School's Out for Summer!!!

End of the year activities always keep us busy the last 2 weeks in May.  

Kids having field days, half days, & award ceremonies.

 I'm so proud of all 3 of my kids.  

Autumn finished her first year of PPCD.  She's really made big progress on interactions with people & going to school.  She's learned a lot but she's still stubborn though. ;( She has also added another therapy to her weekly list.  We finally got her in feeding therapy after a 7 month wait.  So, now we dropped speech (for now) & replaced it with feeding therapy & still have OT & PT each week.  Not sure if we will keep all 3 once school starts next year since she will be in school 5 days a week getting therapy as well.  It just may be too much for both her & I to keep up with...I'm just gonna wait & see.

Gage finished 1st grade with all A's.  He got an award for Marvelous Mathematician because he's so good at those math problems & for knowledge because his teacher said he knows so much about many different subjects....I think it's the nice way of saying he's a know-it-all.

Madison was an A & B student this year...this was new for her because she's always been my all A student but she is taking pre-AP classes so technically her B's were A's. ;)  She will continue to take all pre-AP classes next year. She even got a 100 on her math final & math was her struggle this year.  School work is easy & natural for her...which is good since I am not much help with homework.  I'm also very proud to say she made lieutenant for next years drill team.  She only tried out for the experience of try-outs since she will have to try-out in high school.  I told her she would probably make it but she said there is no way.  She does not know how good she can dance.  I think this finally convinced her she does dance well...they never seem to believe mom's words.  

So, I officially have an 8th grader, 2nd grader, & pre-schooler

 (hopefully child #4 will be here before school starts in the fall)

On Memorial Day we went to the lake to play.

Cousin Steph pulling the girls on the waverunner

Jordyn & Madison about to go tubing

Girls riding the hotdog

Gage chillin in the canoe

 

 

 

It was such a fun day in the sun.  We hope to go to the lake more this summer...it is only a 15 min drive from our house.  Summer has begun for us but I've been sick so day 1 we did not get to go anywhere but today I took them to Six Flags for a couple of hours.  It was nice having no lines to stand in but I'm sure that will be the last time this summer that will happen.  We always have a list of activities planned for the summer to keep the kids from getting bored.  I use to hate summers but now that there are actually places to go in the metroplex, it makes it so much fun!  I just hope I get a new son before the summer ends so he can make some fun memories with us.

It's pouring down rain...

After posting my "between the rain" post...God has made the rain pour around here. We have another new child possibility as well as the child I spoke of last week. Waiting on the next step for child #1 & waiting on an updated evaluation on #2 which should be done by June 10th. God took us from 0 to 2 in a week. :) I'm excited to see which he chooses for us or if He has a completely different child in mind..it's all in His hands & timing. Stay tuned. ;)

Meet Pete

This is our new foster dog named Pete.  I could not of gotten a better dog for our first animal foster experience.  I walked in to request a small dog since that is what the kids wanted but told them I'd take whatever would help them most.  I walked into the area where they board all the dogs.  They have about 40 concrete enclosures & each closure had either 3 or 4 small dogs in one or 2 large dogs to a cage.  The only single cages were for the dogs who do not do well with other dogs.  The lady walked by each cage trying to decide which one would go well into our home.  She came to a cage & there wa Pete being tormented by his cage mate.  The dog was non-stop barking at him while Pete sat still with his head held looking up & showing his large white teeth (probably growling as well).  He looked mean but was not even attempting to snap at the dog pestering him.  The lady explained Pete would be good since he really needs to get away from this annoying cage mate.  His sweet demeanor got him a ticket to be this dog's mate since he would tolerate the dog without hurting him.  As soon as she pulled Pete out of he cage, he started wagging his tail & was so happy. She brought him to me & he greeted me with some licks to my hand.  We discovered he had some nasty looking bites on his ears & neck from his cage mate. :( I could not say no to this guy.  He was found on a pile of rubble after all those tornados had hit the DFW area.  He came to the shelter scared but has been warming up.  He's about a 6-8 month old lab mix. 

I had to pick him up to get him in my car since he was scared.  We got home & him & Layla got along like they have known each other forever.  They play some but also are both very calm in the house.  I was not sure if Pete was potty trained or not or how he would do with the kids.  As soon as him & Layla met, I gave them both a bath.  Pete was not fond of the bath but he smelled like a typcal shelter dog.  He was starving & so he ate afterwards.  He went to go check Autumn out...he's so gentle when around her & she seemed to really like him.  She usually ignores dogs or pushed them away but she crawled right over to Pete to see him & smiled.  Pete & I then walked to meet Gage at the bus stop.  As soon as Gage ran toward him, Pete crouched on the ground & crawled to meet Gage.  It was so cute!  He's a little jumpy so I'm sure he probably got hit when in trouble in the past.  He also will snatch any food within reach so we have had to be cautious.  Layla is really good about leaving food alone most of the time.  He's been caught chewing on my rug but as soon as we tell him no, he stops & understands he's in trouble.  I think he's potty trained mostly...today he came to Autumn's room & started whining to me & I said. "Wanna go outside" & he ran straight to the door.  He has had only 2 accidents.  He also has not even attempted to go upstairs where all the carpet is.  Even when we head upstairs he stays at the bottom..I hope it stays that way so my carpet stays clean & the toys are safe from being destroyed.  I have a large kennel in our room so at night he walks straight into the kennel & lays down for bed.  He is such a good dog!  I hope he can be adoped before having to take him back to the shelter, I don't want for him to have to return.  We will keep him until they have room at the shelter again or until I'm tired of caring for 2 dogs or until he's adopted.  :) 

I'm sure I wrote more details than you cared to read but animals have always been one of my greatest passions.  I've missed working with animals (other than my own) since having Autumn so it's nice I can do something I love again while still being able to tend to my duties at home.  So, if anyone in the DFW area is looking for the perfect family dog...Pete would be great for your home.  :)

Between the Rain

It has been 47 days since I have heard from our adoption caseworker. I've been trying to be patient but I'm not. I have been trying to understand the silence is a time of growth but it's been hard. Yesterday I pulled into my driveway & the thought came to mind to not pursue adoption, I was having doubts that I am capable for this calling God placed in my heart. I know God told us to adopt but was thinking maybe He just wanted to see if I would make the first step in obedience but it was not meant to carry out to the end.

About 4 hours later, I went to my ladies bible study that I do bi-weekly with my growth group. We are studying the Beth Moore study over the book of James. Great study! Tonight Beth talked about the rainy times in our lives. Those times you feel God's spirit downpouring on you. Everything you read, every sermon you hear speaks directly to you & God is shouting at you. Those are the times we wish lasted always. However, we have "between the rain" times where you wonder if God disappeared because you hear nothing from Him. Silence. It's these times that we are to remain faithful to His calling on our lives. She talked of crops. Crops have their dry & wet seasons. Both are crucial & needed to deliver healthy crops. If all the crops got were rain, they would be flooded & would die. In our dry seasons of life, God is "under" the soil working on us & preparing us for the rain to fall on us. Dry seasons can last a long time & it our faithfulness of the unseen work & quiteness that bring the rains eventually. She talked of endurance & perseverance to keep going when called by God & not lose faith or doubt the calling. She quoted the verse (didn't write down where it was found) about how God promises at sunrise, He will bring your rain.  At that moment I silently said a prayer to God.

"God, bring my rain tomorrow at sunrise.  Let me awake to an e-mail from our adoption caseworker about a child.  Whichever child she e-mails about, let that be the son you have planned for our family.  I'm so ready for your rain on our lives"

My bible study began at 6pm & ended by 9pm.  I checked my e-mail afterwards & what do I see?  Yes! An e-mail from our adoption worker about a boy we had inquire about in March.  Coincidence? No way!  She sent the e-mail at 5:52pm.  God had answered my prayer before I had even asked it.  He allowed me to ask the prayer so that when I checked my e-mail I would have no doubt it was God's doing.  I have faith in our calling, in God's timing, and that this boy will be our son soon.  I love that God didn't wait until sunrise to answer my prayer, He knew my needs before I asked.

We read his psychological evaluation & said we wanted to see what the next step is...we are leaving it to God from here on.  I know He is faithful & thankful He continues to remind me when I start to doubt.  Will heep you posted.

Today my baby boy turned 8 years old.  His birthday are hard for me because he is my only boy (for now) & I know momma's boys go away more & more each year & I am NOT ready for that.  I am so blessed to have such a happy, silly, competitive, funny, entertaining, lovable, and sweet son.  He always knows how to cheer me up & make me laugh.  I love him so!

Autumn has been doing AWESOME since her surgery.  I like on her hearing report it states, "test does not predict how an individual will use her hearing." They got that right, she has perfect but selective hearing.  :)

I just received a call from the animal shelter today about fostering.  They are overloaded & begged me to come pick up any dog of my choice to bring home for either as long as I can or for as long as they need me.  They strive to be a no-kill shelter so the more foster parents the better to save a dog from being euthanized just because there is no room.  I'm sure the kids & Layla will be excited. 

Ear tubes & hearing test

We were at the hospital at 7am this morning for Autumn's surgery. Anytime we walk into a hospital we are always scared they will take us as prisoners & not want to release us. :) Hospitals overreact when they get a trach patient.  Anyways, we get signed in & back to the surgery rooms.  The nurse asks normal questions & listens to Autumn lungs.  They are not clear, they never are in the morning.  The drs who are going to do the 2 procedures come in to introduce themselves & see if we have any questions.  The anesthesiologist comes in to go over things as well.  He already starts in about us maybe needing to be admitted after the surgery because of all she has going on.  He repeats himself several times, which is making me so nervous that he's going to be one of those who likes to admit for everything.  I hate overly cautious drs.  They take Autumn back & she was actually smiling as they wheeled her bed down the halls.  I warned the nurse she may get so upset that she turns blue because she does that now so I was really nervous letting her go.  The nurse was singing to her as we walked down the hall & Autumn kept looking back to make sure we were following but smiling too.  It made it SO much easier to let her go but it does get harder as she gets older & starts to understand more.  She was back for an hour & then they called us in to talk with the doctors.  The audiologists came in first.  She said to do the hearing test, they put a few probes on her head (like they do with an EEG) and read her brain response when they play sounds.  They do loud & quiet songs until the brain does not respond & that gives them an idea of how much she can or can't hear.  She said the test looked PERFECT! Autumn has perfect hearing & her brain responded beautifully.  YAY!  As we waited for the dr who did the tubes to come in, they wanted me to go back to the recovery room with Autumn & take her ventilator.  When I walked into recovery, Autumn was already awake.  I put her on her vent & her sats were great.  The nurse said she should be going home because she did so great & is doing good.  Her chest sounds were clear.  She said they will keep her for 1.5 hours to observe her just to make sure she's fully awake & off the vent before going home.  The discharge nurse then took over & gave us our instructions & waited with us.  Autumn would desat like normal but would not move because she has an IV in one arm & the blood pressure cuff on her other arm.  I held Elmo on the ipad for her to watch & kept trying to suction secretions as she coughed them up.  She looked tired but content.  The nurse asked if I thought she needed motrin but her blood pressure was good & she seemed content to I declined.  About an hr later the anesthesiologist came in to check on us.  He suggested we keep her another hour.  I told him I thought we were fine to go.  He kept asking about if we had oxygen, ventilator, suction.  He acted like we have had not been doing this for 3 years.  I understand we are strangers to him & he was looking after Autumn's best interest but you have to trust the parents who care for her daily.  James even asked why he wanted to wait another hr because she will do better when she can get her arms free & sit up.  He said he would give us 15 more minutes & come back to make the decision.  The nurse & I raised her bed so she could sit more & wake up more, she was ready to take a nap at this point.  The recovery nurse came back in & whispered to me that Autumn is fine & if he does not release us & wants to keep us another hour for us to request to talk with the head of anethesiology (but we did not hear that from her). :) I love when we have nurses on our side, helping us to get home!  So, here he comes again....Autumn actually smiled for daddy while he was in the room & so the dr. asked a couple more questions & then said we could go home!!!  This was a COMPLETE God thing! I had asked people to be praying we would not be admitted overnight & God answered that prayer.  The nurse told us we were the first people EVER that she has EVER seen win the battle of discharge against that dr.  He keeps everyone & we convinced him to let us go home....see, all God!  As soon as we got into the car, Autumn perked up to watch her shows on the way home.  Since home, she has been all smiles & happy.  I am sure it feels good not to have fluid filled ears that make the world sound like you live underwater. :)  I am so happy that we managed to have our very first actual day surgery where we were not admitted the night before or had to stay overnight for observation...shows she's getting stronger all around!