Evolution of a cry...

Black Friday turned out to not be so black after all. Christmas came a little early for me this year. Jerome and I are notorious for not being able to hold onto gifts very well. True to form, my exhausted husband came home after shopping all morning (and all night), bearing many gifts. With a sheepish grin on his sleepy face, he wanted me to see his gifts to make sure I wanted them. I will never turn down a gift from him; he can be better at Christmas shopping then most women. So my dear husband spoiled me with:

a Compaq netbook

and a Nikon DX 3000

I was shocked. I barely mentioned that I would enjoy having a better camera to take pictures of our kids. So he decides to go all out on me. I was almost speechless! I played with it all afternoon. And I am so excited about my laptop, because this one is all MINE! I normally had to share, which was fine, but sometimes I would go several days without seeing it. So I hope this will entice me to blog a bit more!

This is how my evening was spent...

My poor Jeffrey was crying out for my attention, but instead of picking him up, I just HAD to document it first.

Cruel? Maybe.

Sad? A little.

But Oh-So-Cute!

Sorry Jeffrey! I love you, honey! One day you will understand :)

Sick

Not a very fun week. My kids are sick and I am sick. I think that may be the worst combination. It started Wednesday with Karin's ever-so-slight cough. I knew it. Maybe it was my few years worth of mommy intuition, but I knew she was sick, or at least headed that way. My intuition was verified that night when she woke up crying, coughing, and sounding horrible. I felt terrible for her. I was hoping the worst would be over by the weekend, but it was not. After a trip to urgent care on Saturday, a double ear infection was confirmed. Ouch! She was very happy to see a doctor to help make her ears feel better. Then, to make matters worse, Jeffrey and Baby G. were full blown sick by that night. Got to love those germs. That same night (which seemed like forever), my body gave into the war as well. So here on Monday, not one is better yet. But, we are trying to keep our spirits up. I have Christmas music blaring on the radio, and it is seeming to keep everyone happy. I love the holidays. I hope we are all up and kicking by Thanksgiving. It is always a great start to Christmas. :)

By the way, the picture above is of Karin last Thanksgiving. Our very silly family decided to dress up as either Pilgrims or Indians. Karin was my little Pilgrim girl. She looked adorable. I love it!

Sad

Tonight I am sad. I had a wonderful day with my kids. A peaceful night followed, but brought with it a time of reflection. A nice way to spend a quiet night for me is to watch a few episodes of different TV series. I have been watching a particular series for quite some time now. It is what I look forward to when all is settled. So tonight, all alone, I watched my show in anticipation. But in the show I am watching, someone suddenly passed away, and the lives involved were rocked. Knowing it was fiction, I tried to reason a way to think past it, but eventually became engaged. I was sad. To say I was sad may be an understatement. I cried. For 2 episodes! The thing that struck me the most was watching a mother grieve for her child. She was upset, but when told she was an inspiration for her strength, she responded "Jesus Christ is my strength." I know this strength. I had to use it many times for many grievances, particularly with death. My Lord has had to pick me up many times, from things I could not move past on my own. How thankful I am. Losing a child would be the utmost hardest thing for me. My parents lost a child, and I am sure there are days that they still ache for her warm body. I hope to never experience their type of grief. However, God has blessed them in all ways imaginable to bring honor to her death. She opened in their lives, the possibility in caring for children in her same condition. Which in turn, blessed my heart and opened my eyes to the same. I would not be same person I am today, were it not for hardship. And I know, my God would not bring me this far to let me down. He will be with me always. Through the good and the bad; Through new life, and life taken away. So even though I am sad, and may remain so until tomorrow, I know while I sleep, my Jesus will give me strength for tomorrow. Thank you, God.

Big Day!

Today is a big day...

My very sweet daughter has completed both required tasks of potty training.

What a big girl. :)

I am so very proud of her.

If you want to meet a doting mom, that is me this very moment.

This is her accomplishment.

And she knows it!

Big things with my children always makes my mind wander a bit. My children are ever-changing. Jeffrey has started eating cereal this week, and is loving it. Baby G. is taking big leaps of development each month, and now Karin has mastered the Potty. It's a blessing to watch your children grow as they need to, and see how they shine individually. It can be a reminder too. That these children are entrusted to me for such a short time. It is my job to teach and help them along their paths, so that they become the young adults God has destined them to be. My husband and I are often asked how many children we would like to have. As easy as this question is, it can be a difficult one to answer. Our desires may be different than other families when it comes to kids. We are on the ride of lives right now, and are just sailing along with stride. We are waiting patiently for another foster child, and would gladly accept one any day. And, as far as natural children, God willing, we are not done that way either. I used to think in numbers what our family would comprise of, but now a number wouldn't be the right way describe us. We will have naturally or otherwise, the specific children that are supposed to be in our family, regardless of a number. For I live for big days like this. Its what drives me to get up each day and care for our children, with all that I have. And I would love to be the witness of many more days like this.

That is my desire.

Through a child's eyes...

I often wonder what it feels like to be her.

Almost 3, with the world at your fingertips.

An imagination that brings excitement to the most simple activities.

An intense love for others.

Quick to forgive and forget.

We can learn so much from our children...

Update

My sweet baby Karin and I.

Well, I got my results from my biopsies of my scope last week. Turns out, as we expected, that I do have Eosinophilic Esophagitis. I am so relieved to finally know what has plagued me for so long, and am looking forward to feeling better.

Karin is doing great right now. She had finally gained 2 pounds when we went to her Allergist a couple weeks ago. I was so happy! She had been the same weight for at least 5 months.

Every couple of weeks, she introduces another food into her diet for a trial. Her body is doing so well with it. She has been weaned from all of her EE medication, and now just takes medication for her Asthma.

This afternoon, Karin and I built a big castle with her blocks. We were both very quiet concentrating on finding the perfect place for the next block.
If I seemed stuck, Karin would offer, "Right here, Mommy!"

My favorite was when she would rub my arm gently, put her head on my shoulder,

and say, "I love you, Mommy"

(Sigh)...

Those are the sweetest moments. I hope they never end.

And the BIG news of the week:

My sister and I witnessed Jeffrey sitting up for the first time. I had to take a picture so people would believe me. And she is not holding him up!

Go Jeffrey!