WE ARE HERE!

OK folks,
We are back. Things have been so crazy here. I have been about the lose my mind with things needing to be done but not only have I found the tunnel but I also see the light!
Hopefully Jake will be updating Saturday night.

The rest of our week is busy. We are cleaning and going through toys before everything holiday approaches. The kids are so excited because we have even had a little dusting of snow lately!

Jesse has a football banquet tomorrow. Jake and Anabeli have eye doctor visits on Thursday in Columbus. Ann is going to Bowling Green for a college visit on Friday/Saturday. Friday we are having dinner with some new friends. Sunday is church and Sunday night is program practice at church. Throw in keeping things neat, cooking and laundry and it is a busier than normal week.

Jake has a terrible cold and his physical therapy had to be cancelled for today. I was almost happy to spend the time at home.

Saturday Jake has his first home visit. We are excited. Our social worker has been a wonderful support throughout our time home. I can't wait for her to see for herself the improvement my handsome guy has made.

He has got to be the most lovable guy I have ever met. Yes he still sleeps with us a night or two a week. And yes I am told it is not the best thing to promote good sleep habits or at least daddy says that but.... this kid is so darn lovable!

When he cuddles up next to you nothing matters to you but him. He is talking but Marvin and I seem to be the only two people who can understand him and a good majority of the time we are guessing.

But for the BIG news. He is WALKING.

MY LITTLE GUY IS WALKING.

God has seen him through all of his past woes and he is remarkable. I know I still need to write about his doctor's visit and I will but I can't wait to share our good news.

God has been so good to us!

My baby boy is going to be just fine.
He has lots of information to post this weekend and I am trying to get some pictures but when he sees the camera come out he just sits and stares.

Thanks to all of you who have checked in on us. We are here but busy.

FEELING BETTER

It has been a long time but I am starting to feel like a person again.
Last night I slept a full seven hours. That is in itself is a miracle. It has been soooo long since I have not had trouble sleeping due to congestion and coughing.
My energy level is almost normal. My head is not stuffy.
I thank God so much for giving me the strength lately.
By the way, Sunday was fantastic. It was my first service for the "first service" and I had six new children. We had a blast and I enjoyed the small group where I could sit on the floor and get to know each child personally.
Then the second service was bigger than it has ever been so far.
My passion was renewed.
We have a very slow week at home and I am just enjoying it. Hopefully by tomorrow things will be back to normal and I can post a ton of pictures.
Thank goodness for my two older ones who have helped me hold it together. They have managed to pick up the slack and also keep my head on straight as I suffered through way to many steroids lately.
Jake is wanting to post tomorrow night too. He has so much to tell you. One thing I need to tell you is this boy has a temper! It is coming out and he is so cute about it.
We do have a football game too. This will be Jesse's first since he torn his ACL and fractured his kneecap three days before the first game of the season. Everyone is excited.
As you can see around here every day has new challenges but also has so much fun.
We spent 10 minutes just stretching this afternoon. Poor Marvin is so stiff. He was funny. When he would raise his hands above his head his feet would just naturally pull up. We laughed and laughed. Giggling is the best medication I know.
More soon...

BATTLES

I have been through such a battle this week but I have got to tell you I feel so content right now. Thank God for that.
Not only did I have all kinds of weirdness with breathing this week but I had a few problems with the new Children's Worship format I am trying to implement.
A visit to the ER, two doctor's visits and a boat load of medicine and my lungs are starting to feel better. But greater than that God has shown me how to soar like an eagle when the turkeys try to pull me down.
Several times this week I have wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. "People please get out of the way and let's just see what God wants to do!"
We can't in any point of our lives live in mediocrity if we want to be happy. Of course we want to be striving our hardest but I believe living in failure would have to be easier than living in the middle of the road.
How can you sit in the middle of the road and expect change to get around you? Get over to one side or the other.
God has such big plans for us, bigger than we could ever guess or imagine but it seems there are times in all of our lives we are just happier to sit in the middle of the road and block everything.
Have you ever come upon an animal sitting in the middle of the road? It is next to impossible to go around it without sqaushing it. Hmmm....
When we fight God's plan for ourselves or worse yet for others we better be willing to pay the piper.
There is nowhere in our lives we should just be sitting still. It doesn't matter what we are doing, who we are doing it for or what the plan is if you are sitting in the way---MOVE.
We can't be happy in a stalemate. Life is just not meant to be spent living in the past. The future is upon us and if we are not willing to fight for our children who is?
Gone are the days where whole families are in church together. Gone are the days where we can hide our heads in the sand and avoid such issues has homelessness, broken families and abuse. Children are wiser now and expect more from church than a bible story and a snack.
We need to tell them the story and then explain how it can be used in our life. The Bible might be our road map but to an 8 year old, a road map can be confusing.
As adults it is our job to help them understand that road map. We must get them where they live every day. We must help them realize how to stand on the promises of God while teaching them what the promises are all about.
We can't teach children about the unconditional love of Christ if we hold grudges against others and deliberately try to hurt others or stop the plans God has set into motion.
Children can see through even the best adult faking something. They know. They might not have the vocabulary to express it but they know more about our hearts than we do most of the time.
Tonight as I was thinking about all that has happened this week I find myself encouraged. Without conflict it is hard to imagine peace. Without an idea and starting point a job cannot be finished. Without pain the joy of Christ's healing would not feel as perfect. Without God's direction in our lives, we will be destined to sit in the middle of the road waiting.....
Unfortunately I am afraid what people will find waiting for them will not be God's peace and redemption but rather unhappiness and a lack of growth in their lives.
Get out of the middle of the road and accept what God has given to you. Accept his promises and allow Him to work through you.
Go out on a limb for Him. It was so scary out here at the beginning of the week but now I can tell you I have never felt so liberated. I am no longer sitting alone. I am sitting with God in the center of his will. Like it or not, that is the only place I want to be!

MAMA'S SICK

Amy and anyone else on pins and needles,
Mama is sick. Real sick.
I had a cold and sinus infection two weeks ago that knocked it out of me even with antibiotics and a short round of Prednisone.
I have been exceptionally tired and feeling rather overwhelmed I just fall into bed and try and stay awake during the day.
All in all we are doing great at surviving and Jake is still improving but I am crazy from feeling so miserable.
By the end of the week the "cold" was coming back on but I thought I could beat it. Fast forward to yesterday when I had a major asthma attack. It started at around 4:00 pm and we were in the ER until about 10:30 trying to get everything under control.
The cold is really the sinus infection that did not clear up like I had thought and it has triggered really nasty breathing issues.
After being blasted with breathing treatments and injection of steroids I left. Now I am trying to keep things under control while tapering off the Prednisone. I have one massive headache from my body coming off all the injections last night.
So I am armed with several medications to control this mess and resting now that Jake is napping.
I will be back soon.
I have tons of pictures. Today was the first day of preschool for M and A and it was so much fun for them.
I will get back soon. I promise. With lots of pictures too!

POSTING

I am trying to post pictures tonight but blogspot will not let me. So stayed tuned....

RACIAL DIVERSITY

Marvin just told me about his "new best friend" at church.
"He is cool mom. He doesn't look like you. He doesn't look like me. Well he sorta looks like me. "
I had to laugh. His best friend is a Korean adoptee.
It made me think about our church. We have Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanic and biracial families attending.
We have adoptees from Guatemala (mine), Japan, Korea and a few children in the US foster care system.
It is so cool to have such racial diversity worshipping together. One thing that concerned me about my Guatlings was if they would feel out of place with their "brown biscuit skin".
When you go to church and see so many different nationalities represented how could you even begin to feel out of place?
I thank God for the opportunity to attend such a diverse church that understands the meaning of adoption and helping others.

TRYIN TO GET THROUGH

OK This is definitely a keepin it real post.
For many reasons I am at my wits end.
I have had an exceptionally busy week this week so in turn I am really tired. We had agreed to stay home tonight but at about 5:00 Blake got antsy and wanted to go to Columbus. He left his hat at Longhorn Restaurant on Thursday night after we had gone down to buy a used VW for Ann. By the way it is a nice car.
This stupid hat came from Jamaica and it is a baseball hat that says Jamaica. We paid maybe 15.00 for this hat about five years ago and we have been all over Central Ohio because he keeps leaving it places.
Anyway Sam wanted to babysit and make a little money. Fine but I don't think he is ready for all three little guys even if Jesse and a friend were here if he needed help so we took Jake.
Man that kid was wound. He had a ball and so did we. We went to P.F. Changs for supper and I missed the little spicy mark by my Pepper Steak so my stomach was on fire.
On the way home I received a call for Kierstan and Ann (dumb and dumber) saying Jesse and Aaron were "jerks". Deal with that over the phone. Boys get downstairs and don't be so loud. Marvin and Anabeli are trying to sleep. Leave your sister and her friends alone. Ann go into the family room and behave, By the time we get home 20 minutes later Matt is the only one in the family room.
Get home and Matt (who doesn't live here although he thinks he does) says on his way out, "Ann you better come talk to your mom."
I think it is over the phone call and dismiss it BUT a few seconds later here comes dumb and dumber with most of their hair pulled up in the back, EXCEPT for a neon pink streak through both heads of hair.
This is so dumb. Ann says "It is just semi permanent it will wash out in a few weeks." I cannot believe this.
This kid doesn't usually do something like this. I don't know what ever caused them to do this. Kierstan has not even highlighted her hair before. It is a beautiful light blonde hair with natural highlights.
I know it is not that big of a deal but come on. This is the straw that broke the camel's back. What was she thinking?????
So I am going to bed. Hopefully by Sunday morning I will not want to break her little neck. This would be easier to cope with if I had not been so busy this week and we still went and bought the car on Thursday which threw me way further behind.

God I didn't pray for patience this week. Why do I feel like I did?????

MY GUY IS SICK

Jake is miserable. He has a terrible cold brewing and I am afraid an ear infection too. He is also drooling nonstop.

Unfortunately he is a very hyper sicky.

He wants to lay on the bed and roll into me. We can't stand, we can't go into another room. Each time I move I get protests. The only way he is happy is if I am beside him rubbing his tummy softly.

I can't wait for daddy to get home and check his ears and throat. At least then I will

know.
Mom, please don't take my picture. Put down the camera.

Mom stop it. You are going to make me look silly.

Notice the scab on the nose? He managed to fall at church and give his little nose a rug burn. Only my little scruffy boy could take on that challenge and win.

OK If I hold still will you put up the dumb camera for a while? I am sick.

My eye is swollen and I feel bad.

Can't you leave me alone?

My three Guatlings on a happier day.

DIAPERS ON, DIAPERS OFF

OK someone tell me how in the world I am supposed to keep a diaper on this kid?????
None of the others were as bad as he is. He can slither out of his PJs and most other pants as quick as you can say, "Jake No, No." and have his diaper ripped off too.
It is driving me crazy. He thinks it is funny but I am sick of finding little "puddles" from the moments between diaper off, diaper on.
Today while his developmental social worker was here he managed to slither out of his shorts and diaper before we even noticed!!!! Interestingly enough there is nothing on all the developmental charts for this other than "tries to assist in dressing self." Nothing about enjoying undressing self to be butt naked!
This kid. I love him more and more each day.

HERE I SIT

Here I sit in my ofice looking at at a huge mess made by a two year old. Crayons were dumped. Papers scattered. Trash can turned over.
I follow the trail into our bathroom. A load of dirty laundry on its way into the laundry room is turned over. Bath toys are thrown everywhere.
Into the bedroom where I trip over more toys. Find an empty candy box (Uh NO). And then find a two year old ripping up the telephone book with a big smile on his face.
I should be upset but rather I rush over and pick him up giving him a big hug.
Now I have snot on my clothes and in my hair along with the huge mess to clean up.
But.....
I DONT CARE!!!!!!
Because on top of the sticky, icky mess everywhere I have a normal two year old boy behind it all.

Thank you God for this precious child who has turned my world upset down. I LOVE IT!
P.S. Thanks for the mess too it reminds me of just how far he has come in eight weeks!