Wednesday's Wisdoms

Today I FINALLY learned how to get Ian to take a long nap!  (I just pray he's not actually getting sick)

He was feeling extra snuggly today and wanted me to carry him around everywhere.  So, I got out my handy K-Tan sling.  I love this sling!  I haven't had it out for along time because he has become much more independent.  I put it on and he loved it.  It felt so  good to have him snuggled into me so closely.  He fell right to sleep as I cleaned the kitchen and I slid him and the sling off of me together.  He remained all wrapped up.  He has slept for 2 1/2 hours and is still snoozing away!  Usually he sleeps 20-30 minutes.  This might top the list of things I have learned this year!

I apologize to all those parents that I had once thought were awful when they would say that they treasured nap time.  I remember when I was pregnant with Livia, I seriously thought that I  would never want her to go to sleep.  That I would want to spend every second with her.  Well, I soon learned everyone needs a break.

 

Yes, nap time is cherished in this home!

Already Six Months or Only Six Months

As I was reading Chelese's blog and reading the words six months, it just hit me that our boys have been home for six months!  Part of me reacts, "WOW!  Six months!  I can't believe they have been with us for half of a year!  Time flys!"


But most of me, is like, "What?  They have only been here for six months?"   I just feel like they have always been here.  That they have always been a part of our family.  It is a different sitiuation for me to be a mother to a 14 month old and 24 month old that have only been with me for six months.  I knew this was going to be the case when we adopted.  But honestly, I like so many had doubts about how I would actually feel about my new boys.  You know the question everyone adoptive parent has but never talks about until after they have adopted and proved themselves wrong.  "Will I love the boys as much as my biological children?"  I was so afraid that my answer would be No.


So, I often find myself laughing out loud at my thoughts now.  I will be thinking something like.....how Ian got his long finger like toes from me and how Chad got his lively personality from Livia.  I have to actually remind myself that I did not give birth to these children!  (Which adds to the long list of things that really makes me feel like I am losing it!)  I mean I am pretty darn pale!  I think it would be quite impossible for someone with such beautiful dark skin to come out of me.  But that does not matter.  Chad and Ian are still my beautiful boys and I am still their mommy.


So, to me, it still seems strange that they have only been home for six months.  It seems strange, that over 1/2 of Ian's life and 3/4 of Chad's life has been without me.  Yes, I knew that would be the case all along.  I just didn't expect that they would feel like they were mine.  I didn't expect myself to forget that I adopted them. 


I have to thank God for letting these two grow in my heart way before I met them........they have been with me all along.


Here are some pics taken today of the two little ones.  We are loving the weather!

First, we picked some strawberries from our garden.  Yummy!

Then we played in the pool.

We ate.

We shared.

We had lots of fun!

New Blogger in the Family!

Livia has started her own blog!  She is really into it.  I am really glad, because she is taking lots of pictures that I wish I was taking and journaling about our everyday!  I am anxious to see if she continues to keep up with the daily blogs posts.

Check her out at  Livi's Life!  I am sure she would really enjoy some comments about her blog : )

Wednesday's Wisdom

I have learned this year that when you add two kids to your family of four and make it a family of six, you end up at the hospital, doctor's office or ER very frequently!

I always thought we were a really healthy family.  Other than an occasional strep throat test at the clinic, we gladly stayed away from health care. 

I expected all of the lab work and vaccinations with the Chad and Ian.   Just not all of the other stuff that has happened in the last few months. 

Livia became our first child to ever have surgery.  She had her tonsils and aednoids removed.  This was such a blessing.  We didn't realize how much her sleep was being affected.  We used to have to scream, " Livia it is time to get up NOW!"  several times every morning.  Now the girl is up before we are full of energy!

Ian had a visit to the ER.  His upper airway was narrowing.  I was scared to death he had something lodged in his throat.  He still wants to put everything in his mouth.  He had to be admitted.  He thankfully was breathing fine the next day.  We have no idea what caused this.  But X-rays showed it was not due to any foriegn object in his throat.

Chad had a useless visit to the ER.  His foreskin had apparantly started closing up and he had extreme pain and could barely urinate.  After an hour drive to Louisville and two and a half hours in the ER the urologist refused to come in, stating "it wasn't a true emergency."  So we went home without any treatment what so ever!  Yes, we were very ticked off!  I can't help but think it being DERBY weekend had a lot to do with this.  He was relieved temporarily the next day by a wonderful urologist, who told us to bring him in right away.

Parker cut his leg on his bike chain.  He is a drama child when it comes to pain.  So, when he came in the house and said he cut himself without any tears.  I told him to take a shower and then I would look at it.  Well, a few minutes later Jamey told me to go help Parker (Jamey can't help in these situations or I would be cleaning up vomit too!).  So, to my suprise he had a cut I could lay my whole finger in!!!!  Yes, this kid was in shock, he was shaking and sweating.  So, off to the ER we went again!

Then yesterday, our second surgery, Chad had to be circumsized to fix his previous issue.  My heart just breaks for the poor little guy.  He is in so much pain.  I am trying to survive having to hold two babies non stop as Ian is sick too.  And trying to survive Chad with a naked bottom all day.  It is awfuly cute to see but, he's not quite potty trained, so ...well, you can imagine!

As I have had all of these visits, I just thank God that this is all we are dealing with.  We have four healthy children!  And we live in a country where health care is easily found.  I remember how hard it was to have children who needed specialized medical treatment in the D.R.C.  It just wasn't available.  It was an awful feeling to have a child in pain and not be able to get in my car and get a diagnosis with some medicine for him.

Seeing my children in the ER and being taken away from me into surgery is so hard.  I feel so helpless.  I just wish it was me with the pain and not them.  It made me think of all the parents who have children who are really ill.  How do they do it?  I just can't imagine.  I have cried so many times these past few months for these families I have not met.  I pray that God blankets them with her comfort and supports them with his strength.

Mama's Heart Just Melted

Yep, my heart just melted again.  Somehow it manageses to go back to solid stage again and again.

But right now it is melted.  And it feels so nice.

The cause of it?  Well, let me tell you.

It happened as I was putting Chad's shorts on him today.

I told him, "I love you.  I LOVE YOU SO SO VERY MUCH!!!"

He responded, "Thank you.  Thank you, Mama loving Chaddy."

Yep, I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Thank you. Thank you Chad  for loving Mama.

Wednesday's Wisdoms

It has been a long time since I have shared our weekly wisdoms.  Although, as always, wisdoms sounds way more important than our little learning adventures.  But here they are anyway.

Chad has learned he does not really like it when Pappy (this is what he calls his daddy, while he calls the neighbor "Daddy") gives Mama lots of kisses.  He has started saying, "Pappy, Mama is all done, Mama IS ALL DONE!"   But he sure likes it when he gets to give them to Mama!  This picture was taken to amuse him when we spent all day doing pre-op visits at the doctor's office and hospital.

Ian has learned he can stand up in the middle of the room all by himself.  He actually looks like a little surfer when he does it.  His legs are too far apart and bend and he sort of bounces with a proud look on his face.  But he has yet to take steps by himself.


Livia has learned to play the Sugarland song It Happens on the guitar!  She is going to be singing and playing it for her class American Idol Contest.  How fun is that!  I can't wait to attend the contest.  She has yet to play it for me.  She is to embarrased.  So, I am wondering how she is going to play it in front of a crowd.  Her instructor says she is doing great with it, so I am sure she will be great.


Parker should have learned by now to stay away from vines with three leaves.  But for some reason he hasn't.  This poor boy has had poison ivy nonstop!  The first day was the worst, we had to go and get a cortisone shot.  My poor little guy couldn't open his eyes.  And it was also on places he would prefer for me not to discuss on here!  Now he has a new batch on his chest.  The boy loves to climb trees and be in the woods.  So, I think he has just learned to deal with the itching.  He never complains anymore.  I think this is because he is afraid I will ban him from the woods.


Our dog Toby has learned that this is the safest place for him in our house.  You see, the boys used to be scared to death of him.  Not any more!  They LOVE him and want to pet, pull,  and squeeze him!  He tolerates this very well, but now prefers his little perch.  He reminds me so much of cat up there. But Unfortunately, for him Ian just learned that he can climb up on the couch!

I learned yesterday that frames can do wonders for artwork!  I cherished these paintings we bought when we were in Kinshasa, until recentley they had still been rolled up in a bag.  Now they are framed for everyone to enjoy and I absolutely LOVE them!

Happy 2nd Birthday Chad!

I just cannot believe Chad is two!  Time has flown by.  We have had these two little ones in our arms for over six months!  And boy has Chad changed!

You can't really see how small he was in this picture.

When I was looking back at this picture.

 I first thought this was Ian!

I remember thinking he was maybe 6-9 months old when I first held him.  He was so skinny.  He couldn't walk.  He wouldn't talk.  He wouldn't laugh.  He wouldn't look at me.  He was limp in my arms.  This all quickly changed!

We soon found out he could talk!  He never shuts up now!  His vocabularly amazes me!  He laughs all the time!  Lucky us, we get to see those cute dimples all day long!  He began walking about a month after we brought him home.  Now he runs and climbs on everything!  And I guarantee no one thinks of the word "skinny" when they see Chad! 

He is a wonderful big brother.  He tries to protect Ian and teach him what he should not do.  I commonly hear Chad nicely saying, " No, no, Ian."  If Ian cries,  Chad is the first one there, to ask, "What happened?" and give Ian a kiss.

He is a wonderful little brother.  Everyday when we pick Parker and Livia up from school Chad runs to them tackles them!  Nothing makes someone feel better than to be greated with such enthusiasm!  He also loves to play Wii with Parker.  He will even stop eating (which is his favorite thing) if he hears Parker say he is going to play Wii.  He has no clue that he is not controlling that car on the screen.  He sits on the couch steering his car! 

And of course he is a wonderful son!  I believe right now my favorite thing about him is that he asks several times a day for "Mama Snuggles". 

Today, we spent a few hours at the town park.  Chad must have felt that he was older today.  He insisted he could go down the big slide by himself. 

He loved this spinning thing-a-ma-jig. 

 I have no idea what to call this.

And loved rocking with Ian!

In honor of his birthday, I am now giving a copy of AThousand Sisters to two lucky ladies Missy and Carrie!  This privacy thing benifited you ladies!  My blog is not nearly as busy!  Please email me your addresses.