Grab This!

The Harris family needs you help in fundraising for their adoption. Please check out their blog, they are selling cars in the Tucson area and Lori makes beautiful jewelry and quilts.

http://theharrisfamilyest2003.blogspot.com

I have $33 in my FAMILY grant fund towards the cost of my adoption! Oh please donate towards the Harris Family Adoption Grant, $33? I would love to see that number increase, Valerie is waiting for her Mommy and Daddy!

Summer in the desert is just NO FUN

Summer is terrible in the desert, the heat wears all of us out and none of us have any energy, except for Amanda, who always seems to be on the move. Every summer we all get a little grumpy too.


This summer it seems like everything is breaking, ever notice that appliances seem to go in three's, rather like movie stars...


Our ceiling fan lost it's light fixture the other day, we looked up and saw it hanging by the electrical wires, it was pretty scary. Tom got some parts to keep the lighting fixture up securely, but the fan motor arced and it could not be fixed, the fan had to be replaced. We got a new fan on-line and then drove by a lighting store later that day and saw that they were having a blow out sale, always happens that way huh, but I think we got a great deal and shipping was free, so we did not have to drive to look for a fan and waste our gas, right?


I cannot post any new pictures because my printer died and it had the card reader in it, the camera's USB cord is missing, and I am stuck, no pictures for now, I am having withdrawals. I also cannot print anything at the moment, and you truly do not realize how much you use something until you no longer can. The printer has a paper feed error, says there is paper stuck in it, we looked and looked, there is nothing there, so it is a computer chip error... I loved this printer and the thought of looking for another makes me sad and stressed, it seems like electronics are made to break after a few years, doesn't it?


Using our home phone is so frustrating, so many buttons are hard to press. Tom and I looked at the new ones, we were not impressed, they cost a lot and have less features than the phone we have now. I want a phone like my old one, did I mention I am not a fan of change. And no, I will not use a cell phone as a home phone, I do not believe they are safe, check out the news on brain tumors and cell phones, having had cancer, I take those reports seriously. If you use a cell phone a lot, please get a Bluetooth, or use it as a speaker phone, or text!!


Amanda has been sick for a couple of days; no cough, rash, tummy or bowels issues, or any other outward sign of why, just a fever. She seems fine now. I am hoping whatever it was, it does not go from person to person, a bad cold is going around right now. Today is the day we came home from Estonia after her adoption. So two years ago today, Amanda became an American citizen!

She lost one of her baby teeth and another is loose, even though she is tiny, and seems like a 2 year old, her body is definitely 5.


Kara is growing fast, I think there will come a time soon that she will pass up Meghan in girth, she wears size 5 in shorts and some 6's. Meghan can still wear both sizes in shorts herself. Kara's shoulders are wider than Meghan's already. She is big-boned. She got her communication device, and after using it a week it seemed like something clicked in her brain and she thought "Gosh, I should communicate my wants and needs" and all of a sudden, the stubborn stinker is signing "more food" over and over again. She is working on please and thank you and want. She also likes to use her device, but it is a struggle, we are all learning to use it more and more.



Kara also has taken to crying loudly and often, almost like a 9 month old baby would when they do not get what they want. I am thinking she is learning what it is like to express sad emotions and get attention and love. She seemed to shut that off in the orphanage, and it took a while for her to let the emotions out, to trust us with her feelings. Though I admit, her crying if she spills food gets tiresome, we cannot figure out why she is doing that again, it has been a year since she acted like that. She is the best cuddler ever, and will rest her little head on my chest while sucking her thumb and looks up with sparkling brown eyes. It melts mommy's heart every time.



I had read so much about adoption, and I thought, well, I have an idea of what to expect but something I rarely see talked about is how slowly the children with Down syndrome actually develop once home. Kara did learn to do things faster than Amanda, but neither of them is close to where Meghan was at their age. Amanda is very much like a infant to toddler, and Kara I would guess is like a 2 year old in many respects, including throwing temper tantrums when she does not get her way. Still, both girls are progressing and will continue to grow and learn, though sometimes I get so sad and frustrated and wonder once in a while who they would have been had their parents kept them, I can imagine two very different little girls, especially Amanda.


Meghan is acting very hormonal lately, I feel badly for her because in many ways she is like a first grader and yet she is also beginning to like tweenie films with love stories, she has always adored romantic comedies. She will skip along happliy and then fall down in a hissy fit, it is perplexing.

We are surviving summer, but it is just HOT HOT HOT here, I am sure most people can relate this year, but there is no way there is such a thing as Global Warming, just no way...right? ask the folks in Estonia and Russia what they think, hmmmmmm.

Can you help the Riebens?

http://fromthetrenchesofadoption.blogspot.com/

The Riebens are bringing home two precious daughters soon, we know how difficult it is to raise funds for two adoptions close together, but two at once, that can only be done with many people pitching in. These two sweet girls deserve to live in a family, can you help them come home?

If it helps, there will be some amazing drawings too.

:o)

Saying goodbye to another breast cancer warrior

An image designed by Kim Foltz in memory of Kathy

May 29th, I and hundreds of others lost a very dear friend to breast cancer.

Kathy was an exceptional person, always positive, caring, never had a bad word to say about anyone. She loved her family, even with stage 4 cancer, she rode her bike around Tokyo and attended all of her children's functions. It was not until December 2009 that she was forced to slow down a bit, brain mets....

Kathy and I never saw each other face to face, but we had many meaningful conversations about our common foe; breast cancer. She taught me a little about being an American living in another country, and educated a few of us on life in Japan.

She was an earnest supporter of our adoptions, and helped me be more positive when things went wrong, supporting me through the losses of two little girls who led us to the two daughters we have now.

As my Grandmother would have said; Kathy was a gem. This song brings to heart how it feels to say goodbye forever to friends, I will be OK, but I feel like a little piece of my heart dies every time I lose another sister to breast cancer. And each time, it gets harder to bear.

Please remember Kathy's children and all those who cared for her in your prayers.

Without you, the ground thaws
the rain falls
the grass grows

Without you,
the seeds root
the flowers bloom
the children play
The stars gleam
the poets dream
the eagles fly
without you

The Earth turns
the sun burns
but I die, without you

Without you, the breeze warms
the girl smiles
the cloud moves

Without you,
the tides change
the boys run
the oceans crash
The crowds roar the days soar
the babies cry
without you

The moon glows
the river flows
but I die without you

The world revives
colors renew
but I know blue
only blue
lonely blue
willingly blue

Without you

Without you, the hand gropes
the ear hears
the pulse beats

Without you, the eyes gaze
the legs walk
the lungs breathe
The mind churns
the heart yearns
the tears dry without you

Life goes on
but I'm gone'cause I die, without you
without you
without you
without you.....

Pictures

Julia ready for her Junior prom! She looked beautiful and they had a really good time, even though she had to drive the minivan that night...:)
Amanda still sporting the barrette I put in her bangs when I am feeding her. She tends to
drop her chin down and her hair falls in the food. I am thinking of growing out her bangs and
just putting her hair in ponytails. Amanda is doing well, she is so healthy, and I am grateful
for that. She is getting taller, wearing larger clothing now, all three little girls are due for
their yearly physical, and we will find out how much she grew this year. She will likely
never be a big girl, but that is OK.

Our sweet Meghan when she was 1 month old. I wish I had Kara and Amanda's baby pictures.

I love this one of Meghan, I can see those big blue eyes she had when she was an infant. I have a feeling her little baby face will be seen less and less as she nears all the changes puberty will bring, I am NOT ready for this, no I am not. Yes, she has food on her chin, LOL

I took this when Amanda was sitting in the shade and it was too dark to leave in color, but
I could not skip this adorable little smile, could I? Amanda is trying to walk, but I think she
has lots of muscle development to gain before she does it all the time. She can stand up and
take 8-10 steps, but prefers to scoot and lately, crawl, to get where she wants to go.

When they are not bickering, these two are inseparable. Just like sisters! Kara can be rough
and Meghan is learning to stand up for herself, Kara is such a sweet little girl, and the best cuddler ever, but sometimes, oh boy, you wonder where the aggression comes from. Lately
she has taken to crying while looking at herself in the mirror, she is learning about herself ,
she is quite an actress!
Silly Kara, she is getting so tall and so big! She has more teeth in that little mouth than I have ever seen, and great teeth too, she has yet to have a single cavity. She loves to brush her teeth , I think it is the vibration of the toothbrush, she will brush for 5 minutes if we let her.

Amanda, our little oompa loompa, I am hoping she will continue to eat more table food and less baby food. She cannot self feed yet, but she has learned to chew softer foods, so that is great progress for her.

Meghan loves posing for pictures, she is growing up fast, I know from our other 5 older kiddos that childhood flashes by, we need to remember to cherish it!

Meghan is losing so much hair alopecia areata, I asked her if we should cut the length and she said no, but her hair is so thin right now, some of it feels dead too, so I know the hair follicle has died and that hair will be gone soon, but she is also regrowing hair in places where she lost some. She also has no hair on her arms or legs, so we are wondering if aolpecia totalis is awaiting her. Meghan has always loved hair, always running her hands over mine and her therapists . One does not like it and it makes me feel mad and sad at the same time, she is firm, yet gentle, so I say nothing, but it is keeping Meghan from bonding with her. By trying to maintain a certain aloof (thinking professional) demeanor when they are working with children is to their detriment in my opinion. They will never be completely trusted by their clients.

Grumpy mommy

The last couple of days have been me in grumpy mommy mode, with my three youngest just doing everything they can to get into trouble. For the highlights; breaking numerous things, I just threw the items away instead of thinking about how to fix them, spraying sisters in the eye with “safe” carpet cleaner (Meghan to Kara, rinse, rinse rinse), pooping and deciding to paint themselves with it and then decorating to floor too (Amanda).

Then there were the two electronic devices that were put into a sink full of water (Kara),they still work, the numerous dollies and stuffies I find in the same sink, see Kara is confused, she thinks her toys, cups, bowls, and trash can only go in two places; the trash or the kitchen sink. Often the bowls are in the trash and the toys are in the sink. Giggling Elmo did not appreciate the kitchen sink, but it was far better than the toilet, and how many times can a electronic toy be immersed in water and disinfected?

Kara and Amanda got into the dogs water bucket outside, both of them smelled like wet dog, such a glorious stench! Amanda thinks it is such good sport to throw cat food all over the floor, or kitty litter, dear heavens, yuck. She seeks it out and giggles in joy as the smelly pieces fly.

Kara throws everything and I do mean EVERYTHING, and mommy has just had it, do you think they know I am tired and that is why they are being bratty? At first I patiently deal with it, (redirection, redirection, redirection) but there comes a point where I yell, yes, YELL, “STOP DOING THAT”, I know I flunk parenting 101 every time I resort to raising my voice, and it only makes the girls sad, and it does not stop the offense they were yelled at for. This week I am just fed up with the constant supervision, never being able to just relax and have peace and quiet for even 5 minutes. My girls can create a huge mess in seconds, it is an art form for them, if you have young children; you know what I mean.

So in the midst of chaos, my son Brian and I giving baths and cleaning up the poo off the floor (Brian is the girls new respite worker, and this week was his first week, and did he ever earn his pay!) the phone rings, it is my dearest friend, she is very familiar with my two youngest girls fondness for playing in poo, as I have had to hang up dozens of times to clean up somewhere, usually the wading pool, and can I say ICKY POO. Cleaning up poo all the time is not my favorite pastime. So I tell her we are having quite a morning, and my son is learning quite quickly how fast his sisters can turn calm seas into a tsunami. As I am telling her about the morning she says it, the dreaded phrase I just hate hearing: “You know what, you are a saint”. Oh no, OH NO, I surely am not, and she says very sweetly “You are one to me”.

I hear this so often; you are a saint, an angel, one of God’s angels and so on and I am not, I am imperfect and challenged and trying my best not to drop the ball. Now I know these folks mean well, but to quote a line from Julie and Julia; “Stop calling me a saint, it just makes me feel like an a**hole”.

I am not anything near a saint, and it does make me feel small every single time a stranger or close friend says it to me. It implies I am Godly and kind, understanding, and patient, and while I can sometimes be those things, I am also frazzled and grumpy.

Being the mom of children who learn everything SLOWLY, need a lot of repetition and don’t exercise good judgment (hey, isn’t that most kids?) can be draining, there are days I wait impatiently for my husband to come home so he can take the reins, and I can have some peace, but ladies, you all know, you still have to do half of everything anyway, right? My favorite times are when my sweet hubby takes all three little girls shopping so I can just sit and enjoy the quiet. Then an hour later I miss everyone, LOL. I need a mom myself, one who will come and tell me to go to the store, hands me $50 and pushes me out the door, because I never leave this house. I am suffering from too much weight and too little clothing because nothing fits, I wear the same three things over and over again and I am so tired of them and being overweight, another reason I need to get out, I miss my exercise classes!

So Brian can come and help with his sisters now, and mommy needs to learn that she can leave them here and go someplace else instead of staying home and trying to get laundry done while he watches his sisters, someone has to watch my busy rascals while I am outside, they just get into too much trouble otherwise. It is a tremendous help to have him here to do that, but come on, it is not fun for me, its housework!

My goal FOR MYSELF is to find a gym I like, enroll and get out 3X a week to a class. It will solve my weight issue (in two years LOL), my need to interact with people who can converse with me, and it will be time away from my little girls, which will make all the poo and repetition OK, or that is my hope. I suppose I can also walk around the track at the park and that is free, but I need to be around other adults too.

I have forgotten how important it is for moms to have time alone, it has been 2 1/2 years since I was away from home during the day and it was not for a doctor’s appointment or an evaluation for one of the little girls. I knew I would sacrifice my personal free time when we decided to adopt Kara and Amanda, and we also school Meghan at home (Kara and Amanda are enrolled in on-line charter school Kindergarten for the fall too), which is very stressfull and is blessedly done for the summer, Yay!! However this week has shown me that I cannot pour from an empty vessel and it is time for me to take better care of myself. It will make everyone happier I am sure, because this week, I did not like myself, not at all.

What Would You Do?

This video is making the rounds on blogs of other parents who have children with Down syndrome. I had a few FB friends say they would not watch it because it was appalling, and exploited the young actor in the film. I disagree, as he was a willing participant in the experiment. I do believe though, that it had to hurt to hear what the belligerent actors said regardless of being in on the scheme, how could it not? I wanted to give Josh a hug afterwards.

I think it showed how most people respond to verbal attacks on someone with a special needs. They look away and try to get away as fast as possible. Likely because so many people are afraid, this world can be dangerous and you never know what kind of reaction the disgruntled or rude or simply ignorant person may have. Does he have a gun? A knife?

HOWEVER, I know how I would have reacted, I would have been in the persons face and defending the worker. I have always been protective, but even more so now. What would you have done, would you have said "I do not want to get involved" ? Next time you see something like this happen, think of this little video and how it made you feel to sit and watch people do nothing.