"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance.
The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break."
- Chinese proverb - - We are a family. Our faces are different as are our races. In the end, what really matters is our love for one another. We are blessed beyond measure.
Enjoy as we share pieces of our life with you.
Nope, didn't watch my team get clobbered in football. (I have a feeling, I'm going to have a LOT of free Saturdays this season) We've been saving this box forever for such an opportunity as this. Nice sunny, yet not HOT day. Old clothes and lots of energy. I REALLY don't like messy projects in the house but I LOVE any project that is done outside and they can get as dirty as they want.
Notice those nice, Picasso-esk strokes! He's still deciding between Left or Right hand. Some got into the painting more than others
After the painting, the boys got haircuts, outside. (No clean up) Lesson learned....cheap hair clippers aren't the answer. We seem to be going through the more expensive ones every 4 sets of haircuts. So I tried the cheap ones. They weren't strong enough to cut through Judson's thick hair. They did good on Turner's hair though.
The rules on gum. #1 No gum in Mommy's car. #2 Gum ALWAYS stays in your mouth
Someone forgot the rules: Ansley started screaming at me while I was driving. "My hand is stuck to the window". I say, "What? take it off". To which she replies, "I can't, it's stuck" It was. Guess who may NEVER get gum again?
2) Score one for Mom
On the way home from picking Sawyer up from school, I swung by a Garage Sale. Low and behold, they had a girls bike (we were going to buy one for Ansley for her birthday) just the right size for a Gum Chewing Rule Breaker. It was like new.
3) So while Ansley was learning to ride, guess who went to the grocery? We've come a long way since my mom used to have to drag 4 of us with her to the grocery.
So, it's football time in the south. Let me introduce you to my favorite team, dressed in 'team colors' of Orange/White/Navy. (Not that nasty Florida blue)
Mr. Happy Been with the team about 1 month. Great addition to our group. Happy, Go Lucky. Loves everyone and is learning his role fast. Loves to eat. I expect him to grow into a offensive lineman The Team Captains Loving being the 'examples' (when they are not fighting amongst themselves) Great kids most of the time. The Cheerleader (also very HAPPY) Always in the thick of things Ready at a moments notice to take on whatever comes his way
I couldn't ask for a better team. How lucky am I!!!!
At 9:45pm, I crawled in bed. I was feeling good to be in bed before 10. Ready for a decent night's sleep. At 12:30, Randy jumps out of bed screaming there are spiders in our bed. Not the way I want to be woken up, mind you. I'll admit, I'm not the nicest person when I'm woken like that. I tell him there are no spiders in the bed and to go back to sleep. (In my mind, I was as nice as I could possibly be under the circumstances. To hear him tell it, I was not so nice. Who are you going to believe, the man yelling spiders are in the bed or the sane person trying to get some sleep) He storms off to sleep on the couch. It's 12:30ish and I'm awake. Therefore, I have to go to the bathroom. I crawl back into bed after and tell the spiders they can stay if they are quiet because I need my sleep.
At 3:30ish, Judson came running into the bedroom. He's had a very bad dream about scary bones. (Can I say I hate Halloween and skeletons for this very reason) You might see the pattern here. Judson is wired just like Randy. Very vivid imagination! He cannot go back to sleep and he gets as close to me as he can get and he's still VERY scared. So he squirms and tosses and turns but does NOT sleep. Consequently, I do not sleep.
At around 4ish, Sawyer starts screaming for momma. He cannot breathe and a pullup change. So I change his pullup and put him into bed with Judson and I. At this point, the spiders get very huffy and decide to go sleep somewhere else. I try to close my eyes but I feel like I"m being watched. I open my eyes and 4 eyes are looking back at me, wide awake.
Not be be left out, Turner, who is sleeping in a pack-n-play at the end of my bed is a very loud sleeper. All the noise disturbs him so he starts whining/moaning/groaning.
Finally, at 6am I crawl out of bed and give up. Ansley comes out of her room and wonders why Judson isn't sleeping in his bed.
I've had gum cut out of my hair when I was a child. I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and woke up with gum in my hair. Today, I had gum cut out of my hair. Why? Because my son who had gum in his mouth came up behind me to hug me while I was changing Turner's diaper. His gum fell out of his mouth, into my hair. He grabbed it (Trying to remove it) and smooshed it into my hair. Randy had to cut the gum out of my hair. Talk about adding insult to injury. The day before Randy came home from Ethiopia, I rec'd the world's worst haircut. I've been trying to grow it out so I can get a new and improved haircut. Now, I'll be growing out a bald spot on the back of my head. Just gotta laugh, don't ya?
Wow...we've been busy lately. Trip to the Botanical Garden (sans Sawyer who was at a special event at school), Judson's Birthday, Nana and Pop, and our neighbor's granddaughter came to visit. Plus, this afternoon, Dumplings start back up. go...go...go...
From L to R: Taiwan, Ethiopia, China, USA (Our version of the United Nations)
My little man is growing up. He is growing into a wonderful person, too. Loving and caring. Sensitive and eager to please. Smart and loves to learn. Each day brings new amazement at his development. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, his most common answer is "I want the most eco-friendly job there is". He occasionally says he wants to be president or work with computers. Ultimately, he decides he won't have time for those jobs because he'll be too busy saving the earth. How can such a little man have such a big heart and carry so much weight on his shoulders? He truly gets very upset when he reads anything about animals becoming extinct or clear cutting the rain forests.
Even with so much 'worry', he's still a little boy. When asked what he wanted to be for Halloween this year, his thought was " Do you get more candy if you have a scary costume or a nice costume ". He still beats up his sister when she gets on his nerves. He still helps his baby brothers when they need his help. His favorite things to do: play Risk with Dad, Go on special outings with Mom(even if it's just to the grocery), play on his fort/swing set, go to Karate, play with his siblings, and play on the computer.
When told we might not could get everything he asked for his birthday, namely, a pinata, his response was, "That's ok. It wasn't a necessity, just something that would be fun" Guess what I did last nite? Drove across town for a pinata!
So, tomorrow we will make his favorite train cake and bust open his pinata and make his favorite dinner. I will kiss and hug on him and thank God for sending me such a wonderful little boy which is what I do every night.
We celebrated my birthday this weekend. Yesterday, the kids and I made a cake. Today, we went to a book festival and then to eat at my favorite restaurant. Yummo! It was so very hot we didn't actually stay very long at the book festival but we managed to get 2 books and have them signed by the author. We met some of our Ethiopian adoption gang later (to eat) and got to have a nice visit. Their little boy turns 1 tomorrow! It was a great birthday. I turned 39, ONE MORE TIME!There actually were other people at the restaurant but not many because we got there right as they opened. (Just the way I like it!)
Don't get me wrong. LOVING the rain, seriously. Just, thankful for a little sunshine!
I took mostly videos of the big kids. Ansley is riding her tricycle very well. I think she'll be getting a bicycle for her birthday. (SHhhh...don't tell her) As for the headband, she said, "I'll wear this to keep the hair out of my eyes" (What do you think? Is it helping?)
So, after a week of being Trapped housebound because it was too wet to play outside, I struck out to McD's. (Getting out to the store where they are not allowed to run off energy does NOT count) Just me and 4 kids (under the age of 6). Crazy, no? Someone forgot to reserve the space next to the door for me. So I had to park across the parking lot. The drive through was booming by the way. How to make my way from my car, across the parking lot, through the drive through window line with 4 kids was my mission. I let Ansley and Judson out first and have them stand on the grass in front of the car. I get Sawyer out and hold him in my arms. I then get Turner out and hold him in my other arm. I have Judson and Ansley hold hands and then have Judson hold my finger and we cross the great divide. As I get into the door, Sawyer wriggles out of my arms and runs over several people making his way to the 'play place'. All the while, he's waving his arm and saying "come on". So while 3 are playing, I hold the little one and order.
While I'm filling water glasses, I notice commotion behind me. Sawyer has escaped the play place and making his way amongst the tables greeting everyone. Why? Because that's what he does. He's a people person. FINALLY, I make my way to the table with all the food and manage to get everyone fed. Then I let everyone play some more (rather ordering them to play and run off all the energy that has built up over the last 5 rainy days). I had to teach Turner how to climb the 'ramp' to the little kid slide. After all, it's just not something he's seen or done before. Then, much like his brother Sawyer, he begins to get a boost of confidence and starts 'mingling' with the other people, flashing his 4 tooth grin. Those 2 are definitely people lovers!
Now, you might be wondering how I got everyone back in the car. It was more of a problem than was getting them out. I carried two and held hands with the others out to the parking lot. Then I let Judson and Ansley get in the car as well as Sawyer. None are strapped in, just confined to the car. I strap Turner in next. Then wrangle Sawyer into his seat and strap him in. Finally, strapping in Judson and Ansley. Whew!
I met several curious people wondering about my 4 children. ALL of them were very nice. Ok, I think they all felt sorry for me but that's okay. Not a one had a bad comment. Several asked if all 4 were mine. Gotta say, I may never 'blend in' when going out but I sure won't be boring either. Too fun!
PS. NO Lori, the honeymoon is not over. This kid is awesome. Too fun. It's definitely more challenging getting out with 4 kids than 3 but it's still doable and much fun. He was actually the only one that wasn't antsy to get outside and play. He was content. The other 3 were driving me crazy because they couldn't get out and ride bikes and play. Right now, three are playing contently. #4 is wondering where I am. Still loving the honeymoon!
I apologize for the grainy pic. The camera hasn't worked well since Randy got back from Ethiopia.
Our littlest guy has been home ONE week. What an amazing little guy! He has done so well. He is a soft spoken kid, UNLESS you get out of his sight and then he will scream. He is happy 99% of the time. The other small bit is when he is hungry or tired. He laughs a lot. He babbles. He can say Momma and Daddy and he knows what those words mean. (He also likes to tease and not use them when you ask him to) He can sign 'more' (especially when in conjunction with food!) I am amazed as I watch him. His resilience is awe inspiring.
We've taken him out to eat, to the grocery, to school with Sawyer and to Target in the span of 1 week. He took it all in and never had a meltdown. He sleeps pretty much through the night. If he does wake up, you can just tell him to lay down and he'll go back to sleep. He loves playing with the kids, especially chasing Ansley as she runs screaming through the house. He loves to wrestle with anyone who'll oblige. He loves to be tickled and to be kissed. He'll blow kisses too.
I could have never predicted that this first week would have gone so smoothly. We're enjoying every minute and could not have asked for any better adjustment so far.
Took Turner to his first doctor's visit. He did fine until it came to the shots. (As if) He is in the 50% on height and the 5% on weight. We have to pork this boy up some.
On another note, Randy had thought Turner's feet were extra wide with an extra high arch in them when he was in Ethiopia. They aren't. They are average with more arch than the other kids but nothing abnormally high. What he does is tuck his toes under his feet when you put his shoes one. He won't straighten them out even after the shoe is on. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. Even when I put his Robeez on, I have to physically force his toes straight.
That's the motto at our house. To that end, I took Turner to have his hair cut today. Here he is!He sat very still and didn't make a peep while getting his hair cut. I guess he likes it okay. I really don't think he has an opinion right now. Judson was disappointed. He liked rubbing Turner's head/hair. On another note, Ansley made note that Turner's skin was 'black' but her skin was like Sawyer's. It's a matter of perspective, isn't it? Before, she'd say her skin was darker than Sawyer's. Now, it's the same as Sawyer's. It's funny what kids notice. It's also neat that it was just an observation. Not, one is better than the other. Just one is different than the other. She loves that Turner has brown eyes like she does. It has always bothered her that she was the only one with brown eyes.
OK. Today, I figure I want to get Turner on our schedule so I decide we need to go out and do something. So we decide to go out to eat. Yep, his first full day home and I'm dragging him out to one of our favorite Mr. Ron's (Ansley's word for restaurant). We go into the restaurant and 3 of our 4 kids are climbing all over the booth. The 4th (and newest) is screaming his displeasure about something. I turn around to see the person who is going to be our waitress, roll her eyes. I just had to laugh and apologize before we even got started. She was like, oh no, it's okay. (She didnt' expect to get caught)
Even though we had a rough start, the lunch went well. Everyone ate well, even Turner. Who'd think a kid with only 4 teeth could eat tortilla chips!
Overall, I'd say we were doing quite well. He definitely doesn't want dad to get out of site. If however, Dad is going to be gone, Mom will do (after much screaming). The kids are loving him. Ansley likes the job of 'big sister'. Judson is doing pretty well with the screaming. (When Ansley came home and screamed, Judson would melt down) Sawyer thinks Turner is pretty cool too. So for day 1, I give us an "A"The Great Rift Valley
Ansley, Sawyer and I woke up this morning coughing, sneezing, etc. Yep, we have the same thing Judson has had for the past few days. We're SICK!
Randy and Turner/Mesfin are on their last leg of the their journey. They've been in airplanes/airports for about 13 hours and have about 9 more hours to go. They're TIRED!
Last fall the DSAA Buddy Walk made almost $150,000 after expenses were paid. Of this, $15,000 (10%) was donated to NDSS, specifically designated for their Washington, D.C. Policy Center. The remaining $135,000 stayed in DSAA and has been used for the following activities:
Grant to the Emory Down Syndrome Clinic -- $31,250
Grant to the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic -- $23,000
Funding for the Hispanic Support Group -- $ 4,200
Launching of Down Syndrome Specialists Project in schools - $ 3,200
Costs for bimonthly DSAA Newsletters -- $ 11,000
Costs for website maintenance -- $ 3,000
New Expectant Parent and Medical Provider Guides -- $ 25,000
New Parent Packets and Parent Liaison Program costs -- $ 1,000
Spring Educational Conference -- $ 800
Scholarships for members to attend conferences -- $ 4,000
Bregman Dance for young adults -- $ 1,000
Winter social and spring luau -- $ 17,000
Advocacy $ 2,200
Fall Conference Planning and Publicity -- $ 8,350 TOTAL $ 135,000
Nope, didn't watch my team get clobbered in football. (I have a feeling, I'm going to have a LOT of free Saturdays this season) We've been saving this box forever for such an opportunity as this. Nice sunny, yet not HOT day. Old clothes and lots of energy. I REALLY don't like messy projects in the house but I LOVE any project that is done outside and they can get as dirty as they want.
Some got into the painting more than others
After the painting, the boys got haircuts, outside. (No clean up) Lesson learned....cheap hair clippers aren't the answer. We seem to be going through the more expensive ones every 4 sets of haircuts. So I tried the cheap ones. They weren't strong enough to cut through Judson's thick hair. They did good on Turner's hair though.
