just pictures...

OK, I'm slacking, I don't want to write. So just enjoy the pictures and make your own captions...rhey were taken about a month ago.

An unwanted trip...

Auntie Terry helped us out by watching Phoebe so we could get some rest, she used to be a pediatric icu nurse
I feel awful!
I don't like this cage!
A wagon ride is okay though.
Michael learned how to operate the hospital bed and of course TV remote:)
I thought I'd share about our trip to the hospital. We got home after Phoebe's court hearung and she felt really, really hot. I thought I'd just check her rectal temp since earlier she was 99.5 with the forehead thermometer, and had barfed on John before the court date. She was fitful on Sunday night, I actually had to rock her back to sleep twice. She wasn't particularly warm then so we thought she was teething. We were a little shocked to find that it was 104.5. She had no respiratory symptoms whatsoever and really wasn't acting like she had the flu. Both John and I thought that merited a trip to the doctor other than himself, we bypassed the urgent care and went to John's place of work as we figured she would have to get her blood drawn and the clinic doesn't do tiny babies well we found out from previous experiences. Well, that wasn't too fun, they failed on urine catheter(a nurse, her dad, and another doc). They had to poke her twice for her blood test and then barely got enough blood. Plus, she had to get her ears cleaned out of wax so they could view her eardrum...well, her blood test showed 25000 WBC, her urine culture was positive for nitrites and bacteria...she was given a shot of rocephin and we took her home at 1030 pm. NO we didn't stay at the ER that long, we first appeared at 530 pm, but she didn't have enough urine to cath so we had to wait-we went to small group in the middle of it all...only because hubs worked there was he able to do that...
Anyway, she woke at 330 barfing and gagging and burning hot, and bit lethargic. We gave her some ibuprofen and tried to get her to settle down but John finally said she needed to go back to the hospital, get rehydrated, and admitted. The doc working didn't agree with him because after they gave her a phenergan suppository(helps her with the nausea and vomiting) she drank a bottle of milk. Well, thank God the next shift came on and agreed with John, Phoebe's white count was too high, she was barfing, and spiking temps, so she needed to be admitted before it got worse. They had to diagnose her with pyeloneprhitis(kidney infection) at this point because of her symptoms. Normal urinary infections don't give you high temps nor nausea and vomiting. I know John would have pushed for it if the doc hadn't agreed, he's seen too many cases worsen that they had to be sent to the specialty hospital which is about an hour away.
So little P got a hospital cage-I mean crib. We thought it would just be a 24 hour thing, well, the next morning her white count was still 24000, she wasn't eating anything, and her diapers were dry despite the IV. Obviously, we weren't doing it right. I was cringing, everytime they weighed her, she lost weight, 2 lbs out of 18 isn't so grand. So we had to wait for the urine culture to come back. They also had to do an ultrasound, just to make sure her kidneys were okay and didn't show any pathology as to why this would occur in one so young. Well, after too many pokes and prods, she wasn't too aimiable a girl, and that was even when she was lethargic. This is the first time she's actually let us cuddle her without being a squirmy worm.
So the urine culture comes back and they were using the wrong antibiotic. The E coli they found was hightly resistant to a lot of the antibiotics, including the one they had given her. They do a senstitivity test on the bacteria to see which antibiotic would kill it, it was very surprising to all of us that it came back this way. This is what overuse of antibiotics does, makes the bacteria resistant to them. On my soapbox, don't go begging your doc for antibiotics like your z-pak because you think it makes you feel better, 90 percent of the time you have a virus, and using antibiotics needlessly leads to things like this. We thank God for the wisdom He had given us that to not go home after her round of antibiotics, and bolus of IV fluids thinking she would get better. My take home on this? If you have a tiny tot, better to be cautious. Especially when their white count is high and they are barfing and not able to keep fluids.
Well, the next day she was feeling much better after a couple rounds of the new antibiotic. She wanted to get down out of our arms, and actually ate a few bites. She was even peeing more. The doc thought if we felt comfortable taking her home despite her lack of appetite, he'd let us go. So of course, we sprung her loose.
Michael got to have a slumber party at his cousins, I think he actually enjoyed it while Phoebe was in the hospital. Also, her timing couldn't be better, John had 5 1/2 days off while this all happened.

I'm happy to report she is doing much better, sleeping much better, eating better, but I still think she'll lose some weight because she is not up to par. Her kidney ultrasound came back normal, but we have to follow up with a bladder ureter xray at the children's hospital to make sure that the urine isn't refluxing back into her kidneys.
Thanks to all of you who have prayed for us, and sent kind words to us. It truly was a blessing in a very stressful time.

A new American Citizen

Little Miss American Citizen

So this afternoon we went down to the county courthouse to make it official a second time, or at least get a US birth certificate! Phoebe R Collingham is officially a US citizen, not yet at USCIS until we apply for her certificate of citizenship, whatever happened to if your parents are US citizens and you are officially theirs, you are automatically a US citizen regardless of where you are born? Oh, of course, the government wants more money...oh well, in less than 45 minutes we were in and out of there! Glad to have that checked off. Yeah, Phoebe!!!
I thought this sign was funny for an adoption court...
don't you dare put that flower on me!
guess it isn't that bad
Even Michael had a part of it!
hmmm, this looks familiar...
Thank you, Judge Borene!

A first video clip...

Okay, I think this will work. I tried to get a clip of Phoebe walking in the dress Margaret and Milana Lake got for her, and I had my camera tilted the wrong way so you'll see it sideways. The dress is still a little big but should fit her perfectly when we go to Florida and Hawaii later in the year. For now, I hope this works...

Changes...

Wave petunias in the fall...
with a few surprises like snapdragons and last years "annuals"

I know, strange photos to have displayed first. My flower gardens are starting to die off. But there are still many flowers, kind of like our friends. As they age they are still beautiful, full of surprises, but you can tell not as colorful, not sprouting or as green, a little withered. That must have been like how my 92 year old friend, Lila Nieman, felt these last few years of her life. She was still very beautiful, wrote me the most incredible letters(I love those handwritten letters), and always supported our family through prayer. I know she was key in bringing home both our babies safe, and very quickly. She was such an encouragement to us during those days when family just didn't get it and often said hurtful things. She even remembered Michael's first birthday and sent him a card and 10 dollars!!! I was so incredibly touched. She passed away last Sunday...she inspired me. I met Lila as a single woman in my "frontier" days up in Alaska. She taught me how to fry up some great grayling, cook some carrot cake, and make the most tender venison ribs-I learned this while her son and my hubs were out deer hunting. We went up river on flat river boats 50 miles into the Alaskan wilderness at her spry age of 82!! She herself spent years up in Coldfoot, Alaska, as a school teacher with her husband. They built their log home in North Pole, AK, where my hubs and I met. I loved hearing her stories...I will miss her greatly, and I am sorry that my children will not ever meet her here on earth. It makes me tear up to know she had their photos up on her fridge...
I also have tears of joy however knowing without doubt that someday we shall all meet again and rejoice-celebrating together, for now so long my dearest, Lila, we will miss you!!!


I am often reminded that sorrow often is accompanied with joy. In the peace of the day, the south winds brought some fallish type weather. Not in the first picture(that was taken 3 days ago and it was 90 degrees) but in the ones that follow. We have dry conditions and a gorgeous 70 degrees! My children make me so happy during my sadness. The weather sure made Phoebe excited and Michael a very happy 18 month old!!!
our little pool
can I please pick it, Mom? my experiment with a tomato garden, I'll have to say not bad for a 1st try and no caretaking!!!
He's heading for the lake!!
fooled ya, I was going for the swings!!
on the way back
phoebe gets sidetracked
she tasted a maple leaf
mom had to get a photo
Being 18 months is exhausting!

Beautiful Summer Days...

We should be outside!!

I can't believe summer is almost over. The days are shortening, my nanny went back to school(that's a tough one), but alas, there are still some beautiful days left to enjoy. On one of the last days Heather was with us(yes, she gets to come back next summer, YEAH), we went to the Minnesota Children's Museum. It was a blast, so much to explore and play with!! My kids loved it. We'll have to say that both Heather and I were exhausted after that trip, and Heather is about half my age so imagine what I feel like some days...
Nanny Heather
Love the slide
Princess Phoebe
Prince Michael
My favorite...
WATER!!!
Mom, this place rocks!!

To help with the transition, my 7 year old niece, Rebecca came a couple of days last week. Wow, I couldn't believe how much help that provided. I got to sleep in, she entertained the kids for me, helped them go down for naps:) We had a ball, and both Michael and Phoebe adore their cousin. She of course got some down time, she got a felt board that she could change all these outfits on, and a piggybank that she painted and then baked so we could put some of her "nanny" wages in it. She was a joy to have!
The cousins had matching shirts
The back of the t-shirts!
Then today, I LOVE SUNDAYS, we got to go to my girlfriends house and swim in just fantastic weather. The best thing was, we shared a common friend, Rory. Rory and her husband live in Kyrgyzstan. They went to our church here, and last year we first met them while picking up Michael. By visiting with them we found out that Rory and Kat were in the same class during family practice residency. What a hoot!!! It's such a small world!! We saw them again when we picked up Phoebe, and they came home for the summer so Rory could take her board certifications again. So we had a grill out and then all hung out at the pool. Rory and her family go back to Kyrgyzstan at the end of this month, but we hope, when our children are out of diapers, to go back and visit them with our babies. I can hardly wait I know!!! So we wish them well as they go back to work there, may we see them again soon!!
Michael(& Phoebe too) loved the pool!
The "Kyrg" Gang

And the Brilliant Bloggers are...

I'm finishing my Brilliant Blogger award responsibility. Thanks again, Andrea, I often get inspiration from you! First of all I would like to bestow these fellow peeps with this award. There are many brilliant bloggers out there, but these are the ones I read most often!

1} Kami D.-unfortunately, she has a private blog, but you can email her if you want to see it. Just email me and I'll forward it to her. She has a son Kaleb who is just a week older than my son and they were orphanage mates in Bishkek, his pics have been known to show up on my blog once in awhile and I share a very special friendship with Kami.

2)Rachel-who lives in the same burb in Florida that my bro lives in, and has a daughter who was in the same orphanage as Phoebe

3)Hilary-my sweet friend that I hope to meet someday soon! Her daughter Anara was also in Tokmok but definitely did not see my little Phoebe:)

4)Jackie-she also adopted from Kyrgyzstan, and her daughter Nola was also in Tokmok-she has become a good friend of mine after meeting in Florida last February.

5)Margaret-okay another private blog, but you have to keep in touch with those Tokmok girls! You can email her at the link provided.

6)Ivy-I love her journal about picking up her son. Yup, private...but you can again try to get access at the link:)

7)Lisa-a fellow Minnesotan in line for a Kyrgyz referral!! Yeah, my children will not be the only Kyrgyz in this Northern State:)

Now ladies pay attention, not only do you get to award 7 more brilliant bloggers, you get to answer these questions A to Z!!

A. Attached or single? Attached

B. Best friend? Hubs

C. Cake or pie? Cake

D. Day of choice? Sunday

E. Essential item? Ice cream

F. Favorite color? depends on my mood, could be pink, black, green, or brown

G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears

H. Hometown? Minneapolis

I. Indulgence? One hour massage from my favorite massage therapist

J. January or July? January-I like snow, my hubs was born then, start of a new year

K. Kids? 5-my 2 Kyrgyz kiddos, my 2 dogs, and my Hubs

L. Life isn’t complete without? Family and faith

M. Marriage date? 02/28/03

N. Number of brothers & sisters? Older bro, a younger bro & sister

O. Oranges or apples? Oranges

P. Phobias? Heights

Q. Quotes? It doesn't matter where you are, it's who you are with. A journey of 1000 miles begins with 1 step.

R. Reasons to smile? my 5 crazy children

S. Season of choice? Fall

T. Tag seven peeps! (see above)

U. Unknown fact about me? It wouldn't be unknown if I told you :) Got that straight from Andrea:)

V. Vegetable? Tomato, if you think that's a fruit then asparagus

W. Worst habits? procrastination

X. X-ray or ultrasound? ultrasound

Y. Your favorite food? good spaghetti and ice cream

Z. Zodiac sign? Gemini

Now of course I have to add some pics of my babies...