Feeling a little better today

Here's Ella today. Click on photos to see them larger. You can see that she's not yet herself, she's puffy and her mouth is open most of the time... but look at those eyes! She's seeing straight! And someone called her from across the room at her WIC appointment and she turned to the sound of her name! Woohoo!!!

Still recovering...

Yesterday I took Ella to the doctor's office because she just doesn't seem to be getting well and has lost two pounds. If she hadn't needed the surgeries I certainly wouldn't have put my sweet baby through this! Well the nurse practitioner examined her (amid protest from Ella who only wanted to cling to me and not be poked or prodded) and called in the pediatrician who reassured me that it's not uncommon for kids to take this long to get over a tonsilectomy, etc. and asked me to let them know how she does in the next few days. So I dressed my baby and we were in the hallway saying our goodbyes when Ella reached out to the NP and went to her, laying her head on her shoulder in a gesture of love and forgiveness, just long enough to make the nurse's day and then Ella came back to Mama. She's so little and feels so awful right now, but still shows me what life is all about. I feel very blessed by her sweet little spirit.

Ella recovering

Ella's has struggled over the last several days... yesterday was especially difficult; anything that went in her mouth she drooled back out and was still fussy, only wanting to sleep, not even happy when held, fought swallowing Tylenol... today is day 4 (surgery being on day 1) and she is finally beginning to show interest in food and smiling a little again! Hurray!

Testing 1, 2, 3

Thank you Marcia for telling me how to set the time stamp! Here's a test post to see if I did it right.

Wahoo! It worked!

Tonsils & Adenoids are out, Ear tubes are in

Ella's surgery today went fine, she woke up angry and hungry but didn't want to swallow of course. Her discomfort continued even with Tylenol... so, because the doctor had encouraged us to take her home after a few hours and knowing she'd be more comfortable here, I did bring her home.

The sounds must be louder to her because the doctor said he drained a LOT of yucky thick stuff out of her ears. He found one of her previous tubes lying inside of her ear drum. The other one was already gone. New tubes are in, we hope they last. Her tonsils were removed and so were her adenoids, so hopefully we'll hear a difference in her breathing soon! And her hearing!

She's a mommy's girl today and is sitting with me right now with her head buried on my chest. I feel so much love for this baby girl, there is no way to explain it. Thank you for praying us through this day. Thank you, Heavenly Father for blessing our little Ella and guiding the surgeon's hands and tools.

P.S.

Don't pay any attention to the "times" it says my posts are posted, the computer is incorrect. But so far the posts have at least posted on the days that I posted them. :o) That reminds me of a SpongeBob T-shirt that Gabe once had that read: "I smell the smelly smell of something that smells smelly!" It really stuck in my mind and now it's probably stuck in yours! Sorry. chuckle chuckle.

Thank you!

Mike took my request to heart and actually recorded everything the doctors said today! I guess Dr S was especially good humored about it and even repeated things right into the hand-held that Mike especially wanted me to hear ;o) He's such a funny guy. Dr S said, "I know, I have a wife, too!"

Hey! Joel's heart is doing well! Ella's eyes are healing well and she's seeing straight! Timmy has a new prescription but wouldn't put up with trying on glasses after the exam and dilation, but Lora took photos of him in several pair before the exam--good thinking Lora! Tim has a new g-button and they'll all be home in a while, I'm going to take a nap-- imagine that!

Zzzzzz....

Busy day, busy week

Joel's echocardiogram and EKG this morning, Tim and Ella to the ophthalmologist this afternoon, Tim to the surgeon's office to have a different kind of g-button inserted after that. I had an appointment myself this morning so Mike, Gabe and Lora are taking the kids' to their appointments out of town today. I told Mike to please remember everything so that he can tell me what the doctors said! It's very hard to not be there.

Tomorrow morning Ella has her tonsils and adenoids taken out and ear tubes put in. This is at a hospital we aren't accustomed to (some doctors schedule whatever operating room is available) and I'll be taking her--- I'm directionally impaired so I hope we get there on time! We were told to expect to spend the night after surgery. That's how it went with Tim last fall and that was another hospital altogether. I've learned a lot about the many hospitals in the area and even in 5 different states... didn't know I'd learn some nursing skills along the way, too, life is an adventure. I SO hope the surgery goes well for Ella!

Ella is already scheduled for a follow-up ABR (hearing test) the week before her IFSP in August, so the results of that test will help to prepare the staff for her transition into preschool when she turns three.

This Friday Joel will go to the dentist to have his teeth cleaned. That'll be wild! I know from experience. They've finally decided it will be best to have Timmy's teeth cleaned under anesthesia; that's coming up next month.

Papa's Family Reunion '08/ Give a kid a camera, see what happens

Here's what got photographed this year... were you there? ;o)

Tiny dancers

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

From John & Kate Plus 8

My daughter introduced me to the show "John & Kate Plus 8" the other day, a reality show about a couple who had twins and then later six babies born at once. I can relate so well to the mom. I've heard Kate say several things that I recognize from my own experiences in raising "multiples", although my sets of babies didn't come in just two pregnancies, they were close in age and it was much the same (Some of you can agree I'm sure).

Kate said something like, "Every day is painfully the same, every day is full of surprises." How true!

I love parenting. I love my kids and everything about them. My favorite parts? Hearing them talk to each other in the back of the van, the funny things kids say. Listening to them sing together. Watching them interact and laugh together. Seeing their personalities and talents develop, watching them overcome weaknesses, reaching new milestones-- even the adult children because they all keep moving forward.

I think parenting gives us a window to how Heavenly Father must feel about all of us in this world; all of His children. And yes, at times it must be painfully the same... but also full of joy. And He loves us forever and always.

Help an Orphan/Enter to win a Blackberry Curve

A friend of mine adopted a little boy from Eastern Europe one year ago. He was one of those babies left in a crib because of his special needs: he was born with Down syndrome and club feet. He was 4 years old when he came home. This little guy has done SO WELL in his new family and his feet have been fixed! It's a miracle!

There is another child, a little girl who waits in an orphanage in Bulgaria who was also born with Down syndrome and club feet. In celebration of their one year mark with their son, this family is giving away a Blackberry Curve (cell phone) in a drawing and those who contribute $5 to the adoption fund for the little girl who waits in Bulgaria will have a chance to win it...and feel good about it too.

Here is the webpage (take out any spaces, leave dashes): http://chroniclesofhousehold6.blogspot.com/2008/07/anyone-want-
blackberry-curve.html

Lora sharing Taiwan and some Mandarin

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Just for fun, here are photos from Lora's recent trip back to Taiwan. I asked her for photos that show a little of the scenery-- and in the video she made for me today she is speaking in Mandarin Chinese. I asked her to do this so that friends and family members who live far away can hear what she sounds like when she gets on the phone! ;o)

I want to do this with Mikelle, too, when she gets a chance-- so "Mikaela" if you're reading this, come over soon so we can record you speaking in Spanish!

Joel's Spring program

I didn't have a photo from Joel's spring school program before and wanted to add it-- see if you can find Joel in the front row... his name is on his shirt. They were signing a song and Joel signed right along with everyone else. Signing was his first expressive language; he's lost most of it since he began speaking, but picks it up again quickly. The theme for his kindergarten program this year was taken from the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom", about the alphabet. It was so cute and of course as a parent in the audience I was beaming!

Sharing a little love

Yesterday I sat in church with my older and younger kids and watched as first one of the little kids and then another reached across the pews this way and that to be held by another person in the congregation, greeting each person with smiles, hugs and friendliness. I've often wondered if each child-selected person really wants that attention. But the people seem to enjoy it and it's often only a short visit, powerful in attachment and as long as it's not too distracting it seems safe enough. Yesterday it occured to me as I sat there watching the little relationships quietly develop that this is an important part of their mission in life. They are "about their Father's business" as Jesus taught: to "love one another".

Happy Birthdays to Milly and to Katie!

Milly's Birthday is today (July 12th) and Katie's is tomorrow (July 13th). Happy Birthday to each of you! Here we are, Mama, Papa, your brothers and sisters, niece and nephews, singing to you. ;o) The little kids blew out the candles for you. Hope your days are happy!
Love,
Papa and Mama,
Marty, Janina, Gabe and Timmy, Robin and Genevieve, Lora and Joel, Mikelle and Ella, Tristan, Collin

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday Robin!

Robin's birthday was actually July 2nd but we had her birthday party today. She had a karaoke party which turned out great and is still going as I write! Happy Birthday Robin!!!

Doing fine

Just a quick note to let you know that Ella is doing fine, we went to the post-op appointment with the ophthalmologist/surgeon this morning and he says she looks great, the stitches are intact and all is well.

This old house

You may have noticed our old wooden screen door and big chunky baseboards and maybe you've even seen our 42 inch wide solid oak front door with beveled glass window. If so, you've probably also noticed the scarring and wear and tear on some of the woodwork. Some of this showed up in the portraits of Ella in a white dress a few posts ago... there's been a lot of living in this house over 110 years.

Although we' ve lived here for 10 of those years, the previous owner was a woman in her 90's that had lived here all of her life. I believe we may be only the second family to live in this house. It has a basement plus three stories. It has three stairways; one in the front entry leading to the second floor, another in the back room we are converting to a breakfast room and a third narrow stairway leading from the second floor to the third. There is an attic over part of the third floor. It has the tall wooden pocket doors between the parlor and family room, an old coal stove in the fireplace and a mirror framed in the mantel. Many of these homes have been cut up into apartments. We're lucky that ours was not.

The house still needs a lot of work, but we have little time for that so it goes slowly... Mike is carving out time to build a deck so that we can use the new back door and next we hope to put up a fence so that the kids can play safely in the back yard. We hope to have a play structure back there for the kids and grandkids to play on. I don't know how much longer we'll live in this old house, but it's been home for our family for a decade. The best part about this house is that it's in the Nauvoo Temple district. It's been a blessing to see that beautiful piece of history restored and to even get to be a part of it!

Eye surgery went well

Ella's surgery went well. The doctor explained that after she was under anesthesia he would test the movement of her eyes and decide which muscles needed work. He ended up operating on the muscles on the inside corners of each of her eyes. Ella slept most of the day and was awake for a while tonight. She's mostly interested in drinking but should feel better tomorrow. The inner corners of the whites of her eyes are red, but that will pass. So far it looks as if her eyes are staying straight! We go in for a quick post-op tomorrow morning, early. I'd better get to bed myself! Thanks for your prayers for Ella!

We are also praying for a friend's little boy who had heart surgery today. Logan was recently adopted from Ukraine and also has Down syndrome. God bless Logan!

After the winter, God gives us flowers

Yesterday we received a beautiful letter from Joel's birth mom. She sent us pictures from her wedding!

She graduated from college a while back and is now in grad school, working with other birth moms. She has chosen to be a social worker! We are so proud of her.

Joel's birth families feel like extended family to us. We love each of them and being able to see them annually and exchange news and photos through email in-between has been a real blessing to us, to them and to Joel.

I have many of those captured "video memories" from our visits... of Joel and his birth dad playing together on the playground... Joel getting his first haircut from his grandma and then his birth dad getting one from her (his mom) too. Parts of a beautiful day, impressed forever on my memory.

Some people may not know that there are feelings of guilt for the parties on both sides of adoption. My husband and I are awed at the courage it takes for birth parents to place their child in adoption. It takes courage and love that's taller than a mountain, deeper than the sea to give your baby to someone else to parent. That birth parent then wonders about his/her child... is she happy? Is he being loved and taken care of? Did I do the right thing? Joel's birth mom assures me that she has had no regrets because she feels we were right for her son. She thanks us! This helps me immeasurably to know of her feelings, because I often sit in wonder watching my little ones... staring at their beautiful faces, tears flowing, feeling joy at their funny personalities and sweet smiles... and feeling very guilty that we have them, but their birth parents don't. I want their birth families to know them.

I wish each of our adoption situations were as open as this first one. We have experienced that something potentially painful can blossom into a beautiful relationship. I want each of the birth family members to know how much I love and appreciate them! And it really does help Joel and will be more important to him as the years go by. He's a fantastic little boy and we love him like crazy! I am so glad we can share him with others who will also love him forever.

Sunshine in the morning

Ella's eye surgery this week

Ella's eye surgery is scheduled for the morning of the 10th, which is Thursday of this week. She's been a little feverish today (Monday), please pray that she'll be well for her surgery!

Then two weeks after that, she's scheduled to have her tonsils and adenoids out and ear tubes put in at the hospital across the street from the one she's going to this week. Poor baby! Hopefully all of this will eventually help her see, breath and hear better!