Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Not Feeling My Blog
I've been MIA, and I'm not sure why. Busyness is sure part of it, but the other part I'm having difficulty defining. One may be the swirl of emotions I'm feeling that I can't put into words (and I'm never at a loss for words). The other is that when I began this blog I wanted it to be edgy and topical, but it has turned into a blah-blah-blah "look at my beautiful kid" blog. (Not that he isn't beautiful and completely blog-worthy -- he is!) But I want also want to discuss real issues related to adoption and mothering, but I don't trust my own voice on these issues sometimes. Do I know enough? Aren't others already doing this much better than I ever could? Some of the issues are too personal to my family, and though I think blogging about them would be helpful to others, I cannot expose my family's private life here.
So...while I work this out, I'll give you Spud updates.
Spud's progress and endearing qualities:
-He knows about 20 English words now.
-He has a regular nap schedule (Praise the Lord!)
-His eating is getting slightly better; he'll eat pizza and strawberries now!
-He loves jumping on our trampoline.
-He loves to mow the lawn with daddy. He'll sit on WMWM's lap for 40 minutes at a stretch.
-He has learned that markers are only for paper.
-he loves to wake up the big kids in the morning.
-He loves giving kisses, especially during meal times when his lips are covered with things I find personally disgusting (oatmeal, peas).
-He has a baby doll that he carries around very lovingly. He takes it for rides in his little stroller and his Cozy Coupe car. He snuggles it when he sleeps. He feeds it when he eats.
-He is enamored with his own belly and everyone else's. He will pat, squeeze and poke his own belly and ask you to expose yours so he can do the same.
-He often requests the books Peek-A-Boo, Please Puppy Please, and Water Water. But don't try to read him any other book -- not interested.
Less endearing qualities and trying moments:
-He'll turn on every toy he has that makes noise (and he has hundreds of them) then leave the room.
-At one point he didn't know that markers were just for paper.
-When I wasn't looking (stupid me) he got ahold of a bottle of nail polish and dropped it on the tile floor in the kitchen. Before I realized what was happening he had tracked it across the kitchen and was covered in a lovely shade of OPI's "I'm Not Really a Waitress."
-When he trips over something or bumps into something, he'll hit, kick and scold the offending object.
-When he gets pissed off, he hurls whatever is near across the room. If there is nothing close he'll go to the kitchen cabinets and hurl Tupperware, pots and pans. Then I'm pissed off. Then there's a war of the wills. Mommy wins (as far as you know).
Here are the latest pics. Peace.
So...while I work this out, I'll give you Spud updates.
Spud's progress and endearing qualities:
-He knows about 20 English words now.
-He has a regular nap schedule (Praise the Lord!)
-His eating is getting slightly better; he'll eat pizza and strawberries now!
-He loves jumping on our trampoline.
-He loves to mow the lawn with daddy. He'll sit on WMWM's lap for 40 minutes at a stretch.
-He has learned that markers are only for paper.
-he loves to wake up the big kids in the morning.
-He loves giving kisses, especially during meal times when his lips are covered with things I find personally disgusting (oatmeal, peas).
-He has a baby doll that he carries around very lovingly. He takes it for rides in his little stroller and his Cozy Coupe car. He snuggles it when he sleeps. He feeds it when he eats.
-He is enamored with his own belly and everyone else's. He will pat, squeeze and poke his own belly and ask you to expose yours so he can do the same.
-He often requests the books Peek-A-Boo, Please Puppy Please, and Water Water. But don't try to read him any other book -- not interested.
Less endearing qualities and trying moments:
-He'll turn on every toy he has that makes noise (and he has hundreds of them) then leave the room.
-At one point he didn't know that markers were just for paper.
-When I wasn't looking (stupid me) he got ahold of a bottle of nail polish and dropped it on the tile floor in the kitchen. Before I realized what was happening he had tracked it across the kitchen and was covered in a lovely shade of OPI's "I'm Not Really a Waitress."
-When he trips over something or bumps into something, he'll hit, kick and scold the offending object.
-When he gets pissed off, he hurls whatever is near across the room. If there is nothing close he'll go to the kitchen cabinets and hurl Tupperware, pots and pans. Then I'm pissed off. Then there's a war of the wills. Mommy wins (as far as you know).
Here are the latest pics. Peace.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Poor Spuddy
Spud visited the doctor today to begin his immunizations. Poor thing had 6 shots. Ouch!
Here's one side:
And here's the other:
Next month he'll have to have 6 more shots and 6 more two months after that. Then he'll be caught up.
I had to hold him down while the nurse used him for target practice -- that was awful. Next time I'll be taking grandma to hold him down and I'll wait outside. Spud was so mad at me he wouldn't look at me all the way home and then he refused to eat lunch.
After his nap Spud gimped around like an old man. Since he had shots in both legs, he couldn't figure out which one to favor, so he would take a step and lift one, then take a step and lift the other. I felt terrible for him.
Spud continues to find new ways to make us laugh. WMWM, Tater, Race & I all wear glasses. Spud thinks he should be wearing them too, so he keeps trying to take ours off so he can try them out. Finally I gave him a pair of my old glasses to keep him busy. I'm pretty blind, so he toddled around like a drunken sailor for awhile.
Here is a fun picture that obviously wasn't taken today!
Hoping for a return of the happy face tomorrow.
Peace.
Here's one side:
And here's the other:
Next month he'll have to have 6 more shots and 6 more two months after that. Then he'll be caught up.
I had to hold him down while the nurse used him for target practice -- that was awful. Next time I'll be taking grandma to hold him down and I'll wait outside. Spud was so mad at me he wouldn't look at me all the way home and then he refused to eat lunch.
After his nap Spud gimped around like an old man. Since he had shots in both legs, he couldn't figure out which one to favor, so he would take a step and lift one, then take a step and lift the other. I felt terrible for him.
Spud continues to find new ways to make us laugh. WMWM, Tater, Race & I all wear glasses. Spud thinks he should be wearing them too, so he keeps trying to take ours off so he can try them out. Finally I gave him a pair of my old glasses to keep him busy. I'm pretty blind, so he toddled around like a drunken sailor for awhile.
Here is a fun picture that obviously wasn't taken today!
Hoping for a return of the happy face tomorrow.
Peace.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Cloudy Days
Lest my last post make it sound like the last 3 weeks have been all sunshine and roses, let me say that I could only write that post after having a few consecutive good days under my belt.
Our first couple weeks home were hard. The exhaustion from the travel and emotional roller coaster of the trip settled on me like a black fog. Many days I wept. I mourned the passing of many things -- my relatively unencumbered lifestyle, spending time with my husband and older kids, the childhoods of my older kids, my personal space, just to name a few. Spud needed me 24/7 (of course), and I was sure I wasn’t meeting his needs. Guilt. Sometimes I didn’t like him. More than a few times I thought we had made a mistake.
Though a couple weeks seems short, it felt like they lasted forever, and I am only now able to put that time in perspective. Looking back, I should have expected and been better prepared for the stress of those first weeks. I would have let go of the fantasy of falling in love instantly with my child and being the perfect mom and wife. I continue to struggle with the guilty feelings of not doing enough or being enough for Spud and the rest of the family, but I try to remember to give myself a break. I try to remember in those moments of despair that the moment won’t last forever.
I know for many people the black fog lasts longer than a couple weeks, especially if the family is dealing with attachment issues. My heart goes out to these families.
I’m reading The Post Adoption Blues: Overcoming the Unforeseen Challenges of Adoption by Foli & Thompson. I wish I had read it before I left; it really speaks to the feelings I’ve had since we’ve been home. Even if you’re not prone to getting the blues as I am, the book will help you set realistic expectations for that much-anticipated time when you bring your child home. Seriously, go get a copy.
Peace.
Our first couple weeks home were hard. The exhaustion from the travel and emotional roller coaster of the trip settled on me like a black fog. Many days I wept. I mourned the passing of many things -- my relatively unencumbered lifestyle, spending time with my husband and older kids, the childhoods of my older kids, my personal space, just to name a few. Spud needed me 24/7 (of course), and I was sure I wasn’t meeting his needs. Guilt. Sometimes I didn’t like him. More than a few times I thought we had made a mistake.
Though a couple weeks seems short, it felt like they lasted forever, and I am only now able to put that time in perspective. Looking back, I should have expected and been better prepared for the stress of those first weeks. I would have let go of the fantasy of falling in love instantly with my child and being the perfect mom and wife. I continue to struggle with the guilty feelings of not doing enough or being enough for Spud and the rest of the family, but I try to remember to give myself a break. I try to remember in those moments of despair that the moment won’t last forever.
I know for many people the black fog lasts longer than a couple weeks, especially if the family is dealing with attachment issues. My heart goes out to these families.
I’m reading The Post Adoption Blues: Overcoming the Unforeseen Challenges of Adoption by Foli & Thompson. I wish I had read it before I left; it really speaks to the feelings I’ve had since we’ve been home. Even if you’re not prone to getting the blues as I am, the book will help you set realistic expectations for that much-anticipated time when you bring your child home. Seriously, go get a copy.
Peace.
Monday, April 28, 2008
You are My Sunshine
(If you want to skip the blah, blah, blah, there are pictures at the end of this post!)
Spud Central is beginning to hum along. Today marks 3 weeks home with him!
Spud is a happy, affectionate little guy who loves being the center of attention. He is spontaneously loving and stubborn – in equal measure :) He seems to have slid into his life here with relative ease. I have not detected any real emotional distress on his part yet, though I’m sure he has experienced more than I realize.
We have had our bumps in the last few weeks – all to be expected. I mentioned the language barrier before; that continues to be a challenge. It’s frustrating not being able to understand exactly what he wants, and it’s frustrating not being able to explain to him what I want. But it’s getting better, and body language speaks volumes (his and mine!).
The sleep issues are also improving. He’s still waking at 4 a.m. on some days, but if WMWM or I go lie on the twin bed next to his crib, he’ll go back to sleep until 6:30 or 7. He’s napping regularly in the afternoons, but usually only an hour or so.
Meal times are definitely still stressful. One day Spud will eat something, but the next day he will reject the same thing. Besides peas and Cheerios, we haven’t hit on anything that he’ll eat consistently. I tend to take it personally when he doesn’t eat, which is ridiculous of me. The pediatrician says not to worry too much about his food intake; it’s the only part of his life he can control right now, so he’s bound to exert his power. That made me feel a little better. But not much.
I have been working on keeping my expectations in check here. Since Spud has slid so easily into our lives with few attachment issues, I tend to forget he just got here and sometimes expect the same from him that I expected from my other kids at his age. It’s easy to forget he probably doesn’t understand 95% of what is said to him and that nearly everything is still a new experience.
Tater and Racer, especially Racer, are smitten with the little guy. They are extremely helpful and patient with him, though they do laugh at him when he’s naughty which encourages the behavior. Tater taught him how to jump on the couch, and now I must break him of that habit even though it’s hilarious because he laughs like a maniac when he does it.
Spud is pretty much a little ray of sunshine in our lives, and we are so happy he is home!
Daddy is Spud's hero, and this firetruck is his favorite toy.
Spud and Dad spend a lot of time tumbling, tossing, and tickling.
Spud gets a big kick out of blowing zurples on daddy's belly. We're pretty sure this is how WMWM got ringworm on his stomach.
This is another of Spud's favorite tricks -- ta da -- Super Diaper Baby!
Brother Tater is passing on all his best baseball tips.
And looking forward to passing on his lawn care duties.
Sister Speed Racer also seems eager to pass along her yard chores.
Racer spoils the kid rotten and tends to give in to his every whim.
And here are some random pictures of Spud being cute.
Peace.
Spud Central is beginning to hum along. Today marks 3 weeks home with him!
Spud is a happy, affectionate little guy who loves being the center of attention. He is spontaneously loving and stubborn – in equal measure :) He seems to have slid into his life here with relative ease. I have not detected any real emotional distress on his part yet, though I’m sure he has experienced more than I realize.
We have had our bumps in the last few weeks – all to be expected. I mentioned the language barrier before; that continues to be a challenge. It’s frustrating not being able to understand exactly what he wants, and it’s frustrating not being able to explain to him what I want. But it’s getting better, and body language speaks volumes (his and mine!).
The sleep issues are also improving. He’s still waking at 4 a.m. on some days, but if WMWM or I go lie on the twin bed next to his crib, he’ll go back to sleep until 6:30 or 7. He’s napping regularly in the afternoons, but usually only an hour or so.
Meal times are definitely still stressful. One day Spud will eat something, but the next day he will reject the same thing. Besides peas and Cheerios, we haven’t hit on anything that he’ll eat consistently. I tend to take it personally when he doesn’t eat, which is ridiculous of me. The pediatrician says not to worry too much about his food intake; it’s the only part of his life he can control right now, so he’s bound to exert his power. That made me feel a little better. But not much.
I have been working on keeping my expectations in check here. Since Spud has slid so easily into our lives with few attachment issues, I tend to forget he just got here and sometimes expect the same from him that I expected from my other kids at his age. It’s easy to forget he probably doesn’t understand 95% of what is said to him and that nearly everything is still a new experience.
Tater and Racer, especially Racer, are smitten with the little guy. They are extremely helpful and patient with him, though they do laugh at him when he’s naughty which encourages the behavior. Tater taught him how to jump on the couch, and now I must break him of that habit even though it’s hilarious because he laughs like a maniac when he does it.
Spud is pretty much a little ray of sunshine in our lives, and we are so happy he is home!
Daddy is Spud's hero, and this firetruck is his favorite toy.
Spud and Dad spend a lot of time tumbling, tossing, and tickling.
Spud gets a big kick out of blowing zurples on daddy's belly. We're pretty sure this is how WMWM got ringworm on his stomach.
This is another of Spud's favorite tricks -- ta da -- Super Diaper Baby!
Brother Tater is passing on all his best baseball tips.
And looking forward to passing on his lawn care duties.
Sister Speed Racer also seems eager to pass along her yard chores.
Racer spoils the kid rotten and tends to give in to his every whim.
And here are some random pictures of Spud being cute.
Peace.
Friday, April 18, 2008
He's Sleeping!
Spud is napping, giving me a chance to update here.
I was going to give a recap of our trip to Ethiopia, but it was so personal that it's difficult to express. Also, every time I try to put into words what we experienced there, it ends up sounding like trite generalizations -- i.e. the people are beautiful, hardworking, friendly, etc. Romanticizing the country doesn't do it or our children justice. I will say this, the city is beautiful and terrible, and I won't ever forget it.
Soooooo...I'll give you a Spud details!
Where to start? He's much funnier than we had anticipated, and he knows how to work it! This is what we call "the look."
When he's being impish, he'll look at you out of the corner of his eyes while turning his head all the way around. It may not sound funny, but it is HYSTERICAL and we laugh so hard at him, which he loves.
He is loving and will throw his arms around you and kiss you smack on the lips! He loves being tickled and tossed in the air, and he loves his brother and sister.
What have been the challenges? Well, the language thing is pretty huge, though Spud manages to communicate quite effectively with us by grunting, squealing, and pointing. He will even grab your legs and attempt to drag you to where he would like you to be. Napping has been an issue of course -- sometimes we get one, sometimes two -- but never, ever do we go peacefully. But the hardest thing for me has been feeding this child.
We took a trip to an adoption doc in Chicago on Tuesday, and he told us Spud is still suffering the effects of malnutrition (he is 5th percentile for height and 5th for weight). He needs lots of protein and is supposed to be on PediaSure for the next six months. Unfortunately, he refuses to get near the PediaSure and seems to want to eat only noodles and oatmeal. This is stressing me out bigtime, and I would love any advice.
Daddy did bring home some ice cream bars the other night, which at first we couldn't figure out.
But then we decided they were pretty yum!
Other than that, Spud's just hanging out doing your basic kid stuff.
Everything considered, it's all good in Spud Land. Thanks for checking in!
Peace.
I was going to give a recap of our trip to Ethiopia, but it was so personal that it's difficult to express. Also, every time I try to put into words what we experienced there, it ends up sounding like trite generalizations -- i.e. the people are beautiful, hardworking, friendly, etc. Romanticizing the country doesn't do it or our children justice. I will say this, the city is beautiful and terrible, and I won't ever forget it.
Soooooo...I'll give you a Spud details!
Where to start? He's much funnier than we had anticipated, and he knows how to work it! This is what we call "the look."
When he's being impish, he'll look at you out of the corner of his eyes while turning his head all the way around. It may not sound funny, but it is HYSTERICAL and we laugh so hard at him, which he loves.
He is loving and will throw his arms around you and kiss you smack on the lips! He loves being tickled and tossed in the air, and he loves his brother and sister.
What have been the challenges? Well, the language thing is pretty huge, though Spud manages to communicate quite effectively with us by grunting, squealing, and pointing. He will even grab your legs and attempt to drag you to where he would like you to be. Napping has been an issue of course -- sometimes we get one, sometimes two -- but never, ever do we go peacefully. But the hardest thing for me has been feeding this child.
We took a trip to an adoption doc in Chicago on Tuesday, and he told us Spud is still suffering the effects of malnutrition (he is 5th percentile for height and 5th for weight). He needs lots of protein and is supposed to be on PediaSure for the next six months. Unfortunately, he refuses to get near the PediaSure and seems to want to eat only noodles and oatmeal. This is stressing me out bigtime, and I would love any advice.
Daddy did bring home some ice cream bars the other night, which at first we couldn't figure out.
But then we decided they were pretty yum!
Other than that, Spud's just hanging out doing your basic kid stuff.
Everything considered, it's all good in Spud Land. Thanks for checking in!
Peace.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Interesting Posts
We're still recoving here from our trip, but updates are to come. In the meantime, you may want to check out these interesting posts.
Behaviors and Attitudes of Allies to Transracial Adoptees (4/14 post)
An interesting discussion of the role of religion in adoption (4/11-4/14 posts)
Peace.
Behaviors and Attitudes of Allies to Transracial Adoptees (4/14 post)
An interesting discussion of the role of religion in adoption (4/11-4/14 posts)
Peace.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
We're Home!
Hi friends and family,
We are home and settling in. The time change is still kicking our behinds, and Spud is keeping us hopping! I'll just manage to get some pictures uploaded here -- I know that's all you really want anyway! Enjoy.
Hope you enjoyed our pictures.
Peace.
We are home and settling in. The time change is still kicking our behinds, and Spud is keeping us hopping! I'll just manage to get some pictures uploaded here -- I know that's all you really want anyway! Enjoy.
This is Spud on the first day we met him. We went to relax in a beautiful garden by the Ghion Hotel.
Spud checked us out thoroughly and decided we'd do.
This is the first night he was allowed to spend the night with us. Everything went great.
Here we are ready for church!
And here's Spud charming his mama.
Beautiful brothers just hanging out.
Spud can be VERY silly!
Everyone needs a nakey baby picture on their blog.
Finally, daddy and Racer showed up. Spud was thrilled (and so was mama.)
WMWM is such a hottie -- and he carries the diaper bag too!
The boys taking a stroll.
Aren't I precious?
Spud is enjoying the cake served at the HOH 1st anniversary celebration.
This is us with Ephrim, our driver, at a museum.
This is a random picture of Tater's tongue that he took himself. He is quite proud of it.
Dad and Spud enjoying suckers together.
Spud's first experience in a swimming pool.
Hey, he likes it!
He warmed up to Racer pretty quickly.
She's a great big sister.
Racer participated in her first coffee ceremony. Will she love coffee like her mama?
Not so much!
Spud in his PJs ready for the plan trip home.
And here he is - home and already playing with Grandpa . . .
. . . and Meemaw . . .
. . . and Grandpa T . . .
. . . and Grammie!
Hope you enjoyed our pictures.
Peace.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Salam!
I have lost track of the days here--it is easy to do!
Adopting friends, if you are packing right now for Ethiopia, go immediately to your suitcases and leave half of what you have packed at home. Seriously. You do not need all that stuff. We packed WAY TOO MUCH! Also, the thing I have been most grateful for is travel-size packs of tissues. There is no TP here in public places, and your child WILL have a runny nose that needs to be wiped constantly. And the nannies will expect YOU to wipe your child's nose ALL THE TIME. Do not be lax in this. I'm not kidding.
When you get here, do not be alarmed if your child is given orange soda at meals. I don't know about y'all, but my kids didn't get soda until they were in kindergarten, and then sparingly. I was shocked to see Spud enjoying pop at every meal. That will end soon enough.
Spud, by the way, is a serious boy as we were told. But yesterday Almaz, the HOH director's wife, had him belly laughing! It was so good to see. He was squealing with delight because she was being so silly. Of course, he will not crack a smile yet in my direction, but all in good time. The nannies chant "ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma," when I am near him. I don't tink this is helping. :)
My son, Tater, has been so wonderful. He is patient, and gracious, and brave. I know he is often bored but he does not let on. He has not complained once. He plays with all the children at the HOH. He misses his father terribly.
My top five things for traveling parents to know:
1. Like I said, pack sparingly, at least clothes-wise. We brought way too many clothes. It is warm this time of year--I have not needed one of my 3 jackets I brought yet--even in the evening.
2. It is very, very dusty here. I have had a bloody nose every day. I have eaten at least 20 lbs. of dirt. Of course with the dry weather, it is to be expected. Even though it is so dusty, the Ethiopian people are fastidious. They are always sweeping and cleaning. Our driver cleans our rented car several times a day even though it is a losing battle.
3. When you bring toys for the children at the HOH, hand out just one to each child at a time. The nannies do not like chaos and will frown upon a free-for-all. Everything must be done in an orderly fashion. I have learned my lesson.
4. Everyone told us before we left to avoid eating certain things. This is nearly impossible. When the cook puts lettuce or fresh vegetables in front of us, we eat it. Our stomachs have been okay so far (well, a little queasy, but nothing else--yet).
5. Be prepared when you are in a car for people to approach you. Be ready with money or chocolate if you are willing--I keep burying stuff in my backpack and can't find it when I need it. Our driver shakes his head. Also, they do not want you to give to the able-bodied children because it encourages begging behavior. Today a child offered to sell me a box of tissues. I gave him money, but told him to keep the tissues. This is a no-no. Take the tissues.
Oh, one more thing. Bring Lotramin--the ringworm is awful. Bring extra--all you can gather together as they desperately need it--a caseload if you can manage it.
Your are in our prayers.
Peace
Adopting friends, if you are packing right now for Ethiopia, go immediately to your suitcases and leave half of what you have packed at home. Seriously. You do not need all that stuff. We packed WAY TOO MUCH! Also, the thing I have been most grateful for is travel-size packs of tissues. There is no TP here in public places, and your child WILL have a runny nose that needs to be wiped constantly. And the nannies will expect YOU to wipe your child's nose ALL THE TIME. Do not be lax in this. I'm not kidding.
When you get here, do not be alarmed if your child is given orange soda at meals. I don't know about y'all, but my kids didn't get soda until they were in kindergarten, and then sparingly. I was shocked to see Spud enjoying pop at every meal. That will end soon enough.
Spud, by the way, is a serious boy as we were told. But yesterday Almaz, the HOH director's wife, had him belly laughing! It was so good to see. He was squealing with delight because she was being so silly. Of course, he will not crack a smile yet in my direction, but all in good time. The nannies chant "ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma," when I am near him. I don't tink this is helping. :)
My son, Tater, has been so wonderful. He is patient, and gracious, and brave. I know he is often bored but he does not let on. He has not complained once. He plays with all the children at the HOH. He misses his father terribly.
My top five things for traveling parents to know:
1. Like I said, pack sparingly, at least clothes-wise. We brought way too many clothes. It is warm this time of year--I have not needed one of my 3 jackets I brought yet--even in the evening.
2. It is very, very dusty here. I have had a bloody nose every day. I have eaten at least 20 lbs. of dirt. Of course with the dry weather, it is to be expected. Even though it is so dusty, the Ethiopian people are fastidious. They are always sweeping and cleaning. Our driver cleans our rented car several times a day even though it is a losing battle.
3. When you bring toys for the children at the HOH, hand out just one to each child at a time. The nannies do not like chaos and will frown upon a free-for-all. Everything must be done in an orderly fashion. I have learned my lesson.
4. Everyone told us before we left to avoid eating certain things. This is nearly impossible. When the cook puts lettuce or fresh vegetables in front of us, we eat it. Our stomachs have been okay so far (well, a little queasy, but nothing else--yet).
5. Be prepared when you are in a car for people to approach you. Be ready with money or chocolate if you are willing--I keep burying stuff in my backpack and can't find it when I need it. Our driver shakes his head. Also, they do not want you to give to the able-bodied children because it encourages begging behavior. Today a child offered to sell me a box of tissues. I gave him money, but told him to keep the tissues. This is a no-no. Take the tissues.
Oh, one more thing. Bring Lotramin--the ringworm is awful. Bring extra--all you can gather together as they desperately need it--a caseload if you can manage it.
Your are in our prayers.
Peace
WE ARE HERE!
We are here! The country is beautiful, and the people are amazing. Our Spud is so, so cute! He is a little man. He is slow to smile, but is warming up to us. He is also stubborn--but that runs in the family! The language barrier is the worst part. We miss everyone and we are grateful for your thoughts and prayers.
Peace
Peace
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Last Post Before Take-Off!
Dear Friends,
Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement.
It's hard to believe we're almost on our way -- Tater and I fly out Sunday @ 11:35. I'm feeling a bit numb at the moment -- I'm guessing that's pretty normal.
I'll try to some posts up while I'm gone, but you know how that goes.
Have a glorious Easter. He is risen -- He is risen indeed!
I have to stop now because I'm starting to cry.
Peace.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Hooray!
It's confirmed -- our embassy date will be April 3rd! Spud and I are still planning to leave this Sunday (we have tickets on hold but not yet purchased), but WMWM is having second thoughts about us traveling separately from him and Racer. I understand his concerns, even though I'm really anxious to hold Spud. We'll talk about it more tonight, and I'll keep you posted. Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.
Peace.
Peace.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Say Cheese!
.JPG)
.JPG)
Yes, friends, he's SMILING! I received these updated pictures from our agency today. And it looks like our embassy date will be April 3, but we'll have to wait until next week for confirmation.
As of now, Tater and I will be departing the states on Easter Sunday, March 24, to go over early to get to know Spud. Racer & WMWM will leave the following Sunday, the 30th. And all 5 of us will be home on April 8. Amen.
Feelin' good!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
I got nothin'
Thanks to all who are tuning in to see if we heard today about our embassy date. Our social worker thought we would have news today, but we don't. Please send chocolate.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Racer Rocks!
The Speed Racer is in a bit of a snit because she has been woefully neglected on this blog. She has a point; I’ve blogged a lot about Spud, a bit about Tater, and none about her.
In the interest of balance, I must tell you . . . my daughter is AMAZING. I'm pretty sure this song was written about her.
Our Racer is self-motivated, self-disciplined, smart, and kind. She’s quite confident in herself and her abilities, and sometimes I feel embarrassed by that. Yet confidence is the quality I admire most in her, and the one I worry she’ll lose first when she hits puberty, as happened to many of us as young girls. (Can someome please explain to me why that happens? And what we as mothers can do to help prevent it?)
Racer isn't just mentally strong, she's also kick-ass strong. This chick is a rock of sheer muscle who happily out-runs, out-push-ups, and out-pull-ups the boys in her class.
As strong as Racer is, she’s easily hurt. It's hard raising a girl, and I remember it was hard being a girl. The fact is girls aren’t always nice to each other. My daughter asks me why this is, and I have no answer for her. Why are we as girls/women the first to point out each other’s flaws and smack each other down?
Can you imagine the difference it would make in our daughters’ lives if we consciously taught our daughters to support and encourage each other? To confront each other respectfully instead of talking behind each other’s backs? To include each other instead of exclude? To value our differences instead of ridiculing them? I want to be that kind of mom. I want to be that kind of woman. Some days I hit the mark, but most days I fall short.
The other day I was thinking that I want Racer to have it all when she grows up – a great career, a beautiful family, a fabulous shoe collection. But women pay a steep price to have it all. We're expected to be all things to all people. I guess I really want Racer to have just enough. Just enough to love being herself.
Rock on, Racer.
In the interest of balance, I must tell you . . . my daughter is AMAZING. I'm pretty sure this song was written about her.
Our Racer is self-motivated, self-disciplined, smart, and kind. She’s quite confident in herself and her abilities, and sometimes I feel embarrassed by that. Yet confidence is the quality I admire most in her, and the one I worry she’ll lose first when she hits puberty, as happened to many of us as young girls. (Can someome please explain to me why that happens? And what we as mothers can do to help prevent it?)
Racer isn't just mentally strong, she's also kick-ass strong. This chick is a rock of sheer muscle who happily out-runs, out-push-ups, and out-pull-ups the boys in her class.
As strong as Racer is, she’s easily hurt. It's hard raising a girl, and I remember it was hard being a girl. The fact is girls aren’t always nice to each other. My daughter asks me why this is, and I have no answer for her. Why are we as girls/women the first to point out each other’s flaws and smack each other down?
Can you imagine the difference it would make in our daughters’ lives if we consciously taught our daughters to support and encourage each other? To confront each other respectfully instead of talking behind each other’s backs? To include each other instead of exclude? To value our differences instead of ridiculing them? I want to be that kind of mom. I want to be that kind of woman. Some days I hit the mark, but most days I fall short.
The other day I was thinking that I want Racer to have it all when she grows up – a great career, a beautiful family, a fabulous shoe collection. But women pay a steep price to have it all. We're expected to be all things to all people. I guess I really want Racer to have just enough. Just enough to love being herself.
Rock on, Racer.
NEWS FLASH!
The orphanage review that has been delaying our travel is now complete, and our paperwork is off to the Ministry of Women's Affairs to be scheduled for an embassy date. At the embassy appointment we will receive Spud's visa and all the other necessary paperwork to bring him home. We are hoping that date will be April 3, but we won't have confirmation until Thursday. If the embassy appointment is April 3, we'll be home the week of April 7th with our son! Yippeeeeee!
Thank you again for all your prayers; please don't stop yet!
Peace.
Thank you again for all your prayers; please don't stop yet!
Peace.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Unsolicited Advice for Waiting Mommies
Do not listen to Dixie Chicks' Godspeed while eating chocolate chip cookie dough. It will not make you feel better. And snot and dough is a very messy combo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
1.jpg)
