Kind of Crazy

To say the past few weeks have been crazy would probably rank up there as an understatement.  I have been so grateful that Mark's schedule has been a bit more flexible over the past week to tag team with me more than normal.  I really should start keeping track of how many trips we make to the doctor in a year.  We just might single handedly give our doctor's practice their job security.  On valentines day I took Eden to the doctor and she was diagnosed with bronchitis.  So we started a hefty dose of antibiotics and within 4 days she started feeling pretty good again.  Anything respiratory with her become quite the ordeal.  Residual affects of orphanage life when she had multiple cases of pneumonia.  Our pediatrician is wonderful and takes her asthma and her somewhat finicky respiratory system seriously.  And we are grateful. 

 

A week late to the day we were back to the doctor with the two younger girls.  Both had ear infections.  Heidi woke during the night crying about her ear and by morning it was draining and literally running down her cheek, dripping off her chin onto her shirt.  She was not happy about that development.  We still aren't sure if her tube has come out or just malfunctioned.  Hopefully we will find out at her recheck.  The same day we learned she is eligible for speech therapy to try and help her learn her k and g sounds.  Again, chronic ear infections, multiple sets of tubes have created some hearing issues.  This was the first time she was able to verbally tell me she couldn't hear me.  Second opinion coming up at the end of the month to pursue other treatment options.

 

This week we were back to the doctor again with Tristan. His turn with an ear infection.  Goodness!  Three kids with ear infections in less than a week.  Oh, but it gets better.  Eden finished up her antibiotics and we ended up at the doctor on yesterday where she too was confirmed to have an ear infection.  Four kids on antibiotics for ear infections. "Dumb luck" says the doctor.  At this point I decided to just laugh at the absurdity of it all.  What else can you do?

 

We get home from the doctor and Shane's friend comes to play for the afternoon.  Mark and I were getting ready to head out for a dinner date with my aunt and uncle.  I was so excited to get a bit of a break from all the neediness. Judge me if you will. The kids were outside sticking their bare feet in the remaining snow by the sidewalk.  I thought they were all back in but a split second after the door closes we hear Heidi screaming.  Nothing unusual for her if she is frustrated about not being able to open the door. Mark and Shane go to open the door for her and I hear, "Looks like we are heading to the ER".  Not really words you want to hear especially when you can't see what is going on.  I didn't even look but jumped up to get some wet paper towels because I heard them mention blood.         

 Heidi has a tendency to trip easily while she runs due to her legs turning in.  I feel like I am constantly telling her to slow down because she falls so much.  Apparently she was running, tripped and fell into the outside brick window ledge.  It was clean immediately that she would need a bit more than a bandaid.  Although Tristan ran quickly to bring me a bandaid in case that would help.  Bless him.

 Fortunately for us it is spring break week so the students weren't in town.  Meaning the ER was slower than usual.  We were in a bed within 10 minutes of entering the ER.  She enjoyed the popsicle and the hour of tv she got to watch while waiting for the numbing gel to take affect.  She was good as long as she could hold her daddy's hand. 

 She was a trooper although hearing her scream bloody murder for the 15 minutes it took to stitch her about made me nauseous.  She has a nice shiner and six stitches.

 Here she is today with a swollen eye.  By this afternoon she was back to her rambunctious little self.  Jumping off the couch, running around the house with me yelling after her, "Be careful you don't hit your eye!"  She doesn't want me taking pictures and she doesn't want to look at it in the mirror.  She cries as soon as she see herself.  We keep assuring her that she won't look like this forever but doesn't seem to console her at all. 

 Anyway, Naomi finished her antibiotics yesterday and started with fever again the same day.  She had high fever today and was pretty lethargic.  She snuggled with me a majority of the day but sat with Shane for probably 30 minutes while eating her cheerios.  They are so stinking cute!

And Eden was pretty miserable all day today with fever and ear pain. I am hoping that by tomorrow she will be much improved! 

And for all of those who prayed last evening - thank you!  Heidi and Naomi both slept all night and Eden woke once!  It was miraculous!  Other than the fact that from 4 o'clock on I was worried that Naomi's fever was raging and Heidi was sleeping more than usual because of an undiagnosed head injury with her fall yesterday. But the crazy thing was I was afraid to check on them lest I wake them!  Ha!  I am not ashamed to say I am hoping for another night of sleep like last night.  And to wake to healthy, fever free children!

Cabin Fever

We are officially getting a pretty severe case of cabin fever at this house.  This winter seems long and never ending.  Like every winter feels as February drags on.  I feel as though I am literally craving warmth and sun.  Soon we will be running out the door barefoot again with the smell of sunscreen wafting behind us!

 Until then we bundle up and walk out to greet the school aged kids of the house every afternoon.  Heidi is insistent that she walk along daily to watch them get off the bus.  Then she turns and runs as fast as her little legs will carry her back towards the house!  Or sometimes she hides behind a tree to jump out and scare us. 

 I love my days with her!  She is typically helpful and always stubborn!  Her phrase of late when things are not going the way she wants is "You are breaking mine heart!"

 Heidi took this picture of Naomi and I just think it is sweet.

 An unexpected snow last week had us awaken to a magical winter wonderland!  Everything was covered in snow!!  I initially felt that familiar feeling of annoyance until I really stopped to look.  I stepped outside with the camera to try and capture the beauty.  The sky was dark and brooding in one direction and clear blue in the other

 Tristan's favorite climbing tree!

 And this young man didn't get the memo that it is still winter!  At least he has shoes, gloves and his face mask on.

 She joined in the snowball fight too!

Pre-bedtime snuggles.  She was nearly asleep until she had her breathing treatment.  Albuterol gives "coming out of her skin" a whole new meaning!  Look at that cheesy smile.

Turning Twelve

I still find myself in a state of disbelief that twelve years have already passed since the day Judah entered the world and I became a mother.  I can vividly remember pretty much every detail of the day of his birth.  Mainly, I thought I was going to die.  I was sure of it!  But low and behold I survived.

 It goes without saying that this boy is happiest outside.  Especially if it involves fishing or hunting.  Right now he is convinced he has found coyote tracks on the mountainside.  For the past week he has gone for at least an hour long hike everyday after school.  He puts on his boots, grabs his binoculars and off he goes! 

 These pictures were from the splendid warm days of summer.  Oh how I am ready for the warmth of the sun again!!  Even though it brings the hope of fishing every day much to my dismay!

 We live within a short walk of a great creek but I still find it hard to let him go on his own.  I am sure he is hoping I soon lighten up a little bit. 

 He had a couple of friends over on Saturday to celebrate with him.  Something transpired that made me so incredibly proud of him!  It proved to me that his heard is extremely kind even though I have a hard time seeing past all the foibles.  Why is it so easy for me to only see the areas of character that need tweaked?  I find myself frequently telling him I am sorry if we are too hard on him or expect to much.  I am still figuring this parenting thing out (pretty sure you never completely figure it out).  He is growing and changing and sometimes I have to do a double-take when he enters a room.  Or when he sidles up next to me in the kitchen and offers to help with dinner.  Other times I am confused by the attitude that is starting to show that has never been a part of him before.  Or the tense jaw when he is upset.  When did he start changing into a young man?  With opinions that need to be listened to.  And hurts that are real.  And misconceptions that aren't based on truth and need to be readjusted.  This parenting thing is tricky business. 

Over the past year he has really seemed to enjoy taking pictures.  He will ask to use the camera and I find beautiful treasured when I download them.  Like the picture of this butterfly.  Must be his artistic flair showing up.

I love this boy and I sure hope we can navigate these next years decently well.  He is a treasure and I love him dearly!

My Littliest Man

I have this sweet little boy who stole my heart a long time ago.  I love his uniqueness. 

He has a birthday in July but he is already planning what he would like to get for presents and which friends he wants to invite to a little party.  So far he has asked for some legos, a libman's wet mop (so he can clean whenever he wants) and some hand sanitizer.  Too funny!  The best part was when I told him he didn't have to wait until his birthday for the mop.  He asked if we could go right away to buy one! 

Tonight he wasn't feeling the best.  He came to me at one point and asked, "Am I not feeling well?"  I told him he had to figure that out himself.  He touched his head and said, "There is a really cold spot on my forehead that is probably only 95 point something degrees.  So I will just touch it until it gets warm."

Right now he is eating his nightly snack of apple slices and getting ready for me to read Charlotte's Web to him.  What a boy!

What Do You Do.....

 What do you do on an extra long weekend when over half of your kids are under the weather?  We spent lots of time resting on the couch with favorite blankies.

 We did lots and lots and lots of laundry because of one sweet little peanuts ability to poop through her diaper every single time.  Many times a day!  But she sure does like to help with folding the clean laundry.

 We built forts and played with babies.

 Playdough was rolled out......

 Staying hydrated was high priority.....

 More games of stratego than we can count were played.  As well as yahtzee, cribbage, wii, uno and scrabble slam.

 Extra snuggling was in order.

 A superhero had to stop by....

 Stories were read by Shane.

 One migraine was survived and defeated!

 Coloring fun pages from pbs kids. 

And extra naps to help beat the virus that keeps circulating.  As the doctor said to me today, "Well, you do basically have a day care."  Ha!  Wasn't sure if I thought it was funny or was a bit offended.  I think some of both!  And lest you think things were just lovely over the past few days there was also fighting.  Lots of fighting! 

A Few Thoughts

We are in the throes of multiple sick children but at this point I am convinced we will survive.  The one thing I like when my children are under the weather (call me a weirdo) is that they are extra snuggly.  Obviously everything in them slows down and I enjoy those tender moments with them. But as I have held Naomi for hours on end over the past 3 days my heart began to really ache.  It started out as a dull pain but came full circle today leaving me in tears.  I know I can be a little dramatic at times and the fatigue doesn't help.  But this is a legitimate pain that I can't really fix.

At this point I am choosing to keep a lot of Eden & I's struggle private simply because who wants the world to know all your business?  I will say though we have started therapy and it has already been life changing!  Fruit is already being born and we are so very grateful God helped us find this therapist.  And I really give Him credit with bringing her into our life.  For within 2 weeks of me actively praying and seeking someone pointed me in her direction.  I desperately wanted a therapist who not only practiced from a professional standpoint but also from personal experience.  Seemed like an impossible request but I was sure this fell under the "Nothing is impossible with God" category. Turns out our therapist is an adoptive mother herself!  How awesome, right?

It has been very difficult, draining, painful and oh so life giving!  Hearing things like "profound neglect" in reference to your precious child is very hard though.  Sitting and absorbing words like profound neglect and knowing there is nothing you could have done to prevent it.  I have felt a myriad of emotions this week as I have wrestled with those two words.  Anger that children experience such deep neglect that it actually affects the neurochemistry of their brain.  Frustration that we couldn't have prevented this from happening.  And most recently just a deep sadness.  I know Eden was sick a lot before we arrived in Ethiopia.  She had experienced malnutrition, was parasite ridden, had multiple bouts of pneumonia and when we arrived had an upper respiratory infection.  How much of the time she was uncomfortable and in pain was she held?  Comforted? Loved?  Probably not a whole lot.  As I have held Naomi over the past few days she has locked eyes with me for long periods of time.  Just looking and searching my eyes.  She is learning that my eyes are ones of love!  Something Eden is still learning.  We verbally talk about what she sees in my eyes so she can start recognizing the emotion that is there.  Something we take for granted, right?

I won't take it for granted anymore.  I let Naomi look and look in my eyes over the past couple of days. I have whispered to her how much I love her, how I am sorry she has lost her first mother, how I pray God is already touching her little heart.......

I sat with Eden tonight on my bed and snuggled her close.  Some things can never be undone but I am believing they can begin to heal.  I am watching it begin to happen in my relationship with my beautiful daughter.  What an entrustment God gives us when He blesses us with children, eh?

Finally....

 I am able to upload pictures again finally!!  I was beginning to lose hope that I would ever be able to post pictures again.  I realized though that I have been pretty pathetic in the whole picture taking department lately.  Since I was pleasantly surprised to find I could upload pictures I am in the middle of a myriad of other things at the moment.  But I had to throw a few out there.  Here is Eden holding a gift from our friend Ellen who is trying to corrupt her and make her like the Steelers. 

 Naomi happy as always!

 She sure does love her daddy and gets crazy loud when he walks in the room to get his attention!  Pretty cute if you want my opinion.

 Pretty sure either Eden or Heidi took this pictures.  She is a climber and a problem solver.  She figures out what she wants and how to reach it.  It is a team effort at this house to keep track of her and keep her out of trouble.

 Shane had his 10th birthday over the weekend even though I am positive he can't possibly be ten already!  Mark and I took him out for his birthday date on Friday evening.  He is pretty predictable: dinner and bowling!  On Saturday he had a few friends over to celebrate with us.  He has such a great group of friends!  There was lots of running around outside, playing madden football on the wii, stratego games and laughter.  There was one ugly skirmish between our two older boys but everything was fine within a few minutes.  The beauty of boys!  Had it been a fight between girls that age we would probably still be talking and processing days later.

I have one little girl (Heidi) who is sick on the couch today.  She started vomiting last evening at bedtime and declared to me around 2:00 this morning that she was dying!  Poor little thing!  She hasn't vomited today at all but is loosing things at a great rate at the other end.  She is drinking her gatorade and resting as I pay bills, balance checkbooks and wash bedding in between bathroom trips.  I am hoping she is an isolated case in our house but am pretty sure that is wishful thinking.