Guitar Heroes

Today Josh had some entertainment over, er, had a friend over. *smile* Josh has really missed playing with kids because of his recuperating time, but he is SO healed up (based on his behavior) and needed a friend to come to play.

One of my favorite things to watch is Joshua playing with his friends. Today, they were rock stars. Keep in mind, Braiden has been Joshua's best friend FOREVER. I kept Braiden and his older sister, Kirstin for several years and they became inseparable then. That same brother-like familiarity comes out every time they are together. I remember how when they were little bitty ones, they were going to be firemen and live in the firehouse together. "We're never getting married; we are going to be firemen." Now, not so much. I'm seeing their future adult personalities reveal themselves while they play in how they talk and think and act. I hope they can still be friends for the rest of their lives.

Here they are as "Guitar Heroes" today.

Happy 5 Year Birthday Seryozha

Seryozha is a little boy in a Bishkek orphanage. I belong to a yahoo group with his mom. During recent conversations, she shared her pain that her son was still in the orphanage and they would celebrate another birthday apart. She thought he would be home long before now, but due to problems in Bishkek with the court systems, he is not. There is rumor that the courts in Bishkek (we are in Tokmok) will begin reviewing dossiers and having court again after July 22. I pray for this every single day so that little boys like Seryozha don't have to spend another birthday without his forever family, so that moms like his don't have to eat cake by themselves to celebrate a birthday.

During our online conversations, I indicated that we would celebrate Seryozha's birthday today. We would remember him and his family through a virtual party. Josh had a mini cupcake; his friend Braiden had sugared strawberries and I, well, I took photos and wrote in the blog because I'm trying REALLY hard to drop some pounds. I wanted the cupcake. I explained to the boys that we were celebrating the birthday of a little boy in Kyrgyzstan who had just turned five. Ironically, neither asked questions. I think they were just happy for treats -- much like kids at any birthday party, huh?

It's very sad to me to have to post this post. Seryozha should be home

Here are photos from our virtual party.

Trip to the Zoo

Yesterday I took Josh, Sarah and Caitlin (my nieces) to the zoo. We got there around 10 and didn't leave until well after 4:00. I was SO tired last night.

Josh and two of his cousins.

This is the STORK. I looked everywhere and didn't see him packing Ellie. *smile*

I LOVE the tigers and they seemed to be posing today.
This is Sarah at the petting zoo. I thought this goat really liked me -- turned out he was trying to get to my map to eat it.

This is in Lorikeet Landing. Josh, Caitlin and Sarah all got to fee the birds some nectar.

This is Josh holding Sarah up so the bird could get to her nectar.

Sarah is FASCINATED with catching butterflies. This is her attempt to catch on for me!

Crouching Sarah, Fearless Butterfly

Oh well, she came up empty handed on this one.

These are my FAVORITE animals at the zoo - the Meercats.

Here is Joshua pushing Sarah in her stroller. I'm going to let you use your imagination BUT... at one point there was a small, um, accident. It involved Josh with his Heelys on, pushing a stroller and a big hill. Sarah was laughing afterwards and Josh thought it was fun. I almost had a coronary.

We were glad to get to go to "C's Zoo". We had a great time.

Ellie's Artwork

Back in March, you regular readers will remember me posting about working on some artwork for Ellie's room.

Since that time I have FINALLY finished it. I haven't hung it up yet because I'm not REALLY sure I'm finished yet. I'm thinking it needs a frame or something done to the edges. Maybe I can get that on the "honey-do" list. Suggestions welcome!!

But, I promised back then that I'd post when I finished it. Since this is pretty close, here you go!

Also, here is a mobile I found a while back (yes, on clearance) at the local Babies 'R Us. Yes, it is a tiara -- fit for a princess.

Clothes Clothes Everywhere

My friend Carla told me a long time ago that she had gotten some clothes for me at her sister's yard sale. Her sister has two little girls. She told me it was two boxes, but mentally, I was unprepared for what she really meant by that. Today, I had to drop a check off at her house and she told me she'd left the boxes in her trunk and I could get them. They were two large
diaper boxes FULL of clothes!

I was working so I didn't get home until after 7 tonight. After we ate, I brought in the boxes and started going through it. HOLY SMOKES. There were 51 outfits in those boxes, ranging from 0-3 months up to some size 2s. They are absolutely the cutest things too. I wore Kevin out showing them all to him.

On the top of the box was my favorite little onesie. It says, "I'm the Princess. We'll do things my way." I have NO DOUBT that this statement will be true.



I've realized that I should go ahead and begin washing all her clothes and getting them ready. It's another thing I can check off my list.

So, here are some of my favorites. It's impossible to post all my favorites because there are SO many. Thank you Carla and Carlyona!



This is a cutie that I'm hoping she won't grow out of before Christmas. It has a velvet top. TOO cute!


These are socks that have a velvet bottom. They would be darling with the dress above.



This is a cute little cordorouy jumper that has little bows at the waist. Darling!!

I LOVE this one!!! It's a 0-3 month outfit and you can be assured little bit will be wearing this one. Of course, Chik Fil A just recently had "Dress up as a cow and eat free" day last Friday. Had she been home, we'd have been sporting ourselves there -- not necessarily for the free food, but for the CUTE factor!!!

Love this little denim jumper and bottoms. There were a couple of denium jumpers in there in different sizes. There is nothing cuter than a little one in a denim jumper, is there?

This last one was not in the bag, but a onesie I got on clearance at Target. I thought my dad would like to see it. It says, "Grandpa's Little Princess".

Answered Prayer

Last night I spent some time asking God to please allow the families who needed papers signed by the judge to get those done and be allowed to travel to pick up their babies. I am SO HAPPY to report that God said, "Yes." I think many times, we spend time asking God for something, getting it and just blowing off the important part -- the thank you. As parents, we expect our children to say, "please" and "thank you" but as children of God, we sometimes miss that part. I think He has to feel just as happy to hear an unsolicited thank you as we do. So, "Thank you" for answering this prayer request. Thank you for allowing these families to be reunited and those babies to come home.

Psalm 107:31

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His faithful love

and His wonderful works for the human race.

Psalm 13:5

I've thrown myself headlong into your arms—

I'm celebrating your rescue.

I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers.

Martian Child

Seems like I am watching a WHOLE lot of movies lately, but with little man spending more time indoors the past few weeks than normal, that's pretty much all we've had to do. And, with Red Box being only a dollar a night, it's not an expensive thing to do.

Anyway, I overslept church today. We've managed to get in a BAD routine of sleeping terribly late in the mornings and we HAVE to break it. Tomorrow morning, two of my nieces are coming before 7 a.m., so I'm certain to be up early tomorrow. We are going to the zoo. A. be sure to tell C. we are going to "his" zoo tomorrow. *smile*

I had the movie Martian Child rented and while I worked on paperwork, I started watching it. Before the movie was over, all three of us were watching it. And, of course, I cried at the end. It was when the child asked the age old question all adoptees ask, "Why did they leave me?" If you are adopting or have adopted, take the time and watch it. It was very clean so it would be appropriate for most every age. I'm not going to spoil it, like I did Kung Fu Panda, but it was a beautiful movie and I encourage you to rent it.

In other areas, I am in prayer tonight for four families and their babies who will learn if the judge signed the papers they need to go pick up their babies. They had to postpone the trip last week after learning the judge was on vacation. Word has it that there is a possibility the papers will be signed Monday morning. It is currently Monday morning in Bishkek and possibly that decision is being made as I type. I surely hope those papers get signed for them!

Coming Along

Our craft room/office is coming along nicely. Today Kevin ran the final wires for our wireless internet and printer servers and we hooked up all the electronics. I emptied two more tubs of "stuff" and went through it, trying to organize it and find its new home. Josh got his "office" desk area situated pretty much. It still looks like a tornado came through, but I'm seeing glimmers of what the finished product will look like now. It's SO amazing to just walk straight out now instead of having to step down. This area was once our garage and we always had to step down into it. Now it's the same level as the house. I feel like I got a whole new house with just a room!! Kevin has put a lot of the things we needed to put up in the attic. We've taken more loads to the storage building for the yard sale. Because of our delays in picking up Ellie, we are going to postpone the yard sale until August 15-16. School will be back in and we'll have more traffic then I think. My mom's (which is where we have it) is about two blocks from the schools and she has LOTS of traffic from that. It will give us time to collect more things as well.

Josh is feeling MUCH better. He got out his Slip 'n Slide today and had fun sliding down the hill with that. I made sure he wasn't over exerting himself. He says he wants to go back to church tomorrow so we are all going to be in church tomorrow. I'm glad; I need to be there, to be refreshed and revived.

I need to make his follow-up appointment for next week to see how he's coming along and when we'll be off any restrictions. He's eating really well again and talking better, although he still has this weird lisp that he didn't have before. Odd, I know, but I keep thinking it will go away. He didn't have it before the surgery.

We signed him up for football today. It will be his third year. He took off his seven-year-old year to play soccer. Football practices start July 21 so really soon we'll have that to throw into the mix.

We are really trying hard to get things organized and re-arranged like we want it before Ellie comes -- we are nesting, aren't we? Hopefully, this extra few weeks we'll have will allow us to get a little more done. I'm trying to enjoy things like reading a book occasionally, too, because I don't think there will be time for that for a while. I miss her a lot. I look at her photos every day and wonder if she's ok. She's a beautiful little one. I'm so amazed that God chose her for our family. We are so lucky to be a part of her life. I guess I know how short that time really is, which is why I don't want to miss any of it.

And, finally, I have finished his team's baseball book. For those of you who are curious and would like a preview, you can visit a few pages of it HERE. While I was uploading the book, I did a quick search of Kyrgyzstan on the site and there are some books that people have put together on the country. There is one I might like to buy that has black and white photos of the country and the people. It's much like what I would have LOVED to do for Ellie.

While Josh was slipping and sliding, I took some pictures of some sort of butterfly or moth thing that was sucking nectar from my purple flowers out front. They have some terribly large eyes, don't they? I enjoyed watching them do their work. They were very intent.

And speaking of outdoorsy, wildlife stuff (which we sort of were, right?), when Josh and I worked on Thursday, I saw a deer standing in some one's back yard. She didn't run off for a long time and I took a few photos of her.

These were in Old Hickory (for those of you who read from around here) and so it wasn't a remote place, but right in the city subdivision). I guess she was hungry. Some of the folks had a few garden plants out in their backyards.

Congratulations are in order for Charlie and Heather!!

In the midst of all my "funkiness" I got an email from my dear friend Heather saying that they received I600 approval and would be leaving in about a week to go pick up their dear daughter, Samantha, from Vietnam.

You might remember my posting back in February about the intense prayers we were all offering for their first referral, sweet angel Linh, who passed away on February 22, 2008. Heather and I have shared some very intimate feelings about adoption and she has always been a person I can be very open with, laugh with, cry with and know that she is going to shoot straight with me and I will her. I remember a conversation I had with her when I was in the Dollar Tree when we were laughing about hoping when we got our referral photos we didn't go, "Oh!" and think our babies were ugly. Isn't that awful?? But, that's just how real and honest we can be with each other. Neither of us thought less of the other for our honesty. I have not met anyone more real than she is. She is also an adoptee, like me, and we share the same faith. She is going to be a wonderful mom to Samantha. She has been an inspiration to me!!

I remember walking through a Goodwill store on that same day and talking with Heather about our adoptions. We have BOTH been through the ringer trying to bring our daughters home and I remember saying, "God has PROMISED that He is giving me a daughter. I know this time is the time." She asked me, "But what is He saying about me?" I paused and told her that I didn't know, but that I felt like it was really going to work for both of us this time. And, it is. I'm certain of it. She is my proof that this time we are both going to bring home our daughters.

I cannot WAIT to follow their story. Their blog is partially private/password protected, but for those who are interested, it can be found here.

Congratulations, my friend. I am so happy for you. Let the shopping begin, well, continue!!

Sad

I am sad today. I just received an email from our agency indicating the judge who will hear our case is on vacation until July 28. After he returns, IF he hears our case the week he returns, the earliest we will be able to return to pick up Ellie is September 8 (by my calculations -- not by anything anyone has told me). She will be almost 6 months old before we can bring her home. After having seen her at two months old, this is really, really hard to deal with. Granted, we can do nothing to change it and have to accept it (I feel like repeating the Serenity Prayer right now). Please keep us, Ellie, and all the families caught up in this judge drama in your prayers. I keep reminding myself she won't remember any of this and we are very lucky to be getting her as young as 5.5 - 6 months. I'm trying hard to look for the positives, but it's hard.

Even more sad are the families whose babies/children are in Bishkek. Many visited back as long ago as January and still have not had court to pick up their babies. At least we have somewhat of an end in sight. I SO hope they get the court issue in Bishkek resolved very soon for these babies and families.

I am also sad for the four families who were supposed to leave today to go pick up their babies. Now, their return will not be until after the judge returns to work.

It's hard all around, I suppose. I just want to go pick up our baby.

Kung Fu Panda

Yesterday was Josh's first day "out" since his surgery. Fortunately, it was a day he didn't ask for any pain medicine and his tongue is apparently on the mend. I had to work but told him if he could make it from 9-1, we'd go see Kung Fu Panda afterwards. He was a great trooper and made himself a "nest" in the backseat and watched movies we got from the RedBox.

I highly recommend the Kung Fu Panda movie. I'm not impressed a lot with movies these days but this one was very, very good. I think what I liked most of all was the message. If you haven't seen the movie and don't want any spoilers, just don't read any further because I will be talking about the movie, including it's ending.

Panda (Po) gets chosen "by accident" to be the Kung Fu Dragon -- the "big cheese" of Kung Fu, to fight some really bad Kung Fu warrior, Tai Lung, who is the best in the land and currently in jail. The Turtle Oogway (head Kung Fu dude) tells Kung Fu Master Shifu there are no accidents. YAY!!! No, there aren't. There is a God who is in charge of all things. It's Po's lifelong dream to be a Kung Fu Master.

Poor Po appears to have no skills and the other kung fu warriors tell him he is fat. Ahh... now, there's a story we've heard before, unfortunately. Po is also very ungraceful, falling down a lot, breaking things -- typical boy fashion. Master Shifu says he can't train him. Finally, after the Turtle Oogway dies and Kung Fu Master takes over, and realizes he has to try to train Po. Ironically, he realizes that Po has talent as long as he is motivated by food. He then says, "I am sorry. I just have to use a different method to train you than I did the other Masters." Well ... another truth. All people learn differently and that doesn't make you stupid.

Finally, Po is trained and is set to get the Dragon Scroll (it has been closed for 1000s of years). When he get it, it is blank -- or so they think -- and so the entire town is evacuated because the evil Tai Lung, a snow leopard Kung Fu master gone bad, is escaped from prison and coming back to wreak havoc and kill Master Shifu.

Po, forgetting the Kung Fu skills he learned, leaves town with everyone else because he thinks he didn't get the powers he expected from the Dragon scroll. Then, he looks at it one last time and see that it's a mirror -- reflecting his imagine -- and realizes that the power to do everything is already inside him. AWESOME.

And so he and Tai Lung have their big fight and we can all guess who wins. Tai Lung gets the scroll from him and sees there is nothing on it and Po explains to him that he "didn't get it" at first either, but that the power comes from within.

My favorite scene in the movie -- where it finally dawned on me that Po OBVIOUSLY has ADHD is this one:

Po: [checking to make sure Shifu is okay after his fight with Tai Lung] Master! Shifu! Shifu, are you okay? Shifu: [coughs] Po, you're alive. Or we're both dead. Po: No, Master I didn't die. I defeated Tai Lung. Shifu: You did? [Po nods and smiles] Shifu: Wow. It is as Oogway foretold, you are the Dragon Warrior. You have brought peace to this valley and... and to me. Thank you, thank you Po. Thank you, thank you. [slowly lays his head back down, assumingly dead] Po: [Po looks disbelievingly at the red panda] No! No no no, don't die, Shifu please! Shifu: I'm not dying, you idiot! [he catches himself] Shifu: Ah, Dragon Warrior, I am simply at peace. [lays down and folds his hands together, smiling] Shifu: Finally. Po: Ooh, so um, I should.. stop talking? Shifu: If you can.

Poor Po, of course, can't. *smile*

After the movie, I tried to talk to Josh about the lessons he could get from the movie about learning different ways, how the power to do well is within you, how it doesn't matter what size you are, etc. He looked at me and said, "Mama, it was just a movie."

Ahh... yes.

The scenery and Chinese references in the movie were also very beautiful and well done.

One interesting fact that I kept thinking was going to be explored in the movie, but it wasn't, was that Po's father was a goose, who owns a noodle making business and keeps talking about telling Po that he is going to tell him the secret ingredient in his noodle soup. Toward the end of the movie, Po says to his dad something like, "Sometimes I don't feel like I'm like you" or something to that effect. His dad says, "Po, I have a secret to tell you. It's something I should have told you a long time ago." At this point, I'm thinking he's going to reveal that Po is adopted, but he simply tells him there is no "secret" to his "secret noodle soup." So. It would have been nice to have seen that explored a bit, but maybe they ran out of time -- or maybe it was just for comedic effect. Who know?

It's a movie I WILL want to see again -- not something you hear from me often. Skadoosh!

The Pendulum Swings

I am always amazed at how God can swing me from one place to another, like a clock pendulum, during a day. It was a crazy morning. I was anxious from the time I awoke because I knew this was the day that my friend Suzanne, who is in Kyrgyzstan, said she would be sending photos of Ellie today, if she could. I had great plans to work in the field today as I knew Kevin would be home writing reports. And then, the printer, the one I bought ink for last night, ran out of another color -- one I didn't have. No problem, I think we have another printer -- Kevin's. I download the software for it and it won't feed paper. Fine, I think, I have the portable printer I use to take with me on project trips. HA! Yes, HA! to me, the ink had dried up in it. So, another trip to Wal-mart is in the making. Before I leave, however, the pictures come!!!

I call Josh and Kevin over to see them as we open them and there she is, our daughter and sister, staring back at us from the other side of the world. We all kind of squealed (well, truth be told, I think I was the only one who did), "Look at her cheeks!" She has fluffed out in the cheek department since we were there. After much careful deliberation between the last photos we took and these, her cheeks haven't gotten that much bigger, but enough that it was noticeable. She had her eyes open. She wasn't smiling or anything (ha!) but looked ok. I was so excited for a little bit and then the pendulum swung the opposite way again -- I was just distraught that she was there, I am here and we cannot be together yet. I am her mommy, you see. I should be with her, and yet, I can't be. I wanted to get on a plane and just go there, be there with her until she can come home. But, I can't. So the joy was bittersweet. I am, however, so very appreciative that Suzanne took time out of her visit with her sweet baby to take photos of our little Ellie.

And Josh. We think he's doing better and that silly pendulum swings again and he just isn't. I'm not sure what is "appropriate" to expect regarding recovery, but he says it really hurts a lot -- still. His yeast infection in his mouth is still there. We called the doctor's office today and no one called back. Now, it was after 5:00 when I got home, but tomorrow I'll call again. I'm a bit frustrated by this. We have started him on a homeopathic remedy for his yeast infection. Hopefully, tomorrow we will see an improvement. He's still telling us that he needs pain medication about every four hours. He says it's just not working too well. I know he's got some "cabin fever" going on as well. I want to take him out, but know he doesn't need to be exposed to a lot of germs and possibly pick something up. Poor little man.

And then, the big thing today was that I was so anxious that we would possibly be having our adoption case heard in court today. We were not sure if we would be included with this group or not and thought, FOR SURE, we would know this week. And then, the pendulum swung and now, I'm not anxious anymore. Seems the judge in Tokmok is sick and could not come to work. And while this affected families whose cases would be heard in court this week, it postponed the trips of four families who were slated to leave this week to pick up their sweet babies. Adoption is so not for the faint of heart. Now, court might/should happen next week. We are told our coordinator is going to ask the judge to hear our case with the others, but no guarantees. Would you please remember us in prayer during the next week? Just a quick word to God that 1) His will be done, 2) that I realize it's HIS will, not mine, 3) that Ellie won't have to spend one extra day without her family than has to be. Selfish me wants to ask you to pray that we go to court next week, but God has really been talking to my heart about HIS will and not mine. I keep asking why those can't be the same. *smile* I would HATE to be God and have to deal with me on a regular basis.

So, it's been a day of juxtapositions. Yes-no. Hurry up-wait. Better-sick. Pictures-delays. Excitement-disappointment. The good news is, much like the weather, if you don't like the way things are around our house, hang around a few minutes and it will change.

In positive news, I managed to get four storage tubs unloaded tonight and put into the cabinets Kevin installed over the weekend. I was feeling all proud of myself for getting some work done out there and then I looked around and realized what a TOTAL MESS it still is and I was a bit discouraged. It will come along and be nice and orderly, but WHEW, that's a long way off, I think. I also managed to sort some of Ellie's clothes into those tubs (Jennifer, you are getting off the hook, I think!) based on sizes so I can get her closet cleaned out to paint inside. My mom said that I'm getting this extra time to get all the work done around here before she comes. I think she might be right on track there.

And, Sunshine, the dog, is still crazy as ever. We are giving her ear drops and antibiotics, but she just continues to follow someone everywhere they go. Poor Joshua locked himself in the bathroom to get away from her earlier. Hopefully, she will feel better soon, as well.

What a CRAZY day!

This post should be titled, "Two people who don't have a clue cannot have an intelligent conversation." That statement is worthy of printing out and posting it on my refrigerator or somewhere where I will see it frequently.

I was on my way home from the vet (see below for that story) and decided I could call my doctor's office to try to schedule our hepatitis shots. I'm big on multi-tasking, you see. I said to the person who answered the phone, "Hello, my name is ... and I see .... My husband and I are adopting and will go to pick our daughter up soon (nothing like positive thinking, right?). We told ... that we needed hepatitis shots and she said we could go to the health department, but we would like to come there to do it. Do we need to make an appointment?" She replies, "Is it for a child?" Huh? I say, "No, it's for my husband and me. We are adopting a child." She says, "Oh, yes, we have C here." I say, "Is that what we will need?" She says, "I don't know. We'll have to do a blood test you to see if you have it." I'm confused now. I say, "Well, no, we don't have hepatitis, but we want to make sure we don't get it as some adopted children come home with it." She says, "No, we need to draw your blood to see if you've had the shot." I pause, again, confused, and say, "Well, we haven't had shots, that's why I'm calling you." She said, "So, did you not get the immunization as a child?" AHHHH... light bulb. So I say, I'm not sure if we did or not. I am 40; my husband is 43. Were they giving those immunizations then?" She says, "I don't know." Ahhh... again. I said, "Well, I guess we'll need to check on that." She says, "Ok, well, we have B here." HUH? She said she had C. Which does she have? I'm confused again. So I just said, "Ummm... I'm going to check with my husband and get back with you." I'm still confused. I'm going to try again another day -- right after my mom checks to see if I was immunized as a child.

So... then there was the vet story for the day. Our dog, Sunshine, is old as dirt. She found us back in September 1999. She will have been with us nine years this fall. When she found us (we were out for a walk and she rambled home with us), she wouldn't hold her head up, her teeth were all ground down and I thought she was old then. Apparently not. We named her Sunshine because she is yellow and we thought she needed a name to sound happy since she didn't look so happy herself. In the past year, we've been thinking it is only a matter of time before we might have to make a hard decision about her future or that we'll find her dead one day. So, the past few days she's been acting crazy as a bug. She wants in; she wants out. She paces round and round the living room, making us tired watching her. She's been drooling like a teething baby. So, I look up the symptoms online and decide she is near the end. Now, Kevin is out of town; Josh hasn't left the house since his surgery on Wednesday and I'm wondering how to make this happen. My mom came to the rescue staying with Josh while I went to the vet. It was also Punch's day to have her stitches removed from her ear so I was doing double duty. Josh and I said our good-byes to Sunshine at home. I just knew she wouldn't be coming home. The joke's on me as she had an ear infection which is apparently causing her to be in pain (pacing and restless) and confused due to the ear thing. So, it was back to get her this afternoon.

Thank goodness Kevin is now home. I'm tired and ready to get some sleep!

Good News

I got an email from a "blogger buddy" who is currently in Kyrgyzstan visiting her daughter at the same orphanage as Ellie is in (Tokmok). I had asked her, prior to her leaving, to see if she could get permission to take photos of The Princess Ellie. She did and they said she could take some tomorrow. I am SO EXCITED that tomorrow I might get to see my little one for the first time since the end of May!!! And, next week, another family is going to pick up their little man, so I'm hopeful to get some more photos next week. It just might be enough to tide me over until time to pick her up ---- then again, nope!!

Hopefully, I will know by week's end if we went to court this week. It's driving me NUTS!!! *smile* I just want to bring our little sweet pumpkin HOME!!!

Six words

Ok, so my friend, Terri, has tagged me, so to play I need to capture my life right now in six words. Oh, Terri, don't you know that's a fate worse than death for me? ONLY SIX WORDS??? Ok. So I've put it off for a few days. So... since I could only have six words, I chose to make several phrases. :-) There's always a way around these things!!

Forgiven and blessed beyond all measure.
Wife of one, mom to two.
Fearfully and wonderfully made and blessed.
One blessed, yet tired, loved woman.

See... this isn't hard. :-) Yes, I broke the rules, but how fun!!

So, now I have to tag six folks who will blog their six words. I choose:
Michelle D.
Jeff L. (it will involve the words Reed and CVS, right?)
Betsy
Allison
Andrea
Dee Anna M.

There are so many more I could choose, but, I'm sure these six will spread the love. :-)

Enjoy. Thanks, Terri!

Recovering, Waiting and Working

So, I'm having some trouble coming up with titles as it seems like my life is in a bit of a holding pattern. If I were a plane, I'd be circling the airport, waiting to land.

On the Joshua surgery front, we are making two steps forward and one back, so there is progress being made. Yesterday, I thought we were on the road to mend, but he was moaning/snoring a lot this morning and very restless in his sleep. He's been sleeping in my bed and so I'm very aware of his activities. I got up and came downstairs to start the day early since I couldn't sleep, and bless his heart, he came down right after me. He'd only had 7 hours of sleep and most nights he's been sleeping 12-14. His body needs the rest and healing. He was very upset and handed me his medicine spoon. Because he developed a yeast infection on his tongue, I wasn't sure if it was his throat or his tongue. At first he said it was his throat, then he started to moan and cry and said it was his tongue. Poor guy. He got both medicines and I told him there was no TV and that I'd get his pillows and blankets and he could sleep on the couch but that he needed more rest. It took maybe five minutes and he's back out. He's sleeping more soundly (medicine, I'm sure) this time. We are only four days out, and we are making progress, I just feel bad for him. He's eating more -- he even tried a bite or two of steak last night (chopped up really small). Mostly though, it's pudding, jello, potatoes, mac n cheese or spaghetti-o's. I think he's a little stir crazy as he has not left the house since Wednesday when he had surgery. Today, we are going to the vet to have Punch's stitches removed. I told him we would get him a milkshake and rent some movies while we were out. I think the vet's office is close enough and the procedures will be quick so that he will not tire out before we can get back. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good.

I really couldn't sleep this morning after I was awakened by the cat who was screaming that he wanted breakfast. My mind knows that our coordinator is back in Kyrgyzstan and back at work today. Technically, she's already finished her first day as it's 6:30 p.m. there. I'm beside myself to know if Ellie's case will go to court this week (either tomorrow or Wednesday is when we think court is this week). I don't know when we'll know and if she doesn't go this week, I don't know when she'll go or when we will return. I look at her face every time I open the refrigerator, every time I look at the TV (hanging on the wall) and when I walk out the door (sitting on the sofa table). I try to push it to the back of my mind, and I've done fairly well until the last day or two when I knew the time for answers is drawing near. And, while I can do nothing, save pray, to change any of it, I just would like to know when we are going back.

Yesterday, I worked all day on Joshua's baseball team's books. Since I take so many pictures each season, we compile them into a book using Blurb. They are a nice hardback book, four-color book with a dust jacket. All the coaches get one and the kid's families can buy them if they want one for their kids. I started it with football during Josh's eight-year-old year, and it's carried over. This is the fourth book now. Josh loves to look at his and I'll see him drag it out every now and then to look through. It does take some time, though, so I was glad to put that project to bed. We still have some proofing and corrections, but overall, it's done. Yay! Something I can check off my list.

Kevin made major progress on the office/craft room this weekend. All the cabinets are on the walls, the counter top is installed and most of the wires for computers/plugs are run into the cabinets/counter. I will try to start, this week, on putting things up in the cabinets. Double YAY!!! It will be so nice to be able to get to my crafts things again!! Josh is excited about "his space" where his computer will be set up and his craft stuff (paint, pencils, etc.) will be and where he can do his homework. When it's done, I'll have to post some pictures. Kevin has done a really, really good job. I couldn't have begun to do this project at all.

And, it appears that I will be doing one last project for my friends over at State Farm. We needed a bit more money to be able to make trip 2 happen, so I'm off to Macon, Georgia sometime in July, after Josh gets healed up, to complete about 500 inspections. Every time I say it's the last time, it's not. So, maybe, this time, I shouldn't jinx myself and say that. I'm working really hard to make sure all things are caught up (work wise) so that when I go back to pick up Ellie I won't leave anyone (basically my friend/replacements, Susan and Denise) in a lurch like I did last time. So far, so good.

Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday Punch

Happy 14th Birthday to my cat Punch. She, and her sister Judi, who has left us already, were born on the 4th of July, 1994 at the home of my friend, Stoney. They were a housewarming gift from me to Kevin. Kevin did NOT want one cat, much less two. God love him, we now have five. Granted, that's about five too many most days, but we love them all. We are awaiting natural attrition to occur. Punch had a hematoma on her ear a few weeks back and has stitches in her ear right now. She goes Monday to have those removed. She is the most loving cat in the world. She loves all people, but absolutely HATES Lucy Grey, another kitty we have. She loves to drink from the bathroom faucet any time you are in there. She's a snuggler who likes to sleep close to you. If she wants you to move, she sticks out one claw and gently pokes you with it until you move. Here are a few photos of the Birthday Girl.

It has been a very quiet 4th around our house. We are living in the land of recuperation. Josh is still pretty out of it. We had this great plan of doing his pain meds for two days and then just letting him ask for it when he wanted it. Today was two days post-op and I'm not seeing him slacking up on his requests for pain medication. It's pretty well clock work for him -- every four hours. When he eats, it seems to be worse for him -- as I'm sure it is. The doctor told us to let him eat pretty much what he asks for. While I thought that was crazy at the time, I didn't realize he won't ask for much. Since surgery he's had mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, potato cheese soup, pancakes and ice cream. He works on the smallest portions for the longest time. I feel so bad for him. As I write, he is clean, after just taking a good long bath and is snoring beside me. He moans a lot at night. Finally, this morning at 7, I asked Kevin to come lay with him so I could get some sleep. All of us fell back asleep and didn't wake up until 10:30. We might not have awakened then except the phone rang.

And now, here it is five minutes after midnight and people are STILL shooting fireworks. This really wouldn't bother me so much except that the poor neighbor's dog has been barking ALL day. How he has a voice left is beyond me, but he hates fireworks. I'm sure they scare him. People are so inconsiderate. Alas, I must be getting old. No, that's not it -- I'm just not rude enough to think that just because I want to shoot fireworks all night long that other people should have to listen to it and stay awake because of it. Anyway.... I'll step down off my soapbox now.

Speaking of fireworks, we missed most fireworks this year. We did see a lot of the ones shot around here (and I'm still seeing them out my bedroom window), but we didn't get any or get to go see any. Next year, we are going to get back into the 4th of July celebrations. We usually have a party at our house, complete with fireworks. Last year (was it last year??), when we nearly burned the neighbor's barn down, singed a few hairs on some heads and almost killed the neighbor's dog (same one that barks about fireworks) due to an incorrectly shot batch of fireworks, we decided to call that quits for a few years (and give folks time to forget the bad memories of it all!!). Looking back now, it was pretty fun; then, it was pretty scary.

In three more days, our coordinator will be back in country and hopefully by Wednesday we will know whether our case was included in court this session. In all honesty, I just don't think it will be -- I'm not trying to be negative, but I just don't think it will be. It makes me very sad because I REALLY want to get back and pick up Ellie, but I have no control over it.

Football games start the last week of August and run every weekend until November. It is my favorite sport that Josh plays and I don't want to miss the games. If we get court this upcoming week, we will be home just prior to the first games.

Kevin has been working on installing the cabinets out in our office/craft room. He has all the wall cabinets hung and is working on running all the cords behind and up through the counter top. Then, he will secure the rest of the base cabinets and the counter top. I'm SO excited to get that done so I can get out my scrapbook supplies and hair bow supplies. I want to make a few hair bows to match Ellie's outfits. I also need to get to my scrapbook supplies. There have been several occasions where I wanted my card stuff and couldn't find any of it and gave up and bought a card. It could take days to get it all organized, but I can't wait!!

That's pretty much it in Latham world. We are going to spend next week recuperating. Kevin has to go to Pennsylvania and Texas this next week so Josh and I will pretty much be a home. I've bought him a Slip n Slide for when he is better. We are looking forward to some time with that. We might head out to the free movies next week -- depending on how he feels.

We are gearing up for one of our final fundraisers. On July 18th and 19th, we are holding a yard sale. We have lots of items in our storage building and anticipate getting more soon from folks who have told us they have things for us. We need to raise a few more thousand for the return trip. I see a project trip in my future. I'm going to be honest. I hope I NEVER have to fund raise again. I want to just go back to normal life after this adoption is complete.

So, Happy Fourth of July. Thank you to all who have served our country and continue to make this day possible. Happy 4th of July, Ellie. Get well soon my little man Josh.

Tonsils-Adenoids - OUT

We have just arrived back home after Josh's tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (is that right??). He came through it like a trooper. I will post more details this afternoon (along with some photos), but wanted to thank everyone who has prayed and offered words of support.

UPDATE:

Today was Joshua's scheduled tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. We arrived at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital at 8:30. We completed our paperwork and all got wristbands, including Joshua's Kitty (who goes everywhere with us) who got a name band to wear around his neck. We were taken back around 9:00. Imagine our surprise when they told us that the doctor was running ahead of schedule and instead of an 11:00 surgery time they would be taking him right on back. THAT never happens. Josh's first nurse's name was Mimi. That was cool as that's what he calls my mom: MeeMee.

Josh and his nurse Mimi

Josh still looks happy here - getting vitals checked

In the hospital gown -- waiting.

We weren't quite sure what to expect as far as the procedure, but the anesthesiologist came in and let Josh pick the "smell" for his mask and then told him that he would not get an IV until after he was asleep. Josh was quite glad about this (as were we!!). I said a little prayer with him, and then his doctor came in to talk to us. After we spoke with Josh's doctor, another doctor (who looked a LOT like Donnie Osmond) wheeled Josh on back. As he was about to leave, he looked like he might cry.

Josh with Dr. Donnie Osmond *smile* - getting ready to leave

MeeMee and DeeDee arrived to sit with us while we waited. A short 30 minutes later, the doctor was back to tell us that it was over and went well (thank you, God!!). His tonsils were "medium-large" and his adenoids were "medium". He felt like this would clear his airways a lot and take care of the strep issues we've had in the past. We were taken back to the recovery area and SURPRISE, Josh was already awake. He said his throat was hurting really bad. They told us that he'd had some Sprite already. They were giving him pain meds and some meds for nausea. Right after that, Kevin brought my mom back and went to sit with my dad and Josh had his breakdown. He burst into tears and wanted to know, "WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME??" Well, before this breakdown was over, I was in tears, my mom was in tears and so was Josh. I tried really hard not to let him see me cry, but it was so hard. Once his pain medicine kicked in and he had downed a blue Icee (awesome hospital, huh??), he quieted down and started to drift off to sleep. Fortunately, we were then moved to a "holding" room that was private and quiet. Josh slept most of the time in there. We were in some sort of recovery mode for about three hours (and a total of three blue Icees) before he was released around 1:30.

Sleeping it off in the "holding" room

Still sleeping it off while DeeDee waits

Josh and Kitty - still sleeping

After a stop at the pharmacy to get medicine, we are now home with him on the couch, watching TV. I've giving him his pain meds and have made him a milkshake. I'm hopeful that soon he'll be able to rest some more as I know his body needs the rest.

At home on the couch with his milkshake

Last night, before going to bed, Josh confessed he was afraid he might die. It's not a conversation a mom wants to have with her ten-year-old son, but one that I knew I had to address. I wanted to blow it off and say, "Oh, honey, you're going to be fine." But, in my heart, I knew he deserved more than that. Because he accepted Christ as his Savior almost two years ago now, I knew I had to reassure him of that. I said, "So, what happens if you die?" to which he replied, "I go to be with God." I said that yes, he would go to heaven to be with God and that God loved him even more than even I did. He said, "No, I think it's a tie -- you both love me the same." I told him that while I loved him with all my heart, God loved him before he was born and would love him for all eternity. I reminded him that God loved him enough to have HIS Son die on the cross so that they could be together forever. "So," I told him, "IF you die, you will be with God and while our hearts will be absolutely broken and it will be nearly impossible to go on, we know that you will be in a better place with no pain, no tears and no sin. BUT... I think God still has LOTS for you to accomplish before it's time to come home. You have a sister to teach all sorts of things to; you have to grow up and do things for God. So, I'm certain you are going to be ok tomorrow." After that, he seemed calm and went on to sleep. I'm so glad God gave me the opportunity to be this little boy's mom. He is such a wonderful kid!!