John Paul had a long hard afternoon and evening yesterday (Friday). It is so difficult to be here at home (with my other four constantly snuggling up to, soaking up the contact after two days away) but also to know how much I want to be at the hospital.
I debated heading back over last night but Matt convinced me the best way I could help was to stay home with our other four, sleep, and come back at 110% capacity on Saturday morning. So I did.
Three loads of laundry, (almost) ten hours of sleep and two showers later I'm loading up to go back. Three of our kids will stay with a neighbor for a few hours while I switch shifts with Matt. I'll take Isaac with me (he begged to go see Daddy and did not want to be shuffled off to another care giver!)
Thankfully, we have support here at home and the hospital too. It's amazing how much faster the time passes when there are people visiting, even if you are busy trying to comfort a very uncomfortable toddler.
7 years ago I spent December 23rd in a hospital with newborn Julianna. This year I'll spend it there with John Paul (different hospital, different city). This morning we made cupcakes and tomorrow Matt will bring everyone up to visit for pizza and cupcakes birthday lunch. (Thankfully we already celebrated big earlier this month!!)
There is a part of me really hoping they'll let us go home the afternoon of the 23rd but it depends on how well these next 24 hours go. Initially they told us they could remove the iv port Saturday evening (today) but I'm not sure that will happen unless he has a really good day.
PS - Matt just called and said John Paul is perking up a bit! He ate a good-sized breakfast and has the energy to get really mad and throw a fit! This is unusual behavior from him (he's not normally one to throw a fit) but I'm just glad he has the energy to fight! If the roof of my mouth was a gauze covered mass of stitches I just might throw a fit too :)
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
day 2 update
It's early Friday afternoon. I am just home from the hospital after a long two day stretch away from home and my other four children. Hospitals have a way of just taking the wind out of your sails, and leaving your exhausted, don't they? And our hospital is really great, really a sweet encouraging friendly place, but it's still a hospital, and I can't wait to get in the shower and wash off the smell of antiseptic and plastic and bloody drool :)
But I am here with a quick update first!
John Paul is doing okay. He is better than yesterday, but still a pretty sad little boy. He did perk up quite remarkably when his big siblings visited earlier this morning, but mostly he is in pain and grumpy, clingy, tear-y.
Dr. Stone (the surgeon) feels very confident in his work and John Paul's response, but only time will tell how successful the surgery was, these first few days are important - especially that he would avoid infection and get the nutrition he needs. He is eating some soft foods (yogurt, applesauce, soup) and has a bit of an appetite, but not nearly as much as he normally eats. He has a big gauze pack in the roof of his mouth and we hope he'll tolerate it for another day or two as it really helps protect the surgical site.
He is still on intermittent iv fluids, but the nurses are good about taking him off the iv and giving him some time untethered to the iv pole. He doesn't have a lot of energy and isn't really asking to get down anyways.
A friend brought Julianna Lydia and Isaac to visit this morning and then the four of us went to pick up Luke and come home together. I need some serious rest (not much sleep last night) and am looking forward to a quieter afternoon here and a long night of sleep. Tomorrow Matt and I will switch spots and he'll take the home shift while I head back to the hospital. Best case scenario we get out on Sunday, Monday is probably more likely at this point. It'll make for a good Christmas Eve to have us all seven in the same place again, that's for sure!!
Thank you for praying! This surgery is a life-changer for my little guy! So so thankful!
But I am here with a quick update first!
John Paul is doing okay. He is better than yesterday, but still a pretty sad little boy. He did perk up quite remarkably when his big siblings visited earlier this morning, but mostly he is in pain and grumpy, clingy, tear-y.
Dr. Stone (the surgeon) feels very confident in his work and John Paul's response, but only time will tell how successful the surgery was, these first few days are important - especially that he would avoid infection and get the nutrition he needs. He is eating some soft foods (yogurt, applesauce, soup) and has a bit of an appetite, but not nearly as much as he normally eats. He has a big gauze pack in the roof of his mouth and we hope he'll tolerate it for another day or two as it really helps protect the surgical site.
He is still on intermittent iv fluids, but the nurses are good about taking him off the iv and giving him some time untethered to the iv pole. He doesn't have a lot of energy and isn't really asking to get down anyways.
A friend brought Julianna Lydia and Isaac to visit this morning and then the four of us went to pick up Luke and come home together. I need some serious rest (not much sleep last night) and am looking forward to a quieter afternoon here and a long night of sleep. Tomorrow Matt and I will switch spots and he'll take the home shift while I head back to the hospital. Best case scenario we get out on Sunday, Monday is probably more likely at this point. It'll make for a good Christmas Eve to have us all seven in the same place again, that's for sure!!
Thank you for praying! This surgery is a life-changer for my little guy! So so thankful!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
John Paul Update
Guest blogger Ashlei updating for Laura while she's at the hospital:
John Paul's surgery starts at ten this morning (9 p.m EST Wednesday evening.) We hope to have him back in our arms within five hours. Matt is taking our kids to a Friends and will be here at the hospital soon. So far John Paul is doing great! He has explored every last nook and cranny of the 13th floor and charmed all the nurses.
I hope to update again later when he is out of surgery.
John Paul's surgery starts at ten this morning (9 p.m EST Wednesday evening.) We hope to have him back in our arms within five hours. Matt is taking our kids to a Friends and will be here at the hospital soon. So far John Paul is doing great! He has explored every last nook and cranny of the 13th floor and charmed all the nurses.
I hope to update again later when he is out of surgery.
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| Christmas cookies in the cleft ward lobby, night before his surgery |
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| the first nurse had plenty of trouble getting his iv in and eventually gave up and deferred to another nurse. by the time it was all over John Paul had worn himself out and settled down for a little pre-surgery snooze. |
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| we got him! left us at 11:45, transitioned to icu at 2:30 and with us in recovery by 4. (his o2 sats weren't really that low but the monitor was acting finicky. I eventually just unplugged it to get rid of all the beeping alarms!) |
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| morning after surgery visit from the big sibs. he was excited to see them but fell asleep in my arms shortly after they arrived. |
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| one of his better moments Friday afternoon. Friday was his absolute worst day, but he did manage to have a bit of good time and ham it up for the camera too. |
Monday, December 17, 2012
take two (John Paul's surgery) {updated: surgery pushed to thursday}
Last month we spent an emotionally draining week in and out of the hospital and the end result was no surgery for John Paul. Oh, it was so disappointing, and so hard. So so hard.
Now, we're ready for take two. Hoping for a better outcome. John Paul is officially on the list for this week and it's highly likely that his surgery will be Wednesday. Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning John Paul and I are moving in to bed 34 in the cleft ward, right next door to our old room.
This morning Matt took both John Paul and Isaac down to the hospital to get us registered. And then to the international clinic to remove Isaac's stitches.
Tonight they both got haircuts, baths, and a picture by the tree.
It's good to have a brother.
The next few days are going to be crazy, and I was grateful to soak up a little time with Julianna before bed. (She had just fallen and earned herself a terrible bloody nose, so she was a little extra cuddly herself!)
Now, we're ready for take two. Hoping for a better outcome. John Paul is officially on the list for this week and it's highly likely that his surgery will be Wednesday. Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning John Paul and I are moving in to bed 34 in the cleft ward, right next door to our old room.
This morning Matt took both John Paul and Isaac down to the hospital to get us registered. And then to the international clinic to remove Isaac's stitches.
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| in the lobby of the cleft surgery inpatient rooms |
It's good to have a brother.
The next few days are going to be crazy, and I was grateful to soak up a little time with Julianna before bed. (She had just fallen and earned herself a terrible bloody nose, so she was a little extra cuddly herself!)
Saturday, December 15, 2012
when he's gone
If there is anyone around here who doesn't get enough blog time it's Matt. So when he sent me these two pictures yesterday I thought they would be perfect to post.
Matt traveled less this fall than he has in a very very long time. And I am one thankful wife! It was pretty much the perfect season to have him home. It probably won't stay like this, but for now, I'm grateful. And I am glad when he can travel too, I know he is a tremendous blessing to the people he visits.
This is totally how I picture him when he's away. He almost always sends photos to the kids of trains, airplanes, subways, whatever.
[Yes, our airports are built with jet ways. And there are almost always open jet ways available. But for some reason we usually board from the tarmac. Our kids actually prefer this option..... and you have to agree that walking down a carpeted tunnel doesn't really compare to standing next to a passenger jet.]
Check out that blue sky, will you? The blue sky is where he landed.... (not here) but still it reminded me that this winter has been beautiful! We've had a handful of days in the 40s, but mostly mid to upper 50s. And VERY LITTLE RAIN!!!!! Even blue skies on occasion. Last year this time I was beginning my descent into mild seasonal depression. The gray overcast skies and constant damp/drippy weather was taking its toll. It was a looooooong tough haul for me from December to March.
But this year?!?! No way! Even when it does take me 15 minutes to get out the door it's worth it! I'm especially grateful because this winter is logistically my most challenging and demanding - it's a tremendous gift that the outdoors is still so welcoming. [Matt remembers differently and says the worst of the wet winter gray was January/February. Even if that's the case, the good news is we'll be in Thailand and my biggest weather concerns will be sunscreen and melting ice cream. I can handle that!]
On the stomach bug front: Isaac is slowly improving. It hasn't been pretty. Sweet guy was just really really sick. No one else seems to be showing any signs so we're hanging in there, and hopeful.
Matt traveled less this fall than he has in a very very long time. And I am one thankful wife! It was pretty much the perfect season to have him home. It probably won't stay like this, but for now, I'm grateful. And I am glad when he can travel too, I know he is a tremendous blessing to the people he visits.
This is totally how I picture him when he's away. He almost always sends photos to the kids of trains, airplanes, subways, whatever.
[Yes, our airports are built with jet ways. And there are almost always open jet ways available. But for some reason we usually board from the tarmac. Our kids actually prefer this option..... and you have to agree that walking down a carpeted tunnel doesn't really compare to standing next to a passenger jet.]
Check out that blue sky, will you? The blue sky is where he landed.... (not here) but still it reminded me that this winter has been beautiful! We've had a handful of days in the 40s, but mostly mid to upper 50s. And VERY LITTLE RAIN!!!!! Even blue skies on occasion. Last year this time I was beginning my descent into mild seasonal depression. The gray overcast skies and constant damp/drippy weather was taking its toll. It was a looooooong tough haul for me from December to March.
But this year?!?! No way! Even when it does take me 15 minutes to get out the door it's worth it! I'm especially grateful because this winter is logistically my most challenging and demanding - it's a tremendous gift that the outdoors is still so welcoming. [Matt remembers differently and says the worst of the wet winter gray was January/February. Even if that's the case, the good news is we'll be in Thailand and my biggest weather concerns will be sunscreen and melting ice cream. I can handle that!]
On the stomach bug front: Isaac is slowly improving. It hasn't been pretty. Sweet guy was just really really sick. No one else seems to be showing any signs so we're hanging in there, and hopeful.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
plan A, plan B, plan C
Plan A: Matt travels this weekend.... headed to a nearby province where he'll see and stay with one of my dearest friends and her family.
Ashlei texts me Wednesday at noon: "Matt should bring Isaac".
Enter Plan B. Matt and I talk it through - Isaac would love to travel with his Daddy, he could spend his days playing with their four year old son, the flights are fairly cheap. By 8pm we've bought Isaac's ticket and Isaac falls asleep wondering if he'll pack his sleeping bag.
Until this afternoon at 4pm. When Isaac threw up the entire contents of his stomach. Three times. No travel for you little buddy.
Plan C: Isaac and the stomach virus stay home while Daddy travels. Sweet little guy only owned his plane ticket for about 24 hours.
God showed me this afternoon so clearly that He will provide my every need. We had two dinner guests who blessed us incredibly while I loved on my little guy. One guest I wasn't even expecting until this morning and he held Luke for 90 minutes. Luke, who is stranger-wary and usually fusses his way through the late afternoon hours, was quiet and content in his arms. The other sweet ayi listened to two Frog and Toad stories from Julianna and chased John Paul while I cleaned up puke.
So I walk into the weekend confident. God is good to me.
We also covet your prayers. John Paul is scheduled to enter the hospital on Monday with a tentative Wednesday cleft palate repair surgery. If he gets this stomach bug the surgery is off. I have a hunch it's already passed through his system, since he had some major stomach issues last week.... I'm wondering if Isaac is just dealing with the virus a bit differently.
Even if the virus already hit John Paul we still have three children to go. Let's hope our new washing machine is up to the challenge ;)
Ashlei texts me Wednesday at noon: "Matt should bring Isaac".
Enter Plan B. Matt and I talk it through - Isaac would love to travel with his Daddy, he could spend his days playing with their four year old son, the flights are fairly cheap. By 8pm we've bought Isaac's ticket and Isaac falls asleep wondering if he'll pack his sleeping bag.
Until this afternoon at 4pm. When Isaac threw up the entire contents of his stomach. Three times. No travel for you little buddy.
Plan C: Isaac and the stomach virus stay home while Daddy travels. Sweet little guy only owned his plane ticket for about 24 hours.
God showed me this afternoon so clearly that He will provide my every need. We had two dinner guests who blessed us incredibly while I loved on my little guy. One guest I wasn't even expecting until this morning and he held Luke for 90 minutes. Luke, who is stranger-wary and usually fusses his way through the late afternoon hours, was quiet and content in his arms. The other sweet ayi listened to two Frog and Toad stories from Julianna and chased John Paul while I cleaned up puke.
So I walk into the weekend confident. God is good to me.
We also covet your prayers. John Paul is scheduled to enter the hospital on Monday with a tentative Wednesday cleft palate repair surgery. If he gets this stomach bug the surgery is off. I have a hunch it's already passed through his system, since he had some major stomach issues last week.... I'm wondering if Isaac is just dealing with the virus a bit differently.
Even if the virus already hit John Paul we still have three children to go. Let's hope our new washing machine is up to the challenge ;)
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
handprints. and encouraged
Last year we made these hand print ornaments and as I watched them take their places on the tree I decided I wanted to do another hand print ornament this year. But, like most ideas these days, I hold everything loosely. I'm not floating too high above the survival line these days.
A week or so ago I spotted this precious idea and started dreaming that we could maybe, maybe make it happen. So yesterday afternoon I strapped both little boys into their chairs and got out the paints.
We started with white-paint covered hands and silver Christmas ball ornaments.
I managed to get John Paul's prints, but Luke eluded me. I think I might be able to pull off a foot print for him, but I'm going to have to wait for a moment when he's not in pajamas (hello, almost never!) so I can get his foot painted, and printed, and washed in record time.
While the paints were out we decided to get serious with the brushes. Big Three ONLY.
And then after dinner we used paint pens to add embellishments to our finger-print-turned-snowmen. Hats, scarves, buttons, eyes and noses.
(sorry bad phone-photo quality, our camera screen is not working and I sent it in to be repaired. Let's hope we get it back within a week because NO WAY am I missing photos of Luke and John Paul's first Christmas!!!!)
I think they turned out great. In a perfect world I would have used blue balls, and it would have worked better if they had more of a 'matte' finish, I'm afraid the paint will chip off these shiny silver ones. But I don't live that close to Christmas decorating supplies, you know? Still... I have my eyes open. If I see the perfect blue Christmas balls we might re-do them.
Totally different note: We've had a hard couple of days. Between John Paul and Luke I feel like I am constantly on the defensive, heading off the next catastrophe. Toss in some simple challenges (like making dinner, or switching laundry from washer to dryer, or parenting three other children) and I loose serious ground. I am so desperately aware of how much wisdom and grace I need these days.
So this morning, which was already tough (and not that old yet) I wandered over to a pack of mail that arrived in a package on Monday. The first ten envelopes I opened were notes of encouragement and prayer. I was teary before I got half way through them.
Perfect timing. I am not alone. I have the Lord. And I have the encouragement of his people.
Thank you.
A week or so ago I spotted this precious idea and started dreaming that we could maybe, maybe make it happen. So yesterday afternoon I strapped both little boys into their chairs and got out the paints.
We started with white-paint covered hands and silver Christmas ball ornaments.
I managed to get John Paul's prints, but Luke eluded me. I think I might be able to pull off a foot print for him, but I'm going to have to wait for a moment when he's not in pajamas (hello, almost never!) so I can get his foot painted, and printed, and washed in record time.
While the paints were out we decided to get serious with the brushes. Big Three ONLY.
And then after dinner we used paint pens to add embellishments to our finger-print-turned-snowmen. Hats, scarves, buttons, eyes and noses.
(sorry bad phone-photo quality, our camera screen is not working and I sent it in to be repaired. Let's hope we get it back within a week because NO WAY am I missing photos of Luke and John Paul's first Christmas!!!!)
I think they turned out great. In a perfect world I would have used blue balls, and it would have worked better if they had more of a 'matte' finish, I'm afraid the paint will chip off these shiny silver ones. But I don't live that close to Christmas decorating supplies, you know? Still... I have my eyes open. If I see the perfect blue Christmas balls we might re-do them.
Totally different note: We've had a hard couple of days. Between John Paul and Luke I feel like I am constantly on the defensive, heading off the next catastrophe. Toss in some simple challenges (like making dinner, or switching laundry from washer to dryer, or parenting three other children) and I loose serious ground. I am so desperately aware of how much wisdom and grace I need these days.
So this morning, which was already tough (and not that old yet) I wandered over to a pack of mail that arrived in a package on Monday. The first ten envelopes I opened were notes of encouragement and prayer. I was teary before I got half way through them.
Perfect timing. I am not alone. I have the Lord. And I have the encouragement of his people.
Thank you.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
when cooks party (Julianna's 7th birthday)
When we landed on the idea of a cooking party for Julianna I knew we had struck gold. This little treasure loves to help in the kitchen, and the autonomy to "do it on her own" was gift enough! Adding a best sister and best friend sealed the deal.
We started off the afternoon decorating birthday cakes. I borrowed a 7 inch pan and prepped three smaller cakes so each girl had their own. We started with a base layer of white. [Hello, this was hilarious to watch them try to spread icing and cake crumbs multiplying and the eventual call for "i need help, the crumbs are everywhere". In the end I used so much white icing repairing the tops that I never even mentioned the need to frost the sides!]
The original plan was to draw a rainbow on the cake, but as it turns out, squeezing the icing bags is just too. much. fun. We went well past 'rainbow' and ended up with enormous amounts of frosting, squeezing those little bags til they were totally empty :)
Oh, and more than a small dollop of frosting ended up right here....
While the cakes rested from their frosting work out the girls played Monopoly Junior and enjoyed a brief stint at the neighborhood play ground. Then, it was time to work on supper: tacos.
They really did a great job. (With very minimal supervision and instruction.)
After dinner and a movie and a night of sleep it was time for the final cooking gig: french toast!
Yum!
Such a fun party with three of the most fun little girls that I know! They had a great time, and I did too!
Happy 7th Birthday Julianna!
(Her birthday is the 23rd. This is the first year we've celebrated early and I really liked it. It took some of the crazy away from the holiday, and the whole weekend felt devoted to her big day. We'll do this again I think!)
We started off the afternoon decorating birthday cakes. I borrowed a 7 inch pan and prepped three smaller cakes so each girl had their own. We started with a base layer of white. [Hello, this was hilarious to watch them try to spread icing and cake crumbs multiplying and the eventual call for "i need help, the crumbs are everywhere". In the end I used so much white icing repairing the tops that I never even mentioned the need to frost the sides!]
The original plan was to draw a rainbow on the cake, but as it turns out, squeezing the icing bags is just too. much. fun. We went well past 'rainbow' and ended up with enormous amounts of frosting, squeezing those little bags til they were totally empty :)
Oh, and more than a small dollop of frosting ended up right here....
While the cakes rested from their frosting work out the girls played Monopoly Junior and enjoyed a brief stint at the neighborhood play ground. Then, it was time to work on supper: tacos.
They really did a great job. (With very minimal supervision and instruction.)
After dinner and a movie and a night of sleep it was time for the final cooking gig: french toast!
Yum!
Such a fun party with three of the most fun little girls that I know! They had a great time, and I did too!
Happy 7th Birthday Julianna!
(Her birthday is the 23rd. This is the first year we've celebrated early and I really liked it. It took some of the crazy away from the holiday, and the whole weekend felt devoted to her big day. We'll do this again I think!)
Monday, December 10, 2012
in stitches
First, you must know that Isaac is a very funny boy. He keeps us in stitches.
And then you need to know that he is currently sporting stitches! His first significant injury... running, playing and then falling - head first into a knee high concrete wall.
We were at a Christmas party and I was inside talking with a friend. I looked out the windows and saw Matt holding a bleeding crying Isaac. I walked out to take a look. One glance at the wound and my eyes connected with Matt's.
"He needs stitches."
"Yep."
Neither of us have one iota of medical background, but both of us knew that a hole that large wasn't going to be helped by a band aid.
I walked back inside, handed Luke off to a friend and hailed a nurse who happened to be at the party. She quickly confirmed we needed medical help.
It took a bit to get in touch with the international clinic after hours doctor, and we juggled hungry Luke, flustered John Paul, and bleeding Isaac with the help of some good friends. Julianna and Lydia were pleasantly distracted and played hard while we took phone calls and tried to make a game plan. [Complicating factor: Matt was speaking at an event that started in about two hours.]
By 6pm I was at the clinic and Isaac was calm, listening to audio stories on my phone.
He earned four stitches on his temple. Sooooo thankful for this wonderful doctor who came in on a Saturday night to work on my sweet boy. He put Isaac (wrapped up like a mummy and lying under a bright light) at ease. By the time the lidocaine kicked in and he started his work Isaac was chattering away.
Issaac and I got home a bit late, took over from dear friends who stepped in to sit with our sleeping children while Matt spoke, and then I started back in on birthday party prep... for the next day was Julianna's birthday-party-day and there was a bit of getting-ready work to do.
48 hours later and apart from the continual band aid presence and nightly cleaning of the wound you would never know anything happened. Isaac has not slowed down one notch. Stitches come out next Monday and we'll have a better idea of what the scar might look like.
Is this not the perfect picture? Can you see why my stitched up boy keeps us in stitches?!?!?
Birthday party pics and recap to come :) We've got a chock full week with Matt working long hours early in the week and some travel at the end. In North Dakota we'd say "uffda". Because I don't handle the long hours + husband travel + five littles solo mothering very well.
And then you need to know that he is currently sporting stitches! His first significant injury... running, playing and then falling - head first into a knee high concrete wall.
We were at a Christmas party and I was inside talking with a friend. I looked out the windows and saw Matt holding a bleeding crying Isaac. I walked out to take a look. One glance at the wound and my eyes connected with Matt's.
"He needs stitches."
"Yep."
Neither of us have one iota of medical background, but both of us knew that a hole that large wasn't going to be helped by a band aid.
I walked back inside, handed Luke off to a friend and hailed a nurse who happened to be at the party. She quickly confirmed we needed medical help.
It took a bit to get in touch with the international clinic after hours doctor, and we juggled hungry Luke, flustered John Paul, and bleeding Isaac with the help of some good friends. Julianna and Lydia were pleasantly distracted and played hard while we took phone calls and tried to make a game plan. [Complicating factor: Matt was speaking at an event that started in about two hours.]
By 6pm I was at the clinic and Isaac was calm, listening to audio stories on my phone.
He earned four stitches on his temple. Sooooo thankful for this wonderful doctor who came in on a Saturday night to work on my sweet boy. He put Isaac (wrapped up like a mummy and lying under a bright light) at ease. By the time the lidocaine kicked in and he started his work Isaac was chattering away.
Issaac and I got home a bit late, took over from dear friends who stepped in to sit with our sleeping children while Matt spoke, and then I started back in on birthday party prep... for the next day was Julianna's birthday-party-day and there was a bit of getting-ready work to do.
48 hours later and apart from the continual band aid presence and nightly cleaning of the wound you would never know anything happened. Isaac has not slowed down one notch. Stitches come out next Monday and we'll have a better idea of what the scar might look like.
Is this not the perfect picture? Can you see why my stitched up boy keeps us in stitches?!?!?
Birthday party pics and recap to come :) We've got a chock full week with Matt working long hours early in the week and some travel at the end. In North Dakota we'd say "uffda". Because I don't handle the long hours + husband travel + five littles solo mothering very well.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
a gift for my girl
We kind of stumbled onto this challenge-idea: that Julianna
would finish the entire Beginners Bible before we gave her a ‘real’ Bible of
her own. And I’ve loved it. If the Bible holds up to the wear and tear
we’ll use this idea with all five of our children.
Julianna poked through at a pretty slow pace for most of the
fall, but picked up speed in November.
We ordered her a Bible and once the package arrived she really got
motivated :) The last stretch she was reading three or
four chapters a day.
And Thursday morning she tasted victory! So excited for my baby girl - well, almost 7
year old baby girl! Reading through the
whole Beginners Bible wasn’t a cake walk for her. For one, she’s not naturally one to
persevere at a task like this.
And reading has not come super easily for her. At one point I was concerned that she was
maybe slightly dyslexic, but once I read a bit on the internet (yes, I know,
not a flawless info source) I decided it was maybe more of an eye-tracking
issue. Even now she’ll mis-read simple
words. She flops “a” and “and”, and
doesn’t even notice until the sentence doesn’t make sense and she goes back to
correct herself. She often switches “saw” and
“was”. Yesterday she read ‘everywhere’
as ‘where ever’. [Anyone have any
experience or insight with this? I’d love to hear from you.]
I’m so proud of her –
for perseverance! And hard-work! And learning
that loving God’s word takes time and energy!
She’s sitting up at the dining table now, paging through her
Bible looking for the verses she knows :)
Next up: Lydia. She
took to reading like a professional and it won’t be long until I’ll be
listening to all 526 pages of the Beginners Bible, round two. By the time Luke steps up to the plate I’ll
be correcting his mistakes based on memory.
(As a family during our morning devo times we’ve already plowed through
this particular Bible several different times!
Speaking of… if you are looking for a great family Bible time resource
we just finished God’s Names published by CDG (see it here) and I loved it. LOVED.
Highly recommended.)
Friday, December 7, 2012
double trouble
Double.
Trouble.
Trouble.
14 months apart in age.
These little guys are going to be partners in crime for years.
Did you know that years ago when Matt and I first started
talking about adoption one thing we mentioned in an off-hand sort of
way was that we’d love it if our adopted child was sandwiched in the middle of
our biological children. I don’t know
why, but that particular idea just appealed to us. Then, when we started our adoption process
and were already at 3 bio kids I tabled that idea – four children sounded like
a full-enough quiver for me. Ha! Turns out our John Paul is sandwiched between
our biological children, and sandwiched between two brothers to boot.
Three years between them all, top to
bottom. We’re having fun now, and we’ve
got more fun times ahead ;)
We're just finished up a girls night/boys night here. Boys stayed home and are all tucked away in bed. The girls and I went to our neighbors for chocolate hot pot, which is the local way of saying chocolate fondue. And let me tell you, it was much yummier than the non-chocolate hot pot :) These particular neighbors are pretty unique... I really like their family (especially the mom) and their 9 year old daughter is so kind to my girls. On Friday nights they host a little family/children gathering at their home and we'll definitely be going back!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
getting ready for Christmas
The window seat in our bedroom is gift-wrapping headquarters. It is littered with jagged-edged scraps of wrapping paper, stray scissors and a quickly shrinking roll of scotch tape.
I won't bother to clean it up til Christmas Eve.
Because it gets continual use.
These little ones of mine are professional gift givers (they've perfected the gift-getting too!) I love watching them wrap up little scraps of 'treasures' and label them for family members. Julianna (of course) makes almost everything she wraps. Lydia already spent 14 cents on a plastic mask for Isaac. She had it wrapped and under the tree 5 minutes after she walked in the door with it.
Isaac told Matt he was giving the girls things from his treasure box. "What kinds of treasures from your box are you giving them?" "The pink and purple ones. I have two girls, and I know I have two things that are pink and purple."
They ask me to tell them what is wrapped up in "the big ones" under the tree. They ask over and over again - like one day I'll finally crack and just blurt it out :) Ha! No way. I am good at keeping secrets.
We're on day 5 of our advent calendar.
Our 1st advent candle is shrinking, and we fight over who gets to blow it out. {Yes, a lit candle adds a new degree of catastrophic potential to our dinner hour. Embrace the chaos, Laura, embrace the chaos.]
We read our favorite Christmas books over and over again.
Last night we rolled out sugar cookie dough and satisfied some of our cookie-cutting desires.
I LOVE this season!
{Even though this one has the complicating factor of potential cleft surgery for John Paul on December 18th! We desperately hope this date works out for him. Please pray that he stays healthy! And that the surgeon is available, etc.}
I won't bother to clean it up til Christmas Eve.
Because it gets continual use.
These little ones of mine are professional gift givers (they've perfected the gift-getting too!) I love watching them wrap up little scraps of 'treasures' and label them for family members. Julianna (of course) makes almost everything she wraps. Lydia already spent 14 cents on a plastic mask for Isaac. She had it wrapped and under the tree 5 minutes after she walked in the door with it.
Isaac told Matt he was giving the girls things from his treasure box. "What kinds of treasures from your box are you giving them?" "The pink and purple ones. I have two girls, and I know I have two things that are pink and purple."
They ask me to tell them what is wrapped up in "the big ones" under the tree. They ask over and over again - like one day I'll finally crack and just blurt it out :) Ha! No way. I am good at keeping secrets.
We're on day 5 of our advent calendar.
Our 1st advent candle is shrinking, and we fight over who gets to blow it out. {Yes, a lit candle adds a new degree of catastrophic potential to our dinner hour. Embrace the chaos, Laura, embrace the chaos.]
We read our favorite Christmas books over and over again.
Last night we rolled out sugar cookie dough and satisfied some of our cookie-cutting desires.
I LOVE this season!
{Even though this one has the complicating factor of potential cleft surgery for John Paul on December 18th! We desperately hope this date works out for him. Please pray that he stays healthy! And that the surgeon is available, etc.}
Monday, December 3, 2012
a little bit of Luke
My baby boy is growing. And changing. So. Very. Fast.
This afternoon he waved 'bye bye' for the first time - waved to my dear friend Susan, so fun that she got to be the recipient of one of these "firsts".
So many of you have been kind to ask about me, and him, and the sleep issues. I *think* that the worst of his reflux is behind us. We never did get medicine that helped, but he seems to be growing out of his reflux. Much less spitting up, and he rarely cries out in pain when he is sleeping. And three nights in the past two weeks he has slept 11 hours! woohoo!
Even when he is up in the night now it's more like "normal baby awake in the night" - and while I would love a consistent long night from him, I can handle "normal baby awake in the night" for now! No more long hours holding a half-crying, half-sleeping fitful baby. Already I look back at the first eight months of his life and wonder how we survived. We got so very little sleep.
I laugh and tell Matt I could hibernate this winter. I'm serious. I think I could sleep til Christmas Eve. It feels so good to lay down in the bed at night anticipating rest. In the thick of the worst reflux issues I would lay down at night and feel nauseous, dreading the long dark hours ahead. But now, oh now is so much better.
He's improved on other fronts too. About three weeks ago he started eating solid foods and hasn't looked back. He was eating at Thanksgiving and sampled about 15 new things in one meal. I got him Cheerios a few days ago and he took to them like a fish to water.
I've said it before, but it needs saying again. Luke is a giant. That's an 18 month size sweatshirt he's sporting. This evening I changed him out of a pair of pajamas and thought "I'll wash these and put them away, I can't squeeze him into them one more time." I very clearly remember Isaac wearing those exact same pajamas on our flight to America - Isaac was 15 months old! So Luke at 8 months just outgrew the pjs Isaac wore at 15 months.
If he continues growing at this pace he'll be the largest boy in our family by his second birthday! He definitely got the "big" genes. [Oh, and maybe? maybe? the blue eyed genes too? He's kept striking blue eyes til now, and my others eyes were already turning to their grey/green shade by this point.]
And one last non-Luke picture that will surely put a smile on your face. I put Luke up in the rocking chair to take photos and John Paul saw the photo shoot and wanted to get in on the action.
I mean, really? He is such a joy-filled little guy. And check out his pose. Somebody around here is pretty dang observant, huh?
[We took him to see a child therapist for an evaluation and she said his 'problem-solving skills' are exceptional. The therapist calls it 'problem solving skills'. In mommy-speak we say "he will outsmart you all day long and you will hover between slap-frustrated that you cannot keep one step ahead of him and flabbergasted that God ever created a toddler as smart and resourceful and ingenious as this one".]
This afternoon he waved 'bye bye' for the first time - waved to my dear friend Susan, so fun that she got to be the recipient of one of these "firsts".
So many of you have been kind to ask about me, and him, and the sleep issues. I *think* that the worst of his reflux is behind us. We never did get medicine that helped, but he seems to be growing out of his reflux. Much less spitting up, and he rarely cries out in pain when he is sleeping. And three nights in the past two weeks he has slept 11 hours! woohoo!
Even when he is up in the night now it's more like "normal baby awake in the night" - and while I would love a consistent long night from him, I can handle "normal baby awake in the night" for now! No more long hours holding a half-crying, half-sleeping fitful baby. Already I look back at the first eight months of his life and wonder how we survived. We got so very little sleep.
I laugh and tell Matt I could hibernate this winter. I'm serious. I think I could sleep til Christmas Eve. It feels so good to lay down in the bed at night anticipating rest. In the thick of the worst reflux issues I would lay down at night and feel nauseous, dreading the long dark hours ahead. But now, oh now is so much better.
He's improved on other fronts too. About three weeks ago he started eating solid foods and hasn't looked back. He was eating at Thanksgiving and sampled about 15 new things in one meal. I got him Cheerios a few days ago and he took to them like a fish to water.
I've said it before, but it needs saying again. Luke is a giant. That's an 18 month size sweatshirt he's sporting. This evening I changed him out of a pair of pajamas and thought "I'll wash these and put them away, I can't squeeze him into them one more time." I very clearly remember Isaac wearing those exact same pajamas on our flight to America - Isaac was 15 months old! So Luke at 8 months just outgrew the pjs Isaac wore at 15 months.
If he continues growing at this pace he'll be the largest boy in our family by his second birthday! He definitely got the "big" genes. [Oh, and maybe? maybe? the blue eyed genes too? He's kept striking blue eyes til now, and my others eyes were already turning to their grey/green shade by this point.]
And one last non-Luke picture that will surely put a smile on your face. I put Luke up in the rocking chair to take photos and John Paul saw the photo shoot and wanted to get in on the action.
I mean, really? He is such a joy-filled little guy. And check out his pose. Somebody around here is pretty dang observant, huh?
[We took him to see a child therapist for an evaluation and she said his 'problem-solving skills' are exceptional. The therapist calls it 'problem solving skills'. In mommy-speak we say "he will outsmart you all day long and you will hover between slap-frustrated that you cannot keep one step ahead of him and flabbergasted that God ever created a toddler as smart and resourceful and ingenious as this one".]
Friday, November 30, 2012
where those pictures end up....
I cannot begin to guess how many thousands of people have taken pictures of our family with their cell phones. Thousands!
Sometimes people surreptitiously snap photos from a distance (like I don't notice that a random stranger is hovering around trying to look inconspicious and holding their phone down at waist level?)
Other times people literally stop right in front of my stroller, blocking my path while they get their phone ready and snap the photo. People ask my kids to pose with their kids (we politely decline.... okay, okay, sometimes I less-than-politely decline!) They take pictures of my kids sitting in the car, pictures of our family walking through the park, pictures of us doing just about anything.
And I never know where the photos end up. Until today.
Tuesday morning I was with my boys at the main international post office (hunting down a missing package - we found it!) It was such a sweet trip for me (not just because we found the package!) because I knew that one of the employees was a believer. I knew it as soon as I walked in the door. The clerk looked at John Paul and said "oh, you adopted him".
Adoption is so uncommon here that most people would never guess, or assume, that John Paul is adopted. Instead their question is more like "How come one of your kids doesn't look like you?" or "Is that someone else's child you are taking care of?" or "Why does that child look Chinese? Is your husband Chinese?"
I guessed immediately (and correctly) that he was a Christian and had been exposed to adoption through the church. I said "Yes, he's adopted" and the clerk answered "thank you Jesus".
So we visited for a bit and other employees started to gather (we tend to attract a crowd!) while the post office man tracked down our missing box. We wandered back into the warehouse with boxes piled everywhere and all the while I answered questions about our family.
I can practically answer these questions in my sleep - the same questions I get every day. "Why so many kids? Why adopt? Why? Why? Why?"
One lady asked to take our picture. And after I left she posted it to her weibo account. (Weibo is like Chinese twitter.) A friend saw the post and forwarded the link to me.
It's fun to finally see where one of those thousands of cell phone pictures ended up.
And I'm also encouraged. Sometimes I wonder if God really uses me, uses our family. We want to live well in this land, to boldly live out the Gospel, to impact our neighbors, our community.
But sometimes at the end of the day I wonder if all we do is arouse a bit of curiosity.
It's been a long few months. I've been a pretty miserable example of someone who loves her neighbor as herself. More often than not I scowl when someone tries to take my picture. I try to avoid the crowds, not answer (again!) the same questions about family and children and adoption.
But if God can use me on a trip to the post office to find a missing package.... well, that should encourage all of us!
If you're curious you can see the weibo post HERE if you have a weibo account. It's also posted HERE.
Sometimes people surreptitiously snap photos from a distance (like I don't notice that a random stranger is hovering around trying to look inconspicious and holding their phone down at waist level?)
Other times people literally stop right in front of my stroller, blocking my path while they get their phone ready and snap the photo. People ask my kids to pose with their kids (we politely decline.... okay, okay, sometimes I less-than-politely decline!) They take pictures of my kids sitting in the car, pictures of our family walking through the park, pictures of us doing just about anything.
And I never know where the photos end up. Until today.
Tuesday morning I was with my boys at the main international post office (hunting down a missing package - we found it!) It was such a sweet trip for me (not just because we found the package!) because I knew that one of the employees was a believer. I knew it as soon as I walked in the door. The clerk looked at John Paul and said "oh, you adopted him".
Adoption is so uncommon here that most people would never guess, or assume, that John Paul is adopted. Instead their question is more like "How come one of your kids doesn't look like you?" or "Is that someone else's child you are taking care of?" or "Why does that child look Chinese? Is your husband Chinese?"
I guessed immediately (and correctly) that he was a Christian and had been exposed to adoption through the church. I said "Yes, he's adopted" and the clerk answered "thank you Jesus".
So we visited for a bit and other employees started to gather (we tend to attract a crowd!) while the post office man tracked down our missing box. We wandered back into the warehouse with boxes piled everywhere and all the while I answered questions about our family.
I can practically answer these questions in my sleep - the same questions I get every day. "Why so many kids? Why adopt? Why? Why? Why?"
One lady asked to take our picture. And after I left she posted it to her weibo account. (Weibo is like Chinese twitter.) A friend saw the post and forwarded the link to me.
It's fun to finally see where one of those thousands of cell phone pictures ended up.
And I'm also encouraged. Sometimes I wonder if God really uses me, uses our family. We want to live well in this land, to boldly live out the Gospel, to impact our neighbors, our community.
But sometimes at the end of the day I wonder if all we do is arouse a bit of curiosity.
It's been a long few months. I've been a pretty miserable example of someone who loves her neighbor as herself. More often than not I scowl when someone tries to take my picture. I try to avoid the crowds, not answer (again!) the same questions about family and children and adoption.
But if God can use me on a trip to the post office to find a missing package.... well, that should encourage all of us!
If you're curious you can see the weibo post HERE if you have a weibo account. It's also posted HERE.
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