Cybil & Mariah need to get their room updated! Vote at the link to the left here to help us win! Thanks!
(Apparently you can vote...a lot. Like once per hour. 'Cuz you really have nothing else to do, right???)
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Charles Everett is here!!
Here is a link the the hospital's baby nursery page with a few first photos of Charles!
More to come once we make it home later today, and then I am sure I will write up his "baby story" for you to enjoy :-)
More to come once we make it home later today, and then I am sure I will write up his "baby story" for you to enjoy :-)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Yesterday I had a few errands to do in town, despite the nasty heat and humidity. First on the list was a quick pickup at the post office. Well, it should have been a quick pickup. I saw a small package from a gal in Minnesota that I knew had just been in Zambia. I thought maybe she had taken a few pictures to send us. Instead I opened the package to letters from our sweet students in Zambia! What a blessing and thrill. I turned the car off (no A/C anyway) and sat in the heat and let the sweat and tears mingle as I read their letters of thanks, encouragement and blessings to our family. It was soooo wonderful. One of them sent a snap of himself, a few sent a greeting card that they had painted themselves. It was all so sweet.
We have occasionally sent them a family photo, some of the kids art work, some updates through friends going over for a visit. Last summer the kids used "work money" to buy each of the first 12 students a bible cover. They didn't make it that summer and so they were suppose to get them while in the States last fall. We never knew if they actually got them, so it was nice to hear that they did receive them and that they were using them to keep their Bibles looking "sharp".
I always get a kick out of their writing. For one, it is generally very beautiful-some of those guys have the most beautiful cursive writing I have ever seen. Everything is also very formal and proper-Queen's English you know. And everything is spelled very phonetically, even if pronounced wrong. Most of them have troubles with their "L"s, so instead of Kelly Jo, I was often Kerry Jo, and so they wrote it that way. But it's funny that they also got their "R"s then mixed up with the "L"s as Myron became Milon or something similar. Hayree was another great one, but now of them mixed up the "great king Henry." :) Such simple things, such sweet memories.
Such sincerity in their words. These weren't written just to be written. There were specific memories, words of thanksgiving, notes of encouragement, blessings on our family. I really miss these guys, and considering how little time I actually spent with them compared to the kids, I can't imagine how their hearts break too.
I know there were some people who couldn't figure out why in the world we would go down to Iowa to see the students last year, a year after we left, with the heartbreak we went through. It's simple-relationships. Relationship is very highly valued in the African cultures; friends and family are a premium. And those relationships continue on. These guys will graduate from the bible school in a year and a half and from there we will probably not have contact ever again. So until then, we keep the little embers of relationship with them-for us, for the kids, for the students. I wish we could be there when they graduate to help send them off, to see them one more time; it's sweet to know that some of them have prayed that too.
We have occasionally sent them a family photo, some of the kids art work, some updates through friends going over for a visit. Last summer the kids used "work money" to buy each of the first 12 students a bible cover. They didn't make it that summer and so they were suppose to get them while in the States last fall. We never knew if they actually got them, so it was nice to hear that they did receive them and that they were using them to keep their Bibles looking "sharp".
I always get a kick out of their writing. For one, it is generally very beautiful-some of those guys have the most beautiful cursive writing I have ever seen. Everything is also very formal and proper-Queen's English you know. And everything is spelled very phonetically, even if pronounced wrong. Most of them have troubles with their "L"s, so instead of Kelly Jo, I was often Kerry Jo, and so they wrote it that way. But it's funny that they also got their "R"s then mixed up with the "L"s as Myron became Milon or something similar. Hayree was another great one, but now of them mixed up the "great king Henry." :) Such simple things, such sweet memories.
Such sincerity in their words. These weren't written just to be written. There were specific memories, words of thanksgiving, notes of encouragement, blessings on our family. I really miss these guys, and considering how little time I actually spent with them compared to the kids, I can't imagine how their hearts break too.
I know there were some people who couldn't figure out why in the world we would go down to Iowa to see the students last year, a year after we left, with the heartbreak we went through. It's simple-relationships. Relationship is very highly valued in the African cultures; friends and family are a premium. And those relationships continue on. These guys will graduate from the bible school in a year and a half and from there we will probably not have contact ever again. So until then, we keep the little embers of relationship with them-for us, for the kids, for the students. I wish we could be there when they graduate to help send them off, to see them one more time; it's sweet to know that some of them have prayed that too.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
35 weeks, 3 days
Here's a new profile pic of baby boy. We're coming up on the end of the course, but it is still just a wee-bit too early, so I am suppose to "stay off my feet" aka bed rest until 37 weeks. I have already started dilating and when I am up and about for a while, I do feel contractions. It's not too big of a deal, I've got plenty of helpers...but it is of course fairly boring and I know the girls want to go to the library, and there are a few things I want to do...so I am only doing so-so on staying off my feet :-) My labor history is that once it starts, things go quickly, so we really are going to try to do what we can to hold off for another week. We'll see what happens. We made it through the big wedding weekend (although traveling there probably played a small part!) so there is really nothing left on the calendar for the month of July. 37-38 weeks is usually when I deliver anyway, so by the end of July this little guy will be here!
That of course means we need to get going on a name. We are thinking, trying to stay in the same "genre" of the other boys' names, without picking one with a nick name we don't want, or is not from a movie or show that makes us think of funny stuff... We've basically used a part of each grandpas name, so it's a little harder to chose this time.
That of course means we need to get going on a name. We are thinking, trying to stay in the same "genre" of the other boys' names, without picking one with a nick name we don't want, or is not from a movie or show that makes us think of funny stuff... We've basically used a part of each grandpas name, so it's a little harder to chose this time.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Just a few random, in no-order-whatsoever photos from the big weekend...
The five flower girls
The five flower girls
The three Jr. bridesmaids
the beginning of the trip began with a nap
Opening presents-our 7, brother's 4, and another half a dozen other kids. Can you say suffocation? And yes, this is pretty much what every Christmas is like too!
Joe and Myron kinda resting during the rehearsal
Myron was having fun dancing...and Kate was just trying to hang on!
After making it down the aisle in his own sweet time (didn't think he'd do it!), Henry decided to take a nap during the ceremony
Our shot at a family photo-most smiling, all looking at the camera-AMAZING!
Henry and Hailey were practicing their dancing
Friday, June 17, 2011
Just a little update about some things…
Mariah is back from camp and had a great time. We lost her purse, but they found it at the camp, so all is well. She has a horrible time remembering that thing… She is now on her stint with no big sister to help with kid watching, house work, etc. I am finding she isn’t quite as helpful as Cybil was… She missed her dad-asked where he was when she came home and was disappointed that he wouldn’t be home for a whole other day! :) VERY sweet!
Cybil is now at camp, right in the middle of her two weeks-she won’t be back until next Saturday still! She forgot her bible for camp though-got everything else she needed, but left that on her bed. Hmmm. She was great during her week without Mariah, very helpful with NO complaining. Way to go!
I am working on getting haircuts for everyone. Just Cybil left for the girls, and Joe and Myron for the boys, but I can do those at home myself. I am considering getting some highlights next week too. We got all the kids’ suits and dresses for the big wedding, shoes, nail polish, some earrings…oh boy what a process! :-) Only two more weeks until the big day! I found a top that will have to work. I limited myself on what colors I could get it-with everyone wearing either black, white or lapis (a purple shade), I didn’t think I should wear anything too different; I am sure we’ll take some family pictures. Which I am not super excited about at all-I will be a very FULL 35+ weeks pregnant. I don’t do “cute” pregnant.
Next weekend is Brian’s 20 year class reunion, and yes we are going. I know a few of his friends from high school, so I am hoping it won’t be too bad for me. I am not the most social/strike up a conversation person, so it could be a long night!
Pregnancy-wise I am doing pretty good. I do get some TERRIBLE pains around my ribs. I got them with the other boys too. I am at the end of 32 weeks I think, so about 6 left to go! So far it hasn’t been too horrible of a summer to be pregnant.
Way back in April/beginning May I talked about the home school conference and some of the workshops I went to, and then needed to do some things about what I learned. Well, we started that. Two weeks ago we took J down to the Intl. adoption clinic at the U of M to start some evaluations. The good news: they don’t think it’s FASD or even much RAD (more on that later). Some of the words we are learning about are sensory processing/deprivation/integration, sensation/auditory filtering, and possible cognitive disability. We are just beginning, so don’t ask me what they all mean right now, waiting for my first book to read to arrive. We have a few occupation therapy exercises we are suppose to have him do. We will be seeing a development psychologist at some point soon, and then a neuropsychologist who will do the cognitive testing. It will take awhile as many of these departments have long waiting lists. But we are doing all this so we can better understand how J thinks and then be better able to parent him. I don’t want to expect too much out of him, but I also don’t want to underestimate him either.
We continue to do some school-math and spelling and reading mainly, takes up an hour or less a day but helps keep them just a little busy. J is catching up on reading, H, G & C on math.
Brian continues to work like crazy whenever the weather cooperates. It is so weird to go back and forth from him here all the time (go away!) to not so often (when are you coming home?!).
Mariah is back from camp and had a great time. We lost her purse, but they found it at the camp, so all is well. She has a horrible time remembering that thing… She is now on her stint with no big sister to help with kid watching, house work, etc. I am finding she isn’t quite as helpful as Cybil was… She missed her dad-asked where he was when she came home and was disappointed that he wouldn’t be home for a whole other day! :) VERY sweet!
Cybil is now at camp, right in the middle of her two weeks-she won’t be back until next Saturday still! She forgot her bible for camp though-got everything else she needed, but left that on her bed. Hmmm. She was great during her week without Mariah, very helpful with NO complaining. Way to go!
I am working on getting haircuts for everyone. Just Cybil left for the girls, and Joe and Myron for the boys, but I can do those at home myself. I am considering getting some highlights next week too. We got all the kids’ suits and dresses for the big wedding, shoes, nail polish, some earrings…oh boy what a process! :-) Only two more weeks until the big day! I found a top that will have to work. I limited myself on what colors I could get it-with everyone wearing either black, white or lapis (a purple shade), I didn’t think I should wear anything too different; I am sure we’ll take some family pictures. Which I am not super excited about at all-I will be a very FULL 35+ weeks pregnant. I don’t do “cute” pregnant.
Next weekend is Brian’s 20 year class reunion, and yes we are going. I know a few of his friends from high school, so I am hoping it won’t be too bad for me. I am not the most social/strike up a conversation person, so it could be a long night!
Pregnancy-wise I am doing pretty good. I do get some TERRIBLE pains around my ribs. I got them with the other boys too. I am at the end of 32 weeks I think, so about 6 left to go! So far it hasn’t been too horrible of a summer to be pregnant.
Way back in April/beginning May I talked about the home school conference and some of the workshops I went to, and then needed to do some things about what I learned. Well, we started that. Two weeks ago we took J down to the Intl. adoption clinic at the U of M to start some evaluations. The good news: they don’t think it’s FASD or even much RAD (more on that later). Some of the words we are learning about are sensory processing/deprivation/integration, sensation/auditory filtering, and possible cognitive disability. We are just beginning, so don’t ask me what they all mean right now, waiting for my first book to read to arrive. We have a few occupation therapy exercises we are suppose to have him do. We will be seeing a development psychologist at some point soon, and then a neuropsychologist who will do the cognitive testing. It will take awhile as many of these departments have long waiting lists. But we are doing all this so we can better understand how J thinks and then be better able to parent him. I don’t want to expect too much out of him, but I also don’t want to underestimate him either.
We continue to do some school-math and spelling and reading mainly, takes up an hour or less a day but helps keep them just a little busy. J is catching up on reading, H, G & C on math.
Brian continues to work like crazy whenever the weather cooperates. It is so weird to go back and forth from him here all the time (go away!) to not so often (when are you coming home?!).
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)