My last post as a mom of 3 children

Next time you hear from me we will have our boy's in our arms and adjusting to parenting these 2 new little guys. We are ready to go, the car is almost packed (just waiting on Jonah's bathroom bag), the house is spotless, the pool is clean, the lawn is mowed, all laundry and dishes are done, new clothes are hung in the closet awaiting their new wearers, new babies are waiting patiently for their new huggers to come home, and the beds are all freshly made and ready to be hopped into after a very long flight home. We are ready, or as ready as we will ever be. Thank you for your prayers and I can't wait to show you our 2 newest additions!

The orphan reports

Today I got the boys' orphan reports. This means they are almost home! They made me smile and made it very real to me all of the sudden. The shoes I bought Isaiah are going to be way too big on him! Also, I am glad that Judah likes to be held and thank God that we will be able to witness his first steps!


Thomas (Isaiah)
(May 25, 2007)
Charming and easy-going: at least that’s how Thomas has behaved at the orphanage. Thomas is good natured and sweet. He has a very quiet personality, though he is not shy. Thomas has a good vocabulary, though he doesn't seem to feel the need to talk a whole lot. He's content to be a part of the crowd, but he doesn't have to be one clamoring for attention. Thomas enjoys the routine at the orphanage and especially likes preschool and game time. He is learning the ABC's and how to count, plus lots of stories and rhymes. Thomas enjoys almost all group activities, but especially likes playing soccer with the other kids.
Thomas is close to his baby brother and he loves to visit Cassius in the baby room. He likes to see Cassius being held and going on outings even if he doesn't get to join him. He just likes to know his little brother is being taken care of.
Thomas seems to remember the visits from his dad and loves to look at his picture in his photo album. He gets excited when visitors come since it reminds him that one day his mom and dad will come for him too.
Thomas is small but very healthy. He wears size 3 clothes, and size 8 shoes.



Cassius (Judah)
(May 25, 2007)
Cute, cuddly Cassius! This beautiful little boy is not only adorable in the looks department, but he happens to be the most cuddly of all the children at the orphanage. But Cassius doesn't just like to be held, he loves to be gazed at lovingly, to give kisses (wet ones, of course), and to participate in anything you are doing, as long as he is firmly attached to a hip.
Cassius is a very dramatic person. He cries pathetically if his bottle is not rushed to him the moment he feels a hunger pang. If one of his favorite people walks by and fails to pick him up, Cassius throws himself on the ground in anguish. And while being held, Cassius can tell if you are thinking about putting him down or getting ready to leave. He will then clutch you dramatically lest you attempt to leave without him.
Cassius is an active baby who knows how to "speed" crawl, but has not felt the need to start walking (though he can stand up and walk next to furniture). Cassius enjoys playing with the other babies and likes to speed across the nursery to fetch toys or other items he needs. The parents of Cassius need to be warned: this little boy is guilty of giving kisses to all the little baby girls at the orphanage. Keep an eye on him!
Though Cassius is technically ready for solids, he has not shown a great interest in a lot of foods besides his cereal and formula bottles. He does enjoy cookies and other snacks, but still relies on bottles to fill him up.
Though Cassius is in very good health, he is still very tiny (weighing just under 18 lbs). He wears size 6-9 month clothes, size 3 diapers, and size 3 shoes.

2 days! Yippee!!!

Today I have a load of things to do to be ready for when Jonah gets home from work tomorrow. Mainly finishing cleaning the house and a bunch of phone calls that need to be made before we leave. Today is Sarah's last day of school and meeting with her ES (educational specialist) to go over her work for the last 30 school days. I think she is very excited to not have any more work, wouldn't you be?!

More prayer requests:
1) Health! Complete health for Jonah and I, the boys and the others during the entire trip and even once we get home. I have been praying over my boys that they will be free of parasites, worms, diseases etc. and if you feel led you can pray for it too. I know that God can rid my boys of these things before they come home but most kids do have "some" problems with it.
2) That the 3 kids left at home will have a wonderful time and feel completely loved and cared for. That the time will go quickly for them until we are home and that they won't miss us too much.

That's all for today. Last post will be tomorrow and then I have no idea when I will be able to update. I may be able to while in Liberia so keep checking if you want but I am not promising anything!

3 days! Oh my, oh my!

All the waiting is coming to an end. It seems unreal to me that it is really time to pick up our sons. I am not really sure that it is happening for real but Jonah assures me that there are 2 little boys in Africa that we are going to get. He has seen them and held them and can't wait to hold them again. I'm not sure how I feel about it all. It is a strange feeling I am having lately, almost dream-like. I am sure that once I get on the plane things will become more real or at the latest when we arrive in Liberia but for now I am in ignorant bliss of how much my life is going to change. We've never done this before you know, had time to plan before our children come home. I think this is the way most people have it with a pregnancy waiting to meet their baby for the first time. I've just never done it this way before since my others were complete surprises, literally. Alright, enough of this talk, I am confusing myself :)


Prayer requests, there are so many of them and I will post them as I think of them but here are a few that we could use prayer for:
1) obviously, our plane trip. That all our planes are on time, our luggage WILL NOT get lost (if you know us we are always the ones with the lost luggage), we will be able to rest on the planes, that the planes will stay safely in the air until they are set to land :) , and that they will be good flights!
2) that our time in Brussels will be restful and peaceful and Jonah and I can enjoy our last 2 days alone for a long time.
3) That our meeting with the boys will be amazing. That they will want to be held and loved and understand that we are there to take them home.
4) That Isaiah will open up and bond quickly with both Jonah and I and that we will be able to help him grieve all the things he will be losing by leaving his home country.
5) That Judah will bond quickly to us as well and be a good baby on the flight home!
6) (May be to much information for you to read re: breastfeeding) That Judah will latch on quickly and perfectly and that we will be able to enjoy a long a fulfilling nursing relationship. Praying also that this may help on the flight home if he has (prayerfully) decided to nurse in Liberia.

That is all for today. Tomorrow I will post prayer requests for our kids still in the US and for our time coming home. Thank you so much for your prayers, they are treasured!

5 days!

Today was an amazing day of just being together as a family and compeltely relishing it. We all needed it badly and even though we got a lot of work done we did it all together and had some good family time. It was topped off by a walk to the ice cream store for a treat. Wonderful day with our 3 kids. Probably one of the last we will have as a family of 5... for some strange reason it is a little bittersweet. Our family will NEVER be this way again. 5 days from now, EVERYTHING will change for us all. Kai will no longer be the baby and I know it is going to be hard on him, Alana will have an older brother and Sarah will have 2 more littles around to help with and love on. Not all bad, just different. It's going to be a big adjustment and I pray that we will all weather it well.

6 Days!

I am feeling much better today. Social security stuff is taken care of right now and should be on it's way to being done when we return from Africa. The kids were PERFECT and I couldn't have asked more from them. They made it very easy for me to sit there for the 45 minutes it took. One less thing to be dwelling on and now I can focus on the trip ahead and what else needs to be done to prepare for it.

I have been thinking lately about the concept of the "Quiverfull" movement. I'm not sure "movement" is the correct word but that is what some call it. Basically, being a quiverfull family means that you allow God to plan your family (no birth control etc). I think this is a wonderful idea, although not right for everyone, and was wondering if Jonah and I would fall into this category. We are crazy people (or so some may think us as) for wanting many children. We started out with a set number, 6(which now, approaching 5, seems like such a small family), but have since been convicted to let God choose how many children we are to have and when. So far it has worked beautifully and each child God has given us has been so right for us. But we are different in one way. We have not birthed any of our children and there is a lot of thought, money and paperwork involved to bring us to our children. We do not use any form of birth control, although the doctor's say we can never have children (mind you this is just what doctors say and we know God is bigger). So what is a couple to do when society says you are crazy because we are seeking out more children? Just point my finger to God and tell them to ask Him about it? I really truly hope that we are on number 9 or 10 and then God opens my womb and we have another handful too. Then what would people say! haha

A week to go!

And the devil is coming on strong to take away my joy. I feel it in my heart and I do not like it one bit. Things are beginning to get overwhelming with the thought of leaving in a week and then one more thing just has to get thrown in to put me over the top today. We have not filed our taxes yet. Why? Because for some reason Social Security has taken over 5 months to issue our 3 kiddos at home their new numbers and even with my weekly calling( for the last 3 months) they have just now, a week before I leave for Africa, decided they should do something about it. The supervisor wanted me to come in next Wednesday with all my papers to get this figured out, well I will be leaving for Africa the following day, not a good day. So she asks if I can come in on Thrusday instead? Are you not listening to me? She is, as I type this, trying to find someone to help me tomorrow so that this can all (hopefully) be resolved by the time we get back from Africa. If you could, please pray for this situation. We need to file our taxes as soon as possible as we are desperate for the return. Please pray she will indeed call me back today. I have been promised about 7 times a return phone call and still haven't gotten one. I am in over my head and need God's peace to surround me. I hate feeling like this, it is awful.

8 days!

This mornings Alana funny:
I was doing her hair and she tells me,
"Mommy, did you know that when I am 4 I get to drive a car and get my license?" She says all this while turning her hands in the "driving motion".
When I asked her who told her that she very loudly said, "Well, Kai did!" Kai is 2 and doesn't talk that well. I started laughing.
I told her that they won't let little kids drive cars because they can't see the road so she tells me, "Well then I'll just drive when I'm six."

9 Days!

Some thoughts...

I was thinking how amazing international adoption is. If any of you have even the tiniest seed to adopt in your heart I would say to do so! This adoption journey has by far been the best. Our others were great too but this one just has something special about it. I can't put my finger on it but I think it may be knowing from the get-go that we would be bringing home a child unless something astronomical happened and I could say with relative certainty that they would be home within 2 years. The journey has been full of stresses, frustrations, waiting and more waiting, happiness and sadness but as it comes to an end I find myself thinking about our next international adoption. I cannot wait to do this again! That brings other problems as I have found in my research that there are not many places that we can adopt from because we will have 5 children at home. Of course there is always Liberia again and I will say that Jonah and I have both talked of a little Liberian princess to add to our family but other than that there are few choices. Actually 3 to be exact; Ethiopia, Vietnam and Haiti, unless I somehow missed one in my research. There are good and bad things about each of them though of course...
And then there is always that feeling down deep in my heart that aches for a brand new bundle from the hospital or better yet the miracle in my womb. Who knows what God has in store for us in the coming years but I have enjoyed the last years journey supremely so far!

10 days!

Today we took the kids to Disneyland one last time before the boys come home and we have to wait for a while. It didn't go very well, the kids were tired, Jonah was tired and I feel like I am coming down with something. We were all a bit cranky and didn't enjoy our family time like we should have. Jonah goes back to work tomorrow after only getting off this morning. Sigh, I would rather have him home... At least I know he will be on family leave starting next Wednesday and will have 3 weeks off! There still seems so much left to do but it's mainly just organizing stuff to Jonah's satisfaction before leaving and last minute packing things. Time to go hop in a hot bath and relax...

12 Days!

Last night was so much fun! There weren't many people there but those that did come were great, gave great gifts for the boys and most were really bad at playing pin the tail on the zebra. It was hilarious! The boys got many matching outfits so now I am feeling like I need to go buy Kai the same ones so he won't be left out. We got a TON of diapers for Judah, what a blessing, the greatest diaper bag that I can't wait to try out and some other fun stuff for the boys. One of the ladies that gave the shower is an adoptive mommy too and made the evening so special and focused on what a wonderful gift adoption is for the children and the family they are coming home to as well. It was really great. I felt so blessed. I will post some pictures when I get them on the 'puter.
Today we have to make lots of goodies to sell at church tomorrow to try and raise money for the final adoption costs we need to pay for. My sweet friend Michelle spent the night last night and is going to help Sarah and I bake all day. You could pray that we raise a good amount of money. This adoption has taken a lot out of us financially and we are feeling it big time right now.
I can't believe I am able to say that we leave in just a week and 5 days. If you can read the comments on the post below. My friend Jocelyn left a very sweet comment about Judah on there that just melted my heart. I CAN NOT WAIT TO HOLD MY BABIES!!!

13 Days!

Tonight is my kid/baby shower and I am so excited. 4 friends from church are throwing it for me and calling it an African Safari Shower. They are all so creative and I know it is going to be very cool. I feel so blessed to have a shower for my 4th and 5th kids. I have only had one shower for Kai and that was such a blessing! I can't wait to see the yummy cake too! Our pastor's wife makes the most AMAZING cakes, I mean completely designer, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with for this. I will post a picture of it tomorrow with some others that I take tonight. I'll let you know how it goes, but I am VERY excited!

14 days!

What to say today? I have no clue. Maybe something will come to me later on this afternoon. Have a good day.

OK, this is my post for today.
As I was coming home from running errands I was on a busy street and guess what I saw? The traffic all stopped quickly for one car in front of me there was a mama duck followed by 9 baby chicks! They were so little too. I am really hoping that they got by safe as when they got to the other side only half of them could get up the curb and I couldn't sit around watching them. I wish I had a camera, it was a very cute site for someone who doesn't live in the country anymore.

15 days!

One day shy of 2 weeks. I can't beleive it is coming so fast!

16 days!

Just wanted to post a few cute things my kids say. They are mostly from Alana just because she is at that age where they say such cute things and you still can't understand exactly what Kai is saying. Here are some Alanaisms

She has this stuffed camel that my aunt gave to her for Christmas that she asks to sleep with a couple times during the week. No matter how many times I correct her she asks for her "cannibal"

My kids LOVE the Pirates of the Carribean ride. I heard her singing it the other day. Here is her version, "yo ho yo ho a pirates lock to be" and then Sarah corrects her and says, "that's not right it's ' yo ho yo ho a pirates sock for me!" Aren't they cute.

While riding in the car the other day Alana is doing a little rhyme about catching the tiger's toe. Do you all know that one? Here is how Alana says it:
eeiny meaty mighty hoe
catch'm tiger by a toe
holder him'n let him go
eeiny meaty mighty hoe

Here is the right way for those of you older folks... Auntie? hehehe
Eeiny meany miney mo
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers let him go
Eeiny meany miney mo

17 days!

I got my visa! Yippee! One less thing to worry about having before we leave. We got a really great e-mail from my friend Jocelyn that said she met our boys and that they both smiled and Isaiah laughed when she told him his "Ma" was coming in a few weeks to get him. I wish I could leave today!

18 Days!

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mother's out there and to those of you longing to be mother's I will be praying that your hearts will be comforted today.

19 days!

Coming down to the wire. I wish I could leave today. I'm still waiting on my visa but it has only been a week. Jonah's came back in 9 days I think so we still have time. I'm running out of things to write everyday. I may take a break for a few days unless something super interesting happens.

20 days!

Jonah has been gone for 2 weeks now with only one day at home and will be gone the next 3 days as well then be home for a day and back to work for 3 days. I am tired of being a single mom right now and just want my husband home. It is NOT fun for any of us when he is working so much. The kids miss him, I miss him and he hates being away from us for so long. Just another week and he'll be back to his regular schedule, hopefully!

21 days!

Today I had 4 old friends from high school come over with their kids for a play date. It was so much fun and was great meeting everyone's kids and catching up too. The kids had a blast and it was a nice day without being to hot so we were able to be outside on the patio.

I can't believe that 3 weeks from today I will on an airplane to go pick up my boys. It seems surreal for some reason and I keep thinking this is all just a dream. I'm sure it's more real for Jonah since he has met the boys but for me it seems a little unbelievable that there are 2 little guys out there that bear my name but whom I have never met. I just can't wait for the wait to be over, it's been so long already. That way we can start planning for the next one. :)

22 days!

My wallet has been found! My mom called me last night to say that she just got my wallet in her mail? I have no idea why they chose to send it to my parents as there was only ONE place in my wallet that had their address but I'm glad they did because my license still has my old address on it. Praise God it was in one piece and everything was there!

A Sarah funny. We were talking about Mother's Day and Sarah asked, "Mommy, why isn't there a kids day." I said, "Huh? Everyday is kids day" to which she replied, "No I mean a whole day just for kids." I asked about her birthday and she said we had one too. It never felt like I won that conversation and my daughter thinks it's not fair that we don't have one more day were she gets presents and spoiled...

23 days!

I have an orchid that finally opened today for the first time this year. It is beautiful and reminds me of so many wonderful things. Jonah bought it for me for my first official Mother's Day and I have kept it on my window sill in my kitchen ever since. It blooms every year around Mother's Day and reminds me of all the times I thought I would never become a mother. It is a sad/happy mix reminding me of the depth's of my despair before my children and also the glorious, wonderous amazement when I first held my son in my arms knowing that he was mine forever. It is a feeling I will never forget. Now, as I prepare to bring home 2 more "babies" I can only thank God for this wonderful calling of motherhood. I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I do. I also never thought I would have 5 kids after only 5 years of marriage, who woulda thunk it? God is an amazing God. Don't ever let anyone tell you differently, even when you are in the depth's of despair, He is still greater than it all and has a PERFECT plan!

24 days!

I lost my wallet today and feel absolutely sick over it. There is only 2 places that it could be and no one has turned anything in at all. I cancelled my cards and need to replace many more, it's so exhaustive and not really the time I should have to be doing this since there is SO much more to do before the boys come home.

Other than that life is good. Busy, busy, busy. I have the pantry almost finished and organized and it feels good to have it done. There are a few other organizing things that have to be done but I got a major part of the deep cleaning done already for downstairs. I don't want to have to think about those things for a few months :).

Today I was watching Alana and Kai play and was so struck by how much they love each other. Even though they fight and quarrel they also SO enjoy each others company and I can't wait to see how Isaiah is going to fit into the mix of them. They are always hugging on each other and giving each other kisses. Kai is forever asking Alana if she is alright when she starts crying (which is often) and is so caring with her. I have some great kids.

25 days!

Our dinner last night was great and I think we all enjoyed ourselves. We all got along great and it was good to meet some "friends" that will soon be bringing their kids home too. Jocelyn leaves on thursday for 2 weeks to help with Acres and also to meet her son, how exciting!

Another blessing. Today at church a woman that I barely know, an aquainatance really, told me that she was thinking of us and wanted to give me all of her boys' hand me downs (size 1-4) if I needed them. Of course I need them! Also, she went out and bought a huge package of diapers for us too. I feel so blessed and just know that God is doing something beyond us with people we come in contact with. He is so good and is showing us left and right that we are in His will with this adoption.

26 days

Jonah is finally home after being gone at a class for 5 days and guess what? Because he was gone and didn't have access to his work computer he is now working the next 7 days! UGH! We could use the money but honestly I would rather my husband have SOME time off.

We have friends coming over today that we have never met. How's that? They are both adopting from the same orphanage we are and live within 2 hours of us! Jennifer and her husband have 3 at home and are adopting 3 more and Jocelyn is a single woman who is adopting a very cute, very special 7 year old with a spinal condition. I am looking forward to getting to know them and will let you know in my post tomorrow how it all went!

27 days

I feel better today about being a Mama of 5, just an emotional breakdown, I guess. I am starting to work on a project that I will finish once the boys come home. Not gonna share what it is yet but if I ever figure out how to get it put on my blog then you can see it.
Sent my visa application yesterday so we'll see how long it takes to get back. Also, we need to go get some things notarized but with Jonah working so much to make some extra cash there hasn't been a weekday to do it. Maybe next Friday?

28 days!

Today it hit me hard. I am going to have 5 kids in my house that I have to take care of on my own for 3 days out of 7. Not only that but 4 of them are under 4 years old. I am terrified... Of so many things... It has been almost 3 years since I've had a new child in the house and the last one took us by surprise. I wasn't emotionally prepared, it was hard. But thinking about it today I was wondering if I can be fully prepared for this? I have read all I can on attatchment and bonding and we have a plan in place for when the boys come home. I have read all I can on adoptive breastfeeding, but heck, my "baby" is 12 months old, almost 13! I know many women who have successfully nursed their older adopted babies and so I am going to give it a 6 month try and see if we can be successfully. I have read many adoption books on how children grieve and react when they are taken from all they know. Even with all of this I wonder, can I do this? Can I be a mom to 5 children successfully and give them all what they each need? What if Judah and/or Isaiah can't stand me? What if they hate me and won't let me hold them or touch them? What if they scream and yell all the time? What will I do then? Jonah will be going back to work a week after we come home and I pray that things have settled down and that I will be able to handle it.
After all this worrying, I should say, that I know with God all things are possible and He is the one that led these boys to us. All of these thoughts come from my humanness and my heart but it doesn't mean that God isn't bigger than all of it! That said, I know I'm gonna need some prayers for a little while. This is going to be hard! But OH so worth it too!

29 days

29 days and I am packed already! I still have a few things for the carry on's but all my clothes, the boys' clothes and donations are packed and ready to go. Of course, Jonah has to pack too but that's not on my list! I'm sure once he's home for a few days (been gone a lot lately with work) he will be right on it so as to be prepared.

Potty training at it's finest

I am proud to announce that my baby is finally potty trained. Today was a momentous occasion as Malakai wore big boy underwear while we were out and didn't have an accident! He has never worn underwear out and actually still wore diapers up until a week ago. Being in Palm Springs and in board shorts the whole time in the pool he just couldn't go when he wanted. He knew that he was not allowed to go in the pool and being the obedient boy that he is he told us every time he had to go potty. Even if that meant that we were running to the bathroom every 5 minutes sometimes. On Sunday Jonah even caught him on the toilet by himself, I guess we weren't listening to him and he needed to go. There hasn't been one accident in 5 days and I am counting my blessings that I will have a month of not buying diapers! I was praying that he would be potty trained by the time the boys were home but didn't hold much hope because he would scream when we sat him on the toilet. Not so anymore. Maybe it has something to do with my Dad giving him a piece of licorice everytime he went? Anyhow, it worked.