So, here they are!
They thought they were so funny coming in with sunglasses on in the middle of winter. 
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
You know you blog when...
Your kids come in and say, "Mom, this should go on your blog." (and this is before we even pull out the camera!)
So, here they are!
They thought they were so funny coming in with sunglasses on in the middle of winter.
So, here they are!
They thought they were so funny coming in with sunglasses on in the middle of winter.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
My new line
"Mommy cannot meet everyone's needs at the same time...YOU will just have to wait."
I must say this 20 times a day and each of my 5 small children hear it frequently. I know they will be hearing it a lot more once the baby arrives. But I keep thinking of that someday when no one will be standing hanging on my leg saying, "Mommmie!" or going "uh...uh...uh.." (You know that whine/grunt that 2 year olds use when they don't want to use their words.) I know that someday is going to come sooner than I can fathom. It makes me a little sentimental right now.
____________
We were sitting at the lunch table when Carl looks up at them and said, "I love you man."
To which Silas replies with his finger pointing, "You lay down. Be quiet. No talking."
Do you think we say that too much at bedtime?
I must say this 20 times a day and each of my 5 small children hear it frequently. I know they will be hearing it a lot more once the baby arrives. But I keep thinking of that someday when no one will be standing hanging on my leg saying, "Mommmie!" or going "uh...uh...uh.." (You know that whine/grunt that 2 year olds use when they don't want to use their words.) I know that someday is going to come sooner than I can fathom. It makes me a little sentimental right now.
____________
We were sitting at the lunch table when Carl looks up at them and said, "I love you man."
To which Silas replies with his finger pointing, "You lay down. Be quiet. No talking."
Do you think we say that too much at bedtime?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
43 inches
Yes - that is the size of my waist. My brothers wanted to know last weekend how big I was and so they had to measure. And so you have it...I am already 2 inches bigger than I was with Adie with 2.5 weeks to go. I am feeling "great with child" right about now. He can make his grand entrance at any time and that would be fine by me!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Picture Update
Funny story from tonight.
I traded my oldest two girls for my sister-in-laws youngest two girls so that the big girls could go to their cousins piano recital. So at supper, I put a three year old and 3 two-year-olds at a separate "bunny table" in the kitchen because we also had guests for dinner. All was fine until I heard way too much laughing, I looked up and the four of them were having a food fight. Noodles, carrots, bread were flying back and forth between the boys side and the girls side.
This is the point of parenting where you have to put your mean serious face on when in all reality you just want to bust out laughing. I didn't think they would ever do such a thing...and the funny part is that no one spilled their milk. I don't know when the last time we ate and no one spilled their milk. And here I put them at a table all by themselves and they start a food fight.
____________________
I haven't been good about taking pictures lately, so here is quite an update - Christmas with my family and just hanging out at home.
I traded my oldest two girls for my sister-in-laws youngest two girls so that the big girls could go to their cousins piano recital. So at supper, I put a three year old and 3 two-year-olds at a separate "bunny table" in the kitchen because we also had guests for dinner. All was fine until I heard way too much laughing, I looked up and the four of them were having a food fight. Noodles, carrots, bread were flying back and forth between the boys side and the girls side.
This is the point of parenting where you have to put your mean serious face on when in all reality you just want to bust out laughing. I didn't think they would ever do such a thing...and the funny part is that no one spilled their milk. I don't know when the last time we ate and no one spilled their milk. And here I put them at a table all by themselves and they start a food fight.
____________________
I haven't been good about taking pictures lately, so here is quite an update - Christmas with my family and just hanging out at home.
Hair
I am not a blond anymore. I am sure if my hairstylist reads my blog, she would say that I didn't do my hair right, but hey for a shower and no product I don't think it looks too bad. I sometimes still pass the mirror and catch myself off guard. Carl thinks that I look like my friend Betsy.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Surprise Spa Day
My mom came to town on Friday morning to get her hair cut and then she was going to come over and hang out and we were going to drive back to her house together with the kids since Carl had to work on Sat. (We had my family Christmas on Saturday and the boys hadn't met some of my brothers yet so we wanted to get there early and hang out.)
Anyway, back to the story. She came into my house and said, "Hey, you better get going. You have an apppointment with Jody to get your hair done."
What?
"Merry Christmas!"
My mom came and watched all the kids while I left only to find out when I got there that she had arranged for me to get a massage, haircut and color. I was feeling pretty pampered when I arrived home 3 hours later. Thanks mom for a great Christmas present.
Now, I am hanging out at my parents with all the kids running around. I am glad the adult to kid ratio is still pretty darn good. Give it a few more years and life will really be crazy on my side of the family!
Anyway, back to the story. She came into my house and said, "Hey, you better get going. You have an apppointment with Jody to get your hair done."
What?
"Merry Christmas!"
My mom came and watched all the kids while I left only to find out when I got there that she had arranged for me to get a massage, haircut and color. I was feeling pretty pampered when I arrived home 3 hours later. Thanks mom for a great Christmas present.
Now, I am hanging out at my parents with all the kids running around. I am glad the adult to kid ratio is still pretty darn good. Give it a few more years and life will really be crazy on my side of the family!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Prayers for me
I don't know why it is so humbling to have to ask for prayers for myself. God delights when his people pray and He desires us to pray. Then why do I struggle in wanting to write this post?
My pregnancy has really taken a toll on my body to the point where I am in constant pain. I try to hide it the best I can but yesterday I was at the point of tears and even had some during the morning. The way I am carrying this little guy has put my butt muscles into spasms all the time. If I want to move, it will send sharp shooting pains up my back and down my legs. There are also pregnancy related butt issues. Most women will understand exactly what I am saying.
So I finally said it, "Will you pray for my butt?"
I find it comical that this is my prayer request. I think it would sound so much better to say, "my arm, my head and even my big toe." But my butt is so...so...I don't even have the words to say, funny maybe?
I am going to have a good laugh once this baby decides to show up in the world and feel so much better. I technically have 3 1/2 weeks left and I am praying for less.
Want to know another humbling thing for me? It is another, "I never..." statement or thought that I had.
I waddle. Just like a duck - back and forth and back and forth.
I never wanted to waddle. I think pregnant women that waddle are so cute, but I didn't want to be that. I wanted to carry my little basketball in front of me and walk normal. I just need to ban that phrase from my head, "I never..." But the mind is so quick to think that.
I made cornbread for breakfast...I better go and check it. Thanks for praying!
My pregnancy has really taken a toll on my body to the point where I am in constant pain. I try to hide it the best I can but yesterday I was at the point of tears and even had some during the morning. The way I am carrying this little guy has put my butt muscles into spasms all the time. If I want to move, it will send sharp shooting pains up my back and down my legs. There are also pregnancy related butt issues. Most women will understand exactly what I am saying.
So I finally said it, "Will you pray for my butt?"
I find it comical that this is my prayer request. I think it would sound so much better to say, "my arm, my head and even my big toe." But my butt is so...so...I don't even have the words to say, funny maybe?
I am going to have a good laugh once this baby decides to show up in the world and feel so much better. I technically have 3 1/2 weeks left and I am praying for less.
Want to know another humbling thing for me? It is another, "I never..." statement or thought that I had.
I waddle. Just like a duck - back and forth and back and forth.
I never wanted to waddle. I think pregnant women that waddle are so cute, but I didn't want to be that. I wanted to carry my little basketball in front of me and walk normal. I just need to ban that phrase from my head, "I never..." But the mind is so quick to think that.
I made cornbread for breakfast...I better go and check it. Thanks for praying!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
New normal
We are adjusting to our new normal around here.
CRAZY! Not that we weren't a little crazy before, but we just kicked it up a level. I spend half my day in the bathroom between myself and three two-year-olds. I think it is comical the absurd amount of time that can be spent in that one room.
My parents came last night and spent the night with us. They also babysat the kids while Carl and I went to the movie Blind Side and went to Perkins afterwords. I think the last movie I went to in the theater was Narnia. (That was a few years ago...oh I just looked it up, it was 4 years ago.) Carl loves going to the movies, but I like to watch them at home. So, I don't want to waste money on something that is not that enjoyable for me, plus you can't talk at the movies. When I go out on a date, you have to talk otherwise I think it doesn't count as a date. Side note: I did have fun last night because Blind Side is about an amazing adoption story.
The other day the triplets got into the coconut oil and lotion after they went to bed. They all got into it earlier in the day and knew that they were NOT supposed to play with them. One of them climbed the built in dresser and pulled it out from the back shelf. They put it all over the beds and comforters. They themselves looked like greased little pigs. I was not a happy camper when I found them. The hard part is that each of them takes turns being the instigator of trouble. What one doesn't think of the other two will. Most days I just stand there and shake my head thinking, "O Lord help me!"
All in all we are doing well and looking forward to celebrating Christ's birth.
CRAZY! Not that we weren't a little crazy before, but we just kicked it up a level. I spend half my day in the bathroom between myself and three two-year-olds. I think it is comical the absurd amount of time that can be spent in that one room.
My parents came last night and spent the night with us. They also babysat the kids while Carl and I went to the movie Blind Side and went to Perkins afterwords. I think the last movie I went to in the theater was Narnia. (That was a few years ago...oh I just looked it up, it was 4 years ago.) Carl loves going to the movies, but I like to watch them at home. So, I don't want to waste money on something that is not that enjoyable for me, plus you can't talk at the movies. When I go out on a date, you have to talk otherwise I think it doesn't count as a date. Side note: I did have fun last night because Blind Side is about an amazing adoption story.
The other day the triplets got into the coconut oil and lotion after they went to bed. They all got into it earlier in the day and knew that they were NOT supposed to play with them. One of them climbed the built in dresser and pulled it out from the back shelf. They put it all over the beds and comforters. They themselves looked like greased little pigs. I was not a happy camper when I found them. The hard part is that each of them takes turns being the instigator of trouble. What one doesn't think of the other two will. Most days I just stand there and shake my head thinking, "O Lord help me!"
All in all we are doing well and looking forward to celebrating Christ's birth.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Non-biological Triplets
Here they are! Adie is definetly bigger but then again, I don't think Silas and Titus's birth parents are 5'7 and 6'3 (that makes a difference!) I truly believe they are all within a couple of months of each other. Silas and Titus were given the birth date of 6/16/07.
You should see how people tilt their head to the side and their eyebrows scrunch up when I say that I have non-biological triplets. Or when they ask if the boys are twins...I just say non-biological twins. This satisfies them until they start thinking about it and then they feel silly to ask any more questions on the subject.
If you are wondering what Silas has all over him, the kids were making home-made stickers and they put them all over him. He thought he was so funny.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Teeth...
We went to the dentist today with the boys
Good News:
Their teeth are stained not rotten.
Bad News:
Since they are 2 1/2 we need to put them under general anesthesia to do the cleaning costing somewhere around $3,500 per mouth. OUCH! I am praying that our medical insurance will cover the anesthesia part. We do not have dental insurance so that part is out of pocket.
They both did pretty well there, but I knew that they were thinking that they would have to get shots and blood drawn like we did at the Dr. on Monday. That was the last time I took them somewhere and when I put them in their carseats today they began to cry.
We did go and look at Christmas lights on Tuesday night but it is not scary to go somewhere with the van full of people...with just your brother and mom is usually not the best time in the world.
The cold has set in here in the frozen north and the boys don't like it. They stand and cry when we have to go out. They don't like mittens...which after today's outing, I am guessing that they will wear them from now on. Titus just stood there looking at his hands as if to say..."what in the world is wrong with my hands?"
Well, the triplets are up...gotta run.
Good News:
Their teeth are stained not rotten.
Bad News:
Since they are 2 1/2 we need to put them under general anesthesia to do the cleaning costing somewhere around $3,500 per mouth. OUCH! I am praying that our medical insurance will cover the anesthesia part. We do not have dental insurance so that part is out of pocket.
They both did pretty well there, but I knew that they were thinking that they would have to get shots and blood drawn like we did at the Dr. on Monday. That was the last time I took them somewhere and when I put them in their carseats today they began to cry.
We did go and look at Christmas lights on Tuesday night but it is not scary to go somewhere with the van full of people...with just your brother and mom is usually not the best time in the world.
The cold has set in here in the frozen north and the boys don't like it. They stand and cry when we have to go out. They don't like mittens...which after today's outing, I am guessing that they will wear them from now on. Titus just stood there looking at his hands as if to say..."what in the world is wrong with my hands?"
Well, the triplets are up...gotta run.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Playing
All my kids have been playing together for 30 minutes with out any yelling or screaming...I think we just had a first in our house. I am letting school slide for the morning since they are all playing so well together...the great thing about homeschooling!
I was thinking of making bread this afternoon with my big girls. If I write it down here, I will feel accountable to do it.
I was thinking of making bread this afternoon with my big girls. If I write it down here, I will feel accountable to do it.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Refreshed
I came home to 2 sleeping big girls and three happy 2-year olds all snug into bed reading books.
The babysitters survived! One of them did say that she has a new appreciation for what I do because she was tired. You build up endurance...I know that I didn't have it when I was in high school.
It was so refreshing to hang out with our small group tonight. I needed it! I love my family and my home, but I am social. I like to get out of the house and these past weeks have had me feeling a little claustrophobic. I know that this season shall too pass, but I still need to keep my sanity.
Tomorrow night I have something very exciting happening. I am the college girls small group mission project for the night. A whole group of them is coming to my house to clean it. Things will get done around here that never get done like dusting the tops of my cupboards and bookshevles and well dust anything because I hardly ever dust. They are going to wipe down my cupboards...it is just not a priority at the end of my day. Oh - how about this one...go through all my drawers of colored pencils and sharpen them all and throw away dry markers. Every home school mommy has a plethora of those things sitting around.
I have also been very blessed with meals coming in on Mondays and Thursdays. This has saved me so much time and energy the past few weeks. My crazy life would not be possible if there weren't many people surrounding me and supporting me. I feel very loved. Actually I feel loved beyond all measure.
The babysitters survived! One of them did say that she has a new appreciation for what I do because she was tired. You build up endurance...I know that I didn't have it when I was in high school.
It was so refreshing to hang out with our small group tonight. I needed it! I love my family and my home, but I am social. I like to get out of the house and these past weeks have had me feeling a little claustrophobic. I know that this season shall too pass, but I still need to keep my sanity.
Tomorrow night I have something very exciting happening. I am the college girls small group mission project for the night. A whole group of them is coming to my house to clean it. Things will get done around here that never get done like dusting the tops of my cupboards and bookshevles and well dust anything because I hardly ever dust. They are going to wipe down my cupboards...it is just not a priority at the end of my day. Oh - how about this one...go through all my drawers of colored pencils and sharpen them all and throw away dry markers. Every home school mommy has a plethora of those things sitting around.
I have also been very blessed with meals coming in on Mondays and Thursdays. This has saved me so much time and energy the past few weeks. My crazy life would not be possible if there weren't many people surrounding me and supporting me. I feel very loved. Actually I feel loved beyond all measure.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Game Plan
Tomorrow at church I will be flying solo. Carl is gone today and tomorrow with work so I came up with a plan because I just can't stay home any longer. I don't know what I would if my sister-in-law didn't live next door - we are there almost everyday playing.
I am going to take the munchkins to church and hang out in the nursery the whole time. This way Silas and Titus can get used to the surroundings and the people there. So, hopefully we will be able to drop them off in the near future. Since Silas, Titus and Adie are all the same age, they will have each other for company, plus when Della and Lars show up (cousins) then they will need an extra teacher for just us - nothing like filling up a classroom :)
We also have two babysitters coming in on Sunday night. Rowan has younger sisters who sat for us before we left for Ethiopia and my girls LOVED them. We had lunch with his family last week and the boys did great playing with them. My prayer is that this would be a positive experience for them. Carl and I need just two hours away from the house - together without children. It will be awhile before we have the opportunity to do this again, so we thought we would try it.
Adjustment has gone remarkable well. We are probably still in the "honeymoon" phase, but since they have each other I haven't seen anything that alarms me. Yes, they are two year old boys and jump off furniture, don't like green vegetables, totally pretend they don't hear me when I ask something or wait too long to go to the bathroom, but that is completely normal in my book especially since it is rare occurrences. I would like to add throw cars at the biggest window in my house...what in the world is that? Boys, boys boys!
It is interesting how my perspective has changed. When they were adopted in our family, they received everything that we have given Grace, Lydia and Adie. Just like God, we receive all of his blessings that come with adoption that someone who has been a christian for 20 years has. The same goes for my boys. I don't see them as orphans anymore. They are my kids. I love them the same as my girls...even within that love, they must follow the same rules as my girls. I thought I would give them much more leeway in behavior until I realized that they were all going to see the discrepancies in my parenting if I did that.
I can't believe in less than 5 short weeks we will changing the dynamics again. Seriously...what in the world was God thinking on this one! I used to think adding two kids at one time is a crazy concept, and now I am thinking...that's not so bad. Gosh this would be pretty darn easy if I wasn't pregnant. I am glad that I don't have to fret about it because God knew long before the dawn of time that I would be sitting here blogging about my crazy yet relatively simple life. (Simple in the fact that I have food to eat, clothing, shelter, a husband that loves me and I could go on and on.)
I am going to take the munchkins to church and hang out in the nursery the whole time. This way Silas and Titus can get used to the surroundings and the people there. So, hopefully we will be able to drop them off in the near future. Since Silas, Titus and Adie are all the same age, they will have each other for company, plus when Della and Lars show up (cousins) then they will need an extra teacher for just us - nothing like filling up a classroom :)
We also have two babysitters coming in on Sunday night. Rowan has younger sisters who sat for us before we left for Ethiopia and my girls LOVED them. We had lunch with his family last week and the boys did great playing with them. My prayer is that this would be a positive experience for them. Carl and I need just two hours away from the house - together without children. It will be awhile before we have the opportunity to do this again, so we thought we would try it.
Adjustment has gone remarkable well. We are probably still in the "honeymoon" phase, but since they have each other I haven't seen anything that alarms me. Yes, they are two year old boys and jump off furniture, don't like green vegetables, totally pretend they don't hear me when I ask something or wait too long to go to the bathroom, but that is completely normal in my book especially since it is rare occurrences. I would like to add throw cars at the biggest window in my house...what in the world is that? Boys, boys boys!
It is interesting how my perspective has changed. When they were adopted in our family, they received everything that we have given Grace, Lydia and Adie. Just like God, we receive all of his blessings that come with adoption that someone who has been a christian for 20 years has. The same goes for my boys. I don't see them as orphans anymore. They are my kids. I love them the same as my girls...even within that love, they must follow the same rules as my girls. I thought I would give them much more leeway in behavior until I realized that they were all going to see the discrepancies in my parenting if I did that.
I can't believe in less than 5 short weeks we will changing the dynamics again. Seriously...what in the world was God thinking on this one! I used to think adding two kids at one time is a crazy concept, and now I am thinking...that's not so bad. Gosh this would be pretty darn easy if I wasn't pregnant. I am glad that I don't have to fret about it because God knew long before the dawn of time that I would be sitting here blogging about my crazy yet relatively simple life. (Simple in the fact that I have food to eat, clothing, shelter, a husband that loves me and I could go on and on.)
Friday, December 4, 2009
Living Simply
I have been reading a book with our Moms group at church about living simply. I have to be honest, I have never been more annoyed with an author before in my life. I am not saying that I haven't learned things from her, but more to the fact that she is writing a book on how to live simply with two children who are in grade school, she is a writer/stay at home mom, she goes frequently on weekends away with friends, is enrolled in ballet classes once a week etc. Her life to me, looking on the outside of course doesn't seem that difficult. (I am not saying that two kids isn't hard or anything of the sort. It is just that I can't relate to this woman and her testimony.
She doesn't have a story to make me want to believe that I can do what she does. She doesn't have many small children still at home, homeschool, have adopted, trying to juggle helping her husband with a home business, a mother of multiples and so on.
Her book needs some other testimonies of other mothers on how the rubber meets the road with life. How does a mom of 6 children get out of the house and cultivate friendships? How does a mom find time to tell stories to their children when you have 4 or 5 or more and they are all clamoring for attention.
I have taken a few nuggets from her for example, I love that they named their home - REFUGE. It has a sign out in the driveway. One of her friends named their home POPIN...just so everyone knows that you can "pop in" at anytime at their home. I want to come up with a name for our home. Haven't thought of it yet, but something will come in time.
I also want to be more intentional about telling stories of my life to my children or telling stories of their own lives. God is the best story teller there is and I just love that I have his example. That is the main reason that I blog. It is not really for you the reader, but more for my children in the future to be able to come back and read about our life raw and real at the time. My memory will fail me, but written words last forever.
She doesn't have a story to make me want to believe that I can do what she does. She doesn't have many small children still at home, homeschool, have adopted, trying to juggle helping her husband with a home business, a mother of multiples and so on.
Her book needs some other testimonies of other mothers on how the rubber meets the road with life. How does a mom of 6 children get out of the house and cultivate friendships? How does a mom find time to tell stories to their children when you have 4 or 5 or more and they are all clamoring for attention.
I have taken a few nuggets from her for example, I love that they named their home - REFUGE. It has a sign out in the driveway. One of her friends named their home POPIN...just so everyone knows that you can "pop in" at anytime at their home. I want to come up with a name for our home. Haven't thought of it yet, but something will come in time.
I also want to be more intentional about telling stories of my life to my children or telling stories of their own lives. God is the best story teller there is and I just love that I have his example. That is the main reason that I blog. It is not really for you the reader, but more for my children in the future to be able to come back and read about our life raw and real at the time. My memory will fail me, but written words last forever.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
more pictures...
We stopped at a Cafe for a yummy roll and orange pop. The only think I drank all week was bottled water and 2 orange pops. I was very excited to get home to drink a cold glass of milk.
The nannies really loved all the children that they took care of. Chatau came and played with the boys at the guesthouse.
This is what we walked into trying to take pictures of all the babies. Crazy is an understatement!
Coffee ceremonies are a tradition in Ethiopia. Carl and Rowan were in heaven with this coffee. They talked about the few people back home who would really appreciate this "amazing coffee."
I can't drink anything with caffeine it so not an option for me.
They also serve popcorn with the coffee. Our boys love coffee and tea...sorry, they are not getting that here. I will draw the line on that one.
Rowan showing Silas some pictures. They loved the camera all week!
What's not to love about that smile? I want to eat up those dimples!
The nannies really loved all the children that they took care of. Chatau came and played with the boys at the guesthouse.
This is what we walked into trying to take pictures of all the babies. Crazy is an understatement!
Coffee ceremonies are a tradition in Ethiopia. Carl and Rowan were in heaven with this coffee. They talked about the few people back home who would really appreciate this "amazing coffee."I can't drink anything with caffeine it so not an option for me.
They also serve popcorn with the coffee. Our boys love coffee and tea...sorry, they are not getting that here. I will draw the line on that one.
Rowan showing Silas some pictures. They loved the camera all week!
What's not to love about that smile? I want to eat up those dimples!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Pictures from Ethiopia
When we picked these little guys up, we couldn't believe their soccer skills. Seriously, I think they are better than me and they are two, talk about humbling!
This is a funny picture because if Titus could speak with his eyes he would. Well, actually he does a lot around here. I get those eyes at least a couple of times per day.
This is a couple in Ethiopia. We support her to go to nursing college. He is going to seminary right now and has a passion to reach the Muslim Ethiopians
This is a funny photo because poor Rowan is so sick taking a nap and the rest of us are rummaging around the room trying to be quiet. You can see that we exploded into our room.
This is a funny picture because if Titus could speak with his eyes he would. Well, actually he does a lot around here. I get those eyes at least a couple of times per day.
This is a couple in Ethiopia. We support her to go to nursing college. He is going to seminary right now and has a passion to reach the Muslim Ethiopians
This is a funny photo because poor Rowan is so sick taking a nap and the rest of us are rummaging around the room trying to be quiet. You can see that we exploded into our room.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Church
I realized it will be MANY months before I will be able to go to church by myself. (Carl usually runs video for church so it WAS rare that we actually went together...oh but that has changed.)
Between Carl and myself we ran the whole time we were there. I was exhausted by the end of the morning and all I kept thinking was, "How in the world am I ever going to leave my house with all of my children?"
My answer...can I admit this on a blog?
Each boy needs a harness.
This truly is for their own safety. They run and dart and think it is the funniest thing in the whole world. And they are boys...I know because I grew up with 6 of them. I have actually lived with boys a whole lot longer than I have with my girls. So none of this surprises me really. I was just kind of hoping one of them would like to stay by me and I only had to chase one. Two running in opposite directions doesn't work very well.
_____________
Now for the new rule at our house.
You must sit to pee. I am sorry for all you macho males out there. I have cleaned up more urine off the wall, side of the toilet, floor and many other places need not mention than I care to. This will be in effect indefinitely...or until I install a urinal.
Between Carl and myself we ran the whole time we were there. I was exhausted by the end of the morning and all I kept thinking was, "How in the world am I ever going to leave my house with all of my children?"
My answer...can I admit this on a blog?
Each boy needs a harness.
This truly is for their own safety. They run and dart and think it is the funniest thing in the whole world. And they are boys...I know because I grew up with 6 of them. I have actually lived with boys a whole lot longer than I have with my girls. So none of this surprises me really. I was just kind of hoping one of them would like to stay by me and I only had to chase one. Two running in opposite directions doesn't work very well.
_____________
Now for the new rule at our house.
You must sit to pee. I am sorry for all you macho males out there. I have cleaned up more urine off the wall, side of the toilet, floor and many other places need not mention than I care to. This will be in effect indefinitely...or until I install a urinal.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Ethiopia
We started our adventure at the MSP airport. Security was a breeze and we had plenty of time to walk around and hang out. We prayed that Rowan would be able to catch the flight in DC.
Rowan missed the DC flight by 15 minutes and we were so bummed! That meant his seat was open next to me. The flight attendant wanted to seat another person next to me, but when I looked at the man with pleading eyes he said, "You don't want me to sit next to you!" Oh- I was so grateful to have a place to lay down for short periods of time during the 18 hour flight especially since it was so hot on the plane.
I thought we were home free with one last screening and then we would officially be in Ethiopia. We are always stopped because of Carl's camera, not a big deal until they say to us, "You must leave this here." What? Are you kidding me? Leave our professional livelihood with some random people in a 3rd world country??? I was exhausted and emotionally drained. This couldn't be happening. We sat there for 2 hours trying to figure out what to do. By this time it was past 10pm Ethiopian time and there was only a few people left in the airport. At the end, we put our camera at what they called the "store" and tomorrow we had to go to an agency to get a slip of paper saying we could take our camera into the country. (They thought we would sell it on the black market...yeah right)
We finally were taken to the guest house - to find out that it was not the one we signed up for. But we were so tired we just went to bed to figure everything out in the morning.
Monday morning was spent driving around trying to get our camera out of the pound. As soon as we walked in, I knew we were not getting anywhere.
We decided to give up and go and meet the boys. At this point we are very discouraged because we had no video camera nor still camera because we didn't bring ours because we knew Rowan was bringing two. Now with the new information, we didn't know if Rowan would make it through customs.
Meeting the boys was very different that I expected. I kind of envisioned going to a separate room and they bringing them in. Nope...all the kids were running around and we were no more out of the van and they brought them over to us. The boys had no idea what was going on. We sent photobooks but they weren't allowed to look them because they were returned to us out of a locked cupboard. There was no emotion really. We played around for 45 mintues and they said, "Okay here is the sign out book." Carl and I looked at each other with big eyes and both of us thinking, "Is this for real? Are we really taking our boys?"
The boys thought we were kidnapping them and screamed the whole way back to the guest house. I thought they might hyperventilate from crying so much. Titus fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. Silas just cried and cried.
When we arrived at the guesthouse we were able to bribe them with food. They both ate 3 bananas and drank a quart of water a piece. It was obvious they never had free access to food before. Plus I think they keep the kids dehydrated so they don't have to go to the bathroom very often.
We spent the afternoon getting to know each other and playing. It didn't take long before they were smiling and laughing.
Rowan came the following day around noon. I was on pins and needles watching him try to get through the last security checkpoint into the country. But as you know, he made it through with his camera and I was ever so glad to have him on this side. The poor guy was sick sick sick.
I don't remember doing much for the rest of the day.
Wednesday we went to the care center and two orphanages to take pictures of everyone's children. I wish we would have hired an interpreter because no one could speak English well enough to really communicate details. We could get the jest of what needed to be accomplished but we missed so many things.
We also stopped at the agency's office so that Kelly, who was also picking up her child, could fill out paperwork. It was stressful plus we hadn't really eaten anything yet. We arrived back at the guesthouse and ate lunch at 4pm. Beti, our cook, made us hamburgers and I think we ate the meal in 2 or 3 minutes. We told her we would like supper at 9pm, but she thought we ate out for lunch and that she just fed us super. She was so gracious and made us something anyway later that night.
Thursday was supposed to be a day of great joy with the last hurdle finally complete...the US Embassy. We made it through, but left with more questions than when we came. That is all that I can say at this point. Many questions were raised with our agency. The last family went up and we were going to all go out to eat afterward for a big celebration. They came back weeping - saying they couldn't bring their children home because the US didn't consider them orphans, yet according to their Ethiopian court decree, the children were legally theirs.
I can't even begin to tell you all the emotions that were in that room at that very minute. I was in complete shock. I have never heard of this happening. I was numb. I kept asking God why in the world would he bring this family all the way to this point to tell them that they cannot take their children home. In the eyes of the Ethiopian government, they were their children, but the US would not let them into the country.
I looked at Carl and said, "We gotta call someone. Get out your cell phone." Well, that opened another whole can of worms because someone how Carl's cellphone made it through the screenings and you can't have cell phone at the US Embassy. Guards came and it took a minute to get everything squared out. It was an honest mistake, but they didn't see it that way.
We went back to the guesthouse with both families and pulled out every number that we could think of. We were the only ones with an international cell phone and the phone at the guesthouse didn't work because the agency didn't pay their bill. The next few hours were a blur. We ordered pizza - the other family had a driver and an interpreter - who were able to deliver the food to our guesthouse. (We had told Beti she would have the night off because we would be out celebrating) We finally sent our friends back to their guesthouse with our cell phone praying that we would hear good news in the morning.
(Now this made me feel really unsafe because we had no way to communicate with the outside world. The guard had no phone, the phone did not work at the guesthouse and the cook wasn't going to come back that night. I laid my worries and fears upon the Lord. I kept repeating to myself over and over..."The Lord knew this would happen before the dawn of time. He has it all under control.")
I could not sleep that night - I maybe got 3hours. It felt like the drama of this week was more than the CBS Sunday night movie. I prayed hours and hours for the Hacker family. We were all supposed to fly out at 10:15pm on Friday night. The US Embassy was open from 8-12pm on Friday. By noon we would know their fate.
We were planning on going to the market on Friday morning at 8:30 am and meet a couple that we support for schooling but our driver from the agency never showed up. I was extremely bummed. He finally came after lunch. He brought news that the Hackers were going home with all of their children and they were coming to tell us. I have to admit, I didn't believe him. I wanted to hear it from the family. They showed up a little while later with the joyous news. Only by the grace of God were they able to get their children home - hundreds of phone calls later, they were able to get the right help here in the US. God had a mighty plan for these children. They are wanted, loved and finally belong.
Talk about roller coaster of emotions...
About 2pm Carl and Rowan and Kelly went to the market. I needed to stay back and pack with Titus and Kelly's little girl. I am glad that I stayed, but I never was able to get out and really see anything of Ethiopia all week. I did get to take home the two most precious boys though so it makes up for not experiencing anything else. Maybe we will go back when they are older.
The flight home...was LONG! I am so thankful that my boys were used to sitting for hours doing nothing because in all honesty...they were great. But sitting for 18 hours is the hardest mental and physical activity that I have ever done, all the while being 32 weeks pregnant.
Being on US soil makes me so thankful for the sacrifices of so many lives who made it possible for me to live here and now. I wanted to cry, but I didn't have any tears left at this point. I had to keep moving. We were standing in immigration and the fire alarms go off. All I could think was, "You've got to be kidding me. We are 20 feet away from being free and the fire alarms have to go off." Thankfully, it was set off by construction work so we were all able to stay where we were. After getting some weird news from the immigration officer that Silas, "kind of sort of tested positive for TB" we made it through.
Rowan met us on the other side and I was so thankful again to have him along. Two two-year-olds who just sat for 18 hours don't like to stand still and wait. He help us chase them down and keep track of them. We parted ways to meet in MSP again (we had to fly different airlines.) We had our funny moments of chasing them on dead sprints down the terminals.
We walked down to baggage and we first saw the director of our agency and I must admit I was not delighted to see her with all that went on this week. I looked beyond her and saw the Stacey family and my dear friend Betsy (She drove 6 plus hours just meet me at the airport - I told Carl in DC that I could really use a coffee date with her. We haven't been together for over a year.) I couldn't keep it in anymore. I felt like the week of emotions just gushed out of me. I was so tired, overwhelmed and happy all in the same breath. I am sure Titus and Silas had no idea what was going on. All they cared about was "mackeenas" (cars) They are 100% boy because they LOVE cars.
I thought the car seat was going to be a battle, but they were big eyed over what was going on that it was no big deal. I feel asleep in the backseat while Rowan drove and Carl kept him company.
We tucked the boys into bed and waited for our little girls to arrive home from the ranch with Nana and Papa. We then promptly all went to bed. The girls met their brothers in the morning. We spent the day playing and getting to know each other.
They have been home a week now and are doing amazing! They fit so well into our family. Titus has great dimples when he smiles and is more tender and doesn't like to be corrected. At the care center I don't think they were told, "no." Titus likes to push every button in the house...microwave, dishwasher, light switches, Daddy's computer. It is quite funny to watch him look around to see if anyone is looking at him and then go and push it.
Silas is the funny one. If anyone is crying, he will lay on the floor and do this fake cry/moan thing. I will tell him to stop it and he will look at me and start giggling. He also eats more than all three girls combined. Our food bill has now officially doubled and they aren't even teenagers yet.
Sleeping is going great! We have found the routine of putting them in their own bed and about 4ish they get up to go to the bathroom and then we put them in the toddler bed at the end of our bed. They just play around if we don't put them with us. Titus actually slept into 8:15 this morning. Another bonus is that Nana trained Adie so that I don't need to lay with her anymore for her to go to bed. I am simply in heaven! I have been going to bed before 9 all week because this three toddler thing is exhausting and we never left the house yet with all of them. Church will be a first tomorrow.
Rowan missed the DC flight by 15 minutes and we were so bummed! That meant his seat was open next to me. The flight attendant wanted to seat another person next to me, but when I looked at the man with pleading eyes he said, "You don't want me to sit next to you!" Oh- I was so grateful to have a place to lay down for short periods of time during the 18 hour flight especially since it was so hot on the plane.
I thought we were home free with one last screening and then we would officially be in Ethiopia. We are always stopped because of Carl's camera, not a big deal until they say to us, "You must leave this here." What? Are you kidding me? Leave our professional livelihood with some random people in a 3rd world country??? I was exhausted and emotionally drained. This couldn't be happening. We sat there for 2 hours trying to figure out what to do. By this time it was past 10pm Ethiopian time and there was only a few people left in the airport. At the end, we put our camera at what they called the "store" and tomorrow we had to go to an agency to get a slip of paper saying we could take our camera into the country. (They thought we would sell it on the black market...yeah right)
We finally were taken to the guest house - to find out that it was not the one we signed up for. But we were so tired we just went to bed to figure everything out in the morning.
Monday morning was spent driving around trying to get our camera out of the pound. As soon as we walked in, I knew we were not getting anywhere.
We decided to give up and go and meet the boys. At this point we are very discouraged because we had no video camera nor still camera because we didn't bring ours because we knew Rowan was bringing two. Now with the new information, we didn't know if Rowan would make it through customs.
Meeting the boys was very different that I expected. I kind of envisioned going to a separate room and they bringing them in. Nope...all the kids were running around and we were no more out of the van and they brought them over to us. The boys had no idea what was going on. We sent photobooks but they weren't allowed to look them because they were returned to us out of a locked cupboard. There was no emotion really. We played around for 45 mintues and they said, "Okay here is the sign out book." Carl and I looked at each other with big eyes and both of us thinking, "Is this for real? Are we really taking our boys?"
The boys thought we were kidnapping them and screamed the whole way back to the guest house. I thought they might hyperventilate from crying so much. Titus fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. Silas just cried and cried.
When we arrived at the guesthouse we were able to bribe them with food. They both ate 3 bananas and drank a quart of water a piece. It was obvious they never had free access to food before. Plus I think they keep the kids dehydrated so they don't have to go to the bathroom very often.
We spent the afternoon getting to know each other and playing. It didn't take long before they were smiling and laughing.
Rowan came the following day around noon. I was on pins and needles watching him try to get through the last security checkpoint into the country. But as you know, he made it through with his camera and I was ever so glad to have him on this side. The poor guy was sick sick sick.
I don't remember doing much for the rest of the day.
Wednesday we went to the care center and two orphanages to take pictures of everyone's children. I wish we would have hired an interpreter because no one could speak English well enough to really communicate details. We could get the jest of what needed to be accomplished but we missed so many things.
We also stopped at the agency's office so that Kelly, who was also picking up her child, could fill out paperwork. It was stressful plus we hadn't really eaten anything yet. We arrived back at the guesthouse and ate lunch at 4pm. Beti, our cook, made us hamburgers and I think we ate the meal in 2 or 3 minutes. We told her we would like supper at 9pm, but she thought we ate out for lunch and that she just fed us super. She was so gracious and made us something anyway later that night.
Thursday was supposed to be a day of great joy with the last hurdle finally complete...the US Embassy. We made it through, but left with more questions than when we came. That is all that I can say at this point. Many questions were raised with our agency. The last family went up and we were going to all go out to eat afterward for a big celebration. They came back weeping - saying they couldn't bring their children home because the US didn't consider them orphans, yet according to their Ethiopian court decree, the children were legally theirs.
I can't even begin to tell you all the emotions that were in that room at that very minute. I was in complete shock. I have never heard of this happening. I was numb. I kept asking God why in the world would he bring this family all the way to this point to tell them that they cannot take their children home. In the eyes of the Ethiopian government, they were their children, but the US would not let them into the country.
I looked at Carl and said, "We gotta call someone. Get out your cell phone." Well, that opened another whole can of worms because someone how Carl's cellphone made it through the screenings and you can't have cell phone at the US Embassy. Guards came and it took a minute to get everything squared out. It was an honest mistake, but they didn't see it that way.
We went back to the guesthouse with both families and pulled out every number that we could think of. We were the only ones with an international cell phone and the phone at the guesthouse didn't work because the agency didn't pay their bill. The next few hours were a blur. We ordered pizza - the other family had a driver and an interpreter - who were able to deliver the food to our guesthouse. (We had told Beti she would have the night off because we would be out celebrating) We finally sent our friends back to their guesthouse with our cell phone praying that we would hear good news in the morning.
(Now this made me feel really unsafe because we had no way to communicate with the outside world. The guard had no phone, the phone did not work at the guesthouse and the cook wasn't going to come back that night. I laid my worries and fears upon the Lord. I kept repeating to myself over and over..."The Lord knew this would happen before the dawn of time. He has it all under control.")
I could not sleep that night - I maybe got 3hours. It felt like the drama of this week was more than the CBS Sunday night movie. I prayed hours and hours for the Hacker family. We were all supposed to fly out at 10:15pm on Friday night. The US Embassy was open from 8-12pm on Friday. By noon we would know their fate.
We were planning on going to the market on Friday morning at 8:30 am and meet a couple that we support for schooling but our driver from the agency never showed up. I was extremely bummed. He finally came after lunch. He brought news that the Hackers were going home with all of their children and they were coming to tell us. I have to admit, I didn't believe him. I wanted to hear it from the family. They showed up a little while later with the joyous news. Only by the grace of God were they able to get their children home - hundreds of phone calls later, they were able to get the right help here in the US. God had a mighty plan for these children. They are wanted, loved and finally belong.
Talk about roller coaster of emotions...
About 2pm Carl and Rowan and Kelly went to the market. I needed to stay back and pack with Titus and Kelly's little girl. I am glad that I stayed, but I never was able to get out and really see anything of Ethiopia all week. I did get to take home the two most precious boys though so it makes up for not experiencing anything else. Maybe we will go back when they are older.
The flight home...was LONG! I am so thankful that my boys were used to sitting for hours doing nothing because in all honesty...they were great. But sitting for 18 hours is the hardest mental and physical activity that I have ever done, all the while being 32 weeks pregnant.
Being on US soil makes me so thankful for the sacrifices of so many lives who made it possible for me to live here and now. I wanted to cry, but I didn't have any tears left at this point. I had to keep moving. We were standing in immigration and the fire alarms go off. All I could think was, "You've got to be kidding me. We are 20 feet away from being free and the fire alarms have to go off." Thankfully, it was set off by construction work so we were all able to stay where we were. After getting some weird news from the immigration officer that Silas, "kind of sort of tested positive for TB" we made it through.
Rowan met us on the other side and I was so thankful again to have him along. Two two-year-olds who just sat for 18 hours don't like to stand still and wait. He help us chase them down and keep track of them. We parted ways to meet in MSP again (we had to fly different airlines.) We had our funny moments of chasing them on dead sprints down the terminals.
We walked down to baggage and we first saw the director of our agency and I must admit I was not delighted to see her with all that went on this week. I looked beyond her and saw the Stacey family and my dear friend Betsy (She drove 6 plus hours just meet me at the airport - I told Carl in DC that I could really use a coffee date with her. We haven't been together for over a year.) I couldn't keep it in anymore. I felt like the week of emotions just gushed out of me. I was so tired, overwhelmed and happy all in the same breath. I am sure Titus and Silas had no idea what was going on. All they cared about was "mackeenas" (cars) They are 100% boy because they LOVE cars.
I thought the car seat was going to be a battle, but they were big eyed over what was going on that it was no big deal. I feel asleep in the backseat while Rowan drove and Carl kept him company.
We tucked the boys into bed and waited for our little girls to arrive home from the ranch with Nana and Papa. We then promptly all went to bed. The girls met their brothers in the morning. We spent the day playing and getting to know each other.
They have been home a week now and are doing amazing! They fit so well into our family. Titus has great dimples when he smiles and is more tender and doesn't like to be corrected. At the care center I don't think they were told, "no." Titus likes to push every button in the house...microwave, dishwasher, light switches, Daddy's computer. It is quite funny to watch him look around to see if anyone is looking at him and then go and push it.
Silas is the funny one. If anyone is crying, he will lay on the floor and do this fake cry/moan thing. I will tell him to stop it and he will look at me and start giggling. He also eats more than all three girls combined. Our food bill has now officially doubled and they aren't even teenagers yet.
Sleeping is going great! We have found the routine of putting them in their own bed and about 4ish they get up to go to the bathroom and then we put them in the toddler bed at the end of our bed. They just play around if we don't put them with us. Titus actually slept into 8:15 this morning. Another bonus is that Nana trained Adie so that I don't need to lay with her anymore for her to go to bed. I am simply in heaven! I have been going to bed before 9 all week because this three toddler thing is exhausting and we never left the house yet with all of them. Church will be a first tomorrow.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving
We have so much to be thankful for this year. Where to even begin?
I am thankful ...
we have a microwave so that every time a two year old walks by he/she can start it.
we have a long hallway to race up and down.
my husband works from home so that he can rescue me from chaos.
we have a dishwasher and I have to make rules such as..."You cannot eat anything that falls to onto the door."
we have medical doctors who know that it is best to lock me into a waiting room with my children than leave me with the general population.
we have an over abundance of bananas so that when we eat 2lbs a day and that is okay.
Clorox wipes. enough said for this one.
my big girls who have learned so much this past week and been willing to help me out.
my triplets...I don't know how long it will be before I take them out by myself. I am thankful that I have a triple stroller. God must have laughed when I bought that three years ago. He knew that I would need it now more than ever.
we have one bedroom for our children and it is so beautiful to walk into their room and hear them all breathing.
I am thankful for all the laughter that is in our home along with all the spilled milk and messes because it means we have a home and truly live here.
I am thankful for my two year old who prays for her brothers and her own heart at almost every meal.
And most of all, I am thankful I have a savior who died for me and for my sins and that through this next year HIS joy will be my strength.
I am thankful ...
we have a microwave so that every time a two year old walks by he/she can start it.
we have a long hallway to race up and down.
my husband works from home so that he can rescue me from chaos.
we have a dishwasher and I have to make rules such as..."You cannot eat anything that falls to onto the door."
we have medical doctors who know that it is best to lock me into a waiting room with my children than leave me with the general population.
we have an over abundance of bananas so that when we eat 2lbs a day and that is okay.
Clorox wipes. enough said for this one.
my big girls who have learned so much this past week and been willing to help me out.
my triplets...I don't know how long it will be before I take them out by myself. I am thankful that I have a triple stroller. God must have laughed when I bought that three years ago. He knew that I would need it now more than ever.
we have one bedroom for our children and it is so beautiful to walk into their room and hear them all breathing.
I am thankful for all the laughter that is in our home along with all the spilled milk and messes because it means we have a home and truly live here.
I am thankful for my two year old who prays for her brothers and her own heart at almost every meal.
And most of all, I am thankful I have a savior who died for me and for my sins and that through this next year HIS joy will be my strength.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Meeting Nanna and Papa
The boys are continuing to adjust to life at home as well as being typical two-year-olds. They giggle, love to be chased, and have their moments of crying too.
Nanna and Papa stopped by yesterday and had a great time getting acquainted with the boys. They truly are loved beyond all measure.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Double Trouble
The boys were up and at 'em at 2:00 am. I don't think they are adjusted quite yet.
We tried everything to keep them quiet in their own bed. Carl must have went into their room about 10 times. One of those times, Lydia was crying uncontrollably. When he finally got back to tell me what was wrong he was laughing. Apparently, Silas and Titus ate almost her whole box of Tic-tacs that she just got from Nana. (And they thought it was funny) Lydia is my saver - she would have made the box last a month. She was so distraught over the fact they would actually take something of hers. Carl reassured her that we would buy her some more tomorrow. But I could hear her telling them, "No, no Silas and Titus! It is not nice to take other people's things and eat them."
Every time we would leave the room, Silas would say, "Good night, good-bye, Chao" and then giggle.
We finally put them in our room at 5:00 am and they actually went back to sleep. The problem is that I haven't.
Today is going to be a LONG day...no one likes to start it at 2 in the morning. Hopefully everyone will nap this afternoon.
We tried everything to keep them quiet in their own bed. Carl must have went into their room about 10 times. One of those times, Lydia was crying uncontrollably. When he finally got back to tell me what was wrong he was laughing. Apparently, Silas and Titus ate almost her whole box of Tic-tacs that she just got from Nana. (And they thought it was funny) Lydia is my saver - she would have made the box last a month. She was so distraught over the fact they would actually take something of hers. Carl reassured her that we would buy her some more tomorrow. But I could hear her telling them, "No, no Silas and Titus! It is not nice to take other people's things and eat them."
Every time we would leave the room, Silas would say, "Good night, good-bye, Chao" and then giggle.
We finally put them in our room at 5:00 am and they actually went back to sleep. The problem is that I haven't.
Today is going to be a LONG day...no one likes to start it at 2 in the morning. Hopefully everyone will nap this afternoon.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Couch Surfing
The boys met their sisters for the first time this morning. And after a few minutes of warming up, they're already playing tougher wonderfully. It's a clear evidence of God's continued Grace toward us.
We can't wait to have you see their beautiful smiles and hear their laughs in person - but until then have fun looking through this series of images.
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