Are we having fun yet?

Jeff comes home tomorrow. Ahhhhh.... I hope to not be needing a padded room by then. Let's just say this hasn't been my week for stellar parenting. Yesterday, I seriously had fantasies of driving off into the sunset alone, or at the very least, understanding why some animals eat their young.

I took the kids to the pond to feed the swans--thinking it would give us a needed, fun distraction. Instead, the kids annoyed the living snot out of me by constantly running off and not listening. I don't know what got into them. I spent the whole time (at least it seemed like the whole time) yelling for them to come back and being totally exasperated. Later, I uploaded the pictures that I took and wow...they painted a different story. The kids looked all adorable, with no hint of their naughtiness.

Did I just imagine it?











Awwww....

Is that not the cutest little dimple?!

"Come on, Kate! We can veer off into the woods. Mom's outnumbered and won't be able to catch all of us."

And they're off. Insert me yelling, 'Come back here! Wait for me! You guys come back here, RIGHT NOW!" ad nauseum.

"Why do I have this sick feeling that Mom is going to make us take a nap today?"

God's Word Stands Forever

Mom's at it again

"Hey, Zoey...Mom has her camera pointed at us again. Grit your teeth."


"Katie-bug, I just can't help but smile at Mom. You know me...I can't smother smiles."
"ZO-EY! Can't you at least just give her a monster face?"
"No, Katie...I crack up just trying NOT to smile."
"Argh, Zoey. You're hopeless."


"Oh alright. Sigh. I give up. CHEEEEESE!"

Miss Zoey

God totally answered prayer today about the decision regarding Zoey's foot and leg. Although the news is hard to hear, I know in my heart that it is her best option. The doctor very emphatically said that he recommends amputation. He wasn't sure until he saw her x-ray's--which showed a very abnormal ankle. There just isn't much to work with--and even if they did many, many surgeries and leg lengthening, she would still not have a foot that would be very functional. He told me that he could probably give her something to walk on--but she wouldn't be able to run or keep up with other kids.

Well...that pretty much clinched it for me. She is very athletic and active. It would be torture for her not to be able to participate in activities. She runs and hops on that little ankle in ways that make the rest of us wince. She needs to be able to keep running, hopping and jumping.

Jeff is on a plane to Italy, so I haven't been able to discuss this with him yet, but he was leaning toward amputation anyway, based on what the first surgeon had told us.

The doctor recommended that we wait for another year or so before we do the surgery. Zoey is getting around so well right now that he thinks its better to let her get to a point that she's starting to get uncomfortable. Emotionally, he thinks it would be poor timing to do it right now when she is getting around so well. He would also like her to have more time to get completely settled in our family before putting her through the surgery.

She is so spunky and happy that I think she will handle it pretty well.
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And now for my pitiful tale of woe, that occurred after the appointment (because I have no one else to vent to--ha).

The drive to the hospital is very convoluted. It twists and turns. Although I tried to remember the turns, I soon realized it was impossible and I would be dependent on the GPS. Well, it was dark when we finished Zoey's appointment and the hospital is in downtown Boston.

So. It's dark. It's rush hour. And I have no idea where I'm going.

No worries...I have a GPS. (Yeah....I can hear you snickering already.)

I got about three blocks from the hospital when I got stopped in traffic. The GPS said, "Turn left."

Well, I would turn left if I wasn't stopped dead in traffic.

As I sat there, it said in quick succession, "Turn left... Turn right.... Turn left."

I kid you not...it was losing it's mind. Then it went silent. Okaaay...well, I'll just turn right, since that was the original direction it gave. As soon as I turned, it said, "Recalculating." Argh... It told me to go back the other way. So I did. Then it said, "Recalculating."

For Pete's Sake!!! I came to an intersection while it was still recalculating so I had to guess which way to turn. And of course, when I did, it said,

"RECALCULATING."

argh!!

Needless to say, I seemed very, very lost and ended up in a bad section of town. Well, this was not good. The thing about a GPS is that it doesn't differentiate between roads in safe areas vs. not-so-safe areas. It was so dark--the streets were not well lit, so it made everything just that much more frustrating. My mind immediately began to run wild with memories of D*teline NBC stories about people who got lost in big cities and ended up murdered. Yeah...that was a helpful line of thinking. At one intersection, there was a creepy drunk guy walking up to cars asking for money. He came up to my window and just stood there. Staring. I could feel his eyes boring into the side of my head as I willed the stoplight to please change. If I truly thought he needed money or was hungry, I would have gladly given him something.

Awk...ward..... and a little scary.

I did get a bit panicked a few times when I would turn where the stupid GPS said to turn, and it would say, "recalculating." I started to think I would just spend the entire evening wandering and circling Boston.

Thankfully, I finally emerged from the city and was sent home a different way than I had come--which didn't go past ANY Panera Bread Co., which was what I had my heart set on eating. How rude!

Kinda like a scene from COPS--only without the cop

Stomach Flu and some time to breathe....

Only one child down with stomach flu this week--hopefully the ONLY child... God used the timing of it to allow me some time to reflect on my priorities.

One...that there is not enough time in the day to play with my kids, do the laundry, housework, make meals, take photos and read blogs. Oh...and do laundry. Did I say that already? Um...yeah, because I swear that it reproduces itself faster than rabbits. Seriously. I know I have 10 kids, but still....

So...back to my priorities...something had to give. And since I can't stop doing the laundry, I guess it will have to be reading blogs. Well, that's no fun. However...it's needed. So I may not post every day, and I may not read all my favorite blogs every day...but I will continue to post and read as God provides the time.

Enough about that...

Next week could be a very trying week, so I may not post much. Jeff has to go to Italy for the whole week (wah). Monday is a very, very important doctor appointment for our Miss Zoey. We have been waiting three months to see the specialist about her leg and foot. Her left leg is shorter than the other (by several inches) and her foot has no ankle/socket bones. Her foot is turned totally sideways so that the inside of her 'ankle' touches the ground when she walks. The surgeon we saw in Ohio told us that she falls into the gray area between amputation and trying to save her foot, and lengthen her leg. Best case scenario with trying to save her foot would be that she would never be able to bend it at the ankle, so it would stationary. I was very surprised to find out that they do not make ankle joint replacements (like hip and knee). An ankle joint gets so much use that it would wear out in a matter of months--hence, no replacement.

Before we adopted her, we knew that we were most likely facing an amputation. But after watching her run on the beach, play in the water, etc., this summer, it is so hard to imagine her trying to do that with a prosthetic that cannot get wet, needs to be cleaned (kept free of sand), etc. How will she run on the beach? How will she play in the sandbox without having to take her 'leg' off? She is a rough and tumble little girl--very athletic and loves to get dirty.

On the other hand, based on her athletic ability, the prosthetic would probably be a good thing--since it would enable her to move freely once it was strapped on.

Anyway...it's just hard to look at her cute little foot and imagine it not being there anymore. We are praying that the doctor is very decisive with his recommendation. It's a hard decision to make. If we choose amputation, will she be angry at us for 'cutting off her foot?' If we choose the multiple surgeries it would require to save her leg and foot, will she lose her childhood to a hospital (as the prior surgeon has warned)?

We know that God has a wonderful plan for our spunky girl and we trust that He will show us the best option for her.

Whatever the plan ends up being, we will do it together!

We love you, sweet girl!

Watching Three Year Olds at Play

"Um, Jakie, can you give me a wide on you bike?"


"OK, Doey, you sit wight here."


"Um, Jake, we not moving."

Wah...euhhhh.... "Zoey! Git off...you git off. You not sit on my bike! We stuck."

"Humph. You not be nice at me, Jakie."

Quick Trip to the Cape

It was unseasonably warm yesterday, so we decided that after church, we would drive down to see famous Cape Cod. It now gets dark here at 4:45PM (UGH), so we knew our time there would be brief. It was worth it, though, to see what I have heard about so often in books and magazines.

Jeff, who likes to plan trips like this, asked me where I wanted to go--the Cape is a big place. I shrugged and said, "Let's just drive down there and find something...you know, like an adventure." He looked at me and raised his eyebrows, as if to say, "Are you kidding me? We can't just aim our cars in the general direction and hope for the best." He got out the GPS, a map, and poured over both in an attempt to get us somewhere meaningful. Ahhhh....that is why we are good together. I have ideas and he makes them happen. Hee!

The fall colors were mostly gone, but I bet it was gorgeous a few weeks ago (when it rained almost every weekend).

First Stop: Nobska lighthouse

View from the Lighthouse

A sailboat, far out in the water

Jeff, Jillian and Molly climbed down the rocky beach to the shoreline

Certain unnamed children then had to use the restroom, so we headed back into the town of Falmouth.

After the purchase of the obligatory sweatshirt, we hopped back into the car for some more scenic driving and happened upon this beautiful inlet.

Fortuitously, this guy strolled into the photo frame, on his way to search for ??? Maybe crab? Lobster?


Then it was more driving to find a beach with some sand for the kids to play and search for shark's teeth. (We didn't find any, much to Chloe's disappointment.) Zoey and Kate got a kick out of watching the waves crash up and splash Mommy.








All too soon, the sun began to set and we had to head for home.


But not before stopping to eat a yummy fish & chips dinner, while enjoying this beautiful sunset.



The restaurant was also next to a dock for one of the ferry's that takes people to Martha's Vineyard. The kids were enthralled to see the cars driving onto the boat. (Mama was kind of enthralled, too.) We can't wait to go back!

One of THOSE weeks....

...you know...the kind of weeks where I feel really blond. "Blond, as in 'dork.'

Last night I had two parent/teacher conferences on the calendar. They were at 6:15 and 6:45PM. Not great timing since that is our dinner hour. To make things a bit more complicated, Jeff was out of town.

So...I rushed around, slapped the kids' gourmet meal, frozen pizza, on the table and ran out the door, carrying my own plate of food that I ate in the car. My rushing around was truly my own fault and had happened because of very poor planning on my part.

I got to the school and though it odd that it was dark and there were no cars in the parking lot. Yeah. That would be because, DUH...I had arrived on the wrong night. URGH!!! I went home and double-checked. Sure enough, I had written the conferences on the wrong day on my calendar. I ask you...what good is a calendar if you write appointments on the wrong day?

Blond... Or as my teenage sons would say...FAIL!

On Tuesday--or technically Wed. because it was just past midnight--we were jolted out of bed by the shrill, D.E.A.F.E.N.I.N.G. sound of our burglar alarm going off. It had been beeping for some unknown reason all afternoon, and Jeff thought he had figured out how to turn it off. Nope. Our oldest came skulking in 4 minutes past curfew and was seriously busted. We have no clue how to use the alarm because there is no manual (not that I would ever read it anyway--but Jeff is a manual kind of guy). Poor Jeff was out in the hall with the thing going off so loud it made you want to run out of the house. He got it figured out--and it shut off. UGH. He had to get up at 3:30AM to leave for the airport, so he didn't get much sleep that night.
Burglar alarm...

FAIL.

Our kids have now broken umpteen glasses on our tiled kitchen floor. This morning--another one. We have mostly plastic for them, but there are the occasional glass things left around by careless older kids. The minute they hit the floor, there is glass everywhere. We had a Pergo-type wood kitchen floor at our other house. I miss it! Tile and toddlers = FAIL.

The dog....she is in big trouble this week. Definitely a big, fat FAIL.

And me..as a Mom...this week has been a big, fat FAIL, too.

Thankfully, I have a Heavenly Father who NEVER FAILS, despite the annoyances of life or my inadequacies. And His creation never fails to lift my spirits. It was a nice day yesterday, so we went to feed the swans and I was able to take some photos. Hope you enjoy--and it lifts your spirits like it did mine.

This one has the sweetest face, don't you think?

This one is mean and always hisses at us. "Hey buddy, you might want to familiarize yourself with the expression, 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you.' "

Our Creator has a vivid imagination and loves to delight us with His...well, creations...for lack of a better word. When I walk by the lake, I am so often amazed at the beauty and detail all around me. I cannot figure out how anyone can think that a giant, cosmic explosion made this all happen. I have never seen an explosion make anything but a big mess.
Darwinism....FAIL.

Whispering Pines

A wonderful God-story has been taking place over the past week, and I have my husband's sister's permission to share it with you.

Last July, her husband was diagnosed with leukemia. We are praying for healing, but right now, he is very sick. The doctor said that he needed to take a vacation to get some rest.

Before they even knew he was sick, my sister-in-law (SIL) had been praying for a cabin to go to for their anniversary. Problem was....she couldn't find one...nor did they have the money for a vacation even if she DID find one. Then came the cancer diagnosis.

When they were told that a vacation was needed, they wondered and prayed about how it would be possible.

This was weighing on me because I knew they needed a vacation. But my brother-in-law (BIL) was so sick, how could they go anywhere?

I had no idea that my SIL was praying for a cabin to go to. Last Saturday evening, the thought came very strongly to me to ask my parents if my SIL and BIL could use their cabin. It's actually not a cabin--it's a beautiful log home in northern MI that God provided for my mom and dad a few years back.

I mentioned it to Jeff that night and both of us wondered if our BIL could even make the trip. The following day (Sunday), despite being busy doing other things, the thought of them going to the cabin, continued to be impressed on my heart. So finally, Monday morning, I emailed my SIL to see if they would even be interested. I wasn't sure that she would want to go--it's a 10 hour drive and like I said, my BIL is very sick. She wrote back so excited and and said yes! I quickly wrote to my parents, whom I knew would be more than happy to let SIL and BIL use their log home.

Then I got thinking...my SIL had mentioned that she had gone for a walk asking God for a cabin. What day was that?! I wondered if it was when God was putting the idea in my head to offer the cabin to them.

This was my SIL's response:

It was Sunday that I went for a walk. I can't say I asked for a vacation as much as I gave the hope, the desire for one back to Him. I was walking and saw this spot called Whispering Pines. There was this bench sitting among these huge pine trees.....I went and sat and as I looked up at those big trees it was like God was saying I'M SO MUCH BIGGER than all your fears, desires,hopes......My fear of L. not getting better, of dying, or not dying, but living feeling awful all the time.....My fears of the future.. of the uncertainy, the bills, the constant decisions..... My wanting to get away with him on a vacation, to a place to rest and relax, wanting a nice place, in the woods, (with an indoor toilet!), something nice! My searching for months but really knowing we have no money to do it.....FINALLY, OK, Lord, you know what is best for us. I don't have the means to get a place, but You do. You made all this (creation). You own it all. I feel like I'm losing it but, You know if we need a vacation or not. You hold us in your hands. You are the potter, we are the clay, make us and mold us after YOUR WILL. You love us! I trust you! PEACE!! On Monday morning when I opened your email I just couldn't believe it! And then when your Dad emailed that it was OK with them, I just sat here and cried. Then when he sent the pictures and I could not only see the beautiful inside, but the trees outside.....Wow, God had a plan so much bigger than mine and so much better! Exceedingly and abundantly.........

So God was answering my SIL's prayer BEFORE she even asked. And after she asked, He continued to put the thought at the forefront of my overcrowded brain so that I would follow through and make the arrangements.

"Before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

But it got a little better because God loves to do this kind of stuff.... A few days later, there was an envelope in their mailbox with a fun little gift of gas money from my dad (who is one of the most generous people I know). When my SIL looked at the return address with my parents' names on it, she was shocked to see their street name...

"Whispering Pine."

Healing A Tiny Broken Heart

Happy Birthday to our precious SaraGrace!!! She turned 6 today. How can that be? Having a birthday the day after Halloween has it's advantages--like being able to be jacked up on sugar for two straight days. This seems to annoy her parents--a fact she finds puzzling.

Awhile back in this post, I promised to write the miraculous story about her heart surgery. As you may remember, she was originally rejected for surgery in China and sent back to her orphanage 'to be made comfortable' until the end.

At that point, the family who had planned to adopt her backed out. We were waiting in the wings and immediately I emailed my friend, Amy, at Love Without Boundaries to see if anything could be done. Amy was already working on it and was able to contact Hope Healing Home to see if SaraGrace could be moved there for some TLC. It was hoped that she could gain some weight while a second opinion could be sought. The biggest hurdle was that at 14 months old, her heart defect had gone untreated so long. The unanswered question was whether or not her heart had suffered irreparable damage while she waited.

Jeff and I never had the slightest doubt about moving forward with her adoption. God had so clearly put her on our hearts and we knew He chosen her for us. We had an unexplainable peace that had come from Him.

Hope Healing Home occasionally was able to have heart surgeries performed on their babies by a surgeon in Singapore. The entire cost was covered by the doctor and hospital. The staff at Hope, sent SaraGrace's echocardiogram results to the surgeon to see if he would consider taking SaraGrace's case. The days and weeks ticked by slowly while we waited--hoping and praying that he would say yes. Every day that passed, we knew that SaraGrace's heart was at more and more risk to pass the point of no return.

During that time, God gave me the following verse for SaraGrace: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you." Ezekiel 36:26 Whenever things got discouraging, I thought about this verse and it filled me with hope. We were told by the staff at Hope that SaraGrace was a quiet, sweet little thing. As we waited, I thought often of this verse and wondered if her 'spirit' would change after her surgery. Oh....if I had only known! We don't call her 'Spitfire' for nothing!

Finally, word came from Singapore. The surgeon would see her! She was flown to see the doctor and we again waited to hear if she would be a candidate for surgery.

Since China is exactly 12 hours ahead of us, I would rush downstairs each morning to check my email for any news.

One morning, there was an email waiting. Surgery was a GO! We were so excited!

Once she was in Singapore, she got sick and surgery was delayed for two weeks. We held our breath as the second date neared, praying that she would stay healthy. She did.

And then...another delay. Upon further testing and consideration, the surgeon was contemplating a full repair of SaraGrace's heart, rather than a partial, which would require a second surgery.

Another date was set. We got an email that surgery was about to start and then 45 minutes later, and email stating that the surgeon had decided to go with the full repair and needed to wait for the valve to arrive.

A week later, it arrived and SaraGrace had a full repair, open heart surgery. It seemed surreal to be getting emails about our daughter who was lying in a hospital on the other side of the world, but God surrounded us with His peace. Although I wanted to be with her, I can honestly say that I wasn't overly stressed by the situation.

Two weeks later, she was able to fly home to Beijing. That very same day, our paperwork was winging its way to China. Coincidence? I think not. God is so very precise.

Our first photo of SaraGrace after surgery...she was PINK!

And tonight, our spunky, Spitfire, celebrated with her family.

Trick or Treat

Although I am not a fan of Halloween (scary, ugly and I don't like orange and black together), we let the kids dress up and beg for candy. Our church did a 'trunk or treat,' so we took the four littlest kids to that. Zoey was all over the idea of dressing up, but Kate...not so much. We finally convinced her that she would get candy if she put the costume on.

We're getting the hang of this trick-or-treat thing!

"My mom couldn't find the hat to my costume--which was supposed to be a Dalmation--so everyone thought I was a cow."

"I came up with this attractive head wear, but for some reason, everyone seemed repulsed."

Free pony ride + one little girl in a princess dress = one beaming smile.

'Bwave' Kate got on the pony, which was a huge feat for her.

Jordan was all over the pony ride. Jake...um...no. ("Nooooo...I not wide dat.")

My Treasures

SaraGrace clomped all over the neighborhood in these. About 3/4th's of the way around, she sighed loudly and proclaimed, "I've HAD it!"