Funny

1. Ethan in front, Addison in back and me pushing the stroller through a store

Addison starts screaming

I start whispering her name, but not looking at her

She starts giggling

So I keep whispering

I finally look, thinking me saying her name can't be that funny

Ethan is turned around

Addison is smearing the snot from his nose all over his face

Both are laughing

So I don't stop them:)

2.The way little man likes to end his meals

3. Styling in their "new" carseats

Journeying On,



Baltimore

Next week this family will be heading north with lots of questions and unknowns.  Several people have asked me if there are any specific prayers requests for the trip, and it's been a hard question to answer because I've had trouble knowing how to pray myself. 

For example, the feeding center offers three different types of programs (in-patient, out-patient and day program), but I don't even know enough about them to pray that we are accepted into a specific one.  I don't know the waiting time to start any of the programs if we're accepted.  I don't know what to expect at their evaluations with 8 specialists involved.  I don't know that I have ALL the medical records they've requested.  I don't know how two toddlers will do with 20 hours of driving in 2 days.  And I don't know what my response will be if they don't think E and A are good candidates for their center...

BUT

I do know that I have an incredibly faithful heavenly Father who knows the outcome.  I do know that Jesus Christ is sitting next to my Father interceding perfectly on behalf of my family (Heb 7:25).  I do know that my Sovereign Lord has made the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm, so nothing is too hard for Him (Jer 32:17).  I do know that when I call on the name of the Lord he will answer and tell me great and unsearchable things that I do not know (Jer 33:3).   I do know that the Lord has great plans for our family that require faith and obedience...

Journeying On,

Thankful

Today I find myself

reflective

and full of

gratitude

support (moral and financial) for adoption

our family's groceries aren't dependant on my green thumb (because it's not even close to a shade of green)

rain (especially thunder storms)

update on adoption timeline (probably four months until our home study)

home (even though I complain about the walls closing in, I love our home)

both kiddos discharged from physical therapy (which means another free day in the week)

filling out lots of faith cards (and filling up our faith box)

Journeying On,



Haircut

Little man had his first haircut and he did great. 

I have to admit I was a little sad to see his auburn baby hair fall to the ground

He looks so old and so much like a big boy now

Before...

He did great until we had to hold his

hands down to keep him from helping

After...



Journeying On,



Bring On Summer

We've greatly enjoyed the sunshine and some fun water days to keep cool

Just a few more fun faces:)

Journeying On,

Thirty-One

A sweet friend has offered to help host a Thirty-One party as a fundraiser to bring home baby Ethiopia.  If you're in town, you are invited to stop by our house (1000 Edenbridge Way) for dessert and coffee between 6:30pm and 9:00pm on Wednseday, June 8th. If you can't make it or are out of town and want to order something you can use this link and go to My Events. 

Sunday

Glorious Day!!  This morning I totally enjoyed the chaos of getting two toddlers ready and out the door for church.  And they seemed to love church nursery for the first time.  I remember thinking this day would never come, but God's faithfulness has once again proven so true and so good.  I know many of you have prayed for this day, and I am so thankful that you can rejoice with us in this answer to our prayers. 

Sunday afternoon Addison's G-tube broke then came out while she was napping, and because I didn't find it until the end of her nap it was hard to know how long it had been out.  If it's out for too long the hole begins to close and it's really hard to to get it back in.  Sadly, I couldn't get it back in at home so we headed to Children's ER (p.s. they've never had one come out during normal doctor's office hours...go figure).  Overall, she had 8 attempts at putting one in with three different sizes to stretch the hole back out.  But they finally got her Mic-Key button back in.  She was so brave!!

Journeying On,

Feeding

Warning: This post is a little long so you might want to refill your coffee and find a comfy seat.

As most of you probably know, Ethan and Addison have been in weekly therapy over the past year to help them developmentally.  We LOVE all of our therapists and are so grateful for their hard work.  We have seen tremendous amounts of progress over the past year in their development, especially in their gross and fine motor skills.  Addison has been doing so well that she was DISCHARGED from physical therapy a couple of weeks ago and she is very close to being discharged from occupational therapy.  Ethan is very close to being discharged from physical therapy, but his fine motor skills are still pretty far behind so we actually added another weekly therapy session for him.  All in all they are both making steady progress in catching up to their actual age (now almost 18 months). 

Then comes feeding.  This is always my struggle, and theirs.  I struggle mentally to make myself go through the meal process.  I struggle with my attitude towards their constant rejection of food.  I struggle with encouraging them to eat when I know they're likely to choke.  I struggle with feeling completely inadequate when it comes to feeding my kids.  God and I talk about this a lot...mostly me complaining and Him calling me to patience and obedience.  This is what God desires for me to lay at his feet and not stress over.  I have absolutely no control over this, and I am always needing Him to challenge my heart with surrender.

I really began evaluating the progress we've made earlier this month.  After being home for a year, attending weekly therapy sessions, and attempting to oral feed at home I find myself thrilled if Addison eats 5 puffs and Ethan eats 1 gold fish.  Not so encouraging.  I began researching and asking around about feeding clinics and I have discovered that there are intense, focused feeding programs aimed at helping tube dependent kids.

One of the leading institutes in this field of study is Kennedy Krieger Institute, located in Baltimore.  With an 82% success rate, their program is 6-8 weeks of several therapy sessions and day, as well as parent training.  I called and gave them our initial information, not expecting to get in right away and not very confident that our insurance would cover much.  The woman I spoke with was so patient with me as we went over tons of medical history and I asked about a thousand questions.  After several minutes on hold she came back on the line and was very excited.  Our insurance will cover the cost of the outpatient program COMPLETELY and they have an opening for an initial evaluation at the end of June!!

So, needless to say we're very excited about the potential, but also nervous. Right now I seem to have more questions than answers about the program, and one way to get answers is to go meet the staff, see the facility and ask our questions.  We are praying and desperately seeking guidance as to whether this is something the Lord has for us. 

Just a little (long) update about what's on the horizon for us.

Journeying On,