I have been so busy with all my blessings that I have failed to do a Thankful Thursday post recently.
Today I'm thankful for...
1. NoBo turning 3 today!!! We praise God for his sweet little life. We're totally blessed that God chose us to be his family. He's learning more every single day.
2. My munchkins' ability to learn God's Word.
3. Miss B's ability to sign. This is her third year to take sign language at our homeschool co-op & we are totally impressed by all she knows. Last night Cowboy played song after song for her to sign. SO much fun!!!
4. Laughter!!! In the midst of having sick kids in the house, laughter is GOOD medicine.
5. The first quarter of the school year finished & the kids did well.
6. Our washer & dryer. And dishwasher. And other modern appliances in our home. They make my life so much simpler.
7. My foster parent support group.
8. Awesome students this year!!!
9. Bunco. Need I say more?
10. Dinner out with Cowboy & only 1 child this week. What a great time to talk and reconnect in the middle of the week. This hardly ever happens and it was such a treat!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Grapeful
Today NoBo did something AMAZING!
After visiting a child psychologist weekly for several months for his food aversions, being diagnosed with failure-to-thrive, working with different specialists to help introduce new foods to him, today he ATE A GRAPE!!! (Actually, he ate 3.)
What a HUGE praise to God on the day before he turns 3!!!
I wanted SO badly to take a picture, but when he actually eats foods we want him to we can't change anything about the environment in our home at that very moment. So...I sat here beside him quietly rejoicing over reaching this milestone.
After visiting a child psychologist weekly for several months for his food aversions, being diagnosed with failure-to-thrive, working with different specialists to help introduce new foods to him, today he ATE A GRAPE!!! (Actually, he ate 3.)
What a HUGE praise to God on the day before he turns 3!!!
I wanted SO badly to take a picture, but when he actually eats foods we want him to we can't change anything about the environment in our home at that very moment. So...I sat here beside him quietly rejoicing over reaching this milestone.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Our House
Yesterday in one of Little I's classes at our homeschool co-op, he and his friends were making pictures of their houses. Then, the sweet teacher wrote down what the children said about the things that go on in their houses.
Here's what Little I said:
I like to play games at my house. I like to play with my brother and sister. I love them. I like to play with NoBo. My mom and dad like to go into their room and play. I also like to play by myself. I also like to eat candy.
Hopefully you got a good laugh out of that. I know I did.
Here's what Little I said:
I like to play games at my house. I like to play with my brother and sister. I love them. I like to play with NoBo. My mom and dad like to go into their room and play. I also like to play by myself. I also like to eat candy.
Hopefully you got a good laugh out of that. I know I did.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Creativity Required
Clearly there are challenges in parenting a child with developmental delays. Our most recent challenge has taken a lot of creativity on our part to overcome.
Although NoBo is almost 3, developmentally is about 15 months old. Because we are unable to reason with him at this point, keeping him in bed has become quite a chore.
He started climbing out of his crib, so we put him in the Pack 'n Play, because he couldn't climb out of it. Because his adoption is not complete yet, he is still in the custody of DHS, who doesn't approve of a child sleeping in a Pack 'n Play.
So, we borrowed a crib tent from a friend. It worked great for a time, then he put a hole in the netting. I sewed the netting back together, but then he just spent his time in bed trying to put the hole back in it.
So...back to the Pack 'n Play, until I walked in on morning #3 to catch him as he was diving, head-first, out of it. The only thing we could think to do was to cover his Pack 'n Play with the crib mattress. It worked, but Cowboy was a nervous wreck about NoBo somehow having the strength to move the mattress so that it would fall on him.
After much thought, my sweet husband came up with this
I sewed a piece of fabric to fit nicely over the top of the crib. Then, I sewed button holes all around the outside of it. Next, I attached velcro to ribbons. Finally, I put the ribbons through the button holes and looped them around the slats of the crib.
What's so great about it?
1. NoBo would have to remove 6-7 consecutive ribbons in order to free himself from his crib.
2. NoBo can't stand in his crib, which has actually helped him go to sleep faster.
3. The video monitor can get a much better shot of him than it could with the netting from the crib tent.
4. The crib nicely fits under Little I's top bunk. Eventually, when he's developmentally ready for a big bed, we will remove the crib and place the bottom bunk there again.
Although NoBo is almost 3, developmentally is about 15 months old. Because we are unable to reason with him at this point, keeping him in bed has become quite a chore.
He started climbing out of his crib, so we put him in the Pack 'n Play, because he couldn't climb out of it. Because his adoption is not complete yet, he is still in the custody of DHS, who doesn't approve of a child sleeping in a Pack 'n Play.
So, we borrowed a crib tent from a friend. It worked great for a time, then he put a hole in the netting. I sewed the netting back together, but then he just spent his time in bed trying to put the hole back in it.
So...back to the Pack 'n Play, until I walked in on morning #3 to catch him as he was diving, head-first, out of it. The only thing we could think to do was to cover his Pack 'n Play with the crib mattress. It worked, but Cowboy was a nervous wreck about NoBo somehow having the strength to move the mattress so that it would fall on him.
After much thought, my sweet husband came up with this
I sewed a piece of fabric to fit nicely over the top of the crib. Then, I sewed button holes all around the outside of it. Next, I attached velcro to ribbons. Finally, I put the ribbons through the button holes and looped them around the slats of the crib.
What's so great about it?
1. NoBo would have to remove 6-7 consecutive ribbons in order to free himself from his crib.
2. NoBo can't stand in his crib, which has actually helped him go to sleep faster.
3. The video monitor can get a much better shot of him than it could with the netting from the crib tent.
4. The crib nicely fits under Little I's top bunk. Eventually, when he's developmentally ready for a big bed, we will remove the crib and place the bottom bunk there again.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thankful Thursday
It's been ages since I've done a Thankful Thursday post. It's not that I haven't been thankful. It's that I've been overwhelmed!!! So...in random order (because my life is full of random order)...this week I am thankful for...
1. My crockpot. She has served me well everyday this week. (Monday=beans, Tuesday=baked potatoes, Wednesday=pork chops, today=chicken for tacos)
2. Lost things found. Specifically, C-Man's math book found last night. We haven't even started on math this school year because we couldn't find it. Lucky kid, he's doing math today!
3. A confirmed mission trip to Uganda over Spring Break for me. I will be sharing Christ's love with some beautiful orphans.
4. The life of George Mueller. WOW! Everywhere I turn his story is there. What an amazing example of truly relying on God for EVERYTHING!
5. LOTS of laundry detergent purchased with coupons for very little out-of-pocket! I'm guessing it will be Christmas or so before I need more laundry detergent.
6. Wonderful students in my classes for this school year.
7. The anticipation of having Cowboy to myself in 2 weeks! No children, just us. In Washington, DC. CANNOT wait!
8. Cowboy never being a babysitter. I heard on a talk radio show the other day how some moms say, "My husband is babysitting the kids tonight." Wow!!! What a foreign thought to me. I'm so grateful that we are a partnership in this whole parenting thing.
9. God's mercy as he cleans out the crud in my life and I become more aware of my need to completely rely on Him.
10. The adoption that is in the works for some of our dear friends. This will mean when we get together for 4th of July & New Year's Eve, we won't have the youngest kids by far. (Nor will we be the only family that is colorful).
Counting my blessings today,
Jenn
1. My crockpot. She has served me well everyday this week. (Monday=beans, Tuesday=baked potatoes, Wednesday=pork chops, today=chicken for tacos)
2. Lost things found. Specifically, C-Man's math book found last night. We haven't even started on math this school year because we couldn't find it. Lucky kid, he's doing math today!
3. A confirmed mission trip to Uganda over Spring Break for me. I will be sharing Christ's love with some beautiful orphans.
4. The life of George Mueller. WOW! Everywhere I turn his story is there. What an amazing example of truly relying on God for EVERYTHING!
5. LOTS of laundry detergent purchased with coupons for very little out-of-pocket! I'm guessing it will be Christmas or so before I need more laundry detergent.
6. Wonderful students in my classes for this school year.
7. The anticipation of having Cowboy to myself in 2 weeks! No children, just us. In Washington, DC. CANNOT wait!
8. Cowboy never being a babysitter. I heard on a talk radio show the other day how some moms say, "My husband is babysitting the kids tonight." Wow!!! What a foreign thought to me. I'm so grateful that we are a partnership in this whole parenting thing.
9. God's mercy as he cleans out the crud in my life and I become more aware of my need to completely rely on Him.
10. The adoption that is in the works for some of our dear friends. This will mean when we get together for 4th of July & New Year's Eve, we won't have the youngest kids by far. (Nor will we be the only family that is colorful).
Counting my blessings today,
Jenn
Monday, August 30, 2010
I Failed 4 Times
I decided that 4 kids was PLENTY for me. I decided that if DHS called with a child, I would tell them our home is full (I've actually already done that before). I decided that my quiver is full (see Psalm 127:3-5 if you don't understand that).
Then I began not only to read Radical by David Platt, but I began to go through a Radical study with Cowboy & 3 other couples.
During the first week of our study, God very plainly spoke to my heart about my decision that our family was complete. He let me know that He alone would decide when He was finished adding blessings to mine & Cowboy's life.
So, I have been teasing Cowboy that after I go to Uganda this next year, I'm sure God will call us to adopt from Africa. I really have not heard that from God, but it's fun to tease.
Then, during the next week of our study, I began to feel YUCK! I started thinking back to the last time that I knew for sure I wasn't pregnant. In the busy-ness (& infertileness that has been our lives over the last several years), I hadn't a clue when that was.
A couple days later Cowboy brought home a gift for me, a pregnancy test. Failed. Because I had failed pregnancy tests with both of my previous pregnancies, we weren't putting a lot of stock into those results.
So after a few more days, I bought a double-pack of pregnancy tests. I took one. Failed.
Then I decided I was SICK of not knowing for sure. I scheduled an appointment with my doctor. The morning of the appointment Cowboy suggested I go ahead and use up the last test. Failed.
I told the doctor of my concerns. Had blood drawn. Got a call the next day. Failed.
So...now I have failed 4 times & still have no idea what is up with my body.
The great thing here is that I don't feel like I've failed. I still get to go to Africa next year. I still get to go skiing in February with Cowboy, the munchkins, and some dear friends.
I don't, however, get the joy of having a brand new, sweet baby next spring to love on and take care of. Or do I? Maybe DHS will call and God will tell us to say yes. Maybe He won't. Maybe we'll eventually adopt from Africa. Maybe we won't.
Hopefully, though, we'll listen and choose to be in the center of God's will.
Can't think of anywhere in life I'd rather be than that.
Then I began not only to read Radical by David Platt, but I began to go through a Radical study with Cowboy & 3 other couples.
During the first week of our study, God very plainly spoke to my heart about my decision that our family was complete. He let me know that He alone would decide when He was finished adding blessings to mine & Cowboy's life.
So, I have been teasing Cowboy that after I go to Uganda this next year, I'm sure God will call us to adopt from Africa. I really have not heard that from God, but it's fun to tease.
Then, during the next week of our study, I began to feel YUCK! I started thinking back to the last time that I knew for sure I wasn't pregnant. In the busy-ness (& infertileness that has been our lives over the last several years), I hadn't a clue when that was.
A couple days later Cowboy brought home a gift for me, a pregnancy test. Failed. Because I had failed pregnancy tests with both of my previous pregnancies, we weren't putting a lot of stock into those results.
So after a few more days, I bought a double-pack of pregnancy tests. I took one. Failed.
Then I decided I was SICK of not knowing for sure. I scheduled an appointment with my doctor. The morning of the appointment Cowboy suggested I go ahead and use up the last test. Failed.
I told the doctor of my concerns. Had blood drawn. Got a call the next day. Failed.
So...now I have failed 4 times & still have no idea what is up with my body.
The great thing here is that I don't feel like I've failed. I still get to go to Africa next year. I still get to go skiing in February with Cowboy, the munchkins, and some dear friends.
I don't, however, get the joy of having a brand new, sweet baby next spring to love on and take care of. Or do I? Maybe DHS will call and God will tell us to say yes. Maybe He won't. Maybe we'll eventually adopt from Africa. Maybe we won't.
Hopefully, though, we'll listen and choose to be in the center of God's will.
Can't think of anywhere in life I'd rather be than that.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Our Homeschooled Munchkins are SO Deprived!
We picked up Miss B yesterday & are currently hanging out in the Dallas area for a couple days as a family before heading back home and into the busy-ness of life.
SO many things have amazed us about how she handled herself without us near. Some great friendships were formed with the other people on her team. She had a great time reaching out to homeless people and innercity kids.
However, the part that sticks out the most in my mind is this...
We were leaving the YWAM (Youth With a Mission) ranch and saw an old school bus driving to the area that we just left. Cowboy & I suggested that it was probably heading to pick up a youth group that was part of Miss B's team.
At this point she blurted out, "I got to ride a school bus! I was SO excited! Everyone said, 'Uck! We have to ride on a school bus?' And I was like, 'Sweet! I get to ride a school bus! How cool!"
That's what happens when you send your 13-year old homeschooled daughter on a mission trip...She finally gets to ride a school bus & is excited about it!
SO many things have amazed us about how she handled herself without us near. Some great friendships were formed with the other people on her team. She had a great time reaching out to homeless people and innercity kids.
However, the part that sticks out the most in my mind is this...
We were leaving the YWAM (Youth With a Mission) ranch and saw an old school bus driving to the area that we just left. Cowboy & I suggested that it was probably heading to pick up a youth group that was part of Miss B's team.
At this point she blurted out, "I got to ride a school bus! I was SO excited! Everyone said, 'Uck! We have to ride on a school bus?' And I was like, 'Sweet! I get to ride a school bus! How cool!"
That's what happens when you send your 13-year old homeschooled daughter on a mission trip...She finally gets to ride a school bus & is excited about it!
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