Pictures from Harrison

This could potentially be the worst set of pictures so far! :)
No good pictures of the kids in the actual springs. (Sorry by the way for doing the massive blog update all at one time.)
I realized that when the kids were in the pools, I was also, so we didn't have the camera handy. (We were running in the cold from pool to pool sopping wet. It is truly exhilarating!)
Being that this is definitely one of our favorite places we have ever been to, it was a very fun time indeed.
In the fall they have a huge sand castle building contest right on the water of Harrison Lake. The last picture is of the front of the resort.

Good memories!
Love,
S

Lauren's 16th Birthday

Our sweet Lauren turned 16 this month. I can hardly believe it. Where does the time go?

On her birthday Aunt Nina took Lauren for an eye brow wax and also to get her hair highlighted and cut. She is looking so old with her new hair-do!

Lauren and her best friend Aly went for a special Thai dinner without all the younger children, then back home for cake, movies and a sleep over. Lauren got money for her birthday that she is saving for a new laptop and "drawing" computer pad.

Happy Birthday Lolo we are so proud of the wonderful young lady you have grown into.

A plea to my sister

Please my lovely and beautiful sister Nina, pick up my camera from the photo shop! I must send it in for repair. I can't possibly bear one more tragic picture like this from the new camera that I have. (Nina was nice enough to drop off the camera last year... when bug and ella were here, and it has sat at the shop waiting for pick up since... they want her to pick it up since she dropped it off and said she was me... well me with her last name I think... she must have been having a moment! LOL) They want to charge me $200, and I want to mail it back to the company with a plea for repair. I believe it's a faulty problem with the design of the camera and not something I should have to fork over $200 for. (Certainly worth a try, or else I need to save my pennies for a new camera.) I need to take better pictures!! :)

Thanks Nina. Love you!

Ella and Bug FAMILY 2008 Pics

These are two new Helande pictures. She looks beautiful and is doing so wonderfully!

Most of you have probably already seen these pictures but I wanted to post them here for my own memory. :)

The top pictures of of Helande "Bug" and her Mom from February. Bug is doing great as you can see from the pictures.

The bottom pictures are of Guerda (Christella's mom) and her youngest baby. Guerda is wrapped in the lovely prayer shawl that Ericka's church made for her. (We have one too and wrap up in it often still to remember Ella and how she profoundly touched our lives.) The baby sister is wearing the dress that Ella wore home to Haiti last year. :) And of course that beautiful "blan" is Lori from Real Hope for Haiti.

These are touching pictures for me and my family.

Please continue to pray for both of these amazing families. :)

Sarah

Babies update

Here is a little picture of Baby Tessa going home.

Her Mom Kim had a bit of a scare this week and was back at the hospital but is now doing ok. The carpet was laid at the new house today so they are able to move in tomorrow. We are hoping to send over a moving crew to help them move in. And Nana (my Mom) is here until Tuesday and she can help with her expert furniture placement. :)

Kim and her husband and two children as well as Baby Tessa have been staying with a friend since Kim got out of the hospital so I know that they are anxious to get HOME! Please pray for a smooth transition home for this beautiful family and that Kim makes sure to rest a lot and no overdo anything!

In other baby news:

Lena should be coming sometime this week. Either Salem will drive down to Virginia and pick her up and bring her out. (With her sister and Schnider so I will get to meet him in person finally!) OR... an airline ambassador will be bringing her. Please pray that things come together and we have a plan tomorrow. :)

Lena had a doctors appointment today and now weighs 6lbs 12oz! Yeah!!! She has gained on average 2oz. per day. She also grew 1.5 inches. She is still acting like a newborn and is now three months old, but developmentally they are seeing gains daily. She will need to be 12 lbs before she is able to get her lip repaired. Then she will have to wait till she is a bit older for the cleft palate repair. We are excited to be able to care for her while she is here. We have been collecting a slew of newborn tiny clothing from all the local resale shops and ebay. She is still waking to eat every two hours on her own so that is great news!

More soon!

Blessings,
Sarah

Isaac March/April

Praying that no news is good news. :)

What a handsome guy.

We miss you son.

Long time... no blog....

(Picture of Sophie, Cousin Zoe, and Grace, out with Aunt Betsy to see documentary "Girls Rock!")

Sorry for the lack of blogging and making Ange worry. :)

Life has been busy. Baby Tessa was able to go with her Mom mid last week. Her Mom Kim is out of the hospital and doing ok. They still aren't in the new home yet, but their whole family is staying with friends until they are able to get everything ready and moved in, prayerfully this weekend.

Last week was spring break here and we had a great time. Nana (my Mom from Ohio) is in town for the next two weeks. We took the kids to the Hot Springs for the night in Canada and they had a blast. (pictures coming) And we have just been busy enjoying the free time, going to the park, farmers market, shopping etc.

This week is WASL testing (state standardized testing) for the kids so things are equally as busy. We are all catching up on sleep after the time with Tessa!

We are going to be hosting baby Alfrelina, or "Lena" as she is currently being called. Vanessa from Angel Missions was able by nothing short of a miracle to get her Visa and get her out of Haiti last week during the riots. And we are all giving much praise because it was just in the nick of time. She is currently almost three months old and weighs 5 pounds. She has likely lost weight from this newborn picture of her but of course gotten longer. Lena will be staying back East with Vanessa for the next couple weeks to gain some weight and strength before coming to our house. She will stay with us to have her cleft lip repaired here in Washington and then a couple months after she will have her palate repaired. Lena is in a very fragile state right now and Vanessa is feeding her round the clock every two hours. We have to get her up to 12 lbs before they will be doing any surgery on her. Please keep her and Vanessa in your prayers!! Please also pray that the travel plans can come together soon.

More soon!
(Bean's OT is coming so I have to get the house clean.)
Love,
Sarah

Welcome Tessa Marie!

We have a little visitor... and we have been keeping busy with newborn Tessa this past week. Tess's Mom Kim had a C-section 10 days ago and things went downhill from there, torn fascia (sp?), bowel obstruction, etc. so she is still in the hospital. Please keep my dear friend Kim in your prayers this has been very hard for her dealing with so many health issues, and having been in the hospital for so long.

Also her and her husband have sold their home and bought a new house the same week that Tessa was born so they are dealing with getting their new home ready to move into, and moving in everything. (So Jesse her husband has been running around between the hospital and home, please keep him in your prayers too.)

Many friends have stepped up to help get things ready so that Kim has her home ready to go when she gets out of the hospital. :)

Reagan and Hunter are their other children, both at their grandparents patiently waiting with the stomach flu for their family to be reunited.

It has been really fun having Tessa around the house, she is an incredible and sweet baby.

Thanks for your prayers!

Sarah