Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Happy happy Birthday Amaris Joy!!

WOW! Holy Cow! I can not believe today my sweet gilr turns 10!!! It feels like a blink ago that she arrived here scared, shivering, pale, and shy....then I blinked and she is 10! Beautiful, creative, chatty, silly, active, talented and amazing young lady!! The road that led us to today has been a long and sometimes difficult road. Amaris I am so very proud of you and all you have accomplished I can not wait to see what God has in store for you. The miracles HE has done in your life are going to be used for amazing things in the future. I am honored to be your mommy! Happy birthday! Love you so so much!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Happy Birthday Sammy Boy!

Yesterday was Samuels 8th birthday! Had it not been for traveling home from and amazing weekend at the lake I would have posted for him on his actual birthday but since today he wore his special birthday shirt and took treats to school I figured it would be ok to post today!
Sam had the most amazing birthday ever! We were at Storm Lake for the weekend. Sam went fishing and turtle hunting. It doesn't get any better than that. I was super excited....I found a carvel ice cream cake at the Wal Mart up there the only ice cream cake I have ever found without chocolate and nuts. Sam LOVES ice cream cake but can never have it due to his allergies. Double bonus birthday for my Sam! Fishing AND ice cream cake!
I Love you very much Sammy Boy and can not wait to see what this new year holds for you....many more adventures I am sure!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Happy Happy Birthday Burrito

Today is Burrito's 3rd Birthday!
I am in awe at al he has accomplished and overcome in 3 years! Its funny how 3 years in the life of an adult seems like a blink yet 3 years in the life of a child seems so looong.
Burrito first came to visit us in respite care as a 4 month old tiny little babe. He had a rough start and was in serious trouble. He had been hospitalized for failure to thrive and was not doing well. I can tell you where I was and every little detail about the first moment I held him, the first moment I laid eyes on him. In that first moment standing in the kitchen of the other home God whispered across my heart "he will be your son" and I knew a journey had begun. It has been a long journey many ups and downs. God was faithful to His promise that day even during the times we thought he would be going to another family the peace and comfort of that promise filled my heart.
He has had to struggle through a lot of things related to his failure to thrive beginning but he has made amazing progress. I can hardly believe that he will be starting preschool in a couple weeks.
Today I celebrate Zephan....his silly, smart, singing, dancing, talking, onry, naughty, sweet, cuddly self. I love him and am so grateful that God trusted me to be his mommy!
(I will post pictures later along with his pillow pet story...)

Monday, August 23, 2010

who would of thought...

After I got all the kiddos loaded onto the school bus we headed in to the eye doctor for Isaiah's first ever eye exam by a real doc. We have always doen the school deal but never a real eye doc. I thought it might be a good idea since he is heading to school this year instead of home-school. I took Brayden (who was awesom while waiting) and Burrito (who was not so awesome) along with us. Isaiah did fantastic all by himself. I was impressed at his ease in going in with the doc alone and handleing the situation. Anyone who knows him knows he is not comfortable in situations that require him to talk ;0)
Exam complete the doc comes out and explains that Isaiah needs glasses. Not really an option not on the boarder and could get by without but NEEDS them. sigh...
After the doc walked into the other room I explained to Isaiah what they found in his exam and told him to start looking at frames. It was at this moment that I saw the tears welling up in his brown eyes, his lips begin to quiver and his cheeks slowly turn from rosey pink to fire engine red. He sadi not one word but obediently tried on 2 pairs of glasses, put them back, looked at me and put his head down toward the floor. I asked if he needed to get himself together in the bathroom. He nodded and disappeared. After 10 minutes he returned not looking much better. Stood there 45 seconds and began to cry. turned and went back to the bathroom. This is not going well at all. This time when he returned I just told him we would wait a couple days then come back to chose a pair of glasses.
On the way to lunch from the doc I tried to talk with him about why he was so upset. All he said was he was not hungry. I ordered food anyway, he picked at it. Just sat and said nothing the entire time we were there.
Finally on the way home from there he said he already feels like he looks different from everyone else he doesn't want glasses too. He thinks they all look stupid on him. I was shocked! After all this child has been through. After all the hospitals ~all the surgery~ all the physical therapy ~all the needles ~all the missed activities ~school ~losing his friends....after all of that with NO COMPLAINING NO TEARS NO BAD ATTITUDES. Its glasses that push him over the edge?? Glasses that reduce him to tears?? My heart broke as I watched him trying to explain and trying to hold back the tears. I know glasses seem like such a small thing to us but to a child who has been through as much as he has. To a child who is already so very different from all of his peers. It seems the worst possible thing in the world. So I cried with him and decided not to talk about it anymore for now...

First Day of School 2010

Today was the first day of school for Elijah Amaris and Samuel (also Brad whom I have in daycare). Holding true to our family tradition I let all the kids chose anything they want for breakfast. No rules other than it has to be within reason $$ wise. Brad and his brother Brayden got in on the action this year. chosing sausage sandwich and milk shakes. Brayden decided he does not like that kind of sandwich. :0( Elijah chose a homemade egg McMuffin and a chocolate shake. Amaris chose PBJ waffle bacon and a shake. Same chose cinnamon toast apples bacon and a shake. They each got to wear the special outfit we bought for the fisrt day of school. Put on their new back packs and anxiously waited for the bus. I am absolutely sure that today will be the only day this entire school year that I will be able to get 8 children ready for school and out the door early!! Brayden will start Kindergarten tomorrow. Burrito will be starting preschool on September 7. Isaiah will start Heritage Christian Academy Sept. 9. Today, I decided to take Isaaih Brayden and Burrito to McDonalds for lunch and to play. The boys had a good time. I wanted to go to the park but they chose the play area instead.  I can't wait for the monsters to hop off the bus so I can hear all about their fabulous days!!
Flood 2010. for the first time in the history of our house the basement flooded! WIth 3 kids sleeping in bedrooms down there plus a playroom, dropz of hope storage and my christmas closet we lost a lot of material things and a lot of precious memories. HOWEVER, I am so grateful my children were not hurt, we regained power so we could see to work, and unlike a lot of people our water was clearly rain water and NOT sewage. I have much to be thankful for!!
Dom and his buddies were exhausted from hauling ruined items up and out of the basement they finally crashed!      Our basement in a dumpster