All's Well in J-Town

A whole week has gone by since the kiddies have been with us. Since then, we’ve seen some changes and improvements in them. Cherub is making a lot more eye contact with us and sometimes responds to his name. Thumbelina is getting around on her own, sometimes with a fuss, but she’s doing great. She has also gained 10 ounces. This is a girl who would only eat crunchy things like graham crackers. Now she will eat eggs, sundried tomatoes, and protein drinks with fresh fruit. Both kids are sleeping well at night.



It will be a slow process of growth and development for them, and we’re very hopeful that they’ll make great strides once they’re assessed and get services. We were told that Thumbelina didn’t like men, but she seems to be a daddy’s girl with John. She really responds to him, and he seems pretty smitten with her. Cherub always has a pleasant expression on his face and is a gorgeous child. He will have nothing to do with being fed with a fork, but that will come later. He eats really well and loves fruit. Thumbelina has blond hair, blue eyes and makes the funniest expressions. When I put her wispy hair into a little elastic on the top of her head, she looks like Cindy Lou Who.



In an hour or so, I’ll go pick them up from their visit with mom. We met her on Friday and things went well. Please pray for her and the kids.

News

We've had some additions to our home.  On Friday, we agreed to have twins placed with us. On Saturday and Sunday, we got the house ready for them.  We needed another crib, which our friends Jason and Erin graciously loaned us.  I bought a double stroller on Craigslist and we also got some furniture sold on it as well.  On Monday, I picked up the twins, got child care arranged for Wednesday, and spent Monday and Tuesday with them at home, getting them used to us and settled in.  Jill, our doggy and first baby, has been great and just rolling with it.  She's very good with kids and greeted us at the door today with her 'happy growl' and a matchbox car in her mouth as a welcome home gift.


The little girl is very tiny for 2, so I'll call her Thumbelina.  The little boy has beautiful long curly hair and the face of a Renaissance child in a painting.  He's Cherub.  Please pray for them, that they will feel safe and loved and get the help that they need.  Please also pray for their mom, that she will get things together and see that her children need some intervention and help.  I may meet her on Friday at visitation.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Lili Pea

Recently, my nearly four year old niece, Lili, was diagnosed with Epilepsy.  After a few scary seizures, trips to doctors who said nothing was wrong with her, my sister Kate and her husband Matt were able to get in to see a great neurologist who confirmed what Matt and Kate suspected.

This was Kate's update for us:

Just wanted to update you all on the review we had today with Lili's Neurologist. Going from what we've told her and Lili's EEG, she seems to think Lili's epilepsy is Panayiotopoulous Syndrome.


http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/panayio.html
She will change her diagnosis if the MRI shows a structural lesion, but at the moment she is confident with her diagnosis. Because Lili's EEG showed extreme activity in the occipital and parietal lobes, her diagnosis is still of the Idiopathic Benign Genetic childhood epilepsy. Lili will be on Eplim (sodium valproate) till she is re-evaluated and /or outgrows epilepsy, which can happen around the age of 13. We also are in the Epilepsy research study, and Matt and I had to get blood drawn today to give our DNA for the study. Anyway, as the professor said, if her child was going to have epilepsy then she would choose this one for her child since they can outgrow it and the outcome is good, so that is great news. Thank you for all your prayers. Lili has lots to say about her "fessor"as she calls her. :)
 
 

Now, I love all of my nieces and nephews a lot, but when one is my godchild, they are just that much more special.  Almost 4 years ago, I got to be in Australia shortly after Lili was born and be there for her baptism.  So, little Lili Pea has a special place in Aunty Lou's heart, and I know that God will protect and lead her and her her parents through this. 

Still Crazy After All These Years

Today marks 10 years since John asked me to marry him. A decade! That warm DC summer night is one of my favorite memories, and as the years go by, it becomes better and more cherished.  We have no photos of that afternoon and evening.  At first, I was a little sad that we didn't have any  Now, though, I don't mind since we talk about it, and the night will stay in our memories along with the scents, the dinner, the words, the Yes, the love, until our time here on earth fades.

This is the dinner that John made for me that night.  I had no idea of what was to come later in the evening at the back of the Lincoln Memorial.

Ten years later, we're a little (ok, a lot) older, a little wiser and very much in love with each other and our lives together.

Shabby Apple

For anyone who loves pretty dresses and finds it difficult to locate pretty AND modest dresses that drip with style, check out Shabby Apple.  They have a new line out called Skyscraper.  It is hard not to drool over these dresses....and the shoes that the models wear.  I really like this one. I really like all of them.

I promised myself that if I keep up my exercise and healthy eating and get through the 1/2 marathon, I can get a pair of Mary Jane high heels--green, preferrably. Or maybe a pair of beige heels.

It's funny how things get done (running wise) when I have the motivation of a new pair of shoes (TJ Maxx, here I come.).  My rule is  that when I buy a new pair, I have to get rid of a pair in my closet.  I know just which ones, too.  There will be lots of shopping in my closet this summer--wearing cute summer clothes (hence, lots of running and weights so that I actually CAN wear them) that I haven't worn in a couple of years, and having a dress shortened so that it doesn't scream 1998, but rather classy chic and always in style.

Foster Family Picnic

A couple of weeks ago, we attended a foster family picnic sponsored by CCS. It was held at a beautiful park about 50 miles away from our house.  We are the only family in our area who is licensed through CCS, so we have a long drive to meetings, pick ups, etc.

We got to see Little Man briefly, as his foster family and mom were there.  We sat and talked for a while with his foster mom who related more things that bio mom has been through.  She's really suffered so much in her 18 years.  I am glad that we heard these things, because it gave perspective to my indignation, idealism and naivete, which I guess is normal for a new foster parent. 

On a fun note, they had door prizes and I won two of them:  a gift card to Cold Stone Creamers (we used it when we got back home) and 5 yoga classes! I'm really looking forward to the classes.  Before anyone does a "tsk, tsk" that I'm taking yoga classes, check out this devout Catholic (I know her) who teaches yoga.

Over Father's Day weekend, we'll have Little Man with us.  Should be fun.

Birth Stories

Over the last few months, I've read with interest several women's birth stories.  Many of them came from Design Mom, who had her 6th child in May.  Readers sent in their birth stories, and one was posted each day.  As someone who has never given birth, I read all of them with great interest, noting that each story was unique but so linked with the others because they all brought forth a baby one way or another.  Some involved epidurals; some were natural; one was about adoption; one was a water birth.  Some women were vocal, some were not. Some women lost their tempers, which I found extremely refreshing to hear.  I mean, like someone said on an episode of 'Friends." "Have you ever pushed a pot roast out your nostril??!!"

My brother-in-law posted on his family's blog my sister's opinion and experience on being vocal during her births.  She finds that it takes too much energy for her. They are expecting their third child and first son in July. :)  Other friends of mine have found it so helpful and energizing--they've called out instructions to those assisting her during labor, prayed out loud, called on the Lord during a painful contraction, etc. (Side note: when I heard one of my friends say that she called out, "Oh Goooooodddd!!!!" in a loud prayer, it made me think of Jesus on the cross calling out to His Father.) My other sister had two C-sections and endured painful recoveries.

I think all women who have given birth would agree that it really is to each her own. What works for one is fine for her, but another woman can be completely different.    Again, as someone who has not given birth, I see the need for realizing that one size does not fit all.  I find neither being vocal or being silent during a birth more heroic than the other. Getting an epidural when needed does not make a mother any less strong. 

Each story is beautiful, painful, sacrificial, monumental---it's a love story.

Every Child Is Wanted

I came across this short video a while ago.  Please pass along to friends and/or family who think abortion is a legitimate choice for unwanted pregnancies and 'products of rape.'  Every child is wanted by someone.

Ryan Scott Bomberger's story is inspiring and life-affirming.

It makes me happy and hopeful to be involved in foster care and adoption.

Spring Flowers

Here are some flowers from the yards.  I wish I had taken photos of all of the rhodies.  We have 7 in both the back and front yards.  Washington is the "Rhody State." They are beautiful flowers and the bushes can grow quite large.  Come visit us to see them at their peak!

St. Jude

Today I am beginning a novena for Little Man to St. Jude, Patron of Desperate and Hopeless Cases.  Feel free to join me in this novena, or if you have any special intentions feel free to post them in the comment section or email them to me.

Hope you all have a good Friday!

Obituary for Anson Martin

Anson Martin's obituary can be found here.  God bless him and his family. I hope to go to the public viewing on my lunch break on Friday.

Hump Day

Last week we got news of a possible placement. It was an emergency request for a home for a 9 month old baby girl.  After not hearing anything all weekend, I finally found out that they had found a home for her in California.  So, we'll wait.  We're at the top of the list for the little kids, though.

This Saturday is the foster parent picnic which we will attend.  It will be nice to meet some of the other foster parents whom I've seen at meetings.  Don't know if Little Man will be there because his foster mom has a cold.

In other news, we're back to working on our bathroom.  This project was started last year, and time and money (or lackthereof) stalled us.  I never did post the 'after' photos.  We just painted the walls white till we saved up for the rest of the project.

The 'remodeling' will include new flooring, paint, wainscoting, sink, toilet seat, shelving, lighting, decor, and towels.  Thanks to our tax return, we can get this done. Actually, we have things priced out so that it will not be expensive at all, and we will pay cash. The bathroom will look completely different and hopefully, lovely.

Anson Martin

A young husband and father by the name of Anson Martin passed away on Memorial Day, yesterday.  He had valiantly and courageously fought Stage IV colon cancer for a year and beat the survival odds given to him by his doctors. 

Anson was a soldier who served in Iraq.  The fact that he went to be with the Father on Memorial Day has such a deep meaning.

Please pray for his wife Laurie and their three young children.  His funeral will be held next week in Port Orchard, WA.

Rest in peace.