Kyrgyzstan

My heart continues to be in Kyrgyzstan. I am in constant prayer and thought about the country and its people. I continue to scour the internet for videos and updates of what is going on there, and while it's so hard to watch and read, it's even harder to see and not care about this place and these people and to understand their struggles.

I have to wonder if Ellie's biological father is a part of the uprising or a part of the police attempting to protect. I wonder if -- and yet somehow in my gut just KNOW -- he's a part of this. Is he safe or one of the ones who has been killed? I may never know.

My world shrank incredibly with the addition of this wee one to our family. I will never be the same person; I will never view the world the same as I did before. I will never watch a video of countries at war and just shrug it off like I might have before. It's all so very, very heart-breaking.

Healthy Choices

Thank you SO SO much to all who made the wonderful comments on my journey into eating right, exercising, losing weight and making better choices in my life. It's been so uplifting to read your kind words and great suggestions. I'm taking it one day at a time -- like any other addiction, I suppose, because I truly feel addicted to eating, to sugary/carby/unhealthy foods.

Today I made a sweep through Sams (to get diapers, but...) and picked up some cantaloupe, salad mix, apples, light string cheese and some Jimmy Dean Delights (breakfast sandwich with turkey sausage, egg white and low fat cheese on an English muffin). We also picked up some 100 calorie snacks and some baked chips for when the urge strikes me to have some little "something".

I am trying really hard to just make better choices at this point. I think just making that one change for a few weeks will be beneficial. I'm trying to be a wee bit more active and drink some more water instead of diet sodas. Hopefully, I can give them up ... time will tell on that one. *smile*

I'm giving myself a week before "official" weigh-in -- just like Weight Watchers. I'm hopeful that I will have good results the first week (water loss and all) just to encourage me to continue working hard.

Today's food intake:
Breakfast - Oatmeal packet
Lunch: Salad from Zaxby's with no dressing
Snack: Light string cheese
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Lean Cuisine Baked fish with rice and broccoli
Snack: Sugar free pudding with strawberries and fat free whipped topping -- yum!!

I didn't get my evening "workout" in in the yard because we had to make the Sam's run. Tomorrow, if it's not raining, there is still plenty of outside toys that need to be bleached/cleaned and NOW there is a TREE that has been cut down in my front yard that will need to be cleaned up. That should burn some serious calories.

Day two is a wrap.

My Heart is Breaking ...

...for a country I have come to care so much about -- a country and it's people. I got a phone call from Elizabeth today (my travel mate for our trips to K'stan to meet and pick up Ellie) about the state of emergency over the violent rioting that is currently going on in Kyrgyzstan. This has apparently been going on for two days and several have been killed and many have been injured.

When I got home I found this video from YouTube



Here is a news story on the current opposition against the current president who are demanding his resignation.




My stomach currently feels sick. I don't have words to explain how I truly feel, honestly. I am so sad. I am scared for those who are there. I am hurt for those who have been injured or lost their lives. I'm disturbed by the images and what is taking place on streets where I strolled with my husband and son and then with my friend and daughter -- places I photographed. I feel like I am there when I watch it. It's not just some random video that I would watch on television and think, "Wow!"

While I'm sure the children in the orphanages are safe, I'm sad for them and for their waiting families and what this could mean for all of their futures and lives. The uncertainty and scared feelings they must be experiencing is heart-breaking.

Dear God, please be with them all.

For some posts by John Wright who is currently in Kyrgyzstan, click here.

Associated Press reports:
PETER LEONARD of The Associated Press has just reported :Opposition leaders in Kyrgyzstan say they have formed a new acting government in the Central Asian nation. The announcement was made Wednesday on a state television channel that opposition members stormed and seized in the capital of Bishkek. Temir Sariyev, an opposition party leader, told The Associated Press that a coalition of politicians had agreed on a new prime minister as well as a new interior minister and new security chief.Officials say 40 people have been killed and more than 400 wounded Wednesday in clashes with police trying to quell the anti-government uprising.

This is a blog I read a lot prior to go to K'stan as this person was a teacher living there. She has since returned to the US but has some interesting links regarding the situation.

Struggles ...

I finally got on the scales today. This is a sensitive topic and not one I am really happy about blogging about. However, I feel like maybe if there is some accountability, maybe I can find the way to be successful.

I have gained WAY too much weight during the wait for Ellie to come home and the subsequent time that she has been home. It's ridiculous, actually, and I'm finally at a mental place where I know I have to DO something about it.

But here's where it gets hard for me. I really DON'T like to exercise. I really LIKE to eat (especially sugar) and I really don't seem to have any willpower. I have great PLANS but I get hungry and then cave in to eating-- usually sugary junk food.

Today I decided to start "trying" to lose weight. I've contemplated Weight Watchers, low carb, etc., but I suppose right now I'm just trying to change a few habits before I got to something "official". I've begun to try to drink lots of water and fewer diet sodas. I was TRYING to cut out sugar, but I caved seriously tonight with the Easter candy. That stuff has to go.

I do well until about 3 or 4 in the afternoon and then I just get so HUNGRY. Today I went outside with the kids and we cleaned up the yard, moved tree branches, picked up toys, cleaned a lot of Ellie's outside toys. I was trying to keep my mind off of eating, but when I was done, then I was just more hungry. *sigh*

SO.... I'm so open for tips. I'm really going to try to make small changes in how I eat until it adds up to something that works for me. I'm going to try to be more active. Lord knows there is plenty I can do to be more active as our yard needs some serious work. I'm going to try to plant a small garden this year so the kiddos can have fun with that and we can have fresh veggies.

Pray for me, ok? This is such a hard struggle. I'm not used to not being able to just do anything I want, but this is one thing that seems to allude my abilities. I've set my "initial" goal as "Losing Ellie". I want to lose as much as she weighs right now -- 22 pound, 14 oz, ie, 23 pounds. I plan to just try to take it one day at a time and try not to beat myself up when I fail. I've already failed today with the Easter candy and two "Nutrition" bars. But, I'm hopeful that making choices like fresh fruit smoothies for breakfast, Subway chicken sandwich for lunch and a Lean Cuisine for dinner along with a lot of exercise and water today will help some. It will be a long road. Pray that I have the strength and that God will gird me up and help me not be hungry. If I'm not just SO hungry, I can do this!

I'm in the WRONG business

Apparently, I'm in the wrong business. What a shame that I have no athletic abilities because apparently, if you have the ability to instruct in baseball you can make some serious bucks.

Josh's baseball team needs some back-up pitchers this year as we only have one. He can only pitch so many innings per week so the coach is allowing Josh and another of his teammates the opportunity to pitch. While Josh has some GREAT speed, his accuracy is far from where it needs to be so we went in search of a pitching coach.

At the recommendation of a friend, we found an organization in Nashville made up of former MLB players/coaches that instruct in pitching, hitting and fielding. After a phone call today, Josh is signed up to start there next Tuesday. He will go for eight weeks for 30 minutes each week. I'm told if he will practice at home, he will excel quickly. I am CERTAIN he will be practicing at home since I will have to take out a second mortgage to pay for the lessons (joke).

Stay tuned to see how this new endeavor goes. It's a new experience for him and us and I'm excited that he has the opportunity. And, best of all, I'll get some great pictures!! It truly is all about the photos, isn't it?

Two Year Old Check Up

Ellie had her two-year-old check up on Monday. We were lucky that she only had to have one shot. I have discovered the PERFECT way to do shots for her. I get a sucker on the way in (why are they on the way out??) and put it in my pocket for shot time. When the shot comes in, I distract her by showing her the sucker and unwrapping. She pops it in about the time the shot goes in and while she has a moment of "WHAT?" she hardly ever cries or makes a fuss. This time, she just pointed at her band-aid and said, "Boo boo!" and continued on with her sucker.

As I suspected, we had a HUGE growth spurt in her height. She has grown 2.5" in the last six months. Since her first visit to the doctor in December 2008 (16 months), she has grown 7.75" -- that's huge to me. She's moved up to a respectable 27th percentile in height, but bless her heart, she's still only at 7th percentile for her weight, currently at 22 lbs, 14 oz. However, since 50th percentile is only 26 pounds, I'm seriously not concerned about it. She eats very well -- eats a variety of foods and has stayed on a nice curve.

The doctor was so pleased with her development/growth/health that he said we didn't have to come back for a year. Whoo hoo!! Of course, the irony of her wonderful health was not lost to me. This is a child we feared might not live and who might have had a condition that caused us to feel we were unable to accept her referral. And now, she is the picture of health. Our God is HUGE!

Granted, she has developed a lovely case of allergies and we have put her on daily Zyrtec. She can't go outside without her nose running like a sugar tree. It's SO gross. I'm hopeful that this will be helpful for her. It's pretty much JUST outside and we've noticed a little contact allergies from her times in the grass. Poor girl. I laugh that Josh is on one allergy pill, I'm on a different one and Ellie, now, is on another different one. I went to the pharmacy today and I looked like a sinus medicine collector. Claritin -- check; Zyrtec -- check; Sudafed -- check!

So, the little premie peanut from K'stan is very healthy and we are very happy. Interestingly enough, our doctor is planning a fall trip to K'stan. I gave him information to hook up with John Wright in hopes he can do some medical volunteer work while he is there. I'm sure John would be able to put him to work in some of the orphanages. I'm so glad he will get the opportunity to go there. His life will never be the same -- mine wasn't.

Happy Easter!!

Ellie got her hair rolled this morning for Easter. It was a special day! We all laughed at how very much she looks like my grandmother when her hair is rolled and curly.

It was a fantastic morning and we actually got everything done and got to church on time. What a great reason to thank God! The weather was also sunny and warm and another reason to give thanks. But, of course, the biggest reason to celebrate is the hope we have in eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So... on with the [tons and tons of] photos from today!

Look - same eyes! :-) [yeah, I know, groan ...]


After we got ready for church, we discovered that Peter Cottontail had INDEED stopped at our house last night and left some goodies for Ellie and Josh!







"COOL, baseball cards!"


"WOW, Doa, doa, doa"


Curls galore!


Traditional Easter photos by the [dead] tree in the front yard.


Criminies, we ALL have the same eyes!


We had a great time at church today and really enjoyed teaching our class. We had 21 sixth graders today -- a full house, literally -- and even though it's hard for them to stop socializing long enough to learn a lot, I think they did manage to learn some interesting facts that maybe they didn't know about Easter and were reminded of the true meaning of Easter. I LOVE teaching our class and our kids!!

After church, MeeMee and DeeDee came over for lunch. Nana was at her sister's daughter's house and we missed having her today.



Josh and Ellie got kites and bubbles in their baskets and wanted to try them out while I prepared lunch.



DeeDee had to help Ellie fly her kite.




But Josh did great on his own with his kite.


After a lunch where we all ate so much we couldn't move well, DeeDee and Josh hid eggs for Ellie's Easter egg hunt.



Ellie was SO not interested in the eggs. She would find them, get the candy and throw the egg on the ground.


I was honstly glad (for once) that we had not mowed our grass yet as it made for some great pictures and great hiding places for eggs!




MeeMee helped Ellie hunt eggs and taught her how to use her dress as a basket. Sweet time!






Ellie decided she'd rather use MeeMee's dress as the basket!


I managed to talk Josh into sitting in the grass to get a few snaps too! (yay!!)






After Ellie's egg hunt, we did the "super hide" for Josh who had trouble finding a few. Hey, mom can seriously HIDE some eggs if the grass is high enough to put them down into!





Ellie was SO tired and we tried SO hard to skip the nap this afternoon. Finally at 4:00 we gave up and I went up and napped with her. She was up at 6:00. I managed to eake out another hour. Granted, it's now after midnight and I'm still awake. She and Josh ate WAY WAY too much candy today. We've had to hide both the candy and sodas because they were eating and drinking them like they were going out of style. I see a LOT of candy going into the freezer tomorrow.

Favorite photos of the day: there are two. One is of a petulant little girl. I'm not sure if she was just exhausted at this point or tired of the camera, but it was so cute I couldn't resist!


The other so captures the dedication Ellie has for Josh. Notice how she's following behind him "helping" him look for eggs. So, so sweet!


Tomorrow, we are off to Ellie's two year check up. I suspect she will have quickly moved from the 3% she normally is, into a more mid-range number on her height and maybe her weight as well. She has come SUCH a long, long way in the last six months. It's amazing to watch her develop into her own little person.

Josh and Kevin are going to crank up the mower and get started on that summer chore of mowing the yard. Kevin gets one more vacation day tomorrow and then we are all back to our normal routines -- such as they are -- of work, baseball practice/games, daycare (aka "e-nana's"), school and all the other things that go into our week.

We hope you had as blessed a day as we did. As we were putting Ellie to sleep, Kevin and I remarked on what a wonderful day it had been, and it was. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice so I do not have to fear death and eternity!

Annual Egg Hunt - Owen Farm

Today was such a beautiful day for a day on the farm. We went over to Josh's teacher's family farm for their second annual egg hunt. It was so fun to see the difference in Ellie from last year to this year. While she was very interested in the animals, if we got too close or asked if she wanted to pet them, she vehemently shook her head and said, "NO! NO! NO!".













I thought it was really sweet that this little girl came over to show her her chicken.


Here's Josh and his chicken. He couldn't figure how they colored the chickens. [Umm... food coloring??]





Josh also loved this rubber duck race.





We went on a long hayride and she did really well.



She was very interested, however, in the Easter Bunny. At one point, when he was sitting in the grass, she sat down beside him and kept inching over closer and closer until I had to move her so others could take photos.









Josh collected quite a few eggs for Ellie, which is good because there were so many people that Ellie was just overwhelmed and she and I only managed to scoop up three eggs. She was happy with them, until she realized there was no candy in them. The set-up was that you traded in your eggs for candy -- pretty neat idea, huh?







There were bouncy/slides at this event and Ellie managed to talk Josh into taking her. The girl LOVES these!



I love this picture of Kevin!



Ellie carried her candy tightly, eating as much as she could open, on the way to the car where she promptly passed out for a quick nap on the way to the nursing home to see grandmother.









We have had a really nice day today in the warm weather. I can't wait to celebrate Easter tomorrow!

This was my absolute favorite photo of the day. There's just something sweet about it.