Home Sweet Home!!

Those words have never meant as much to me as they do now.  After 12 weeks of being in between housing and staying with my parents, house sitting and staying in a friends trailer, we are finally in our home.  Although there is much to be done on the inside and out, it is so wonderful to be home.  Boxes are still a plenty in the garage, hardwoods need to be installed downstairs, the addition above the garage needs to be completed and the outside need lawn to be put in, trees to be cut down, a fence to be put in, a goat pen to put up and on and on.  But the main thing is the 5 of us are home and loving it!!!!

One Year home with the Monkey

For some of you who don't know - Maya is nicknamed the monkey as she can and will climb anything.  Her ability is beyond belief and thus she is just our little monkey.  Today was spent reflecting on the past year with the blessing of Maya.  Talking with the girls about what they remembered most from this day last year and Sydney responded, " I loved how she was so fascinated by my red hair when we first met her mommy",  Mackenzie remembered the first time Maya came to her and wanted to play with her.  We all have fond memories of our special time traveling to China to pick up our specially chosen daughter/sister and it was fun to celebrate today.  We sang Happy Gotcha Day to the tune of Happy Birthday, had a fun dinner of Teriyaki dinner with garlic stir fryed vegetables over a bed of brown rice noodles and then snuggled up as a family to look through Maya's baby book, look at pictures and read all the new things Maya has done, things she has said and all her "firsts".  What a year - traveling home on a very long plane ride, only being home a few days to be packed up and going camping (what were we thinking???), coming home for a few weeks and pack up again for another camping trip, surgery in November, cast for 13 weeks, first parade, first hike, first Christmas, first birthday with her family,  backpacking in and camping, and the list goes on and on.  We are so blessed and thankful for how God has formed and shaped our family.  He is forever stretching and growing our faith.

A little bit of house update:  The house we bought and were set to close on July 8 came into a bit of complications as the seller was in foreclosure and the bank repossessed the home.  Thus the house isn't his to sell, yet we are in a legally binding contract.   Tomorrow is the court date where the judge will decide the fate of the house - does the bank get to keep it and try and sell it or will the bank take it out of foreclosure and allow us to have the house?  I will keep you posted........

A time of many transitions....

We are still in transition with our housing situation.  We have been pending on a house in Ferndale for quite some time and the process doesn't seem to be moving along at all.  In the meantime Rich and I have been looking at other houses and are praying the doors would open at the right time so we are in the house God has chosen for our family. 
Maya is doing well.  She is continually saying more and more, is extremely expressive and active.  She adds such energy to the house!!!  Her leg continues to strengthen, although it is still substantially smaller than her other leg. 
Sydney has been having some issues with her tonsils for the past few months.  We have found out that she has a chronic infection in her tonsils.  She is having a hard time eating and chokes often.  She also is waking in the night from choking and will be going in to have her tonsils and adenoids out on Thursday.
Mackenzie is doing well.  She went through her first experience of having a tick.  We have been camping and also did a backpacking trip and she picked up a tick.  We sucessfully removed the tick and she is glad to have that over with.  Now she insists on doing tick checks each day.
A week from Sunday we will be dedicating Maya at church.  It will be a special time for us as her parents to stand up before friends and family and commit her to the Lord and commit to raising her in a Christ-centered home.  

Happy 3rd Birthday Maya!!

April 18, 2010 - Maya turns 3!!!  We are so excited that we get to celebrate this years' birthday with Maya.  Last year we were waiting to travel and celebrated as a family on her day, but it just doesn't compare to being able to see her huge smile, hold her in my arms, and hear her giggle.  Maya has requested to play soccer, eat a ladybug cake and have cookies.

We also had a check up at Children's Hospital and are so excited to have great news.  Her foot is healing very well, she walks great and although her calf muscle on the club foot leg will remain smaller than her other leg, it will continue to strengthen.  After the appointment we headed to the zoo for the day as a family.  A much needed break from home to just be together as a family and have a truly relaxing and fun filled day.  

Emotional whirlwind.......

Closing date on our home is coming so quickly, boxes are being packed and we are excited for this next adventure of a new home - but the home seems to be elusive.  We have made a few offers and had the door closed there, made another offer only to find out it could be months before we get an answer, tried out yet another house and they aren't accepting offers.  Hmm, not sure what God has in store, but he is growing our faith by the minute these days. 

A couple of weeks ago my grandpa went into the hospital.  Not expected to live but a few days he is still living but is heavily sedated and not recognizing anyone.  It is hard on the family to see him this way and I  wonder what God's plan is in this situation.  The girls are very sad that Great-Grandpa is going to be going home to be with Jesus soon but happy for him.

Last week we were in Costco and Sydney slipped on the cart and hit her arm.  I comforted her and made sure she was okay and said she needed to walk by the cart.  Little did I know what would happen next ----she passed out, hit the ground and was knocked unconscious.  I rolled her over she was gray and not breathing.  She then made an awful gasping for air and went into a seizure.  It was such a scary traumatic time for us.  I had the other 2 girls with me as well.  A nice lady helped out and called 911 and called Rich at work.  The paramedics were close by and arrived on scene very quickly.  They stabalized Syd and due to neck pain had to do the full neck brace and complete immobilization.  She was put on oxygen and loaded up in the ambulance after she was stable.  My parents arrived to take the other 2 girls while we went via ambulance to the ER.  There she had x-rays and cat-scans to check for fractured skull, bleeding, etc.  When we got the results that it was a concussion and she was out of sports for the time being it was such a relief to hear she was going to be okay.  Mackenzie and I are still dealing with the events of the day, Sydney is recovering and we go to the doctor tomorrow for a check up.  She as well is shook up, but in a different way - hard to explain.  She doesn't remember the actual events.  She is traumatized over going into a store and the scariness of the ambulance ride and ER visit.  Both Mackenzie and Sydney don't ever want to go in a store again.  Although I know they eventually will, I am not forcing the issue.  Just praising Jesus that all 3 of my babies are home, healthy, and alive!!  

Moving Day is getting closer

After 10 1/2 years of living at our current home we are moving.  So much has happened in the past decade.  Rich and I have grown stronger in our faith, we have had some wonderful and memorable vacations, we have spent countless hours changing things at the house - gardens, flooring, trim work just to name a few, added 3 beautiful girls and now we are closing the chapter at this home and starting a new chapter.  So this next month as we pack up we will be reflecting on all the wonderful memories we will take with us and journey forward to our new home.  When we bought this house Rich had only been at his job for a little over a year and I was working full time.  Rich is still at the same job and 9 1/2 years ago I took a  'promotion' to mommy and love it!!! 

8 Months!!!

Maya has been home for almost 8 months.   Amazing!!!  I can't believe it has already been 8 months.  In just a few weeks Maya will be 3 and unlike last year when we had the party here in her honor while anxiously awaiting to go and get her - this year we get to celebrate with her!!!  She is such a treaure!!  We all love her dearly.   I love how her whole face smiles when she smiles.   

My Job Title

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office
was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.  

'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder,  
'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.

'I'm a Mom.'

'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,
'housewife' covers it.'
Said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself
in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.  
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it?  I do not know.  
The words simply popped out.  
'I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
looked up as though she had not heard right.  

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words..
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,
'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
'I have a continuing program of research,
(what mother doesn't)
in the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).  
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).  
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers
and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern.  
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more
distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'  
   Motherhood!  

What a glorious career!  

What no one ever told me

I was forwarded a link to this site and what the person wrote is amazing. I suppose I am extremely touched by it as we also adopted what they deemed a 'special needs' girl. The insight into what special need is and isn't is articulated wonderfully and I especially love that her little girl is a firecracker as well because that could definately be used to describe Maya--- Our precious bundle of endless energy and inquisitive spirit!!!
Here is the link to the website: www.rainbowkids.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=693

The cast is off

The cast is off and Maya is doing well. Her leg continues to gain strength and she loves the new found freedom of no cast and each day states, "Look, no cast!!!" Looking back on the journey of the 13 weeks in the cast I can see that it was harder on her than I saw during the time. She seemed to just adjust and carry on. And she did do that and pressed on, definately not letting the cast slow her down in anyway. But looking back I see anger and frustration that has diminished since the cast has come off that I didn't see while the cast was on.
I am reading an amazing book that was recommended to me from a fellow adoptive mom. It is Parenting your Internationally Adopted Child from the first few hours through the teen years. It has been so insightful into the whole process of adopting and emotions, behaviors, challenges and some insight on how to deal with all this. I have been extremely encouraged and been able to understand what all our precious daughter has gone through in her life thus far. It stopped me dead in my tracks as I realized we received her when she was 2 years, 3 mos. old and we were the 6th people she was handed over too. Wow, what has that done with her trust, her sense of belonging, etc. Does she get that this family is for real, we wont be turning her over to someone else in a few short months? My prayer is that as her parents we are able to create security, love, trust, and so much more. With God all things are possible and I can do all things through him who gives me the strength. Day by day is how we will press on and continue to love on this precious gift, our daughter, that God has given us and grow in our own faith in the process as well. I even see our other two daughters being stretched and growing. Today as Maya was having a long tantrum and my patience with the screaming was growing thin, Mackenzie quoted scripture - Blessed are the peacemakers, and the verse I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. It was exactly what I needed to hear at the right time. What a huge blessing to me, as her mom, that in a time of need the 'seeds' that are being planted in our daughters are taking root and showing. It's all God and I continue to pray that Rich and I will plant seeds and they will be deeply rooted and all 3 of our daughters will be lights shining always.

And just a few days to go....

Wow, we are at the 6 month anniversary of having Maya. (Jan. 13 was the day!!) I can't believe it. Somehow it seems a lifetime ago that we got her, yet I know during the waiting it seemed a lifetime that we were waiting. And now here she is...settling into family.... Learning new words each day, testing in different ways each day, giggling, smiles, security, coming to me for comfort to give her loves and kisses when she is hurt, etc. It is an amazing journey. Half the time she has been home she has been in a cast and at 1:30 on Wednesday the cast is coming off!! Praise God, we are so excited. Rich and I are still baffled that her foot that was slightly turned in was considered a special need, yet rejoice that it was as we were able to bring her home so quickly from the time of referral to picking her up. What will she do on Wednesday when her cast is off and we leave Children's Hospital without a new one on? Each time we have gone to Children's a new cast has gone on. We talk about it each day and do the countdown, but does she get it? I will have the camera and video camera to document it at the sheer joy of her having that freedom. One of the things I am most excited about is her being able to come home and take a bath. Not for the convenience of not having to give her a 'spit' bath on the counter, but the complete joy she has in baths. She loves them. The picture here of her is her in the bath the night before surgery in November. We went down the 16th and had a pre-op appt. and the doctor let her come home for the night without the cast as surgery was at 6 a.m. and there was no need to recast since surgery was in the morning. Nothing put pure joy for Maya to be in a bath. It shows that it is the little things that matter. She has been a trooper during this whole time of having the cast and I am so happy for her to be free from it and run, hop, skip, climb and jump without the cast!!

A long week............

Tenacious, Spirited, determined, lively, inquisitive, strong willed - anyway you put it, sometimes it is just plain tough being a mom of a spunky 2 year old. She has had a week, that is for sure. I wish I had the answer to the best way to discipline her while she tests the limits, I can only pray for God to guide me as we go down this parenting journey. No one said it was going to be easy and this week is proving that very thing. Parenting is not for the faint of heart. I haven't been the best at doing this verse lately but James 4:8 says Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. That is what I need to do - draw close to God and trust and rely on Him.