Work In Progress

Birthday Bonus

2012-02-10T09:26:00.000-08:00

I sent my Mom, at her request, Marney's birthday wish list. One of the items was a can on paint. Marney has been wanting her room painted since we moved in, and I have not had the time or energy to fill that request. So I half-jokingly included in parentheses (and Dad too for the weekend, to help her paint!) Well, lo and behold, Mom e-mailed me back and said, "I think we can make that happen. " Woo-Hoo!

As an extra added bonus, Jacob was included in the package!

Grandpa's here!

Hard at work.

Out for a walk in the woods, on an unusually dreary day.

Jacob faithfully wore his rosary. I still have it, Jake! I promise to send it soon.

The finished product. A happy girl, and a cute room.

Thank you so much to our family for being spontaneous and making this happen, we are all so grateful. So far since we moved, we have had a visit of some sort to look forward to every 12 weeks or so. I has helped so much. We are very lucky to have family that cares enough to make such an effort. Looking forward to our next get together in March!

Birthday Girl

2012-02-03T04:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Marney!

Our girl turned 11 on Tuesday. We celebrated Saturday with a trip to her favorite swim supply store in the big city and dinner out at PF Changs, yum. Tuesday night she opened her presents sent from far and wide, and ate cake. I made this chocolate deliciousness found on piterest, double yum!

She is growing up way too fast, but making us very proud in the process. We love you Marney!

Problem Solved

2012-01-30T06:57:00.000-08:00

I couldn't decide if I should call this post "big problem, small solution" or "small problem, big solution." So I just went with "Problem Solved!"

I woke up one morning last week to find this in the kitchen:

I guess Jim got tired of listening to me grumble about how cups are continuously scattered over every surface of the kitchen, and he came up with this for us to try. It's working beautifully!

After me sending him a thank you, you are a genius, you should market this, text. He did a little digging and found this on Etsy. Shucks, cuter than neon green post-its. Oh well, post-its are practically free, and do the job. I also like the place holders on the backsplash better, rather than on the counter directly. The cups are little more out of the way, and less likely to get knocked over. Of course this only works if your kids are big enough to reach the back of the counter. Either way, the idea is the point. It has cut down tremendously on the counter clutter, and freed up valuable dishwasher space.

A big thank you to my smart hubby for this, and for caring about the little things that make my day go more smoothly.

Lemon Bars

2012-01-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

Just Keep Swimming....

2012-01-22T17:40:00.000-08:00

....just keep swimming...

Our new family motto for so many reasons. We are back to school routine, and it feels good. I wouldn't say any of us are totally energized and ready to tackle something huge, but we are plugging along.

Marney had a swim meet this past weekend. She had fun and swam really well. We wanted to share some video with Grandmas and Grandpas who were not able to watch her in person.

Double checking her schedule.

Keep up the hard work Marney, it's paying off!

Crash and Burn

2012-01-18T06:33:00.000-08:00

I can't do it. I can't let them go. The girls are staying home, where they belong.

Yesterday will forever go down in our family history as the day Marney went to school and taught her class about Venn diagrams. Then came home to stay.

Over the weekend while I was cleaning and purging the school room and the girls desks, I was reminded of how much we really have done, how much they really have learned. More importantly, I was flooded with memories of the wonderful moments we have shared together through home schooling. I was reminded how much I love seeing their faces light up at something new they had learned.

Although Jim and I have worked hard to Fireproof our marriage, we paid no attention to burnout proofing our home school. Some early plea's for help went unnoticed by both of us. The effects of the events of the last 8 months finally piled up too high. I couldn't take the load any longer. I crashed. Something had to change. I thought the answer was to send them to school. That they we would be better of there, where the qualified teachers are. Not stuck at home with their obviously crazy Mother!

But crazy as I may be, no one loves my kids like I do. No one else knows them like I do. No one cares about their future like I do.

Having their hearts is more important than getting them to Harvard.

Ivy League has never been our goal, but I do want the world to be our children's oyster. I want them to be able to do what ever it is that God calls them to do. I don't want lack of education to be an obstacle that they have to overcome.

State testing is coming up soon, my kids have not been tested since leaving public school. Will they measure up? Fear and doubt crept in so slowly, I didn't see it until it was too late.

--------------

Eight months ago, Jim called me on his way home from work. Through tears, he told me that he had been let go from his job. He was devastated. I was stunned. First of all, he never cry's, second, those were words I never thought I would hear from my husband. That happens to other people. My husband is a hard worker, always going above and beyond at his job. He truly enjoys working. I pray for him daily. I thought this was enough to keep him safe. I was arrogant.

The job hunt and the financial worries that followed were very difficult.

But the decision to move far away from everything we knew and kept us safe was even more gut wrenching.

The move went smoothly, thank goodness, and the kids transitioned nicely.

I was busy trying to get the house settled, keep the kids busy and happy, (and probably myself too) so that no one would have time to be homesick. To fill the hole in our hearts that was created when we left. What I didn't do was take time off to let every one take a breath, heal, and get used to the idea of our new normal.

I should have taken some time to just let things be. Instead fear and doubt drove me to continue along as if nothing had happened. To demand our old schedule from the kids and I. They must keep up with their studies! That little voice kept reminding me. I was trying to keep all the balls in the air, to not let anything drop.

I wasn't taking care of myself. I didn't aknowledge everything I had lost, my family, our home, a job I loved. I didn't give my self time and permission to grieve those losses. I had to be strong.

Then came the holidays we had company, we traveled. We were busy again and off our schedule.

Then we all had the flu, of course we did! We were exhausted.

All of this created a perfect storm, a recipe for disaster, the perfect formula to create burnout. I crashed and burned hard.

After lots of tears, and soul searching, I'm in a better place. I'm reminded of what our priorities are. I'm ready to finish this year with enthusiasm.

-------------

So what's our plan moving forward?

I have to stop thinking about what we are not or should be doing, and start concentrating on what we are doing. What is going well, and how can we change the things that are not.

We need to remind each other daily of the big picture. That our success may not come in the form of a big grand finish, but in the little every day victories along the way.

I need to exercise regularly, take my vitamins, and take a break every now and then. While I doubt I'll get the weekend in Tahiti I've been hoping for, I can take time away in some (budget friendly) form or fashion.

We also sat down to tweak our schedule, what's working, what's not. I think this one will be better.

I started reading some wonderful books about Homeschool burnout, and imperfect homeschooling, they are helping!

My Girls

2012-01-12T17:29:00.000-08:00

Three and a half years ago we scooped our girls out of school, and became a home school family. It was a radical change, but one I can easily say was the best thing we ever did for them, and our family. Madeline was a struggling reader, falling farther and farther behind. Marney was plugging along just fine. We decided to try it for one year, and before we knew it, three and a half years had past. We went into things with an open mind, and a year-at-time attitude. As long as it was still working for everyone, we would continue.

After the dust settled on our move, I came to realize it just wasn't working anymore. I don't know if it's because we are dealing with homesickness, been under too much stress for too long, or the culture shock and isolation of being new in town, but there it was.

I hoped things would be better after Christmas break. It wasn't the kids, it wasn't anything anyone did, my heart is just not in it anymore. I feel like I'm giving up, I'm disappointed in myself in so many ways. I wish I could make it work. I wish we could be one of "those" homeschool families who do. I'm guilty of comparing my family's bad days to others glory days that are portrayed on so many home school blogs. Maybe that set us up to fail, my expectations were too high. In reality, we are just a wonderful "our kind" of family. Imperfect in so many ways. Doing what is best for us.

The decision was made, and they will start at the local public schools this month. The girls took the news with maturity and grace, much better than I expected. They are excited! This was another one of those parenting decisions that is harder on us than it is on them. I didn't expect to be the only one crying and agonizing over this for days. It kind of reminded me of the days of taking away pacifiers, potty training, or making them sleep in their own beds. Deciding to finally bite the bullet is so hard on Mommy, and the process can be tough on everyone. But when all is said and done, little someone comes away proud of her accomplishment, more confident, and on her way to becoming a big girl.

The boys will continue to spend their days with me, they need a little more time to marinate in home.

Best buddies.

Learning together always.

Our first day of Home School 2008

We had many great moments, memories locked in my mind forever.

I'll miss moments like these...

But something tells me with Marney around, we'll still have plenty of moments like this...

(fake finger nails on your toe nails type moments)

They are growing, changing.

These butterflies are ready to spread their wings, and fly.

Early Christmas

2011-12-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

It felt a little strange to take the tree down before Christmas this year, but I didn't want to come home to the chore and a pile of needles.

I didn't have to ask Owen and the neighbor boy twice to drag the tree to the woods! They had a great time with this little project. I guess you get country quick around here!

See, I really did decorate. Sorta.

Sunday morning was fun, reintroducing Ben to presents, I think he forgot!

Also Sunday morning was first communion for Madeline, Marney, and Owen.

Have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Cinnamon Ornaments

2011-12-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

Owen and I had fun last week making these ornaments. I did not use the oil, they are plenty fragrant without it. They make the whole house smell wonderful. Attempt number one failed because I learned the hard way that Owen is better with a rolling pin, and I forgot to put in the little hole at the top!

We finally got it right the second time around.

We are decorating them today using bells, buttons, wrapping paper and mod-podge. I am hoping to use them as gift go-a-longs, so I won't show the finished product just yet.

We also decorated our gingerbread house. This is something we normally get together and do with my sister and her family, so it was a little bitter sweet this year to be doing it alone.

It turned out cute. Notice all the missing candy? Even after reminding everyone that I bought it on clearance after Christmas last year, (not exactly fresh!) they could not resist trying a few bites.

We are busy preparing for an early Christmas this year. We are celebrating on Sunday the 18th here at home, and then heading back to Michigan to spend Christmas with our families there.

Also happening Sunday is First Communion for the 3 big kids. Our new church celebrates an open table, it's not tied to Confirmation like I am used to. They have been taking classes in preparation, and are excited to be able to fully participate in the Lord's Supper. On Saturday after class, they will be making bread to use during service on Sunday. I thought that was a neat touch.

We are having a relaxing, but productive week. Hope you are too!

Vistors and a field Trip

2011-12-06T16:45:00.001-08:00

Jim's parents and sister returned our girls! We were so glad to see them all. They spent a few days with us and are on their way home today. While they were here, we did some shopping, played lot's of American Trivia, and took a trip to the local children's museum...

She's not afraid of this tornado.

Ben banged out a few tunes.

53 inches! He's getting so tall!

Scouting out some potential photo locations. The architecture of this old tobacco factory was really cool.

Presidential fitness test anyone? This girl blew the averages away, must be all that swimming.

Oops! Trying to sneak behind the ropes!

Hermit crabs!

One last shot.

We have been lucky to have so much family time lately even though we are so far away. Only 16 more days until we head to MI for Christmas!

Our Week and Learning Spaces

2011-12-02T12:58:00.001-08:00

What happens when I only have two kids for the week? Not much!

The girls were gone to Michigan for the week and are due home tonight, so it was just the boys and I for five days. It's been pretty quiet around here, but we managed to have some fun anyway.

We did a little school, and lot's of playing. Owen has been busy taking care of his hermit crab. These are the perfect pet for our "no pets" family. They are easy and fun, allergy and stink free!

Owen is a very attentive crab owner.

I had a little time to re-think the formal dining room layout. We are not formal dining room people, and knew this space would be a dedicated office/learning space instead. It's open on two sides, so it's been a challenge to get it right.

If I knew we were going to stay here forever, I would close it in and hang these beauties on both sides! But this is not likely to be our forever home. We could have Carrie Underwood sing "This is Our Temporary Home" here, but I won't do that to you!

I've been learning a little about how to integrate some Montessori principles into our education plan for Ben. He is beginning to get to the "I want to do it myself" stage, and I want to support and empower him to do things for himself. It's not always easy for me to do this. I like a clean space. I am hoping to show him how to do things himself, with self control and good habits. i.e. do one thing at a time, clean up after yourself as you go.

We shall see! He is a tornado!

So, anyway, I tweaked a few things and hopefully made a more child friendly "can do" space, using things we already had on hand. The three cheap Walmart rolling kitchen carts I bought 5 years ago have served us well, in many different capacities over the years.

I took the doors off my desk, and moved Owen's desk next to mine. I eliminated all the loud toys from Ben's space, in hopes that we can all "work" together with fewer distractions.

I've been on a purge the plastic and electronics kick. Back to basics here.

There are a couple storage closets off this room, they help control the clutter that comes along with homeschooling. This house has turned out to be such a blessing for our family in this season of life. It is so live-able, and fits our needs perfectly. Really an answer to our prayers, right down to the smallest details. We are grateful.

Speaking of obnoxious things, I wanted to get a Ben sized chair. Walmart to the rescue again! I don't usually care for character themed things, but the price was right!

He loves it! Big stuff!

While we missed the girls very much, it was a nice change of pace for a few days. I felt like I could finally take a deep breath and enjoy a slower pace, and I know the girls had a great time visiting in Michigan.

I am working on some fun plans for Beyond Five in a Row for January. We will be rowing Thomas Edison Young Inventor by Sue Guthridge. I will be posting weekly wrap ups for that, including resources used. Can't wait!

Also in the January plans are working on the girls learning space upstairs, I will post picks after that is done. Have a great weekend!

Our Thanksgiving Week

2011-11-27T15:54:00.001-08:00

We had some very special guests for Thanksgiving. We did lots of....

Cooking (for 18 people all week!)...

Outdoor time (soccer, kickball, yoga, etc)...

scavenger hunting...

beach combing...

friend finding...

Sister time...

family time....

It was a great week, can't wait to do it again! Thanks to all our guests for making our holiday much less lonely!

Our Explosive Week

2011-11-11T15:03:00.001-08:00

This week we took a break from the book work, and explored this amazing globe we call home. It's been a while since we did a unit study, and some real hands on learning. Owen has been a little bored with his current routine, so I thought we should spice things up with something a little more exciting. We used this:

Amanda Bennett's Volatile Volcanoes Unit Study

We really enjoyed our week. Our days were full. We cleaned out the library on everything volcano related and had lot's activities to choose from in this down load and go packet.

To wrap up our week, the kids woke up to Volcano pancakes. We opted for the syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon vs. cheese option, yum!

The fun continued after Jim got home, with a volcano model.

Owen had been waiting for this all week!

Our dinner menu consisted of:

Buffalo chicken Wraps

something spicy seemed appropriate.

and,

Volcano cake for dessert! We rarely have dessert, so this was a real treat.

In honor of Marney's announcement that she wants to be an oceanographer (I'm sure this has something to do with her current obsession with mermaids and the fact that she is spending roughly half her life in the pool with her swim team these days) our next unit study will be "Oceans." Owen suggested a huge wave cake at the end on that week, yikes! What have I started?

We have a busy weekend planned. The fall foliage is in full bloom and the weather has been beautiful. Perfect setting for a family photo, I think! First one in forever, I can't wait. Also scheduled is acolyte training at church for the girls, quite a long "honey-do" list for Jim, and some fun preparations for some very special guests coming in just over a week. A productive and fun weekend ahead, hope yours is wonderful too!

A Year To Remember

2011-11-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

A year ago today, we stepped off a plane and introduced Ben to his new family.

Then.

This has been a year of getting to know each other. There were more changes in our family during Ben's first year home than I had hoped. I specifically remember asking for a quiet year! But, it is what it is. Ben has rolled with the punches, and has adjusted amazingly well.

When we started this journey to Ben, we didn't know exactly what to expect. What will it really be like, day to day? Are we really, truly crazy for doing this? Books can only prepare you so much.

FAITH=Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him

I can honestly say that having him home has put all of our fears to rest. He felt like one of the family right away, and I just feel like his Mom. A very lucky Mom. My love for him vs. each of our biological children is no different. Well, maybe I love them all differently. They are, after all different people, with different needs. But, you can be sure they are all loved with the same intensity, the same ache in my heart. He is not loved any more or any less because he was adopted.

Now, I don't want to build him, or our experience up unrealistically. Of course, there are times, days even, that are more challenging than others. It's meant a lot of hard work for all of us, and been a daily practice in patience. He is often loud, squirmy, and uncooperative. I haven't always handled it with grace. We are no longer an inconspicuous family. For better or worse, we make a lasting impression where ever we go. :) Ben has received more than his "fair" share of our parental attention at times. Despite all this, adopting Ben has exceeded our expectations by a mile. The amount of joy he brings to our lives is beyond measure.

Watching Madeline, Marney, and Owen welcome Ben into our lives with open arms has been a gift to all of us. They are learning that we make adjustments for the special people in our lives. It's not a sacrifice or an imposition, it's what we do for people that we love. It's what we do for everyone at times when we all have special needs or concerns. We all fall and need help getting back up. They love him more that I could have ever hoped. They do not resent his presence in our lives. This little guy has no clue how deeply he has penetrated our hearts, and changed us all forever.

So, what has this little wonder been up to?

Gross motor- Ben was crawling when he came home, now he is running, climbing, kicking a ball, and trying to jump!

Fine motor- Still not using a pincer grasp, this is a goal for the next few months. Doing great at stacking, shape sorting, and the like. He loves to learn and be challenged.

Self care- Self feeding, making good progress here. Not completely independent, but progressing nicely. He is biting and chewing well. He can remove all his clothes independently :/ working on redressing! Loves to "help" brush his teeth, learning to sit still for this process. Loves the bath tub and everything that goes with it, does not love to get out!

Speech- Since we started working on learning his ABC's and starting sight words and numbers, he is attempting to say lots of new words. He uses about 10 signs regularly and appropriately. His receptive language is better than he would like us to believe. He understands everything!

Social- Does not need any encouragement in this area! He is our little ambassador, making friends out of strangers where ever we go! Sometimes needs a reminder to be gentle, and use a quiet voice. Also working on, hugs are for family, high fives or hand shakes are for friends.

Education- Working on learning his ABC's and sight words. Lot's of flash cards! Lot's of reading and play time going on here too.

Now.

Ignore my closed eyes, I just love this shot of Ben!

madeline, this ones for you...

2011-11-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Making Memories

2011-10-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

We were fortunate enough to have our first visitors this past weekend. Do you think I took one picture? All I can say is, we were busy!

The only evidence I have are these photos taken by Jacob before and during their trip. They somehow ended up on my computer. Along with about 56 lego shots, oops! I think there was some movie making going on around here. :)

My Mom and Dad brought two of our nephews down for the weekend. We were so glad to see them!

The kids did a whole lot of playing outside, the weather was beautiful. The guys organized the garage. My mom and I squeezed in a little shopping. But, mostly we just enjoyed each others company.

We'd like to have them back today (or the day after last night, as Owen might say) but we will just have to wait until Thanksgiving when the whole gang arrives!

Thanks again for making the trip!

All Things Peanut

2011-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Part of the fun of moving to a new location, especially a different region of the country, is trying to identify just what is in all those fields. My Dad trained me well, on corn and soybeans, but moving here has stumped me a little bit. The cotton was easy, tobacco too. But the difference between peanuts and sweet potatoes? A little more challenging. It wasn't until to peanut fields were turned over, were our guesses confirmed.

Do other people spend this much time discussing fields? I've even been known to chase down a tractor or two, just to see where they are headed!

Some fun peanut farming videos. Lots of tractor action!

So interesting. Now we understand the symbiotic relationship between peanuts and cotton, never would have guessed that!

George Washington Carver activities

Peanut Butter Bird Feeder

Yummy and cute Peanut Butter Buttons

Zoo Trip

2011-10-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

Madeline put this video together after we got home. She took most of the pictures herself.

Ben's new "say cheese" pose.

We had a great afternoon at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. It's a beautiful place, a very natural setting. It is about a 2 hour drive for us, but we hope to go back soon.

This Is Our Adventure

2011-10-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Adventure. Defined as an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. We, as humans crave adventure. As Christians we are called to a life of adventure. God doesn't want us to play it safe, to be content. He wants us strike out and spread his word, to risk it all to do His work here on earth.

The need for adventure runs deep for every American. Our country was founded on the backs of adventurers. Imagine if the pilgrims had been content to stay in Europe?

See Jen? You had fun!

I believe every childhood should include adventure.

My childhood adventure took the form of a horse farm. The summer before my freshman year of high school, my parents decided to by a horse boarding facility. They have always been business minded people. My Dad owned a tire business and my Mom turned her hobby of cross stitching into a small business. Adventures in their own right, no doubt! So when the opportunity came up to buy the farm, they jumped on it. It was the busiest summer of our lives, I have never worked so hard.

My horse Razzberry.

My parents sold the farm about 10 years later, but the lessons we learned will last a lifetime. I learned what it felt like to put in a hard days work. I learned to put up hay, drive tractors and mow lawn. I learned responsibility and teamwork. I spent a great deal of time with my Dad. We had many good conversations over the manure spreader. It wasn't always easy, many days I hated having to do chores. I wanted to be a normal teenager with less responsibility and more time to spend with my friends. Now, as an adult I realize how lucky I was. We made family memories that will last a lifetime. We share a bond that we may not otherwise have. I am grateful.

I've always been a little sad that my kids have never had the opportunities I had. I grew up visiting my Grandfathers farms. Running and playing in wide open places. Riding on Grandpas lap in the combine. Walking in the woods and working in the garden with Grandma. My kids are growing up in the city. Will they experience the satisfying feeling of falling into bed after an exhausting days work?

My maternal Grandfather was an adventurer. At 15, he left his home in Nebraska and hitched a ride to Michigan, following the opportunities. He had a few family members in Michigan, but for the most part he was on his own. He managed a farm for years until he saved enough to buy his own. He was a successful farmer, raised 4 children, and lived a long happy life.

My sister, Jen, and her family have found family adventure through their adoption experiences. They have traveled to three countries, incorporate their children's cultures into their daily lives, and plan to return to their children's countries of origin in the future. Adoption in its own right is an adventure. Adding in the international aspect ups the ante. Oh, and, raising 6 kids is a daily adventure. :)

My brother met his wife (In Nebraska!) while driving over the road truck. An adventure for sure!

I've decided that moving is our family's adventure destiny. We've tried to get away from it, but it just keeps finding us. We've often joked that we should just buy a really cool motor home to live in, save the packing so often! Learning to embrace our adventure, instead of fighting it will be our challenge. Slowly we are seeing the positive side.

Our kids are learning how to deal with life changing situations. We are coming together, creating our own family memories. Through stress and tears, we are making each other laugh.

Madeline.

Jim and Marney.

The girls are learning to mow lawn! Learning that yes, Marney, it is possible for your butt to sweat!

We by no means live on a farm, but our little acre and a half is proving to be a challenge and adventure for our city kids. Already they have scouted out locations for a tree fort, dug out the bow and arrow set from Christmas, found some teeny tiny, yet unidentified frogs, and just felt the sense of freedom that comes with a little room to roam.

They are learning skills that will prepare them for their own life adventures, what ever they may be. Chances of them all finding jobs and establishing lives near us are slim to none in this changing world. We can either embrace this fact, or fight it. Changing my frame of reference from what I am losing, to what they are gaining, has made all the difference. After all, this is not just our family adventure, it's their childhood adventure!

Corners of Our New Home

2011-10-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Other than having to spend many hours cleaning (bathrooms and kitchen, yuck!) a house that sat empty for almost a year, it was move in ready.

Fresh paint, wood blinds, and new carpet included.

In fact the paint color that the bank chose is almost exactly the same yellow as our previous home. Making decorating a snap, and helping make it feel like home immediately. The only thing we have invested in, are a few new rugs. All the rest easily found a home

Dry bar turned therapy/craft closet. Not crazy about all the glass, I could organize better with something different, but it's fine for now. I'll have fun cruising pinterest for ideas.

Front entrance.

Of course every homeschool family proudly displays their bazillion books! Don't they?

Little nook leading the Master. Our wedding sampler made by my Mom found a pretty little home here. I smile every time I walk by.

Great Room

More books!

The kitchen...I'd show you more, but it's a mess! Same goes for the upstairs. I'll have to save that for another day, when it's clean. In 2020, perhaps.

We are dealing with water that has a very high iron content. I don't really want a water softener, thinking more along the lines of a whole house water filtration system/iron removal thingamajigy. Any thoughts? Need to do something soon before all our rust stains have rust stains!

This Little Light of Mine

2011-10-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!www.onetruemedia.com

Our Little Light:)

Those Funny Armenians

2011-10-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

We Made It

2011-09-30T04:35:00.000-07:00

Our new home away from home. Aunt Sara came along for the ride. She is a brave and patient lady!

We took a break from cleaning, small hotel rooms, and house closing drama, to drive to the aquarium. Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium is about a 2 hour drive from our new town.

Aunt Sarah and Ben. They have a strong mutual affection!

Where are we going now? It's raining you know!

What is this? The largest sandbox I have ever seen!

Ah, sand!

I love to dig.

It looks similar to the sand at home, but how does it taste? Lets see...

hmm....

Just as yucky, Mom, help!

Ben loved the water! I'm pretty sure he would have just walked right in and been swept away before he knew what was happening. We kept close tabs on that boy!

Pure joy.

I can't wait to go back and let the kids play all day. A storm was rolling in, so we could only stay a few minutes. They had just enough time to feel the water, and collect plenty of shells. It was great fun while it lasted.

I could look at this sight daily.

We are pretty well settled into our new home, only 3 more boxes in the house to unpack. The garage is another story, it's sort of the dumping ground right now, sorry honey! We love the house and neighborhood, we already have kids knocking on the door every evening. We are beginning to get to know our new community. It will be a while before it starts to seem familiar, but I think we are off the a good start. Jim and the kids found a TKD studio and have already begun classes, which they enjoy. We joined the YMCA as a family, it offers many great activities. Marney has joined their competition swim team. Sunday we will be visiting the only Lutheran church in the area, I hope we like it!

Underlying all this excitement is a sadness, we are certainly missing everyone in Michigan. I know it will get worse before it gets better, we are just leaning on each other, and taking it one day at a time.

We are looking forward to having visitors soon! 22 days to be exact!

Sew Fun

2011-09-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Madeline's love of sewing is growing. She took some classes and did a week long sewing camp this summer. Grandma was also a big help in the very beginning, by showing her the basics, and supporting her interest. She recently received a big bag of fabric scraps from Grandma, which she covets.

Did you know that one of North Carolina's biggest exports is textiles? Madeline was excited to learn this!

Madeline made this dress without a pattern. She likes to be totally spontaneous and creative. A dress form is on the top of her wish list. She feels patterns are too structured and time consuming, and often don't turn out as promised anyway. I try to encourage her to do some pattern work. I will help build her skills and help her to understand better how garments come together. Something I could never teach her! Plus with her love of math, she could have a fabulous career some day as a pattern maker. If the whole designer thing doesn't work out!

Pencil case from a youtube tutorial.

Cute headbands for all the girls in the fam.

It's fun to see how excited she gets about sewing, and fun to see what she will come up with next.

Putting 'ability' back in disability

2011-09-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

Great link.

2011-09-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

Calm Surrender

2011-09-07T04:42:00.000-07:00

"Often we struggle against aspects of life that are largely beyond our control - noise, confusion, comments we don'tapprove of, lost items, rudeness, imperfections, negativity, broken pipes, clogged drains, whatever. We fight, get angry, and annoyed, and wish things were different. We complain, fret, and commiserate. Yet when you add up all this frustration, the end result is always the same. The things we are frustrated about remain as they are. No amount of gritting our teeth and cleanching our fists makes the least bit of difference. In fact, it only adds fuel to the fire.

Calm surrender is not about giving up. Nor is it about being apathetic, lazy or not caring. Instead it is about appropriate acceptance, being willing to to let go of our insistence that the events in our lives be any certain way or different than they actually are.

If you are willing to give this strategy a try you will be amazed at the results. The calmer you will become, the easier your life will be. Rather than exacerbating negative events and bringing out the worst in other people you'll begin to stop negativity before it has a chance to spiral any further. In time you'll begin to experience chaos in a whole new light. There will be so much less drama in your life.

So starting today, see if you can ease the chaos by experiencing calm surrender."

- Don't Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family, Richard Carlson PhD

Recent Cuteness and Random, Yet Pertinent Quotes

2011-09-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

Mom, I know you don't care for Lee Iacocca, (I'm thinking of a certain incident between you, a faulty seatbelt in our brand-spanking-new, first-one-in-town, woody mini van, and a suggestion that Mr. Iacocca do something unmentionable with said seatbelt if it doesn't get fixed right this time! When I say this.) but I loved the quote. I'm sure if he knew that seatbelt was giving a lovely family like ours problems, he personally would have taken care of it properly, but I digress.

The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family. ~Lee Iacocca

Cousins.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I put Ben to work. Hey, someone has to clean around here! Luckily, he enjoys his chores, and doesn't get at all overwhelmed by the stack of laundry smiling at him each morning. He could teach the rest of us a thing or two.

We said goodbye to Jim this weekend, well more like "see you in two weeks," but it was still hard. Not nearly as difficult, however, as it will be to say goodbye to our loved ones here in10 days. I'm not looking forward to it, I hate goodbyes.

Please pray for Jim as he starts his new job today.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

Author: From the movie, ~Annie

One For The Record Books

2011-08-31T16:44:00.000-07:00

We listed our MI house last Tuesday, and by Wednesday afternoon we had a full price offer. Beating our previous record of 3 days for our Vermont house. Is that amazing or what? Definitely a God thing.

Things are progressing well with the NC house, still on schedule to close mid September. We only lost a few shingles in the hurricane. All homes in the hurricane affected area, that are under contract, need to have an "after the hurricane" appraisal. Ours had already been done, so hopefully the second one will not slow things down.

Sunday morning I said goodbye to my colleagues at work, it was tough. I made some great friends in a short amount of time. I will miss them all.

We are all getting pretty excited about our new house, and our new life in NC. The prospect of new friends, new activities, and family togetherness is helping us through this transition.

A winner and a hurricane

2011-08-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

...the winner is house #3!

We could close as soon as September 19th. I wish I was feeling more excited, but I'm just not. I know that difficult times lay ahead. I'm trying to be strong and stay positive for the kids sake. I'm afraid I lost it a little today while getting the house ready to be photographed. The kids were gone, and the reality of what lays ahead hit me hard. The grieving process has begun.

Oreo cookies are easing the pain, just a little.

Our home here in Michigan went on the market today. It's more than a little sad to see the sign in the yard.

.....the hurricane is Irene, and could be a direct hit.

Our new home is right about where that arrow is pointing, smack dab in the middle of the "high" hurricane threat level. Forecasters are saying it could make landfall in NC sometime Saturday. Let's hope she sputters out somewhere over the ocean. While we will be safe here in MI, we will be thinking about our new friends (well, one new friend, our realtor Bill) and about our new house. I wonder if "as is" includes hurricane damage?

Soon I'll have to write about Bill, our realtor. We'd never met him before, and our relocation company randomly connected us with him. His son just "happens" to have a chromosomal anomaly...

House Hunters, NC style

2011-08-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

We arrived in North Carolina on Monday, the girls came along on this trip.

Just give them a pool, and they are happy!

We looked at houses all day Tuesday and Wednesday. It was fun and overwhelming, so many things to think about. Just like house hunters it came down to 3 houses.

The super cute (love, love, love, the vertical siding!) 1.5 story home. This house is so cute inside, has a nice kitchen, screened in back porch and nice yard. Also, has a huge home school space upstairs. It's the most expensive of the 3 and the farthest away from work for Jim. But, by far, the girls and my favorite!

This one is a more traditional 2 story. It was moving day for this family, and they were very gracious to let us tromp through on such a busy day. This house is the smallest (even though it looks like the biggest! The 1.5 story homes are deceiving from the front) and didn't have a great homeschool space. It did however, have a huge yard that was totally fenced in. A great plus for Ben. This house is also in my favorite neighborhood.

And finally, number 3. It's the biggest and least expensive of the 3, it's actually a foreclosure, and could be a great bargain. It's very nice inside, fresh paint and new carpet. It has a great kitchen (size-wise), and a huge pantry, also a screened in porch in back and a nice patio. It's on a big lot (no fence) in a smaller country sub. Upstairs is a great homeschool space and a big rec room for the kids. Did I mention none of the houses here have basements?

So which one did we choose? Stay tuned and feel free to offer your opinion!

Yes, It's True....

2011-08-07T02:51:00.000-07:00

....we're moving :(

Jim has accepted a position in North Carolina. He is beaming from ear to ear, so excited about this job!

While this is a wonderful opportunity for our family, the thought of moving away again is not so thrilling.

Homesickness brought us back once before, will it happen again?

Time will tell.

We are hopefully a little more prepared this time. We know it will be hard, we know once the excitement wears off, the homesick feelings will set in. We know we need to give it a little more time than we did in the past.

We need to have a plan. We are going to sit down and map out the coming year, when do we get come back for visits? When are visitors coming to see us? I want to have on the calendar so we all have things to look forward to.

We are more "connected" this time. Between e-mail, this blog, texting, phone calls, and Skype, staying in contact with family will be easier than ever. Will it help? I hope so.

So, we are rallying the troops, asking for your support and prayers as we embark on this ~~mis~~adventure. Also asking for prayers for our family members not taking the news so well.

Know any great Carolinas' homeschool blogs? Please send them my way.

Top reasons we already like North Carolina (Thanks to my friend Sarah for pointing some of these out):

1. Average snow fall 7.5 inches (we've already had 1 request for our shovels-gladly taking bids)

2. College is cheaper for higher ranked schools, awesome!

3. Lower cost of living, yay!

4. Boiled peanuts? We'll see about this one.

5. Mountains one day, Ocean the next.

6. Tax free weekends. Cool!

7. Duke University Down Syndrome Clinic

8. I get to be home full time with my kids, priceless.

Hopefully the list will continue to grow.

Happy Birthday Ben!

2011-08-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

On July 19th, Ben turned 3. We celebrated a few days later, and I'm just now getting a chance to post the pics. Between working, job hunting, and planning for the new school year, it's been a little busy. In the last few weeks we've been to Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Trying. So. Hard. Still waiting. But better to post later, rather than never, right?

Happy boy on his special day. Blue stains to be explained in the next photo.

Sno-cones!

Cheap entertainment. Blue dye no. 5. Must be a party at the Brown's!

Birthday boy worked up a thirst getting dirty in the sandbox, wrong tub big guy!

Presents? I could learn to like those!

Blowing out the candles.

Shoving a whole cupcake in at once. Cookie monster style.

More blue dye.

Yum, that was good.

Happy Birthday to our little man. Looking forward to celebrating many, many more together.

The Waiting, Is the Hardest Part

2011-07-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the phone to ring? D**n, I hate it.

In fact, we couldn't take it one more day.

Patience and I have never been friends. So, when Jim gets antsy? It's time to do something.

What's the best cure for waiting? Why a road trip, of course!

So, we packed the baby in the cooler. To keep him fresh.

And made our way to the cutest little cabin in the state of Michigan.

Marney was bummed that she forgot her "Laura" dress. Can't say the rest of us shared her disappointment.

36 hours of family togetherness, bike riding, swimming, and campfires. It wasn't the longest trip in the record books, but we packed in memories that will last a lifetime.

And, saved Daddy's sanity to boot.

Please say some prayers for our little family, we are hoping to hear some very good news (on the job front), very soon.

Have a safe, and wonderful holiday weekend.

Chalkboard Wall

2011-06-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to have a chalkboard wall in our house. Finally we do! The kitchen needed a fresh coat of paint, so while we were at it, we made a few minor changes.

Before

After (much brighter, a little sleeker)

A big thanks to my helpers!

A fresh coat of paint, less "stuff," and a chalkboard wall. I'm starting to like my kitchen a little more.

getting in on the action

2011-05-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

Oh, happy day.

Glorious affirmation

2011-05-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

See the double rainbow? It stretched across the sky outside our back door last night.

I swear the rainbow ends right behind that house. See how the light is different there?

It was an amazing sight. A sense of peace washed over me as we stood there marveling at the rainbow, I just knew right then, that everything was going to be OK.

God keeps his promises.

Exploring

2011-05-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

As the weather warms, so very, very, slowly. Ben's world grows bigger, and bigger. From a small orphanage in Armenia, to our slightly bigger corner of the globe. Opportunities abound this little boy.

Exploring the zoo.

Exploring the great outdoors from high atop his Daddy's shoulders.

First train ride.

There is a whole word out there waiting for you buddy. Just wait until the sun really starts to shine.

Random

2011-05-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, life threw us a surprising curve ball. (Aren't they all?) Let's just say there's been a shift in the tides, a bit of a role reversal in our household. These are some photos of what life is like when Daddy is in charge, and Mommy is picking up extra shifts at work.

I'm thinking, life is more fun with Daddy around. (Oh, and laundry's caught up, the house is clean, and the kids are happy, he is seriously making me look bad.)

A few years ago, this situation would have sent us into a tail spin. I won't pretend it isn't difficult, but I think we are finally learning to make Arnold Palmers when life hands us lemons.

A trip to the museum. Mommy looks more awake than she feels.

What a fun day we had!

Ben's first ride on a carousel. He loved it!

Owen's dream job, glass blowing.

Look out, Owen's driving, and Ben's talking on the CB radio. Much better than Ben driving and Owen talking, I think.

Be still my heart.

An afternoon with nature.

A radiology appointment is never just another appointment when Ben is involved. He's a charmer!

A little pedal tractor pull action.

Go, Owen.

Forgot the stroller? No problem, we can improvise. Actually we think it's much better than the stroller, this might just be the way we roll from now on. There's room for the cooler, and everything else.

The winds of change are blowing for the Brown's, who knows where they will take us. All I can say for sure is I love my family more than ever. I feel so very, very blessed.

20 Great Reasons You Homeschool

2011-05-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

A TKD Weekend

2011-05-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

New belts for all the Brown kids.

Madeline takes 1st place at tournament.

Marney, 1st place in sparring.

Owen 3rd place in both sparring and forms.

Fun at the hotel. Owen was having fun, he just looks like this during allergy season. Poor guy is allergic to everything!

Sunday morning we drove to Lake Michigan hoping to get some play time in. It was too cold!

The kids had to layer up with whatever we had. Burr.

Is She Yours?

2011-04-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

Sweet Angel recently listed on Reece's Rainbow, here.

"Anyone who receives a child in my name, receives me."

In Christ Alone

2011-04-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

How a Kindle Can Simplify Your Homeschool

2011-04-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Great article on the many benefits and cost savings of owning an e-reader here. Especially true if your curriculum is heavy on hard to find books.

I just noticed that the cost for a Kindle is now down to $114. Happy e-reading!

Black Belt

2011-04-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we watched as Jim earned his black belt. His many years of hard work and dedication finally paid off.

I was nervous about this part...(that's concrete!)

He broke all but one, and only came away with a minor scratch.

Jacob the, junior black belt, congratulating his Uncle Jim.

Way to go Jim, we are very proud.

Home 5 Months!

2011-04-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that tomorrow, Ben will have been home 5 months. After all that waiting, where time seemed to stand still, time is now just flying by. Getting to know this little boy has just been the most amazing experience.

I am having the hardest time writing this update, there are so many questions to be answered, how is he doing? How are we doing? Are things easier or harder than we expected? Do we have any regrets? How is therapy going? Will we send him to school? Does he have any challenging behaviors? Are we doing the best things for him? Have we learned enough? What is it like parenting a child with special needs? All this is swimming through my head, but the only word I can seem to type is beautiful.

That's what he is, perfect and beautiful, busy and curious. More typical than not. He is not a project to be managed. In my most sane moments I remember these things. When I can let go of the anxious feelings of not doing enough, I remember that he is just a sweet little boy. So, I hug him, and remember that he is fearfully and wonderfully made. I cannot change him and take away his disability, but I can support him.

Sometimes reading other blogs is a curse. Other Moms are doing more, they are up on all the latest therapies and supplements, they are scheduled to the hilt. That's great for them, but not for us. It takes effort to remind myself that Ben wants me to relax and play with him, to slowly show him the way. To not be tense and running all over the place all the time. He needs time to move and explore, not time spent in a car seat.

Ben did start therapy, but his "team" and I all agree less is more at this point. We all like it this way, especially Ben. Time in the kitchen to perfect his mixing skills, that's what he wants.

To answer some of those questions, we are all doing great. Things are much easier than we expected. Maybe it's his age, maybe things will get harder, but so far he is not much different than a typical toddler. He is happy and healthy, what more could we ask for? Did I mention he is walking independently, climbing on chairs, navigating the stairs, the boy is on the move. Ay caramba!

A Giveaway!

2011-03-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

Please visit my friend Amy's blog and help bring home her new son, by entering to win a beautiful necklace.

Amy is a wonderful Mom with a house full of very special boys. Let's show them our support!

World Down Syndrome Day

2011-03-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

And then there were three...

2011-03-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

{March 14, 2001}

You were not due for a few days yet, but when I woke up bright and early on that Sunday morning, I knew this was the day. I packed everyones bags, and had them lined up ready to go. I headed downstairs to finish up the last of the laundry, when my water broke. We called Grandma and Grandpa, and then called the doctor. Luckily our favorite doctor was on call. She said come on in, and yes, you have plenty of time to take a shower first. Grandma and Grandpa came over. Grandpa would stay with the girls, and Grandma would go to the hospital with us.

After pitocin, an epidural, and a few pushes, you were here!

Owen, the minute you were born, you stole my heart. You carry it with you where ever you go.

Painful as it may be to have my heart walking around outside my body, it is a joy being your Mom.

You've brought more to our family than we could ever have imagined.

You bring beauty, sweetness, strength,

and all things boy.

You take love and harassment equally in stride.

As you turn 7, I hope you know how much you are loved.

I hope you know how excited we are to see what the future holds for you.

Happy 7th birthday Owen!

Birthday Girl

2011-03-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

Madeline, how is it possible that twelve years have passed since you came into our lives?

From this....

to this...

In the blink of an eye.

You've made us laugh,

You've made us smile...

Best of all, you made us parents.

And for that, we will always be grateful.

It's an honor watching you grow.

Happy birthday sweetie, we love you.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Wrapping Up Our Week - 2/4/2011

2011-02-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

Wow! We haven't had this much snow in a long time. It's been a little cold, but after school, the kids made sure they got out and enjoyed the piles of white stuff.

Other than the snow storm (and Daddy getting a snow day!), there wasn't too much excitement around here. The kids just plugged along with their school work, and Ben did lot's of playing.

It was so nice to not have anywhere to go.

I think I may even have laundry caught up. At least for the next 5 minutes.

Which is great, because next week I head back to work...

Our finances reached a "somebody's got to do something" point. Jim is already working two jobs, so I guess that somebody is me. I was blessed to find a part time job. I'll be working nights on a postpartum unit. I am very excited to get back to work!

Have a great weekend!

I'm linking up with Jen at Forever For Always No Matter What.

I can see clearly....

2011-02-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

...when I leave the darn things on!

Ben went to the Opthamologist last week. We learned that he is severely near sighted, and also has blocked tear ducts. Glasses will help with his vision, and a simple surgery will open the ducts.

His new glasses are going to open up a whole new world to him. As Marney said, "he's going to have alot more to talk about!" Love her!

Now if he would just leave them on!

Happy 10th Birthday Marney

2011-02-03T05:46:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, our family gathered to celebrate Marney's 10th birthday. Our sweet girl is growing and changing in so many beautiful ways. I feel so blessed to be her Mother, and look forward to the next 10 years and beyond.

A homemade cake, yum!

A new pillow case from Grandma. Yeah!

Yes, I still like Barbie dolls. (and Mom's glad I'm not in a hurry to grow up just yet!)

How could I forget the dollhouse furniture from Grammy!

Leah's favorite spot at family gatherings. I think there is a picture of her and I at every birthday party since she joined our family. Lucky Aunt Jill!

Make a wish baby girl, if you can dream it, you can do it!

Happy Birthday Marney, We love you.

Still talking...

2011-01-24T16:51:00.000-08:00

Incorruptible-Why the Devil Uses abortion to Eliminate Down Syndrome

2011-01-24T05:36:00.000-08:00

An excerpt from a must read article:

"I know what you are thinking. You need a sign. What better one could I give but to make this little one whole and new? I could do it, but I will not. I am the Lord and not a conjurer. I gave this mite a gift I denied to all of you—eternal innocence. To you she looks imperfect—but to me she is flawless, like the bud that dies unopened or the fledgling that falls from the nest to be devoured by ants. She will never offend me, as all of you have done. She will never pervert or destroy the work of my Father's hands. She is necessary to you. She will evoke the kindness that will keep you human. Her infirmity will prompt you to gratitude for your own good fortune... More! She will remind you every day that I am who I am, that my ways are not yours, and that the smallest dust mite whirled in the darkest spaces does not fall out of my hand... I have chosen you. You have not chosen me. This little one is my sign to you. Treasure her!"

Read the rest here.

Nella's ONEder Fund

2011-01-16T10:36:00.001-08:00

Wrapping Up Our Week - 1/14/2011

2011-01-14T06:46:00.000-08:00

The 3 R's this week:

Madeline:

Saxon Math 5 lessons

IEW-Story Writing

Reading: The Life of General Washington

Vocabulary work

Marney:

Saxon Math 5 Lessons

IEW-Story Writing

Reading: The Life of General Washington

Vocabulary Work

Owen:

Math Facts

Reading - BJU Press Grade 1

HWT

Loving Lego's these days, still lots of construction going on around here.

Resources we used:

Auidobooks. Love them. Especially when purchased with an iTunes gift card we received for Christmas.

Currently we are listening to Hank the Cowdog: The Case of the Swirling Killer Tornado

Love this series, you must listen to them!

On My Kindle: "Parenting The Complex Child: Becoming a Powerful Advocate for the Autistic, Down syndrome..."

Outside it continues to snow...

Things They Said:

Marney: "When does it end with you Mom?" Said while discussing our crazy 2010, and the possibility of me going back to work. I know, I know!

"I will direct your steps Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5-6

Knitting projects:

Finally finished the socks I have been working on for 2 years. They even fit.

Started on a second pair using a different pattern, 1 down, 1 to go.

The girls have been busy knitting also. They both made cute beret's using their knitting loom. Great tool for beginners! Madeline completed a very cute scarf, and Marney is working on making some cute knitted balls.

We had a great week. No doctors appointments, yay! Well apparently we had one for Wednesday (Ben's upper GI, and swallow study) but nobody bothered to call and tell us. Only after I called on Thursday to check on scheduling, did I learn of the appointment. So reschedule we will.

Have a great weekend!

That Video I Promised

2011-01-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

A little talking and walking. And lot's of laughing.

Untitled from Jill Brown on Vimeo.

Recipes Worth Sharing

2011-01-08T14:40:00.000-08:00

These are too good not to share...

Creamy Wild Rice Soup

and

Challah Bread or Rapunzel Bread as it's become known as in our house (from my friend Sarah, who got it from her friend)

I've been making almost all of our bread from scratch since I've been home and had the time. I was a little rough at first, but after a little help (and great recipes) from my friends, I actually find it quite easy and even relaxing.

This Challah is a good start if you are a beginner, and if you have a bread maker, even better.

Place ingredients into machine in this order:

1 egg plus enough water to equal 1 cup plus 1 tbsp.
1 tsp. lemon juice
3 1/4 cups bread flour (I love King Arthur flours-not bleached)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. sugar (I use honey or agave nectar)
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

Wash for later: 1 beaten egg yolk plus 1 tbsp water

Mix on dough cycle. Divide into 3 pieces when finished. Stretch to length of cookie sheet. Braid. Let rise for 30 -45 minutes. Brush wash over loaf. Bake at 375 degrees for 17-18 minutes, or until golden brown.

Ben Update-9 Weeks Home

2011-01-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has only been 9 weeks since we walked off the plane, it feels like Ben has always been here.

The big news this week is that Ben has been cleared by the cardiologist! He had his sedated ECHO on Wednesday, and passed with flying colors. Cross one specialist off the list, hurray!

We finally saw the GI doctor on Friday. They said there is nothing they can do about the spitting up, since he is a "happy" spitter, he just needs to grow out of it. They do however want to run a few tests to rule out a TE fistula and do a swallow study because of the fact that he coughs with thin liquids. We are trying to get those scheduled on the same day. Also, he will be screened for Celiac disease the next time he needs a blood draw.

His next appointment is with the Opthamologist at the end of the month. I'm almost certain he will need glasses, and may have blocked tear ducts. It should be interesting to see how they do exams on wiggly 2 year olds!

Some learning activities Ben is enjoying: While I'm not trying to encourage TV viewing, I do want to capitalize on the fact that children with DS tend to be very visual learners. I ordered the Signing Time Down Syndrome Bundle and so far we love it. It's been a good after dinner "digesting in the highchair" activity for Ben.

(I'm learning a lot about all the cool iphone/ipad apps for visual learners and children with special needs. We don't have either one yet, but it's on our wish list. I like how portable they are, great for times when we are waiting away from home. Good blog about all these apps here. Love the name "ipads for babies")

I am however cautioned about using technology too much, by statements like this: "Too many children are isolating themselves and maybe learning lots of things with computers but not learning to communicate and socialize in one to one interactions." Dr. James McDonald. He goes no to say, "This is particularly important for children called Autistic and Down syndrome since they have to be carefully socialized with communicating partners who are matched and balanced and following the child's individual learning paths."

Also, he is loving these felt board activities, seeing his favorite songs acted out makes them all the more fun.

Ben loves songs with hand motions. Itsy Bitsy Spider, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, and Patty Cake, they are life savers when he is getting fussy and needs a distraction. They suck him in every time!

In other not so fun news, Ben is teething. He is currently cutting his second set of three teeth! Poor guy, one is bad enough, but three at the same time, again! Too much. Trying to get him to chew on something other than his fingers has been a challenge.

No pictures again today, but I'm working on uploading a video of the cutest laugh in the world. :)

Have a great weekend.

Oil Cleansing Method: Frugal Skin Care

2011-01-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, after doing a little research, I started using a combination of organic olive oil and castor oil to clean my oily, acne-prone skin. I was skeptical at first, I had always heard never to use oil, especially if your skin was oily to begin with. But, after trying every acne regime on the market with no success, I was willing to give it a try.

I must say, my skin has never felt better, and rarely have a breakout. I use a blend of 50% Castor Oil and 50% Olive oil. Also, I add in a few drops of tea tree essential oil, which has antiseptic properties. You may need to adjust your ratio and/or carrier oil depending on your skin.

Mary at Owlhaven posts here about this frugal skin care routine. More info and step by step process here. There is also this website here.

Home Re-Organization Project

2011-01-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

Our house has been in need of some major re-organization. Adding a new child to the family has made our home seem suddenly small, and our laundry seems to have quadrupled. I'm not sure if it was because I was just too busy, or it just never seemed like Ben was actually ever going to get here, but the nesting instinct didn't kick in until recently. Still, I needed a plan. And a system. I needed space. My laundry room is tiny.

Then one day the stars seemed to align just right. Marney moved. No, not out, just across the hall.

The girls now share a room (their brilliant idea one quiet afternoon), and I have some space to work with.

I love the idea of a family closet. After reading this post. And my sister having success with theirs,

I wanted to give it a try. Now I know we are certainly not a mega family, only slightly bigger than average, but I thought if it could work for them, it might work for us.

{Marney's old room, now our family closet/laundry sorting room}

{Clothes for all 4 kids hanging and in dresser}

The family closet idea also fits with our new chore system. Rather than assigning a bunch of random tasks, I decided to give each child an area. Madeline's current area is laundry. This might sound overwhelming for an 11 year old, but both girls have been doing their own laundry for about 4 years now. This idea came from my brilliant friend Dana, her girls learned to do their own laundry at about the age of 5. Yes, it is agonizing watching a 5 year old "fold" a basket of laundry, it takes forever, but they can do it! And eventually they get faster! Knowing they have to wash it, cuts down greatly on the "I just threw it in the dirty clothes pile, because I didn't feel like hanging it up" syndrome.

Jim and I still pitch in quite often to keep things going. Madeline's main job is keeping a mental inventory of kids clothes, and keeping them organized. She has embraced this new role, she likes to be in charge.

Moving the clothes freed up room in the boys closet for toys that used to be in the loft area, and a dresser that I can now use as a diaper changing station.

All off season/off size clothes are all sorted, labeled, and stored away. Better lighting in this area is on the to-do list.

Owen's new lego area. It's been a challenge to keep them up and off the floor.

It was a big project, but well worth it, and I knew there was nothing Jim would rather do on his vacation, than help his wife. I'm considerate like that.

Henry

2010-12-31T21:04:00.000-08:00

Goal reached! Henry has $1,000.00 in his grant fund!

Thank you to all those who helped. I'll be keeping my eye on Henry and will let you know if his forever family finds him.

I'll also post the grand total of the Angel Tree donations when I find out. There are so many kids with huge grants! Now all they need is a family.

Could it be you?

May 2011 be a year where record numbers of families step out in faith, and provide homes for these precious souls.

Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.

–Cadet Maxim

Hope you all have a blessed New Year!

Play Date

2010-12-29T07:41:00.000-08:00

Ben had his first play date yesterday! My new friend Amy brought her two boys over so the Mom's could chat and the boys could play. While I didn't take any pictures, we had a great time!

It is such a blessing to have a friend who is an experienced Mom of 3 boys with DS. Yep, you read that right, 3! Amy has one biological son with DS and she adopted 2 very special boys from Russia.

Amy has a beautiful family and a huge heart for orphans with Down syndrome, you can check out her blog here.

Thanks again Amy! I look forward to many more play dates.

A most important post....

2010-12-26T05:49:00.000-08:00

....to read and consider over coffee this morning, here.

I wish I knew who he was calling...

2010-12-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

....and what they are talking about.

cause it sure sounded like an interesting conversation. :)

TKD Testing

2010-12-19T13:06:00.000-08:00

The girls both tested this past week for their next level Tae Kwon Do belt. They were promoted to 4th geup. Tests are always fun to go watch. We see them in class doing their thing week after week, but on test night, with their nervous energy going, they really shine. I'm always amazed by how hard they work, how much they have to remember and how far they have come.

Congratulations on your accomplishment girls!

Change of Plans

2010-12-16T11:19:00.000-08:00

I was contacted by Catholic communications company called The Maximus Group located in Atlanta, Georgia, to help promote a new movie.

Change of Plans is the latest offering from Family Movie Night, presented by Walmart and P&G. It's the story of Sally and Jason Danville, a young couple with plenty of love, talent, and career opportunities - and no responsibilities. When Sally's childhood friend dies and entrusts her with four children, Sally and Jason begin a journey that changes the focus of their lives and expands their definition of family. Three of these four children have become siblings through international adoption, and the movie offers a challenging, heart-warming insight into the joys and struggles of building a family from a group of strangers.

:30 Change of Plans from Moms4FamilyTV.com > on Vimeo.
>

It looks really cute, and Brooke White from American Idol is in it! Love her!

Change of Plans airs on Saturday, January 8 on Fox.

Let me know if you get a chance to watch it, tell me what you think!

Helping Henry...:)

2010-12-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

My sister, Jen has a wonderful post today about last minute gift ideas. Go check it out!

One of the ideas she posted is a very cute lego rosary.

**If you purchase a rosary between now and December 31st, and mention Henry, Mark will donate $5 toward Henry's fund!**

Henry's fund is now at $215, let's see if we can make that $1,000 goal!

Home Schooling Your Child With Down syndrome, a Resource List

2010-12-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

While I am just beginning to research this topic more in depth, and am by no means an expert, I wanted to share some resources I'm exploring. I'm hoping it helps to organize my thoughts, so much to think about.

Blogs:

Barbara Frank Online

On a Joyful Journey

MommyLife (Good Montessori based resources, and tips)

Websites:

Riverbend Down Syndrome Association (A great all around resource, but especially loved the section on HS)

NATHHAN

Communicating Partners (Not necessarily a HS site, but great info on being your childs' first, and most influential teacher)

Many of the popular HS curriculum sources have adapted materials for children with special needs. Seton (which I've heard great things about! Has resources for children who need special services)

Books:

Home Schooling Children With Special Needs

When Slow is Fast Enough

The Topics in Down Syndrome Books (Love these!)

Teaching Math...

Wrapping Up Our Week - 12/10/2010

2010-12-11T06:57:00.000-08:00

No pictures this week, I guess we've been busy!

Busy and productive, I should say. We've gone completely back to basics as far as school goes, and it has made all the difference. We stripped away all the extra, "busy" work that was clogging up our day.

We have for some time, been following the Robinson Curriculum (RC), but adding in a few extras out of worry that it wasn't enough on it's own.

My sister, Jen, is considering making some curriculum changes at her house, and asking questions about RC. Nothing like questions and research to rekindle a flame! Discussing things with her, has helped me to remember why I loved this curriculum to begin with. By adding in the extras along the way, based on my own insecurities, I have watered down my childrens' education.

Simplifying their day, actually allows them a more in depth study of the basics. It also allows them to self-teach, a skill that builds confidence, independence, and a true, lasting understanding of their subject. I'm not spoon feeding them the information, they are taking responsibility for their own education, with my supervision and leadership, of course.

So, what does an RC day look like in our home?

The girls begin their day with 1 lesson of Saxon math, this includes reading/referencing the daily lesson, then working all the problems in the lesson practice. They also correct their own work, keeping track of their accuracy rate for the day. We are going to start graphing this, in hopes of continuous improvement of focus. Typically they are getting 2-3 problems wrong the first time through. Not bad out of 30 problems. Usually they are careless mistakes.

We discuss their results. What went well, what was difficult, etc. It's fun to see them invested in and excited about their work.

After math, they move on to writing or reading. They are just beginning to move through the RC reading list. I love this list, but the books are tough. It's mostly, out of print, oldies, but goodies. No twaddle here! It's been a little hard for them to get into, because they are just more difficult to read than they are used to. Proof positive that the educational standards have dropped considerably in this country.

Reading consists of a chapter or two a day, and memorizing vocabulary words from a pre-determined list for each book.

The goal for writing is an essay a day. We are not there yet. This week the girls did some creative writing, then IEW'd a paragraph from their current reading. We are still working on getting a good structured paragraph before they are let loose on essay's.

The end result was a more productive, more calm week. The girls spent more time on less work, and felt more challenged.

With Owen, who is 6, we have been concentrating solely on reading, handwriting, and math basics. Skip counting, memorizing math facts, reading skills, and copy work, fill his time right now. This is all in preparation for his first RC year. I'm not sure if he will be ready in the fall for that or not, we will see.

So, what is Ben up too?

Exploring, babbling, and eating fill his day. He continues to do really well.

The spitting up has improved tremendously! I'm not sure if this is a result of his metabolism being regulated by correcting his thyroid issue, or because we have removed gluten from his diet. We did both at about the same time, so who knows. Whatever the reason, we are loving the results.

We also had our first post-placement visit with our social worker this week.

Also re-kindled this week, knitting! The girls picked up their needles again, and have been obsessed ever since. Fun! And something we all love.

Have a great weekend!

a "dirty Jobs" kind of day

2010-12-07T08:51:00.000-08:00

The kids have really been into watching "Dirty Jobs" lately. I admit to getting sucked in occasionally. Thank you Netflix for wii. I'm thinking of contacting the show. (Not really, just one of my many crazy thoughts you are being subjected to). Has Mike ever been a Mom for a day? I know he's been a pig farmer, a pigeon pooper scooper, and even a high rise widow washer. But somehow I don't think those compare to what the average Mom sees in a day. I'd love to see him cleaning up spit up, wiping the runny nose of a reluctant victim, cleaning up after a messy pureed toddler meal, and changing a very p**py diaper on a little one with very busy hands, if you catch my drift, and all in the same 30 minute time period. Oh, and with at least 2 other children yelling for his attention all the while. Many Mom's I know have way more than that to contend with!

{Yes, he's very cute and smart. It's a talent to be so messy and make us laugh at the same time!}

So, ladies, what is your messiest story? Come on, I need some amo for promoting the show idea! Let them see that we have the best, dirtiest job ever!

Such An Honor

2010-12-01T05:16:00.000-08:00

Barbara Curtis, who blogs over at MommyLife, featured our family on her last post , on the last day of National Adoption Month.

Such a nice post, by a very nice lady. Thanks Barbara!

Barbara is the Mother of 12 children, including 4 with Down syndrome. After the birth of their son Jonny(DS), they went on to adopt 3 boys who had all been blessed with Down syndrome.

She is an amazing Mom, with tons of great advice for Mommy's of all children. Visit her today!

Ben update

2010-11-30T06:43:00.000-08:00

Ben continues to do well. It is a joy having him in our family.

He started treatment for his low thyroid function, and had his cardiology appointment last week. His appointment went well, but they need to repeat his echo. He was a little too wiggly for the technicians taste, so the next one he will be sedated for. :) I don't anticipate any problems. They just want to be 100% sure they can clear him of any issues.

Last night I decided to let Ben try and feed himself. I'm not one for messes, so this was a stretch for me. Ben enjoyed it immensely as you will see.

Oh, the concentration....

....the focus...

...the joy in his success!

Making sure to get every last bite. This boy loves his food.

The end result. An oatmeal facial.

Next time, I'll remember the bib!

I don't know how he does it, but this boy makes us belly laugh on a daily basis.

Holiday Cheer

2010-11-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

{Doesn't Marney look happy?}

Last night we took all the kids to see some holiday lights at the zoo. The pics didn't turn out great, but we had fun!

Tonight we are making our Jesse tree and beginning our Advent celebration. This e-book can be downloaded for free, ornaments included. Should be fun!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T04:29:00.000-08:00

There is so much to be thankful for.

Disappointment, Decisions Made, Prayers Answered

2010-11-24T05:22:00.000-08:00

That's what is running through my head today.

Disappointment at hearing from my boss today that they no longer need the temporary employees on my unit, me included. Part of me was looking forward to possibly going back, I love my job, I love being a nurse. I love contributing to my family financially, easing Jim's burden. That was, after all, why I went back to school in the first place. We had lived through the ups and downs of the Michigan auto industry, experienced a "recession" long before the rest of the state/country felt the effects. We knew it was coming. We wanted some financial stability. Plus, I have always wanted to be a nurse. It was a win, win situation. I worked really hard to earn that degree. I was really good at my job. I put a great deal of my heart and soul into nursing. So, today I'm feeling disappointed. Maybe a little sorry for myself, too. My ego has been bruised.

As much as I love being a nurse, I love my family more. I feel needed here. Now more than ever. This is why I have been agonizing about this decision. To go back or not to go back, that was the question weighing heavily on my heart and mind. I want to be home, but how can I just give up everything I have worked so hard for? How can I give up the paycheck, that allows us to feel somewhat OK at the end of the month? I've been praying for help making that decision. I wanted someone else to make it. How could I ever choose my job over my family. Today I guess my prayer was answered, the decision was made for me. Making it harder in some ways, I've never left job where it was not on my terms, but easier in others.

I read a quote once about making decisions, about, how do we know what God wants us to do. I can't find it right now, but it went something along the lines of "If God wants us to do something, He will open the door, if not, He will close it." As simple as that. How freeing in many ways. Don't take the disappointments personal, it just wasn't His plan for your life at this moment.

Maybe God just wants me to put my whole heart and soul into raising these 4 fantastic kids. I've seen his hand all along in this journey, the timing of certain things, landing a great job in the first place. Maybe it all happened to help bring Ben home, to help me be a better Mom for Ben, for all our kids.

This did make me smile today:

" If you can't be a good example, then you you'll just have to be a horrible warning."

Wrapping Up Our Week, a little late...

2010-11-20T16:58:00.000-08:00

It was good to get going on our new version of a "normal" week. The kids were glad to get back to school, even though adding Ben to the mix required a little tweaking of our routine.

Nothing has changed for the girls, they are still doing Math first thing, followed by writing, phonics, handwriting, and spelling. It's all just a little noisier these days! I've been doing group work (bible, and nature study) just before nap time. Ben is great at entertaining himself for 20-30 minutes as long as we are close. Once Ben goes down for his nap, it's my one on one time with Owen. He is has really taken off with math, reading, not so much.

I think this routine is going to work out well. For now anyway. :)

The kids had Zoo school this week, they are really enjoying learning new things and making new friends. (They were also missing some special friends that were not there this time. You know who you are...that's all I'll say....I might cry if I go on. Did I mention I missed those friends too and their Mommy? OK, I'll stop now.) They all commented when we got home about how nice it was to be in classes with kids who share their love of learning and who are mature students. Homeschoolers rock!

Free time in the morning for Owen gives he and Ben plenty of time for some testosterone filled monkey business. Important for brothers, I think. Even at the expense of my tupperware cabinet.

Their relationship is growing already. At first Ben would hit and growl when Owen would approach. Owen would get up and walk away. Ben learned quickly this was no way to make friends! There was an older boy with DS at the orphanage about Owen's size, who was not very nice to Ben, so I'm sure this was just his defense's kicking in. He didn't know any different. Now he is starting to learn that having a brother can be lot's of fun.

(The hair pulling has also stopped for the most part! He has come such a long way in very little time.)

GI update: Mr. Ben is not so happy here being confined to his high chair. We have been trying to keep him upright for about at least 30 minutes after meals, we have found that it greatly reduces his spitting up episodes. Also, we are thickening his liquids, and feeding him a bland pureed diet. Yummy right? It's all helping though. His GI appointment isn't until January, so we are doing all we can to minimize his discomfort in the meantime.

We try to keep him busy with toys, books, and singing silly songs.

We have also started having him drink from a straw. I've read several different articles that the best thing for oral-motor development is drinking thick liquids through a straw. Easy enough to do at home, and tasty too. I'm thinking smoothies! Jim helped me figure out how to make our own honey bear for straw training, the ones they sell on therapy websites are expensive.

Ben also picked up 2 new signs this week, one is real, and one is not. He quickly learned the sign for "clean" he is always taking off his socks and cleaning to floor, high chair tray, whatever surface needs it apparently. Just what were they making him do at that orphanage I wonder? So, we say clean, clean, when he does this and finally put the ASL sign with it for him.

The other sign was made up by his clueless parents. In our vain attempts at teaching him in english exactly who Mommy and Daddy are, we used gestures and loud voices of course! That always helps when communicating with others who do not speak english doesn't it? The louder the better, I have found. We were using our hands to gesture to ourselves (waving our hands toward our chest) and saying (I'll put most the blame on Jim here, just because I can) "Me Daddy, you Ben." Not quite that caveman-like, but you get the picture.

Anyway, every time we asked Ben to say Momma or Daddy, he was slapping his chest. Why is he doing that, we asked? That's not the sign for Mommy or Daddy!?! Huh. Did I tell you this boy was smart?

Everyone needs a sister who puts pants on your head, and gets a good laugh at your expense, right?

Ah, there's nothing a home schooling Mom loves more that seeing her kids crowded around the computer for non-educational purposes. Not! We don't have cable, but guess what? It turns out, you don't need it! If your kids are the least bit computer savvy, they can find plenty of junk right on the computer. I have a serious love/hate relationship with technology. Most days I just want to throw the TV and the (kids) computer out the window. (I would keep mine of course) But then I remember we are just not that family. We like to balance all the learning with a little junk. We wouldn't want to be known as the weird family or anything, right? Oh, wait. Might be too late for that.

Anyway, it looks like Ben is enjoying being corrupted. He lived for two years without TV, he has a lot of catching up to do. Who is this Dora character you speak of?

More playing. Owen builds the tower, and Ben, ~~waits patiently while Owen builds an architectural masterpiece~~ knocks it down before he's finished.

Ben had his "welcome home" blood work done this week. Marney and Owen came back to the lab for moral support, while Madeline wisely stayed in the waiting room. Ben screamed bloody murder, and Marney got a little weak in the knees and had to sit down. I thought we were going to have two patients for a second there!

The results came back great except for his thyroid function seems to be a little low, so he goes back to the doctor next week. They will most likely repeat the test, or do a different one. If he is hypothyroid, this would explain many of the symptoms he is having, that I thought were GI related. His restless sleep, hoarse voice (at times), and swallowing issues (choking). It would also explain his slow growth, tongue protrusion, very dry skin, and breathlessness with activity (although not in a cardiac way-I just thought it was because of his big belly!).

The only thing that worries me, is that putting him on synthroid would return him to his "natural" activity level. Hypothyroid tends to cause sluggishness, and sleepiness. If this is Ben sluggish, then Ben on synthroid frightens me!

Ben is going to be busy with doctors appointments in December and January. I'm holding off on getting therapy evals for now, I don't want to bombard him with too much stuff so soon. Being home and having 3 typical siblings is stimulating enough for now. :)

So that was our busy week. We are looking forward to a short school week, Thanksgiving at Mom's, and Daddy home for 4 whole days, yeah!

Have a great weekend, what's left of it anyway!

Hey!

2010-11-16T16:44:00.000-08:00

Henry suddenly has $155 in his grant fund!

That's $125 raised this week!

Awesome!

Thank You!!!

Every dollar brings Henry closer to finding his family.

Don't you just want to squeeze his chubby cheeks?

And snap up his pants?

He's so cute!

Meeting Ben

2010-11-14T06:24:00.000-08:00

Jim captured the first time we met Ben on video...

Christmas Warrior Info

2010-11-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

I finally received the link to Henry's sponsorship page. You can find it on the left hand side of this blog. Click on it! The link will take you to a page where you can see all the children on the Angel Tree this year. Scroll down a little ways and you will find Henry's picture. Click on his name, and that will lead you to the page where you can make a tax deductible donation directly to Reece's Rainbow.

You can just click here. It will take you directly to his page, but it's kind of fun to take the long route and check out how much has been raised for the other children.

Reece's Rainbow will add your donation directly to Henry's grant fund.

If you give a gift of $35 or more by December 15th, you will receive an ornament with Henry's picture to hang on your tree.

While not every family is called to adopt, you can still make a difference in the life of an orphan. Thank you for making a difference for Henry.

Wrapping Up Our Week

2010-11-12T05:40:00.000-08:00

This was Ben's first week home. So, how did it go?

Let's take a look...

{Ben's first participation in the Brown family after dinner kitchen dancing}

I'd say he fits right in.

Really, it feels like he's always been here.

The kids can't get enough of him, they have been such a huge help. Someone is always offering to get him dressed (which is no easy feat, let me tell you! He is a wiggly boy.), offering to feed him, or take him outside to play.

The girls each told me on separate occasions, "Mom, I just love him, I forget that he has Down syndrome."

The first time I heard this I was speechless. It took me a while to process that statement, because it's something that I struggle with, and I'm his Mother. Is it the innocence of childhood that let's them forget? Is it the cynicism of the adult world, or the pressure to be perfect that forces me to always keep it in the back of my mind?

I guess I can't totally forget. It's my responsibility as his Mother to help Ben be all that he can be. This will mean that he needs a little extra help in certain areas. But I don't ever want Down syndrome to be the first and only thing I, or anyone else for that matter, sees. He is so much more.

He is a happy, silly, and playful boy. He loves to laugh. He loves music. He loves to eat. He is strong willed, but compliant at the same time. He is loud, and demands attention. He loves to snuggle.

He has a gift for making sure that for every encounter he has with another human being, that person walks away smiling. How many people can say that?

No, he's not perfect, but who is? My hair's a mess and I have baby slobber on my shoulder at all times, who cares? Any life worth living is a messy one. We all have issues, some of them just can't be covered up with make-up, nice clothes, and a big house.

The second time I heard that statement, I was a little more prepared and said, that's great honey, because that's the way it should be. We should all just see Ben when we look at him. Just like we do with everyone we love. We see the good, the bad, and the ugly, and love them anyway.

I'm so happy they have figured this out at such a young age. I know this experience is making them more compassionate and more sensitive people.

***********

Lest you think it's been all rainbow's and butterflies around here this week, there have been some struggles. Normal things that go on when adding a new member to your family. There has been a few tears, some jealous feelings, some "can we send him back?" moments. But, I know they will get fewer and farther between as the weeks pass.

The three big kids have been sick with a stomach virus. Nothing says welcome back to reality more than a stomach virus!

Even that felt good though, it felt good to get back to taking care of all my kids. I never thought a stomach virus could feel like a blessing.

************

Ben went to the doctor on Wednesday. He has some growing to do. He is only 21lbs. That only puts him in the 10th percentile on the DS growth chart. He didn't even score on the regular chart! He's been ordered to eat. That won't be much of a hardship for this boy.

Other than that he looks great, and doesn't have to go back for 3 months.

In the meantime, he will need to be cleared by a cardiologist, have his vision checked, and have some blood work done. I'll be scheduling those appointments today.

************

Have a great weekend!

I'm linking up with Jen @ Forever For Always No Matter What. Be sure and visit, and share your week as well.

Home Sweet Home

2010-11-06T05:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics of our homecoming. Never before have I been so glad to see our family and be home.

We missed these kids so much. Madeline gave us the hugest hugs ever, she was a sight for sore eyes. Man, have we missed that girl.

I love this girl in purple.

OMGoodness how I missed my little man.

He said, "Mom I missed you so much, I even forgot how your hair smelled."

Then, "you know I'm sleeping in your bed tonight, right?" Yes, I certainly had planned on that.

He looked so grown up, wearing jeans and everything.

Tell me, how can I keep them little?

Leah and Ben meet at last. I so cannot wait to see the relationship that forms between these two little souls.

Ben was a trooper. 23 hours of travel, 3 different planes, and he still managed to smile through most of it.

He didn't mind his first car seat ride too much. Once he settled in, he jabbered all the way home from the airport. The other kids laughed in all the appropriate places. He just ate up their attention, and appreciation for his witty humor. I think he's going to like it here.

He crashed shortly after getting home, and slept all night. There will be much exploring today.

P.S.

We came home to an extremely clean home ( my Mom worked her magic, I don't know what she does it, but I can never get my house to feel this clean.), a meal in the fridge, all the kids laundry caught up and put away, gifts, and a "Welcome home Ben" cake made by our very own Cake Boss.

Oh, and a few home projects complete, Thanks Dad! The stairs looks great!

Thank you to our wonderful family, we are grateful, and feel very loved.

We Have The Visa!

2010-11-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Heading home in the morning!

Pray for our safe travels, and that Ben does not spend the whole trip spitting up. :)

Update

2010-11-02T05:50:00.000-07:00

As much as I'd like to say we are packing for our return trip, I can't.

We had our embassy appointment Monday, and received word today that Ben's visa will not be ready in time for us to fly out Thursday.

They need "a few more" days.

What does that mean?

I can't call the airline and tell them to change our tickets to "a few days" from now.

Hopefully we will be able to fly out Saturday.

Say a few prayers for us!