My tummy hurts

Jesi has been waking up the past few nights crying and complaining about her tummy hurting her. At first, I thought it was due to her belly button hernia, although, it is quite small and has not bothered her since her belly has went down many months ago. I remember at the age of 8 having horrible stomach issues. My parents were worried sick about me and I actually had lots of testing done to figure out the problem. The problem was me and not my belly. (I was dealing with some difficult transitions at school and I was just sick with worry.) Jesi is not complaining at all during the day but then she is with me all the time. She is more clingy than usual if we go out anywhere. The only time she complains is at night when she is "away from" me. I realized last night that I need to encourage her that she is loved and safe; I need to do a better job at hugging and kissing on her during the day which is so difficult for me right now during pregnancy. I am so not physical when I am pregnant. Last night, after the second time she woke me up, I sat and rocked her a bit letting her know she was loved and safe and prayed over her. When I laid her down, I let her know again that her tummy was OK and then she needed to sleep. She did not wake up again the rest of the night. I am hoping and praying that this is what is going on and I am not missing anything. Thankfully Jesus knows her better than I do so I am praying that He gives me wisdom and that He takes care of her in the meantime.

But I want to look like . . .

Bella told me today that Jesi let her know that she wanted white skin like her. I immediately thought, "Oh no!" I quickly said to Bella, "Did you tell her that her skin is beautiful like swedish chocolate?" Bella reassured me that was exactly what she told her. But the more I thought about it, isn't that the w e all are. One child wants to be bigger like the other kid. Another child wants straight hair like her cousin. Then, yet, another child wants her sister's color of skin. It was a good reminder to me to be careful not to desire another one's looks, behavior, possessions or way of life over the gifts that God has blessed me with.

It's been a while

I apologize to all of you who follow my blog. I reasoned in my mind that noone was really reading this and I am not sure what to say anyway. Well, I was wrong. I had felt like I should be keeping up with it but never decided to start back and then I saw a friend today who confirmed the decision to begin again. Thanks, Janelle!
I have recently been made aware of some very harsh discipline that happened at the creche where the kids were. Knowing about this explains some of the behavioral issues we were having and still do, on occassion. Of course, taking a child out of the only environment he/she has ever known and throwing them into a new culture, temperature, language, textures, etc. is reason enough for a child to have difficulty adjusting. I am so thankful that Kenson and Jesi seem to being doing so well. They are precious and we are truly blessed to love them.
What some of you may not know, is that I am 5 months pregnant. This came as a shock at first but a wonderful blessing. I had asked all the children at one time if they wanted another child and everyone said "YES". Jesi would tell me often that she wanted another baby. Each time she said it, I would say in response, "Well, you will just after to pray about that one." Sure enough she did . . . in the grocery cart, at home, in the car, at night. Her prayer was answered and I found out I was pregnant shortly after she started asking. The only dissappointment came when we found out we were having a boy and all the kids really wanted a girl. Kenson is still holding out that there will be two. . . ummm, no!
Happy Mother's Day to all of you who have the God given privilege to carry this title!

"Thank you . . .

for eats, for Bella, mommy, daddy, noah, asher going to Mema's, hairs, brush teeth, vitamins, monkeys, cows, ducks, fish, fork, brush hair, wilkenson, cows reading books . . ."
You have not lived until you've heard Jesi pray!

Big Change

First of all, we have decided to officially call Wilkenson Kenson. He did not like it a while back but has changed his mind and that is what he likes now. Jes has had the easiest time transitioning over. She immediately called him Kenson.
Second, starting Monday, Kenson will be a student at Will's school. After much thought and prayer, we feel like this will be best for him. The time in the car going back and forth from school alone with his daddy will be worth it all. I really don't know how he feels about it leaving and attending school. He got excited about spending time with daddy and getting to help him carry stuff into the school each morning but wants all of us to go with him. It was quite precious!

No "see"food

Ok, so lately I have been trying to help Jes and Wilk understand that they need to keep their mouths closed while eating. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done. They literally cannot seem to keep their lips shut while the inside of their mouth moves. This is totally baffeling to me. Asher even shows them how to do it. But the more we show them, the faster they chew with their mouth open. We have not been able to make them understand that they need to keep their lips shut but can keep the inside of their mouth open so they can chew the food with their teeth instead of letting it dissolve. Wilkenson tries really hard. He has started holding his lips shut with his fingers and when all the food in his mouth is gone, he will say very proudly with his arms up high, "TA DA!!!"

A new natural "do"

It took almost 4 hours and 4 different set of hands, but Jes finally is extension free :-). Her hair looked so adorable in a little fro, that we have kept it like that for 3 weeks now. She loves wearing headbands and I have bought lots of colors and sizes with bows to match. Her curls remind me of the spring that you take out of a writing pen. They are so small and tight but extremely adorable. I don't know that I will get tired of this do anytime soon.

Family Pic

I am so excited about our family picture. I have been waiting for over a year to take this photo. I have even put my sister-in-law to have a grandchildren photo done in the hopes that the children would be coming home anytime. I just love it! I am also excited about getting photos up in the house that include Jes and Wilk. They don't seemed bothered by it but I can't help but think that they would feel more at home to see themselves on the walls.

Our trip to SC

We had a great time visiting Will's family in SC. The 16 hour car ride was a little less than desirable and I would have to say that I am not ready to take that trip again any time soon. I do understand that it is hard for kids to stay confined in a car seat for hours on end with only the toys that haven't fallen on the ground. By the time everyone had fallen asleep for the evening, Will and I looked at each other enjoying the quiet and decided to just go ahead and drive straight through. Although we were tired the next day, it was worth it.
Jes and Wilk did very well with the transition. The only issues that we had were those that are typical of kids out of their environment and routine.
They thoroughly enjoyed meeting Will's family and vice versa. All the kids got to do a lot of swimming, TV watching and even a trip to the mall to get a Build-A-Bear. We also visited a hands-on children's museum that my other kids have always enjoyed going to.
We already miss them terribly and can't wait till our next visit which will probably be for my sister-in-laws high school graduation.
I will post some pics later ~ I have not been able to download them off my camera just yet.

More Pool Pics

Wilkenson shooting hoops!

Chicken fight!!!

Alex, Micah, Noah and Wilkenson

Will, Noah and Asher

An amazing week

The theme for VBS was Rome: Paul and the underground church. We took pics one day of the kids dressed in togas so they could take home as a souvenir.

Our church put on a Vacation Bible School in which Will and I were in charge. There was a ton of planning and preperation and each day started very early. After the services on Sunday, we had a 3 hour meeting with all the volunteers and then decorating that took about 3 more hours. Each day we got up early and left the house at 8:30 a.m. to get to the church to prepare for the day. VBS started at 9:45 a.m. and lasted until 12:00 p.m. After VBS ended for the morning, our family stayed around to clean up and prepare for the next day. Most days we did not leave until about 1:30 p.m.

I say all that to say, Kenson and Jes did wonderfully. They were real troopers as were the rest of our children. Not only is that a long day for them, but they did not get to stay on their schedule of eating and rest and were surrounded by, at least, 150 others kids and adults each day. All the kids were split up into groups called families ~ I purposely put Jes in Bella's group and Kenson in Noah's group. Their leader did have a time getting them to stay still and not run around but, overall, they did very well. Jess's leader was her Sunday School teacher who is the only one at church that is allowed to pick her up and take care of her. I was always around so I could take them if needed and could deal with any behavior problems that might have been exhibiting. They never seemed scared or out of control and really seemed to have a good time.

On Friday, one of the volunteers had a pool party at her house for all those who helped. The kids had a great time. The teenage boys started the game where you get on each others shoulders and try to knock someone else off. Well, they let Noah and Kenson play. It was absolutely precious to see these boys carrying around Kenson on their shoulders and helping him even dunk the basketball in a goal that is set up near the pool. He was in heaven!

Doing good

I am so excited that Jesula is starting to really bond. She is calling for me and wants to be with me even if everyone else is swimming. She is starting to initiate kisses which is big for her. She is even randomly telling me that she loves me. This is something all of our other children have always done so it is so nice to hear her say it.
Wilkenson has always been affectionate and thorougly enjoys seeing any of us return home even if it has only been a 5 minute trip to get gas. He does not really like to kiss but has always given huge hugs. He is a bit more exasperating at times and Will and I struggle with getting frustrated with him. We basically just need to view him as a 3 or 4 year old instead of an almost 6 year old. He is super sweet, though.
It is still challenging sometimes with Asher and his jealousy issues but it is getting better. Asher even leaned back at supper tonight and said, "Wilkenson. Wilkenson. I love you." To which Wilkenson responded back with an I love you. Man, am I blessed!!!

Happy Happy 4th!

I am writing this post right now with 4 out of 5 children standing around me. I can hear one child singing at the top of her lungs, "Wilkenson, dance with me!" . . . another child saying firmly but with a smile on his face, "Stop it!" . . . another one saying in an accented voice, " Mama, gade gade," . . . another one is quiet but not for long and the youngest's wearabouts in the house are unknown but you can hear him yelling, "MOMMA!" This is the choas that I am learning to enjoy and embrace. I have a long way to go but I ask the Lord continuously to help me understand what it means to really enjoy my children and not just survive till bedtime. My goal as their parent is not to just teach, protect, take care of and train them but to Love, Honor, Respect, Cherish and Value them as individuals that God created in His image.
I now must go ~ Bella just informed me that Asher was standing on the toilet in order to pee and there was gum stuck to his rear and he has flicked and she is not sure if he is trying to get it back out of the toilet :-)

We left that morning of the 4th to ride our bikes to the donut shop and get Korean made donuts, then we rode over to the park to watch the parade. This is a tradition that we have come to enjoy. Although we missed Daddy very much, we were glad to have Aunt Tina join us.

Waiting patiently for the parade to start.

Celebrating the 4th with my brother and his family. Aunt Tina was here too but left for a bit with Asher to attend another party.

Matching July 4th outfits.

I am not only a proud citizen of America but this holiday was my dad's favorite and it makes me miss him that much more. Knowing that my dad walks with Jesus and sees God's face, I would never want him back but the pains of missing him are still very real. I am so glad that I will see him again one day!

We are so ready for Daddy to come home. The kids and I put together this sign today to welcome him home ~ each child took a letter and decorated it with colors. It was a great way for each of them to get involved!

Pictures

We received their Certificates of Citizenship. Kenson and Sula are officially US citizens.

Went to the Zoo with a group of children from our church. Kenson was excited from the beginning. Sula was not too sure but by the end, she was fully embrassing the experience.

Eating supper with our friends, the Zapatas from Tennesee.

1 month ago . . .

. . .I entered our front door emotional, full of fear, and weak kneed. I could not see or think past what my chaotic mind would allow. Although I knew that one day, the children that I entered that door with would come to understand what being in a family means and we would all blend together, I literally could not envision it. Now, just one month later, it is happening! Kenson and Sula are coming to understand their roll as our children. They want us to comfort them, to hold them, to put them to sleep and to have fun. They are not seeking out others to fill those needs. They are getting along more with Asher, Noah and Bella. Kenson and Sula miss them when they are gone and continue to ask about them until they return home. Thank you, Lord. Only you could have made this all work. You, alone, are the reason those children are here in our home. You deserve the credit for it all. May I commit every day to you . . . the easy days, as well as, the most difficult.

Sickness and Fun

The last few nights have been hard around here. It started with Noah vomiting in the middle of the night at my sister's house. I was on the phone with her several times while Will drove out to her place to get Noah. He was fine the next morning so we thought it was just something he ate. Then, last night Bella started. She threw up about every hour until morning. She was feeling better today and we went bowling for my birthday but then it happened again at bedtime. I am praying she is so much better in the morning. Kenson and Sula have not caught it yet and I truly hope it stays that way.
On the other hand, bowing was a blast. Of course, they had no reference to go by when I explained what we were about to do. They just kind of stood there in the bowling alley when we walked in. They did amazingly well with the safety rules. Kenson had a blast and by the end, he was getting and rolling his ball all by himself. Sula, though, thought it was funny to roll the ball and would walk away like a little goof ball. She is our little court jester!

Language Barrier . . .

. . . thank goodness for translators. Will had to work today for the first time since the kids have been home. Wilkenson came to me later in the day asking me a question about Will but I could not understand what the question was. He kept asking and then Jesula joined in. Bless his heart, I just did not know and he was not giving up. I called our new friend, Norma, at work. (She is so wonderful to stop what she is doing and help us out.) I watched Wilkenson listen to her on the phone with a big grin on his face. Norma let me know that he was asking if his daddy went to Mardi Gras. I have no idea where he would have gotten that idea but, at least, he knows now that his daddy was working and not partying.

Kenson and Jes are fabulous swimmers. Kenson loved swimming in the pool from the beginning. It now takes him quite a while before he gets so cold that he has to set out wrapped up in a towel to warm up. He never even tried holding his nose when he went under the water. He loves to jump into the pool and loves to wear his blue goggles.
It took Jes a while to warm up to the idea of swimming. She would just sit in her regular clothes and just watch. Now, she is like a pro. She loved to jump off the ladder and let Bella rescue her. She makes me a little nervous, though. Several times Bella was not really watching and there is Jes going under several times before Bella snatched her up. Amazingly, once her head came out of the water, she had a huge dimply smile on her face.

Doctor visit

We got our results back from the kids poo tests and Wilkenson has giardia but Jesula does not. I was a bit concerned about Jes's extended tummy and a few other things so I took her into the doctor for a quick look. She checked out just fine and, over time, her little belly will go down with proper nutrition. They will start an antibiotic tomorrow and after 7 days, they should be parasite free.


On Thursday's, I take Noah and Bella to piano and art and get a little one-on-one time. Will gets to stay home with the three little ones. This week, he took them to the park for the first time. As you can see, they had a pretty good time.

Some more pics

My sister's birthday bash at our house ~
Aunt Tina and all the cousins

Our five beautiful children

Torture time!!! (code for tickle time)

Playing with play dough

A sweet kiss