A Quick Brag

Will got off the bus today, took one look at the mess the babies had made while I was working on the church project, and started cleaning up without me asking. I think it's safe to say that has never happened before. I knew he would help me entertain them (they adore him and follow him around all afternoon), but this was quite unexpected.

Ahhhhh, some good news.

Kate NaNa had her follow-up appointment at the ENT today. This was for the tubes (set #3) that were put in twelve days ago. I was a bit worried going in because yesterday she complained about one of her ears hurting. Not good. And today, she told me her throat hurt. Also not good. So let's just say I was less than optimistic.

Surprisingly, her tubes looked great. The doc uses cameras to look inside, so I get to see what he sees on the television (which is really way cool, btw). She was a tad waxy, but it wasn't touching the ear tubes, and there was no infection. Can you say Hallelujah? After driving a half an hour to his office every two weeks for the last three months, we are happy to take a little vacation. We don't have to go back for three more months. What will we do with ourselves? Oh yes, next month is the cleft clinic and audiologist, not to mention preschool, and...let's just suffice it to say that I am sure we will come up with something to fill our time.

In other news, I have several posts stewing in my head, but I don't have time to write them because I am in crunch time in this super-big project at church. In fact, I am so busy that I don't even have time to explain it to you. But know that I haven't died. I am just running on no sleep, and almost everything is getting pushed to the back burner. (I am hoping my dear husband will come home soon so he can fold laundry and make this house look like I do something other than lay on the couch all day.

First Day of School

Tuesday was the first day of school in our district, and as a family, we had very mixed feelings about the whole thing. Will and I were super-duper excited about him starting school. He has grown up so much in the last year, and I am confident he is totally going to rock Kindergarten!

Ben and Kate, on the other hand, were not so happy. In Ben's words, "I do not have high hopes for second grade." Basically, he loved first grade so much, that he can't believe that second grade could possibly be as good. Pessimistic much? He has a new teacher (another Mrs. H), and his best buddies are in different classes. I have assured him that the new Mrs. H. is every bit as wonderful, and that he can still see his buddies on the playground, and that he always makes friends easily, and this year will be no exception. But he is nervous, bless his heart.

Kate NaNa is just mad because she can't go with them. All summer long she has told everyone, "I am five, and I am going to Kindergarten," while I shake my head no at the grown-ups and hold up 3 fingers. At bedtime she asks, "How many days until Kindergarten, Mom?" Since she has no concept of numbers or time, she doesn't understand when I explain to her that there are over 700 days until she goes to Ben's school. Unfortunately, her school called last week to tell us that school would be starting later than they thought - September. Ugh.

Those were the expectations for the first day of school. So, you might ask, how did it go?

Well, Will does indeed love Kindergarten. He loves recess and choice time and the gym and the library and his new friends and his teachers and everything about it. The only part he was dreading was the bus, but it turns out that was his favorite part of the whole day.

Ben's day, although not over-the-moon-spectacular, was much better than he thought it would be. It is taking him a few days to make new friends and warm up to his teacher. When I ask him how it is going he says, "It's ok." And Wednesday was better than Tuesday, so I am hoping today will continue on that upward trend.

(Can you see the nervous finger-popping going on?)

Kate, while frequently complaining (insert whiny voice), "I don't know what to do," is adjusting fine. She busies herself telling the kids I babysit what to do and waiting for her brothers to get off the bus.

And, of course, Tim took them out for the annual First Day of School Breakfast.
I think that once we get the kinks worked out (that is, Ben gets used to second grade, and Kate goes to preschool) that everyone will be happy with our new schedule, just like we were last year.

Update on Kate

Pics from before surgery...

Just wanted to update really quick. Kate's surgery yesterday morning was fine. She woke up cranky and screaming, but once the meds wore off her mood improved considerably:) She got to spend the entire day on the couch enjoying a Phineas and Ferb marathon, and right now she is bouncing around and in a great mood. The only part she hates is the ear drops. Which she really hates.

Thanks for the prayers and phone calls. We don't see the doctor for two weeks, at which point we should find out if it all went as well as we think it did.

Waiting 3 Year-Old Boy

**Update: There are a couple of bloggers who I have recently "met" who are featuring him on their blogs. This one is up (with picture), and now this one is up too (along with several other cuties!).

Since this is mainly a family journal and place for me to put my random thoughts on life and adoption, I don't usually advocate for specific children here. But today I am going to step out and do it anyway.

Back in the winter, someone brought a little boy (let's call him Jack) to my attention. His eyes were so beautiful that my heart just melted. And he was in desperate need of a haircut:) Jack was 2 1/2 at the time, and he was born with cleft lip and palate. His photos and file were all put together when he was about a year old, so he had been waiting a long time. After waiting on two agency lists for over a year, he was put on China's shared list in the spring.

Jack turned 3 in May. Because his file is so old, I don't know if his cleft has been repaired or not. What I know is that 3 years is too long to have to wait for a family, and he shouldn't have to wait any longer. I also know that boys tend to wait on the lists a lot longer than girls. If he had been a girl, he probably would've been matched within a month.

So, I come here looking for help. First, will you join with me in praying that little Jack will find his forever family? Second, if you have a blog, would you post a link and/or advocate for him? Third, if you are considering adding to your family, please consider Jack. He is so precious, and I can answer questions that you might have about what it is like to manage cleft lip and palate on a daily basis. I would also being willing to share what little information I have about him so that you could find him on the shared list.

Thanks!

Birthday Boys

We had the big birthday party this past weekend. We had the traditional burgers and dogs in the backyard shindig. Except this year we had one party for both boys.

Will turns 6 in a little over a week.

And Ben turned 8 in June.

(This picture was actually taken at my grandmother's birthday lunch, since Ben was way too busy at his party to pose for pics.)

OK, so we got Ben to pose once. But Kate didn't want to pose either. She was more interested in Will's best buddy, E. She asked me the next day when they could be in the same Sunday School class. The answer was 7th grade. That did not make her happy.

The grandparents pitched in to help us pull off all of the food, set-up, and clean-up. I honestly don't know how we would throw a party without them. Thanks to everyone who came and made this another great birthday!

And I'm not sure what the deal is with the boys wearing matching shirts lately. It seems like every picture I take is like that. I promise I am not doing it on purpose.

Ear Tubes, Part......4?

Yesterday, Tim took Kate to the ENT. I fully expected it to be a "Yes, there is still improvement. See you in four months," kind of appointment. But that was not the case.

Only two months after her last surgery, she has to have another set of tubes put it. Ironically, it wasn't even that right tube that has been clogged that finally convinced the doctor. Nope. The left tube? The one that has been fine all along? It fell out. Yipee.

At first I was really frustrated. Well, actually if I am being honest, I am still frustrated. But if you remember, I was praying for a clear direction from God on what we should do about that silly right tube. Well, the left one falling out is pretty clear. It wasn't my first choice, of course, but we don't have promises of "easy" now do we? We have promises that He will never leave us, and that if we ask him He will give us wisdom. And a whole bunch of other promises too, but those are the ones I am leaning on today:)

The surgery is scheduled for August 6th. On the bright side, at least we don't have to do ear drops for a couple weeks.