Quick Update

Just a quick update to say things are going well. The past two days have been filled with a lot of giggles. And I have to say it is amazing how helpful our two older girls have been. They both can push the stroller! They can help me distract to brush little teeth. They can give bites of yogurt to a hungry mouth while I am fixing everyone else's breakfast. Amazing! Where were they when I had my first two kids? Oh wait, those are them. Hmmm. I think this is the way to do it! :)
It really has been amazing to see how quickly God has made this all work and how amazingly he has blessed us with an easy situation. I really am so grateful.
We are slowly figuring out how to fit in homeschool. Although I used to insist we do it in the morning, that hasn't been an option so far. During her nap is about the only time that works. So that is when we do it. Today, she did science with us. I don't think it is too early to learn how your taste and smell works!
On a side note- I haven't had stove top popcorn in a while. I love it. Really. I haven't had time and have been totally worn out once the girls are in bed. And I threw out my perfect popcorn pan. Although I didn't know it was the perfect one until I tried my new one. So I googled stovetop popcorn. I found a helpful way. I am not sure why it was so helpful. I got the pan hot, added olive oil, pulled it off the burner while I added the kernels, then put the lid on and scooted it back to the heat. Once it started popping I moved the pan around constantly {and hoped it didn't wake my sleeping girls!} and it came out perfect. So the "recipe" was right and perfect. Now I feel a little more back to normal!

Learning to live...

This week we've had a lot of changes around our house! For me the changes have been quite a lot. Going from two kids to three, remembering toddlers don't stay with you and totally get into EVERYTHING, remembering to pack diapers, wipes, pacis, snacks, and an extra outfit, and to letting (and desperately needing) my awesome husband to help. I am pretty capable of caring for our kids all day long most days. Since we homeschool I rarely get a break from them (and I am grateful), but I have definitely needed some help and he has gone above and beyond WITHOUT me asking. God has been super gracious to me in this!
For our kids, there have been other changes. For our bio girls, they have learned to be more independent and for our foster daughter, she's had to learn to be dependent. It is strange- almost like I am pushing them out of the nest (when they'd rather hang around), while pulling one closer (who'd rather fend for herself). I have really seen some amazing progress for all of them. It is so great to see sweet Bella wanting to be held and smiling most of the time. And learning it is ok to laugh and have fun. And for our girls to learn it is ok to fend for themselves some. Now, we just have to get back to homeschool...I am sure we'll find a way to get that in!
{This post is the first from my new computer! Mine crashed sometime ago and we've been trying to get one for months, but we had foster expenses, car problems, and more car problems. After lunch on Friday my husband casually took me to the Apple store "to pick up what we came for."!!!!!}

We got the call!

Last Monday afternoon we had finished school and Annika and I were getting ready to take a little rest (because she had been up most of the night with her head over a bowl) when we got a call asking if we were interested in a 17 month old girl. We said yes and didn't hear anything for over 2 hours, so we assumed we weren't getting her. We didn't know- this was all new to us! Then I got a call that said we'd probably be getting her and then a call that they'd be at our house by about 5:45. Trav had to teach, so he wasn't even here. Things went way more smoothly than I had expected. She really liked our girls and so that helped tremendously. That girl can give quite a mean look, which I have gotten quite a bit- but it is getting better. :)

I should have blogged then, but I was worn out and the week kept going, then Olivia was up all night with her head in a bowl. So...now it has been over a week and things are becoming a little bit more real. At first everything came without a fuss- eating, diaper changes, teeth brushing, sleeping, etc. I even commented how we'd have a houseful of bio children if our kids were all like this. And then time passed and she got a little bit more comfortable and the fun wore off and reality hit. Most things come with a fuss and a mean look, but that is to totally be expected. But I will be honest. It is not easy. I have about a million emotions going at one time in my heart and mind all day. They wear you out. It is difficult to love a child that isn't your own as your own (not knowing if they will be your own or not); it is difficult to love a child and pour your life into them when they may be gone in a few weeks; it is difficult impossible to not pour yourself into a child just because they may be gone in a few weeks; it is difficult to see things you'd rather not see- like little hands instinctively reaching into the trash can for food. But it is good for so many reasons- this little girl, although not given the love and care she fully needed and deserved, has been spared a lot. And we are grateful. She is smart. She catches on quickly and learns things quickly. She sleeps- very well (despite a tummy bug and a terrible cold). And eats very well- despite being sick and having VERY swollen gums and she can't have any meds to help her (until after her dr appt tomorrow!)
These things are hard for me to share and admit. I knew things would be hard, but I expected them to be hard in a different way. I love kids and this is what God has asked us to do. The things that are hard, honestly shouldn't be hard. But they are. I guess that is where we are reminded we cannot do things on our own.
So really, I think it'd be better to blog another time. When things aren't so crazy in my mind and when we know what we are doing a little better. But it is good to be real and to say that no matter what I am grateful that God will give us what we need to care for this sweet girl and he will watch over her no matter where she ends up. And for that I am grateful and can keep getting out of bed each morning!

Gymnastics and Cheerleading!

I planned to post these pics a while back, but we got a little busy! A couple of weeks ago- before the ice- the girls had show week at gymnastics. They love it and love getting their pictures taken with their medals.

 

The girls are also doing Upward Cheer. I have to say they are naturals! They are so cute! Olivia has learned all of the cheers and likes knowing all of the moves. She has even thrown in a few kartwheels while doing cheers out on the court. Annika really likes it too and does a good job. She adds a lot of hip shaking that is pretty cute! And she can yell loudly! I overheard her tell someone that she doesn't like going though because it makes her tired the rest of the day! :) I have to agree. We get up and race to get there and then get home and we still have the rest of the day ahead of us. But it has been a good experience for them!

January 2011

And to continue...I love to have something to look forward to after New Year's! No one wants the everything is over blues. So we headed to the farm in Perryville. I LOVE it there. So peaceful. There is nothing to do and so much to do all at the same time. It was so cold that day- a little too cold for four wheelers, but not too cold for a two mile walk. (Travis stayed in LR and worked. That is the good and bad of being a professor. You can pretty much go anywhere when you aren't in class, but your work easily travels and lets you work even holidays.) We headed out to the Big Field and it was so fun to watch the kids make the discovery...this tree would be perfect to ride! And they did! It was great and perfect for pictures. I am already dreaming out spring pictures here. Especially with a little tall grass in the background. I will have to talk my uncle into leaving a little patch unmowed!




Annika did amazingly well on our long walk. She only hopped on for a short time. It was so fun to explore, see deer running across in front of us, and try to figure out all of the animal tracks we saw. I can almost feel the cold wind on my face. I would love to be on that walk again right now.

After the Razorbacks had a terribly disappointing loss to Trav's first teaching job, we headed back to TX-also known as the real world. Olvivia was excited to mesh her new Lincoln log sets and build a whole city. It was good to get everything put away and settled back in. And get things going. We started back to school, back to gymnastics, back to dance, cheerleading for the first time, a new piano class, and back to our little family life. I love it and I'm thankful for all of it. I do, however, wonder when we'll be adding to this little family. We should get a call soon. Seems like we got a call about once a month so far. Praying God is preparing us for what that sweet little girl will need.

Whew...that was a lot of catching up! Hope your New Year is going great so far!

New Year's

Now that we've covered Christmas...I love New Year's! I love that every year when the Christmas let down seems to be creeping in, I am reminded we have our annual New Year's party to look forward to. It is family only- except for the year my mom invited her friend that had recently lost her husband, which was very sweet. That was actually my sweet grandmother's last New Year's party. Not that she's missing anything. I am totally certain she's perfectly full of joy!


We always start with champagne tasting. My step-dad does a little trading for some dental work. He scores some pretty expensive bottles of bubbly for us all to sample. He hides them in bags so we all have no idea what we are trying. There are also one or two not as exciting ones he throws in to throw us all off. It is a good time with lots of laughing. I love to laugh.

Then we head out to my parent's deck room- it is really great- all windows hanging out into the woods. My mom loves to cook and make fancy things. We started with this- deviled quail egg and stuffed shrimp. We all asked for seconds on the shrimp! Then we had beef Welllington. And homemade chocolate sorbet and apple strudel. Yum!

Here is my sweet husband. He is cute with his beard- without it too. I am glad to be married to him. And I am glad that almost 11 years later he still makes me smile.




We always get a once a year picture together. Here it is. Probably the last time you'll see us in a picture together until next year. :)

Christmas Part 3

{I am guessing you can see what's going on. Posting a bit at a time. Picasa did 4 pictures this time!}
This gets posted because it the coolest gift ever. My step-brother and sister-in-law ordered the girls puzzles with their pictures on them! They are so neat. Some company out of New Zealand. Anyway, they were very fun!

Here is a picture from our family Christmas at my mom's. We had a kid's team for charades and the rest was on the other side of the room (except Travis. He does not like charades or the happy birthday song). We totally whooped the older team. Everyone knows kids rock at charades. I absolutely love our cousins. They are so sweet and so much fun! I wish we got to see them more often.

My step-sister and step-brother-in-law got the girls hooded towels that are huge and perfect and signed books. Olivia's is signed by Julie Andrews! He works for a publishing company (or something having to do with books) and she came to talk and read her princess book. Annika got a smile book that is great.

And here they are- the book ones. :) And their sweet son who is impossible to get a picture of! He just turned 3. And he can read.