Just wanted to share

Justus has been saying Dada for at least 2 months now when seeing Jonah walk in a room or crawling up to him. He has been saying Rahrah(Sarah) for about a month now when Sarah would pick him up or he would see her. I would tell him, "Say Mama Justus" and he would look at me with this little mischievous smile and say, "Dada". It was like he knew what I wanted to hear but just liked to be a little stinker. I KNEW he could say Mama as that was his very first "word" of rambling when he was 5 months old but he just would not say it! Well, he has started to call me Mama now and I LOVE the sound of it. There is nothing more precious to me than my little baby calling out to me and saying my name. He will crawl up to me and say, in the sweetest tone, "Mama" and lay his head in my lap as if I am the best thing in the world. Of course I know that I AM the best thing in the world to him right now but, you know, it's good to hear your loved once in a while. :)

Another accoplishment is that he is walking along everything like a champ. He loves to push the chairs, toy bins or anything that will move and walk behind them. It is amazing to see him doing this all so early as all my others didn't start doing this until they were at least 12 months old! He is pushing away from the couch and standing on his own for a few seconds too. I wonder how soon he'll be walking?

As if you haven't heard it before, they grow up too fast. WAY to fast. But I am enjoying Justus' babyhood and learning with new eyes this time knowing that it "may" be the last time I get to experience it. Oh, that thought makes me sad... :(

The Case of the Missing Binky's

In case you don't know what a binky is, they are sometimes called pacifier, paci, NukNuk, Nuk, suckie and, I am sure, many other things. In this house we call it a binky but have no idea how we arrived at that name. That's beside the point. We have been rapidly missing binky's over the last 2 or 3 weeks. Usually we will lose one or so but find it quickly enough, however, we now have a missing binky epidemic. I have 2 binky's left out of at least 8. So, I have been looking everywhere for them and still not finding them. Today I found that I may have been looking in the wrong places. I walked into the play room to find this:





Can you spot a missing binky? It seems that this binky would rather play with a bin full of play people rather than sit in Justus' mouth. Maybe it is his new teeth it doesn't like? What do you think? So, one found and 5 to go. Oh where, oh where are those little binky's hiding? Maybe they are playing in the car bin? I'm sure one of them is a race car fan like Isaiah. Or maybe one is sleeping under the couch cushions? Should I wake it by trying to find it?
For now, we are still on the case of the missing binky's but Justus has one more to suck and chew on. Who knows if we will find the rest.

Not much to post about the doc appointments yesterday. It was a LONG day and I am glad that it is over. We went to the neuro and he really thinks we should put Isaiah on meds so I am filling the script today and we have another appointment with him in a month to reevaluate things. In the meantime we will be seeing a cardiologist because we think there is something going on with Isaiah's heart. I am hoping that IF there is something going on with his heart that it is the cause of the seizures and we can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. You could also say a prayer for me. I am overwhelmed by life right now and all that is going on. There were already 3 big issues we were dealing with(and I was doing fine) and it seems that another seizure just put me over the edge.

More seizures

Isaiah had another seizure tonight. That's number 4 if you haven't been counting. He was on the couch and Malakai was standing there staring at him as he convulsed, not saying a thing. I went over to tell them to come to the table when I saw. It still scares me. Jonah got his Medic bag and took his blodd pressure right away. It was very high for a child. He also listened to his heart and it was very obvious something wasn't right. I even listened and could tell there was something not right with it(it kept doing these irregular hiccups every now and then). When Jonah rechecked 10 minutes later (after he had come to somewhat) his BP was down and his heart sounded perfect. We have an appoinment tomorrow morning with our ped and then straight to the neuro. They want to put him on meds and I am SO anxious about it! I really think there is something other than his brain that is causing these. Seizure meds do not do good things for kids. All I can do is pray that God goes before me and Isaiah gets what he needs and we can pin point what is going on.

Possibilities

Right now is an exciting time for me. There are things going on that Jonah and I have no idea what God will do but I am looking forward to seeing where it will lead us. Most people would probably not be very comfortable in the position we are in, but God has given us peace about our future and we are resting in that. There seems to be endless possibilities of what we can do but we only want what God wants for us and the kids. I think it is going to be a time of stretching and learning for us as a family and couple and I look forward to learning what God wants us to learn.

Judah, my little helper

I had given Justus a bottle to hold on his own while I made dinner. He is just learning to hold the bottle independently but there is a point that he can't get the milk to flow because there is only 2 oz. or so left. I turned around from making dinner to find Judah helping Justus with his bottle. It was SO cute! Without any prompting this boy is always helping. When he sees a diaper that was left on the floor he will pick it up without being asked. When he sees that Justus has dropped his pacifier on the floor he will run across the room to pick it up and give it back to him. And now, when he sees that Justus needs help with his bottle he gives it a little boost. At barely 2, Judah is following along in his big brothers and sisters footsteps.

Surfing, Jonah's birthday, the beach and good friends

Lots to talk about but I am just going to give you some pictures. We have a had a busy week with Jonah's birthday and some friends that came to visit for a few days.

Tuesday, Jonah turned 33. We took the kids bowling and had a great time. They had fun too!







Later that night our good friends, Matt and Hilary and their son Joseph, got here from Northern California. The next day we went to the beach and had a great time too. It was the first time that Justus played in the sand and He. Loved. It.







Yesterday, Hilary and I went shopping to the outlet mall and the Salvation Army and got a TON of great deals on clothes for our kids. The Dad's went surfing and had a good time too. Later that night the dad's stayed with the kids so that Hilary and I could go out and get some coffee and chat. Not that we hadn't talked till we were blue in the face already but we still had more to say and had a fabulous time talking till late at night sipping some yummy coffee.
So here we all are this morning before they left for the long drive home. I so enjoyed having good friends here to hang out with. It was so refreshing and rejuvenating to be with friends that you can be real with.

Kisses

This little guy here has learned how to give me kisses...


They are the most slobbery, wet, luscious kisses ever and I love them!


However, if Jonah kissed me this way I would have a serious problem with it. Thank goodness Justus is so stinking cute that he can get away with it. I love this little boy so much...

My little swimmers

All my life I have been a water person. I did junior lifeguards when I was in junior high and high school during the summer, I was on the swim team through high school and then learned to love surfing. I taught swimming lessons for extra money during high school and college on top of my other jobs. I love the water and I have always been worried that I would have one of "those" kids. You know the ones, right? The ones that shreik so that you think you have gone deaf when their parent drops their little toe into the water. The one who won't put their face in to save their life and whines and whines if a drop of water gets on their face. That kind of kid. As an aside, please do not be angry with me if you have one of "those" kids. I am not talking bad about them, truly, I am not.

Sarah was one of those kids... on steriod's. It was insane how afraid she was of the water; even the bathtub. Once, we decided to take her to the lake the summer after she came. I picked her up and walked into the water up to my waist and she lost it. I'm surprised I don't have scratch marks scars where she dug into my flesh. She screamed like I have never heard a child scream before, I am not joking. It scared me. I think she had a really, really bad experience with a body of water before she was with us. To say I was bummed was an understatment. I wanted her to be able to enjoy the water with Jonah and I but she wouldn't even put her feet in. Slowly, with lots of patience and time she came to love the water and started swimming when she was 5 1/2. Alana learned how to swim that same week, at 2 years old.

Malakai always loved the water and just learned how to swim last week. So did Isaiah. Isaiah is a fish! He loves to dive all the way down to the bottom and swim along it then push back up. Judah was a little hesitant at first last year but warmed up to the water really well. He is able to float well with his floaties on and I am giving him "swimming lessons" every time we are in the water.

Today I took Justus in the pool for the first time. I have been avoiding it because his exzema is so bad and the chlorine is supposed to be really bad for it. But, I thought it was time. He LOVED it! So much so, in fact, that he kept trying to push himself out of my arms to swim. He splashed and splashed and laughed and laughed and I thouroughly enjoyed watching him play.

I love having kids that enjoy the water as much as Jonah and I do. And we are really blessed to have a pool at this house. We have spent lots of fun times in that pool playing as a family. I love having my little swimmers and am so glad that I don't have any of "those" kids now. Of course, who knows what may happen with the next one that comes along, right? Of course I don't have any pictures because we were all in the pool, sorry...

On being a Mom

Being a mom. This is all I have ever wanted to be. Honestly. That is it. I went to college and got my master's just because I didn't know what else to do and there were no suitor's on the horizon. I did it because if I never did get married, I needed a job to support me. When Jonah came along, I was SO blessed to find an amazing man. I couldn't beleive I had found a man that desired more children than I did(I wanted 6, he wanted 11).

I never thought it would be so difficult for me to be a mom. Yes, I became a mom fairly quickly compared to many of my friends who were diagnosed as infertile, but that was God's plan, not mine. After our diagnoses, I was struck with the fact that I may never realize the dream of being a mom. Even though we were very open to adoption, it wasn't a guarantee, just like being able to get pregnant doesn't guarantee a healthy full term baby. I know many, many women who have been pregnant many times but their arms are still empty. My heart breaks for them.

Even though I have dreamed as a little girl of being a Mom, I never knew the joy I would feel at becoming one. I tell you, it is the most amazing thing to know that these children are mine. To look at each one of them as the special gift from God that they are. To know that God has used each one of them to make me a Mommy. Wow, how lucky am I? Each of them has such an amazing story to tell of how they came to be my child, they are each a miracle to me. Their lives are a promise of God's goodness and faithfulness.

I have learned not to take one single day for granted. I hold my babies as much as they will let me, knowing that I may never hold another baby again unless God will's it. Being a mother has made me a better person. Being a mother to children that look nothing like me has taught me SO many things. Being a mother to 5 children under 4 has taught me patience and taken away any selfishness that may have been hanging on. Watching those little one's slowly grow up and learn new things (with ME being the one who is teaching them) delights me to no end.

Many people ask me how in the world I can homeschool AND have 6 kids. I wouldn't have it any other way. I never thought I would be a homeschooling mom but am SO glad that God changed my heart about it. I LOVE having my kids with me all day long every day. I have worked too hard to bring them home to send them off to school 7 hours every day. I want them with me! I want to see the new things they learn and hear their silly comments. I want to be the one to teach them God's ways. I enjoy them so much, it's ridiculous.

I love being a mom so much, if you couldn't tell. It is what God made me for, it was His purpose for my life and I am SO glad He put it so heavily on my heart. If these beautiful children that are mine right now are the only one's God gives me, then I will be so greatful for His goodness in giving me the 6 kids I have always wanted. If He decides to bless Jonah and I with 6 more I will praise His name! I honestly hope that there are more in store for us in the future but we are leaving that up to God. So far, we haven't heard anything from Him to go forward with any other adoptions but we aren't putting anything past Him. It seems He likes to do things in 3's. Sarah, Alana, and Kai came within a year and 3 years later Isaiah, Judah and Justus came within a year. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me as a Mom in the years to come. Being a mom is a blessing to me. I hope it is a blessing to you too.

Another seizure

Isaiah had seizure number 3 tonight. I am very frustrated by this and am trying to find answers. We are feeling that it may somehow be related to his heart and yet his ped said she didn't hear anything earlier this week and wouldn't refer him to a cardio. Yet, each time he has been to the ER or other appointments they say they hear a slight arrhythmia. I think now I am going to demand it just to rule it out as a possibility. His seizure's are so small and he comes out of them very quickly, they aren't typical and so it leaves us wondering. Could you please pray for us as we continue to work on finding out what this is? We would really covet them right now...

More girls...Yeah!

You may remember a few weeks ago that I told you my sister, Cari, was having a little girl. She is due in the very beginning of January. You may also remember that my brother's wife is pregnant and is due at the end of January. Yesterday was my brothers birthday and my sister-in-law, Janet, surprised him and took him to get a 3-D ultrasound done to see what the baby was. They have both been chomping at the bit to find out and couldn't wait. I think it was the perfect present for my brother and he was SO excited when he called me last night to tell me that they are having a little girl. I couldn't be more excited for them and told Jonah this morning that it is going to be VERY hard for me to control myself with buying baby girl clothes for my 2 new neices. Very. Hard.

So with this latest turn the boys and girls of the family are finally getting even and can I just tell you I am SO excited to be having 2 neices! Chas told me what her name is going to be but I am not going to say anything yet as I'm not sure if he would want me too. It IS a beautiful name that SO fits Chas and Janet. I'll let you know when I get the go ahead. On to lots of sewing and projects for those sweet little girls if I can find the time!

My surfing 9 year old

Here is my new 9 year old... Isn't she pretty? We are still celebrating today by taking her out to dinner. It is a tradition that the kids choose where they would like to go and since my mom made us all dinner last night, tonight we are going to Red Robin, which is Sarah's choice. Spending the day on the beach yesterday was so much fun. For the first time ever Sarah initiated going surfing and did a bang up job of it too! It seems she may be growing up a bit(hey she IS 9) and wasn't at all afraid like she was a few months ago. She has been "surfing" since she was 4 but would only oblige her father to make him happy and really only for a ride or 2. It is hilarious to see your kids running out of the water AWAY from the waves after they have ridden one in because they don't want to do it again. Yesterday, however, Sarah stayed out for a really long time and took in wave after wave. She even took the board out by herself to just play. It was great to see Sarah enjoy something Jonah and I do to. Alana also took in some waves but I didn't get them on my camera video and thus can't transfer them here. It was a rare thing, indeed, as 30 minutes after my dad took her out no one could get her to get back on that board for ANYTHING. No idea why... Here Sarah is in all her glory. She had many, many great rides like this. So fun to watch...

Sarah is 9!

Today, Sarah turns 9 years old. We have been busy, so no pictures yet but look for them later in the week. We are heading out early this morning to have a birthday day at my parents house on the beach and then dinner. See you later!

Cooking and sewing

The other night Jonah took the kids in the pool while I was making dinner. Before starting dinner I was in the process of cutting out flannel for a rag quilt (stay tuned for a rag quilt tutorial) and left it out on the counter to work on. In between cooking I would cut out more squares and when Jonah came back in I was going back and forth. He laughed and said he didn't know anyone who could cook and sew at the same time. I figure, with him having all the kids (actually Justus was on my back) I couldn't resist multitasking while I could. What do you do to get all your projects/responsibilities done? Have you ever crafted while cooking?

A blessing to me

You may remember me mentioning my amazing friend, Michelle, back in June. She is the one that bravely volunteered to watch ALL 6 of the kids so that Jonah and I could go away for a weekend for our anniversary. I don't think she will be doing it again, hehehe, but it was a HUGE blessing to us. She is the type of friend that continually blesses me all the time. Just random things mostly but blessings none the less. Last weekend she came over to spend the night while Jonah was at work. I had asked her if mac and cheese with keilbasa would be OK and she said fine. I waited till she got here to start it but when she got here she said, "I am going to make you dinner, can I take the girls to the store with me?" Of course I said yes and off they went.

When she got back she went to work and wouldn't let me do anything. Here are some silly pictures of the blessed event.


She made us steak salad that was delish. Here she is at the BBQ burning the heck out of those steaks...



Doesn't that look SO good? It was fantastic and the best part is that I didn't have to make it!



The whole time I was taking pictures she kept telling me, "Why do you have to document this, I cook all the time. I promise." She thought I was going to make fun of her for her cooking skills but I really wanted to acknowledge the huge blessing she was to me. Michelle, you are a blessing to me and I love you dearly.



Here is the crew, minus me, getting ready to enjoy a fantastic meal. Did I mention that I didn't have to make it? And it was MUCH better than mac and cheese with keilbasa.

Stay tuned

I have so many things to blog about but have been TOO busy! Hopefully I can get some of it done for all you faithful blog readers out there starting this weekend. We have been really busy in the Winger house and it is only going to get busier with school starting in 3 1/2 weeks! Lots of pictures to come, stay tuned.

What makes me happy?

Edited to say: This list is in no particular order. Despite my husbands feelings, I do NOT love Ice cream more than him. I promise.

1. Ice Cream
2. Friday's, because Jonah comes home after being gone for 3 days
3. Holding my kids in my arms while they are sleeping
4. Watching Judah start dancing out of nowhere just because he likes the song that is on.
5. Laying next to my husband at night
6. Seeing Jonah play silly with the kids
7. The word Mommy being yelled, screamed, whispered, said...
8. Hearing Justus babble a blue streak
9. Seeing Isaiah "freak out" dance with a big smile on his face.
10. Kisses from my kids
11. Kisses from my husband :)
12. Getting a good deal on something
13. Knowing that my family (parents, brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins) adore my kids
14. Watching Alana read and her delight in my amazement
15. Watching Malakai "shake his booty"
16. Hearing my kids say they love me
17. Hearing Jonah say he loves me and adores me and couldn't live without me.
18. Chocolate
19. Watching my kids play well together
20. Seeing Sarah and her interesting nighttime outfits (she never wears the proper PJ's that go together and loves to layer them, she's crazy like that)
21. Watching Alana "try" to do "ballerina moves" to the music
22. Knowing that Jesus died a horrible death on the cross because He loved me!
23. Being on our land
24. Naps! One for me and one for the kids
25. The smell of the ocean
26. Watching Isaiah swim by himself for the first time
27. Listening to "Psalty" CD's with my kids. Takes me back to my childhood
28. My kids' birthday's
29. Sleeping through the night
30. Hearing my kids pray

I know there are only 30 things here and there are SO many more things that make me happy but this is a start. I challenge you to post 30 things that make you happy on your own blog. If you do, will you please tell me so in the comments section so I can go and read yours too?

And...

Tooth number 2 is here as well. Oh the joy of a teething baby? Can I take a nap now? Please?

Adventure's in tortilla making

Yesterday morning I put some pinto beans in the crockpot to cook. They were a new recipe and I didn't know how the kids would like them but I wanted to give them a try. Hey, feeding all 6 of us (since Jonah was working and Justus doesn't "eat" yet) for about $.45 sounded good. I knew, however that the beans would not do enough so I found these to make as well. It was the very first time I have tried to make tortillas and it was fun! Sarah helped me roll the dough into balls and tried her hand at rolling them out too.








Our first 2 didn't come out looking very good but I learned from my mistake (they were too thick) and the rest came out fairly good looking (and delicious). We made half of them tortillas and half of them native american fry bread (which Alana loved when I told her she was native american and tells me, "I used to eat these in my teepee!" Uh, no. You didn't.)


These 2 guys sure did like it and the whole dinner couldn't have cost more than a dollar to make in total.