oldest sister and her family.
Not everyone went so were able to take the minivan. (Our small car is an eight passenger mini-van) We usually drive through somewhere and get something quick or stop at In & Out in El Centro depending on the time of day and when we last ate. This time we hit Jack In the Box for breakfast sandwiches. Yummy!
Sarah lives on Luke AFB now so we had to wait for her to come out and drive us in since we didn't have a visitor's pass because the visitor's office is closed on weekends. She has a nice three bedroom home which makes it really nice when you have a baby and need to haul all the baby stuff which includes the baby! :-)
Meskerem and Sarah hit it off as I knew they would. Who wouldn't like Sarah? and who doesn't love Meskerem?! After we unloaded and said our hellos we took off for Cracker Barrel. California does not have any Cracker Barrels so it's always a treat when we hit Arizona to indulge ourselves and sit down together in a restaurant. I got to sit next to Isaiah and sneak him tasty bits of food while his mom was on the other side of him feeding him healthy bits of food. I'm sure his healthy bits were tasty, but he did like my hush puppies and fries.
Isaiah after his bath. Isn't he the cutest?
Not everyone went so were able to take the minivan. (Our small car is an eight passenger mini-van) We usually drive through somewhere and get something quick or stop at In & Out in El Centro depending on the time of day and when we last ate. This time we hit Jack In the Box for breakfast sandwiches. Yummy!
Sarah lives on Luke AFB now so we had to wait for her to come out and drive us in since we didn't have a visitor's pass because the visitor's office is closed on weekends. She has a nice three bedroom home which makes it really nice when you have a baby and need to haul all the baby stuff which includes the baby! :-)
Meskerem and Sarah hit it off as I knew they would. Who wouldn't like Sarah? and who doesn't love Meskerem?! After we unloaded and said our hellos we took off for Cracker Barrel. California does not have any Cracker Barrels so it's always a treat when we hit Arizona to indulge ourselves and sit down together in a restaurant. I got to sit next to Isaiah and sneak him tasty bits of food while his mom was on the other side of him feeding him healthy bits of food. I'm sure his healthy bits were tasty, but he did like my hush puppies and fries.
Isaiah after his bath. Isn't he the cutest?
Sarah & Meskerem
Sarah, Nathan, and Isaiah
We had a great time but our visit was way too short. We're going back soon so we can give Isaiah some more love and Grandma time.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Joe's Week!
Our oldest at home, has been going to Explorer Academy through the local law enforcement agency. This past Saturday he graduated and has his last test this Saturday. We were so proud of him as he walked in with the other cadets. They were in uniform, standing tall, and very excited although they couldn't let it show.
Joe worked very hard for the past few months that he has been in the program. He aced all four tests with a scores of 100% on each. He was within one point of tying for first place for the physical fitness portion. On Saturday he was award top Academic Score and the overall award of Honor Student. Wow! We are so proud of him!
His friend later said to him over lunch at Olive Garden, "I'm surprised you won the academic award, but I'm more surprised that you didn't win the physical fitness award." That is so true!! Joe is a natural athlete, but the push-ups got the better of him, plus he played or practiced varsity soccer everyday besides going to the Academy. He pushed himself and it paid off. Well done, Joe!
AND if that wasn't enough...............
Joe is in photo at school. He took some pictures and one happened to be the strings of his guitar at a certain angle. His pictures were so well liked that one of the photos is featured on the front of the school newspaper!!! His name is on the front and the year he will graduate.
This same friend who made the earlier comment, looked at Joe and said, "Who are you?!" "What have you done with Joseph?!"
Joe worked very hard for the past few months that he has been in the program. He aced all four tests with a scores of 100% on each. He was within one point of tying for first place for the physical fitness portion. On Saturday he was award top Academic Score and the overall award of Honor Student. Wow! We are so proud of him!
His friend later said to him over lunch at Olive Garden, "I'm surprised you won the academic award, but I'm more surprised that you didn't win the physical fitness award." That is so true!! Joe is a natural athlete, but the push-ups got the better of him, plus he played or practiced varsity soccer everyday besides going to the Academy. He pushed himself and it paid off. Well done, Joe!
AND if that wasn't enough...............
Joe is in photo at school. He took some pictures and one happened to be the strings of his guitar at a certain angle. His pictures were so well liked that one of the photos is featured on the front of the school newspaper!!! His name is on the front and the year he will graduate.
This same friend who made the earlier comment, looked at Joe and said, "Who are you?!" "What have you done with Joseph?!"
Monday, March 12, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Cracker Barrel fun!
We hit Cracker Barrel in Phoenix while we were there visiting Sarah. I'll post more pictures later. Miss Mulu needs to use the computer to do math. :-)
Monday, February 27, 2012
Happy Birthday Abi Mulu!
After lunch we took Dad home and us girls went shopping. We hit Justice, Target, and Old Navy. Abi Mulu was able to buy three outfits and some jewelry. She also picked out a sleeping mask which she LOVES!!
Happy Birthday Abi Mulu! We love you!! You bring such joy to everyone!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Art Awards!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Adoption update
Life with Miss Meskerem is going wonderfully and progress is made every day. She is doing great at school and here at home. She has a teacher who keeps me in the loop if anything is amiss for the day so I can address it and nip any bad behavior in the bud. Yesterday she was jingling her money for hot chocolate when asked to keep it quiet so today as her consequence she didn't receive any money so no hot chocolate during recess or lunch.
She fits into the family well and is making the adjustment as well as can be expected. It must be hard to come into a family with four girls already in place and try to fit right in the middle of the pack and work your way into the family dynamics and try to figure out where you fit in. She is amazing and does a great job and works very hard to fit in.
I believe that Meskerem is seven turning eight or eight turning nine. She is small for her age, but she is not six turning seven. We see the doctor in a few weeks and I'll see what she says. She is the same size as my five year old turning six, but my five year old is the same size as a four year old so I don't hold much weight in that. My intuition, her teeth, her smarts all added together tell me she's older.
We went to Arizona this past weekend to visit with Sarah and Meskerem met her oldest sister. They hit it off well and Meskerem loved snuggling with Sissy while she could. We all miss Sarah terribly but we're glad she is so happy. Sarah's baby Isaiah was the hit, of course, and the girls loved playing with him.
Concerning our current Ethiopian adoption still in process we had some news that her case and the investigation that is going on is going to a different level, hopefully from a local police to a federal level. On March 8 will be one year from when we accepted her referral. We are hoping that she receives clearance soon.
We're still working on updating our homestudy and sent the update fees in this week. Steve needs his physical and will get that in a few weeks. We also need to have a mobile notary meet us at the doctor's office to notarize the doctor's signature. We're almost done and I'm hoping that she'll be home this summer if not sooner.
As she is a year older she has moved from the baby house to the older house and it is reported that her verbal skills have gotten better. So we wait, do more paperwork, and send in more fees. :-) Hopefully she'll be ready for us when she finally meets us.
She fits into the family well and is making the adjustment as well as can be expected. It must be hard to come into a family with four girls already in place and try to fit right in the middle of the pack and work your way into the family dynamics and try to figure out where you fit in. She is amazing and does a great job and works very hard to fit in.
I believe that Meskerem is seven turning eight or eight turning nine. She is small for her age, but she is not six turning seven. We see the doctor in a few weeks and I'll see what she says. She is the same size as my five year old turning six, but my five year old is the same size as a four year old so I don't hold much weight in that. My intuition, her teeth, her smarts all added together tell me she's older.
We went to Arizona this past weekend to visit with Sarah and Meskerem met her oldest sister. They hit it off well and Meskerem loved snuggling with Sissy while she could. We all miss Sarah terribly but we're glad she is so happy. Sarah's baby Isaiah was the hit, of course, and the girls loved playing with him.
Concerning our current Ethiopian adoption still in process we had some news that her case and the investigation that is going on is going to a different level, hopefully from a local police to a federal level. On March 8 will be one year from when we accepted her referral. We are hoping that she receives clearance soon.
We're still working on updating our homestudy and sent the update fees in this week. Steve needs his physical and will get that in a few weeks. We also need to have a mobile notary meet us at the doctor's office to notarize the doctor's signature. We're almost done and I'm hoping that she'll be home this summer if not sooner.
As she is a year older she has moved from the baby house to the older house and it is reported that her verbal skills have gotten better. So we wait, do more paperwork, and send in more fees. :-) Hopefully she'll be ready for us when she finally meets us.
Winter Formal
Joe and his girlfriend went to her Winter Formal a few weeks ago. I would post more pictures but my computer is so slow that it takes f.o.r.e.v.e.r. This is the first formal for both of them. They looked absolutely beautiful and had a great time!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
What's for dinner?
During the last few weeks I bought some Smoked Summer Sausage and Sweet Italian Sausage. I googled recipes for both and found two winners right out the gate. Last night we had Dirty Rice and tonight we had Baked Ziti. Both were doubled for my large family of eleven. My oldest son's family of four (he has a German exchange student until June) stopped by and enjoyed some Baked Ziti as well. It was a hit with everyone!
With the Dirty Rice we had salad which went well. To go with the Baked Ziti I fried zuchinni in olive oil and seasoned with seasoning salt and garlic powder and rounded out the meal with fresh Italian bread from Fresh & Easy. Pretty yummy stuff! VERY kid friendly!! Enjoy!!
Dirty Rice Baked Ziti with Sweet Italian Sausage
With the Dirty Rice we had salad which went well. To go with the Baked Ziti I fried zuchinni in olive oil and seasoned with seasoning salt and garlic powder and rounded out the meal with fresh Italian bread from Fresh & Easy. Pretty yummy stuff! VERY kid friendly!! Enjoy!!
Dirty Rice Baked Ziti with Sweet Italian Sausage
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Hope at Home 2011
“Experience Refreshing and Equipping For Successfully Parenting Adopted Children”
Hope at Home – 2011 is a time of refreshing as we encounter the Father’s heart towards adoptive families. It is going beyond a traditional conference to equip and restore parents as they face the challenging task of transforming orphans into sons and daughters.
Why You Should Attend:
- Receive renewed strength for your parenting ministry
- Be equipped with new practical skills and insights
- Learn how to access God’s resources for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs
- Enjoy the powerful prayer ministry offered throughout the event
- Be encouraged by sharing experiences with other adoptive parents
- Make authentic connections with others who share your commitment to children
- Hearing Adopted and Biological Children Share Their Stories
A Sample of Topics Covered:
- Responding to Your Adopted Child’s Tough Questions
- Nurturing Your Marriage Amidst Competing Demands
- Establishing Peace in Your Home: Addressing Anger in You and Your Child
- Fathering Your Adopted Child
- Creating Unity Among Siblings in Your Adoptive Family
- Transforming an Orphan Spirit into a Spirit of Adoption
- Loving Your Adopted Child Through Every Stage of Their Lives
Speakers Include:
- Susan Hillis, Ph.D. – Adoptive mother of 10 children, motivational speaker, and Senior HIV Scientist from the CDC.
- Stephen and Beth Templeton – Adoptive parents and leaders in their local church. They head parenting ministry and Northlands Church.
- Greg Haswell – Pastor of Northlands Church (which consists of 18% of adoptive families).
Northlands Church – Norcross, GA
Click
to register now!
to register now!
Early Registration Fee:
(Through September 18)
Registration Fee:
(September 19 - 22)
Friday, February 10, 2012
February
I cannot believe it is already February. January, where did you go?!!
The girls are doing well in school. We are receiving help with Miss Abi and her ESL issues. She's getting extra help with reading & math. She was excited yesterday because she has memorized some math facts up to 2. I think it may be multiplication facts, but when numerous kids are talking at the same time, it's hard to remember.
Today they are having parties in class. I think it's for the 100th day of school, but again not sure. I just know I had to send pretzel sticks, fish crackers, and fudge with three girls. It's also the Scholastic Book Fair week and parents are invited to share lunch with their children so that's where I will be at lunchtime today. I worked the book fair earlier this week for an hour and ended up buying each of their teachers a book off their wish list stack. The girls were delighted when they got to put a sticker in the front of the book that it was from them. I have shelves and shelves of books, so buying one for us wasn't necessary, and this way the teacher can share with her other kids for years to come.
Things are going well on the homeschooling front. James has been doing science experiments form his Apologia Physical Science book. He missed these experiments at Class Day and needed to do them. We were both excited when he found the thermometer he needed in a science kit that I have had for years, okay, probably decades, that I have never used. He has probably earned an A in the class and I'm very proud of him!
Joe is doing well at his high school. He played his last home game for soccer last night. They have one more away game and then his season is done. He wants to play volleyball for the second year. He's 6 ft. so that sport makes sense. He earned A's and B's this last grading period. He has started a law enforcement program and does that weekly also. He has a uniform, goes weekly, and has homework! Last week he went to his first dance. He and his girlfriend went to her Winter Formal. They looked very nice in tan and black. They complement one another well.
Our new Little Miss has her ups and downs. She's had a tough week. I think she is testing the waters to see how deep we're in this with her. I told her we're onrier and meaner than she is and nothing she can do is going to make us give up on her and send her anywhere else. We have to constantly tell her that. We constantly tell her we love her and we constantly hug, kiss, and hold her. See the word constantly? She CONSTANTLY NEEDS stability, she CONSTANTLY NEEDS affection and, she CONSTANLY NEEDS a foundation. We're determined to be that for her.
She's HAD to be her own advocate for so long. I have told her that her ONLY job in our house is to be a LITTLE KID!
She does not have to do her own hair. She has/had an issue with big sis helping her. I had to have a talk with her and tell her how it is in our house. The big people help the little people. I help Addis, Addis helps her, Meskerem helps Adah or Makenna. That's how this family operates.
She tries to be tough when she has had her feelings hurt. I can see the hurt in her eyes, I can tell she is trying to toughen up, and I tell her it's okay to cry, it's okay to feel hurt. Then she'll burst into tears.
We make her kiss us. We make her give us her face when she turns her face as we're about to give her a kiss. I hold her when she wants to be let go. And everyday we see progress. Everyday we feel a little bit more like she is our daughter. At first it seems like long term babysitting, and then before we know it, feelings are there and we're family. We've made great strides just this week. We're there. She's our daughter and we're her mommy and daddy.
Sometimes when she's being naughty and I talk to her I do tell her that I'm trying to parent her how her Ethiopian mommy would parent her or expect her to be parented. What I mean is that if my biological children were in a family other than ours I would hope that they were being treated as lovingly as the other families bio kids were. I have expecations of myself as her mother and I won't give up on her. At first I had my doubts, but they're gone. Thank you, Lord for helping me put one foot in front of the other to do this ministry of serving my children.
The girls are doing well in school. We are receiving help with Miss Abi and her ESL issues. She's getting extra help with reading & math. She was excited yesterday because she has memorized some math facts up to 2. I think it may be multiplication facts, but when numerous kids are talking at the same time, it's hard to remember.
Today they are having parties in class. I think it's for the 100th day of school, but again not sure. I just know I had to send pretzel sticks, fish crackers, and fudge with three girls. It's also the Scholastic Book Fair week and parents are invited to share lunch with their children so that's where I will be at lunchtime today. I worked the book fair earlier this week for an hour and ended up buying each of their teachers a book off their wish list stack. The girls were delighted when they got to put a sticker in the front of the book that it was from them. I have shelves and shelves of books, so buying one for us wasn't necessary, and this way the teacher can share with her other kids for years to come.
Things are going well on the homeschooling front. James has been doing science experiments form his Apologia Physical Science book. He missed these experiments at Class Day and needed to do them. We were both excited when he found the thermometer he needed in a science kit that I have had for years, okay, probably decades, that I have never used. He has probably earned an A in the class and I'm very proud of him!
Joe is doing well at his high school. He played his last home game for soccer last night. They have one more away game and then his season is done. He wants to play volleyball for the second year. He's 6 ft. so that sport makes sense. He earned A's and B's this last grading period. He has started a law enforcement program and does that weekly also. He has a uniform, goes weekly, and has homework! Last week he went to his first dance. He and his girlfriend went to her Winter Formal. They looked very nice in tan and black. They complement one another well.
Our new Little Miss has her ups and downs. She's had a tough week. I think she is testing the waters to see how deep we're in this with her. I told her we're onrier and meaner than she is and nothing she can do is going to make us give up on her and send her anywhere else. We have to constantly tell her that. We constantly tell her we love her and we constantly hug, kiss, and hold her. See the word constantly? She CONSTANTLY NEEDS stability, she CONSTANTLY NEEDS affection and, she CONSTANLY NEEDS a foundation. We're determined to be that for her.
She's HAD to be her own advocate for so long. I have told her that her ONLY job in our house is to be a LITTLE KID!
She does not have to do her own hair. She has/had an issue with big sis helping her. I had to have a talk with her and tell her how it is in our house. The big people help the little people. I help Addis, Addis helps her, Meskerem helps Adah or Makenna. That's how this family operates.
She tries to be tough when she has had her feelings hurt. I can see the hurt in her eyes, I can tell she is trying to toughen up, and I tell her it's okay to cry, it's okay to feel hurt. Then she'll burst into tears.
We make her kiss us. We make her give us her face when she turns her face as we're about to give her a kiss. I hold her when she wants to be let go. And everyday we see progress. Everyday we feel a little bit more like she is our daughter. At first it seems like long term babysitting, and then before we know it, feelings are there and we're family. We've made great strides just this week. We're there. She's our daughter and we're her mommy and daddy.
Sometimes when she's being naughty and I talk to her I do tell her that I'm trying to parent her how her Ethiopian mommy would parent her or expect her to be parented. What I mean is that if my biological children were in a family other than ours I would hope that they were being treated as lovingly as the other families bio kids were. I have expecations of myself as her mother and I won't give up on her. At first I had my doubts, but they're gone. Thank you, Lord for helping me put one foot in front of the other to do this ministry of serving my children.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Changes
We've had a lot of changes in the past few weeks. I have been extremely busy and as you can tell I haven't blogged for quite some time. I even shut the blog down for a bit, but I know my family keeps up with me here so I put it back up.
Meskerem is doing very well. She has fit into our family like a glove on a hand. She's full of life, energy, affection, and happiness.
The first week she was with us though, it wasn't going well, for me. She was having the time of her life, while I thought, "What have I done?" again. I always get like that the first few days of a new adoption. I did that with one of the littles when she was a baby. I thought she hated me and wanted to give her back. Now I can't imagine my life without her.
I cried and cried the first week. I thought I couldn't do it, go through with this adoption. Her behavior was so over the top. Not that she was naughty per se, but very brash and prickly. Not at all what I had conjured up in my mind. My praying friends from church, online, and homeschooling all started praying for me.
It's better. But for my sanity and for the good of the adoption I enrolled six of my children in public school. I tried homeschooling one day with all the kids even Meskerem. That went downhill fast. So many needs at so many different levels and I can't even form a word right because of my Bell's Palsy.
I have four make that five that are learning to read. I have some older kids who are behind academically who are very distracted by all the noise in the house when trying to study. I have kids who come from extreme malnourishment and poverty. I have given all I have for in the home education realm for twenty-three years, but I needed a break. I still had two at home.
But then one wanted to come back home. He was too far behind academically to feel comfortable in a class.
Then another wanted to come home. She is a loner and really didn't like the classroom setup.
Then I brought our oldest daughter at home back home. I helped her one night with her homework and she had to answer questions on The Federalist Papers and learn the first twenty elements on the Periodic Table of the Elements.
Ummm....I'm NOT GOING TO SCHOOL!!! I didn't understand the questions and the content, how was she going to understand it? How would I ever be able to explain to her in a simple enough way for her to understand? I couldn't!!! She's learning at a fourth grade level right now, she wasn't ready to jump up to eighth grade learning. Someday she'll be there, but not now. I do have to brag on her just a little. She just finished her grade 3 math and science and started her grade 4 learning. She hasn't even been here four years and she's already learned how to read (simply), do math, science, history and language for grades K-3. Pretty darn good if you ask me!
So now I have three at the school. It's a little charter school on the local Indian Reservation by our house. Abi absolutely loves school. She loves everything about it. Meskerem who goes by the name Amy at school loves school and is smart as a whip, but somedays wants to stay home because Addis and Anna are home. Adah loves school, but misses momma. The principal has said she is a very smart girl and medical school could be in her future-that's how smart she is. Addis & I think she's going to be cop because she loves to make sure everyone is following the rules and lets us know if there is any kind of infraction!
We've had a young friend get into a situation that affected our family very deeply. It's a tragic story, but God is in control and He knows best.
We have a close friend who has been diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. This was within a week of our younger friend's situation. We were grieving for about two weeks and I think we're finally coming out of it.
There is no news on our Ethiopian adoption. We're getting quite frustrated on our end that nothing is happening (that we know of) on her case. Adoptive friends tell us they see her and play with her, but she was supposed to be here months and months ago. We need to update our homestudy, but that's another $700+. We feel as though we're chasing our tail and continuously going around in a circle.
After the thousands and thousands of dollars we put into adopting Meskerem the homestudy update and travel fees needed for Little A seem very out of reach right now. I'm taking some curriculum and cookbooks to sell at our co-op to raise some funds.
I'll post pics in a few days.
Meskerem is doing very well. She has fit into our family like a glove on a hand. She's full of life, energy, affection, and happiness.
The first week she was with us though, it wasn't going well, for me. She was having the time of her life, while I thought, "What have I done?" again. I always get like that the first few days of a new adoption. I did that with one of the littles when she was a baby. I thought she hated me and wanted to give her back. Now I can't imagine my life without her.
I cried and cried the first week. I thought I couldn't do it, go through with this adoption. Her behavior was so over the top. Not that she was naughty per se, but very brash and prickly. Not at all what I had conjured up in my mind. My praying friends from church, online, and homeschooling all started praying for me.
It's better. But for my sanity and for the good of the adoption I enrolled six of my children in public school. I tried homeschooling one day with all the kids even Meskerem. That went downhill fast. So many needs at so many different levels and I can't even form a word right because of my Bell's Palsy.
I have four make that five that are learning to read. I have some older kids who are behind academically who are very distracted by all the noise in the house when trying to study. I have kids who come from extreme malnourishment and poverty. I have given all I have for in the home education realm for twenty-three years, but I needed a break. I still had two at home.
But then one wanted to come back home. He was too far behind academically to feel comfortable in a class.
Then another wanted to come home. She is a loner and really didn't like the classroom setup.
Then I brought our oldest daughter at home back home. I helped her one night with her homework and she had to answer questions on The Federalist Papers and learn the first twenty elements on the Periodic Table of the Elements.
Ummm....I'm NOT GOING TO SCHOOL!!! I didn't understand the questions and the content, how was she going to understand it? How would I ever be able to explain to her in a simple enough way for her to understand? I couldn't!!! She's learning at a fourth grade level right now, she wasn't ready to jump up to eighth grade learning. Someday she'll be there, but not now. I do have to brag on her just a little. She just finished her grade 3 math and science and started her grade 4 learning. She hasn't even been here four years and she's already learned how to read (simply), do math, science, history and language for grades K-3. Pretty darn good if you ask me!
So now I have three at the school. It's a little charter school on the local Indian Reservation by our house. Abi absolutely loves school. She loves everything about it. Meskerem who goes by the name Amy at school loves school and is smart as a whip, but somedays wants to stay home because Addis and Anna are home. Adah loves school, but misses momma. The principal has said she is a very smart girl and medical school could be in her future-that's how smart she is. Addis & I think she's going to be cop because she loves to make sure everyone is following the rules and lets us know if there is any kind of infraction!
We've had a young friend get into a situation that affected our family very deeply. It's a tragic story, but God is in control and He knows best.
We have a close friend who has been diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. This was within a week of our younger friend's situation. We were grieving for about two weeks and I think we're finally coming out of it.
There is no news on our Ethiopian adoption. We're getting quite frustrated on our end that nothing is happening (that we know of) on her case. Adoptive friends tell us they see her and play with her, but she was supposed to be here months and months ago. We need to update our homestudy, but that's another $700+. We feel as though we're chasing our tail and continuously going around in a circle.
After the thousands and thousands of dollars we put into adopting Meskerem the homestudy update and travel fees needed for Little A seem very out of reach right now. I'm taking some curriculum and cookbooks to sell at our co-op to raise some funds.
I'll post pics in a few days.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Christmas Day
Can we say overwhelmed? If you're the mom of the family you know how stressful Christmas is. It isn't supposed to be but it is. As the mom I'm the one that needs to make sure this is the Christmas to be remembered. I'm the one who gets blamed if the gifts don't meet up to expectations. I'm the one who puts the pressure on myself, but others do as well.
I got up early to lay the stockings out and Em heard me. Her body clock says it's three hours ahead so she was ready to get up. We snuggled for a bit, but one by one the other children were up as well.
We opened our presents and then we all got ready and went to church. We normally don't go to church on Christmas Day but the years when Christmas falls on Sunday we go if we can. Everyone was excited to meet Em for the first time and she was overwhelmed and would run when introduced to anyone new. During Children's Church the children participated in a Happy Birthday Jesus party singing Christmas songs and indulging in birthday cake.
We had a great time with our church family but it was time to go home. At home I was serving the Christmas dinner and extended family was coming to our house. I was running on fumes at this point since two days before I had traveled literally all day and then the whole Christmas Eve tradition the next day, add in a new family member which involves new family dynamics.
I ended up in my room crying and very upset about something and didn't enjoy the Christmas dinner with everyone. Two of my sons came up to find out what was wrong with me. I'm not a cryer so when I cry it seems as though everyone is on high alert. Since my Bell's Palsy hit I have cried more in the past few months than the past thirty something years combined.
We muddled through the day and although I wish I could say it was as enjoyable as they have been in the past I would not be telling the truth. I was overtired and when I'm overtired, really exhausted, I'm useless. This happened to me in Ethiopia four years ago when we adopted two babies. We literally landed in Ethiopia, unloaded our items at the guest house, and left to pick up our two girls, my sixteen year old daughter and myself. I was useless and traumatized that trip. This reminded me of those feelings.
I have some great pictures of the girls in their dresses. Adah and Em fight like cats and dogs and then are best friends. Anna just stays out of the mix. She's a peacemaker that girl. I need to find out where the pics are on my computer and then I'll post them. They are most certainly the cutest things!
I do have to say that I was so blessed to have my Jesse boy and Sage home for Christmas. I am blessed in so many ways and the only thing that could have made it any better would have been for my daughter and her family to have been able to make it home too.
I got up early to lay the stockings out and Em heard me. Her body clock says it's three hours ahead so she was ready to get up. We snuggled for a bit, but one by one the other children were up as well.
We opened our presents and then we all got ready and went to church. We normally don't go to church on Christmas Day but the years when Christmas falls on Sunday we go if we can. Everyone was excited to meet Em for the first time and she was overwhelmed and would run when introduced to anyone new. During Children's Church the children participated in a Happy Birthday Jesus party singing Christmas songs and indulging in birthday cake.
We had a great time with our church family but it was time to go home. At home I was serving the Christmas dinner and extended family was coming to our house. I was running on fumes at this point since two days before I had traveled literally all day and then the whole Christmas Eve tradition the next day, add in a new family member which involves new family dynamics.
I ended up in my room crying and very upset about something and didn't enjoy the Christmas dinner with everyone. Two of my sons came up to find out what was wrong with me. I'm not a cryer so when I cry it seems as though everyone is on high alert. Since my Bell's Palsy hit I have cried more in the past few months than the past thirty something years combined.
We muddled through the day and although I wish I could say it was as enjoyable as they have been in the past I would not be telling the truth. I was overtired and when I'm overtired, really exhausted, I'm useless. This happened to me in Ethiopia four years ago when we adopted two babies. We literally landed in Ethiopia, unloaded our items at the guest house, and left to pick up our two girls, my sixteen year old daughter and myself. I was useless and traumatized that trip. This reminded me of those feelings.
I have some great pictures of the girls in their dresses. Adah and Em fight like cats and dogs and then are best friends. Anna just stays out of the mix. She's a peacemaker that girl. I need to find out where the pics are on my computer and then I'll post them. They are most certainly the cutest things!
I do have to say that I was so blessed to have my Jesse boy and Sage home for Christmas. I am blessed in so many ways and the only thing that could have made it any better would have been for my daughter and her family to have been able to make it home too.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Christmas Eve
The day started bright and early here in sunny So Cal. Em and the girls went out to the playground to get some energy off. I sent Addis outside to take some pictures.
The day went really well. We were all getting to know one another. I purposefully would pull Em to me every hour and give her kisses upon which she would squeal to get away but really wanted more. At one point she wanted off so I let her off, she took two or three steps, turned around and said, "Okay, just one more." She LOVED all the attention and affection she was getting. Daddy was giving her kisses and whisker rubs which she said she detested but then again wanted more. So funny.
Christmas Eve night we walked through Starlight Circle and looked at Christmas lights. It was a little difficult trying to keep three little girls on the sidewalk and not in people's yards where they were stepping on wires and such but we were able to contain the masses.
It was overwhelming for her to come into such a new situation right at Christmas but I believe it was perfect.
Christmas Eve Steve and I spent the night wrapping and getting the stockings stuffed. It was a very exciting and overwhelming day for all to say the least.
The day went really well. We were all getting to know one another. I purposefully would pull Em to me every hour and give her kisses upon which she would squeal to get away but really wanted more. At one point she wanted off so I let her off, she took two or three steps, turned around and said, "Okay, just one more." She LOVED all the attention and affection she was getting. Daddy was giving her kisses and whisker rubs which she said she detested but then again wanted more. So funny.
Christmas Eve night we walked through Starlight Circle and looked at Christmas lights. It was a little difficult trying to keep three little girls on the sidewalk and not in people's yards where they were stepping on wires and such but we were able to contain the masses.
It was overwhelming for her to come into such a new situation right at Christmas but I believe it was perfect.
Christmas Eve Steve and I spent the night wrapping and getting the stockings stuffed. It was a very exciting and overwhelming day for all to say the least.
Traveling to and meeting our new daughter
I showed up at the airport bright and early since in San Diego we need to be at the airport 1 1/2 hours before a flight. I sat next to two sisters who were flying home to take care of their deceased elderly mother's affairs. They were great traveling companions. Through the flight they asked me if I was flying home to family or what my story was. I explained to them and they were pretty much dumbfounded yet excited. They couldn't believe that I had never met Em. They couldn't believe that she would just get on a plane with me. They couldn't believe we didn't have any animals. I think nine children in the home and three grandchildren are enough to take care of. I really didn't need a gerbil, snake or dog as they suggested. One lady only had one daughter so we came from very different backgrounds, and I'm sure she had all the time in the world to take care of gerbils, snakes, and dogs.
I had a layover in Baltimore. Turns out I was ten minutes from my sons house but he was at my house in San Diego. :-) As I was looking at the board with all the flights I realized I could possibly get home that same day instead of spending the night at a hotel and getting to the airport very early. I asked the clerk at the counter and she said that yes it was possible, but I would need to fly standby and take care of it at the next stop. I started communicating with the other mom and it was agreed that they would have Em at the gate if possible.
The next flight went okay except I had probably the biggest person on the plane sitting next to me. You know how that goes. At least I had the seat next to the window so that gave me a little more cushion on the side than if I were in the middle.
My eye was really bothering me at this point. I have Bell's Palsy and my eye doesn't close. Between the dryness on the plane, the inability for it to blink, and the altitude my eye was a mess. I just tried to keep my eyes closed to let it rest. It bothered me for days after but it's fine now as far as being irritated.
As soon as I got to my destination I got off the plane and looked around for Em. I didn't see her so I went to the ticket counter and asked if it was possible to get home. It was confirmed that I could so the clerk started booking my flight. I had two problems. The plane I had just gotten off of was the same plane I needed to get back on and they were starting to board. The other problem was that Em was nowhere to be seen.
I explained to the clerk that I needed to have my daughter only she wasn't there and I not only didn't know where she was, I had never seen her in person before. I got directions to their security gate because I thought that she wasn't able to get past it since she didn't have a ticket.
As soon as I started walking toward the gate, I spotted them. Mom, Dad, and Em. I gave all three of them a hug and said hello to Em. She shied away from me and hid behind Dad. She told me later that she thought I was a monster because my smile is off from the Bell's Palsy. The left side of my face is paralyzed and I have a goofy smile for now.
Amazingly they had already had a boarding pass for her and that enabled them to get through security. They said their good-byes and it was time to go to the ticket counter and gather my tickets. I have no idea what was going through her mind at this time. How does a six year old process this situation? I couldn't even process the situation.
We got settled into our seats and got to know each other. There was a nice younger lady sitting next to us. I explained to her that this was my new daughter and we had just met. Without saying it I was letting her know I have no idea how this ride is going to go and I apologize ahead of time for sitting next to you.
I unloaded the little presents we had bought her, a snowman blanket, a doll, a Dora doodle pad, a stuffed dog, some snacks. She settled back trying to take in all that was happening to her. After a few minutes of resting she took out the notebook her other mom had given her and she drew two pictures. One picture was a mom and dad and she wrote, "I miss you mommy and daddy", the second picture she drew two girls and she wrote, "I miss you too M and M." I was glad she was drawing her feelings. I'm sure she was unable to express them, and who was I that she would trust me with such feelings?
Earlier in the year Steve & I went to the Orphan Summit in KY and heard Dr. Karyn Purvis speak. The one thing I remember her talking about was saying YES as much as you possibly can when trying to bond and form attachments. She would create situations in her office where Yes was most likely always the answer. Why would we want to say yes? These kids come from a place of broken trust and hard lives. They are not in situations that our birth children have been in where they have learned to trust from day one. When our children are born we say YES! I will feed you. YES! I will change your diaper. YES! I will pick you up because you are crying, etc.... So we try to create situations now where we can form attachements and trust by saying yes as much as possible and leaving the negative situations aside when we can.
Back to the story. During the flight I realized I did not have a boarding pass for the next plane. I either gave both of mine to the clerk in Ohio or I received too many for Em. Either way I needed a ticket to get on the plane in Denver. As soon as we landed we headed to the ticket counter and they were able to get me a boarding pass. Em was hungry by this time but we only had time for a bathroom break and to get to our gate where our plane was already boarding. We crashed through the oncoming line of people that were deboarding another plane so that we could march up to the front since they were calling for family boarding. We made it! We passed a whole line of people waiting to get on and I couldn't believe it but the first row of seats was empty. We quickly grabbed those and settled back in.
Since it was late for Em I got her to quiet down and she fell asleep which allowed me to fall asleep. We landed in Cali about 11pm or so and Em met daddy for the very first time. She was so delighted. He carried her on his shoulders I think. She was so tired and her legs just couldn't walk as far as we needed to walk.
Since I had told her on our last flight that I would order her a Sprite and when they delivered the drinks she was sleeping and I knew she had been hungry earlier I had Steve drive through McDonald's so she could trust that when I said I would get her a Sprite I would do so.
We got home and all the kids were up just waiting for us to walk in the door. It was extra special because Jesse & Sage were also home and they were as excited as everyone else was. They all said their hellos and welcomes and then we got ready for bed. Whew. The next day was Christmas Eve. I hadn't even wrapped one single thing and now I had a whole new dynamic to get through.
Friday, December 30, 2011
ICPC & THE Paper
Three days before Christmas I was shopping at Walmart. I thought maybe just maybe we might have Emme in our home before Christmas. I knew I needed a few last minute gifts and food. I saw the most adorable purple dresses and bought three of them. I also bought three headbands and tights.
I thought it was strange that the phone hadn't rang. It ALWAYS rings when the kids aren't with me. I had John's phone because mine has been MIA for weeks now. I figured out that it was turned off and turned it on. Instantly it started ringing. The ICPC paper that we needed to sign had been Fed Exed Overnighted to the ICPC office in San Diego, and we had until 2:30 to pick it up. I don't even remember what time it was but we were cutting it close.
Steve sped from work which wasn't real close to the ICPC office and got the paper. BUT we needed an Adoption Service Provider to witness us signing the paper. What the heck is an Adoption Service Provider and where are we going to find one three days before Christmas?
Steve called our homestudy agency but for reasons they couldn't witness us signing the paper. The ICPC had a few numbers of ASP's so he called one of them and she was able to meet with us. I had just been whizzing down the freeway pondering all that was going on and totally missed the exit I was supposed to take to go home. A minute later Steve calls to tell me to head to Scripps Ranch because we needed to sign this paper. I told him that was weird because I had just missed the exit that I had taken umpteen times and was headed in that direction, like the next exit. Weird. We showed up to the ladies house and went in and signed the paper. I thought it was odd that we needed to sign this paper in front of this lady and she had no idea who we were. It would have made more sense to sign the paper in front of a notary, but whatever. Adoption laws make no sense half the time.
After signing the paper Steve had to go back to Mission Valley to the ICPC office before they closed for the day, and possibly the weekend. I sped home to start making travel plans to fly out the next day. When I got home we had confirmation that we had California ICPC approval which is what we needed to cross Emme across state lines.
My computer was not working for me on the travel plans. I finally gave up and called Southwest to make the arrangements. I was able to fly out the next morning at 7ish but needed to be up and going at 4:30am. I made hotel reservations thinking I wasn't able to fly out until Christmas Eve. Communication between moms was happening and between our lawyer and each mom. So much going on just three days before Christmas. Usually Christmas in and of itself is enough, add instant travel plans and a new family member on top of that. Can I just say that stress would have been an understatement?
I thought it was strange that the phone hadn't rang. It ALWAYS rings when the kids aren't with me. I had John's phone because mine has been MIA for weeks now. I figured out that it was turned off and turned it on. Instantly it started ringing. The ICPC paper that we needed to sign had been Fed Exed Overnighted to the ICPC office in San Diego, and we had until 2:30 to pick it up. I don't even remember what time it was but we were cutting it close.
Steve sped from work which wasn't real close to the ICPC office and got the paper. BUT we needed an Adoption Service Provider to witness us signing the paper. What the heck is an Adoption Service Provider and where are we going to find one three days before Christmas?
Steve called our homestudy agency but for reasons they couldn't witness us signing the paper. The ICPC had a few numbers of ASP's so he called one of them and she was able to meet with us. I had just been whizzing down the freeway pondering all that was going on and totally missed the exit I was supposed to take to go home. A minute later Steve calls to tell me to head to Scripps Ranch because we needed to sign this paper. I told him that was weird because I had just missed the exit that I had taken umpteen times and was headed in that direction, like the next exit. Weird. We showed up to the ladies house and went in and signed the paper. I thought it was odd that we needed to sign this paper in front of this lady and she had no idea who we were. It would have made more sense to sign the paper in front of a notary, but whatever. Adoption laws make no sense half the time.
After signing the paper Steve had to go back to Mission Valley to the ICPC office before they closed for the day, and possibly the weekend. I sped home to start making travel plans to fly out the next day. When I got home we had confirmation that we had California ICPC approval which is what we needed to cross Emme across state lines.
My computer was not working for me on the travel plans. I finally gave up and called Southwest to make the arrangements. I was able to fly out the next morning at 7ish but needed to be up and going at 4:30am. I made hotel reservations thinking I wasn't able to fly out until Christmas Eve. Communication between moms was happening and between our lawyer and each mom. So much going on just three days before Christmas. Usually Christmas in and of itself is enough, add instant travel plans and a new family member on top of that. Can I just say that stress would have been an understatement?
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