A wee little man...

was he :o)

Happy 7th Birthday Shakira!

Mommy & Daddy love you very much!

Happy Birthday Handsome Man!

Happy Birthday Randy...a day early! I'm sorry that I can't be here to celebrate it with you...I think a first since we've been together...but we will celebrate together Friday evening. I love you very much & I pray that you have a wonderfully blessed day.

My 3 Little Princesses!

Thank you Kelly for the Princess kit!

Happy Birthday Sass!

Happy 14th Birthday to the best cat ever!!! I know you are slowing down but you are still a huge blessing to our family! Glad you liked your birthday present (can of tuna)! :o)

More fun...

Slumber Party Fun!

Happy Birthday Girls!!!

Well, the long awaited day of the girls celebrating their birthdays together finally arrived today. We were all very excited about it! Phoebe turned 6 today & Samara turned 5. Shakira & Phoebe are 6 together for one whole week until next Friday when Shakira turns 7. So the past two years that we celebrated without them as been bittersweet...going to Chuckie Cheese without them...but not today! Today was filled with joy, tears of happiness, Chuckie Cheese, pizza, birthday cake, & presents. Tonight we celebrated as a family. Tomorrow night the girls will be having a very small slumber party. Each girl got to invite one girl. They are really excited about it!

Randy & I were pretty sure that Samara & Caleb would like Chuckie Cheese but we weren't so sure about Shakira. The pictures below will tell you how she responded to it :o)

Live Life Now...

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer)

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth..

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Finding Shakira...

For those of you who do not know my story, please allow me to give you some background history. I was taken to Three Angels Children's Relief in Haiti by my birthmother when I was 2 years old. I don't remember that but I have been told that when I was taken there I was malnourished & had many developmental delays. No one really knew what was going on with me. When my Mom & Dad heard God's call to adopt me, I was labled as having "special needs" but no one would put a name to what that was. One person said possible Cerebal Palsy, some said developmental delays from malnutrition, & as more health care professionals from the US interacted with me, many said I may have some form of Autism...whatever that is.

I have been home for over 3 months now & I am learning a lot. I am on the long journey of "finding Shakira." This is a strange place for me to be in. For four & half years, I basically wandered around & did pretty much what I wanted to as long as I was safe & not hurting no one else, but here, much is expected of me. I am expected to do most things by myself after being taught how. I am expected to use good manners & an "indoor voice." Sometimes I like doing these things...it's empowering & feels good, but sometimes it's a drag & I just don't want to do what I'm told.

I started kindergarten this fall in the severe special needs class at my school. I really like my class. My teacher & assistants are awesome but I am finding myself being restless & impatient while in class. I do not want to do what they tell me to do & I have been doing negative things to get attention. They talk to my Mom about how best to encourage & motivate me but they are running out of ideas. Today my teacher told my Mom that they have a consult in to a school behaviorist to see if that person can give them some suggestions. Please pray for me as I continue to struggle with doing what I know is right & doing what I want to do. Please pray for guidance, wisdom, & discernment for my Mom & Dad, teachers, & everyone involved with my care. Thank you!

Hat Day!

I didn't get a picture of Samara on her first day of preschool because I was too busy getting everyone ready & shuttling everyone back & forth but I did get these pictures of her two days later when she had "Hat Day" at school.

So many rules!

Needs No Introduction...

Jesus doesn't need an introduction but I must admit that this one is pretty good! :o)

The first three days of school...

I can't give an update on the first "week" of school because school started on a Wed. so they only went 3 days last week which at first I thought was ridiculous but now after going through the 3 whirlwind days...I am extremely grateful :o)

So my very anally organized self bought Phoebe's school supplies in June. Cross that off the list...Done! Well, we return home from our cruise the Thursday evening before the week of school starting. The following Friday morning I get a call from Phoebe's principal telling me that the 3rd grade needed another teacher so they were moving Phoebe's 1st grade teacher to the 3rd grade. Seriously...are you kidding me? You all couldn't figure that out any sooner? So I told Phoebe & of course she was freaking out because she didn't know this other teacher & had no idea who was in her class. Then of course...as my luck would have it...this teacher didn't have the same supply list as the first teacher...which I received in the mail on the Saturday before school started...which left me buying more school supplies on Sunday...along with every other Tom, Duke, & Harry in the tri-state. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper.

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that the Special Education Co op calls the Wednesday before the Friday morning we were to leave for our cruise & schedules an evaluation for Shakira on Thursday afternoon. Great! Not like I didn't have anything to do Thursday afternoon...getting ready to leave for a week & to pack for a week for my kids as well who were staying with friends. God did remind me that I had prayed that she would be evaluated before we left on our cruise. Note to self...next time you pray a prayer like that...you want to be more specific :o)
Anyway, during this evaluation they decided that Shakira would start in the Special Needs class that I wanted her to but they wanted her to start out as part time not full time since she had never had any kind of schooling before & didn't want to overwhelm her. Okay...surprised by the curve ball but totally understood.

Okay...so now she would go half days instead of full days...which translated into my head, no lunch at school because half days ended at 11:00am. When we returned home from the cruise I was expecting info. in the mail regarding what I needed to know about Shakira's class regarding supplies, drop off in the morning etc. but nothing was there. So I thought, okay, it will come Saturday. Nope, not Saturday. So Monday morning...two days before school starts...I go to the school & request info. from the office. They referred me to Shakira's teacher because they (meaning the office) are fairly clueless about how things are run in the Special Education classes. They jotted down a note to have her teacher call me. I thought okay, this could be interesting if they forget to relay the message to her. But God being the gracious God is his, had mercy on my poor anal retentive soul. Shakira's teacher was walking in the school as I was walking out. I asked her all the questions that I could think of. Great! I got the info. I need to have Shakira prepared for Wed. No, wait a minute, I don't either. She wants Shakira to be picked up later because they eat lunch at 11 & it would be less interruption as well as good for them to work with Shakira's eating skills...so now I have to go buy her a lunch box. Good grief! I have to go back to the store again! Unfortunately, that wasn't the last time I had to go back to the store for supplies but I'll stop boring you with the trivial details. Suffice to say that I was quite tired of running to the store for the seemingly never ending list of school supplies for one daughter in first grade, one in kindergarten, & one in pre school. School never use to be this complicated...what in the world happened???

Okay...now that I'm done with that tangent I'll actually tell you about their first three days of school :o) The first day went as expected. I woke up at 4:30am, got the kids up at 6:30am, had eveyone scrubbed, clothed, fed, teeth brushed, & ready to go at 7:30...plenty of time for our 7:50 departure time. 7:35...Shakira poops in her pull up. Cleaned her up...getting ready to load everyone up at 7:45...when I smell poopy from the little man. "Caleb, did you poop?" "Yep!" he said, in a very loud voice. Great...change him very quickly & head out the door at 7:50am. Get to school & get everyone out of the van...lift up the trunk to pull out Caleb's stroller because all of us have to go trapsing through the school to drop off Shakira because for some strange reason no one can seem to explain or understand, she does not qualify to ride the Special Needs bus yet but she's not ready for the regular bus...no stroller in the trunk...form a link that stretched across half of the parking lot & headed inside the building after dodging cars, fast walking parents & students, heavy doors that swing in your face. Then we have to wait in line in the office to find out that we don't have to sign in today but that I will have to every day after that to drop her off & pick her up. Phoebe takes off while the getting is good. The rest of the entourage goes down the kindergarten hallway & we were greeted by Shakira's teacher who tells us what the normal morning routine is. Shakira is very excited about going to school. She waves to me & says, "Bye Bye...Go, Go!" Great...we're out of here :o) Returned at 11:30 to pick her up. The teacher & assistants thinks Shakira is a funny, sweetheart. Great...first day went well for her. Thank you Jesus!

So fast forward to the afternoon & picture me along with Caleb & Samara in the double stroller, & Shakira jumping next to me, waiting for the bus to drop off Phoebe...a block from our house. We wait, & wait, & wait. Finally another parent waiting with me calls the school to find out what's taking so long. They are suppose to be the first drop off...and we only live 5 minutes max away. The teachers & buses were running late, the bus should be there any minute. A minute later the bus shows up. Off comes 3 children...none of them Phoebe. The other parent is "calmly discussing" times of picking up & letting off with the bus driver while I ask his daughter if Phoebe was on the bus & she said, "No." I totally freaked out...(normal reaction in my mind to this situation) & interrupt the conversation & ask the bus driver, "Where is my daughter" to which she responds, "Who is your daughter?" (New bus driver this year) As soon as I said her name, she comes slowly...and I mean slowly...walking toward the front of the bus. Very relieved she was on the bus & okay...then of course very quickly told her never to scare me like that again! As we walked home, she happily told me about her "awesome" day of first grade.

Phoebe's second day went well but you could tell she was dragging when she got off the bus. The third day was her first day of homework which consited of 12 spelling words & one sentence. Shakira's second day was more interesting than her first because she decided to do some "testing" the limits with her teacher & assistants. She took off her glasses, her socks & shoes, fell out of her chair, & threw stuff on the floor but they still checked her as cooperatiave although they wrote "a little more energetic than yesterday" next to it. Then she switched gears again the following day & showed them...and me...what she can really do: trace some lines appropriately, wrote her name & I could read it, did some coloring...more than just chicken scratch, & cut out some shapes & glued them onto paper. I couldn't believe it! I was very happy...and so was Papa!

Tomorrow Samara goes to meet her pre school teacher & to see her class room. Tuesday she will start half day pre school in the afternoons & little man will start morning Kid's Day Out once a week on Wednesday. So this week will be another transition week & maybe...just maybe...by the end of this week we'll be in some sort of "normal" rythm & routine :o)

A Momentous Day!

Yesterday, August 12th, 2009 was a momentous day for our family for three reasons:
1) Randy & I got married 20 years ago
2) Phoebe started the first grade
3) Shakira started kindergarten

Here are some pictures from the cruise that Randy & I went on last week as well as Phoebe & Shakira ready for school.

Sunday Sharp!

Break through week!

Last week was Shakira's break through week. Praise God!!! She has learned so much since she has come home...both the easy way & the hard way...but mostly the hard way :o( A couple weeks ago she decided she had enough of us telling her what to do. She would be openly defiant & have periods of "shut down" when she didn't want to do what we asked. Her & I were at a stand off. I prayed & tried to remain calm. One day last week she woke up & as if she verbally said, "Mom, I know that you are wanting me to do these things because they are for my good & that you love me. I know that we are good for each other." It was then that I realized it too...that we were good for each other...even though it's sometimes hard & painful. It was a break through for the both of us.

When I stop & think about all the things she can do now...things she couldn't do when she came home almost 11 weeks ago...I am amazed. I can truly see the hand of God working in all of our lives. I know that she still has a long road ahead of her but now I can clearly see the vision of the end result that God gave me when she first came home.

Shakira can now sit at the table with a plate of food in front of her & not touch it until she is told to. She uses her eating utensils properly most of the time. She can dress herself head to toe with minimal assistance. Her attention span has increased from practically none to being able to sit & watch TV or dvd for a few minutes, look at a book from cover to cover, sit fairly still in church, stay dry during the day for 2-3 days at at time & today she woke up dry for the first time! She can wash her body during bath time, say more words in English, swims like a fish with a life jacket on, & is now learning how to ride a bike. Her hitting, biting, & throwing have decreased dramatically since she first came home & she now says, "Sorry" when she has wronged someone & "forgive you" when she has been wronged.

Other news...I had a wonderful get away weekend by myself a couple of weekends ago. It was much needed...and it's interesting that our breakthrough week came after that weekend. Phoebe has enjoyed her summer but is ready to go back to school. Samara is working on her ABC's & 1,2,3's in English as well as her English comprehension. She does get into trouble once in awhile but most of the time she is our laid back, follow the rules child...thank you Lord for giving us one of them! :o) Caleb's middle name has been changed to "pout." He is intermittently going potty on the potty chair & wants to help do everything.

Randy continues to lose weight & work out. He's looking pretty buff :o) I however, feel like a big bowl of jelly but really don't have the time to obsess over it :o) We are on a count down to our cruise next week. We can't wait! My mother has been having severe back pain & will be having a MRI of her back done this Friday. Please pray for her. Please pray for my Grandma as well, as she really is unable to care for herself but refuses to let anyone help her. She fell down the other day by her mailbox which is near a very busy highway. Randy's parents are doing well.

Here are a few pictures over the past couple of weeks.

Two years ago today...

Randy & I met our 3 Haitian beauties for the first time. I can't believe it's been two years since that first trip. It was a whirlwind trip as we met the 3, had our DHS appt. & met all 3 birthmothers, & did a lot of work at the O.

It's been almost 10 weeks since they came home & we're finally starting to get into a "normal groove"...if there is such a thing :o) I am not going to do anymore weekly updates but will update as I feel led. The kids are looking healthy & doing very well. Phoebe & Samara are starting to spat like sisters. Shakira is rebelling somewhat as we are requiring her to do more & more things like dress herself, put on her shoes, toliet herself...I know it sounds funny but it's a medical term, feed herself (she got quite use to the nannies doing it for her), picking out a book or toy & then looking at the book or playing with the toy for a certain amount of time, & repeating words or phrases to increase her voculabury. Caleb is a cute "mess." He goes from pouting to throwing horrific temper tantrums to being cute as a button with a smile that won't quit. His latest thing is going on the toliet from time to time as well as saying, "Mom...What's that?" with a funky deep intonation on the "that". Not sure what brought that on :o)

School starts in less than a month so Monday we started our school routine of up at 6am & to bed at 8pm. I have all of Phoebe's school supplies. We're still waiting for Shakira to be evaulated by Special Ed. Coop & we will get Samara's supply list about a week before preschool starts...yes, preschool even has a supply list...isn't that nuts?

Randy & I haven't had much alone time since the 3 came home and we are looking forward to our upcoming trip at the beginning of August to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. The cats are doing well. Life is good! :o)

Time out...wears me out!

It normally doesn't but this was after coming home from swimming an hour & half & it was close to his nap time.

Shakira live in concert...

Yeah, not "that" one...my Shakira :o)

The numbers are in...

and I must say that I am pretty pleased by them! We weighed the children yesterday & here are the results:
Caleb...when he came home he weighed 24 pounds...he now weighs 28 pounds
Samara...weighed 28 pounds when she came home & now weighs 34 pounds
Shakira...weighed 38 pounds when she came home & now weighs...hold onto your hats! 50.2 pounds! Yeah, she's still skinny but not super stick skinny like before :o)
Phoebe is holding steady which is what the doctor was wanting

Forget it...I'm not telling you how much I weigh :o)

Caleb is wearing 2T shirts & 18 months to 2T pants
Samara is going into size 4T
Shakira was wearing 3T pants when she got home for her waist size although they were way to short...we used regular pants as capri's :o) She is now wearing size 6

Weeks 7 & 8...

I intentionally did not make a post last week about week 7. To put it bluntly...it was a poopy week...literally! Poop in the toilet, poop in pull ups & diapers, poop on the floor, on the walls, smeared on a bed...you get the picture. So this of course...made for poopy attitudes! Although week 7 was VBS week at our church for Phoebe & Samara...and lots of good things happened while they were there...by the end of the week both of them were acting out just to get some attention from me because I had been so involved with poop & the pooper all week. I don't know why Shakira had such a bad week that week but she did. By Friday I was worn out.

We were all suppose to go to a baseball game on that evening but I knew that Shakira just wasn't up to it. I didn't know what to do. I knew that if we brought her with us that it would most likely end up in disaster. I also knew that my chances of finding some one to watch her at the last minute was slim but I had to try. I called my amazing friend Kristina & she said they didn't have any plans that night & that they would be happy to watch Shakira while the rest of us went to the ball game. Half of me was thrilled while the other half was feeling guilty for not taking her. We picked her up after the game & was thrilled that she had such a great time with our friends. I could tell that she was truly happy...something I had not seen all week. Randy's parents came to visit the following day. It was nice to have them here & it was their first opportunity to really see the kids in action. Shakira, Samara, & Caleb got baptized on Sunday. It went really well but unfortunately I don't have any pictures to prove it :o(

Today makes two months since Shakira, Samara, & Caleb came home. I can't believe it's been two months. In some ways it feels like they have been home with us much longer & in some ways it feels like they just came home. I can however, see major progress in all three since they came home. Some days I wish for more...but am very grateful for what we have...as they say, "It could always be worse" which in most cases is very true. I have to remind Phoebe & Samara...as well as myself, of that, from time to time when we get frustrated with Shakira's behavior. I tell them, "I know this is really frustrating right now but if you look at the wide range spectrum of how it could be...she could be banging her head on the wall non stop & screaming at the top of her lungs" so we should be thankful that she doesn't do that.

Week 8 has been a much better week...Thank you Jesus! We all needed a good week. What does a good week look like in our house? Well, right now it consists of no poop smearing, minimal hitting, pinching, or biting, minimal time outs & other discipline, no major illnesses or injuries. It also includes a moderate amount of laughing, playing dress up, reading books, swimming, & children sleeping until at least 6am. Wednesday I took the kids to the zoo & to McDonalds so they thought it was a very good day :o)

Thursday evening we went to another ball game except this time we took Shakira & it included all you can eat food & drink, & fireworks after the game. I was quite leary of how Caleb & Shakira would respond to the fireworks but was pleasantly surprised by their reactions. They both looked at them intently at first & then Caleb decided he had seen enough & just wanted to be held by Mama. Shakira started getting overwhelmed half way through but just looked away & held on tight to Papa. Samara really liked them. She said, "They are loud but they are really pretty. I like them!" Tonight we will be going to a fireworks display at the river not far from our house. Hopefully they will enjoy these as well.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!