My "Boring" Week

Project 365 got me thinking.

11 people hanging around here and I have nothing to report.

Nada.

Nothing.

Thought I'd show you the pictures that didn't make the 365 cut.

Here's the latest: Erika told me her nicknames for the boys.

Joshua is our "Asian noodle."

Trey is our "How now brown cow."

Micah is the "American shrimp."

Alrighty then. Three amazing brothers.

Cora found a leaf frozen in the ice and begged me for the camera.

Last Saturday Bob took a nap. That old softy loves the kitten.

We took 11 kids to the pool. 

Most everybody else left and we had the place to ourselves....

Pool pull ups.

Joshua loves helping with just about anything.

It's a good day when this one takes a nap (about once a week).

This one takes a nap every day for about 2 hours.

Then there is this one who sleeps whenever possible.

Cora has beautiful lines.

Amazing green eyes.

Erika asked me to take a picture of 

Derby with her front legs crossed.

My swimmer wanna-a-bees.

Explanation?

We play lots of games.

"Do NOT take my picture!"

Pig pile on Erika.

My personal favorite because of the four individual expressions.

There you have it. 

A glimpse into my boring every day life.

I couldn't be happier.

Really.

New LIfe

 We had a very special visitor this weekend.

Her name is Grace.

 And she became a big sister for the third time.

 Is there any greater privilege than a front row seat to new life?

 LOVE those 8 pound babies. Something to hold onto.

 Of the six siblings, we all agreed these two are look alikes.

 We took turns holding Levi.

 Welcome to life precious boy. 

Your brother waited a long time for you.

 Are you winking at me?

 Another big sister waiting for her turn.

 "Mom, can I hold him?"

 "I take my baby holding responsibilities very seriously."

 "He sucks his thumb just like me."

"Kisses."

"Levi, I love you."

Ugh. Another Diagnosis for Joshua

As I was cleaning my workspace yesterday, I came across the paperwork from the pediatric GI doctor and took a closer look.

Ugh.

The diagnosis: FAILURE TO THRIVE 

Just like that. In bold capital letters.

I took that kind of personally.

Even though biologically and environmentally, I had nothing to do with the first 8 years of his life.

My son is not thriving?

In China, maybe.

(Although I will always maintain that the orphanage he was in did they best they knew how.)

But here and now?

Does this kid look like he's not thriving?

He is definitely making up for lost time.

Emotionally. He asks for hugs and cuddles. He kisses me goodnight, a big fat juicy pucker.

Spiritually. Joshua wants to go to heaven. He's hungry for the Word and what it represents.

Academically. He is learning a new language, letters, sounds, reading, idiomatic phrases,  numbers, clocks.  He is very smart.

Physically. We've got some work to do. We need Joshua to grow.

We'll get there. 

Lord willing.

I Gave Myself a Hobby

A hobby?

I haven't had a hobby since before child number......can't remember.

One of my short term goals (if I had any) would be to learn how to use my camera.

Better.

I jumped on the bandwagon and decided to give the Project 365 a try.

No promises. My follow through these days is poor at best.

I'm excited.

The excitement quickly faded on day 2 when I realized that taking a perfect picture every day was impossible.

I also don't have to worry about representation because over the course of 365 days, I imagine everyone and everything including the fruit bowl at 10:30 pm will get airtime.

The pictures I have chosen this week aren't necessarily the best pictures of the day but they tell the story as I remember it.

Day 1 through Day 7:

 Rosy Equals Love

1 / 365

We started off the new year having Miss Rosy for the weekend.

  Bob and Micah

2 / 365

Late afternoon at the pool.

  Roadside in Maine

3 / 365

Slightly offtrack in Maine we came across this sign, an ode to Lindsey that we turned around and went back for a picture. Karate, Dr in Portland, Children's Museum, BJ's, Buffet equals a grand day out.

Three Skin and Bones

4 / 365

Boys will be boys and I celebrate that in this season they don't mind looking alike. We call these "skin and bones."

Karate Kung Fu Style

5 / 365

My own karate kids. 

They have been taking lessons since October 2011.

Sledding Fun

6 / 365

It only takes a dusting for the kids to have fun. 

Not too cold in the high 20's today.

Clutter

7 / 365

How real life is. "Before" picture of today's project.

Christmas Fun 2011

 A simple Christmas this year. 

 We were rewarded with true 

excitement and appreciation.

Everyone got a new pair of pajamas.

Not everyone felt that a picture 

in their new jammies was blog-worthy.

If you know what I mean.

The train set could be a blog post all on its own. We bought this at a wholesale club store seven or eight years ago when Erik was crazy about all things Thomas. After about five years, we gave it to another foster/adoptive family who had 4 small boys at the time. Who knew we would eventually have three more little boys? Early December, I asked the mom if they were still using the trains and table. She was tickled pink to return everything just in time for Christmas. What a blessing for the little boys.

To exemplify the spirit of giving, our biggest and pretty much only gift to the kids was a challenge. We gave them some money to spend. The only stipulation being that they all had to agree where the money would go. I wish I had recorded the comments and sweet conversation that ensued. Looks like World Vision will be purchasing some chickens and goats real soon.

Derby enjoyed her first Christmas.

After dinner, our good friends with 5 kids and one on the way, 

joined us for Nativity making 101.

I saw this cute idea on a blog and decided it was do-able.

Snickers, tootsie rolls, and a little frosting made snazzy horses.

Black licorice and marshmallows became sheep.

 Gum drops stuck together to make Mary, Joseph, and a shepherd.

 We had just enough candy but ran out of graham crackers, so we raided the pantry. Isn't the rice cake backdrop simply adorable?

 Our neighbor's grandson, Sean, came over to make his own nativity. I was grateful for an opportunity to share the reason for the season with a very special little boy.

 Everyone's scene was different.

 There was some snacking along the way.

 Big kids paired up with littles.

 These two worked together beautifully.

 Colored coconut added authenticity.

All the kids had fun as we created the Christmas story 

piece by piece.

A great way to end our simple Christmas,

celebrating the birth of Jesus.

The whole nativity making crew. 

Christmas 2011.

Best Advice - Joshua Update

Best advice this fall, from my mother:

There will always be something. 

When Joshua got home, we were flying by the seat of our pants.

Lots of appointments, doctors, surgeries, hospitals, shots, dentists...

I hung on for the ride simply waiting to get to where we could claim "stabilized."

And then in December we got there.

For a whole month.

Not one single doctor's appointment.

Major issues addressed.

Medication balanced out.

Energy level up.

English comprehension very good.

Adjustment going wonderfully.
Put your seat belt on.

Sooner or later with a medically fragile kid, 

there will always be something.

I took December off in my mind as well. I let it all go: the worry, the future, the unknown past, for a whole month.

I didn't realize how much I needed that break until we went to a specialist this week.

Who had already called the cardiologist before she came in the room.

Liver numbers, not so concerning. 

"Did you realize that Joshua has not grown at all since September?" 

"Sigh."

"Yes, but I haven't been able to get anyone to help us with that."

Ok, back on the treadmill. 

Referral to yet another doctor to discern how his immune system is functioning.

We will do a food diary and consult with a dietician.

Do they make fat laden noodles?

More shots, tests, doctors.

We continue to gather the puzzle pieces together.

Helping Joshua have the best quality of life possible.

Because this precious child/orphan-no-more is worth it.