Vacation, and kidhaps!

Just found this one was never posted so I am going to post it now :) It is interesting timing.. Q has just returned to the hospital again so the doctors are trying to help again.... Keep praying for her!

Sorry for the delayed post, but it seems that may just be how it is as each season of life roars through. Seems everything always hits at once with small lulls in between. I was reminded by my sweet sister-in-law this past week that our family has made several choices against the norm: we teach our kids at home, adopted domestically (infants), then internationally (older kids). She said "even one of those things us normal folks can't understand or grasp and then you put them all together and we outsiders really have no clue." This was so interesting because our vacation turned into an assembly line of accusations and advice from other outsiders. Her words were wise and put so many things we already knew into perspective. We never expected anyone to understand all of this, but hopefully just trust us and support us. We are certain to make mistakes along the way but isn't that why we are all there to help each other? So many of you loved ones have asked what you can do to help us. We have doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, a terrific social worker, and other specialists to help with the hard stuff. From you, encouragement, support, love, just knowing you believe in us and support us is great, but mostly PRAYERS! If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask them, even if they concern difficult topics, or just things not understood! Ask Mom or Dad, not the kids, or in front of the kids!! Please respect our children! All of them!! Respect us as their parents! We know we can't do this alone. Africans say it takes a village to raise a child we now know why. hehe... Anyways, it was a stressful week and there were many hurtful things said that we and the kids need to figure a way through.. We did learn how peaceful our home is for all of us :)



Something else we learned:

Wild Mike gets VERY annoyed when Princess whines on the 4 hour journey home. This happened about 4 minutes into the ride, so Wild Mike used his favorite solution: he slapped her. So the conversation that followed was, "We don't hit you need to use your words (which he knows won't work) we never slap anyone! Say sorry!" "Sawy Won do agan" Quite a while later, Princess is screaming again (I couldn't tell you why) I turn to see what is going on and Wild Mike turns his head around as fast as lightning and yells in her face "SLAP" then turns back around in his seat as if nothing had happened. Of course, I turned around just as quick to conceal my laughter. He listened! Words were used, not hands to solve his problem. Funny thing is, I think she was shocked and she stopped whinning!

We're a team!

Have you every seen the Dora episode where they chant "We're a team!" Well it is one of Wild Mike and Princess' favorites. Princess even has given us each an appropriate character. Of coarse Dad loves this because he is Map, and Mom is Backpack, so Mom gets to carry Dad around! Seems I carry everything else in my purse so seems appropriate hehe.. Well over the past months things have been pretty crazy Dad and Mom often chant to the kids "We're a Team, We're a team" Instead of asking What did your father say? We're a team seems more effective as they quietly walk away. Swipers famous phrase "AWWW MAN" is a common phrase! It has made us laugh instead of cry many times :)
We have also made it a point to sneak in date nights when we could (thanks grandma) and late night cuddle times. A sweet friend reminded me of how important those times are and I am so thankful we have made time for them.
So for all the phone calls I have gotten lately, "What are you going to do with Q?" well we plan to keep trying... See we had a coaches meeting last night hehe And neither the backpack or map are ready to give up yet. You see as a backpack I am not done helping carry her burden and the map has a lot of directions to give her yet...
Thanks for loving emails and phone calls!! It really means a lot and we will keep you posted!

Rainbows..

On Wednesday nights I teach rainbows at church. The kids are 3, 4, & 5 years old. I love this age :) Well last night there were 5 kids. A little girl named Bailey had come for the first time, about half way through class she asked me, "Teacher is that your little girl ?" as she pointed at Princess. I said, "Yes, how did you know?". She said, "Because she looks like you!" Princess was closly listening she sighed and said, " Ahh yeah only I'm a little more brownish (great big smile)" How precious they are!!!

School anyone...

Well today we are doing school yes school...

Yesterday we had appointments at Children's Hospital (draining) The kids look good and we are left with 3 choices for S's treatment plan.

But the highlight of our day was visiting COSTCO... Yes drum roll please!!! Costco has opened in WI. So any trip to Milwaukee will be blessed by a stop at Costco :) Guess we do not need to move after all Costco came to us hehe...

Q seemed to be doing ok yesterday... Oh yeah she was with my sister all day.. hehe She is doing alright. Each day is a new adventure. A new high and a new low..

I have not been feeling well either.. Is it stress?? Don't think so but will keep you posted... Good news I do have a brain ( I now have a picture of it !! :) But it did not determine how many brain cells I am actually using hehe ..

I am so tired lately.. A mama of 6 can't be tired because....
that is when they (I) put the milk in the cupboard, the toilet paper in the fridge, try to change the 4 year olds diaper (yeah she has not worn diapers in over 2 years...)

Today's Lesson:
Hmmm eggs. Well you don't need to wash them with soap ..ok... and you are not trying to scrub the shell off if you do this the egg is now broken :)
I know this is helpful to you all :)

Better watch out!!

Watch out ladies!! Wild Mike is one cool Dude!!

Because I'm the Mom!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_oc1j5NakY
hehe

Notice the date on the camera is messed up another causualty of having so many helpers :) Wild Mike loves frosting but isn't quite sure what to do when busted by Mom!