Time to start blogging again me thinks.  Give me about a week:)

Anniversaries, Gotcha Day, Weddings, and Births

It's been a busy few weeks at our household.  We're exhausted but trying to get the best out of summer.
We recently got back from John's parents 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Washington state.  Not many couples make it that far anymore, healthy and happily married so kudos to Mom and Dad for that accomplishment.  It coincided with the Tri-cities hydroboat races.  I  never knew anything like that existed until I married John,  who grew up with them.  It was fun to see,  and now my kids have memories of the hotel as part of  Nana's and Papa's house.  Michael  told me today I'm going to Nana's and Papa's house and the hotel tomorrow.   He is so funny.  His memory is also incredible, as it was brought about  by looking at pictures I downloaded to my computer. He said I need to get on the plane tomorrow!   Phoebe doesn't seem to remember her experiences as well, although she remembered the wedding we went to today.  Funny what sticks in a girl's mind vs a boy's.  I definitely have a masculine boy and a feminine girl.  It's great fun to have their personalities like that! 

We also celebrated Michael's 3rd Gotcha day with us.  We can't believe it's been 3 years since this darling boy has changed our lives for the better. What a privilege it is to celebrate the day God entrusted him to our care.   He is sweet,  oh so sensitive(uncannily like his Dad, John),  has a great sense of humor,  and loves life and being a little boy.  He got to do it twice,  once at Papa and Nana's which was very special, and the other at home during his actual Gotcha Day.  His favorite part was opening presents and blowing out candles.  He can't get enough of that:)  We went to the Waterpark of America,  and he is also saying that he wants to go back.  We've been going there the past few years and he recalls it as "splash mountain and big, big, slides."  We took both he and Phoebe on the family raft and boy was that a hoot,  they both said the yellow raft was their favorite. 

Today we went to our nanny, Kim's wedding... She married her college sweetheart Jessie.  It was a beautiful wedding with a beautiful bride.  She loved my kids so that she made them feel very special during her celebration.  Sweet Michael said,  now don't leave me!  That is one thing that we know deeply affected him in his adoption.  He says to those he most loves,  DON'T LEAVE ME, in almost desperation.  He is finally putting words to feelings that he felt as a young baby.  It deeply affects both John and I as parents.  We reassured him that we would never leave him if we could help it.  But he keeps saying that whenever he feels insecure.  If only I could take away the pain he had experienced...

In the last two weeks we also welcomed a new cousin!  A little boy named Thomas!  My children were fascinated by him and Michael just loved holding him and of course wants to hold him all the time.  Both he and Phoebe were overjoyed that my sister told them,  they could be the boss of him!  Oh,  dear,  she doesn't know what she asked for...

50th Wedding anniversary

We'll see if this works. Here goes, it's the slideshow to John's parents 50th Wedding anniversary. It takes awhile to load and then you have to click through the pics. Sorry...

Catching up!

Boy, how time flies when you are having fun. These last few months have been filled with the wonderful antics of my toddlers! They are getting to be so much fun, it's unbelievable what they are capable of. Mostly, they make me laugh. They say this is the terrible twos, and terrifying threes, and I see a bit of that, but for the most part, these are sweet days and they are absolutely delightful. They are home and not at preschool this summer, and for 3 more days, I have summer help. This year I don't think I'll be crying when she leaves. For me, it took at least 2 years of getting over myself, that my time isn't mine, and the most valuable and inmportant thing I have to do is to parent these 2 busy and bright children! This is the time of their lives that I'm going to have the most influence on how they turn out, and I've been convicted that I am the best one to do that. Influencing how a child reacts to new situations, how they deal with new people, and stresses in their life, it is a huge and humbling responsibility. Mom's brag time-for awhile I was worried that my kids would have something organic going on because of their unknown backgrounds with their adoption, ie developmental delays, autism or some autism spectrum disorder, processing disorders...I'm finally feeling relieved from those worries. No speech problems or delays, no echolalia-where they repeat everything you say, they have coherent, thought out speech and original thought patterns not copied from an adult or caregiver, they can sit still by themselves for extended periods of time, tell stories, they have creative independent play(I love this part and watching and listening to them), no obsessions, or unusual fears, particular ways to do things or have them done, or problems with strangers, even those not good with children, or new situations. They also at 2 & 3 are able to do 48 piece puzzles with some assistance, and 24 piece puzzles by themselves. They color within the lines, and know their letters by sight and the sounds they make. Still working on their numbers, but they can almost count to 20 by themselves. They can swim on their backs by themselves for 10 feet, and flip over and swim on their stomachs. They are currently are working on learning how to take breaths while swimming. They dive for their dive sticks, jump into the water and swim back to the edge by themselves. I always get strange looks from people because Phoebe is a peanut at 33 months wearing 18 month old clothes-she might make it to 2T by her birthday...
They say please and thank you, and they often say "I love you", freely and spontaneously!
They go on plane trips like pros probably making elite status by the end of the year...
What's funny is they know where we are going in the car and will tell me when I make a wrong turn...they also correct us, Mommy/Daddy, don't talk with your mouth full. John almost lost it the first time they did this to him, maybe they can change a habit?
Of course they have many things to work on, and their are still some issues from their adoption, but it's a good feeling after working with so many children to see my kids are absolutely normal and very bright!!!

We have had a great summer and it's going way too fast. I had a health scare but now am training for a half marathon with John...slow going! We've been to the zoo, swimming, the children's museum, and we're going to try camping in August! We just got back from the Families formed through International Adoption reunion in Virginia Beach. We are headed towards Washington state later this summer to go to Papa and Nana's 50th Wedding celebration. So now that I've written far too much, here are some pics to go along with this post.

It's been awhile...

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This free picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox

ep, we've been awhile. Life has been crazy busy but we are enjoying life! Here's just a clip of how the kids are coming along. My shy little boy who loves to sing, manages not to sing when put in front of a camera, but likes to with a little help!

Michael's Cast is off and utube video

Above is a utube video made in hopes of bringing 65 Kyrgyz orphans home. It is very near and dear to my heart as I know some of the families waiting. Please share far and wide. Michael is a part of this video:)

Michael got his cast off on Tuesday. He did pretty well considering. However, it will be an adjustment for him as he relearns how to use his foot. His foot is stiff and feels different because of the cast and also because his heel tendon was lengthened. He is relearning how to walk. Our hope is the muscles in his calf strengthen enough so that he does not require another surgery at around age 5 where they would actually have to move an anterior tendon to bring the foot straighter. We are hoping his heel will stabilize. Right now he is favoring his foot but is moving around albeit slowly It pains me to watch him but he is very independent and insists we not carry him. What a trooper!

Cast pics and resuming activity

So here are promised cast photos. It was a busy few days trying to keep Michael still(ha), the best way was to put Michael in his carseat and drive somewhere with his foot propped up. Except for the fact that it was freezing rain and drizzle I would have done more of it. So we opted for more and more of Thomas the tank, don't spill the beans, and playdoh, along with a trip to the MOA amusement park and kiddie rides. Again, I can't thank Deb enough for taking care of Phoebe! I know mothering is tough with anyone that has a 2 year old, but even with the cast issues, it was almost like vacation taking care of one. I was much more patient, able to take time with Michael, and actually enjoyed his age group without feeling the pressure of having to meet the needs of another 2 year old, let alone the no boundary squabbling between the two. That's what drives me nuts. Yes, I know they will continue to fight, but at two, there is a certain mentality that doesn't tend toward peacemaking. It's all about ME!!! Now that I have them back it is nice to know the difference and to rethink how I have been parenting. I used to think twins would be great, but now all I have is empathy towards parents of multiples.

Enough about me, it was the sweetest thing when we picked up Phoebe from preschool. Michael missed her so much he went right up to Phoebe, grabbed her hand and led her to the car, holding her hand the entire way. It warmed my heart to see him so excited and delighted to see her! Phoebe must have missed him too since she actually allowed it, she doesn't like her hand to be held by Michael usually. So separation is a good thing for them but I was blessed to see how much they loved each other. Although it was nice being alone with Michael, I sure missed that little fireball!!

Michael is now almost back to normal activity. He is walking around
enjoying the noise his cast makes. And he is jumping on his trampoline. Yikes, not sure I'll tell the ortho that...no wonder he is making Michael wear the cast longer than we originally thought, to our dismay. He keeps asking about a bath, and going swimming...I keep having to tell him later. He calls it his big OUWEE!