Cornish Adoption Journey

Anyone have experience with this?

2012-02-23T13:52:00.000-05:00

We're running in to some more closed doors as far as finding out if/what is going on with our oldest and newest child, Aleksa. There are tons of cues throughout EVERY day that suggest that she isn't hearing well. She won't respond when in a different room, even just 10 feet away from us, unless it is said VERY LOUDLY to her... and then we're still not sure she's hearing WHAT we're saying, just is taking a cue that us yelling to her with her name attached (she does respond well to her name) means that she should do something. She also can look at us while we tell her something that we know she understands, like "take your shoes off" and sometimes will do it (generally this is when it's inside of her realm of a routine), but just as often will sit and look at us with a confused look on her face. We can say it over and over, but until we LOOK at her shoes, sign "shoes off" or point to her shoes, something that physically signals what we're asking, she doesn't appear to hear what we're saying.

It's strange, because some days she may do exceptionally well with minimal amounts of physical signing, pointing, and direct hands-on prompting necessary. Other days, it seems she doesn't hear anything all day long. It's also difficult because she has VERY GOOD adaptive behavior. Imagine this scenario: You're 5 years old and someone drives you to a new "place to live" and drops you off with 80 other children all of whom are older than you (you used to be the oldest in your small group of kids you lived with) and many are as old as your previous caretakers. You quickly find that someone will physically punish you for not following "the crowd" and doing what everyone else is doing. So you figure out pretty quickly that when you see everyone going to do something that you, too, should go do it. You learn that when someone gives you a direction, even one you don't understand at all, that you look around and try to figure out what they're referring to, and if you can do something-- anything-- you try it. This was Aleksa's reality in the institution. You conform, figure out the routines, and if someone directs something at you, you try to figure out what they meant.

In new situations, though Aleksa will also frequently try to get away with whatever she can... she tends to try to figure out what wo't get her in trouble. She WANTS to understand. She LIKES to help. She will, when in a mood to do it, TRY to please at all cost. However she will also look at us and be obviously searching to try to figure out what we're saying... and be unable to even when it is a very simple direction that she knows how to do and was able to do a day or two prior...

So... everything points to hearing. Problem being, She has had an OAE that she failed. Then she failed the Tympanogram in an "unusual pattern" and the ENT asked if we wanted to try tubes in her ears. We said YES, if that could be the issue, let's take care of it by all means. She got tubes. Nothing has improved (and that was a month ago...). She also had an ABR done while she was sedated. The ABR showed "normal to low-normal hearing with her left being a little worse than her right". The doctor said that's fine, shouldn't be any big deal, and come back again in 6 weeks for another OAE and exam. We saw him this morning.

I asked his opinion of what he thinks her response, or lack of response more appropriately, was due to. I will share his answer, then I'll share what he appeared to be saying :). He said that it's probably just auditory processing and they can't test that in a nonverbal child, so there's nothing else we can do. What he's implied in the past and appeared to be saying this time as well was this: Your child is mentally retarded and can't process words because of it. She's not going to learn to, so why are you wasting your time?

I understand auditory processing. One of my siblings has issues with it and has had to overcome a lot to be able to do well in some areas, but as he went through school with this "learning disability" as it's termed, he also was in the gifted student program. Auditory processing has little to do with cognition or ability to think. It is a real and diagnosed processing difficulty that occurs in people of ALL levels of intelligence.

I'm not trying to pretend that Aleksa isn't severely delayed. I'll be the first to tell you that she is very delayed, and that she had no one really talk TO her or have expectations of her on any regular basis for 8 years of her life. She has not only a lot of baggage from past hurts and neglect, etc, but she also has a true lack of exposure. Could that be the reasoning?

Here's where we're struggling right now... we KNOW that Aleksa is very physically capable. She can dress and undress, toilet independently, eat with different utensils (maybe not super clean, but still...) and can "follow the crowd" really well when she's being properly motivated and understands that there is an authority person there. She knows how to play appropriately with some toys and does great with routines such as putting her clothes and night time diaper away in the trash and hamper in the morning, or coming to the table and waiting to pray, helping other kids to do simple tasks like putting toys away or going up or down a step (even though she herself isn't very stable most of the time...). We know that there are physical limitations that are just from a lack of exposure for so long, and cognitive and "higher order thinking" that are affected both by Ds and by her past. There shouldn't be significant language limitations at this point (14 months home) however we still use very BASIC terms with her when making requests so that we're sure that we are using words and terms that she understands, and very short sentences, etc.

We don't want to "pass this off" as just a behavior, an attention thing (sometimes it may be, but sometimes she is distraught at not getting it and really is TRYING to understand), or a lack of ability to comprehend unless we have looked at all the other possible causes that it could be. As far as auditory processing goes, she would have to have SEVERE issues with auditory processing to be having as much difficulty as she is with all of this! APD generally has ways to 'train' the brain to understand, and is often a first and last thing dropped, that sort of thing, not two or three words that someone simply cannot hear/understand/something...

Since it all is acting just like she can't hear... but her hearing tests appear to say that she CAN... what else could the problem be? She's so frustrated. As are we! She only mimics sounds/2 syllable rhythms (mama, bah bah (for bye bye), etc) when she has SEEN our face, or knows the social appropriateness since we've taught her (say "hi", say "bye" while having her look at our mouth and try to make the words). SOMETIMES she will mimic a 'random' sound. Not often.

There's so much more... but that's all for now. Would be very interested to hear what others have experienced in a similar matter... Thanks!

The after-bath lineup...

2012-02-20T19:55:00.001-05:00

Where everyone's diapers and pjs are out and waiting for little people to fill them! And even better... All our pull-up wearers now dress themselves completely, and our diapered crew just needs help getting their arms in!! We've all been working hard!

Organizing Life

2012-02-20T15:49:00.000-05:00

The last two weeks I've been slowly starting to feel better! YAY! I'm still not quite up to par, especially in the mornings and late at night, but hey, if I can have most of the day that's a pretty good start :).

Now that I'm feeling better, I'm looking around going YIKES! LOL! So many things I haven't done because I haven't had the energy or the time, but now need to be done! We've got a big project starting in the next few weeks, and we need to prepare the house for that to start. Right as that project is finishing, it will be SUMMERTIME! With summer means summertime activities, and for us it means starting up school activities at home too! On the tail end of summer will come the birth of our 9th child :). And when I write it that way, instead of being 22 weeks before the baby will be here (2 weeks early... scheduled c-section by necessity...), it feels like it will be more like 8! And of course after that is another 8 weeks of recovery that I have to think about beforehand. I know there's plenty more time, but I've realized that I need to get life a little more organized or I'll be going nuts pretty soon :)!

First off... our first project! We are very excited to be able to add a bedroom and a handicap bathroom on to our home! In actuality, we will be renovating an existing bedroom and changing it in to the handicap bathroom as well as a hallway, and the new construction will consist of a bedroom and a 'study' (no closet). We currently have 3 bedrooms that the kids share, and this will give us a 4th. It will also give both Wesley (and us!!) and Emma much more usability of the bathroom with a little more independence. Right now, Emma cannot get on or off of a toilet on her own. The new bathroom will have rails and our existing step to use for getting on and off the toilet. Showering Wesley can sometimes be a sport, and as he grows it will be even more of a blessing to have a roll-in shower with a very open design. We will be looking for a toileting system that can hold Wesley up on the toilet as well, since he can neither sit nor support himself on the toilet with his hands. We hope he may be able to have some degree of toilet training once that's even an option.

The thing I'm thinking Wesley will appreciate the most is a SINK that we can roll his wheelchair up to! Wesley has never been able to wash his hands in a sink unless he's being 'dangled' over it! We hope he will be able to access the sink from his wheelchair and actually WASH them for himself! I realize that sounds minor and petty, but in his world of dependence, every little bit of 'normalcy' and independence is a HUGE step forward! Construction begins early March and should be completed by mid-late May. We've been working through this concept for months now, and are so thankful it's all coming together now!

To prepare for the construction, we'll be losing a bedroom until it's complete, and we'll be losing a bathroom for some of the time (they will tie in to the plumbing in our existing bathroom so will have to tear it up, all the walls and flooring). Some of the kids will have a 'temporary' bedroom in our play room. Should be simple, right? Not exactly... We don't have any blinds in our playroom, and it's got HUGE floor to ceiling windows! In addition, we will have to disassemble two bunk beds (one is going to a different bedroom, the other relocating to the playroom), and a crib (toddler bed) to move them to the new locations. Not exactly a quick endeavor... but one that will be well worth it in the end!!

As the construction winds down, our summer planning will all be coming to a head! We've always "homeschooled" the kids during the summer after determining that the summer program at school (we did it once...) wasn't exactly going to help the kids since it was often new teachers, new classrooms, and possibly even a new school... This year we'll be doing more formal homeschooling (as formal as you can get in the summer and with 8 kids!) during June and July. More like what I do with Brianna on a regular basis... but x7 or 8! Kristopher doesn't need it nearly as much as the other kids, but inevitably we'll be doing activities for him as well :).

Throughout the summer months we'll also be prepping for our new little one to join us, and therefore prepping for the 8 weeks of recovery time after the c-section. It will be a little more interesting this time around since we now are blessed with a little man that happens to be completely immobile and total-care. It will mean more planning and more resourcefulness required on my part. I'm up for the challenge... :)

As August dawns, there are, of course, more things already in the works during my recovery time and for the months after as well... but for now I'm focusing on the construction and the summer! And the whole "spring cleaning" idea that really is necessary right now :).

A "Special Needs" Valentine's Day...

2012-02-14T16:10:00.000-05:00

I don't mean to be a downer on the day of celebration, but I'm afraid this is one of those posts. It's been a great day, a day not so out of the ordinary except that the kids are wearing clothes that might lean more toward reds and pinks than 'normal' and there was a party at school. Our younger two girls and our older son all enjoyed the parties, and the little girls came home and looked at the little cards, separated out the candies, and had a fun time at "Daddy Love Lunch" with their dad today!

But we have 5 more kids... Five kids whose needs are more significant than some and who have a totally different kind of day on Valentine's Day. It happens with other celebration days as well, but those generally have more educational or spiritual value than Valentine's Day, so there's some net worth in the difficulties they have to overcome.

For my 5 little ones with special needs that go to school today was an ordinary start to the day. As painstaking as it was for ME to have to write out 58 valentine's cards that said "To My friend From (Aleksa, Emma, Welsey, James, or Micah-- and I did Lynae and Brianna's as well)," The idea of having the kids participate in this activity would need to have been started weeks ago since none of the 5 can write a letter independently, much less entire names or words. So I filled out the cards to friends and I put them all in their backpacks, ready for the day.

The kids were dressed a little more in the lines of pinks and reds than any ordinary day, and of course we woke with "Happy Valentine's Day!"... but otherwise the day was much like any other before school.

Our kids have great teachers that truly DO start weeks in advance at times in preparing things like crafts for the kids to do, and I'm sure that the kids enjoyed school both today and in the days leading up. I'm sure they found it fun to pass out the little cards that I'd prepped for their day (presuming that the teachers had the students hand them out...). And they were truly excited when they saw that they had that same bag/box in their backpack when we got home today.

Then we sit down at the table and the day goes on... And this is where the scrooge of Valentine's Day in me comes out, I suppose. It's a time when I look at the things dumped out in front of each child. I quickly pull the candy out of Micah and James' bags since it is either hard or gummy, neither of which they can eat. Then I look on to Emma, Micah, and Aleksa's piles and notice the squished mini cupcakes with icing mushed in to a ziplock baggie. No name for who it's from, not idea what's in it. Those are the next to go. I believe most parents in their class would cook a great sweet treat for the kids. Others would likely try to poison them :). We just won't go there. Then we remove the pencils that have already become sticks to hit one another with, and the erasers that are quickly about to be mistaken for candy.

What Micah and James are left with is a pile of little folded papers with pictures on them and names scribbled on by hurried parents. Aleksa and Emma still have a mountain of candy along with their papers. Wesley's whole bounty is sitting there because he doesn't really care one way or another and I haven't needed to confiscate from him yet because of that. If they had their way, I'm sure the girls would have eaten every piece of food in front of them (and the erasers, and the packaging) if I'd let them, but we really don't let the kids have much sugar. Especially those that have attention and/or behavior issues...

So, I open one package of candy and spread it out among the kids that can have some. The rest goes to the refrigerator drawer to be eaten by hungry visitors and otherwise to wait to be purged again around Easter. The kids take one glance at the pile of cards and decide they're done. They left the table and I realized that not only are the little cards pretty useless, but all of the candy and food that they brought home from school will most likely go to waste. The idea of the holiday is wrapped around children that can eat without restrictions, that can read and recognize common characters and pictures, and who understand the idea of giving the cards to friends. My 5 children with Down syndrome have no ability to do any of those things.

It's almost like giving a 2 year old an adult bicycle without training wheels for Christmas. OOOOHHHH!! SO FUN! Then they realize all they can do is look at it, and the perspective changes to uuuuuuhhhhh..... not that!!!!!!!!!

My more involved special needs kids aren't disappointed. They don't realize that other kids can eat the candies, or can play with tiny toys, or that the little papers are supposed to be neat things from friends at school. They enjoyed the momentary time of getting and giving, then they came home and saw it... and are done. Their teachers made it fun

Yes, those that have the ability to eat the candy will eat a small amount over the next few days as appropriate. But otherwise, the idea of a "School Valentine's Day" is lost on them... and it's back to being just another day...

Now the kids are having a blast with the windows open in the playroom, swinging and playing with music on and dancing around... this is what a Special Needs Valentine's Day should be :). Regardless of whether it centers around hearts and candies and a naked baby armed with a bow and arrow... :)

A new way to follow...

2012-02-01T08:55:00.000-05:00

If you're interested in following along on our blog, but don't check in online all that often, you can put your email address in the "follow by email" box on the right side column and you'll receive posts by email. It sends them out several hours later, but hey... you don't have to come by the blog :)

New Month, New Beginnings...

2012-02-01T08:50:00.000-05:00

It's February 1st, a new month, and several new beginnings :).

On January 30th, my brother became a daddy for the first time! David and Erin had beautiful Sophia Harmony Pocock just before 11 after a quick labor and delivery. Michael and I are also an aunt and uncle for the first time!

This month is a month of birthdays in our house! Wesley will be 7, Kristopher will be 8, and Emma will be 9! Our new line-up will last from February until late July when the new baby is born... The kids will be 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 5, and 2!

The weather here has been BEAUTIFUL. It's been in the mid-70's for a few weeks. Great time for playing outside, leaving the windows open, and cleaning house.

And on that note, though I'm still nauseous pretty much all day every day... I am starting to get more energy as I get in to the second trimester! Time to make up for some of the stuff I've been really slacking on the last few months. In between being sick, I'm not falling over tired the last couple days. Things are looking up in that regard!

Several other things in the air that we've been working on as well, and I'm looking forward to a good month, a new and more productive month, and hopefully one filled with more energy... and maybe even waning off on the sickness :)

Sometimes

2012-01-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I write nothing, because if I wrote anything, there would be way too much to say.

Last week:
Wednesday: Pre-op for Aleksa's ear tubes/hearing test -- All looks well for surgery Friday
Thursday: Lynae pediatrician for ongoing runny nose and cough (since 12/2011!)-- Ended up with Rx for Albuterol 3-4x/day, Claratin for Children, Nasonex, and Singulair for the next 4 months... Appears to be allergies or Asthma.
Friday: Aleksa's ear tube surgery and ABR. Tubes went in, ears looked awful (??) and hearing test results still out. Then, evening Financial planning seminar in Orlando with the DSACF which was great, but a late night and made for a very long day!
Saturday: Horse therapy, attempted unsuccessful naps for children, wonderful friend brought dinner!, and Wesley's sleep study (Michael went with him).
Sunday: too many circumstances to describe, but missed church, moved 6 kids' bedrooms around, washed all the kids' sheets, then our fridge died and spent the evening fixing it... or rather watching Michael do that.

When I say it like that, it sounds boring. Somehow, it was NOT a boring week though!!! But if I go in to details, I'm thinking I'd be up all night....

The saga continues...

2012-01-25T16:13:00.000-05:00

When I'm asked what the most DIFFICULT part of parenting children with special needs is, I have a very simple response to that.

Dealing with getting appropriate healthcare and education!

Now, please don't mistake this for the DOCTORS, or the NURSES, or the TEACHERS or THERAPISTS! By all means, we have been blessed abundantly by those professionals that have worked directly with our children! No, instead I mean the insurance companies, people sending out paperwork (or rather, not sending it...) and the like.

Just today I received a large envelope in the mail for Wesley's sleep study happening this Saturday night. You know, 3 days from now. The first page says "IMPORTANT" in bold, capital letters and highlighted. Then it says "please begin filling out this sleep log 7 nights prior to your sleep study. This information is very important for us to accurately read the results of your study."

Now, let me think... what times did Wesley wake and what times was it another child over the last 4 nights? I HAVE NO IDEA! :).

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In similar news, last week when I took Wesley in for his GI appointment on Wednesday we learned that Wes has H. Pylori. This was in a way a relief, since it is a treatable condition and means that there is a potential that after he heals up from this, that he may have a better time of getting adequate nutrients and a better food intake in the near future. YAY!

Unfortunately, our doctor, pharmacy, and insurance company just can't seem to get along :). Ok, really, it's just the insurance company, but all the other parties have been very involved as well...

At first, we had a script for Prevacid Solutab (dissolving tablets) 15 mg tablets since the 2 antibiotics that Wesley is on will cause significant reflux if not simultaneously treated. We were told that there is no longer a generic of this med, so it may be a problem with insurance. Then we got a call that it was 'stuck' with insurance and would be delayed.

I called the pharmacy... they said it's because it's a prescription for Solutab tablets that insurance kicked it back. Since Wesley is over 5, he's expected to get a caplet and swallow it.

I can picture it now... I put the caplet in his mouth with something else and he either chews it up or he gags, chokes, or just immediately vomits. The goal would be for him not to chew it. The others don't sound as pleasant, though!

Ok, so call the insurance company and the nurse at the doctor's office. Also called our insurance liaison to ask her how to get this done. Our insurance company told us to write to their Utah office and they'd let us know in about 6 weeks whether it would be approved. Really? 6 WEEKS before he can be treated for an infection he has RIGHT NOW?

Our insurance liaison was given a fax number for more immediate concerns (though the nurse wasn't offered this option). Still, they said we'd need to pay for the medication and "wait and see" if it was going to be covered in the future.

I really don't mind paying for what we're supposed to pay for. Really I don't. But if we're NOT supposed to pay for something, I certainly don't want to pay for it! After all, this medication is about $100. Not a cheap one by any means. Eventually we found someone that has used the caplets and opened them up and mixed them in to applesauce or something similar, so we called our doctor and said PLEASE, just rewrite it for the caplets so we can get this show on the road and get the right meds for Wes!

Next thing I know, the doctor has said he'd like it to be compounded if insurance won't accept it as a Solutab... Now I'm waiting for it to be called in, a full week later, to a different pharmacy that will compound the medicine so that we can give it to him as a liquid!!

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I won't get in to the obstacles in the education system or difficulties therein right now. Medical is enough for one day :)

It's birthday time :)

2012-01-22T07:53:00.000-05:00

Today, it's my birthday :). I've sent the weekend with my mom and ladies from her church at a Women's Confence in Leesburg and had a nice time!

Today we head back home and I'm glad for that as well, though. I'm sure there's a little Kristopher that has been counting down the days for two weeks until Mommy is 30. Who would want to disappoint a 7 year old by not showing your face on your birthday?

I did, however, make it difficult on my Facebook friends... I posted this last night:
What? You can't write on my wall?? :). Maybe... I did it on purpose :). You see, every day that I sign on to Facebook I look to the column that has birthdays and if I have a minute, I send of a Happy Birthday shout out to friends. But then, when I go to check in and see how a friend is going three days after their birthday, and I haven't seen or heard from them in a week, I have to search through 50,000 birthday greetings back page after page to find out what they are up to and not just read the many (often wonderful and inspiring!) birthday posts. So, yes, I intentionally blocked my wall this weekend because yes, it's my birthday. And yes, I'm THIRTY! :). And no, I don't even mind :). But I'm not so fond of the 50 million individual birthday posts, so I took it in to my own hands. So mean of me :). Thank you to those who have already wished me a private happy birthday :) Sorry you felt left out that you couldn't post it on my wall :). I promise... It's not just you :)

As one of the conference leaders so aptly put it yesterday, "God's done quite a bit in your life already, can't wait to see what the next 30 nd more years hold!". I tend to agree. The last 6 years, especially, have been one blessing and trial after another, but what a wonderful road God has us on!

Here's what God has done in my life the last 30 years...

I was raised in a Christian home, and accepted Christ and made a life change to live for him just before my 15th birthday. Just less than a year later I began dating the kid that always bugged and picked on me through school. I thought it was so he'd leave me alone, but Gods plans were different. In August 2000, just weeks after our high school graduation, Michael proposed and we were married in July 2001. We had a plan for the next few years... Finish college, have a baby, buy a house, and start in our career fields, him working in the church and me taking care of our baby and working part time as life allowed. Then we wanted a second child, about 2 years apart. We knew we wanted more than that, but we stopped our life planning there.

Amazingly, we had heard God right on and our wedding, schooling, pregnancy that led to Kristopher's birth just 2 months after my own college graduation, and the birth of Brianna just 6 weeks shy of 2 years later were all right in line with our plans for life. We owned our house a car and mini van and Michael had also graduated just after Kristopher was born and worked at Park Avenue church.

Our planning must have stopped there for a reason, because God took it from there and made the magic that our family is today...

Brianna was diagnosed with Down syndrome at 8 weeks old. Then two days later we learned she had a major heart defect and needed open heart surgery. That same day a child that is like a courtesy nephew to us was dropped off on our door step for the next 5 weeks because his mother had nothing and no one, lived over and hour away, and was about to have another baby. He'd was 14 months old. We then struggled big time dealing with the diagnosis and fear for our newborn, a wild and undisciplined 14 month old that also liked to embed his jaws in to Kristopher's arms, and a happy little 25 month old Kristopherr whose world had now been rocked then rocked, then rocked in the last 2 months.

Brianna had open heart surgery then ended up with a g-tube all at 5 months old. She was in the hospital 3 hours away for 19 days and again our family was separated. Thank God for grandparents that kept Kristopher...

Through all the difficulties that her diagnosis brought, getting through the heart surgery was really the biggie. We loved Brianna for exactly who she was and is, and her diagnosis took some adjusting, but didn't scare us. When she was 18 months old we decided to adopt...

We traveled just after her second birthday and my sister filled in as mommy for a month while Michael and I went to Ukraine. We tried to adopt 5 year old Aleksa only to be told no because she was in a mental institution that couldn't understand our true intentions of wanting to parent her. Then we instead brought home Emma and Micah, two very different children than we had prepared our hearts and homes for.

At 6 weeks home Emma was diagnosed through heart catheterization as being terminal. She was given about 6 months and we were told to take her home and enjoy her. The roller coaster continued when the very next day after returning home Micah was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. His 5 day stay continued to shake our family and our world.

Much ensued during the mean time, but Emma had surgery for her tonsils and adenoids to have them removed in June of 2008, the hope and prayer that it would in some way help her to be able to have the heart surgery she desperately needed. 8 days later she came home in bad shape, and her heart surgery was scheduled, though it was explained to us that the likelihood of a successful heart repair was very very low and still would have many complications.

August 4th we said goodbye to our baby girl, just 5 1/2 years old and barely over 20 pounds who we had only just begun getting to know. On August 8th we took her home, happy, healed, and with a wonderful life outlook!!!

Since that day Emma's lungs have done what is medically not possible... They've begun to heal themselves from the years of damage that was caused by her major heart defect...

Just a few months later we learned that another baby would be entering our lives and in September 2009, Lynae was born. Michael went to Kenya for a mission trip over New Year's that year and while he was gone I discovered a little boy with Down syndrome on the Florida adoption website. With Michael's permission to inquire, we began the process of another private home study, 11 weeks of MAPP parenting classes through the state, and James' placement in our home in May 2010. That July God called Michael specifically to the face of another little boy in Ukraine, and we prepared to bring Wesley, a quadriplegic with unknown past and future, in to our family.

I traveled on a mission trip to Ukraine with a friend and was contacted in that time by a missionary. She didn't know it at the time, but she was the angel we had hoped and prayed for, but we didn't know the extent we would be blessed by it. We never knew what had happened
to little Aleksa, the girl we couldn't adopt 3 years earlier. Alla knew her and not only gave us news about her, but advocated to the director for us to be able to adopt her now. Thinking it was impossible because we hadn't filled out all the paperwork for two children, we quickly learned that God had prepared the way for us, with all of our paperwork including an application to US immigration where we had asked for approval for one child... Approving for two.

On September 17th we first heard from Alla and knew that Aleksa was still alive and well. Exactly three months later, on December 17th, I took Aleksa out of the institution gates for the very last time!!! Wesley joined us as well and came to me just 2 days later. We spent our first Christmas using Skype to see our family and came home on December 29th.

It's been one year since God added #7 and 8 to our family, and now we are expecting baby #9, planned to arrive on July 31st. Michael still works at Park Avenue, I still have worked part time as needed, but am home with our children. Our mini van is still around, but that little car turned in to a 15 passenger van and those plans we didn't make have been radically taken over by a living God that has blessed us more abundantly than we could have known to ask for!

Michael and I just celebrated 10 years of marriage, and I couldn't have dreamed up a better husband, lover, and friend. Who knew in junior high that the kid kicking my crutches out from under me would be the same gentleman that led me through 39 hours of labor; who cuddled our smelly, angry, 5 year old in a foreign country and brought her home to tenderly hold her hand, kiss her face, and stand together with me as we faced what we thought would be her death; who said "yes" as God called us to a full and busy house of children born to us and children gifted to us from God; who would still smile and share his excitement when I told him that baby #9 was on the way... Just a few hours after I returned from being overseas for 9 days; who loves me unconditionally, fathers our children with God's tender grace, and makes each day a new adventure that I love to embrace alongside him...

So I don't mind saying that I am thirty years old today, and I am not afraid of the idea of getting older :). I consider it a great joy to be able to share the testimony of what God has done in Michael and my life in the last 30 years and as was said to me yesterday... I can't wait to see what God has planned for the next 30 and more years! I won't be making any plans! As good as mine may be, God's are always so much better, even when it brings us through trials unimaginable to get there...

Women's conference time!

2012-01-21T19:27:00.001-05:00

And the men's restroom has been converted...

There's someone growing in there!

2012-01-18T19:33:00.001-05:00

This afternoon we had the first OB appointment for this pregnancy, which, yes, is really pretty late in the game :). But, that's how they do things now, so, we go with it. I'm almost 12 weeks along and baby is doing great. And YES, for those of you on the twins bandwagon, you can jump off it now because there is most certainly ONE baby :)

We were able to hear the heartbeat and had a quick ultrasound to take a peek. They only did one measurement (head) and it was just for kicks, but the baby measured almost a week ahead. That is pretty normal, and such an inaccurate measurement at this point that it really doesn't mean anything (except that the baby is growing well, since it wasn't measuring several weeks behind). It will also keep us from putting too much stock in the date that they scheduled our c-section (having had a natural birth-gone-bad then an emergency c and Lynae was then a planned cesarian, this one didn't need much discussion!). As it is, looks like baby #9 will grace os with his or her presence on or around July 31st! Lynae was born on the date. They scheduled for her when I was 8 weeks pregnant, so it's pretty likely that, barring a reason to come earlier or an emergency for someone else that needs to bump us, we will be having a baby that day!

Isn't that weird??? I thought it my entire pregnancy with Lynae too... So strange to not have a guessed on date like a due date that means give or take 2 weeks, but an actual date scheduled at the hospital already just over 6 months in advance...

The outlook from here as far as appointments and such goes, is that I will go back at about 15 weeks. We will have an ultrasound for health, measurements, and gender about 18 weeks. At 19 weeks we go back to the doctor, then see the high risk team for a level 2 ultrasound between 20-22 weeks (this is because of Brianna's heart condition and that Lynae also had a minor issue). At about 23 weeks back to the doctor and again at 27, then every 2 weeks until delivery! That means at least 11 more appointments within the next 6 months plus lab work and anything that 'comes up' unscheduled. Now to make that calendar and my kids' calendar match :)

Edited to add...
The doctors office must have sent us home with reading material for the next 6 months... At least 6 magazines, a pregnancy calendar, two booklet thingies about pregnancy, a bag, etc... I don't remember all that with baby number one and two, but I do with baby 3. Fun stuff :)

Name that random object...

2012-01-18T11:17:00.001-05:00

And no, I don't know the right answer!

I'm thinking a piece of a rocket, missile, or aircraft. None if which would be unusual to see in our town.

The story behind the picture is that the driver couldn't make the turn due to construction barriers on the inside of the shoulder underneath an overpass. I was pulled up at the light needing to take a left, but it was obviously blocking all traffic in every direction, so I got out and stood where the driver could see me in his mirror to show him how many inches he had before htting the guard rails. After 3 attempts he made the turn with an inch and a half or so to spare... That was my excitement for the day...

Anyone know what it is?

The Little Drummer Boy

2012-01-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

I was tuned in to a new blog in the past few weeks. It's not a blog that's "fun" to read, in fact, it's HARD. THe blog is of a mom and her son, a little boy with severe EB, which is a skin condition where any friction or pressure on the skin leaves large sores.

Little Tripp is just a few months older than our 2 year old, Lynae. A beautiful little boy with a smile that showed in his entire being.

And yet his body was always covered in bandages, his hands missing fingernails, his skin just peeling away.

This past week, Tripp went Home to Heaven! A day to celebrate, for sure, because he is no longer suffering in pain, the blindness that was caused from his condition over time, and the swelling that had overtaken his little insides...

This little guy is one of those babies where you say "thank God he is free from the suffering," and yet we wonder why God allowed it all in the first place.

Truly, a life like his, with SEVERE EB (there are lesser extents of EB as well where people live long and fulfilling lives with much fewer complications, though always a painful disease), is what I picture when people talk about kids with Down syndrome "suffering through life." Our kids don't suffer, but this little guy SURE did.

But then, I think... Did that make his life less worthwhile?

Not for a minute.

If you have a chance to look, go to his blog (posted below) and check out the 'video' tab. Click on each of the top two videos. He's a happy, playful, demanding, sweet 2 year old little boy!! And he has some great rhythm!! :). Those videos, if you couldn't see the scabs and sores, are the picture of absolute happiness! And for him, DESPITE the scabs and sores... he is delighted!

No, he didn't live a long life, and yes, there's no question that he suffered. But really, is there any reason that even a life of suffering is not a "worthwhile life??"

Our continued prayers go out to the entire family as they grieve the loss of little Tripp, even as they rejoice at his Homecoming. He was his momma's ENTIRE life.. her every moment was devoted to him, quite literally, and I imagine those empty spaces are going to be very difficult for her. Especially in these early days without him to fill her hours...

http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com

Poor kid...

2012-01-15T09:16:00.001-05:00

Micah has major sensory issues in several areas and one of those is with food. He won't eat anything that is dry. Dry cereal, dry bread, dry crackers, etc. He also doesn't chew well, though he does now know HOW to chew.

Today I decided that if I was making chocolate chip waffles, he was eating them!!

And this is his poor distraught face after devouring the entire bowl of cut up chocolate chip waffles... He enjoyed it!

Some Cornish randomness

2012-01-11T19:39:00.000-05:00

Lynae used to try to keep herself awake by crying... now she plays. No toys, no nothing, but she still plays. She is singing the ABC song (amazingly well except for LMNOP), counting her fingers, and making any and all attempts to engage her sisters. She's very successful.
Lynae has a new favorite toy. It's a Cabbage Patch Kid 'toddler' she got for Christmas. It came with a pacifier. This time last year she would bug me for her pacifier all day long. Now, she bugs me for her doll's pacifier.
Micah had no accidents throughout all of Christmas break- literally NONE at home- except for one where he stopped himself while we were at the doctor for an ear infection (and the doctor was checking his ear). He's been back in school for 3 days and had a BM accident (which he hasn't had in MONTHS at home) yesterday and today he wet. Hmm...
James decided today was the day to begin attempting to use the toilet. He went twice at school today! Now if he can start holding it between going... since he's been going in the toilet AND diaper at home for months... He just doesn't ever hold it between and doesn't generally go on the toilet at school.
Emma and Aleksa are doing well at school, but the old behaviors (before Christmas) are starting to slowly crop up already. Here's hoping they can be stopped before they get in full swing again...
Wesley is still not eating well. He ate a total of 16 oz all day yesterday. Not. Good. Today we got in 24 oz. Tube, here we come...
Kristopher is glad to be back in school and is enjoying it! He had karate yesterday and youth group today, which he hadn't been to in a month. Kris also made two new friends over break. They happen to live in the same house as one of my childhood friends did, just down the road. Kristopher has been riding his bike between their house and a friend across the street and enjoying his new found independence!
Brianna started back part time with home schooling a few days ago. She's asking to do the new computer based phonics program, though she needs a bit of help with it still. I think she's glad to be back to familiar routine a bit and having some more time 'alone' during the day when some of the other kids are at school. She and Lynae started back at KAD (mom's morning out) yesterday and both were SO excited to go! :)
As for me, morning sickness isn't in the morning. It is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so far for about 5 1/2 weeks. Maybe. ending. soon. I'm about 10 weeks now, and hoping to see a cessation in the next few weeks!

I decided to dream big

2012-01-06T11:33:00.000-05:00

In regards to my children's schooling next year... I've decided I want to dream big. What does ideal for each of them look like? What does ideal for our family as a whole look like? What is the combination of those two ideas put together? And what parts of that can translate in to reality?

What is the desired result?
What time constraints do we have?
What parts of life with 8 (or nine...) kids makes some things more or less realistic for us?
What therapies do we want each child to receive, and how does that work in the great plan of it all?
What financial resources are required to do each different part of it?
What physical resources are needed?
What type of man-power would be necessary to accomplish the goal?

And from there... We will see what kinds of changes may be coming for next year, if any.

We will have all of our kids out of pre-k and Lynae won't be starting for another year. We will also have a newborn... The school age kids will be kindy, kindy, first, first, third, third, and third. Kristopher and Brianna are the two on, over, or near grade level, and they will be first and third grade. It's a lot to think about, but it's well worth the time and consideration to know that we are being intentional about our children's education and plans for their futures!

**note to my kids' teachers... This doesn't mean we aren't happy with where they are, and we are not moving anyone this year :) We are simply looking forward and know they won't all be in the same situation next year and we want to be intentional about where they ARE :). We are VERY pleased with all of the teachers and aides this year!! I kind of wish we could just know that they would all be in the same situation next year, but inevitably they do get older and change is inevitable... :)

Yep, we are expecting :)

2012-01-06T11:16:00.000-05:00

Despite my discreet announcement, I keep getting questioning emails and messages that sound like someone's afraid they heard wrong... :). So... Here goes....

We are expecting a new Cornish to arrive in the end of July or beginning of August!

God began to reveal His plans while I was in Bulgaria just after Thanksgiving with some more confirmation while flying home (morning sickness kicked in big time in the Munich...) and confirmed after arrival back in the USA. We are excited about the addition of a new baby to our family!

I have had some significant morning sickness... More so that I've experienced with previous pregnancies even. It has made things a bit more difficult around here, but with each new season of life we adjust to what God has for us and make it work!

Your prayers are appreciated for health for our family including God's new little creation... And if you have any morning sickness remedies, feel free to share :)

And five days later...

2012-01-05T10:02:00.000-05:00

It has been such a great break from school! This longer than usual break for Christmas makes me dream of summer time and of not having to be on a school schedule! We started back part time homeschooling Brianna since she missed some days while I traveled after Thanksgiving. Now she and I are working on school during the other kids' break to make up for the missed days.

We have also been spending some time outside in this beautiful weather! It has been chilly but not cold until Tuesday. Then it got to be cold :). Even a Florida cold is still over 50 and a jacket can take care of that! Emma, Brianna, and Lynae have been learning new tricks like pedaling a tricycle or riding a scooter. James has been trying out more and more activities without too much prompting and is the most excited about the pre-bike that they got for Christmas. It's a bike. Made for toddlers to teach balance, but it doesn't have pedals to get in the way. Google it or check it out on YouTube to see some interesting videos of the things some little kids can do on them! So far no great success, but James really wants to try!

We just got two new helmets so ALL of the kids will now have their own. In the last year we've been sharing them and resizing and driving ourselves nuts :). Now they can all have one and we can. Just play!

Brianna turned six on Tuesday and on Monday evening we had a few family members over to celebrate her! She enjoyed it and has carried around a card shaped like the number six for the last two days. She even slept with it last night! We ask her how old she is and she says "five". Then we say, "no, you had your birthday, now you're six!" and she says "I'm six!". Then we say again... "so, how old are you?" and her answer is always the same. "Five."

Yesterday we had a BUSY day! We got up earlier than our winter break days have been and got going right away. Michael and I and six of the kids headed down 45 minutes drive to a doctor visit at the ENT for all six of them. Here's what happened with each:

Aleksa: failed OAE (hearing test). Failed tympanogram (tests the ear drum function). One side indicated fluid or possible fluid. The other was 'unusual' and not fluid but still failed. She will be having a sedated ex am and possibly getting tubes during that procedure.

Emma: failed the OAE in one ear, passed the tymp. She goes back in 4-6 months just to recheck.

Wesley: he isn't there for hearing, he's there for possibked sleep apnea issues discovered after his surgery in April. We are going to do a sleep study just to be sure whethr something's going on or not. That's being scheduled...

Brianna: passed hearing, ears are clear though she still has a small hole in one ear drum from previous tubes that didn't heal up after the tube came out. That's been there for almost a year. The doctor mentioned a poor eustation tube function to Michael after I had to leave. Not sure what he meant by that if her OAE and tymp were both fine... But she gos back in 4 months...

James: no issues! He hasn't had much sickness at all since August except strep when the whole family had it! No ear infections, no issues... He goes back in 6 months just to recheck but... Yay!

Micah: though he just got over an ear infection, his tubes still look good and aren't clogged up even from the drainage. He shouldn't get so many ear infections, but he already has tubes so what else can you do? He go back in 6 months.

All together not so bad. One sedated exam and one sleep study in the works of being scheduled.

I had to run out before the appointments were finished because despite our 9 am ENT appointments, I also had an appointment that was equally as difficult to schedule for Wesley to have his EDG scope done at the hospital an hour from there. We were supposed to be there for registration at 11 am... So I should leave the ENT at 10. I stayed until 1030 because Mike was just finishing up with the last child that needed a hearing test at that point and only needed to talk to the doctor a second time about two of the kids. I managed to do all six kids' first round (while Mike kept the rest of the kids then began cycling through with the audiologist with those that needed hearing tests). And I did the second visit with Aleksa after her hearing test.

Then, I drove to the hospital and was glad not to hit traffic! I got there at 1130 and they weren't busy so it worked out just fine! His procedure wasn't scheduled until 1 and we went right through registration, met with the anesthesiologist and the doctor and got him all ready to go back. They gave him a pre med since he was fussing every time anyone came in to the room to talk... He doesn't love doctors... He was almost asleep except for his occasional giggles when they did come to take him back to the OR.

An EGD is an Endo-gastro-duodenal scope. Basically goes through the throat, stomach, and into the bottom of the stomach area to look at everything. This was done because he still is having a hard time getting in enough calories in a day to gain weight. In the last year he has gained only 3 pounds, which puts him weighing 3 pounds more than our tiny 2 year old. Wesley will be 6 next month. We switched to an all liquid diet with him in the summ because he was losing or barely maintaining weight on a regular food diet. This is why he is so small to start with, because in Ukraine he was given whatever he ate in whatever time they decided to feed him in, and then when they were done, he was done too even if he didn't eat it all. We of course would sit there for him to eat it all, but sometimes that would take 2 hours! When we went to a Pediasure diet he began gaining veery slowly. We have also done an all blended diet, but he goes back and forth between refusing the blended and refusing the Pediasure.

On top of all of that, Wesley loves to EAT. He gets mad when he's given a drink and we are all eating. If he finishes the drink, we will offer him some food, but often he won't drink and it becomes a meal of battles. We tend to have cycles of this, but it is wearing for him and us to do. We don't want to fight with him to drink three meals a day every day! And, we wan thim to be ab le to enjoy meal time, not to suffer through it...

The scope was all normal, which is good and bad :). If there was something like evident h pylori or something like that, then maybe there would be a way for him to gain on a different diet after treatment. Of course you never hope for parasites, but at least they do have a cure... As it is, it looks like we are probably looking at getting a g-tube in the next few months. That way we can tube feed him the required liquid calories when it's not meal time, and let him eat some real food with us when we are all sitting down to eat. Yes, we have tried giving the Pediasure between meals like this... He fights us on it and then ends up spending HOURS at the table, both getting his Pediasure and when we are all eating. He also ends up not drinking the pedasure most of the the time and we have to I've it back to hum at meal time instead of food again anyway since he has to have the calories...

So... Yesterday was a long day, leaving the house at 8 and getting back home at almost 5pm after seven doctor visits and 3 hours of driving between them.

Today is a lazy day at home! No school until Monday and a beautiful Florida winter day with a high of 65... Time for bike riding and scooters and sidewalk chalk with a picnic lunch outside :). Then cozy naps and an afternoon with four kids' speech/feeding therapy sessions...

If you don't have time to read the entire year in review...

2012-01-01T15:13:00.002-05:00

You might want to skip right on down to December in the previous post :)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T15:06:00.000-05:00

From the Cornish family to yours, we wish you the best in 2012! May our God of Peace, Restoration, Healing, and Blessing be alive and well in your heart, home, and family and you find new depths within His goodness and mercy this year!

For us 2011 brought a new beginning with our family of 10! We welcomed Wesley and Aleksa home as 2010 rang out, and 2011 has been a year of growth in size, health, and development for all of our children, but especially our two newest additions. It brought a lot of firsts for James as well, who also joined us in 2010!

In January we brought in ther year with Brianna's 5th birthday and 40+ doctor and therapist visits between the eight children. Well visits for four kids, new specialist appointments for Wesley and Aleksa, ongoing therapy visits for James and Micah, heart issues with Lynae, anemia issues with Lynae and Brianna and a scare that led toward research on possible inherited anemia. Thankfully the last scare was just that and the girls are both just fine!

February was brought in with Wesley's 6th birthday followed by Emma's 8th birthday and Kristopher's 7th birthday! In the midst of that was also 3 years since our adoption of Emma and Micah! We had a great visit with Lyndi and family for a nice long weekend, and we went from two to six glasses-wearers amongst the kids! We also began orthopedic appointments for Wesley and looked toward scheduling his tendon lengthening surgery in the near future as well as a plan to attempt to relocate both of his hips. In February I took some time for me and participated in a women's Bible study at our church with the support of a wonderful church staff that worked with us to let our babysitter have Wesley and Aleksa in the church nursery so they would be close by and I could still attend the study. Mike and I also took a 20 hour reprieve and got a great deal on a one night stay at a fancy Orlando hotel. A last minute set up with babysitters worked out great, and after a busy four months leading up to that day, we took the time to refresh ourselves and enjoy some time alone. We are very grateful to have a support system that allowed us to do that! We also said GOODBYE! to bottles for both James and Micah in February! It took more work for James, but after a long weekend without a bottle and ALL of the bottles gone... they were both on sippy cups!

March was a fun and busy month! Our first vacation as a family of ten was a 22 hour drive to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for my sister Elizabeth's wedding! I was honored to be her attendant and we brought along a great sitter, Aimee, to help Michael with the kids while I was with my sister. We all had a great time visiting with extended family, meeting Elizabeth's new friends, and changing op our not yet established routine :). James, Brianna, and I also made our way over to Busch Gardens in March to meet up with James' foster mom and sister and the sister's new baby! It was so fun to spend the day with them and see James taking in the idea of both his 'mamas' in one place. He was in heaven! He liked the baby pretty well too and was glad to see Megan!

April was a long month with little sleep and much frustration. It began with a week in the hospital for Wesley's surgery and the news that his hips could not be relocated--ever. He wouldn't be able to stand or walk and likely would have pain later in life, but there was nothing we could do about it... If only we'd gotten to him sooner... That was the only thing the surgeon could tell us. Then home we went with Wesley in a Spica cast that went from his armpits to his knees with just a cutout for his diaper. In this contraption he needed constant attention day and night and cried every 20-30 minutes all night long needing to be repositioned. That didn't stop us from having a wonderful Easter with our growing family and enjoying the time together... Groggy as we were.

May brought hope with the removal of the Spica cast, the end of school, the beginning of summer, wonderful help from a new babysitter, and a renewal of sleep! We also had 4 or 5 IEP meetings in May in preparation for the new year, some of which were easier than others. It was the beginning of the end of Brianna's public school career, but we had a whole summer to go before we needed to worry on it. Brianna, Lynae, and I also took a quick weekend trip up to see Elizabeth again in Philadelphia! It was a nice girls' weekend while her husband was away and we enjoyed seeing her inlaws' horses as well as a train ride through Amish areas and just hanging out together!

June was great! It started off with Kristopher going to our church summer program, Summer CHAOS! We had fun adventures as a family to the science center and the zoo, we got in the swimming pool a bunch and enjoyed the warm weather and free schedule! Michael turned 30 at the end of the month and we celebrated with a game night with some friends. We ended June with a slew of tests to find out if we could pin down the GI issues James was having... Which all checked out fine so no causes were found.

July was HOT! We continued to enjoy the zoo and science center, our babysitter joining us for some excursions, and swimming, playing, and relaxing! In the middle of the month Michael and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and did so with a weekend get-away to Orlando! Something we weren't sure we could pull off until it happened, we were glad for not just a run away refresh, but real time to enjoy each other and spend some time enjoying Orlando together. We spent two days at Universal Studios then saw LaNouba at Downtown Disney. It was a great way to celebrate ten years together and a lot of fun as well!

August ends our summer break, but it brought great things as well! We took James off of Pediasure to see what would happen to his hyperactivity levels and were amazed that his 2-3x/day spitting up episodes disappeared overnight! After a visit with GI, a Casein allergy was determined to be the cause. James turned 5 just a week and a half later and rang in his 5th year as his healthiest beginning in quite some time. School started just before his birthday and everyone was off to a good start. Kristopher, Aleksa, and Emma began 2nd grade, Wesley and Brianna started Kindergarten, and James and Micah began their k4 year. A bit of a rough start for Aleksa as we figured out classrooms, but she and Wesley began on a 3 day/week schedule and both acclimated to the classroom slowly.

September first was the anniversary of James' adoption! It was also the end of school for Brianna when the idea of a split schedule between inclusion and special Ed just wasn't to her benefit, and she began homeschooling and attending our church Kids'Adventure Days program with all typical peers 2 mornings a week along with Lynae (in different classes of course). September brought Lynae's 2nd birthday and Micah's 5th birthday, just one day apart! It was also the beginning of softball season for the church league which meant Friday nights at the ball field with all the kids to watch him play! Michael and Kristopher took a get-away weekend this month and spent two days at Sea World and the Mosi museum in Tampa. A "big guy" get-away for some special time with Daddy and Son, it was a lot of fun and an event to repeat again soon. Kristopher also started taking Karate lessons this month!

October came in with a four day trip of Michael's for work and my first time on my own for a few days with ALL of the kids. Everything went fine and we enjoyed the different schedule even though we missed having Michael around. Aleksa celebrated her first birthday at home and turned 9 in the middle of the month. The month ended with the annual Pumptober Fest at our church and our crew all dressing up as the "things" from Dr. Seuss. We had Thing 1-8, then the "Mother of all Things", "Father of all Things", and aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends that all turned out to enjoy the festival together! We even won part of the costume contest :).

November was a busy month! It had great times and disappointments. A funeral for young friend and a first round of Botox for Wesley both happened in one day, followed by a trip to Tampa to meet a little boy who needed a family. We weren't meant to be that family, and that was clear, but there was some heartbreak in it as well. We began horseback riding lessons for Kristopher an "therapeutic riding" for our other 7 (including Lynae :) ). We all started the month off sick, and ended it with our first Thanksgiving at home with just the ten of us for lunch, then a visit to my parents' house to see family afterward. The day after Thanksgiving I left to meet Shelley Bedford enroute to Bulgaria! We were going to bring home her newest daughter, Annikah!

December was short, but exciting as well. I started it out in Bulgaria and came home just a few days in to the month. Then it was tree trimming, gift shopping, Jesus talking, celebrating, playing, and more celebrating! We had a little something extra to celebrate, as we learned we will be welcoming in a new Cornish at the end of July/early August of 2012! in addition to some jet lag at the beginning of the month and a nasty sinus infection I brought home from Bulgaria, morning sickness had set in while I was flying home with Shelley, and that made for a bit of a rough month for me! We are so very thankful that Michael had almost two weeks off of work at the end of the year and the family time we have had together has been wonderful! It has also been great having him home while I haven't been feeling well.

Christmas Eve with Michael's Parents!

After Christmas Eve Church Services!

Cookies for Santa...

Sprinkling Reindeer food around the yard!

Christmas Morning at Home!

Christmas afternoon with Meredith's Family!

We are looking forward to a great 2012 and are so thankful for the joys and trials that 2011 has brought! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

One Year Home!!

2011-12-29T16:22:00.000-05:00

Today we celebrate one year wince Wesley, Aleksa, Chris Harm, and I landed in the USA and Aleksa and Wesley became American citizens!!

It also marks one year since the impossible happened. The adoption journey that began in early September 2007 for a brown haired little 5 year old girl finally came to a close with her sleeping in her own bed.

Three years, three months, and about 27 days.

God is never a minute late, and what a wonderful joy it is to be part of His plans!!

This is also a wonderful reminder to me that whenever we wonder because God's plans and ours don't match up, His are always best, and often times our best ideas are nothing in comparison to God's best for us!!

Un-decorating

2011-12-28T19:41:00.000-05:00

Eventually I'll get pictures posted here of our Christmas! Eventually...

However for now, let's talk UNdecorating...

When do you un-decorate your house from Christmas? Is it Christmas Day? The week after? New Year's time period? Or do you wait until mid or late January or even February even? How about your house lights outside? Are they still shining and will they continue on until February as well?

Growing up we usually decorated for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving and un-decorated over New Year's holiday. We've somewhat kept to that tradition here, however our tree tends to go up a little later simply because we've had things going on over Thanksgiving the last couple years. Over the last 4 years we've left the outside lights up and decorations displayed TWICE until February! Those were years where we had a lot going on and it just wasn't a priority to get it all down.

Last year during the un-decorating process we quickly took everything off the tree and ended up tossing it (quite literally) all in a rubbermaid bin. It then was transferred to another bin (that had a lid) and was put in the attic. NOTHING was wrapped up. The glass ornaments, thankfully, didn't break, but that's not a wager I'd like to take every year.

What simple and quick ways do you save those holiday breakables so that they survive until the next year without hunting down each individual box for the ornament and putting it neatly back in the styrofoam packaging? Are those "ornament boxes" with 54 spaces for glass ornaments really worth the $20 they sell for?

It's almost time to un-decorate...

Merry Christmas from the Cornish Family!

2011-12-24T20:47:00.001-05:00

Hungry, Hungry Hippos!

2011-12-23T12:49:00.001-05:00

Each year we have done a very small gift exchange between the kids. Most of the time… Kristopher buys a gift for the other kids and Brianna buys one for Kris. For us, that works. K enjoys shopping and picking out things and it’s a great way to get him in the GIVING mood!

This year we did it just a little different… we did let K shop for the other kids, but instead of $5 (or less) gifts for each child, he wanted to get a few things for all the kids to share. I gave him a budget and he picked three things for the kids. 1) a movie pack with 7 or 8 classic Christmas movies. 2) Hungry Hungry Hippos game. 3) a small playdough set with number stencils.

We let him wrap up the gifts and he gave them to everyone today rather than in the busyness of Christmas morning. Then… the kids all got in on the Hungry Hippo game! Everyone except Wesley can play easily (and we’ll get a game going on his wheelchair tray another time and help him play too).

Aleksa was too distracted to actually play, and some of the time Lynae and Kristopher were helping the other kids to press their buttons, but they all sat, played, ate the marbles, put them back in the middle, and LOVED it! :)

Check!

2011-12-23T00:04:00.002-05:00

Shopping done? Check!
Gifts de-zip tied and unscrewed from packaging? Check!
Batteries loaded? Check!
Gifts wrapped? Check!

Tonight my sister, brother in law, and friend joined us for a sorry excuse for a party and helped us do everything but shop. Assemble, disassemble, wrap and label. Our only incentiveds were food, which I guess worked ok sincethey showed up and worked :). It only took about 2 hours with the five of us working and we all had a blast just hanging out, talking, and of course playing with the kids' Christmas toys before they can :)!

Then... We hung out for another two and a half hours talking and eating and just enjoying the time to spend together.

The kids had a fun and special night tonight as well, because my parents invited "anyone that would want to watch a movie" to come over for a movie, popcorn, hot chocolate, and time with their grandparents. We did keep two of the kids home because quite simply they wouldn't have enjoyed sitting and watching a movie and would likely have made it a more stressful event. They had a little extra time with mom and dad (and won't care that they saw the gifts before Christmas... Lol). Everyone had a fun time watching Polar Express and came home in PJs and ready for bed (while the adults covered the toys and wrapped presents with a sheet and acted like nothing special was going on...) when they got home.

THANK YOU to my parents, to Elizabeth and Jim, and to Heidi for all your help making tonight both special and productive! Who knew getting work done could also be so much fun?

A midnight review

2011-12-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

It's been a nice, but long, day! Our first day of Christmas break :).

This morning the kids were up at an awful hour... you know, one similar to the hours we have to keep when they go to school? At 6ish I got Lynae some medicine and went back to bed, then by 6:30 or so Michael went in to separate out the girls because they were getting wild.

By 7 I think everyone was up and by 7:30 so were we!

Breakfast, medicines, hair, teeth, toileting, clothing, and play time followed.

Lunch seemed much too close to breakfast, but even so we didn't eat until 12:30. At the end of lunch Mike was going to go lay down but instead was told of a problem at work and headed to the office with Kristopher. Today was his first day off too. He hasn't felt great the last few days and was really looking forward to that nap, so at 2 or so when he did get home he went and laid down. I didn't see him again until 5!

The kids had rest time then we attempted to entertain ourselves without opening up the play room since it runs along the back of the house including where the master bedroom is located. The kids were hyper and not exactly thrilled without having their room to run, but we all survived.

At 5 Michael emerged, I got dinner going, and by 6 or so we were all sitting down and eating. A late dinner after a lateish lunch led to a later time of putting on pajamas and getting to bed. By 7:45 or so all the little ones had been diapered, changed, medicated, teeth brushed, and tucked in to bed. Kristopher and Michael played a computer game until 8:30, an extra special (late!) treat for Kristopher.

I laid down before Kris ever went to bed, however that wasn't meant to be the end of my day...

Before I could fall asleep...

One of the kids was rocking. Mike went to investigate, didn't discover a culprit, came back to bed.
I got up to get a drink.
While I was up Kristopher cried. I went to ask him what's wrong to which he answered "nothing" and went back to sleep.
Before I got back to bed Lynae started coughing. I went to her, gave her a little drink and a small dose of med and thought I'd go to bed.
Kristopher started crying again. This time I insisted he get up and go to the bathroom... just in case it would help. He did. I guess it did. Haven't heard from him again.
Then I checked on the little boys and found James sprawled out on his belly on the carpet... next to his bed. I picked him up and put him back on his bed then closed the door...
I went back to bed. Yay! Time to sleep. Curled up on my body pillow, stole the sheet and blanket back from Michael and...
Lynae started coughing again. So, I got up again, found the Vicks Baby Rub and went to slather her feet and chest (no idea why the feet, but hey, it can't hurt, right?).
While in with Lynae, a pungent odor permeated my nose. It either wasn't there last trip through the bedroom or I was too focused on the coughing to notice. Either way, Gross.
Emma had pooped. Got her up, cleaned her up, slathered her in better-smelling diaper cream and shipped her back off to bed and I left the room once again.
Then as I thought I was done for the night, Lynae coughed some more. I went back in AGAIN, got her propped up on a second pillow, retrieved the now-empty sippy cup that she'd had Pedialyte in, and once again left the room.
Quiet... quiet... THUD. THUD. THUD.
Emma is trying to get comfy and she uses her FEET to push herself around on her back. She was kicking the wall. So... back in to the girls' room to move Emma's feet from against the wall.
Maybe, just maybe, now I can go to bed and stay there? After all, it IS midnight... and chances are pretty good that though the kids went to bed almost an hour later than they normally do, they won't sleep in that extra hour in the morning!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

2011-12-21T15:09:00.001-05:00

Here are all the kids with their Santa hats on in front of the tree, before it was decorated :)

A day or two later we trimmed the tree!

Then we sat down at the table an put out our Little People Nativity and told the story of Jesus’ birth.

And finished the evening up with some homemade Christmas cookies (can I call it that if they came from a bag and I mixed and baked it? LOL)

(Wes feeding himself his cookie!)

This past weekend we had Michael’s aunts and uncle and cousins over and his grandmother for a Christmas celebration. Pictures are mostly of… food :)

Mike’s cousin’s daughter

Micah eating with a FORK off of a PLATE! An unusual sight :)

All 8 kids with Great- Gram!

Kristopher made a great Ginger Bread house at school!

Micah didn’t love the short days at school where there wasn’t a nap time! Brianna sat and rubbed his back while he crashed out on the couch!

And now, the house is decorated (these are all the kids’ crafts from the last week of school… in duplicate (the two boys) and triplicate (the two older girls and Wesley!)

Reading a book to Frosty and the Advent calendar

Kitchen decorations

Lace with a winter scene of one of the churches from Bulgaria and a snowman that Kristopher made a few years ago

Our nativity set that the kids constantly play with and rearrange :)

Our Christmas tree- finally decorated!

More decorations!

Santa’s watching…

Some decorations are more fun to play with…

Christmas hats, waiting for another moment to get them all out and play (it’s too HOT here! 78 today!)

Dear Santa,

2011-12-13T19:59:00.000-05:00

Oh yes, SANTA is a part of Christmas at our house. After all, Santa is the one that is so excited about Jesus' birth that he wants to give EVERYONE a gift that day!

Today Kristopher helped me write a "family letter" to Santa. The experience went something like this:

Me: Kristopher, how should we start a letter?
K: "Dear Santa..."
M: Ok, then what do you want to say?
K: "I want a...."
M: Um, isn't that a bit early? Shouldn't you talk to Santa before you jump to the "I want?"
K: Right, ok. "Did you have a nice year? Are you ready for Chrismtas? I want..."
M: Wait, this isn't about "I want.." What else do you write in a letter? Something about yourself maybe?
K: Right. "We had a great year this year! Last year mommy was in Ukraine adopting my brother and sister, Wesley (COMMA) and Aleksa. This year we are all at home." Is that enough talking?
M: Yes, I suppose so. Now you can ask for a gift...
K: "Kristopher would like a remote control robotic dinosaur skeleton with a frog that it can eat and you can see the inside from outside of it and..."
M: Wow, that's intricate. Have you seen this somewhere?
K: No, I just made it up. Sounds neat, right?
M: Yes, it does. What is your favorite toy that you already have that you play with?
K: My gooey animals (*note from me, these are gooey type of plastic sand-filled creatures that are wiggly and about 6-9" long, a lizard, snake, turtle, and I think he has a dinosaur... sold at WalMart and Target for $2-5 and a big hit around here)
M: Ok, so what things do you play with the most?
K: Stuff I can make things with
M: So, why don't you ask Santa for something that you'd like the most, that fits with some of the favorite things you have, but is different?
K: YES! Ok, change it then... "For Christmas, Kristopher wants something gooey and slimy and fun, and maybe a dinosaur that can eat them. Aleksa, Emma, Wesley, Brianna, James, Micah, and Lynae would like a fun toy that talks or makes noise." Then, Mom, we have to tell him thanks. "Thank you for celebrating Jesus' birthday by giving gifts to all the children!"
M: "Love, The Cornish Family?"
K: Yep, now, hit "send"

** If only the little boy knew that Photoshop (which I used to make the letter) doesn't just "send" :) I guess we're emailing Santa this year!

*** The slight prompting has likely helped Santa, who has already had the elves hard at work finding perfect toys for all the little boys and girls in the Cornish household. The "maybe" might just become a 'no' for the dreamed up dinosaur though!!

The good thing about foot orthotics

2011-12-13T19:40:00.000-05:00

Is that you don't have to bring the child shoe shopping. Just the inserts/AFOs/ SMOs/ etc :)!!

When you're sick

2011-12-10T14:49:00.002-05:00

When you're sick and don't have kids, you sleep all day.

When you're sick and have one or two kids, you call hubby to come help.

When you're sick and you have three or four kids, you call in grandma to take over.

When you're sick and you have eight kids, you clean the living room and get out the Christmas decorations while hubby changes the overdue oil in the vans... :)

Attachment

2011-12-06T16:19:00.000-05:00

On November 27th 2010 we finalized Aleksa's adoption in Ukraine. On December 2nd 2010 we finalized Wesley's. It's been a YEAR since they first became Cornishes!!

We are so blessed to have them both, and in just a few weeks we will celebrate a year since we all came home! (December 29th!).

Since I just was gone for 9 days, we're revisiting some of the attachment issues that we've battled with Aleksa since day one. Here's a little info and history...

Attachment is something that most babies naturally form. They learn their mother's and father's voices in the womb and they learn very quickly that those significant people will provide for their needs, answer their cries, and hold and love on them. Babies look in to their parents' eyes and will maintain eye contact, which is a 'language' of love...

Several of our children (those born in Ukraine) were institutionalized and put in to orphanages at birth. They didn't have that connection with any caretaker. They had a constant influx of workers, daytime, night time, weekend, and other shift workers that came through. They spent their time in their beds, not in their parents' arms. They had no one to make eye contact with. One of the reasons their eyesight didn't likely develop correctly for some of them is because they didn't even have anything to even focus on as a baby.

As a toddler, Emma was still confined to her bed, isolated from other people, and without human contact for the most part. She had no one that talked to her, no one that interacted with her aside from meeting some of her basic needs. I admit I wonder every so often what Emma would be like if she'd been able to join our family earlier, or get her heart fixed (she then had strokes as a toddler because of her unrepaired heart)... We love Emma exactly how she is, and are BLESSED to have her as our daughter. In almost 4 years in our home, Emma has so dramatically changed!! She went from not wanting to be touched or held, unable to be comforted, to greeting familiar adults with a hug and a smile...

Aleksa had a totally different upbringing which physically was much better than Emma's. She stayed in a crib for quite some time, I'm sure, however once she was up and mobile, she was in a group with other children, both those with special needs and typically developing children. She lived in that environment until she was 5 years old. There she played, went outside, had caretakers that, though they may not 'like' her, they took care of her. We were told she wasn't one of the favorites at the orphanage... which meant that she was dealt with sternly, wasn't loved on or hugged on, and was often 'set aside'.

After Aleksa left the orphanage at 5 years old, she went to a mental institution. This facility housed girls and women from 5 years old to 35 years old. At the time that we adopted Aleksa, there were 83 girls there. Though the sleeping quarters were separated into three levels, the 19-35 year olds on the top floor and the younger girls on the other two, the rest of the time we saw the girls all together in a large group. They have a playground, however it was obvious when we took Aleksa out to play on it that she rarely played there. She couldn't sit independently on a swing, couldn't climb a ladder to go down the slide, couldn't get on the see saws, and tended to stand by the small fence surrounding it and watch... even though we were the only ones out there. Then, she would turn and run away as often as possible.

When the girls were all out there, they lined the benches under an overhang and had tables pushed up against them. They sat and moaned and rocked, screaming, throwing their arms around, and in general just living in their own little worlds...

That is what Aleksa's reality was, 365 days a year, for three long years.

Aleksa didn't learn to love. She didn't learn to accept affection. She didn't ever make eye contact with people. She never received or gave hugs.

Instead she screamed. She ran. She pulled hair. She spit. She used urination as a control factor. She stole.

She did all sorts of things that are 100% survival, and that are 100% normal for an orphan.

But now she has a family. One that loves her. One that has expectations of her. One that shows affection to her. One that wants to teach her. Wants to help her. Wants to be a part of her life. A family that wants to be there forever for her, and wants her to let us in.

During my trip to Bulgaria, Aleksa was with familiar people. People that may give her a hug, tell her hello, smile at her, and both guide her and discipline her.

When I came home, Mommy came back. Not just a familiar person or a family member, but... Mom. Someone that wants to hug her, love on her, sit with her, cuddle her, and someone that she wants to keep as far away as possible.

WHY???

Well, because then she's safe. She's safe to be with people that love her, but aren't promising to love her forever. She's safe when she keeps people at a distance and does things on her own terms. YES, her Daddy was here. However kids with attachment issues generally distance themselves from the primary caretaker, which is usually Mom.

When I came home, she was great the first morning. It was Sunday she sat snuggled against me through church, dancing during the worship songs, holding my hands, and following along when I signed some of the songs with her during worship. She was SO GOOD, so much of a 'nnatural' interaction with me, ad so very well behaved.

Then... she pulled her hair down while we were driving home and when she was told no as she got out of the car (sternly) and had her hair put back up, she then peed in the driveway. Yikes. Back to the control issues...

Sunday the rest of the day we spent with a battle of the wills. She messed with her hair, she went to time out, she took the other kids' toys, she went to time out. She picked on others, she got a time out. She eventually was given a "safe spot" to play (on the couch with some toys, but not allowed off of it) so that she could go for more than 10 minutes before being returned to time out.

Monday she went to school. She had an on and off day at school. Lots of red faces for different activities on her daily sheet, though lots of green ones too. A "good" day we'll have all greens, or maybe one or two reds. This wasn't a good day. Then on our way home we stopped at the church, which is just a mile from the school, to pick my computer up from Michael. When we stopped, she'd already pulled her hair down. In case you didn't notice, her hair is her "control switch." It is what she uses to determine that she's going to do as she pleases. If her hair is left down all day ~~she looks like a rag doll orphan~~ then she may not use it for control. That's not an option most days. So it goes up, at least most of the time. Then, she determines that she'll start by messing with her hair, then by taking off and mangling her glasses, by taking things from the other kids, hitting and pushing, and becoming quite a mess. It's a process for her, starting with her HAIR. Therefore, we stay on her to keep her hands out of her hair and to keep it up.

I wet to the back of the van to reiterate that she's not to take her hair down in the car (this is now twice, out of four times we've been in the car since I got home, that she's taken it down). She peed in her car seat right then. Oh My Goodness. CONTROL.

We went home, she showered, got PJ type clothes on, after all it was bath night and why repeat the process if we're already doing it all? She put on a pull up (since that's what she wears to bed) and went to time out after cleaning up. Three hours later... (and two more trips to the bathroom...) she peed herself again, without discipline, without reason, without anything. It's not "because" she had on a pull up, because she is almost always dry at night now and it's more for the off occasion that she does wet at night that we continue to put her in the pull ups. And she was upset, when she went to the bathroom the next time, and took all her pants/pull up off... so she wasn't trying to hide it AND she knew she would be in trouble.

It appears that our attachment issues that we've struggled a LOT with over the last 11 months are still going strong. After all, she had 8 years to develop the life, personality, and defense mechanisms that she has now... it's not going to be easy to 'undo' them.

Aleksa sat on my lap last night and we had a little heart to heart. I have no idea how much she really understood, but I guarantee she got the gist of the conversation. The parts about her not peeing herself, not taking her hair down, not messing with her glasses, that she is a big girl, has to make choices, and needs to make GOOD decisions or she was going to continue having consequences. She made eye contact for 1/20th of a second on several occasions, but couldn't easily avoid at least looking toward me since I was sitting in an empty hallway with her on my lap facing me as we talked.

It was a good talk. A helpful talk. We ended with big hugs and kisses and sitting and snuggling for a bit. Then she walked in to her room and was nasty again.

She's scared of loving. Scared of getting close. Scared of being rejected and loss.

And she doesn't even know it or understand it. It just is what it is.

And so, it continues. One year and counting since her court date. Almost a year since she came in to my custody. And the battles are different now, the understanding greater on both of our parts. But the struggle is still very much alive in her little heart. It hurts me to see her struggle so much to obey very simple and basic rules simply because she's trying to protect herself from loving.

But love we will. Carry on we will. One day, that 1/20th of a second of eye contact will grow exponentially... and she may learn, one day, to love.

Landed in Orlando!

2011-12-03T19:49:00.001-05:00

And Shelley is in AL! Whew, what a day!

Time tom fly...

2011-12-02T21:46:00.002-05:00

For the next 22 hours we will be flying home... Please pray for safety and health! Annikahs congestion got a lot worse overnight. We have meds, and she's happy... Here we go!

2011-12-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

This blog post is about a fundraiser for a sweet little girl with Down syndrome that I had the pleasure of meeting this week. The chip in goes DIRECTLY to the family, so no other organizations are involved in the financial aspect of it. Though that means no tax write off, it is better for the family since they need the funds immediately. Please consider being a part of bringing 5 year old Shannon home!

http://mudpiesandmoonlight.blogspot.com/2011/12/3720.HTML

Still here, still keeping on!

2011-12-02T03:02:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged in a coupled days, but we are still he and going in Bulgaria! Tomorrow (Saturday) we head for home and will have a looong day! Leaving the hotel around 6am, we will arrive home around 7pm. That doesn't sound so bad until you add in the 7 hour time difference! It will be about 21 hours of travel from the time we leave the hotel until we are home!

Unfortunately, we weren't able to arrainge flights for me to go all the way home with Shelley and Annikah, so we will be parting ways before our last leg of the flight. Thankfully, that's not a long one :)

So, today we have a full day with packing, dropping off the last of the things that were brought with us for other people, visiting with new (and old) friends, packing up our things, and getting ready to say goodbye.

The home front seems to be doing just fine, which is a huge relief and blessing! I miss the kids and Michael and look forward to being home, but have been enjoying the time here as well. We have spent some time with a family adopting a 2 yr old with down syndrome and I've enjoyed stealing a snuggle from their little man.

Off to get the day going. After all, it's already 10am here!

How this works...

2011-11-30T17:42:00.001-05:00

I posted before leaving about all the prepping for me to go... The things I did to get the household ready so that I could leave the country for nine days. What I haven't posted yet is the awesome people that have stepped up to help while I'm gone.

First off, the man doing most everything and keeping life going on the home front... Michael. Mike is getting all 8 kids up and dressed with shoes (mostly) on and glasses (mostly) on and everyone's lunches together and folders signed and everyone out the door to their prospective school or other place for the day. A few days he has help, some he doesn't.

Michael is also doing baths and medications and getting out (already set out) clothes, and making sure everyone gets their time and love and attention every day. He's doing great, and the kids are having a good time. What a blessing Michael is. Not every dad can survive a solo weekend with the kids, much less our busy crew for 9 days!

Both sets of grandparents are also helping out! Since Brianna and Lynae only go to their church program 2 mornings a week, grandmas stepped in for the other three mornings as well as the time between when their church program ends and the other kids get out of school. It is wonderful to have grandparents that are willing and wanting to spend time with their grand kids! They also each took an afternoon to invite one or two kids to their house to have some extra special play time.

Our friend Chris invited Kristopher to come play one afternoon making this a special week for him :).

We also have two GREAT babysitters that are watching the kids in the afternoons. Both of them have been not only watching whichever kids need it each day, but they also have been left a list of honey-do's for the afternoon! They are unpacking backpacks, cleaning our lunch boxes, defrosting and starting dinners (pre-cooked before I left...), and starting the laundry and/or dishes if there's a need.

Things are going good back at home, and I'm thankful to be able to enjoy this time with Shelley and Annikah and our new friends here in Bulgaria and not have to worry that the kids, or my husband, or any of our caretakers are overwhelmed or stressed out.

God provides for every need, and we are thankful that He doesn't overlook the details when making those big picture plans!! THANK YOU to all that have helped out with the kids, prayed for our family, or otherwise been a part of this trip!

The goal was met!

2011-11-30T02:59:00.000-05:00

In an amazing six hours, the goal was met to provide the Bulgarian parent group with the funding to print four thousand educational brochures with the TRUTH about Down syndrome on them! Thank you for your support!

Brochures for babies...

2011-11-29T15:16:00.000-05:00

The Down Syndrome group parents that Shelley and I met with on Saturday night let us know something that we could do that would geatly help them to educate and advocate here in Bulgaria. It's something that would help parents, educators, doctors, friends, neighbors, and anyone else with a curiosity or interest in Down syndrome in general! The goal is to create, with information and tools already available to them, four different brochures which would each tell about one area of Down syndrome. For instance, one on birth to three years, one on medical interventions, one on education, and one on community living. The actual topics would be defined as they are put together, but along those general lines. The printing isn't costly, but it is money they just don't have sitting around ready to go. The info, the knowledge, the printing resources, and the desire to send them to hospitals, schools, government centers for women, to therapy centers, and to new parents... Those are all ready to go!

Will you play a part in publishing these four brochures and providing one thousand of each for circulation in Bulgaria? The cost isn't huge... $450 US dollars including paypal fees. the reward, however, is GREAT!

Tomorrow Shelley and I and Annikah will spend the day with one of the directors of the Down Syndrome group here. Tanja's family are American missionaries living here in Sofia and have four children, one of whom has Down syndrome.

If you would like to be a part of this, we would love to raise the money THIS WEEK and leave it here with the group when we leave! The need is great, but God is the provider, and I truly believe that this is one of the areas where a relatively small amount of money, if raised in small amounts from many, can amount to a GREAT amount of awareness and education here in Bulgaria!

CAN WE RAISE THIS MONEY IN THE NEXT THREE DAYS? Chip in will close on Saturday, and any money raised by late Friday will be given toward this project before we board the plane on Saturday :).

(the small print: money raised after we leave will be wire transferred at a later date. Chip in goes to Shelley's personal paypal account so it can be sent to her via hubby immediately as it arrives)

To chip in, please click the link below:

Bulgaria!

2011-11-28T08:48:00.001-05:00

We are here in Bulgaria, Shelley and I. We now have her new daughter, Annikah as well!

Someone stopped on the street while Shelley was paying for some groceries and I was outside with Annikah. I'm pretty sure he told me what a beautiful little girl and so well behaved she was, since I have absolutely no idea what he was actually saying... But he was smiling and nodding at the little one, so one can only guess that it was nice, right? :)

A little something to leave you with... Shelley swears that the hotel we are staying in is more of a business hotel than a tourist hotel, however some moms from the Ds parent group told us it is where the "prostitutkas" go. That word I could translate pretty well :).

Anyway, we haven't made their acquaintance just yet but weren't so surprised to find this in the minibar in the hotel room. The liquor, not surprising. The box of other goods were a bit more of a shocker though :)

By the way, it isn't a prostitute's hotel, but there are those around and they aren't so far away... And the business men just might be here to find a wife...

The only thing we can read on the "love" box is that they smell good.....

Our visit with the Comellas!

2011-11-23T20:44:00.001-05:00

We had such a nice time visiting with Lisa, Dan, Elaina (sorry if I misspelled it…) and Danny today! They were in FL at Disney and took the time to drive out to our place and spend the afternoon with us. What a blessing to get to know their family! :)

Here’s Lisa and I with the ten kids…

Lisa with Brianna (excuse Brianna’s horribly long bangs... they are cut now though! LOL)

Elaina with James. They were buddies :)

Emma took to Lisa like she doesn’t take to many people! She wanted to hold Lisa’s hand, sit with her, and smiled (and was clapping) sitting with her! They had such a sweet little instant bond!

Danny was thinking it’s pretty fun to hold the younger kids after he held Lynae in the group picture. Micah—wasn’t as sure :)

Wow, what a blogging break...

2011-11-22T12:09:00.000-05:00

There's been quite a lot going on the last 10 days or so! It's been an emotional roller coaster in some ways and just busy in others.

We've had an abundance of Orlando appointments the last week or so including having 5 kids fit for orthotics. One set is ready now, but we're going to hold out for the next two to be done to make that drive again!

In addition to the 'normal' life stuff, I've been doubling up on everything, making extra meals for all of the kids, extra dinners for the family, and sorting out clothes to get everyone ready for me to LEAVE!

Yes, that's right... I'll be heading over to Bulgaria with my good friend Shelley for NINE days!! That means setting up child care, lunches, dinners, smoothies for the boys, clothes for the week, and anything else I can accomplish in order to help Michael out so that he can have a GOOD time with the kids while I'm gone :). Shelley is adopting a little girl with Down syndrome that's just a couple weeks older than Brianna. I'm excited and blessed to be able to go with her and help her and her sweet daughter home!!

I'm excited to be meeting up with friends tomorrow and ALL the kids will be home! Then Thursday is Thanksgiving, and we'll be having our feast here at the house with just the ten of us. After dinner I'll be putting up leftovers, freezing what we can and setting up lunches for the family with some of them while I'm gone. Then... we're going to head out to visit with family here in town then back home to do my final preps for the trip.

A busy, but good week. Now it's time for a busy week of another sort, and a week of travel!! :)

Please keep Shelley and I in your prayers as we travel, and her new daughter as she transitions to her new home! Also pray for Michael since he'll be doing the 'single parent' thing for a week. And our childcare: Mike's parents, my parents, and Katie and April. Also, my sister and brother in law that are helping with horse therapy while we're gone, and whoever else might be in and around and affecting our household and children and Shelley's adoption and her family and... the list goes on :)

THANK YOU! :)

The Orphan and the Call to Help

2011-11-14T09:19:00.000-05:00

If you are a Christian... I say this because this post isn't necessarily meant for those that don't call themselves by Christ's name. Not because they won't find it equally as informative, but because they are not required to live by a standard set by the Bible, God's Word in text. Many do, however, uphold the Biblical morals and so much more. More so than some who call themselves Christians even. However, those who are not Christians do not have an obligation to the Faith. A standard set by Christ himself that we as people and followers of Christ should strive to be like.

Ok, intro over. If you are a Christian... you are called to care for the orphan. So, what do you do?

Adopt
Foster
Support financially an organization working in children's interest
Advocate
Volunteer with children
Volunteer with an organization

As a Christian, there's another part to it all. There is a cycle of poverty, neglect, child removal, parental rights termination, and then the child growing up to be an adolescent aging out of the system in poverty, then neglecting their own child bringing another generation of foster children and parental rights termination. That's not to say that every person raised in poverty will perpetuate this cycle, nor that every child that was in 'the system' will go on to do the same. It is a cycle that some get 'stuck' in.

God's call to the orphan is not just to bring them in to families, but to change that cycle. To bring them to an understanding of Jesus Christ. To show them the love of a real family, and to bring them to desire to see their own life changed. If they go to a foster home with someone that doesn't hold to the Christian morals and standards (though MANY people that are not Christians do...), then how does the cycle break? How do the children in 'the system' get to know God, how do they have the opportunity to understand true love? How do they get the 'out' of the system that they all so desperately need?

As Christians, we need to provide for the least of these. We need to provide not just by praying, but by investing our lives in it. Finances, time, love, or even the extra bed in our home (or even... a brand new bed, made to fit especially for a foster or adopted child).

If we, the church, do not care for the orphan, who will?? Do we expect non-believers to take care of the orphans? And are they also to bring the children that have seen the most neglect and abuse and hurt in their lives to a place of comfort and healing that, as Christians, we know comes fully only through the saving power of Jesus Christ?

I have no doubt that there are many great foster homes where the parents are not Christians. Many kids are finding some semblance of normalcy and peace there. I am not arguing that Christians should be the only ones doing it, or somehow the non-believers shouldn't be allowed or able to do it. I am simply saying that, as Christians, with a Biblical call to call to care for the orphan, and a Biblical call to share the healing of Christ Jesus with the world, that it only makes sense that we should also be trying to provide for those that are in the most need.

I found a statistic yesterday that I'd heard before in general terms but this one is more recent. It says that there are 127,000 legal orphans in the United States waiting to be adopted. There are 302,000 churches in the US. WHY ARE THERE STILL ORPHANS IN THE USA??? Where is the church??

Out of every FIVE churches, if TWO of them each helped ONE FAMILY in their congregation to adopt a child from the USA, there would be no more children waiting. TWO out of every FIVE churches.

In the same way, as you follow a calling to support orphans internationally, I strongly suggest that you use an organization that is a Christian organization if possible. Someone that will be accountable with the finances. An organization that will share the Gospel with others as they minister. If you are adopting, choose an organization that will not only call themselves Christians, but can easily say that their partnering organization in the other country is also Christian. There's nothing like signing on with a ministry only to find yourself in the care of someone of questionable morals, ethics, or actions when you arrive in a foreign country.

We are ALL CALLED to care for the orphan! And there are so many different ways to be involved. Call your local foster/adopt agency to see what the requirements are in your area. Find out about taking the PRIDE (formerly MAPP) classes to foster or adopt. Ask your local children's home whether they have a Christmas Angel Tree where you can provide a gift for one of the children in your community for Christmas, or a way to donate toward their Christmas dinner. Join a program of sponsorship for a child that is in an orphanage overseas to provide a 1:1 caregiver for a child that cannot feed or care for themselves, support missionaries that are working in orphan care, or donate a wheelchair through an organization that distributes them to the needy in foreign countries.

SO many ways. How will you be a part of the answer? How will you, as a Christian, share God's life and light with those who need it the most?

Horse Therapy!

2011-11-12T23:23:00.000-05:00

Before I tell about horse therapy I want to THANK everyone that prayed for our family today! The decisions we were asking for prayers about have been made, and God has made them CLEAR! We praise Him for that!!

Ok... horses!! Of course, I forgot my camera... My sister and her husband had cell phones, but those pic's aren't uploaded yet, so they may or may not come.

Today Micah got on a pony first. He LOVES the horses! He rode, grinned, flirted with the girls walking his pony and side walking, and just ENJOYED it all!! Kristopher got on a big horse and enjoyed it too! He was a little more cautious getting up, but his week he's going to have his first riding lesson (since he's not needing therapy...) during this time. He enjoyed it and I think it will give him a great confidence in him as well :). Lynae rode the pony after Micah and loved it too! She had a combination of working hard on the horse and being lulled, and she was about ready for bed when she got off!

Aleksa's ride was a little more interesting. Though she typically makes things more interesting on her own, this instance was even MORE interesting than she could have provided :). She got on, rode for a bit with a side walker, and the owner of the therapy organization and I talked about how she needs an adult side-walker that can help keep her in the saddle of the big horse, since she's got such low tone that she'll slink off to one side. The owner ended up finishing up her session as her side-walker, and what ended the session was when Aleksa was thrown from the horse as it laid down and began to roll!

ALEKSA IS FINE!

The owner grabbed her quite literally in the air and pulled her away. YES, she got dirty. OH YEAH, she got scared. AND SO DID I! I watched it happen and went immediately out, but she really is ok. The horse was tired, and my understanding is that this isn't the first time she's done this. YIKES...

Anyway, everyone responded quickly and calmly, everyone is safe, and best part of all? Aleksa doesn't realize that that's not supposed to happen :). She will, inevitably, get right back on the horse when her turn comes around again in a couple weeks! She's quite a trooper :).

Next time I'll try to have pictures! :)

will you pray with us?

2011-11-12T12:32:00.000-05:00

We are asking for discernment today, and that God will direct our path, guide our conversations, and ultimately make His Will ABUNDANTLY clear to us and those around us. THANK YOU!!

The Joy of PhotoShop...

2011-11-10T19:19:00.001-05:00

Isn’t It Amazing… What Love Can Do?

2011-11-08T21:48:00.001-05:00

This week marks 14 years since Michael and my first date.

I’m pretty confident that I never in my wildest dreams imagined we would have eight beautiful blessings right now…

Aleksa has grown and changed so much. She is by far our most challenging child to parent right now, but wow, what a blessing it is for us to look her in the eye (she will sometimes make eye contact :) ) and tell her we love her. It is amazing…

Emma is such a little GIRL now, no longer the infant-like preschooler we brought home. She is WALKING, and communicating, and we are continuously amazed by what this sweet little girl figures out!

Our handsome little man that is growing and changing every day. Kristopher has such a tender heart toward his siblings as well as other children with challenges. He’s such a loyal brother and friend and a sweet sweet boy :).

Wesley has come alive! His head nods and sense of humor are his best ways of communicating, but the light in his eyes says “I know EXACTLY what you’re talking about!” What a joy to see him continue to mature and reach his potential!

Brianna’s determined nature continues to come out, and to be pruned and molded. I’m enjoying our homeschooling and so is she. It is amazing to see what she knows and find new ways to teach her each day. Brianna’s sweet spirit has come alive and she is such a joy.

Goodness, how James has changed in the last few months! Our “little wild man” has calmed SO much. A mixture of maturity and diet, he has molded in to a young man that I didn’t think we’d ‘see’ for a few years still. James’ playful and alive nature is still very well intact, however, and his cheerful attitude is contagious!

Micah has matured so much in the past months as well, and he’s met milestones as well! Our newest little person in UNDERWEAR is a great start, and he is such a little helper now. Micah loves to snuggle still, which is one of the first qualities that new friends always notice about him.

Lynae is all SPUNK. Our sassy little two year old knows she is loved and wants to make sure she gets as much cuddling and snuggling as possible, whether it’s with Mom, Dad, or Brianna, Lynae loves to sit close. With so many older siblings and such an atmosphere of therapy and learning, we are always amazed at how much Lynae picks up of the stuff we are teaching the older kids.

And this picture, well, they didn’t have to convince me to sit with my arms around him. Fourteen years after that first date, I am so glad God brought us together!

Pumptober fest 2011

2011-10-31T09:39:00.001-04:00

Our friends and family! And, winners of the Most Memorable Group. :)

How we make 8 kids work... in REAL life...

2011-10-30T22:04:00.002-04:00

If I didn't edit well... this was written to post on a forum I'm a part of, and I'm reposting it here, because I think it's probably one of the things I'm asked the most... how do we do 'real life' with 8 kids?? So... here you go... :)

Our day starts the night before, and really, on Sunday evenings (like right now... what I SHOULD be doing...!).

Sunday nights I set out pill minders with everyone's vitamins and pills for the week, and that goes in to a bin with the liquid meds and inhalers, etc that are also done at the same time. It takes 20 minutes one night and saves us 10 minutes searching it all out and double checking it every morning.

I sort all the laundry I've done during the week on Sunday and put clothes for all 8 kids in to 8 hanging bins with 7 days worth of clothes. Each night I set them out on the couch for each child so when they get up, they can go to the bathroom and get dressed, then eat breakfast, brush teeth, brush hair, put on glasses, jackets, backpacks, and out the door.

I make lunches at night as well. For the boys that are on 'smoothie' drinks, I make them every 3 days for the next 3 days and also freeze some for 'emergencies' (like tonight) when I don't feel like making any more :). I ask teachers to leave the kids that use 'special cups' at school, and they wash them there. Bibs too, I sent in wipe-able ones and I don't have to send them back and forth.

I make a big batch of pasta once a week and put it in to small containers for 2-3 lunches for 4 of the kids during the week. I blend up canned veggies and add it to the sauce, and anything else they may be needing. Stick it in the fridge and it's easy to put in a lunch box that week (their class heats meals...). I admit to buying the 'premade' PBJ sandwiches that are frozen, and Kris loves them! We buy prepackaged snacks in bulk bc even when I package them myself, they tend to get stale before we use them if I package, so I went with the pre-packaged snack ones. We shop at Sam's a lot! BJs too :).

I make our soy milk (some kids have allergies) and it's QUICK, EASY, and CHEAP! I am trying to do it every 3 days or so, a gallon at a time (about an hour and a half to make, tho most of that time it's just doing its own thing!). I also freeze it if I have time. Bought silicone deep muffin pans to freeze it in and it pops out easily then goes in to freezer bags :). Keeps it handy again, in case I can't *ahem* don't want to... make some one day :) They are roughly 6-8 oz portions that way!

We have one room of our house quite literally dedicated to clothes. It has 6 dressers, a cabinet, and walls lined with rods for hanging clothes. That lets us do laundry when the kids are in bed without disturbing them, and has been one of THE BEST things we've done as far as being able to better manage our home. It also means clothes can pile up all week and no one sees them :D. I wash all week... I put away on Sundays!

We have routines with toileting, first thing in the morning, on 'home' days they go before and after lunch, mid-afternoon/after school, before dinner, and before bed. Though I have 5 in diapers, this keeps the dirty diapers to a minimum with many opportunities to go to the bathroom, and Micah is *so close!* to toilet training on this schedule :).

We have hooks by our front door with initials of each child, and that's where their backpack, jacket, and lunch box goes. Even Lynae (2) knows whose is whose and will hang them all up. It's actually her and Brianna (5, Ds) job to empty lunch boxes at the end of the school day and put away ice packs and tupperware containers!

We have a 'time out' timer which was costly ($25) but worth it. It uses lights and vocals to count down the time. Ours is set for 5 min. It doesn't do anything the first 4 min, then does a 'tick tick tick tick' sound and turns to yellow when it has one minute left. This is a reminder there's not much longer to sit, and if I hear it I remind them "one more minute!" Then it turns to red and says "time's up!" And they can get up. It has a second timer I set to 2 min for my youngest 3. All the others are 5-9 yrs and the 5 min is appropriate :). This has helped us not to yell, etc nearly as often as we get in the 'habit' of doing, and the kids know to go SIT, and WAIT. They'll even ask us to start the timer :). They really do thrive on knowing what comes next...

We always pray before dinner, so the kids come to the table and know to sit and wait. That way they're not 1/2 way done eating by the time everyone sits down. If they sit and eat, they leave and go to time out. Helps keep family time together and priorities with God first!

We just started a chore chart for my 5 that are able to participate. We wrote down their responsibilities on a page and their privileges on the bottom. To get their privileges they have to keep up with their responsibilities. They get a 'check' each day on the chart, and after a week with all checks, they get a 'one week' check. Sometime that week we'll try to do something fun with the kids that 'earned' it. There's also a 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 1 month. The goal isn't that it has to be consecutive, but it should encourage those that understand it to want to continue to keep up their responsibilities. Responsibilities include behaving at school, being respectful, taking care of their things, and keeping to themselves. Those are their personal responsibilities, then they have family responsibilities too, like putting new bags in the trash, taking care of lunch boxes, switching laundry, cleaning up toys, etc... based on the child's abilities. Privileges could be playing with the neighborhood friends, staying up the extra time after other kids are in bed, getting to choose a video after school, getting to go to grandma's, etc... things that may not happen daily, but often enough and if they don't do their responsibilities, they know the answer will be NO when they ask to do one of the privileges.

We have a color assigned to each child. Red, yellow, orange, dk blue, purple, green, lt blue, purple... and we have it posted on the bathroom mirror and our refrigerator with each child's name written in their color. Those colors are the color of that child's toothbrush, bathroom towel, and 'silicone bracelet'. The bracelet things we use around each child's cup to show whose is whose, so that we don't have to go through 32 cups in a day!! We also use those colors of enamel paint (covered with clear nail polish so it doesn't wash off) on the tips of each child's glasses (6 wear glasses) so we know whose is whose... We use those colors on the caps of medications like antibiotics *ahem-- which 6 are currently on* in order to know whose is whose at a glance.

We have a drawer for shoes and everyone's shoes go in it. A diaper pail next to the changing table and a hamper that holds 1 load of laundry there too. Either gets full, and it's time to empty/wash! Keeps the laundry from piling up (dirty anyway...) and helps us find everyone's shoes in the morning. Glasses go in a drawer with hairbrushes, glass cleaner and cloth, and hair ties. Keeps it easy to find...

At night there are no toys in the bedrooms except a few plush animals/dolls. Closets are locked, lights are turned out at the ceiling fixture. Kids that shouldn't be with others are out of reach of them (Aleksa is on a top bunk and doesn't climb down, Wesley is in an enclosed bed to protect him from his brothers... since he can't defend himself!). We have baby monitors too, and the kids go down at 7/7:30 pm. Boys in one room, girls in one room, except Kris that has his own room (since his toys would be eaten by siblings :) ). We are all up at 6ish, so the early bed time isn't all that early!

I also have a dual alarm clock in my kitchen that goes off at 3 and 9pm. Those are the times that Wesley needs one of his meds, aside from in the morning. Those alarms make it possible for him to get them on time, because otherwise it would be 4, 5, 10... and that's not good for those particular meds. We also give meds in the morning and at bedtime for other kids, but those follow routines more so than clocks. That's a new addition for us (the alarm and the med) and is a HUGE help!!

My best thing... a treadmill! In my bedroom... where I try to run 2x/week and get some ME time when the kids are occupied or, better yet, on one of the mornings they are ALL at school (only happens 6 hours a week...). Between that and the evenings, we get some time to ourselves too :)

I'm sure I could go on and on, but those are some of the 'little things' that organizing them really helps our house to run better even with our "big family"!

We didn't just start all of this "all of a sudden", and when we had 2 and even 4 kids it wasn't necessary. However... it began to 'evolve' at that time, and now it is a pretty easy working household as long as I don't go to a church festival all afternoon on a Sunday, then sit on the computer for 40 minutes, and oops, will be out of town the entire next day and can't make it up tomorrow due to a neurology appointment that will take all day :)

On that note... off to make lunches.

Sick.

2011-10-29T17:19:00.001-04:00

Two weeks ago James went to a specialist and they put him on an antibiotic because he seemed to have a sinus infection coming on. Monday Brianna went to the pediatrician and was tested for strep, but was negative. She was put on antibiotics anyway and felt better the next day. Micah started antibiotics Tuesday. Friday, Emma, Aleksa, Wesley, and Lynae were tested for strep and all were positive. My parents had been sick around the same time as James and tested negative for strep. Today I went to the doctor and tested negative for strep.

Do we seriously have two different things going through our house that are both bacterial, or do the rapid strep tests really not work that well???

I'm now on an antibiotic, but feeling pretty crummy. Need to feel better by tomorrow night because the kids have been looking forward to our church festival for WEEKS. Better yet, MICHAEL has been looking forward to it, because he gets to finally use his 25' trebuchet to launch pumpkins across the church campus as he (and his dad and Kris... and possibly a few of my brothers...) competes against another trebuchet team to see who can launch it further!

In fact, he and Kris are there right now and according to his text "may be a while..." Hmm... now to think up dinner (fast) for the 7 sick kids at home with me right now. Wishing they could all eat soup. Wouldn't that be nice? :)

Oops...

2011-10-28T18:17:00.002-04:00

Apparently I haven't been moderating comments and actually posting them. SORRY! I just posted comments made on the past few weeks.

On to today, we are a household of sick people. One just finished antibiotics, Six are on antibiotics, and if I'd gone to the doctor, I'd be on them too I'm sure. Eight down, two to go.

Tonight Michael is at the ball field playing one of his last softball games of the season, part of a tournament. He's enjoying it! Wish we could go, but four kids were dx'd with strep today, so we're home and hanging out. My mom is coming over (after they're in bed) so I can go to a meeting about an orphan Sunday project at a local church. Looking forward to that!!

This weekend is our church's Pumptober Fest (on the 30th, 4-7 if anyone wants to go!) and tomorrow is their "practice launch" for the trebuchets. (I wonder why spell check doesn't like that word?). Mike, his dad, and Kristopher built a trebuchet and will take part in the pumpkin launching contest on Sunday. This is the third year (I think?) and it has always been entertaining.

Hoping everyone is feeling better after a good 24 hours on antibiotics and that we can have a fun weekend together! Tomorrow is a day of REST!

Milking a Bean

2011-10-26T16:47:00.003-04:00

Much to my bank account's dismay, we use a LOT of milk. Not only milk, though, but a lot of SOY milk as well.

After a bit of math and calculations about how much each of our children eat or drink of what type of milk, I discovered (and will spare you the calculations) that we spend close to $35 every month on soy milk alone. James is allergic to casein (milk protein). Wesley and James both get the same 'smoothies', therefore most of them are made with soy milk to keep from 'accidentally' having James get milk. Lynae and Emma both get upset stomachs from milk, so also drink soy. It's a lot of soy milk. Micah, Aleksa, Kristopher, and Brianna still drink regular milk, but I can't buy a cow, so I went about trying to find a way to make soy milk instead.

A friend of ours who is also parenting a special needs child gave me a quart of 'home made and home canned' soy milk, and let me tell you... the kids didn't notice a difference. I, personally, don't care much for soy milk... however I'm not the kids, so I was still thrilled!

I waited a while, but eventually worked out the calculations of whether it would be worth it to buy a soy milk maker. I VERY quickly found out that it WOULD!

With the cost of soy beans and the amount of milk that they make, it costs about $1/gallon (beans and additives) to MAKE soy milk, and $5/gallon to BUY it. That meant that aside from the price of the actual soy maker, I would have a savings of about $28/month. That's $336 a year. The soy milk maker cost $100. That's about 4 months worth of 'savings' before we REALLY see any savings, but in the long run, it should save us over $200 in soy milk alone in the next year.

Today I got my soy beans (GMO free) and set to work making milk! I made up the boys' smoothies for the next 2 days and made some milk for the other kids to drink as well. Though I understand it is better when you soak the beans first, I was anxious to start and made some 'dry bean' milk today while starting some beans soaking as well.

Now that I know how to milk a bean (which, by the way, will also make milk with any other type of nut, bean, or rice), maybe I'll start looking in to that cow...

The Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-21T21:41:00.001-04:00

Our Crew… in true form!

James blends in with the pumpkins :)

The ones that followed us home (that is one GIANT pumpkin, tho the picture doesn’t quite do it justice…)

The Crew with Miss Katie (our sitter and the kids’ buddy!)

I think Emma liked the pumpkin patch a bit :)

The culprit

2011-10-20T22:02:00.001-04:00

4am Thursday- Our call to Poison Control.

2011-10-20T21:51:00.001-04:00

I feel silly now, however at 4am it didn't sound nearly as silly.

I woke up with a startle and turned on the light.

"Mike, look for a bee or wasp. Something just stung my thumb!"

With that, I looked up. He, for some reason, looked down.

There, on our BED, was a SCORPION!

Yes, I got stung by a scorpion while I was sleeping. YIKES!!!!

I remember scorpions have venom... and I don't remember what characterizes good and bad, or whether there really is any such designation, so I pull out the computer and proceed to search for what to do with a scorpion sting.

"Wash thoroughly with soap and water."
"Elevate above the heart."
"Rotate icing 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off."
"Call Poison Control immediately."

Um... really???

Seriously, though it really did hurt like a dickens, I wasn't thinking that this 1" long little bug could pack a punch that would actually cause the amount of damage described in some of the web pages. That said, it was 4am and there was no one ELSE I was going to call... so I dialed poison control anyway to let THEM tell me what to do.

Thankfully, Floridian scorpions are similar to a wasp or bee sting. No "neurotoxins" in the breeds that are found here. Thank goodness!

By about 5am I found my way back to sleep after taking some Benadryl at the poison control person's request. I have now been dragging all. day. long. I hate Benadryl!

Tomorrow at 9am our house pest control people will be at the house to re-treat it!! Apparently, their pesticides need a little boost...

CRAZY love.

2011-10-20T21:45:00.000-04:00

I've been accused of this. More times than I can count, probably. It's the kind of love that holds tribute to Bob the Builder as they say "can we do it?" "YES WE CAN!"

Better yet, it's the kind of love that Jesus showed us and we try very hard to continue to emulate in His likeness. Can we do it? "Not without Him!"

Crazy love is what calls a 25 year old couple with two children to leave them home with their single aunt with the help of grandparents and travel half way around the world to bring home two very sick children.

Crazy love is what brings a family of 7 with a 3 month old baby to offer their home and love and family to a 3 year old orphan with special needs.

Crazy love is what brings a family with 4 disabled children and two others to leave all of their children in the care of grandparents for a second time and, during the holidays and busiest part of the year... the time when families tie together and celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas... to go halfway around the world for a second time and bring home a quadriplegic blind child.

Crazy love is what drives a family that's about to have 7 children to complete an entire adoption dossier "just in case" and raise all the money "just in case" a child that they've prayed for for three years is released to be their daughter while they are in a foreign country.

Crazy love is what it looks like when GOD calls the shots, and we listen. It's when two parents, two individual people called by God to love one another and to BE ONE each listen intently to God's calling on their life (not lives...).

Crazy love is what it looks like to say "YES" separately, then come together and say guess what... I said YES. And so did I. Even when, at that time, one was in Africa and one was at home in the USA.

Crazy love is what it looks like to say YES for all the reasons that don't make sense. It's because there's a need, that God provided for through YOU.

Crazy love is when things are HARD, but hard is GOOD.

Crazy love is knowing that walking the life of a Christian isn't about being EASY, or COMFORTABLE, or even always about being HAPPY. BUT... Crazy love knows that DELIGHTING in these things is where the real JOY comes out.

Crazy love... I agree. I think we have it, and I'm VERY glad to share it...

Do you have CRAZY love?

Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

SOLID!

2011-10-19T11:51:00.000-04:00

Brianna is now SOLID on her letter recognition! She knew her letters before school started, however I felt it would benefit her to continue working on making sure she wasn't having trouble with common mixups between letters, and could recognize letters in any way they were presented to her.

This first video is letter dice from a game similar to Boggle, but made by Cranium. She enjoyed the idea that this was something different, and this video is of the very FIRST time she'd ever seen these dice :)

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

The second video (is LONG) is the first time she's done this set of workbook pages. We've worked on others that are somewhat similar, but this is her working in her "got it" book where she completes a few pages as sort of a 'test' once I think that she's completed the skill. Today we worked backward from the end toward the beginning, and we got about half way through before I felt she'd lost interest and we should come back to it. The only issue she had was the difference between uppercase and lowercase Oo. Can't say I blame her :)

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Happy FIRST (9th!) Birthday Aleksa!!!

2011-10-18T09:49:00.001-04:00

(And… Happy Birthday to Grandaddy Pocock last Saturday!)

Our friend April made a BEAUTIFUL cake for Aleksa!

Aleksa ABSOLUTELY LOVED us all singing to her! She laughed and clapped and threw her hands up in the air! What a HAPPY little girl she was!!

Time for Cake!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEKSA!! We love you!!!

Our Karate Kid!

2011-10-17T10:40:00.001-04:00

Kristopher has been doing karate for a couple of months now and he’s really enjoying it! I took these in early September and haven’t made it over to post them yet… Check out our white belt :)

Because I don't feel like it...

2011-10-13T12:07:00.000-04:00

October is Down syndrome awareness month, and here we are at October 13th and I've yet to mention it even once. It's not because I don't want to raise awareness about Down syndrome... goodness, we're practically a walking billboard for Ds awareness...

In the past I've participated in 31 for 21 (31 days of blogging for awareness about Trisomy 21: Down syndrome). This year, I didn't do it.

I've also always advocated heavily for orphans with Down syndrome during this time and the need for adoptive families as well as humane care and treatment, funding, therapies, etc... for children with Ds. This year, notsomuch as a word.

Why Not??

Honestly, it's because I don't feel like it.

For the last several years since I got involved in blogging and adoption and involved with the Ds community (I wasn't very involved prior to our interest in adoption, even though Brianna is our bio daughter and is 5 1/2), I've had this driving force, this purpose. A place to direct people to put their passions, their ideas, their finances to help others if they themselves couldn't do it, and a real drive to see it all work.

I don't have any of that anymore.

I decided this week that I needed to find that drive again. Find a new outlet that I can share and support. I can't let something that has "let me down" also be something that steals my passion.

I still have a passion for children with Down syndrome!

I still have a passion for adoption!

I still have a passion for helping families to complete their own dreams of adopting children with special needs!

And I still, absolutely, have a passion for missions.

So what's wrong with me??? Why don't I feel like being a part of the 31 for 21 and blogging for Ds awareness month, and sharing orphans? I needed a new source for my passion.

HERE IT IS. You've probably seen links to this organization before, but it has a BRAND NEW website! Please go and check out the ELI PROJECT!! This organization is founded by Chris Malone, a father that was one of the very first families that I helped through the adoption process. He adopted Misha (now Micah), that was the child I met along with Aleksa when we went to adopt her the first time. He adopted his Matthew at the same time, and later went back for another son and daughter, one of whom was from a baby house near Wesley and I had the pleasure of meeting. I've met two of Chris' children (tho they were orphans when we met!) and I feel as though I know Chris VERY well, though we've yet to meet face to face.

Chris and his sweet wife Mary have 9 children including their bio son Eli that has Down syndrome and four typically developing (slightly older) children and four children with Ds adopted from Ukraine. Their passion is so TRUE and so DEEP for the orphans of Ukraine that they have already SOLD THEIR HOME and will be relocating to Ukraine in the coming months, probably just after the new year.

What a blessing it is to 'know' this family, and to walk beside them and lift them up in prayer as they go! What a joy it is to know that the Eli Project is run by a man of great courage, faith, and strength! They also have a solid board of directors and a mission statement that clearly marks their Christian intents and purposes.

I am very glad to 'rekindle' my spark this month and set my feet firmly in advocating for the children listed on the Eli Project! I hope you'll go and see the children there. MANY of the children there are not in Ukraine, and have different country requirements. Take a look at their SPECIAL NEEDS page :). Eli Project is an organization that you can donate to to help these children find families! Our Wesley was able to come home BECAUSE he had a grant. We likely wouldn't have considered adopting again if we had to come up with the entire $24k to bring him home. But GOD KNEW!

Grants really do make a big difference in the life of a child...

Ok, enough of my "I don't feel like it," and go check out www.eliproject.org and see the sweet waiting children :)

And while I'm at it, here's a little fact worth sharing about the situation right here in the good ole' USA about Down syndrome:

Down Syndrome Awareness Month... #14: There is typically a waiting list of people ready to adopt domestic children with Down syndrome. Ironically, however, the abortion rate that comes with a prenatal diagnosis hovers around 90% (and higher). A new prenatal test that only requires a blood draw does not bode well for those statistics either.

Three things on my mind...

2011-10-13T11:19:00.001-04:00

1: I just walked/jogged a 5k (3.1 miles) in 57 minutes. I'm slow and out of shape, but, I did it :)

2: I may be leaving the country for a week in 6 weeks or so! (nope, not adopting!!)

3: Aleksa's FIRST birthday is coming up soon! It's been NINE years in waiting, and it's time to celebrate HER! :)

My Accomplished Day

2011-10-11T22:34:00.002-04:00

I don't have a whole lot of days where I feel like from beginning to end I was left with a feeling of ACCOMPLISHMENT. Today was one of those days, though!

This morning we got all the kids up and out to school. Michael brings the two younger girls to the church and I bring the six other kids to school on Tuesday mornings. After walking the little boys to their classroom in order to drop off a box of diapers for them, I left the school before 8am. I drove from there to a park that I like to frequent, but there was nowhere to park since we've gotten so much rain! I decided to drive over to the river instead and stopped at a different park. I pulled out my phone, checked email quickly, sent a quick email that I'd forgotten to write earlier, and settled in to start on my Bible study. That's where the "accomplished" part of my day leaves off a bit... because I'd apparently taken the study book out of my bag and left it next to my bed.

I decided to go ahead and go to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things for our kitchen. I was feeling like the kitchen was taking over, and needed to get it organized before I went nuts :). I found some "cracker jars" that look like large fat mason jars. They were only $5 each, so three came home with me, along with a chrome "bread box." I picked up two clear bins that are small with latching lids as well.

I also decided that while I was there I should be useful, and I picked up 5 gallons of milk and 4 containers of soy milk, 5.5 lbs of ground beef, an onion, a can of chile beans and a can of corn.

When I got home it was just before 10am and I got to work on my kitchen. We have 4 sets of meds at our house. 1) Medications taken daily that are pre-dosed in to a pill container or are liquid and dosed right from their container. 2) Medications that are for the rest of the month and are used to refill the pill container each week. 3) Medications that are for further out than this week because I buy in bulk... for instance 3 bottles of Ginkgo cost the same as one once you include shipping and bulk discounts, so we have extra. 4) Medications that are given for symptoms, such as Tylenol, Advil, Mucinex, and Benadryl.

I took the two plastic containers that I'd purchased and put all of the "extra refills" and all of the "regular refills" and put those in to the bins. I cleared out a section of our cabinets that goes back in to a corner and is somewhat difficult to access... therefore rarely used... and put them there. I had a third of these containers at the house already, and I put the daily meds in that one and cleared out a much more accessible place for that bin. I then took the bread box and put all the 'occasional' meds in it! I added the nebulizer masks, nasal syringes, markers used to mark lunch containers, and the canister of calorie additive that we use for the boys. It closes up and you'd never know it was our little pharmacy on the counter :).

I also cleared off ALL of the counters at the house! I moved some things around just for the sake of having a fresh look, like our convection oven and toaster. I even loaded the dishwasher.

The cracker jars became the home to our sugar, a bag of coffee beans, and the thickening packets we use for Micah's drinks. With those all looking similar (tho one is a different size) and the bread box hiding our meds, and the other meds all off the counter... and the counters CLEAN... it's amazing how clean the kitchen now looks!

My productive day then took a break while I went and got kids from school and church, dropped Kristopher off at the church to stay with Mike then go to karate lessons, and got everyone else home and occupied. On Tuesdays I don't even make dinner once or twice a month... because we often get pizza for buy 1 get 1 and that's worth it to not cook :). Today was no exception and I made cups for the kids and let Michael "cook" by picking up pizza on his way home. I did do one thing though... I'd purchased an alarm clock with a dual radio alarm, and I set it for the afternoon and bedtime doses of medication for Wesley. That way if we get in from school and I don't remember to give it to him right away, soon an alarm would sound (well, the radio anyway) to remind me to give it to him. It's hard to get in to new routines, especially when they break in to otherwise "unplanned" times!

After dinner it was baths x7 (Kris showers in the mornings), PJs, meds, teeth, and bed. Believe it or not, the kids went down EARLY.

Then, I got to work again. I started with cooking, and browned all the ground beef I'd bought earlier. Apparently I need to invest in a larger frying pan, because I had to employ THREE to cook the 5.5lbs of beef. Anyway, I cooked it all up, drained it (yikes, 24 ounces of FAT!) and then started making it in to meals. I made a "chili-like" meal with corn, chili beans, hot sauce, and chopped onions. Then, I made up some mashed potatoes and made some shepherd's pie. The last of the meat I packaged to later turn in to taco's. Guess what we're having Wed, Thurs, and Fri for dinner?? YEP!

With dinner for 30 accomplished, or at least the main dishes started, I set in to make smoothie drinks for James and Wesley. I made 6 quarts of smoothie, freezing one quart and leaving the other 5 in the fridge to be drank in the next 48 hours. No worries, they WILL!

After smoothies were finished, I put together a sandwich for Kristopher, some leftover Chicken Alfredo for the girls, set up the three boys' lunch boxes with their food for tomorrow, and decided that I was finished :).

I grabbed 8 outfits from the bins of pre-set-up clothes in our closet room and laid them out on the couch in age order so everyone knows where to find theirs in the morning. Then, at 9:30... I decided it was time to crash.

Somewhere in there I found a small Hershey's bar and it called my name. LOUDLY. It's been gone for some time now too :).

Now the question becomes... how long can the kitchen counters stay clear and how long can we continue to put things back where they go?? :)

Goodnight...

2011-10-10T20:40:00.001-04:00

Kids sleep in the most peculiar positions...

And Lynae? She went to bed with just a pillow and helped herself to the babies after we left :)

But He's Slouching

2011-10-06T17:54:00.000-04:00

He's slouching. Yep, he REALLY is slouching. His head sometimes dipped in the past, or his stiffened torso would lean to the side. But today, his shoulders are up, his back is bent, his arms are loose by his sides and he's holding his one hand on to the wrist of the other... relaxed.

Why does all of this matter? Because this all describes WESLEY, our son with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He's never slouched in his life. Never loosely held on to anything. He's never lifted his shoulders or dipped his head without a tightness throughout his body forcing him in to that position.

But today? He's slouching!

We began a new medication this past weekend to help with the spasticity that is caused by Wesley's CP. His neurologist looked at him and said "it won't do miracles..." to which we said "we're not looking for miracles, just quality of life and the most opportunities to succeed as we can provide him with."

Today, I would say that his reaction to the new med is certainly close to a miracle. He laid on the floor and played with toys and the tightness throughout his legs almost looked RELAXED. Sitting in his chair eating dinner he curled his arms around his chest and just sat... RELAXED. It's almost as if after 6 1/2 years of being tight all the time he had this sudden reprieve.

Don't get me wrong, he's still very tight. He's still stiff. He's nothing like a "normal" toned child would feel like. But the difference between last week and today may not be the miracle the neurologist cautioned us against expecting... but in the world of a six year old little boy with a look of relief on his face... it is just that.

Our school escort

2011-10-05T19:15:00.001-04:00

Do you know what today was??? Here's a hint...

We parked about 1/3 (roughly) of a mile from school and all got out of the van. A police car drove (on the sidewalk) right behind us the rest of the way to school, and a fire truck rode right next to us the entire way! Wesley was the only one in a stroller, and James and Micah held the sides of it. Kristopher held Lynae's hand and Aleksa and Brianna stayed close. EMMA WALKED, holding my hand, the ENTIRE way! We also had a paramedic walk with us, and he and Kristopher talked the entire way to the school. About 1/2 way to the school Lynae needed to be carried. She was falling behind, and she was tired of walking so quickly. I carried her, had Emma hold on to the stroller, and we made it a little bit further that way. Then, I caught Micah's shoe and the paramedic attempted to put it back on him... in the process knocking Micah down (accidentally) and scraping his shin a bit. Oops. I put Lynae down and got Micah's shoe on. The paramedic then asked if he could carry Lynae! He did, until we got closer to the school. Our PreK teacher came out and met us when we were in front of the school and Micah asked to walk with her. Lynae walked the rest of the way from there (we had to pass the school and then walk back to it so we'd cross at the crosswalk). Then, I walked them all right to their classrooms, got Wesley situated in his wheelchair at school, and Lynae took over the stroller for about 1/2 of the walk back to our van. Brianna, however, RAN and JUMPED the entire way back to the van. That girl has some ENERGY!!

So... what was today?? It was WALK TO SCHOOL DAY! The school has an "event" each year and all the students gather to walk together to school. Even the school buses unload and have the kids walk, and they have the police and fire escort. Since we happen to have the smallest feet that were walking to school... we brought up the caboose and had the fire truck and police car right behind us the entire way, and the paramedic was likely told to be behind the last kid to keep everyone safe and together.

It was a lot of fun, and a BEAUTIFUL morning for it! Can't say it's one we'll be repeating on a regular basis, but maybe with a bit more advance warning we may do something similar in the future just for fun. Of course, we'd have to get there quite a bit earlier :). We were "on time" this morning, but since the walk was all organized to start just before school, it was probably after 8:20 when we got to the school and it is supposed to start at 8.

We'd have to give ourselves a bit more time to go on a regular day though :)

The little helps

2011-10-03T21:49:00.000-04:00

I finally have a few minutes to address some of the Frequently Asked Questions that I've received!

The top question seems to be:
Some of your kids are on special diets. What do they eat, and how many different meals do you make each day?

Well... here's my attempt to answer that question :) And at the same time, to update on the kids names and ages! LOL

I'll start with the youngest and work on up.
Lynae is 2 and eats pretty much a normal diet. Because of her small size and small appetite, we supplement with some Pediasure. She's also on soy milk, though she gets other milk products (like cheese and yogurt). Straight milk upsets her stomach, though.

Micah is 5 and doesn't have any food restrictions, however he can't chew well, so he eats only soft-solids and very small pieces. His diet is mostly the consistency of spaghetti o's, though it's much more varied than that. Almost anything can get put into a blender and made to be a chunky consistency! He also is on only thickened liquids, so he can't have any liquids that haven't had thickener or a baby oatmeal or something like that added to them. If he does get thin liquid, he aspirates and often ends up with pneumonia. So... that's a biggie. With food that's not prepped correctly, he'll choke but 'recovers' well, thankfully!

James is 5 and is allergic to Casein. It's the protein in milk and makes him throw up. He just started on purees and soft solids on a very regular basis after a year of really struggling with him throwing up, finding out if he had anatomical differences inside (he doesn't!) and then learning that he is allergic to the casein. James gets most of his calories and nutrients through a liquid blended diet now, but he does eat all kinds of stuff... just in smaller quantities than 'normal'. I'll put some ingredients below that we use to make his 'smoothies' :). James needs his liquids slightly thickened to avoid choking as well as to keep it from leaking through his g-tube (which is not currently in use... he has a 'mini' button).

Brianna is 5 and eats just about everything, however she's a tiny eater as well. She probably has more freedoms in what she eats than she should, simply because there ARE so many diets going already, that it's easy to adapt stuff to make it a little more "Brianna friendly" in order to encourage her to eat more and get the much needed calories.

Wesley is 6 and loves to eat! Unfortunately, due to his spasticity it's very difficult for him to chew, so in the time that everyone else eats a full meal, Wes will eat 3 bites of a hot dog, or one chicken nugget. He now is able to self-feed!! Which is helpful and he is starting to eat a bit more that way since he can get another bite even if I'm not right there waiting to feed it to him. However, he's still very small! He gets most of his calories through a liquid blended 'smoothie' just like James. Wesley requires slightly thickened liquids or a small diameter straw for him to be able to control liquids well. He otherwise coughs and sputters, though he clears it well. We use infant oatmeal to thicken some of his drinks.

Kristopher is 7 and eats any and everything, though he does occasionally complain :).

Emma is 8 and eats very well. She will pick the vegetables out of ANY meal, no matter how mixed in they are. She also doesn't handle bread well. She'll take large bites, not chew it, and choke. When I say choke, I mean Heimlich maneuver, blind scoop, and scare you with 5 minutes of difficult breathing before we get it back up... SO, no soft bread for Emma unless it's cut into small pieces and monitored closely. She does better with 'crusty' bread or tortilla type breads. We also blend some veggies and 'sneak' them in to her meals. Adding a can of peas to a jar of spaghetti sauce, or corn to macaroni and cheese is easy if it's blended up smooth!

Aleksa is 8 and eats VERY well! She doesn't have a "stop" button yet, and will eat and eat and eat. This is where it makes things interesting with our family, since some kids we are constantly pushing food on to, and others we have to monitor. Because of Aleksa's past, she thinks that if someone else is eating and she isn't, that it is punishment. She will stand and cry, tears and all, if someone else is offered to finish the rest of their lunch after nap time and she isn't given a snack as well. Or if she finishes before others, and they get their 'seconds' ten minutes after her seconds... it's as if she's being deprived. She would literally sit at the table and eat all day every day if allowed. And drink... We recently had quite a difficult time going to my parents' church festival because people were eating in the food tent the entire time. Others were walking around with snow cones and giant lollipops. To her, she was missing out, even though we purposefully ate once we arrived so she would 'have her turn'. She literally cried the ENTIRE time we were at the festival, so anxious that everyone else was eating and she wasn't. Aleksa can eat anything, and will eat everything except has a tendency to avoid raw vegetables. We have many hurdles to jump with Aleksa in the food department, but it's because of connections, and "baggage" that she has related to food which we will need to overcome together.

And... that's our crew :)

As for the smoothies, here is one idea of what we'd put together and another set of 'substitutions' we may also use: (*Note, we make most of the smoothies dairy free so they are casein free for James, however there are some ingredients we use to occasionally make one that has dairy for Wes)
1 cup cocoanut milk
1 T cocoanut oil
4 T olive oil
2 whole bananas or 1.5 cups applesauce
1 can of green beans, peas, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, or other soft veggie
2 cups soy milk
1 cup oatmeal

We will also use whole milk yogurt, whole milk cottage cheese, and just... whole milk. I choose to use canned veggies right now because they are already soft and easily blended into a very pureed texture that will make it through the small openings in the cup/straw that the boys use. I also will substitute other fruit, such as pureed berries, or even canned fruit that was originally packed in light syrup, like peaches or pears. I started off using baby food that is already pureed for fruits and veggies, but both the cost and the annoyance of opening 6 packets of babyfood for each blender full made us decide to switch to canned veggies, at least for the time being. I also add seasoned bread crumbs (high in calories!), instant potato flakes, or butter to a smoothie for consistency, flavor, or calories.

In general, I need to make 2 blenders full each day, and generally I make them at the same time. Each of the boys takes 32 ounces of smoothie to school and we use 'leftovers' as well as fresh for dinner.

Since James cannot have Casein, he cannot have Pediasure. He also doesn't do well with the high sugar content in pre-packaged drinks, so even the soy varieties we don't buy for him. He is 100% on a blended diet with supplemental feedings to try to teach him to 'eat normally'.

Wesley, however, CAN have Pediasure, we just decided that since we were doing a blended diet for James, we wanted to do it for both of the boys that would benefit from it. Wesley does occasionally get Strawberry Pediasure, and he LIKES it, so it is almost a treat to him if I didn't make enough blended food for the day :).

There's our "dining plan"! It keeps things interesting around here for sure, but once we got in to the routine of things, it really isn't as "much" as it seems to be when it's all listed out :)

Wow, it's been a week since I posted!

2011-10-03T20:52:00.000-04:00

This has been a busy week, but most of all.... WE GOT OUR DRYER FIXED!!!Saturday we FINALLY got our dryer fixed, after about 3 weeks without it. YAY!!!!!!!! Man, it felt like 3 months! We also had a weekend filled with family. Friday I took the kids to the ball field to watch Michael play on the church league softball team. They played well, and the kids and I had a good time at the field :). Mike's parents came up for the second game, however the mosquitoes arrived not far after them, so we didn't make it through the second game. Saturday Michael waited for the dryer repair man (that was coming between 11 and 5... and showed up at 630...) while I took 4 of the kids to the Mullet Fest at my parents' church. Yes, it's about both the fish AND the hair... quite the event...Anyway, my parents, brother and sister in law as well as my aunt had a table with all sorts of crafts and such. Maybe I will post some here shortly if I can get some pic's of the ones they didn't sell. My brother made NEAT little wooden cars with trailers, and my sister in law is making crocheted bibs and hats and such. My aunt had an assortment of things, as did my mom, including stuffed animal horses and potholders. Lots of goodies :)Saturday evening we had my brother and sister and their spouses over along with a couple from church to play games! I love game nights :). Especially when they include ice cream!! We picked up a new game the other day that plays similar to Apples to Apples, but is pictures and you choose captions that go with them, then the 'judge' chooses the one they like the best. It was a fun night :).Sunday we went to church and I MAY be able to actually attend an entire service next week! It has been over 2 months since I've been able to sit through an entire church service because Wesley gets LOUD as soon as our pastor starts speaking. He's not upset... he's just LOUD! He just laughs, screams, does all sorts of things that are totally attention related and naughty, but in a 'normal' environment where I might set him 'aside' and ignore his behaviors for a few minutes and he'd stop... at church that isn't exactly an option! So, inevitably I end up leaving the service with Wes and either sitting in the foyer (if he's quieter there) or leaving all together. At least I've been able to go to the musical portion of worship most of the time (unless someone is sick and we stay home). Oh... and Michael sometimes will leave with Wes, but those tend to be the weeks that something else comes up too, and I end up leaving as well!So... this week I left and saw all the kids at the playground. I took Wes and we went out to the playground. The first thing that happened, is our regular babysitter (Lynae's class teacher) asked Wes "Hey, why don't you come to my class?" Hmm.... never considered putting him in a 2 yr old class. He understands more than a 2 yr old, but reality is... the 5 yr old class, and even the 3-4 yr old class, isn't ready for him. Both of those classes have some of our other kids (Brianna in the 5's and James and Micah in the 3-4's), and adding Wesley to the mix doesn't seem a good choice. So... though it may not be the "most appropriate" place for him... it IS somewhere that he can stay with someone that knows him well and is completely comfortable with him, and I can GO TO CHURCH! :) ALL of it! At least that's the hope and plan...Sunday afternoon we had my brother, his wife, and my sister over and the men went out and worked on our screen enclosure. Erin and I hung out with the kids until dinner time, when my sister joined us and we all had pizza together. I think one more long afternoon and the re-screening will be finished! YAY!Today was back in the daily grind, however we had a nice low-key day. Tomorrow the kids that are home on Mondays all head back to school and I have a FREE morning! If I'm not mistaken, this ENTIRE week holds no doctor's appointments and no obligations aside from the regular school schedule. In fact, Friday the kids are all off of school even. YAY! I'm already enjoying the beginning of a nice relaxing week!

Another "ordinary miracle"...

2011-09-24T19:11:00.000-04:00

When a child takes their first steps around their first birthday, parents and family members, friends and even strangers applaud those first wobbly steps of the infant. It's one of the progressive steps toward maturity that we fully expect our children to master, whether it be at 9 or 18 months old.

A child with added challenges may or may not meet that milestone in their lifetime. For Emma, we never thought we'd see the day come. But today, we are witnesses to another "ordinary miracle."

Emma is walking!

See for yourself... :)

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

And that's how the week has gone...

2011-09-21T17:25:00.001-04:00

Saturday we got a call from the pharmacy that a script was ready. Very happy that it was ready, Michael went to pick it up. You see, James' reflux med had to be ordered, so on the 7th when it was filled the first time, they gave us only 5 pills and said they'd let us know when the rest came in. We had a couple left before then, so the five lasted until the 14th. Now it was the 17th. Already see a part of the problem?

When Michael got there, it wasn't that script that was in. In fact, when he insisted that they really should be able to fill that script now because James had already MISSED meds for 2 days on a med set to auto- refill, they looked it up and found that that med had been backordered not just to the distributor, but to the manufacturer. In other words, they wouldn't be getting it again for a very long time. See problem number 2?

After much discussion, several phone calls to me, and eventually with our insurance company, a plan was put in place and our pharmacy generously asked one of their other stores to give us three pills of the name brand med for free to get us over until Monday when we could again address the problem, but during business hours. We are thankful that they did that! It did take a good 90 minutes of Michael's time and a trip to a second pharmacy, but problem temporarily solved.

We also found that another unaffiliated pharmacy in town had some in stock, and it was enough to fill the order. Our pharmacy transferred the script and I went to pick it up on Monday evening. I pulled in to the drive through and our interaction went something like this:
"I'm here to pick up for James Cornish."
"It says here that doctor prior authorization is required."
"Really? For a generic of this med?"
"No, it says name brand required, medically necessary on this script that was transferred."
"I'm sorry, but that's not right. Maybe in the midst of trying to get this filled someone wrote it in, but he's been on the generic for months. Can you fill it for the generic?"
"Yes, oh, wait, it says prior authorization needed for the generic too. Can you come inside?"

And then, I waited for another 20 or so minutes while they tried to figure things out. I explained that we'd already received a partial fill of 5 and it was filled on the 7th. I said that there had been a question about using name brand bc of the generic being out of availability but that our insurance wouldn't be happy with that, which is why we transferred the prescription to YOU, because you had the generic in stock. I even explained about the 3 'free' pills, and that it is likely why the name brand thing was written on the script, because they may have noted it that way so the other pharmacy would give my husband the 3 name brand pills to get through the weekend.

In the end of what turned out to be a 90 minute venture including a call to our previous pharmacy to make sure they backed out their order since insurance was still fighting the refill... we learned that the pharmacy tech was trying to get the order approved for 30 pills. *ahem* We filled 5 already... remember? Insurance would only fill 25 more. And they did. No questions asked. *sigh*

The next day I took Wesley to the GI and had the script changed so he can get tablets of double the strength, and we will split them ourselves, since those are still readily available from the manufacturer and distributor.
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On Tuesday at the doctor for Wesley we learned he has gained FOUR INCHES in 6 months! And... about 2.5lbs. Now, before we jump up and down about the height and scream HURRAH! like I wanted to initially... reality must be discussed. Wesley hasn't been to this doctor since before his hip surgery, and likely at least 2.5 inches of that 'height gained' (notice I didn't say he GREW?) is likely from the orthopedic doctor bringing his legs down into closer alignment with his hips. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure he gained some height during that surgery simply because of the moving of those bones...

As for the weight, well, it's pretty disappointing. He is still scrawny, and he is on pretty high calorie EVERYTHING.

He drinks a combination of Pediasure and a blended diet with at least 30 calories per ounce in each, and he also eats whatever he can at meals. He just eats VERY SLOWLY, and takes a really long time to get it down. He's learned to finger feed (have I mentioned that before? hmm...) and LIKES to eat! But he still doesn't get much down so it's mostly drinks. He's also army crawling all over, playing for several hours a day, and sitting up for a majority of the day. He has very high tone, so even just staying still he is burning more calories than you or I.

We are going to do a scope to be sure that he's not got other issues going on. We also have a neurology appointment on Monday where we will be discussing putting him on a med that may help reduce some of his spasticity. It won't be a miracle drug, but the goal isn't miracles, it's quality of life. In 4 months we will go back to GI and see whether the scope identified anything, and whether the other med helps him increase his food intake (if high tone in the mouth is part of the difficulty with eating, he may be able to eat more!). Then, we will discuss, once again, the possibility of a g-tube simply for him to get necessary calories. At that point, it would mean he could eat for pleasure and not be forced to eat a certain minimum each day.
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Wednesday is today. I brought 6 kids to school and Michael's mom kept the two younger girls at our house. I went to the park and worked on the last day of my Bible study for this week then went to the class Aleksa, Wesley, and Emma are in to observe. It was an eye opening time that I will try to share more about later, but for now I need to talk to their teacher to clarify some things and see what we can do to help improve things.

I will say, though, that Aleksa's behavior at school is BAD. Emma, too, has gone down hill. It appears that Emma's behavior may be a direct result of having less available attention for herself... which makes total sense, since Aleksa is requiring a LOT. I observed from a window, not within the classroom, so their behaviors wouldn't be affected by my presence. Before leaving I did take Aleksa aside and tell her to straighten up (of course in kid words!) and sent her back in, then watched another few minutes before leaving.

Tuesday when dropping Wesley off (after the GI) Aleksa saw me, and after that her day went downhill FAST. Today she came home and her behavior chart showed marked improvement in the afternoon. Maybe she wasn't sure if Mom was going to show up out of the pod for the rest of the day? Who knows! But at least she did have a bit better afternoon... She still came home with her hair down, something we have been working VERY hard on.
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Our dryer is still broken. I think I mentioned it last week, bringing laundry back and forth to my parents' house to have it dried... We called and had someone come out to fix it on Friday, however they'd ordered the wrong part and couldn't do it.

They checked on the right part and it... like James' med... was backordered to the manufacturer as well! So, no new part. No fix. Nothing.

We called the store where we bought the dryer and asked them again about having their team fix it, whether they could get the part. We'd inquired earlier but the 'local' company was the same price so we'd decided to go with them. (Yes, the same company that ordered the wrong part back a year and a bit ago when we BOUGHT the washer and dryer when they were supposed to order the part to convert it to propane... and we had to wait an extra couple weeks for them to get it...).

So, the store then says "wait, you ordered a service agreement" Which they had said NO, we hadn't, last week when we called. Well... we thought we'd only bought it on the Washer, but yay, good for us. They were scheduled to come out today while Michael's mom was here.Mike called me this afternoon to fill me in on the day's adventure.

The man called his mom and said "I'm on the way to fix the washer." She replied that the washer isn't broken, but the dryer was, and come on out. He then talked to Michael and in the mix of things, we learned that he WAS coming to service the washer, the one with the service agreement on it. YIKES. So, dryer has no service plan. Instead, Michael was told to cancel the appointment and do some other type of service plan that would be better than the cost of the repair visit and the parts to fix it. I didn't follow so well, but the idea was-- it is considerably less expensive but will take more time.

WHATEVER. Just fix it!So, as I speak there are dish towels lining the baby gate and a bath mat on the wagon out front all drying. Michael's mom just headed home with a basket of kids' laundry for us and I've now dried at least a dozen loads at my parents' house. Friday SOMEONE will come to the house and look at the dryer BEFORE they can order the part (that someone else has already said is definitely the problem). THEN, they can order the part... if they can get it and it isn't backordered and out of stock for them too.*sigh*
----------------------------------------------------------------

After school today I dropped Emma and Micah off with my parents and Kristopher and Wesley off at the house with Michael's mom and bee lined it down to a doctor's visit for James (with Aleksa too, and the little girls were still at the house since morning). I got there and the lady at the desk said "you're here to pick up, right?" Hmm... pick up... Yes, I wanted to pick up glasses, but James also had a pulmonology appointment at 3:15 that I was hurrying to get to...

No, apparently the doctor used to come twice a month and just changed to coming once a month. It must not have been noted to me, because 2 weeks ago I got a reminder slip about this appointment and it was in my calendar. Maybe I should have been surprised when I didn't get a reminder call 48 hours in advance, but with the week we've had and the fact that they've changed their way of doing reminders twice in the last 6 months... I didn't happen to notice. The lady at the desk said "oops!" that they hadn't called to let me know it had changed... Ah... well...

All wasn't for naught, and we FINALLY got a new pair of glasses for James! We've been using his "backup" pair since March when he broke his first pair. Then, the pair he broke was backordered for 3 months, then discontinued. So we picked another pair, but the temples couldn't be shortened enough for them to fit because they were 'springy' material and it wasn't possible. Then, the third pair we picked out was discontinued in the color we'd chosen and FINALLY... I said GO WITH THE OTHER COLOR!! As long as it wasn't the cute lavendar that we tried on in the office.

Today, only six months later, we finally have a pair of glasses back in our hands. Finally...

And so I began the 40 minute drive back home. His appointment had been rescheduled for 2 weeks out.

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Can you tell why I haven't blogged in a few days?? :) :)In the great scheme of things, we are blessed beyond measure and abundantly grateful that we have had a good week, albeit a frustrating one :)

I'll be at the elementary school all day tomorrow while the girls are at their church program. It's Height and Weight screening day for several grades and then it's 2nd grade "read with your child" time in the afternoon. Surely all of that is safe from things like this week has brought... right?? :) :)

Friday aside from the dryer being looked at (again), we also have James' IEP review and we have Lynae's 2 year checkup.What a week! :)

One year ago today...

2011-09-17T20:56:00.000-04:00

One year ago we first heard from Alla, now a sweet forever friend who we've had the blessing of spending quite a bit of time with in Ukraine during our time there. In fact, a year ago today I was sitting in the Orlando airport on my way to Ukraine when I received it! I was in various airports in the USA when we exchanged multiple emails... one including a photograph that brought tears to my eyes.

After two and a half years of wondering what became of Aleksa, I laid eyes on a picture- maybe a year old- that confirmed that Aleksa was alive and well... and that Alla ministered at her institution!

Today, one year ago, we began what we didn't know would end up being the first day of our adoption of Aleksa! We are forever gratefu to Alla, Oksana, and Misha for their love, assistance, friendship, and most of all, their continued ministry to the least of these... the disabled orphans of Ukraine!

The photograph which first brightened our hearts and gave us the knowledge that Aleksa was alive... the one which stirred our hearts in to action...

On the left, in the green shirt, is 7 year old Aleksa.

More to come...

Off for Flu Shots this morning

2011-09-15T08:27:00.002-04:00

Times FIVE.

Lynae was sick since Sunday and tho she still has a hoarse voice, she is happy, fever free, and only coughing on occasion, so she's back at KAD this morning, though we did decide to put off her 2 yr shots another week.

Wesley and Aleksa go tomorrow for the rest of their school shots and flu shots as well.

Busy week at our house, but it's been a great one so far! :)

Clean

2011-09-13T10:43:00.000-04:00

In addition to the brief 'articles' I've posted a few of, I've had another writing project going on over the last several months. One of those is a set of devotions which I felt God shared with me to write. I was reading back through them today and remembered that the last one I wrote didn't "fit" in the theme of what I was writing. I don't know why it was written, but I left it with the others "just because". Today, as I reread it probably 8 months later, it's something that hits home again.

So... here it is. A quick mommy-devotion that I hope will speak to someone, because as surely as it spoke to me on the day it happened, it teaches me today as well.

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One morning my oldest son asked if he could take a bath whenwe were finished bathing all the other kids. He just wanted to play in the water but was assured that he DID have towash, too, if he was taking a bath. Withreluctance he agreed and when the other kids went down for rest time or out toplay in the playroom, my son climbed into the bath tub.

I’d filled it extra high and poured a generous amount ofbubbles into the warm, fresh water. Iturned on the ‘fountain’ toy that the younger kids play with and tossed everysingle alphabet letter and bath toy that was hanging in the drying net downinto the tub. I was really intent uponnot only letting him have a nice relaxing bath, but giving him the ability tothoroughly enjoy every aspect of it!

After about 20 minutes I decided I should go and check in onhim. I could smell the brand new bottleof apple scented kids’ shampoo and I wanted to help wash his hair so I could besure he really got it clean and all the shampoo rinsed out. Being 7 means independence, and he’ll be 7 injust a few weeks. But it also means thatsome things he just might not be old enough to handle himself.

When I got into the bathroom that day, the light scent ofapples became a strong, overwhelming smell. It was as if I walked into a room of incense with an apple scent andalmost made me want to leave the room. Having just opened the bottle for the first time during one of theprevious kid’s bath, I didn’t think that it was the type of shampoo that wouldgive off that strong of a scent.

Then, I saw it. I sawthe bottle of shampoo floating in the water. Empty.

Not only did I see an empty bottle of shampoo, which justthat morning was brand new, but I saw my almost-seven-year-old son sittingthere in the tub looking at me with dryhair.

I took a deep breath. “Son, what did you use shampoo for?” No real answer. “I know it wasfull, because I just opened it this morning. What did you use it for?” Stillnothing good. “I’m disappointed that youused my whole bottle of shampoo to play and you still haven’t even wet your ownhair to be washed. There’s not evenenough left in the bottle to wash your hair with now, and I don’t have shampoofor anyone the next time that anyone needs a bath.”

I’d love to say I was calm and predictable as I talked tohim, but the truth is, I was angry. Iwas angry that he’d taken my indulgent bath time that I’d set up with everythinghe could want or need related to the tub and instead of enjoying everything I’dgiven him, he chose to look outside of my provisions and take something he knewhe shouldn’t have and use it up.

The bath continued and I did find shampoo to wash hishair. Then, as I began to rinse his hairI realized that it wasn’t coming clean. There were too many suds in the water and I had to turn on the shower to rinse his hair. Immediately, hebegan screaming as I rinsed it and that woke his three brothers in the bedroomnext door. My oldest son ended up beingsent to the other room of the house to get dressed then have a time-out for hismisbehavior… Hopefully learning the lesson that he’s not to touch things thatdon’t belong to him. It wasn’t exactlythe nice, fun, relaxing time that I’d hoped he would have that day.

In hindsight, I see that I do this very same thingdaily. God prepares His best forme. He lays out a soft fluffy towel,gives me bubbles and every toy in sight, prepares the warm tub, and I reach forthe one thing which He needs to be there, but which I can’t seem toignore. I want what belongs to someoneelse, instead of being happy with everything that God has for me.

Then, when I disobey, it not only has God come and say “Hey,why did you do that? Didn’t you see Ihad my best planned for you? Why did yougo your own way anyway?” but then when He decides to carry on with the plans Hehad, they often involve a full showering off to get rid of the mess I’ve madeof myself rather than a quick rinse to reorganize myself. And yes, I often leave there screaming, wakingothers around me from their sleep and upsetting them too… and sometimes it’s asthough God sends me to another area to ‘get myself under control’ before I canresume ‘normal’ life.

Have you reached for the shampoo bottle lately? And has God rinsed you down… kicking andscreaming?

With our children, we always go back a few minutes later…when their mood has changed and the circumstances are different. And we make sure to tell them I love you. We give them a hug, remind them of the lessonthey’ve learned, and make sure that they know that no matter what they do… wewill always love them! At the same time, we want them to obey andask that they think before they act and consider right and wrong.

God comes back with his Hugs and I Love You’s too. He doesn’t hold a grudge when we mess up, orwhen we disregard His best for us and go after something that’s tempting us inanother direction. God loves us forever,no matter what.

“Here is a trustworthysaying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to savesinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shownmercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display hisimmense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receiveeternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Father, I reach out for things Ishouldn’t. Like a child I decide toindulge in my own ways instead of enjoying your goodness. Thank you for never turning your back onme! Thank you that you are always thereto say I Love You. I’m sorry for mydisobedience. Please forgive me fordesiring things that are outside your will, and help me to bring my focus moreon you. Help me to consider my actionsbefore I make them and to make decisions based on what I know is right. Amen.

What was that again?

2011-09-13T08:47:00.000-04:00

This pretty much sums up my feelings on the word too, but how touching to hear it from Russel's SISTER. She is a sweet new college student who we've had the blessing of spending some time with a couple years ago. Her heart... it's real.

Please think before you say "retarded." It is a word in the medical files of six of my children, but not a single one of them is worthless, stupid, disgraceful, or featherbrained, as urband*ctionary . com lists out with its hundred word list of synonyms for the word.

Do you say it? Then you're perpetuating it. And my kids... they're the ones that overhear it when you say it... one day, they will know and understand. Yes, at times those remarks have even been pointed at them from people who should know better. Doctors feel the need to bring it up regularly too it seems. When you say it... you're referring to them, and people just like them.

If it was simply a medical term, like having blonde hair or blue eyes... then the most voted on definition on that popular website of definitions wouldn't be so destructive. No, it's not just a word... it's a word that's used in society as an insult of either oneself or another. But really? You're saying that yourself or others... are like my kids. And somehow... people seem to think that's an awful thing to be.

Empty

2011-09-12T21:12:00.001-04:00

When you're on empty, you cannot fill another up.

Consider each person in a classroom holding a pitcher. The teacher begins to pour and gives each student an equal amount of water. The first person immediately leaves and wanders in the heat to find several people who are thirsty, then pours out her water to each of them. The second person leaves and holds on to her water for later. She walks a bit in the heat and takes a sip here and there. She is looking for just the right person to share her water with. The third person drinks half of the water before leaving the room, then goes and and finds someone that needs the other half.

Our first person doesn't make it back to get her pitcher refilled, because she is too thirsty to make the journey back. The second person doesn't feel the need for a refill, because her pitcher and her thirst are doing fine on their own. The third person comes back for more, having provided both for her own needs and the needs of others.

Which illustration best shows YOU, and how you relate to the Word of God?

Are you the first person, that fills up "for others" and spreads the Word of God by mouth, but doesn't take any in, and runs weary, not wanting to even return for more?

Are you the second person, that fills up "all for yourself" and goes out and lives happily without feeling the real need to be refilled?

Are you the third person, that fills up herself, then pours out in to those around you, coming back for more so you can continue to do the same?

An empty vessel cannot fill another empty vessel. So much more so can a person not IN the Word themselves share the Word effectively with others.

This has been Random Thoughts for the Day :)

Our big 5 year old!

2011-09-10T18:06:00.001-04:00

Happy 5th Birthday Micah!

2011-09-10T07:22:00.000-04:00

Yep, 2 birthdays in 2 days :). It's Micah's FIFTH birthday! Hard to believe he's already 5! Not only that, it is his 4th birthday at home. Wow! :)

The 2 yr old!

2011-09-09T15:56:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Lynae!

2011-09-09T11:34:00.002-04:00

Today our "Baby" is TWO! Happy Birthday sweet Lynae!!

Whew!

2011-09-07T22:16:00.000-04:00

It's been a long day, but a good one!

We started the morning out at 5:40 with showers and dressing, getting kids up and dressed, some of them fed (others eat with their class at school), medicines in, hair, teeth, glasses, shoes, and all eight out the door. Drop six of them off at school then Brianna, Lynae, and I went to Target to pick up birthday gifts :). Lynae will be TWO on Friday, and Micah will be FIVE on Saturday! I'd price checked and looked around a bit and decided to get some things from Target. So... an hour later and a little bit broker :) we emerged!

I swung by our house and picked up the basket full of wet laundry out of our washing machine and a trash bag with the kids' dirty clothes and tossed them in the back of the van along with my portable paper scanner wand thingy so I could scan some documents before mailing them. Drove to my parents' house to drop off the laundry... not because I'm a sad college student wanting mommy to do my laundry, but because our dryer quit working last night and I had a load of wet clothes that were clean, and a full load of laundry that needed to run... my mom allowed us to do it at her house.

Not only did I drop off the clothes, but my parents decided to hang on to the girls as well for a couple of hours. I was headed to a Bible study at the church, so they were headed to the nursery anyway. Grandmommy did our laundry AND hung with the girls and I went to study David :) (um... Biblical David... Just in case you're wondering...).

I went to the church for Bible study and called Mike to scan the paperwork for me since that was easier than my little portable doohickey... and... I'd left the actual paperwork at home! Oh well... so much for that idea. Bible study was great, though :).

After Bible study I picked the kids up from my dad, since my mom had another appointment just as the Bible study got out. Lynae was curled up with him and just drinking him in :). We headed home, put Lynae down for nap, and Brianna started working on her word board. I was on the phone for a bit, finished getting the addresses and such on to the paperwork so I could drop it off to Mike in the afternoon, made some reheated pizza for lunch, and my brother and sister-in-law stopped by. David (my brother this time...) was there to mow for us, so Erin came in and flipped through the kids' fundraisers while we just chatted for a bit. Before we knew it it was time to grab the girls and go pick the rest of the kids up from school! (Without the folder with the things to mail of course... Oops!)

After school I ran back by my parents' house and picked up the last of our clothes from their dryer then headed home. Before we'd been in the door too long Michael called and said that the repair man was on his way for the dryer. About 45 minutes (and several whispered curses at our very annoying to work on LG machine) and $60 later the repair man said there may still be a warranty on it, and if so he couldn't do warranty work. But if not, the electronic panel appears to be bad and he'd have someone call us tomorrow with a cost estimate. Great.

The entire time he was there, I was attempting to set something up on the computer for Brianna and some combination of my computer being REALLY slow and the program not liking that the screen is REALLY tiny, it didn't work. Five minutes and it was DONE on Mike's computer once I gave up using the laptop. Oiy Vey.

It was dinner time by then, and I quickly did a load of dishes then started in on dinner. Mike came in from work and was greeted by reheated yummies :) Nope, not pizza. (On second thought, Michael did end up eating pizza... Hmm...). At about 6pm the kids finished up eating and went off for baths and tooth brushing, meds, hair brushing, pajamas (no, they didn't do that all naked... this is in no particular order...) and then off to bed (yes, last!). By 7 everyone was tucked in, Wesley had his brace on, Brianna had been to the toilet AGAIN, and the house was QUIET... except for Kristopher :). He and Michael read for a little while out of his Jackson Jones book while I hid in the front room sorting laundry and attempting to make heads and tails out of the laundry monster that long ago took over that room!

Once I had 7 sets of clothes out for each of the 8 kids to take care of the next week (do the math, that's a LOT of socks!) I reemerged and Michael decided it was time for me to eat dinner. Nice man :). I made a sandwich and then started in on getting the kids' lunches packed for tomorrow. By 9:15pm I had clothes ready, lunches ready, and was ready for BED!

Just one of the "typical" days around here... EXCEPT, that normally Brianna and I have some 1:1 time to work on school work. Today we knew would be a little crazier than normal, though, and we did school on Monday even though the rest of the kids were out. The broken dryer? That was a bonus :)

7 kids, 1 momma, 4 days

2011-09-05T19:34:00.001-04:00

This weekend Kristopher and Michael went for a "guys' weekend!" They spent a day at Sea World, went to the Mosi Science Museum in Tampa, swam in the hotel pool, walked around at Down Town Disney, and ate at the Dinosaur restaurant there. We've been saving for and planning this since my trip with the little girls in May to see my sister, so they were excited to get to go!

They have had a GREAT weekend! And now... I'm exhausted :). I've had all 7 of the other kids here for the last 4 days and it's been busy! It's also been great, though. Since I didn't leave the house at all... we also haven't gotten up and dressed and moving in the mornings like we do during the regular week. Not only that, but I was able to get a lot done! With no schedules to keep to, we've been playing a lot, working around the house a lot, and getting stuff done :).

Homeschooling... week 1!

2011-09-05T13:16:00.001-04:00

So, we're through with week one of homeschooling Brianna. I don't plan to do REGULAR updates on homeschooling, but I will update here and there.

For right now, I'm just getting started and want to keep a little record for myself though :)

Brianna went to KAD at the church this week and jumped right in with the other kids. She's in the class she would have been in if we had decided to wait a year on kindy. But, it's all typical peers, so it's an environment she wasn't able to be in even last year. SHE LOVES IT. She is getting reinforcement of PreK skills there as well as Bible stories, crafts, time in the gymnasium or playground with her friends, and time with other kids who TALK :).

Really, I think this set up is the best of both worlds for Brianna. Social, interactive, and fun for just a couple hours each week, and home getting 1:1 teaching exactly where she's needing it the rest of the time.

More so than that, Michael and I are at complete peace with it. We didn't know how we'd feel doing full time homeschooling for ONE child. But, when it came down to what is best for EACH child, and right now, we have it. Traditional school and homeschooling together for Wesley and Aleksa, traditional school for Kristopher, Emma, Micah, and James. Homeschooling for Brianna with KAD, and KAD for Lynae since she's only 2 :) (or... not quite.. :) ).

So far, Brianna and I have worked through quite a few skills just to find out exactly what she already has mastered and what she still needs to work on, or what we are at a complete loss for still.

We've worked on a bunch of different skills this past week and found that Brianna's "holes" in what she knows are mostly critical thinking skills, not straight academic stuff. For instance, the idea of spacial placement (on top, under, between, etc...) and size/quantity such as longer, biggest, more and fewer. She us doing great with letter names and numbers, counting objects, rote counting and recognizing numerals. She needs to work more on internal and ending sounds in words and of course blends and such for bigger words :).

Now we know where to start with her to work forward and fill the gaps rather than working backward or starting off too easy.

I've put together multiple kindergarten type workbooks to create a curriculum that fills the holds going backward and will continue to teach her going forward.

It's been a great week and we are really enjoying ourselves. Brianna is asking to do her school work, which is a benefit as well :). We're doing a combination of worksheets, hands on curriculum, iPad learning, and live and learn stuff.

Now on to week two!!

It's been ONE YEAR!

2011-09-01T22:01:00.001-04:00

It's our first anniversary of James' Adoption Finalization! :) YAY!

We are so glad to have him as our son :) :)

A quick update: He is in school and doing great. His energy level has decreased to a "normal but active" level instead of "OH MY GOODNESS!" level for the most part :). He is eating well and sleeping well, he's learned to jump with two feet off the floor, and he is always winning over hearts with his sweet smile and bright eyes.

James, you are a gift and a joy, and we are so glad to call you our son!

Brianna is officially...

2011-08-30T15:08:00.000-04:00

HOMESCHOOLED!

Yes, we withdrew her today. I haven't mentioned the things going on with her on here, because, quite honestly I didn't find it an appropriate avenue :). But her class schedule wasn't working (very little academic time), another intermediary schedule was formed but still not a "good" one (very little time in the typical kindy classroom), and we're not sure there's really any other options, even if we decided to hold an IEP (which yes, was scheduled). In the end, we felt that this was the answer-- that we are supposed to do this ourselves for her this year.

I by no means have had any issues with either of the teachers involved and are very sorry to be pulling her from their classes, specifically, and in fact still have 3 kids in one of those classes :). It was just a matter of whether we'd be ok with "ok, good, or best" and we want best for her, which right now means homeschooling.

We are very blessed to have a welcoming church which, since she isn't of "legal age" of HAVING to go to school, has allowed her to take part in their Kids' Adventure Day program in their oldest class (typically 3-4 yr olds). She will be going there for "social" time and to get that interaction with friends that she craves :). She'll then work with me at home on all the academics as we build our homeschool curriculum.

We are excited about what this year will bring for Brianna and for each of our children in the different ways God has made them and different ways that each of them learns best.

Now... all you homeschooling moms... :) :) Be ready for some questions! Like... if you homeschool your child with disabilities, do you use a specific curriculum, or do you do an 'eclectic' approach? Either way, what programs/curriculum do you use? I have all kinds of things already from our many adventures just in raising our kids, but are interested in other things for schooling as well.

The next great adventure... :)

We have a new child!!

2011-08-29T16:43:00.000-04:00

Don't panic... we gave the 9th child (visitor) back. And we still only have EIGHT kids.

But you see... one of them has magically transformed.

On Saturday we had one child... that child is the child that doesn't listen, that turns evil the moment we turn our backs (I don't say this lightly!), and that does any and everything possible to hurt someone, get them in trouble, aggravate people, etc... everything... without ceasing. That child didn't even appear to HEAR, because not a single thing sank in. It was really as if there must be some MAJOR problem going on (besides having Ds and being in an institution for 3 years...) because not only did she show so many many signs of RAD (reactive attachment disorder), but she also was not acquiring language, showing response or remorse, etc.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

And on Sunday, that child left. I'm sure she may be back visiting from time to time... but she has been gone for 36 hours now, and instead of being in tears thinking "what are your PLANS, GOD??" as I was just three weeks ago when we discovered new behaviors which made us even more cautious to let her out of sight for even a moment's time with our other children... we are now saying "could it be?? Could she have decided that she WANTS to be a part of our family, and WANTS to love??"

Dare I say that having our little visitor (baby #9 for the weekend) may have helped her??

She took in little "G" very quickly. She was KIND to her. It was as if... she was caring for the "youngest" that had just been moved to the orphanage. Seriously, I think that's what it was!

And all of a sudden, after about 36 hours with our new friend, she decided... to listen. To hear. To respond. To be kind. To reach out. To BE DESIRED. To DESIRE. I think she realized that she likes it here.

We have a new child! I hope she will stay!!!

We are at 8 1/2 months home. It hasn't been an easy road. But let me tell you, this last two days has proven to me that there IS this child in there. There is potential for love and growth. She's in there. Even if she goes away and turns back to the "old tricks." We now know that this is possible. It gives us a glimpse of what will be, if nothing else.

Wow.

""For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

A little visitor

2011-08-27T08:58:00.000-04:00

We have a sweet little visitor at our house this weekend! Little G is 3 and was adted 2 years ago. She also has Ds. Everyone needs an occasional break, and we are blessed to live in a fairly close proximity to this family so that we can help out on occasion. This is G's first weekend visit :)

Brianna and Lynae both want to baby her, since she's the size of Lynae but isn't walking and they see her as a baby. Aleksa is keeping a close eye on her but keeps bringing her toys and wants to make sure she's ok. I think that's from years in orphanages making the "new orphans" feel better about their arrival...

James is surprisingly interested in her, and wants to sit close by her and play his own thing. He hasn't messed with her or otherwise interacted with her, but he sits about 2 inches off her hip and plays :)

Kristopher of course is fine with her, and the rest of the kids haven't really reacted. So far so good :)

Integrity

2011-08-24T17:31:00.001-04:00

I will stand by a person of integrity into the depths of accusations about them, because a person of integrity will share the truth in love and will act upon their knowledge, but will not return with insults or accusations of their accuser. A person of integrity will be a faithful friend and will return that with faith in you as well.

There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.
~John F. Kennedy

When something that I have stood for determines that inaction will be their response to a serious incident, my own integrity is based on my fleeing from their association and severing ties.

Proverbs 16:17
The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

1 Chronicles 29:17
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.

I will not defend the reputation of something that cannot show its integrity. They may defend themselves against their accusers.

I never worry about action, but only inaction.
~Winston Churchill

I will also not stand among those that make false accusations.

Psalm 27:12
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

In the end, I will uphold this:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I say this all not to pass judgement, because it is NOT my place to do so. But it is my personal responsibility to stand for what I believe in.

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

What to say

2011-08-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

What to say, what to say...

We've had several goings-on that I haven't yet posted about, mostly because things have been quite busy around here, as you can imagine. Today is day 11 of school for most of the kids and all of them are adjusting well to their new environments and teachers and schedules. Of course not without issue, but the kids are doing as well or better than expected in their classes. Now, if we can just work out the "details" then we can go on with things :).

I wanted to post that I was SO encouraged, and so SURPRISED by the responses to the post about "how do you know me"! First off, I haven't received many comments lately, so I presumed that not many people really were reading since my posting has been a bit more sporadic here lately. So the amount of replies on the comments and on FB was a shock. I also love that many of you posted not just how you originally met us, or found us on the web, but you shared encouraging words with us about how our journeys intertwine or how this blog has been an encouragement to you. THANK YOU for sharing those precious thoughts with us!

I love to blog and to come back here to ask questions, share triumphs, and just let our children's accomplishments shine for themselves, and I'm honored to know that there are others that are enjoying following along with our family as well.

Short and sweet today, but it's time for me to go pick up 7 kids from school :).

James’ Birthday Party!

2011-08-21T15:38:00.002-04:00

James had a great time at his birthday party yesterday! He certainly knew that this party was about HIM and he was going to prove that he deserved it :). He danced around the middle of the circle of family and friends, opened his gifts and smiled the entire time. What a fun time he had!
Without further ado… Pictures! :)

James with his “Mama Ruth!” She made the 2 hour drive to join us for his birthday party :). Mama Ruth was James’ foster mom for 3 1/2 years before he joined our family and we are grateful to now call her family too!

Brianna, teaching Grandaddy and Aunt Birgitt how to use their new iPads :)

Notice the new shirt? He chose today to spit up LOL. Oh well, I can handle a LITTLE spit up when the BIG problem is gone!!

Grandmommy made a dump truck cake and cupcakes!

The rest of these pictures are just because I have incredibly beautiful children (if I do say so myself!) and wanted to get a nice picture of each of them before we left for church today :)
-Posted oldest to youngest

Car Decal

2011-08-18T19:32:00.000-04:00

On our 12 passenger van we had a decal that said "Adoption, a beautiful way to grow your family" compliments of Christine Reed mailing it to me :).

Now we have a 15 passenger. I need a new decal! I'd love to design my own and have it printed, but am having a hard time coming up with a phrase that really speaks to my heart as to what I'd like to say to whomever might be driving behind us, or see our van parked at the grocery store or the school.

I probably want it to be about adoption.
Maybe special needs.
I think I want to add the Bible address of James 1:27 to it.
I don't want it to have the "savior" mentality or to speak of something *we* did. (ie: we saved a child)

So I know what I don't want. Just don't really know what I DO want.

Ideas??

Catching up! :)

2011-08-18T09:49:00.001-04:00

Let's start with today and go backward... LOL

Today is the very first day that I have nothing on the agenda that I have to do for someone else, aside from the "normal" stuff of keeping up with kids and house. No appointments, no kids home during the day (well, until 12:15 when Lynae gets out anyway), and nothing calling me out of the house!

Yesterday was a great day! I was able to do something for ME! I went to the first day of a Bible study at our church. It's a Beth Moore study called David, Seeking a heart like His. The first day was great, and I'm looking forward to the next 10 weeks as we'll go deeper in to the life of David and apply the Biblical principles to our own lives. This is only the second women's study I've been a part of in the last ten years, since I've always had other responsibilities which wouldn't allow me to commit to a long term study. Yay! Kristopher enjoyed going to youth group since Park Ave just started back up after a summer break. He's excited :)

Tuesday I had 90 minutes alone too, it's weird having the kids in school! I went to Target and picked up more shorts for the girls, since Emma has scooted through the bottoms of most of hers. Then it was off to pick James up from school. Before I get in and explain that, Kristopher also started Karate. We've talked about having him take karate for a while, but hadn't had all the right timing. He started and really enjoyed it.

Ok, back to James. He had an appointment with the GI doctor to follow up from all the tests he had done just a couple months ago.

Here's the results: EGD: Normal. Motility study: Normal. Upper GI: Normal
Of course a few did say he has reflux...

And then, the after effects: The doctor took James off of EryPed, which is an antibiotic that helps with motility. He'd been on it for just over a year, since right before moving in with us last May. James' throwing up was EXACTLY like the effects of slow motility! But when the studies began coming back normal, he was taken off of it. (Oh, and since he'd had Salmonella last August, we couldn't do these studies until it had been at least 7-8 months past the time he had it so we couldn't blame it on the Salmonella being in his system still).

So, finally some answers-- though they didn't exactly solve anything.

And about 4 days after coming off the EryPed, his occasional vomiting episodes and frequent spit up changed. He still was 'urping' up little bits of spit-up during the day, but every night after (or sometimes during) dinner he was throwing up his entire meal. The GI doctor also upped the amount of Pediasure he wanted James to have, so instead of 4-5 cans, he was supposed to get 5 cans daily. This meant that we were trying to tube-feed James if he didn't get in the 5 cans, and we went from not using his mini button (gtube) for a YEAR except for an occasional fluid when he was actually sick, to tube feeding every night before bed.

This went on for about 23 days straight. Let me just say, I hate vomit! :) It got to where we would just have James sit at the table a few extra minutes after dinner so he could throw up in a place that was relatively easy to clean it up form, then we'd give him a bath. Then, he'd go back and play for a bit, we'd put all the other kids in bed, tube feed him- often Pedialite instead of Pediasure just so he'd be hydrated, wait to see if he was going to throw that up, then give him another bath, and put him to bed... figuring that he just wasn't going to keep it down.

We tried changing the schedule we were feeding in, changing bath times (in case that was stressful and inducing his throwing up), and doing anything else we could think of to help. Nothing changed.

At day 24, I decided I was done. There was no way that this was working. He wasn't getting the calories that he had been getting even a few months prior. I looked up everything to do with the EryPed and couldn't find anything to suggest that taking him off of it had anything to do with his throwing up.

At the same time, we were dealing with majorly hyperactive behavior from James. At his 5 year physical, our pediatrician, when I brought up the idea of starting Ginkgo Biloba for James, asked if we'd like to be referred to a behaviorist so we could talk about other "medications for his behavior". I've had 4 and 5 year olds a few times, and I have to say that James is exceptionally more active than any of the rest of them :). That said, he's only just turned 5. He's in preschool. I don't want to use psychotropic medications to help him until I've exhausted all of our other options with behavior.

Then, I began reading about Pediasure.

I read the ingredient list. I saw the second ingredient, Sugar. And, with that he came off of Pediasure.

He was throwing it up constantly, he wasn't getting the calories that were needed, but he WAS getting a ton of sugar. His behavior needed changes, and the summer time was when I could see whether changes we were making would really make a difference or not.

So, off Pediasure he came. It was August 4th, and he has made a 180 as far as his daily vomiting AND reflux goes! He had milk (yogurt) in ONE smoothie drink that I made him, and that night he threw up. He had a different cup (and coughed a bit drinking) at school this week and spit up about a quarter size amount. Other than those two episodes, he has not refluxed AT ALL since taking him off Pediasure!

Tuesday at the GI appointment his doctor said that he never has to have milk again. Though Pediasure is LACTOSE free, it is NOT MILK FREE. It has Milk Protein Concentrate, which is also known as CASEIN. Often times people hear of "gluten-free, casein-free" diets. Though we'd checked James for celiac, he's not been tested for other allergies.

Now, we have the answer! James is allergic to casein! GREAT news, because he may be able to progress with his eating now!!!

Not only that, but today I spoke with James' teachers and the aide in the room was with him last year. I'd noticed a change at home, but I asked her as well... Has she noticed he's much CALMER?? YES!

It's like we have a different child in our house! He's still the same little ornery kiddo at times, and we have a lot of work cut out for us to get him to follow directions, etc still LOL. BUT. He is able to sit still, participate in activities, pay attention to what is going on around him and not just GO GO GO all the time. He's not throwing up, he's happier, and all over, he is doing GREAT!

I'm so excited for James, and so happy for all of our family that this 'change' was what he needed.

Someone asked what James is eating now. He's getting "smoothies" at every meal, and is also beginning to eat small amounts of 'regular' food, such as cereal bars, crackers, and other foods. In his smoothies, we are using soy milk, coconut milk, extra virgin olive oil (for calories), rice protein powder, and a mixture of fruits and vegetables that we would give him if he was eating everything 'normally'. In order to make it more realistic to make 3 smoothies a day (Wesley is also on a blended diet, but with more regular foods), we're using some stage 3 baby foods instead of fresh vegetables and fruits. We've also used canned pumpkin and applesauce, fresh bananas, and even peanut butter.

Ok, this is now a super long post, but that's the update, catching up on us! We are all doing great and getting in to the new routines of school!

How did you find me?

2011-08-17T20:23:00.000-04:00

Lots to say, lots to post, and lots to update on! But... I'm tired :)

So, I'm going to ask you a question instead, and save the blogging for tomorrow when I will have some TIME by MYSELF :) :) :)

For now... how did you find me? When did you first read our blog, and how did you come across it? Do you know us in real life? Did you find us on FaceBook? Did you find us randomly?

I recently got a phone call from someone who (to my knowledge) found us randomly. It was interesting talking to her, and I wondered... how did other people find us?

Fess up :) I think it would be fun to know!

First day of school

2011-08-16T08:06:00.001-04:00

Monday was Aleksa's first day of school EVER! 2nd grade. And Brianna's first day of inclusion kindergarten!

We survived!

2011-08-15T22:41:00.002-04:00

www.mcornish.org

We all survived day one of school for Aleksa and Brianna! Yes, we got a call over the weekend that things had been worked out for Aleksa to start school. She went and had a good day! I think she likely finds the routine comfortable, and won't show her difficult behaviors in that area for a while. Instead, she will push more at home to see if we are really going to come back for her after each day of school...

Brianna's day was great too. She went to her first day of inclusion kindergarten and enjoyed it all! She has a sweet friend from church in her class and the two of them are paired as buddies in school. C is a great "match" with her and it's wonderful to know that her parents are also friends of ours and they are a sweet Christian family! I have been praying that God would provide a Christian friend that would help Brianna go the right places but without mothering her. C is doing just that and was excited about being with Brianna.

Tomorrow (tuesday) Lynae starts KAD at the church and wil go with Michael to that. She went on and off last year but this is her first time being enrolled full time (two mornings a week). Now, what will imdo with myself??

Oh yes, I will take James to the GI doctor tomorrow :). He has been REFLUX FREE since coming off Pediasure almost 2 weeks ago! After twenty some days of daily vomitting, 12 without is a miracle :) :). I'm interested to hear what the doctor has to say tomorrow!

Happy 5th Birthday James!!

2011-08-14T15:33:00.002-04:00

James is FIVE today!!

We are celebrating his birthday with family and a few friends next weekend, but I couldn't let the day go by without at least a little Happy Birthday post to our sweetheart :)

That thing we call school

2011-08-12T15:41:00.000-04:00

Oops... haven't posted yet!

Thank you to those that wrote and said "how'd it go??" It really is nice to know that some of the 'hits' on the blog and FB are people other than my mother who I talk to every day :)

As far as school goes, we had five kids start this week and they are all really enjoying it so far!

Kristopher has Mrs. R and is very happy in there :). He's learning and excited to be with friends from Kindergarten and 1st grade. He is a pretty easy going and self-motivated kid and I'm sure he'll have a great year!

Emma started back in the class she has been in the last 2 years. She has the same teacher as last year and has had the same aides for 2 years! Emma does really well in there and was happy to be back on Wednesday.

Wesley started school this week for the first time ever! He is in Kindergarten, but is in a K-2 class which includes Emma. His teachers have known him since before he came home throughout our adoption process and he spent a little time in there last year as well at awards programs and class parties with me. He cried most of the first day, stayed for just a short day on day 2, and did about "80% better" today than his first, according to his teacher :). It will take time to adjust, and next week he'll attend on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

James started back in his PreK class on Wednesday as well! That class has a new teacher that was previously in Kindergarten, but it is the same two aides as were in there last year. James is testing the boundaries but in general is doing well. He's on a blended diet now (casein free) and has not had ANY more episodes of reflux since last Saturday (when he ate yogurt)! That is 9 consecutive days without even any 'urps' (with the one exception) after 23 consecutive days of James throwing up during dinner EVERY night! YAY~!

Micah started back in his PreK class also. He is with James and this is his 3rd year in that class. Micah is also testing and looking for what the rules are going to be, but generally doing fine. He has been walking much better to and from class too.

Brianna starts school on Monday! Kindergarteners do testing the first 3 days of school so Brianna went today for just an hour to be tested by her new teacher. She did well and has now met the teacher 3 times. She's not being NEARLY as shy as she has been the last 2 years at school! We also know of one friend from church that will be in class with her. She's really looking forward to going to school on Monday!

That brings me to Aleksa... Unfortunately, Aleksa hasn't been able to start school yet. Her placement needs to be adjusted before she starts and that was no easy task, it seems. It's nothing "going outside" of her IEP, just that she was placed with an age group and classroom that wouldn't best serve her. The school staff has been very kind in communicating with me and trying to work things out so she can start as soon as possible. For now, she's enjoying a few more days with Brianna, Lynae, and I at home. I haven't heard yet whether things have been worked out for her to be able to start on Monday or not. Typically, she wouldn't attend on Mondays and Fridays anyway, so it may be that she starts later in the week. Right now, no idea :) I thought she would be starting today, but it hasn't all been worked out yet.

And Lynae, she'll start the KAD program at church two mornings a week starting Tuesday!

So yes... that means that a two days each week ALL of my kids will go to school in the morning! :)

I have been cautious in posting anything because quite honestly the anxiety that Aleksa's placement (or lack there of) has caused me is a bit overwhelming, and though I know that there was and is no fault involved, it's hard to not let emotions overrule thought when doing my nice little therapeutic typing :).

And there it is, the first 3 days of school for 5 of the Cornish Kids!

Our first day of school!!

Wesley

Kristoher

James

Micah

Emma

The three kids that didn't start school :)

Aleksa

Brianna

Lynae (with Grandma)

Praying for our Teachers

2011-08-09T19:32:00.000-04:00

Outside of the difficulties we may have with the "school system," there really are a GREAT group of teachers, aides, support staff, therapists, counselors, principals and assistant principals that really LOVE our kids. Tonight I am praying a specific prayer for each and every one of the people that will interact with any of my kids this school year.

Father, Thank you for each teacher and staff member and each volunteer that has worked to bring this school year to a start tomorrow. I am so thankful to You that You have provided Christian teachers and adults in my children's lives to walk beside us and help to educate our children. Thank you for giving them the loving spirits that they have as they serve in our school system.

Today I ask you specifically to give them a good night's rest tonight so they are able to be at their best tomorrow. Give them the endurance they need and the encouraging words they will say. Please help our children to be well rested and to be excited about the year to come. I ask that you give the teachers that extra dose of understanding and the children an extra dose of calmness as they go about their days tomorrow and the coming weeks.

Most of all, please use the teachers as You would to teach in word and deed the skills that are not just academic, but reach much further into the lives and hearts of the children. I ask that you bless each person that opens their hearts up to our children to love them and guide them this year.

I also ask that you be with us, as parents, and help us to help the teachers in any way we can. Help us to know when to start and know when to stop. Help us to advocate for our children and to know Your will for their schooling.

Thank you that you have the days worked out and know our needs before we put voice to them. We love you and entrust these our children and their teachers to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Discussion:

2011-08-08T21:20:00.000-04:00

What do you know about Casein sensitivities?

Background:
From Wikipedia: Casein is often listed as sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate or milk protein.
From Pediasure's website: Ingredients: Water, Sugar (Sucrose), Corn Maltodextrin, Milk Protein Concentrate,(....)

Personal info: James has been on solely Pediasure since he was 1 year old. He has spit up only once (not even any 'urps' during the day) since starting him on a blended diet. The time he spit up, he had yogurt in his drink at lunch, and he spit up at dinner. BUT, he then sat down and finished his drink (very unusual!). 4 out of 5 days vomit free is probably a record since he started the nightly vomiting!!

Wesley 1, Mommy 0

2011-08-08T08:12:00.000-04:00

Not too often is a child's success also a parent's failure, but today is a great example of it.

I must admit, I'm not a very good loser, either.

Our 72 hour EEG was set to be 'finished' today at 10am. At 7am when I walked in to the boys' room to get James and Wesley up (Micah is with Michael getting ear tubes placed this morning), it had been 69 of the LONGEST hours of my life. I've already explained the restrictions of having to be constantly plugged in to a wall, keeping the other kids away from the equipment, positioning and repositioning the camera, and Wesley's intense dislike for the assembly on his head... but in addition to that, Wesley got this strong 'bug' on day 2 that he wanted it OFF. When he was laying on the floor, he'd be rubbing his head across the rug to get it off. We'd stop him. I literally spent ALL DAY on Saturday staring at him after nap time.

Sunday I stayed home with Wesley and Aleksa and let him have some time on the porch since he hadn't been allowed out there because the only place his cord would reach was DIRECTLY under the swing... not a safe place to be when there are other kids about and I wasn't going to fight that battle with the 6 kids that would want to be swinging. It would be constant, and inevitably if I turned for a second he'd get run over.

All morning, I monitored. During the first two nights I woke about every 2 hours overnight, but starting out hourly until about midnight or so, in order to either calm or check on Wesley to be sure he was sleeping and not messing with his head gear.

Last night I spent more of the night in his room than I did sleeping, and Michael went in there quite a bit as well, at least every 2 hours or less... all night long.

At 6:20 Michael got Micah out of bed, dressed, and out the door at 6:40 as I went to the girls' room to get them up (they were awake and playing). Having not heard from the boys' room, I sat with the girls a few minutes since I'd ignored them pretty much all weekend having to stay with Wesley every moment. At 6:50 I went to get James and Wesley out of bed. Wesley was sound asleep. James had gotten up since hearing me and the girls.

Apparently, my little stealth found his moment of prime opportunity and used it to his advantage.

At 6:50, the EEG 'cap' was laying next to Wesley in his bed. Yep, Momma FAIL.

I have NO IDEA whether ANY of the EEG is any good, because from about 24 hours in Wesley was intense about wanting it OFF of his head. All of the leads could have come off a day or so ago and we'd have no way of knowing. I guess we just wait and see, but I see this as one FAILED venture!

I don't even want to consider the thought of having to repeat this study. Some "no-no" boards (arm immobilizers) would be a necessity, and he would simply not be able to be laid down. Because that is when he is pulling at it. Which means you'd have a 72 hour scan including about 48 hours of fussing, crying, and screaming because he LOVES to GO now that he can...

Did I mention that school starts in just TWO days and I had all kinds of things that needed to get done this weekend that I haven't been able to because this was so much more labor intensive than I'd ever imagined it would be?

*sigh* See? I'm not a very good loser in this case...