Bittersweet Endings

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was writing about how baseball season was gearing up? If not, it certainly seems like it. We are down to our last game on Thursday night and while it's a bit bittersweet to end a season, I'm always happy to have that part of my life back for a month before football season takes over our lives from mid-July until early November.

Tonight's game was incredible with the Mets winning 16-0. Josh had two great hits and one strike-out. He and his team have had a good year this year.

Ellie had a great time and is taking more and more steps independently. The little stinker, however, will only walk for others. We try and try and occasionally she will take a step or two for us, but let someone else work with her and she'll take 3-4-5 steps. She's very close though. Knowing how active she is, we will certainly have our hands full then. I'm sad to see the crawling stage end because it means my little one is growing up.

She and another little boy were playing tonight at the ballpark. They were playing and laughing and smiling and clapping. It was so sweet. Then, a few minutes later, they were fighting over a toy and Ellie was pushing him off her blanket. The joys of toddlers' personalities!! I suspect the social butterfly will miss the ballgames as it was her opportunity to "work the crowd" and get tons of attention from all the adults. *smile*

I wonder what she's tyring to show him (or teach him as it looks) in these pictures?? She's really turning on that personality, you can tell!

VBS has started at our church. Another bittersweet year as this is Joshua's last year for VBS. After school ends next year, he will officially be in the YOUTH group. HOW???? I remember his first years at VBS at New Hope. I remember working and taking the kids I was keeping to VBS every day. It was a sweet, sweet time.

Time moves fast, moms -- cherish it while you can!!

Tomorrow is VBS, Braiden is spending the night, we are going to see the new movie UP! and I need to work. I'm tired already. I wouldn't have it any other way, I suppose and I'm thankful that God allows me to lead a life that is busy or I would be terribly bored.

Bathing Beauties

Ellie and Josh spent some time in her little wading pool this afternoon. Josh was a wee bit big for the wading pool, but it was so very, very sweet seeing the two of them in it together, playing and having fun. One day, they will both treasure having these pictures of the sweet times they shared together. It's the reason I knew that Josh needed a sibling.

After swimming, Ellie began her routine of checking out Josh's dental work. We laugh and say she's going to be a dentist one day because she is fascinated with looking inside your mouth -- running her entire hand in to touch your teeth.

Apparently, Josh passed the dental exam -- he's all smiles!

New Pix of Ellie and Josh

I found these on my memory card today as I was downloading Josh's baseball teams game photos. These were the last game that Josh played in (before leaving for camp). It was a hot day and little missy was sporting some hot pink!! You have to check out her shoes and cute toes.

I love this picture of Ellie and her dad ...

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands"

Toesies!! These sandals were a secret pal gift WAY back when from Roy and Lori when we were first logged in for China.

And, in all fairness, what baseball post would be complete without photos of my baseball guy?

And these are pix from tonight's double header that we split wins with the other team. Ellie had a great time feeding her DeeDee potato chips. She'd give them to him and then take them back. Considering we were at the ballpark for between 4-5 hours tonight, she did great!

Although you can't see it, Ellie is getting two new teeth. They are on the bottom beside her two middle teeth. They have finally broken through the skin. This will bring her total to 8 now.

Josh had a good game both hitting and defensively. There was drama during the games, which frustrates me really badly. Why can't the ballgame be about the kids and not about the adults? I've never quite figured that one out.

Much appreciation to "Uncle" Stoney for letting me borrow his camera the last few games since mine will not turn on. I have to get that sent back in for someone to look at very soon!

Where's the Beef? Not in Ellie's Tummy.

How many of you actually remember the Wendy's commercial ad featuring "Where's the Beef?" Loved it!!

I first knew I was pregnant when I started craving red meat. I don't, as a rule, care too much for meat. I could easily be a vegetarian if I didn't have to give up the occasional hamburger. I craved STEAK when I was pregnant with Josh. Ironically, the boy only likes meat and starches to this day (corn, potatoes, pasta -- you get the drill). Veggies and fruits just aren't something he cares for very much.

Ellie, on the other hand, does NOT like meat. She will eat it occasionally, but for the most part, she is most happy with fruits, veggies, pastas breads, potatoes and dairy products (with the happy Pringles minis thrown in for good measure!). I'm challenged to find enough protein for her. She will eat eggs, does drink milk and eats cheese. She likes lima beans but isn't really fond of any other beans so far. She loves all fruits and most veggies so far. As we were eating tonight and she was begging for my salad (which I cut up small and gave to her), I wondered aloud to Kevin if when her birthmom was pregnant with her if she primarily ate fruits, veggies and pastas. Granted the Kyrgyz diet seemed to be rich in veggies and potatoes and meats of varying kinds, I'm wondering if her mom might have not cared much for meat. It would be interesting to know. And, maybe, she will learn to like meat a bit later on.

Just another fun fact about her I wanted to capture before it slipped my mind!

Early Intervention

Because of Ellie's prematurity and some concerns I have had about her communication skills, I contacted TEIS (our early intervention program) and we scheduled an intake to see if she qualified for services. HA! The joke was on me, I suppose.

Apparently, in order to qualify, one has to be 25% deficient in 2 or more areas or 40% deficient in one area.

There was a base number in six (or seven??) categories that she would have to score below in order to qualify. She scored higher in all categories.

She was borderline, however in communication and motor skills. I was really surprised at the motor skills, however, since it includes walking and she's not doing that on her own yet, it made sense. Apparently, if we are still at the same place developmentally in those two areas in four months, then she will qualify. My concerns were primarily the fact that she's not saying enough words for her age. Granted, she was a preemie and I should look at her developmental age and not her chronological age, however, at this point the words we feel she understands and uses correctly are: daddy, bubba (sometimes), kickee (kitty), goggy (doggy -- an only a few times), mama is RARE and we are not sure she uses it to relate to me and yeah. She has just begun to shake her head no on occasion. And that's all. Nothing else. I'm certain Josh was further along in his talking skills by this point. I could be wrong, I guess. However, because she is so high functioning in her ability to understand us and what we are saying to her, she scored high.

The funniest part of the whole day was the section on PERSONALITY. It should come as no surprise to those who know her that Ellie did very well in the personality category. In fact, the coordinator was concerned that her office would think she didn't administer this section of the test correctly. In order to qualify for services, her score would have to be below 8. Ellie was a 17. She tested at the age level of a 3-4 year old in the personality section. We are certainly in trouble when she gets a little older, huh?

So, now we wait and give her a few more months to develop those skills that she is border line on. The TEIS office will send us some literature on how to help her develop her communication skills. We are working hard at allowing Ellie to walk more and not carry her so much. I jokingly said I was going to make her a t-shirt that says, "My mama says DO NOT pick me up, I have to learn to walk." *smile* We are going to try to read more to her, point out pictures of things and tell her the words frequently, do more stacking games and have her try to develop her communication more by trying to encourage her to ask for things instead of just offering her things before she wants them (ie, food and drink and toys). Hopefully we'll see a big difference in the next few months now that we are more aware of some of the areas where she is lagging behind a little.

We were pleased to find that she is doing so very well developmentally given her less than ideal beginnings and based on the information we were presented with during her records review by Dr. A., who indicated prematurity was often a cause of developmental delays. We are hopeful, however, if she does shows signs of any delays we will be able to get on those very early and help her catch up before they become an issue and before she starts school. So far, though, she seems to be doing well.

My Boy is HOME!!

Praise God, my boy is home safe and sound!!! The bus arrived home at 11:20 and I was early up in the line to get him off the bus. He looked like he was exhausted and his voice was very hoarse. I don't know that I've seen him this tired looking or acting in a long, long time.

Here is Ms. Jennifer being reunited with "The Princess" before the bus came! Ms. Jennifer's son went to 4H camp too.

Here comes the bus!!

Here comes Josh off the bus -- doesn't he look exhausted?

Yep, he certainly is exhausted!
Rubbing his eyes while MeeMee is talking to him ...
Waiting for his luggage...

And last, but certainly not least, the person who I think might have been the most excited to see Josh??? Ellie -- look at the grip she has on his shirt and the look of utter contentment... this is one girl who loves her brother!

We gathered his luggage and pile of wet clothes and, as predicted, he wanted to go to McDonalds because he was starving. MeeMee met us at the pickup and decided to go with us to McDonalds. While there, she gave Ellie her first taste of ketchup. Ellie loved sucking it off the fries.

Josh let us know that he and his friend John were awarded a 4H Camp Service Award for returning a little girl's purse. I was so proud of him my heart almost exploded. There is nothing that makes a parent more proud than knowing that some of the things you try to teach your children actually make it through to them and that while they are away from you, they can behave and do right. Granted, I'm certain he didn't mention any of the things he did that I wouldn't have approved of!! *smile* I would love to have scanned and shared the award, however, Josh stuck it in with his wet laundry and it came out pretty much in pieces. *sigh* Oh well! Speaking of laundry, he did fairly well. Packing each day's clothes in a baggie seemed "controlling" to him when I did it, but when it returned, if the baggie wasn't opened, it was still nice and clean and not jammed in with all the dirty and wet stuff. It also kept the liquids (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) all nice and separate from the clothes.

I asked him did he want to go back next year and he definitely did, so I suppose it was a success!! I'm glad.

What Did I DO All Week?

In a few hours I'll get to go meet the bus and pick up my long lost son, Josh!!! I'm excited. But, that made me realize I have not blogged since TUESDAY. Then, I got to thinking, what did I DO all week??? I had great plans of getting Josh's room cleaned out while he was gone -- didn't do it. I had great plans to go out to eat with just the three of us -- didn't do it. I didn't have baseball games to go to. What did I do?? I still don't have a clue, but I have realized that my life must be absolutely BORING without Josh around. He is the salt for our lives that keeps us hopping.

HOWEVER, I will add that I also didn't pick up clothes all over the house, find soda cans stuffed in four hundred locations, wash clothes 1000 times (well, Kevin does that, so...), pick up plates from all over the house, argue over what clothes he can wear, fuss about brushing teeth and bathing, pick up stuff all over the yard, tell him to stop watching TV/playing computer, etc. and go play or read a book, fuss more about leaving stuff everywhere .... well, you moms know the drill!!

Regardless, I'll take it all -- just to have my boy home!! Stay tuned for camp updates -- wait, I'm sure I won't have any. Oh well!

Feed the Forgotten

Children are starving in Uganda. You might be like me (sometimes) and think, "They are starving in a lot of places, including in the United States." How callous of me to think that way, but sadly, it seems there is so much hunger and pain and need in our world that we often become callous in our thought process. But Jesus encouraged us not to be that way and to help.

I came across this blog post which I don't think is an accident because it's not a blog I've ever been to before. I read about the children who are starving and that ONLY $.14 will provide a meal. I saved a lot of money triple couponing this week. I think I could definitely spare $.14. Interestingly enough:
$2.86 will feed a person for 20 days
$1 per FAMILY per day
$20 feed a family for 20 days

I found it interesting that this blogger wrote:

What am I willing to give us so that others might eat?

People are STARVING to death while we waste our money on things we DO NOT NEED.

News reports from this area report the following: there are also 55,000 people there starving, feeding on leaves, ash, cow dung and termites! Palapiano Kawunda, a 71-year-old widower says he hadn't eaten for four days and had to eat cow dung. He has swollen legs and the rest of his body is weak. He is suffering from severe diarrhoea. "I had taken a week without eating. Fearing death, I crawled towards a cow and ate cow dung."

If you can read this and allow children and adults to die starving, click on to the another site to read or push it from your mind. If it bothers you as much as it does me when you could give even a few dollars ($1 will feed 6 people -- SIX PEOPLE for only $1), then click here to donate through Children's HopeChest. Be sure to write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section so the money will go for that.

Count up some change to give; give up one soda today; give up your weekly pizza night, give up something. Fast to see what hunger feels like while you pray for those who are hungry. Pray!! So far, this project has raised a little over $6,000. Feel free to post about it on your blog -- anywhere. Let God lead your heart. Think of how many you would want to tell if your children were hungry and starving.

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

Psalm 107:5-6

"They were hungry and thirsty;

Their soul fainted within them.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;

He delivered them out of their distresses"

Josh: No New is Good News -- I Guess

We were told we wouldn't hear from Josh while he was at camp unless there was a problem. We haven't heard from him. Granted, he has only been gone two days, but it seems like it has been a lifetime. There are still two more LONG days to go and then a half day before he's home.

Kevin and I were sitting at the table last night working on our computers and Kevin looked up at me and said, "It's awfully quiet here." As much as I complain about Josh's noise and mess, I really, really miss him (and his noise and mess!!). I don't like not having him here. It's just not right. Parents whose children have gone to camp understand what I'm talking about.

Every hour or so, I look at the clock and wonder what he's doing, if there's a problem and there's no one there to handle it for him (because you know no one will handle it like me, right? *smile*). I wonder if he's bathing and brushing his teeth (and thinking he's probably not), if he's drinking sodas all day long, if he's already spent all his money, if he's behaving, if he's made new friends, if he's getting along, if he's having fun, if he's safe, if he's homesick --- well, the list goes on and on. I want to know that he's o.k.

And, when he comes home, I'm certain this is exactly how the conversation will go,
"Josh, I'm so glad you are home. Did you have a good time?"
"Yes."
"Well, did you have fun?"
"Yes."
"What did you do all week?"
"Nothing."
"Well, you must have done something. Did you go swimming?"
"Yes"
"Did you enjoy creek stomping?"
"Yes"
"Did you get in trouble?"
"No"
"Did you make any new friends?"
"No"
"Was the food good?"
"No -- can you stop asking me so many questions?"
"Well, I just want to hear all about it."
"I'm tired; I don't want to talk. Can you stop at McDonalds?"

So, now that I've had the conversation, I suppose I won't have to have the conversation, right?

Moving Mountains - Softening Hearts

We are reminded many times in the Bible through various stories of how God has softened people's hearts. He has also allowed people to harden their hearts toward Him, but that's another story for another day.

As I continue to do daily, I read and monitor the blogs of the families who are still waiting to bring their children home from Kyrgyzstan. This past weekend, several waiting families and adoptive families travelled to Washington DC to meet with Kyrygz officials to share their stories.

I've been blessed with each retelling of the story of those days and the events that surrounded them. Many of the blogs are private and so sharing the links is not appropriate, but there is one blog that captures the story of a little boy, adopted from Kyrgyzstan, who bravely travelled to Washington DC to share his story in order to help bring home other children. My heart is so touched whenever God chooses to use children to soften the hearts of adults -- and I continue to see it time after time. Each time, however, I am moved anew. It is a fervent reminder that God continues to use the smallest, the meekest, the most humble and the least expected of us, to do great things. Kenny probably has no idea of the impact he has likely made on the lives of countless orphans in his native country. God does. God knew the purpose of his life and where He would use him long before he was born. Visit his mom's blog to read her story of their travels to Washington. She has done a fantastic job of capturing the story -- just like the countless others I have read.

I pray so frequently for these families and these children, but the truth is, there are millions of orphans like the 65 who are waiting in Kyrgyzstan. God promised us a daughter, our Ellie, and my heart continues to tell me that He WILL bring those 65 children home to their families. It is a fact that I don't doubt. Reading the stories of how He softened the hearts of these officials and of the tears flowing, it reaffirms my faith, my belief in His powers and abilities and most importantly, His LOVE for these families and children. During our very, very long wait to adopt, I was reminded frequently that this would happen in His time, not mine. I am reminded again that these children will also come home in His time, and not mine -- as I would have them home now. There are reasons that we may never understand this side of heaven, for this delay, and it is hard to understand or comprehend. Maybe there needed to be adoption reform in that country; maybe He needs to reveal Himself to someone, to change their lives and faith through this process; a thousand maybes could be offered, but this I know, He is continuing to move mountains and He will bring these children home.

And, a beautiful little child has helped that process along. Thank you, Kenny. (And, of course, all the others who participated in this process and are doing all they can to help this process move more quickly and to bring these children home sooner.)

May Wong Lee - An Adoption Video

I saw this on another adoptive family's blog and watched it and was touched in some base, elemental way that I'm not sure I even understand yet. It was beautiful and moving. I think it was so moving because I traditionally see Americans adopting children of different races and yet this is a family of mixed races who adopted yet another race as well. It is a beautiful reminder that families do not always look alike and that family is about so much more than biology. It is a stunning video (photographically speaking) as well, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (Click the photo to take you to the video).

Where in the world is Maria working??

When I was working in Kentucky last week, I asked the person I was interviewing where the nearest fire station was (part of the interview) and he replied "Flippin Fire Department". Huh?? Apparently, there is a Flippin, Kentucky. Here are the photos to prove it. Imagine telling your friends you go to the Flippin Church of Christ. However, I think the verse is very pertinent to many things in life -- especially adoption!

Josh Goes to 4H Camp

My Josh has gone to 4H camp for the week. I'm so sad and already miss him terribly. He's been on my mind all day. It's his first overnighter without one of us being there (other than just spending the night with a friend).

I could tell he was a bit nervous before he left, but I'm hopeful that he is having such a great time that he won't miss us as much as we are missing him!

While we were packing for him to go, Ellie came in, climbed in her suitcase and decided she was going too!! I think Josh would have really liked to have taken her with him. He was really playing with her and loving her yesterday and today.

TRIPLES!!

It is triple coupons time again in Tennessee!! I'm trying to encourage as many families as I can to take advantage of coupon clipping and making the trek into town for shopping by listing my great bargains from today:

I got the following:

(6) boxes Huggies Wipes
(2) jugs Sunny Delite Smoothie drink
(1) bag Sargentos Potato Toppers
(3) jars Wishbone dressing
(1) box 24 count (family size) Lipton tea bags
(2) Betty Crocker Warm Delights desserts
(1) 5 lb bag potatoes (no coupon, just needed them)
(4) spray bottles Lysol w/Bleach cleaner
(2) spray bottles Lysol Bathroom Cleaner
(2) large Lysol cleaner citrus refills

(1) spray Lysol mold/mildew spray

(1) spray Lysol all purpose cleaner

(6) boxes Hamburger or Chicken Helper
(1) box Lipton tea-to-go tubes
(1) Sister Shubert rolls
(1) bag Werthers candy
(1) Glade Smart Sense automatic air refresher
(8) cans Lysol Neutra Air air freshner
(9) cans Pillsbury biscuits
(1) jar Mt. Olivet pickles
(1) box 100 calorie baked cheetos
(4) cans Meow mix cat food
(1) jar Jack Daniels BBQ sauce

Total out of pocket: $35.49
Total retail cost: $154.92

YAYAYAYAY!!!