My Girl

I made a birthday hat for Alice.  Her birthday isn't until October.  I 'm not worried that I ruined the surprise.

Alice and I flew to Amarillo to watch a couple of graduations.  She was unimpressed.

Silly Mommy.  Baby gates are for sitting!

I can't tell if she liked licking the dryer because it was warm or shiny.  

She did the same thing to the dishwasher.  And with 6 kids the dryer and dishwasher are always warm and running!

She has a Captain and Tineal thing going this day.  I took at least 25 pictures.  Each one blurry.

She loves music.  And she loves Lizzie.

Yep.  

Some days she is in the best mood and we just soak it in.  Some days she is full of attitude and we just survive until nap time.  It's weird.  I know she doesn't have my DNA, but she sure does act like her mama!  

We have one more specialist (yet another ENT) then we are done with specialist...well, now we'll be doing the 6 month check up thing.  But, no "new" doctors.

We are still working on eating food more solid than puree.  Some days I feel like I'll be feeding her forever.  And some days...well, I always feel like I'm going to be feeding her forever.

But, she's my girl.  I love her like crazy.  And because my life is a musical (a song for every occasion) I had to help you have this song in your head the rest of the day.

A plea for help...

So, I don't post in, like, forever.  Then I go and ask you to give money.  Yep, that's the way I roll these days.

A dear, dear family is adopting 3 little ones from the country Alice was born in.  3!  I can't even wrap my brain around that one!  They were approved for 3 and decided 3 is what they were coming home with.

This family also happens to live in my town, so we've been able to visit and talk face-to-face.  I'm hoping to get to do much more of that when they get home.

They are a little short with the money side of things.  Can you help?  Here's her blog "Let's Fill the Van!".  How cute is that blog title?  These kiddos they are bringing home will fill their big white passenger van!  Amazing.

Also, please pass the word.  The more people that see this the better.  And pray.  Pray, pray, pray.

Then and today

Miss Alice has been changing and growing so fast!  Don't believe me?  Take a look...

Picture taken in Feb.

Picture taken in April

Hasn't she grown?  Look she no longer fits in the kitchen sink!

Look how tiny she looked in the baby seat then...

and how she looks now!

Plus, look at all her hair!  I can't get over how long it has gotten.  We are having fun with the bows and pigtails.  And that smile...it's on her face all day long!  She has become the happiest, sweetest little girl.  

But, here's the part that warms this mama's heart to boiling...she isn't like that for every one.  Just us!  AND, while she'll still go into anyone's arms, if she sees me she starts trying to get to me!

She's developed an opinion.  She will let you know if she likes something or not.  And it's very, very clear.  My mother-in-law asked if I was sure I didn't give birth to her.  I guess Alice and I have a lot in common.

We are working with a speech therapist on feeding issues.  This therapist happens to LOVE Alice because a)this girl is lovable and b)she's Alice's aunt!   Alice still will not eat anything with texture.  She will gobble down purees but not much beyond that.  Gobble down a tablespoon during a feeding, that is.  She's still not a huge eater, but we have made some major steps.

Laura, aunt, speech therapist, and an Alice fan.

I like that picture of Aunt Laura feeding Alice because it shows off that sweet, round tummy.

We are so in love with this little one.  But, lest you think life has been all roses, having a new baby and expecting a new baby has been tough.  Trying to keep up with all the appointments and not having a brain cell in my head or the energy to get out of the house has been difficult.

But, I've hit the beloved 2nd trimester and I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel...I'm only nauseous until noon instead of all day.  I am able to stay awake until 9 pm, instead of 7.  We were able to hear the little one's heartbeat yesterday.  That is just about the sweetest sound on earth, next to a child's giggle of course.

And Miss Alice has been giving us more and more of those every day.

Exactly, where have I been, you ask....

Yep, been pretty green for a while!  I have entered the 2nd trimester and I'm praying the all day nausea will be replaced with lots of energy.

Alice is amazing and changing every day!  I'll get some pics up soon...as soon as I get my face out of the toilet and my tired body off the couch.

Failed one test...passed another

Alice had a hearing test done this morning.

Her speech/feeding therapist (did I mention she's another beloved aunt?) suggested she have her hearing checked.  Sometimes when you call out Alice's name, she turns first time.  Sometimes the world can be falling around her and she doesn't even blink.  So, I agreed it would be a good idea to have it checked out.

Plus, we've done so many other doctors, what's a few more, right?

Well, I don't understand everything, but basically she failed the hearing test and has mild hearing loss.  She's got fluid build-up being her ear drums.  We are going to go back in 2 weeks after some effort to drain the ears to repeat the test.

I wasn't worried as I waited for them to come back with the results.  I knew something was up, though.  I was trying to imagine life with a child that will have issues with impulse control who can't hear me tell her no.  More than that, I was sad.  Would she ever hear me?  Would she hear giggles?  Would this be one more thing that would set her apart from...well, everyone else?

We adopted her knowing she had special needs.  I know she's different from my other children because of that.  She is adored and treasured.  But, it made me sad to think she would have another hill to climb.

I have no idea what the next few months will tell us with her hearing.  But, this I DO know.  God made her the way He wanted her to be.  He created her and gave her to me.  He has a purpose for this.

The other test...

Well, I'm the one that passed that test...actually, it was more of a positive/negative thing.

As in...the pregnancy test was positive!  Alice is going to be a big sister!  Baby #7 is due in mid-November.

I was a little shocked.  Usually, when my babies are 2 we are expecting in the next few months.  Henry turned 2 in December.  I should have been expecting it.  But I expected it to happen when Alice turned 2.  I know it sounds crazy.  But, she's the baby and that's how my brain works.

So, Alice will turn 2 in October.  And I'll have 2 two year olds.  The baby is due in November.  And Henry turns 3 in December.

Maybe I should change the name of the blog to "Blessings Coming out my Ears!" or "The day the Laundry took over" or "Grateful".

Doctor appointments take, like, 1000!

When I told my beloved sister-in-law that we were considering adopting a special needs child she asked me if I had considered how many doctor/therapy appointments we would be adding to our schedule.  Now, understand, I had 5 children and we only had the twice a year dentist and endocrinologist.  How could that stop us?  She agreed, but just wanted me to think about it. I appreciated the wise council.  But, I was naive.  How difficult could a few extra appointments be? 

Oh. My. Goodness.  I am worn out!

Tuesday my oldest, Lizzie, had a quick dental appointment that I almost missed because I had forgotten about it.

Wednesday all 6 children had dental cleanings.  Yep, all 6.  They cleared the whole hour just for us.  Charlotte has to have a tooth extracted.  Mary will get the privilege of having lots and lots of braces in the future.  Lizzie is getting her braces next month or so.  Thomas and Henry looked great.  H was so adorable.  The ladies in the office were impressed with his 2 year old cuteness.  I always am.  Alice even got a looking over.  He said she looked great and to bring her back when all of her teeth came in.  Since she's cut 6 since we've come home, I'm guessing next month?

Thursday is our normal day of violin and harp lessons and grocery store.  And a nice long nap for mommy.

Then, the mother of all days, Friday.  No milk to make breakfast.  So the kids ate bananas.  I drank a smoothie.  We made it out of the house by 8:45 (we were shooting for 8:30).  We went to the Museum of Natural Science.  So did 4 separate school districts of children.  So, as we dodged the other children I explained about creationism (amid a few evil eyes from the teachers).  As I tried to keep teachers from assuming my kids belonged with their kids, we learned about chemistry.

After about 2 1/2 hours of all that torture our field trip, I was ready for lunch.  We had a picnic outside.  My favorite part of the day.  Charlotte held Alice on the blanket.  I was laying down with both Henry and Thomas laying on me.  Lizzie and Mary sat near us.  The weather was perfect.  What a beautiful day.

From there we went to another doctor's appointment.  Charlotte has Hashimoto's thyroiditis.  An autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism.  We head down to the medical center every 6 months or so.  Well, in God's providence, it appears that so does Alice.  It's very common in Down's so I'm told.  Whatever.  I'm already well researched in it.  Bring it on!

Alice will have to be on meds just like Charlotte.  Well, at least I know what to expect.  Except the meds didn't make Charlotte any more hyper than usual (praise the Lord!  Any more energy and that girl could light our house!).  But, will they make Alice hyper?  She is the squrimiest baby already.  We'll see I guess.

Back to the appointments.

Monday both Lizzie and Charlotte will have teeth extracted AND then both Charlie and Alice have to have blood drawn to check their thyroid levels.




Sorry, I had to lay down for a bit.  I got a little light headed looking at all that.

I adore Alice more than words can say.  I think she is one of the prettiest babies we've ever had.  She can charm the stripes off a zebra.  But, let me tell ya.  I am pooped from running her all over town!  I think we're slowing down a bit.  I mean, really?  How many more doctors are there out there?  Right?

I know, I know....

It's been, like, forever since I've posted.  I have no good reason.  I have a reason, I'm just saying it's not a good reason.

Here goes...I never found the time to upload the pictures of Alice's cardiologist appointment.

There.  That's it.  It's been over a month and that's the best I could come up with.

So, here's the update:

Her cardiology appointment went well.  He said that she had one hole in heart at birth that was repaired around the age of 6 months (not 3 days like we were told in the orphanage.)  It was a good repair and he didn't need to see us again for 6 months.

Now, was that so hard?

She's started to sit up.  She's started to crawl.  And she's cut 6 teeth since we've come home.  I have pictures, lots of pictures.  But, in true Emily fashion I haven't taken them off the camera.  But, I simply couldn't wait any longer.  The guilt of not updating was starting to effect my daily routine. (That means I wasn't reading my favorite blogs because I felt bad.  I know, I've got issues.)

Whew!  I feel 10 pounds lighter!  I think I'll reward myself with a snack.  Hopefully, I will feel free to update more often...and with pictures.