* Cornish Adoption Journey *

I'd given 8 baths to kids. The four this morning- Micah, Emma, Brianna, Micah. Little man puked all over then rolled in it. EW.

This afternoon we went for a HOT walk and then a dip in the pool so all the kids climbed into Mom and Dad's BIG tub and got all clean after swimming. Just in time for church. And... since Mike and I both took showers this morning then again after the pool, that would be a total of 8 baths and 4 showers in this house today. What can I say, we're just CLEAN people ;)

Tonight my sister, Elizabeth, is coming into town! She's staying with us tonight and part of tomorrow then spending the next few days with friends in Orlando. She'll head back our way on Wednesday until Fri or Sat and then head back home to Minnisota. This is my wonderful best-sis-in-the-world that gave up a month of her life to come watch K and Bria while we were in Ukraine so I'm looking forward to getting to introduce her to the two little ones she did it for :)

I'd given 4 baths to kids. 2 were to one kid. Can you guess who/why?

Last year we attended this fun-filled event with Kristopher and Brianna and had a blast! We showed up late and only stayed a short time, but during our stay we were able to get to know another mom and her son and daughter. They asked questions about Brianna, how she goes about her day, and some other questions that they might want to ask but not normally know how to start a conversation.

Nathaniel's Hope Make 'm Smile "matches" two families up together- a VIP family and a Buddy family and sends them off to enjoy crafts, music, character meets, free gifts and a delicious lunch (provided by Chik-fil-a!). The idea is to build awareness of disabilities and to help people know that really--- people with disabilities and without are people first!

We are looking forward to this year's event which will be held on Saturday, June 7th at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando. If you have kids and live nearby go to www.nathanielshope.org for more information and to register (it's free) online. Whether or not you have a child with disabilities it will prove to be a great day of fun for your whole family!! Let me know if you'll be there!

How does the Jungle Book, some Cheeze Its, Wheat Thins, cheese squares, grapes, yogurt drops, pretzels, and Wheat Fig Newtons sound? Yep, sounds pretty good to me too.

This is the first week without school, and although Tuesday breezed by without a blink (dr's appt day) today has been much slower-paced. We took our time this morning and everyone was up, fed, bathed, and dressed by about 9:30.

All three little ones now have snotty noses and although I was debating taking them all in, they did seem markedly better after a warm bath and breakfast. So we decided against the morning visit to the ped's office but it may still be in our near future. Emma hasn't gotten any worse but has had this runny nose since coming off of antibiotics. Micah started his on Tuesday and Brianna seems to have it bad a day then not for 3 and then today she was runny again. She also got up on the wrong side of the bed today and was a grump until nap time.

Not sure about AFTER nap yet because... she's still sleeping. She had a BM during the beginning of nap time and then got cleaned up and she and I laid down in the twin. She's now barracaded in (seriously, a pretty good barracade! plus there's a side rail on the bed) and is sleeping soundly despite me having opened her door and turning the hallway light on about 30 min ago. I guess she needed her sleep.

I've spent the afternoon picking up here and there. Our porch exploded yesterday (but it was FUN!! LOL) so I picked up the babies' stuff and K is "working on" his stuff (ie: Playing). Both E and M are playing out there. Emma's discovered that the Fisher Price train sings when you press the top :) She's enjoying it!

Tonight we have FLG (church group) at our house which means I copped out of cooking snacks by buying a bag of pretzel sticks, tortilla chips, and a jar of salsa. Some 2-liters of soda to accompany it and we'll call that "snack". If I get the gumption I'll cook something but I'm not sure that will happen today. Luckily the living room is fairly kid-free and usually ready for guests. I did remove the large pile of things that were ready to go out the door and now they're hidden discreetly behind the chairs in a HUGE bin. They have gotten smaller and smaller too as people have come over and I've sent a thing or two home with each person :) :) Now there's only a few BIG things to get rid of and a lot of little things.

Now that I've purged a lot of the little things and several of the big things that were cluttering our house I'm starting to think about special activities for the summer months when there's no break-up in many of our days. We still have therapists coming in 3 hours/week but those are the only things that break up out M-W and Th-Sun we only have church on Sat night. Last year I took K's bins and put different activities in each one. He had a puzzle, an art project, flash cards, books, his Leap Pad, etc. He was allowed to pick out one bin at a time and we'd play with that thing. This worked really well for about 8 weeks and then went down the tubes. He was too comfortable with the idea and stopped putting things away as nicely and got out multiple things at once, making a huge mess.

This year we're working on a few more 'school related' skills like writing and reading. He's really good with numbers already but needs to learn the names for the higher numbers. So we'll work a little on these things with some books I've picked up. Any other ideas for summer fun that we can do INDOORS? We have plenty to do outside including a pool, playground, and water toys, but it's just TOO HOT and the sun is too bright to go outside for more than a few minutes at a time for a majority of the day. Then in the afternoon there's those predictable thunder storms! (I wish we'd had some more today because right now everything's on fire instead)

Steven Curtis Chapman founded a ministry called Shaohannah's Hope, which provides financial aid to families that are adopting.  He also has several adopted children himself.  On Tuesday as we headed out the door for a day of doctor's appointments I received a package in the mail containing this sweet stuffed bunny!  It is made by Gund in partnership with several organizations but it is to celebrate Shaohannahs' Hope.  I won it in a contest done by Mommy Life right before Mother's Day.  I was expecting a tiny little doll and was surprised to find this big bunny!  Emma likes how soft it is.  She doesn't generally hold on to things but this one is HERS.

I post this today with a heavy heart though.  Today Steven Curtis Chapman and family need your prayers.  Yesterday one of his daughters, 5 yr old Maria, was struck by a car in her driveway and killed.  The car was driven by one of her teenage brothers.  Any loss of a child is tragic, but this is especially so.  Please keep this family covered in prayer as they face the loss of a child, and especially the brother that was driving- he needs comfort more than anyone.  You can read the news release here.

I shared on yesterday's post that Emma should be having a T&A (tonsils and adenoids removed) as long as the cardiologist approves it. I debated sharing this because I don't want to say "this is the answer" because it might very well not be. But then I thought... why not share anyway? And just take this as it is-- a possibility for God to use to make things better :)

Research shows that enlarged (remember, Emma's were HUGE) tonsils can cause elevated PH (pulmonary hypertension). Emma also is experiencing brief periods of sleep apnea during the night. These, too, can cause elevated PH. When Emma was first diagnosed with PH I received an e-mail from someone whose child had PH and was considered inoperable. He had a simple tonsillectomy that made the PH lower enough to have surgery. I've not held on to this as a viable reason to have a T&A, but when the ENT said that her tonsils were huge... well, my antennae went up!

I won't count on this to lower her PH much. It may not affect it at all. I am well aware that her PH is from YEARS of damage due to the heart functioning the way that it is. It's not a problem that's going to go away. But maybe... just maybe... this will help to lower the PH enough to make surgery less of a risk for our little sweetheart. Maybe this is the break she needs. Maybe.

So, my prayer warriors, if you would, please say a prayer that the cardiologist will approve the T&A surgery, and that it will, in fact, improve Emma's PH. And while you're praying, please say a prayer that a Dr. Johnson (new name, haven't mentioned him here before- retired cardiac surgeon and family of a reader- THANK YOU BETH) will be able to give us some more insight as well. We've forwarded Emma's medical records and cath to him and are hoping for his opinion in the next few weeks. We know we've been surrounded with a blanket of prayer and the covering is felt. Please keep them coming!

that you can click the pictures and see them bigger? Just in case you actually want to SEE that pretty afghan :) I'll have to un-bury it and take a better picture soon LOL

I miss writing! LOL  I've been posting quick blurbs because time has been short and life has been busy.  Things are good tho, which is always helpful :)

After Emma's 1am stint the other day I was reminded by a friend of the miracle of melatonin.  If you're not familiar with it, it's the natural substance your brain creates to tell your body that you're tired.  Well, as you can imagine, it works wonderfully for getting a little girl that WON'T go to sleep to have her body say "you should be tired now" and off she goes.  It's not a drug that actually knocks a kid out like using Benadryl and a few other 'things' that people also suggested to me... no, this is a healthy and natural way to induce sleep.  I bought some capsuls a while back for Mike and I to take to Ukraine and have for ourselves and eventually the kids too.  Although it doesn't work well on ME (go figure, I'm a freak of nature), it does aparently work for the kids :)  This is a relief.  If anyone has night owls, this might be something to keep on hand just for those days where the kids "can't" fall asleep and need a little help getting started.  Also, it does not KEEP a kid asleep, so it has no drowsy effects after.  Yes, God's gift to man (or should I say Mom?).

Last night our littlest girl turned BIG!  She slept all night in the toddler bed!!  We tried a few nights previous and she had a very hard time going to sleep (hadn't been reminded about melatonin yet!) and then kept falling out.  Of course it's not a far fall and there's a pillow on the floor next to it, but I ended up putting her back in the crib to wait a few days.  Well, Daddy did bedtime yesterday and she went to sleep really nicely!  I did hear her twice during the night and got up to put her back in bed (she was asleep on the floor), but I hope she will get used to the bed and not end up out of it too much soon.  For now we're keeping the crib up too, especially for nap times since that's a harder time of day to get the transition. 

Here's when Brianna first saw her toddler bed (I set it up while she was asleep, so the bed-head hair is all natural :) )

 

The girls' room is not a big room- it's average size, about 11'x11'.  It now has 2 cribs, a toddler bed, a twin bed, two dressers (one's in the closet), and a dollhouse.  WoW!  LOL  No, there's not much walking space :)  A few pic's?  Of course :)  This is what the room looks like.  Complete with a messy twin bed (but check out the beautiful pink afghan that's on there- Grandmommy Pocock made that for Emma, isn't it pretty??).

 

Here's some video (finally- One True Media's working again!) of Micah sitting up :)

He's doing so much better already!  He goes up and down all day long and is sitting without using his hands for short periods too!

This morning's ENT results:

Micah-
failed hearing test
fluid behind ear drum
needs tubes
will do an ABR (hearing test) while sedated after getting tubes

Emma-
failed hearing test
fluid behind ear drum
needs tubes
will do an ABR (hearing test) while sedated after getting tubes
enlarged tonsils (HUGE was the word)
needs T&A (tonsils and adenoids removed)
needs cardiac approval for any surgery
cardiology appointment: June 12th

Then the orthopedic doctor in the afternoon...
First he said 'no biggie, let me see the x-ray slides that were done, and I'll see her back in a while for the follow up, but take precautions until them (no tumbling, etc)'. Then I told him how she likes to put weight on the top of her head by arching her back CONSTANTLY and he said.. oh. Well, then, how about a sedated MRI of the neck and I'll see her back in 3 months- again, take precautions. Hmm... a little different. So 'take precautions' just means don't let her continue to put weight on the top of her head. As if we could stop her.

That sums up my day. Mom and Chris watched K and Bria, so a huge THANK YOU to them. I was gone for a total of 8 hours and came home with results including 2 surgeries, a sedated MRI, and a cardio followup. Fun day :)

Ok, so no pic's to accompany this post (sorry) but here's what's been happening at the Cornish home...

Micah's new tricks: holding his own bottle (YAY!) and getting up to a sitting position himself (YAY!!). He's staying sitting pretty well but still rolls off his little round bottom and then sits back up again. He really has chunked out a lot! He has learned how to avoid hitting his head on the floor- a noble feat- and is doing great!

Kristopher just asked me if he could watch TV now that his rest movie was over. Sure, why not, everyone else is just sleeping. So he changes through the 5 channels we get and says "I don't want to watch cartoons, I want to watch about everything that's happening outside today!" Yes, my 4 yr old wants to watch the weather/news. We've had a lot of fires nearby and he's actually been getting up and wanting to watch the news to see the firefighters and the helicopters dumping water down on the flames. No, we don't otherwise let him watch the news tho. *I* don't even like to watch the news, especially when the kids are around!

Emma decided to stay up until 1am yesterday. I thought when you said something publicly about your kid they were supposed to prove you wrong, not exaggerate the situation? So when I posted yesterday that she went to bed late, she should have gone right to sleep that night. Or not. Now she's napping and I'm tired!

Brianna had a rough start to the day. First off, she's caught the 'cold' that Emma's had for the past two months. E's been on 2 rounds of anti's already but usually keeps it to herself. This time Brianna wanted to join in the fun I suppose. So Bria woke up coughing and came to my bed with me since it was just she and I awake and I figured we'd turn on cartoons in there and not wake anyone else. Oops. She scooted away from me to sit up after a few minutes and then she tumbled off the bed. She's fine, but was shaken up (me too) and cried through my quick shower and then was 'off' all morning. She's napping now and ate a good lunch so here's hoping...

Tomorrow M and E havd ENT appointments in the morning and then E has an ortho appointment in the afternoon. Both 30 minutes from here (in the same building) but there will be at least 4 hours between their appointments. I guess that means we're coming home between. Sounds like I'll be spending the day driving and waiting!

We have kindof a weird situation with Emma right now. Her sleeping schedule is a little off. The other three kids "rest" between 12:30 and 2:30 and then they're all up and playing. Emma, on the other hand, falls asleep around 2 and sleeps until 4:30... 5:30... I'd say "well, she has a huge heart defect and must be more tired" except that she adjusts. At night time when the other three go to bed at 8pm and are asleep by 8:30 or 9 at the latest, Emma lays and giggles, talks, (occasionally kicks the wall), and entertains herself until sometimes 10pm or later!

If it was one of the other kids I know I'd wake her up so she would go to bed on time. Problem being that sometimes she does go to bed on time and I don't want to deprive her of sleep that she actually needs. It's not affecting our home, schedule, etc. except that she is in bed for a longer period of time in the afternoon than everyone else because she still is put in her crib at the same time everyone else is to rest.

I'm not sure there's a 'right' answer to this one, but for the moment I suppose I'll just continue to let her sleep when she wants to, so long as it's not affecting anyone else. Hmm...

well... onetruemedia.com seems to be down. So none of the videos are working. I hope it's fixed soon!!

Meredith

Tonight we watched the movie Happy Feet after coming home and Brianna is quite the dancing queen ;)  During the credits she climbed up on my lap and started dancing away.  Then... I found out that if I copied her for a minute that she would start copying me :)  We had fun with it!  Then Mike grabbed the camera.  Here you go...

 

This afternoon I took the kids out to Target. Kristopher looked up at me and said "when I get married, I'm gonna marry YOU, Mommy!" Aww....

Then in the car on the way home he asked me how the doctors see Emma's heart. I thought this was a great question because he knows we've had several appointments in the past few months for the doctors to "see" Emma's heart and I told him they have a special machine that they put on her chest. It's like a little stick and it shows them her heart. His reply? "Can they see Jesus in there??" Yep, DOUBLE Aww... :)

When we got home from Ukraine I went through SOME of the paperwork left for me that had come in the mail, but a week later finally got to a paper saying that our homestead was not being renewed on the house we own and we had until the WEEKEND BEFORE to have filed the correct paperwork to prove we are still eligible. Well, I called the office, explained the situation, let her know that I would mail it ASAP and then filled out the paper.

I just found it. Unmailed. Set aside. OUCH. But... here's the God part.

After I found that I continued searching through all the 'lost' paperwork that I didn't find until now from the past few months of people putting mail in all kinds of fun places. This stack was on the bins by the front door. From late April. Oops.

Ok, well in there is another letter from the property appraiser's office saying "THANK YOU for the reply and included is your official RENEWAL RECEIPT". Hmm... I HAVE the reply. I KNOW they don't. But... our homestead is renewed and I have the paper to prove it :)

Yep, God's been working overtime for us!

This afternoon I had the pleasure of taking both my Moms out for lunch :) With K and B both in school, Mike took a long lunch to keep E and M so we could have lunch without the kids!

Thanks, Moms, for all you do for us and for being our Moms! And thanks, Mike, for taking the kids on your lunch hour!

Kristopher and Brianna are officially out on "summer break"! They both have been attending Kids' Adventure Days at our church (aka Mom's morning out most places) two mornings/week since August. Both have really enjoyed it! Brianna went between the 1 yr old room and the baby room since they weren't comfortable with her in the gym since she isn't walking, but other than gym time spent most of her time in her age-group class. Kristopher is in a combined 3-4 yr old class (he was 3) and LOVED it.

Tonight is the final performance and unfortunately only Kristopher will be taking part. I didn't even realize that Briana's class was participating this year (they never have before) but when I picked her up the teachers told me that she hasn't been practicing with them and won't be on stage tonight even though her class is since she can't stand there with the other kids. I guess this is just one of those "wish I'd known before" kind of times since it hit me as a surprise. I wasn't expecting her to participate, but I didn't know that her class would be and she wouldn't.

Oh well... I know we'll enjoy watching Kristopher!

The house is 77 degrees in the evening, 77 degrees in the morning, and 67 degrees at night?   You can't exactly dress the babies for the cooler midnight hours when they're trying to fall asleep or they'll roast.  You can't leave them in summery pj's all night or they wake up cold.  So... what DO you do?

At 11pm when you're ready for bed yourself you sneak into their rooms, pull the nightgown back down from their armpits, and cover those skinny toothpick legs with some babylegs!

Soooo much cuter than pants and makes that non-waking diaper change a little easier too :)

Thanks again, RK!

Emma's smirky little smile (and WILD hair!)

It appears to me that in the picture below they are BOTH trying to pick their nose.  Doesn't it look that way??

 

Brianna got some new wheels during PT yesterday!  Now... to figure out how to USE them :)  At the moment she wants to lean on the 'backrest' while attempting to go forward.  I need to break open some tennis balls for the back feet, too, so it will slide better.  This was her first time using it at home :)

My house smells WONDERFUL! I have been "meaning to" start the crock pot for a few days now but I always think of it while I'm out and haven't done it. But I did purchase 4 tiny hens (yes, they're Cornish hens...) and put them in this morning. I walked into the kitchen to check on them and see four little floating bird butts. They sure do smell good though!

Add some sweet potatoes, steamed veggies, and dinner rolls and we've got dinner. I haven't made a "big meal" since coming home. Yes, that would be about 10 weeks! We had dinners being brought from church families for a few weeks of that and have either eaten fast food, frozen food, or small meals otherwise. It will be nice to sit down and have a family dinner with fresh cooked food tonight!

(Of course the babies will have bottles and K and B will likely have chicken nuggets with ketchup, a small taste of veggies, and rolls. They aren't much for "big meals" yet!)

So... who do you think is coming for dinner?

This little guy, Parker, is medically fragile and about to have another BIG surgery. He's such a cutie pie and is a fighter too. The link will take you to a page made by a mutual friend, Michelle, in an attempt to fundraise to help Parker's family. They're not looking for money, but rather for help. Take a look.

So... what do YOU do when the doorbell rings at 8:55 and in your mind you can't think of anyone that should be arriving this morning (I have to go down the list to make sure I've not forgotten someone!). Two kids are eating breakfast, one is naked and saying he's "getting dressed" and the other is playing happily on the floor. And Mommy? She's waiting for the two to finish eating so she can go take a shower. (read: is still in the t-shirt and shorts she slept in and hasn't brushed her hair)

So I look through the peep hole and find a Terminex truck parked in the street. A man in uniform a few feet back from the door. I really did debate not answering the door, but I think he wanted to do the termite inspection which means he might just have a look-around the outside if we don't answer... which then means I'll feel stupid for not answering the door!

Hesitantly I did answer it. After all, my clothes are decent so other than a bit of a disheveled look he has no idea that I slept in them. He does say he's there for the inspection. Of course it's all still under my parents' names because they still own the house, but yes, at one time I was Miss Pocock. Fine enough, he'll take a look around outside.

With that I got some decent clothes on and sent Kristopher to finish dressing himself. I know part of the inspection is inside and I also don't care what he thinks of my house, so I grabbed the kids' clothes and with that the doorbell rang again. Yes, he'd like to look inside, especially in bathrooms and other areas there's water access. Fine and dandy, he can start in the master while I dress Micah. He's pretty quick and comes to the kitchen where Brianna is still eating breakfast. He says hello to her and she's awful happy to have him greet her! She was hoping it was one of her therapists coming to play, I could tell by her motion when the doorbell rang and I didn't pick her up!

I pointed him toward the laundry room and scooped Micah up off the changing table. He came back in- now having seen Kristopher and Brianna and I'm holding Micah and says "wow, you sure do have your hands full!" Maybe he'll excuse the fact that we are all in disarray at almost 9 in the morning?? My automatic response "In a good way" brings him a smile and a quick nod. He stops in the guest bath and he comes out as I'm dressing Emma. "WoW! Do you have twins?" Now I realize that this seems like a lot of interaction with a bug man, but I talk to EVERYONE (yes, I'm just like my mother in that respect ;) ) so it doesn't bother me. After all, this guy has possibly been doing inspections on this house for the past 18 years... my parents have several "regulars" who they know by name that do maintenance on the house and have for a long time. We found that was true of the man that fills the gas tanks anyway!

I told him that no, there's no twins. We have two by birth and two through adoption and they are all very close in age. He gets a broad grin and says "my wife and I adopted two children." What a neat man. Anyway, he finished up, explained the paperwork and the termite policy, explained why it's still under my parents' names and how to change it when we finally do close on the house. And then he stopped mid-kitchen to say goodbye to Brianna (still eating...). He looked over at me and said "You know, you and your husband are awfully special people to adopt those kids. You'll be blessed." "We already are..."

What a neat man. Not exactly what I thought I was doing at 9 am. No, I didn't get my shower (I think I missed that opportunity until nap time). But I go to see a glimpse into someone else's life and show him a glimpse of mine.

You know what's neat though? It's neat that he never once asked "what's wrong" with my children. Didn't comment on their size (even tho I told him their ages). He didn't ask their diagnosis. It didn't matter. He may have wondered, but sometimes respect is keeping your mouth shut. I wonder if he realizes that I noticed? Not a questioning look, not a sideways glance. Just a smile. I wonder who has touched his life with a disability that makes him so comfortable in saying 'hi', asking Brianna what she's eating for breakfast, and saying "aww, she's shy". Just like any other kid.

Usually we go to the beach, but the logistics of that with 3 that don't walk... didn't feel like figuring it out. So instead we went swimming in the pool.  Here are some pictures.

After a little while the babies started getting antsy to get out, so I dried them off and put them in the playpen one by one... By the time all 3 were out of the pool I couldn't help but think of this poem by Shel Silverstein

There's too many kids in this tub.  There's too many faces to scrub.  I just washed a behind that I'm sure wasn't mine.  There's too many kids in this tub.

(Shelley, recognize that dog? LOL)

No worries, after a picture or two Brianna came back out and Emma and Micah did just fine ;)  Then... some popsicles.  We'll call them appetizers to our early dinner!

No, not with the three littlest ones, but with our big little man, Kristopher.  He tends to be this way for a few days after an 'adventure' but today was a bit overboard.  Oh wait... last night too...  Anyway, our four darlings are in bed and hopefully to stay!

Today was a flurry of activity with KAD (this is their last week), a stop in to the church bookstore, grocery shopping, lunch with Mike, naps and playtime, dinner, and finally a short trip to our local "mall" (aka hall). 

I did have a few bright spots in the day- other than of course the smiles and fun that four kids provide (it was just one that was being trying, after all!).  Today I received a gift certificate from my Aunt Dot and Uncle Walt out in California.  It is to the IKEA store to purchase two hammock swing chairs!  Remember them?  Thanks so much!!  I know the kids will love them!  Also, while grocery shopping I bought myself a new blender.  Our old one squirts "stuff" out of it from near the blade-- not a good thing!  Mike said he'd get me one for Mother's Day so I was holding off... but I suppose that was in jest ;)  He said he'd never live it down if he really did!  So I got a $25 Oster, not too bad of a price and it will make the smoothies that we make up for the babies (especially the big baby- Mike loves them!) :)

Tomorrow we don't have any plans, except to get my big little man back into shape and LISTENING again!

So, you ask, what could sweet precious little angelic Kristopher do to get Momma so bent out of shape?  Here are a few examples from the day...

Shooting his suction cup gun at Micah

Holding the suction cup dart over Micah's eye

Holding Micah's nose and saying "breathe through your mouth" to him repeatedly as Micah stared at him (he lost the dart gun and dart... and yes, those all happened within 2 minutes of one another!)

Throwing a large round bouncy ball in the house (you know those huge bouncy balls from Old Navy??)

Throwing a ball at his sister

Throwing a ball at his other sister

Throwing a ball at his brother

Hitting his mother with a ball (he lost the ball!!!!!)

Pinching his sister with his new "claw grabber"

Putting the claw grabber in his sister's face (he lost the grabber!!!)

Unpacking the bin of toys he's been told are "put away" for a while

Hiding the pieces of those toys he wanted to keep out

Wetting his pants (another fun part of the "day after an adventure"...)

Oh, and did I mention that all of these happened between 3 and 5pm?  Yes, he went to KAD this morning, got home around 1 and everyone "rested" from 1-3.  At 3 the terror turned on and lasted up until dinner.  He had many antics for the evening too but they weren't as fun as the morning ones since we went out after dinner...  Tomorrow will be a better day... Tomorrow will be a better day... Tomorrow will be a better day...

After complaining about the loss of a day as well as the cost to go to Tampa and back I checked the mailbox and found a letter. It says that $1200 has been deposited into our bank account. Our "stimulus payment" has arrived! Well, the day's spendings were only $110, so I'd say we got back "10 fold plus some". God is good... all the time! (and the US gov't isn't so bad either ;) )

Well, I drove 3 hours in 2 cars there ($80 round trip in gas) had lunch with Mike and Mom +3 since we made good time ($30), then got there for them to tell us that he was in surgery in a different city. Not exactly a fun way to spend the day. We did get a copy of her records from her latest echo and the cath, so I guess that's good, but they could have FAXED IT to me! Oh well....

Today we're heading over to Tampa to meet with the "local" cardiac surgeon to find out his opinion of Emma's heart. This is the surgeon associated with the cardiologist that did the heart cath that said there was nothing to be done. We are hoping and praying that he feels differently since he has agreed to see us.

Please cover our family in prayer today as Mike and I drive to Tampa- separately, meet with the surgeon, and then Mike continues to Orlando for his night class while the kids and I come home. My mom will be coming along to help with the kids and travel, and because she can come we will be bringing the three little ones with us. Kristopher will spend the day with Mike's mom.

Today Brianna will meet the man that held her heart almost 2 years ago. I'm looking forward to getting to see Dr. Q again but am nervous about what might be decided. We know it's all in God's hands and will leave it there.

Please pray for safety in driving, for calm and happy babies, for a fun safe day for Kristopher, and for peace in the day's events and decisions. Thanks.

Last night as we loaded the kids up in the van to go to church I noticed a little tinge of pain in my knuckle.  I thought maybe I had a paper cut.  A minute later as I was walking back inside to catch the forgotten last items I noticed that my knuckle was swollen and blue.  Odd.  I was fine 2 min ago!  As the evening progressed it bruised more and became very sensitive.  I have no idea what happened- whether it's a bite, a bruise, or just something dumb :)   I attempted to take a picture, but with shadows it's hard to tell that my knuckle is a beautiful shade of bluish black.  I iced it yesterday and it seems much less swollen today.  Just WEIRD!

A smile

A laugh

A hug

Some love

A touch

A tear

A cry

Some fear

A snuggle

A rock

A bounce

Some fun

A spill

A diaper

A mess

Some dirt

But what makes a mom of a kid with special needs?

Extra Love

Extra Snuggles

Extra Fun

 

Happy Mother's Day to all moms!!

Especially Mine :)  Happy Mother's Day Grandmommy, Grandma, and Great Gram!!

And Happy Mother's Day to all our Pseudo-moms and grandparents out there.  What a blessing you all are to us :)

When Brianna started really exploring her world I made her this mirror. It consists of a floor length (cheap from Wal-mart about $7, super light weight too!) mirror, some 'matching cards', some pages from a cardboard book that had been eaten, a rear view mirror "fish eye", Both sides of velcro, large furniture pads (for the bottom), and wall protectors for door knobs.  All are attached with either their own sticky stuff or spray adhesive (except the 2 pooh matching cards that already got pulled off).  Brianna really likes it and the other two are enjoying it as well!  Originally I was going to mount it at "standing height" to encourage her to stand and secure a bar nearby for Brianna to pull up on.  We never got that far but have gotten a lot of use out of it anyway!  And as you can see, it could use a little Windex but at the rate that gooey fingers get to it I'm not so sure it's worth it ;)

 

Here's some closer pic's:

Today I decided to redo our playroom.  It's a "Florida room" which is way too big to just have toys strewn about on it in no particular organized fashion, and that's what it has been.  A MESS.  So today I got motivated and turned a mess into a FUN play area :)  Here's a few pic's:

 

After that, we had some playtime :)  Wow, these guys LOVED having the mirror accessible!

Brianna enjoyed the mirror as well but Emma, goodness, she sat like that for a good 15 minutes playing with her mouth, hands, feet, and anything she could reach on the mirror!  What a neat way to play!

Then Mike decided that an 80 degree pool was begging to be swam in.  Yes, the WATER is 80!  WOO HOO!  So first he brought the dog in,

And then he and K and Bria went for a dip.  We set up a tiny pool on the side for Brianna at first

 

 

As you can see, that didn't last long!

And where were the little ones while I took pictures by the pool?  Enjoying the A/C in the playroom, of courrse!

I realize that this is the world/s worst photo of Emma, but take a really close look and you'll see why

I snapped it in a hurry.  The things that kids do when they don't think you're looking... Like get up on their hands and knees!! Way to go Emma!!

Tonight we'll go to church so it's time to get baths going for the water bugs...

My friend Michelle tagged me to do this little "about me" meme.  I usually, um, DON'T! LOL  But I told her I would, so here you go!

 

What was I doing 10 years ago:
I realize that you don't want to hear this, but in May of 1998 I was about to finish my sophomore year of high school.  My DH and I had been dating for 6 months, I was 16.  I was in the orchestra (upright string bass), marching band (flag corps), and medical academy (CNA).   I babysat all the time and was just starting to get involved with the youth group at Mike's church.

 

5 thinks on my "To Do" list today:
1. Grocery Shop (check, yes, with all 4 in tow!)
2. feed, clothe, and play with 4 kiddos (in process... LOL)
3. Laundry- ALWAYS
4. Dishes
5. set-up childcare for Monday's trip to Tampa

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Wow, let's see... I know I'd get a more accessible family vehicle and a truck for Mike.  I'd put some away to care for all my kids.  And there's so many people and organizations that I'd like to give to.  A few that are closest to my heart are: Reece's Rainbow, The Ronald McDonald House, and Give Kids The World.  Also, our local FEDS of Brevard, and DSACF.  There are so many other worthy causes and especially people that I would like to help out but I won't list them all on here :)

3 Bad Habits: 
1. PROCRASTINATOR!
2. I have "piles" of important paperwork, not files :)
3. I prefer to do laundry than to fold it.. and often times that means the kids clothes stay on the extra bed in the girls' room for a week!

5 places I have lived:
1. Winter Park, FL (born there)
2. Franklin, MA
3. Titusville, FL
4. Orlando, FL
That's all!

5 jobs that I have had:

1. babysitter

2. Nanny

3. waitress

4. teacher

5. children's minister

 

5 friends that I would like to learn more about:

ALL OF YOU!  If you have a blog, let me know if you're posting this meme!  If not, feel free to answerns these questio in the comments :)

2 days- know how I can tell?  Two of Brianna's cups :)  She uses one all day and it goes back to the fridge between.  She only drinks milk/pediasure so that works!  Too bad that doesn't work for baby formula ;)

Yes, they're dirty.  Someone jokingly said "you must do loads of dishes with just bottles" and quite simply, the answer is YES.  I was going to wait until I had them clean to take a pic, except that then inevitably they are being USED :)  So dirty it is...

 

I think there's about 30 bottles, 2 of Brianna's straw cups, 1 of Kristopher's sippy cups, and 2 kids cups without lids.  Then that container on the top rack would contain the 30 nipples.

As you can see, I like PAPER plates ;)  those containers in the back are for mixing 1/2 day of formula for each of the kids.  30 rings in the silverware basket along with the spoons used to make the bottles.  Can you tell we eat a lot of cereal?

First we saw the animals.  I was disappointed that a lot of exhibits were closed and there really wasn't a whole lot there :(  We spent about 1 1/2 hrs looking at animals then we'd seen them all!  Granted with my crew they didn't exactly linger for a whole long time, but still, there wasn't a lot there.  Also, it was difficult to get around.  The boardwalks were nice, but they about vibrated the kids in the strollers because the boards were so uneven.  Then where it wasn't a boardwalk it was mulch.  NOT good to push a stroller through either! 

All in all we had a nice time.  The part the kids ALL liked the best was the "water play" area at the front!  I looked it up online (thank goodness) so was prepared with extra clothes for everyone to go play :)  We spent another hour and a half just in there!  After that we drove home and all the little ones crashed