Ethiopia Updates

Our dossier left Atlanta bound for D.C. on 8/4.  It usually takes 2-3 weeks IN D.C. to go through the translation/authentication process.  Then, it returns to Atlanta, gets checked over, packaged and sent off to Ethiopia.  On 8/17, yes a mere 13 days from departure, I got an email stating that our dossier was bound for Ethiopia!!  AMAZING turnaround!  THANK YOU D.C. folks for your expeditious handling of our paperwork!

Now, the panic is starting to set in.  We’re still not entirely sure how things will play out.  We are guardedly hopeful that we will still be issued a court date for November, but will not find out until after court reopens (tentatively Oct 15^th).  Notice could be very short.  We have SO FAR to go in terms of raising the funds necessary to complete the adoption process that some days, okay, most days, I feel completely overwhelmed and hopeless in that regard.  We have worked so hard to get where we’re at.  We have been blessed by the generosity of many.  Unfortunately, we have been chastised by more. 

Pardon me, for a moment, while I step up on my soapbox.  This is my blog, after all, and that means I get to write whatever I want.  People are entitled to their opinions and I'm fine with that.  Generally, I can let it go and bite my tongue.  However, discovering recently that we are not the only ones with these experiences, I have to get something off my chest. 

I’ve often wondered how anyone could look into the eyes of a child in need and not feel the desire to help.  I’ve wondered how people could turn their backs on loved ones or strangers in a time of need.  How could people be so content living within their four walls, ignoring all of the pain and suffering in the world.  I realized I used to be one of them.  Then, we set out on the path of adoption and my world was forever changed.  My eyes were opened to an entirely different world.  I began to see things more clearly.  I began to connect with many other families who, like us, were faced with many of these same adversities.  Over the years, I have been chastised, berated, and scolded.  I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that “if we can’t afford to adopt, we shouldn’t be doing it.”  To clarify, I’ve been told this ONLY by parents of biological children.  I can say with 100% certainty that not one of these parents walked into the hospital when it was time to give birth to their children with 30, 40, even 50 thousand dollars in their pocket – ready to hand over to officials when it came time to take their baby home.  Perhaps they could argue that they pay good money for insurance to cover that.  Well, so do I and so does every other hard-working American.  So, parents of biological children who have felt the need to educate ME on why I should not fundraise to adopt – you’re welcome!  I and every other insurance-premium-paying American are so happy that WE were able to help YOU foot the bill so that YOU could build YOUR family.

Now that I have that off my chest, let me say that overall, I will never complain about our adoption processes.  We chose this path of family-building.  None of the processes have not been easy, but nothing worth having in life ever is.  The path to each of our children has been unique, exciting, emotional and rewarding.  I feel so lucky to have met and befriended some amazing people along our adoption journeys.  I have grown and changed.  I have learned some extremely valuable life lessons.  I now have a firm grasp on what it means to have and to be a true friend.  I have learned that there are people who will stand by me and support me even if they don’t always agree with me – THAT is a true friend.  I have learned that blood is not thicker than water.  I have learned that I am a much stronger person than I ever thought I could be.  I have learned that true selflessness still exists out in the world.    I have learned that we can do without a lot of 'things.'  I am so grateful for these lessons.  I am so grateful for what we have, where we have come and who I have become.  I can’t wait to see where the rest of our journey will lead.    

I know that what we’re doing is controversial to some.  I know that some don’t understand and may not agree.  Those who love us unconditionally will continue to support us.  Those who don’t won’t and those are the people who we do not need in our lives.  Harsh, but reality.  Yet, there are virtual strangers out there who “get it”, who understand us, who respect us, because they have lived the miracle that we are living.  After all, how can bringing children from poverty and loneliness into a loving family possibly be wrong?

So, we press on, we hold onto hope.  We pray that we will find a way.  We know that we will not give up; we will not rest until all of our children are home where they belong.  Life in an institution is not life.  There are three children missing from our home, our arms, our family; and with the
support of those who “get it,” we WILL complete this leg of the journey.

THANK YOU to those who continue to hold us up.  THANK YOU to those who pray for us and for the health of our children.  THANK YOU to those who have shown us support - financially and through kind emails and messages when I've needed them most.  We couldn't do this without you! 

GI Marissa

Another specialist.....why not?  A couple of weeks back Marissa had a repeat swallow study and an upper GI to try and get to the bottom of her constant self-gagging, intermittent vomiting and decreased appetite.  The upper GI showed significant reflux -and we're not talking "oh we all have some acid reflux" kind of reflux.  We're ta

lking an esophageal-gastric sphincter muscle that just doesn't do it's job and stomach contents that have a nasty habit of travelling back up into the esophagus pretty regularly.  Of course, the acid can do a lot of damage to the lining of the esophagus if it's not controlled.  She's been on a medication to control the acid for 18 months.  The hands down the throat trick is probably her way of either trying to "push" things back down or get relief by forcing herself to vomit.  In any case - it is constant and just plain hideous!

Our meet and greet with her new GI doc yesterday went well.  I really liked him and am soooo pleased to have yet another phenomenal specialist to add to our list.  There is not one doc she has that I am not thrilled with - there's a lot to be said for that!  We've got one phenomenal hospital and one phenomenal physician group!  He explained in no uncertain terms that surgical repair for her was not without risk and he would absolutely not consider it unless this became a life-threatening issue; i.e., chronic aspirations caused by the reflux, severe erosion of her esophagus risking bleeding and rupture, etc.  He also explained that kiddos like Marissa who are significantly delayed and have a multitude of medical diagnoses, especially CP and neurological impairments are more affected by reflux, BUT CAN improve over time on their own as long as we control the acid production, manage their diet and follow other "rules of reflux." 

So, the plan is to completely eliminate dairy from her diet in an effort to allow any possible allergens time to leave her system, do an EGD in a few weeks and take biopsies of her esophagus and gastric lining.  Depending on what all of that shows, surgery in the form of a Nissen may or may not be discussed, but I'm thinking not.  She may need some tweaking of her medication and diet yet, or it could turn out that this is all just Marissa's self-stimulatory behavior of choice.

As with everything Marissa.....we wait.

Water Baby

Marissa's new port allows us the freedom of regular baths and she LOVES splashing in the water!

Wake-up Call

One particularly.....challenging.....day last week, Esen said to me "I wish I was Marissa."  I asked him why and he said, "because you love her."  I told him I loved him, too (as we do at least 100 times a each day), to which he responded "she gets everything and you pay more attention to her."  Ugh - knife, meet heart.

It is true, she gets more attention, she sees a million doctors, she has five therapists who see her weekly, she receives medication three times per day and requires pretty much constant one-on-one care during every waking moment.  Esen has matured far beyond his age over the past year and it is hard to remember sometimes that his is just a little boy who still needs to be treated as such.  That day, that moment was a huge wake up call for me.  We need to slow down, take a breath, lower our expectations of him just a bit and remember that he needs time and attention just as much as Marissa does, just in a different way. 

I know that his life as a big brother is going to be very different from the lives of his peers.  He so often talks about 'when Marissa is bigger and can walk,' or 'when Marissa starts to talk,' 'when Marissa grows up and rides her bike.'  Sometimes he gets that she is different, but definitely does not yet see the degree of her differences.  I think it won't be clear to him until they are both just a little bit older or until friends start to point out to him just how different she is that he will realize the impact her medical needs will continue to have on her and our family life.

That all said, I do feel a small sense of loss for him.  It makes me sad that he may one day look at her and wish she was different - wish she was "normal."  Yet, on the other hand, she gives him a great gift as well - the gift of acceptance, patience and understanding that other children do not and will not have.

So, for me, for us, it means we are not doing a good job right now of balancing.  I'm glad my little guy was able to verbalize this to me.  I'm glad I have a chance to address this now and not let it go on.   Yes, we are adding more children to our family.  Yes, the challenges will grow and yes, some think it is the wrong choice.  For us, it is not.  Children are not a mistake, they are not an accident.  We do not walk away when things get difficult, we don't shy away from challenges - we face them, deal with them and move on.  The new kiddos will change our family dynamic for sure, but I believe the change will be a positive one.

Today was a perfect rainy day and the perfect opportunity for some Esen and Mommy time.  We went to see The Smurfs (a super inexpensive 10:00 a.m. show) and then to WalMart for Kindergarten school supplies.  It was so fun and Esen loved having 100% of my attention.  He was pretty squirmy during the movie, but there weren't many people there, so it didn't matter much.  I LOVED The Smurfs growing up and the movie was really very cute!  I opted to take him to the early morning, non-3D one because I didn't figure he'd use the glasses anyway and I wanted a smaller crowd for his first theater experience.  School supply shopping was pleasantly brief and fairly inexpensive.  I haven't gone through his fall/winter clothing yet and I know he'll need a few things, but I don't think it'll be too much.  The list sent out from school was quite short and my frugal, reasonable, fiscally responsible son decided he didn't need a new backpack or a new lunch bag because "the ones I have at home are just fine."   I LOVE HIM!!

Esen got a big kick out of finding the items himself and checking them off his list.  Kudos to the Elementary School for putting the exact pictures of the desired items next to the descriptions for ease of locating!  I can't believe that in less than a month my 'baby' is going off to Kindergarten!!

Nap time??

This is pretty much what happens at nap time around here lately. This goes on for about 20 minutes and then she wants out! It's cute, yes those are giddy squeals, and at least it IS 20 minutes that I can sweep the floor or throw in a load of laundry. Sorry, not much to look at - the video is more for the audio. :)

Getting It

It was another "routine" trip to the hospital today for Marissa and I.  We do them all the time, nearly every week or sometimes several times a week for one reason or another.  Sometimes it's just a clinic visit, sometimes it's for an outpatient procedure, sometimes we're there to stay a while.  In any case, every time we go, we experience something new and I learn a little.  Today was a kind of a big one.  Today we entered and registered through the adult side since Marissa was just having an upper GI and swallow study in radiology. On our elevator ride up, I was greeted by a mom with a very rambunctious what I assumed to be two-ish year old boy. She looked at me, looked Marissa up and down, and said flippantly, eyes diverted, "nice custom stroller - wish I could afford something like that for my kid."   I politely informed her that it was, indeed a wheelchair, covered by insurance, and that my only wish was that my child would be able to walk someday and wouldn't need it.  Then, I kissed my daughter and politely exited the elevator.  I get these comments all the time and for some reason they bother me more and more.  I shouldn't care what people think and normally I don't, but when it comes to Marissa, comments upset me more. Why do people feel the need to open their ignorant mouths?  Did their mothers never teach them that if they didn't have anything nice to say to say nothing at all?  People don't know what Marissa has been through.  She deserves respect and she doesn't get enough of it.  People still call her a baby, they (strangers) still come up and touch her, it drives me crazy!  I've talked about this before it in a post called Secretly Disabled. 

I digress.

So, blood boiling ever so slightly, we headed off to radiology where we found our usual spot in the far corner of the pediatric section of the radiology waiting area (as far away from everyone else's germs as I can get her) and there was one other mom and her daughter in the room.   The mom was, I would guess, in her mid-late 60's and her daughter in her mid 20's.  She was in a wheelchair, had spastic CP and was significantly delayed.  I couldn't help but watch this mom, the way she very gently placed her daughter's splints on her wrists, they way she fluidly stretched and exercised her muscles, they way she stroked her hair, the loving way she wiped the drool from her chin.  I was in awe over how slow and patient she appeared, how softly and kindly she touched and talked to her.  Then, it hit me.  She has likely done these things every single day for over 20 years.  I can only assume that she rarely, if ever, has trusted anyone else to these critically important tasks.  She will never be an empty-nester, she will always care for her "baby".  Other people in that waiting area saw her and no doubt felt very differently than I.  Pity is the word that comes to mind.  I don't believe that mom has ever felt pity for herself or her daughter.  I don't believe she has ever looked at her beautiful girl as a burden, but rather as a gift.  She looked over at Marissa and me a few times and smiled and I know she knew.  I am her twenty years ago.  I recognize that look.  It's a quiet, personal glance shared between parents of kiddos with needs, an unspoken understanding that says "I get it-you will be okay".   We may be strangers, but we are living a life that few understand and we can look at each other and at each others' children and see things that the average person doesn't see.  I have no doubt that she looked at us and saw the scars, the nystagmus, Marissa's McKee and AFOs, her CP posture, her wheelchair and she got it immediately.  I have seen parents in clinic and in the hospital and a few I have talked to.  I have given "the look" to some who needed it and I have received "the look" a few times when I needed it.  It's amazing what simple understanding can do for the soul when you feel all alone.

I looked at my little girl who has gone through so much and who, at times if I can be brutally honest, has pushed me to the brink of patience lost; and I want to tell her that I am in it for the long haul.  I will never turn my back on her.  I will be by her side until I take my last breath and I am okay with that.  I understand that she will likely not leave home to go to college or get married.  I understand that she will be with us forever.  I understand that will not be empty-nesters planning vacations and moving to a condo.  Our lives will forever revolve around caring for our child.  A burden?  Absolutely not!  An incredible, amazing, beautiful gift!!

Our Little Hero

We've always said it, but it's nice when others recognize it, too.  Marissa has been recognized as a Little Hero through Inspiration Through Art (formerly the Little Hero's Project).  As such, she'll be receiving a photo shoot by local photographer Michelle Allen.  Michelle has so generously offered to not only photograph Marissa, but our entire family AND give us a CD loaded with images AND the copyright so that we can print the images!  We are so grateful as it just wasn't in the budget this year to get our annual family pictures done.  After the shoot, Marissa will be written up on the Inspiration Through Art website so that hopefully her story can inspire others.  We're humbled and honored to have received this gift for Marissa.

Summer Exhaustion!

Today was one of those perfect summer days! Hot, but not unbearable; sunny, breezy. We ran some errands this morning and then had a picnic lunch in the back yard. Daddy came home from work this afternoon and we played outside in the water. Esen had a blast on his slip 'n slide and his redneck homemade water slide (who needs a fancy, expensive water park anyway?); and Marissa enjoyed some time in her little pool that big brother got her for her birthday. Esen randomly asked this evening if he could have the training wheels off his bike so he could try to "balance" on it, so we gave it a try. He took right off like crazy! He never ceases to amaze me! Needless to say - it was a VERY busy, and exhausting day and when dinner rolled around it was like a blast from the past. Esen used to fall asleep while eating, every single day at lunch. He did it tonight at supper. Of course, rather than help him, we did what any good parents would do, we got the camera and shot some video - he really didn't want to give up his bread!  Check out the video at the end - it's hilarious!  Here's a few pics from our awesome day!

Belly

I LOVE this belly - scars and all!  We haven't seen this naked belly in 18 long months.  We are so grateful that last Friday's surgery was successful and the new port was placed.  Theoretically, it should last a few years!  You can see it bulging a little off on her left side at the lower part of her rib cage.  It's a non-traditional spot, but because of the placement of her shunt tubing which runs behind her left ear, across her chest and down her right side to her  second distal shunt valve (the bulge under the scar on her right side), it was pretty much the best spot.  We're hoping the giant white square starts to repigment now that there's not a dressing on it 24/7.  Oddly enough, there's hair growing around her old Hickman entrance site, poor girl.  There's just one steri-strip left to fall off up at the tunnel site and then she'll be completely bandage and suture free!  She "helped" the steri-strips off the port entrance site yesterday - naughty girl. 

In other Marissa news, we're going to be exploring some GI issues.  Her self-gagging and nausea has become completely out of control.  If she's not being held (and even sometimes when she is) she is gagging herself constantly.  She'll wake in the middle of the night and do it, it's the first thing she does when she wakes in the morning, she does it when she 's eating, playing, doesn't matter.  It's obvious there's something causing it - more than just behavior.  The "team" has decided a repeat swallow study and upper GI is in order with a possible pH probe to follow.  Hopefully we can get some answers.  Until then, we run fast when we hear the retching and she unfortunately spends a lot of time in her arm restraint.

The Break Up

Goodbye, my friend.  Thank you for the years of cold, delicious refreshment, but it is time we part ways.  After all, should I continue putting something into my body that removes rust, removes oil from driveways, cleans grout, or removes corrosion from battery connections?  Probably not! 

Ethiopia Updates

Let me preface by saying Holy Cow is our Ethiopia process different from either of our Kyrgyzstan processes!  I'm sure much has to do with the much better organized, much more mature program and much less corrupt government, and certainly we can credit much of the smoothness to working with an agency that actually has a clue and cares! 

Ethiopia has experienced some bumps this year.  Most recently, many orphanages have been shut down.  Referrals have been lost by families.  I cannot imagine being as far along in the process as having been to court and then losing your referral because of an orphanage shut down, but it has happened.  Thankfully, so far, our agency has not been affected and our kids' orphanage is safe. 

We get an update on the kids every month like clockwork.  We get updated photos and an updated social/medical history report.  They are growing and appear healthy, happy and well-adjusted.  Reports from families who have travelled and spent time with them are always positive.  They are definitely well-loved by caregivers. 

Just for fun, here's a measurement comparison of the kids (obviously, I don't have any clue where Kamila falls because we don't get decent updates from Kyrgyzstan):

                   Esen - 5yo            h 42"     w 33 lb
                   "B" - 4yo              h 39"     w 31 lb
                   Marissa - 2yo       h 33"     w 26.5 lb
                   "H" - 3 1/2 yo      h 34"     w 27 lb

So, you see, if they all stay nice and constant, I will have one set of clothes for my boys and one set for my girls!  How wonderful will that be?!  I have a feeling that "B" and Marissa will take off, though.  "H" is reported as being significantly stunted and Esen has really slowed in his growth over the last two years. 

H continues to not receive any medication while "B" continues on his previous medication regimen.  I still worry that they will fall ill, but there is just nothing we can do to speed things up.  We are, as always, at the mercy of the system.

As far as the process goes, unfortunately, the USCIS approval took F.O.R.E.V.E.R. and then our I-171H got "lost" so they've had to reissue it.  Our dossier, which has been ready and waiting since March, except for the I-171H, still sits untranslated and unsent.  We have now officially missed the deadline for court submission prior to the close of the courts for the rainy season.  It is highly likely that we will not get a court date until late Oct-Nov thus delaying the kids' arrival home until Dec-Jan. THAT is a tough pill to swallow!

Fundraising continues to be the most difficult part of this process, although we have been incredibly blessed and touched by the goodness of some true angels whose generosity kept us moving forward when finances were the only thing that threatened to stop us in our tracks.  While there is no way we can ever properly say "Thank You" or repay them, it is our hope that someday we can pay it forward and show the same generosity to another family in a similar situation as ours.  We find ourselves still facing the daunting task of needing to raise over $20,000, some of which will be needed by the time we go to court and the rest by the time we travel to bring the kids home.  That still doesn't include the amount of out-of-pocket medical expenses we will face once they are home.  We welcome fundraising ideas, donations, links to funding sources and any advice anyone might have to offer!

That's it in a nutshell.  We wait, we hope, we scramble for funds, we hope some more and look forward to the day when ALL of our kids will be here, under one roof, laughing and playing together.

WI-Kyrgyz Celebration - 4th Annual

Hard to believe it's our 4th year already!!  It was bittersweet knowing that we're still missing two sweet Kyrgyz kiddos who are STILL being held hostage in the orphanage when they should be here with their families, but it was wonderful to see the kids (who are growing like crazy) and their families!  It was HOT HOT HOT so the kids enjoyed lots of water fun and plenty of candy!

TWO!

Happy Birthday to my amazing, strong, resilient, brave, spunky, beautiful daughter who has taught me more than anyone else in my life ever could!!  Unfortunately today began with a trip to the hospital to come up with a plan for her perforated Hickman.  This line has been causing us grief for months now and it finally gave up yesterday.  They are going to 'attempt' to replace it (and I'm pushing for a port) on Friday.  Usually, they would just pull it and put a new line in a new vein, but frankly, she doesn't have any left, so they're going to do their best to "save" this vein.  Fingers crossed that it works!  She is just finishing her antibiotics from her latest bout of pneumonia so again it is a less than ideal time for undergo anesthesia, but we don't have much of a choice.  Surgery number 32...here we come!

Miss Marissa had her Birthday Bash on Sunday surrounded by family and friends in the scorching heat wave.  The kids (and Daddy after Mommy "helped" him into the pool) enjoyed the pools, sprinklers and a water fight to stay cool. 

Tonight, we just had a little cake, opened a couple of small gifts and enjoyed our little family. 

So much has happened this past year - so many changes, so many obstacles overcome.  My girl amazes me each and every day!  I can't wait to see what this next year is going to bring!

It's crazy to look back and see how much Marissa has changed.  While she is not your typical 2-year-old and she doesn't understand that it's her birthday per say, she definitely understands feeling special and loved.  She is becoming more aware and involved each day and I must say - girl LOVES herself some birthday cake!!

It Happens So Fast

A dear, sweet boy is very, very sick.  Matthew is fighting for his life.  Things like this can happen so quickly and unexpectedly to kiddos with high needs.  Please keep Matthew and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

A Challenge

There comes a time in each of our lives where we have to reach out to others.  For some, those times may be fleeting.  For others, those times may be long and much more difficult.  I was reminded recently by an acquaintance who had reached out to us that he, too, not long ago had been in a place where he had a dream and people reached out to help him fulfill it.  The people who helped him had nothing to gain by doing so.  What they saw was simply a human being who had a desire to do something good; a human being who had a passion and needed help.  They were compelled to provide support.  He succeeded, by the way.  In a world where people have become so private, so hell-bent on doing everything themselves and not accepting help from anyone else, it becomes much more difficult to ask and accept it when it's needed and/or offered.  Still, when a person has a dream, a passion, a desire so deep that they cannot let anything stand in their way, pride must be set aside. 

I got gas today, paid, filled up a giant fountain Diet Coke and wandered back out to my air conditioned van.  Suddenly, it struck me like a ton of bricks.  Every single day I live in absolute luxury.  Driving a car, period, much less one with AC, picking up an ice cold Diet Coke whenever my heart desires, running through the drive-through when the day has gotten too busy and the kids are hungry, calling up the doctor on Sunday morning and getting Marissa seen and treated within hours, coming home to my air conditioned home, sleeping on a bed, with clean sheets, taking a shower in the morning, putting on clean clothes, I could go on for days..........My kids, my sweet, lonely kids, know nothing of luxury.  They know nothing of comfort or air conditioning, of having their own toys or clothes, of having food whenever they want it.

We are at a critical point in our adoption process and I've been trying to come up with novel fundraising ideas.  I've been wishing that I had fabulous things to give away or sell or heck, if I could just win the lottery (of course I would have to actually buy a ticket).  Then, I thought, how about a challenge instead.  Why does everyone have to GET something to GIVE something?  Why do we not just do nice things anymore because it's the right thing to do?   Call it a Random Act of Kindness, Paying it Forward, Philanthropy, Goodwill, Karma, Mitzvah, whatever you wish; I want to know if people are willing to do it.

So, here it is:

1.  Pick a luxury that you can give up for 1 day - that's it - 1 day.  Do you stop at Starbucks, indulge in a nice glass of wine after work, stop at the bakery for a favorite pastry?  Can you give it up for 1 day?

2.  Ask some friends, coworkers, your hairstylist, butcher, postman, and anyone else who'll listen to do the same.

3.  Collect the funds from the 1-day "loss of luxury" for yourself and your "team."

4.  Donate it!!  You can donate to our kids - that's my preference, of course! ;)  We have several means of doing so, even a tax-deductible means that is managed by a non-profit 3rd party.  If you don't want to donate to our kids, that's okay; you can pick an organization that means a lot to you and donate to that as well.

5.  Leave me a comment here or on Facebook and let me know how many people (including yourself) you convinced to do it.

There is no catch, there are no hidden rules.  Any amount counts - if you're addicted to Burger King's 49 cent ice cream cones, then 49 cents it is.  What I really want to know is if there are still good, unselfish people out there who, when presented with the opportunity, want to help total strangers just because it's the right thing to do.

Really?

Pneumonia and a sinus infection.

Yes, really!

It happens THAT fast.

Summer Fun

Nothing beats a good 'ol summertime church festival!

Purple Cow Ice Cream makes anyone happy!!

Yummy Food

This is probably the coolest "homemade" game I've seen!

Games

Prizes

My "peeps" - when I do work, these girls keep me sane!

Friends


















And of course, no festival would be complete without music and dancing!

Tot-Hoarders: A New Show Coming Soon!

I hosted an intervention this morning.  Esen goes through stages of obsessions, this is not new.  Currently, it is "making" money and "writing" books.  He has been storing said creations in a large plastic tote in our living room for weeks now.

With the tote overflowing, it was time to finally sort the hoard. He, of course, did not want to part with anything at all, but with some discussion, compromise and not a single tear shed, we managed to get through the entire pile.

Sorting took a looooong time and some wonderful, long lost treasures were found!

We had LOTS for the recycle bin, too!!

We managed to get the super-important stuff to keep down to a very manageable stack of 'money' and a very manageable stack of books.  I'm so proud of my little hoarder today! 

Happy 4th!

It couldn't have been a nicer weekend around here - hey, we were all home and all together - what more could we ask for. The weather was excellent, although just a tad hot. Esen enjoyed lots of water time and we managed to get to the parade, carnival and fireworks. Our very dear friend came and stayed with Marissa so we could take Esen to the carnival and fireworks. I was feeling a lot of guilt for leaving Marissa behind because we really strive to do everything as a family, but truthfully, she would've been miserable with the crowds and noise, so it was best. She's been doing a lot of sleeping, which is good and her mood is pretty unreliable right now. I really didn't want to deprive Esen either, so "thank you" Aunt Jean - you're simply the best!!

Drinking his "coffee" from his mess kit coffee cup.

Ready for camping!

Catching Fireflies!

  



Safety First!

Ummmm.........not sure...........

My Boys!

These boys are not too excited about the festivities.

Nothing says "4th of July" better than a boy, eating a hot dog, watching a parade!

.....or a girl, napping under a fan at the parade!

Do you see how tall this slide is?  Do you see that blur?  That is Esen and I so wish you could see his face - priceless!  I thought for sure we'd be making a trip to the van for a new pair of underpants!  At the end, he laid down on his burlap sack in utter shock and couldn't decide if he had just had fun or was still scared to death!

Loving his first fireworks display!

She's Baaaack....

This is what makes every surgery, every hospital stay worth it; because she always comes back - thank you, Dr. Benny!!