Truth Pandemic

Happy Birthday Micah/Happy Thanksgiving/Firsts

In love with his turkey.

I think he found the gooey stuff inside the pumpkin soothing.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I hope you had a great one.

Oh this year was so perfect. I am so thankful for my family God has blessed me with. I felt really content this year and at peace of not having another adoption going on. My little bunch of 8 just felt so good. This year we started a new little tradition. After Kevin gave grace before dinner everyone had to say at least 3 things they are thankful for.

This was also Misrak's and Micah's first Thanksgiving and they were just amazed by all the food. But mainly they have really enjoyed this special day to be together as a family.

We also celebrated Micah's birthday today. He turned 4. He wanted injera and Turkey, lol. I told him that his birthday wouldn't be on Thanksgiving Day every year but I don't think he understood. He wanted a Buzzlight action figure and a bright yellow car that makes loud noises. He wanted a white/white cake with vanilla ice cream. Hardly anyone ate though, we were all so full.

Okay this is funny but for his activity he wanted to carve a pumpkin with his sibs. Danica kept them nicely occupied with that pumpkin for a good 2 hours.

Now they are watching "The Grinch", with Jim Carey. That is our favorite family movie after we eat dinner.

So much to be thankful for.

Snow and Bittercold

November 23, 2010

I love the firsts about adoption. Biruk and Amira are done with their firsts but Misrak and Micah still have a bunch of firsts coming up. Yesterday my precious ones experienced their first snow. They of course have never seen snow before and absolutely loved it. The night before they were staying by the window watching for hours as the snow came down. I think they played outside for a good 2 hours. Afterwards we had hot chocolate and homemade cookies. I was off from work because even the County closed their offices so it was a really awesome day for all of us.

The one thing I need to be pro-active about is buying snow boots ahead of time and neutral color to hand them down. 4 pair of snow boots put a huge dent in my pocket as you can imagine. Kevin made fun of me saying "you Washingtonians go nuts when the weather gets cold". What he meant is that I really didn't have to buy snow boots because we don't get many snow days here, lol. But I wanted it to be a good experience for them and not having frostbites on their feet and hands. Although its true we don't get many snow days here, but we are suppose to get a bitter cold winter and that I believe. We are in the 20is today and that is very unusual for us.

Back to my Thanksgiving cooking and baking. Just wanted to post this really quick so I don't get behind.

Retiring the old Turkey Roaster

In the past 2 years we went from a family of 4 to a family of 8. Although I noticed last year that my turkey roaster was getting a little too small for the big turkey I was cooking, I knew this years I had to retire my beloved old turkey roaster that I have used for 25 happy years because I went from an 18 pd turkey to a 24 pd turkey. That little roaster has such special memories because its been with me ever since I have been married. A young bride, barely 21, trying to make her own first turkey:) I was bound to prove myself that I can hang with the Americans and their famous Thanksgiving dinners, lol.

Thanksgiving is also so very special to me because in Germany we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. When I got married I asked Kevin what do you eat for Thanksgiving and I basically inherited all of his mama's Thanksgiving dishes that I have copied from her over the years. I have thrown in a few German dishes but not too many. I love Thanksgiving. It's has become one of my most favorite holidays of the year. I now especially love it because I love to cook and now I get to cook for a nice size family that loves my cooking.

That belly

This picture on the left is from December 10, 2009. I had my agency take this picture because I wanted to make sure Micah's limbs were in tact and he looked well proportioned. Normally they don't take pictures like that of the children but the nurse wasn't surprised at all by my request because by that time Micah was 4 years old and obviously had the statute of a 15 mo old.

The main reason I put the picture up is because look at his belly how huge it was and how much smaller it is now. Incredible.

Danica turns 22

Uggghh, Danica is going to kill me but oh well, that's life, lol.

November 5, 2010

My precious daughter Danica is another year older. I am crazy in love with that girl. Its funny because when she was young we used to fight so much (she has my temper) and now the older she gets the more identical we are. Kevin keeps telling us that it freaks him out just how much we are alike. I think the only thing we don't have in common that Danica is really reserved when something is on her mind and she wants to speak up (except with us of course) while with me when I am hurt it just comes out, actually flying out.

Also when I was 22, I was the mother of a 2 months old daughter, Anastasia. Years ago it grossed me out to think that my daughter could possibly be a mother that young. All I wanted for her is have a great career. Now on my walk with God, nothing would give me more pleasure for my baby to get married and have children, such a gift from God. We will see what her future holds and I cannot wait to see. Whatever she does will make me happy. I hope I taught her right.

Danica and I were reminiscing the other day that with the land we have next to our house we might as well give it to her so she can have her family right next to me. To some it might seem crazy but not to Danica and I. We would truly love that.

She has also fallen so in love with all of her new sibs from ET. I never thought this would be possible but it is truly amazing and makes my heart melt how she love those precious kiddos.

Ughh on a side note: Her roomis from college made her two cakes. They looked like 2 breasts. She said they made them for her because she flashes them just to get a reaction. That girl of mine is just crazy:) Hopefully one day she will release the picture so I can post it here.

Praise Report

Micah had an appointment today. He grew 1.3 inches in 1 months and 12 days. I think this measurement was most accurate as it came directly from the endocrinologist. The biggest side affect he still has are his growing pains. He keeps saying ouchi mommy my leg or arm hurts. So I tell him those are really good pains because that means he is growing.

I put up a really neat site to the right of my blog about Growth Hormone Deficiency. I have learned so much from it. Another mom who has also adopted from ET has a son who has this problem too.

Facebook/blogging

Did you know blogger has 2 new features: Stats and Popular Posts? They are both really cool. I really like the popular post because it automatically brings up the posts on your blog that were most popular or rather most looked at.

I recently opened up a facebook account because my friend Deanne had her first court date and all my friends could see her baby before me just because they had a f/b and I didn't. I opened one. I know, lame excuse but it is the truth.

At first I was really worried I would spend hours and hours on there after the kids would go to bed but not so. I have been really proud of myself. The only reason why I think I don't spend hours is because I like to look at blogs so much better. The 2 things I really like about f/b is that you get birthday notices of your friends and I can look at their photos easier. Oh and people are writing up some corny stuff, just to write..

The one feature that I love most about f/b and hate most about blogging is this: When you are doing f/b you truly know you can see your site. I know I have had my blog private throughtout the waiting times of adoption but I guess I am at that point again. Did you know that there is this fantastic feature called "stats" and you can see who is all looking at your blog? I was shocked that my name was on the ET adoption blogs especially because I never gave permission. I was getting so many hits a day and suddenly I felt so invaded again. People staring at my precious ET kiddos, ugh!

So I was talking to Danica over the weekend and she was really upset as to who can all see my blog and she ask me to take all her pics down but she is a part of our family... btw she has ask me for a long time and I have been begging her not to. She is just really private. She is super private with her f/b too.

I dunno, I just wished that blogger had a cool feature like f/b where you have a friend list but they don't have to log in each time they want to see your blog. Anyways, if I were you, I would go on http://www.ethiopianadoptionblogs.blogspot.com/ ( yourself and see if your blog is on there.

So in the mean time I am just pondering if I am going private again just so I can keep my Danica's pictures. I bet I didnt' make much sense tonight, did I...? Been a long work day but I am rambling as usual..

AHOPE Store is Closing

I have always been a huge fan of AHOPE even before Micah came home. Sadly the store is closing down. Hehe, I am telling you now since I got my stuff, lol. Everything is marked 30% off. The shirts, especially the adult ones, are really good quality. They made by EDUN. They really have cute shirts for the kids and toddlers too. They are all true to size. I was amazed how the order was shipped the very next day. That lady does an amazing job at getting her stuff out the door. Often you don't find that when the items are being mailed from a home office. I have had really bad luck before with other organizations. http://www.ahopestore.com/

Family PIctures

Totally off subject but Micah is doing well today. Back to normal at last. This must have been a 12 hour drug, phew.

I thought it was time to take some family pictures since our last ones were taken in 1992 when we first came to Washington State.

I have posted a few on the blog but am leaving the main one out for when I am sending out Christmas pictures. Duh, please don't think I am ever on time for Christmas but the pictures just happened to be perfect timing.

I was very pleased with the pictures because this girl is just starting out of her home, super cheap so we just received a cd and I can print whatever I want instead of having to chose from certain pics and sizes.

I have heard this often but for the first time I have really noticed..... You can't tell how much weight you gain until you see your picture.. Ugh, its time to fess up and do something about it. I have fallen into the busy mother excuse and let myself go. Pretty sicko because I don't believe in that. As you can see I am hiding behind my family:) I had some really cute pics of Kevin and myself (face) but I am sorry to say but they will never make it on this blog, lol.

The only other thing is that Anastasia was not happy to have pictures taken and she pretty much lost all of her patience and her smiles will show it.. I just didn't want to leave her out. By the time we got to the girl pictures, she has had it and was already sitting in the car ready to go so that is why she is not in there.

Follow up

Thanks everyone for praying and keeping Micah in your thoughts. It means so much.

The root canal went well but the dentist said the chances are 50/50. He is on antibiotics now for 10 days and hopefully everything will drain nicely. If the abscess returns they have to pull the tooth for good. Its just dead.

I think more than anything today I am just in shock over the sedation meds they gave him. I swear I have never seen anyone really high but I have seen it on TV, it was not a nice picture. Especially seeing it on a little boy like that. The medication he got was not knocking him out but it was suppose to get his body relaxed when he shot the needle in his mouth. Boy and that he did. After the hospital he went into a deep sleep for 2 hours and once he woke up he was just crazy. He had no control over his body. He kept trying to get up and kept falling over and over and refused to sit down. He fell out of his bed 3 times because he was so restless. Now I have cushioned the floor so high that if he falls again it will be really soft. He didn't have any control over his bladder either. Poor guy he hates diapers. I ask him if I could put a diaper on him tonight just for sleeping but he said no and I didn't want to degrade him; I rather wash sheets in the morning.

I did not like this medication. When Micah had his surgery back in August he woke up and slowly but surely was coming together. This stuff he was wasted all day but I guess they had to use this to keep him awake during surgery.

I went back to work in the after noon and was really mad at Kevin because he did not tell me that Micah screamed for me all afternoon after I had left. I gave him specific instructions to call me immediately and I would turn around. I dared him to ever do that again. This was not good and I feel so bad tonight. I don't care to lose my job I'd rather nurture my kids when they need me. His voice is really hoarse tonight for screaming all afternoon.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for him. I loved his siblings how they all came together and babysit him for the rest of the afternoon after they returned from school. Biruk and Misrak even cried when they saw him because he wasn't himself. They all just love each other so much.

Poor Micah can't get a break

Micah has had his big oral surgery back in August. Now a humongous bubbly abscess has formed right above his front tooth. At first the dentist thought of pulling it but I begged him to have mercy on my boy and try to figure out something else. Right now Micah sleeping on some strong pain killers and antibiotics and tomorrow morning the Dr. wants to try a root canal. I did not want him to pull his front tooth because by his bone age he is only 2-3 to that tooth probably wont grow back for at least 3 more years.

Please pray for my little man tonight that his root canal tomorrow would be a success and they don't have to pull his tooth.

As Morgan said to me before, it was good that he got out of AHOPE because I don't know how much longer he would have survived all of his needs he has/had with the medical care they have over in ET. Although always upbeat in spirit than, he was slowy wasting away.

I so dislike when my babies have to suffer. I wished I could take their pain.

Happy Birthday Amira

October 6, 2010. We celebrated Amira's 6th birthday today due to prior commitments yesterday. Amira and I will have our birthday date this weekend. A restaurant of her choice. She got a new helmet for her bike and pink legos. She got so tired of Biruk being possessive over his. I am glad to say that my baby is a health nut so for dinner she wanted salad. Well our salads are serious. We put everything in it. She had a sparkly lemon cake for desert.

Amira turns 3 in Ethiopia. Courtesy photo from her mommy Tigist.

Updates, School

The growth hormone treatment with Micah is going well. After about one week he wasn't screaming anymore but he had to have an audience. Now that he is on it for his third week, he doesn't get an audience anymore, lol. His buttocks has actually become pretty fatty so its nice to give him his shot right there and that is where he wants it. The nurse said the more fat you have to shoot in the less it hurts.

Micah has also started a 3x per week pre-school program. It was killing me to see him cry every day his siblings left for school. So he is just ecstatic to be in school. He already got the teacher totally wrapped around his finger. It is ridicules.

School conferences are starting this week. We had a really rough start with Amira but she now has become a model student after one week of being there. I sort of did the same bribe with her like I did last year and told her that her and I will have a date if she keeps doing well, and that is all she talks about is having a date with mommy. Its coming up pretty quick.

Misrak is doing extremely well, especially with math. She is so smart. She is struggling mostly with the English comprehension but how could she not being here for less than 6 month. Her spelling though is nearly perfect. Although her and Biruk are in different classes I have them do the same homework. Biruk does stuff from Misrak's class and vice versa. Biruk has 20 spelling words every Friday so I just take Misrak along for the ride. Misrak also has to journal every single day about a short book. I like it a lot because that is where her comprehension gets to work. I let her read the book first and than I read it back to her and than she writes about the book. Just about 2-3 sentences each day.

Biruk has been doing really well too. I think this year will be less painful for him because he has a very strict male teacher and that is what he needs. He keeps telling me, "mom he is just like you", lol. He has also been playing soccer for the season and is loving is with all of his heart.

There is one thing about Misrak that just came to mind. Twice while riding the bus, girls ask her if she is wearing make up. She said, "no iam pretty like that"... I said huh, Misrak?, you don't tell people you pretty and explained to her how she humbly needs to respond about her appearance or when people say she is pretty. It was so cute and innocent how she said it though. After looking at her amazing eyes, eyelashes and eyebrows today, she does look like she is wearing black eyeliner. So I finally understood why they were asking her if she is wearing make up. Plus her eyelashes just curl up naturally; like how people use that curling tool?

Short video of Micah

I have been trying to videotape the kiddos forever. Micah and Misrak's English is getting really good. Misrak was too shy tonight. Hoping to catch her when she knows I am not taping. Micah was actually really shy too because normally he doesn't stop talking, ever.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com