A Brand new day to a Brand new adventure

Today is a Brand new day!

Today marks a start to a Brand new adventure!
Today my husband is a Brand new employee!


Sadly, 10 months ago we were met with what so many these days are struggling with ~ unemployment (due to being laid off)!

It has been the most stressful, challenging, hardest and joyous time of our lives. Over these last 10 months we have walked through an international adoption, adjusted to a new driver in the house, successfully completed another year of homeschooling, dealt with financial crisis, suffered depression, recovered from depression, adjusted to having a little girl in the house, grown older (at least the aches and pains tell us so), hopefully grown wiser (got the grey to prove it), among so much more.

When we look back over these months and ask ourselves "how did we ever make it financially?" the answer really should be "not possible!" Yet we got to watch God provide over and over and over again for our family ~ to those few who were a part of this we are forever grateful and pray God's incredible blessing on your lives! When Jesus took the five little loaves of bread and the two little fish and fed thousands, many would (and did) say "not possible". And yet it did happen! We got to witness in real life a 'five loaves and two fish' miracle in our own family. Our children got the 'rich' pleasure of watching us walk in faith and seeing how God provides.

I know I can speak for hubby that he would say one of the greatest joys he has experienced these past 10 months is having the opportunity to spend many hours getting to know his daughter, that he would not have had if he were working an 8-5pm job every day. It has been such a blessing for both Brian and Abigail. So, this morning hubby asked me to wake Princess Baby-cakes so he could give huge hugs and kisses to her (as it will be very hard for him not to see her any-time during the day today)and we stood at the door and waved bye-bye to Daddy~ a 1st for Abigail!


To my love, you make me so proud! I know how hard this time has been on you, on us and I am so grateful that we got to walk this journey together ~ you and me! I love you so much more than words can say. May you experience blessings beyond your expectations today and everyday!

Double the Fun!!!

Though I can't report that the ear is any better yet, I will say that the hearing deficiency does have its advantages. Like: "Mom, do you know where my _________ is?" "Mom, can you tell _________to stop bugging me?" "MOOOOOOM, can you__________." I sit in pure ignorant BLISS, when they come out to find me, asking me if I heard them and I so [excitedly] respond, "Oh sorry honey, you're going to have to speak into my good ear instead of shouting from down the hall. I didn't hear a thing you said." At which point they find a level of irritation rising throughout their body that they just walk away only to find "Said" item on their own.

See I knew ear infections weren't all that bad afterall. :-)

Nonetheless, this week I've had the privilege of watching my friend's sweet little baby girl. Little Miss J was born the day after + 1 year later than Abigail, and it's been so much fun to get to experience two sides of the spectrum - baby and toddler. Princess Abigail is dead set on not losing her "crown" to Little Miss J, of which I assure her everyday that she IS the Princess in my heart!!! So here are a few snapshots from our week together.

Can you hear me now?

Can you imagine a world without hearing?

No wind ruffling between the leaves.

No birds tweeting and chirping their lullabies.

No baby crying because she just wants a hug and snuggle from her mommy.

No laughter between brothers.

No music made just for you by your child.

No barking dogs or cats meows.

No timer beeping letting you know your cookies are done.

It's deafening isn't it?

Guess who has an ear infection and can't hear out of one ear?


Yours truly!

Tuesday night I began to feel a sort of fullness in my left ear. By the time I went to bed that night I had throbbing pain and knew from the gecko that I was headed to the Dr. in the morning. 1 antibiotic, 2 sudafed every 4 hours and too many Tylenol to count I am trying to mend. Still can't hear out of my left ear which made me contemplate what life would be like without hearing. My conclusion is that it would truly be sad. Though I know so many suffer from either partial or full hearing loss - maybe from birth, maybe from an accident or maybe just from the aging process. All I know is that I am so thankful that I do have the gift of hearing, barring this short disability that currently plagues me. I look forward to hearing fully again!

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful_______...

disclaimer: DUE TO THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THIS POST, PLEASE BE SURE TO KEEP SMALL ANIMALS AND PRESCHOOL TOYS OUT OF THE ROOM DURING VIEWING.

Picture this: a cool summer morning breeze upon your face. The sun has yet to show its face yet, but you know it's just around the corner. The birds have begun their beautiful morning concert ~ chirping, tweeting, singing back and forth to one another. In the distance you can hear a dog bark. If you try really hard you might even be able to smell the aroma of fresh brewed coffee. What's that? A sound, still not quite awake you aren't quite sure where it's coming from. Wait, wait a minute! It's a sound you recognize, a sound you've heard many times before. "thump, THump, THUMP, bang, crash goes the door, splash, slosh, MOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" (You've probably figured this out by now) someone is violently vomiting in the next room and all I can think about is burying my head as far under the pillow as possible (sympathetic vomitor I am).

Oh yes, it is a beautiful morning and oh such a BEAUTIFUL day as I am up to my elbows, ears and eyeballs in Lysol disenfectant spray.

So sorry N-dog, I am wishing you a very speedy recovery!

Wait, I think I hear another bellow...gotta run!

We're Expanding...

no, not the family
no, not the house
definitely not the money
but most assuredly the mouth (and I don't mean mine)

Look who's sportin' some new hardware!


We've started the third (and I can't say final yet) child in orthodontic apparatus's and if he could type this post right now it would look a little like this:
"Oowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww"
PD and Tan Tan didn't have to have an expander put in where you have to crank a key every morning to widen the jaw, but lucky N-dog does. He's not happy about it (even though he takes great 'I look happy' pictures), but we keep convincing him it won't be for long.

So on we go to endure the next few months of what he so eloquently calls "torture". Yep that's it just call me Mrs. Torture or Mominator and with 'key' in hand I'll come running!

Catchin' Up

I can officially say we are well on our way to being "well" again. Now if we could just find an allergy medicine that actually worked...well then we would be feeling pretty Fine!!!

Nonetheless, here are a few pictures from past week(s)/weekend.

Enjoy!


Enjoying a tea-party play date!

Nothing makes a girly-girl feel better when she's under the weather than brand new Elmo jammies!

La-la-la-la, La-la-la-la, jammie-time

"Ah-ha, I can get you wet with just my hand!"
About 10 days ago we were blessed with some incredibly warm weather. 90 degrees warm to be exact and it was only fitting to get baby girl accustomed to playing in her pool than on a nice day!

Even the Mommy enjoys a little pool time.

Diving in water less than 6 inches could be hazardous to your health.

One of us is having a grand ole time. Can you guess which one?

Getting ready to enjoy our little towns' annual Parade.
After having several days of really warm weather, we woke this Saturday morning to cloudy and high 60's. Quite the change.

Showing incredible "American" spirit and pride!

Quick 'almost whole family' photo before the Parade officially begins.

Been...

under the weather (all of us) this past week, thus haven't been able to blog.

Hope to get to a post next week sometime ~ hopefully sooner (wishful thinking).