Better

Bear is feeling much better thank you!

One little problem is...

that we heard that the urine sample

got lost by the lab after arriving there.

So we will never know what the bacteria

was specifically that was growing-

or how bad the infection was.

We are thankful that he is fever free.

Happy and smiling.

And we are watching him closely.

Thanks again for praying!

Bubba Bear is sick

It has been a long few days with a high fever and miserable Mister Bear. Although my gut was telling me he was having a UTI I somehow let my guard down at the urgent care when they felt it was "something viral". I really should learn how to better follow my Mommy instinct and just force or coerce things like a UA (urinalysis). If this had been done sweet Bear might have been able to not have such a high fever yesterday (day three of the fever).

Yesterday morning I did a "clean" collection of urine with a catheter (Lauren helped amen) and we took the same over to Bears primary care doctor (five hours before the appointment). I called two hours later when his axillary temperature topped out an hour after infant tylenol at 103.6. He was glassy eyed and miserable. I pushed and asked them to please run the UA before we arrived for his appointment later in the afternoon.

Bears primary care doctor was vigilant and gave him a shot of antibiotics as the culture was already growing bacteria. It takes forty eight hours to truly see what we are dealing with. Bear also had blood taken (they had to poke him twice poor baby). His blood showed that the infection was definitely into his blood stream already. (ugh. My Mommy heart breaks for this fact as if he had the meds two days ago he would have been in a better place more than likely.)

Bear is overall feeling much better today but we will have to keep a close eye on him and also see if he needs to start a different urology program to better care for his bladder. (He is on meds but not clean intermittent catheterizing.)

Keep sweet Bear in your prayers!

In other news- Sophie fainted yesterday at the movies. Please keep sweet Sophie in your prayers as well. (It was after a long day of swimming and she hadn't eaten much.) We are keeping a close eye on her as well. She may need to get some testing this week...

And... Clepson is on his way over because his eye thingy keeps popping out. (So we need to see if we can get it back in- my sister is at work and we can't get a hold of her.) He is still having lots of pain and upset- please keep praying!

Bullet post

I only have a few moments to give some fast updates...

* Clepson (from Haiti and being hosted by my sister) had surgery yesterday. He is doing OK but he will see his bandage "off" at the doctor today. Please keep him and his host family in your prayers. This is going to be a really big day for him, possibly even more difficult than the surgery itself. He is having some pain because of the head pressure and changes that are occurring. Prayers appreciated.

*My Mom and cousin Libby arrived yesterday and we are excited about the next two weeks and having time to visit them.

*Angeline had an appointment yesterday with the sleep clinic at Children's. She is likely having surgery soon. More to come. Prayers appreciated for this too.

*Bear had been running a fever last night and this morning. No other symptoms. We are praying its teething or viral and NOT a UTI/Bladder issue. We are watching him closely.

*My husband was gone for 15 hours yesterday working. I miss him and hope he has a three day weekend.

*Leishan has been staying with us for an extended visit. We are enjoying all this time with her. She is doing wonderfully and is very happy and content in her life. Its a blessing.

*Tyler has an interview for an Americorps program. (The same one I did and Jeremy did) prayers appreciated. We know your going to do great Ty!


*Please continue to pray for Isaac's file and his adoption. No news yet.

*Please continue to pray for Bear's parents. They still haven't been able to come in as they had hoped. They tried to come yesterday and his Mom fell off the donkey that was carrying her so they had to go back home. Prayers. Thanks.

*Prayers for my brother Patrick, brother in law Terry and friend of theirs who are going next week to summit a large mountain. It's a risky climb but they will have a guide.

Stink eye

This morning we made Angeline really mad.

My dear husband and I went to work out together.

(a rare treat with the hours he works)

In the midst of our excitement to get out the door

and making sure we leave directions

for the time we are gone- and be sure

to kiss everyone goodbye... we forgot one thing.

To take Beans walker out of the back of the van.

So when we got back home-

nearly 2 hours later.

Guess who was standing at the front screen door?

Angeline the Bean.

(With the stink eye)

She said: "Dad and Mom, I am so mad

at you. You took my walker and I

couldn't walk all morning!"

We sure felt terrible.

And she rubbed it in a great deal.

She is now happy with her walker

and having a tea party on the deck

with her Lulu sister.

And we won't ever forget the walker again!

Super Dad

This is our fathers day recap.

Superdad slept in until 9am.

When he woke up he was invited to go work

out with me- a huge treat for superdad.

(Since he goes three times as fast

and as four times farther.)

But since it was Father's Day

and since I made him wear this shirt all day-

we went together.

(any alone time is a blessing)

Leishan, David and I spent a busy day

preparing a special cake for Super Dad

Nie Nie's cake actually...

Ours certainly wasn't as pretty.

Because we wanted it to be MANLY.

But oh me oh my.

It tasted SO good.

Just one bite and...

My husband turned into Super Dad.

Definitely the kind of super dad who

takes his role on super clean Saturday

just a little too seriously

and who was completed giddy

to wear the Beans blankie as a cape

we love this super dad mmm--- hmmmm

A super dad who wakes up in the night

to feed baby

(and baby baby baby baby baby baby baby etc.)

and changes many a diaper

Who lets his wife sleep and tries his best

to never tell her NO ever

Even when he's tired

because he works so hard

for all of us

My sexy man of God super Dad

you are our everything

and our strong tough guy

even when you cry

and like to watch the same movies

way too many times

even when they are movies like:

10 things I hate about you

and Remember the Titans

Super dad who puts up with a wife

who can be a bit like KATE

and even helps to clean the garage

on fathers day

Super dad whose expectations

are fairly low of my cooking skills

and just who feels grateful if I had time

to cook anything at all

The kind of dad who saves his lunch

money to buy guitar toys

instead of breaking the budget

and never asks his wife what

she spent money on or why

even though he has the right to

What an awesome day

with our awesome super dad

we love you

Fathers Day

Happy Father's Day!
Baby Bear showed up everyone's fathers day surprise plans by saying his very first "official" word this week.

Bumble Ball

A dear friend of mine is looking for one of these Bumble Balls. Believe it or not these toys are going for near $50 USED on ebay. Maybe you have one laying around or might see one this weekend while thrift store shopping- if so please pick it up- she is looking for the full sized- not the mini one. (If its a good price.) She will pay shipping etc. It is for a little girl with some special needs that they do respite care for. This is just the kind of toy she needs to help her development.
Thanks!
Happy Weekend!
Sarah

Swimming with Clepson

I took Clepson swimming with my children the other day. It was a last minute- "Why don't we go to the pool" kind of swim date. I had asked Clepson if he could swim a couple times and he kind of smirked and was like "Yeah!"

So we were off with 10 kids to swim. We found Clepson a pair of swim trunks and some goggles. On the way to the pool I thought I was so cool by putting on my IPOD playlist full of Haitian songs. The first one we listened to and sang along with Clepson said he didn't know what it was saying. He was laughing and mid way through the song while we were all belting out our own special version he put his head down and looked very embarrassed. I kind of figured from his body language that it probably wasn't the most appropriate song- so I turned it off. (I should have thought about that ahead of time! ooops!)

Clepson said he didn't like COLD water. I assured him that there was a zero depth entry pool that is very warm and he would surely like it. I asked him to please not go off the diving board- because that pool is very deep and I was thinking that might be a bad idea just in case he didn't know how to swim. I spent most of the time there swimming laps and then took Baby Bear into the "warm" pool to play. All of the children were in the pool playing around, goofing off, and being silly. I wasn't really paying attention at first to what they were doing.

I then noticed the lifeguard eyeing the kids and I started paying better attention. They were all taking turns baptizing one another. They were lining up in the water and holding one another and dunking each other in ceremonial fashion. They weren't being rough or mean about it- they were just roll playing and enjoying themselves. Then the lifeguard came over and told them to stop. She was very serious about it and explained to them that "dunking" one another under the water is a really bad idea and someone could get hurt! Yikes.

All in all it was a great day had by all. Please be sure to check out the updates about Clepson on my sisters blog:

http://realtorreal.blogspot.com/

He goes for surgery next week! Prayers are appreciated as always.

Thursday thoughts

For the past two weeks MOI has been reported to be closed. MOI is the part of the Haitian adoption process where Isaac's file has been for over the past SIX MONTHS. MOI is the final and last part of the process. When you "get out" of MOI- that means that your passport application has been made. Then you get your passport, your child has a doctor visit for a medical exam, then you just need your US Visa...

Above is Isaac's passport picture. I dream about the day when I will be looking at this picture on the actual passport, with my son on my lap, and my husband by my side- watching Haiti disappear beneath the clouds, and the plane headed out towards Florida.

MOI is only open for visitors on Thursdays and Fridays. I dream each and every week that this Thursday or this Friday will be the week when we are out. When we are done. When we are MOVING towards a close place to bring our boy home.

So this week- MOI- you can't be closed. Because then I can't even dream. I just have to shift from dreaming to merely waiting- and I can't stop dreaming OK? Merely waiting is not good enough.

On waiting HOPEFUL knees for you son.

Love,

MOM

P.S. This was noted on another blog yesterday:
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Ministère d'Intérieur - Ministry of Interior
Regular office hours are commencing this Thursday, June 18th and Friday, June 19th.I have no update on IBESR and Madam Pierre (Director).

The creature holder is...

GRACE

The girl with the jar...

who held all the creepy crawlies for pictures

(after the release)

I can't even believe my boy crazy super girlie sweet daughter

could hold such creepy crawlies.
The "worm" thing can be found here:

http://www.islandgirl.co.uk/fishing_bait.htm

Thanks SavMom Cindy!!

No one was afraid to catch, touch or hold anything

(except for me of course)

Elijah and Bean

having a picnic

Elijah
definitely making a plan of attack
or something...


Lauren and Baby Bear

Bean
Cruising in her walker like a pro


Sophie and her friend Miss M.

Sweet Bear



Grace, David, Tyler and Loren (friend)

David and Loren

Sarah goes Kate

OK I am actually going to do it. I am going to blog about Kate. You know Kate right? From Jon and Kate plus eight. Well yesterday- I turned into Kate. So I guess that you could say we aren't Jon and Kate plus eight- but Bob, Sarah and Bean plus thirteen. (lol)
If you know anything about Kate, you know that she can be pushy, controlling and demanding. She can be a lovely and sweet Mom but she does have this intense TYPE A side to her that isn't so pretty.
Let me set the scene for you. After a lovely weekend away with my hubby- it was Monday and I had a ton of stuff to get done. Typically on the weekends I do a mass grocery shop/errand run. I try to get everything in order and planned out for the week so I am not making last minute diaper runs etc. Since I have been trying to coupon (thanks to my dear friend Heather and all her helpful hints)- it has made shopping trips that requires better planning and more time consuming. (well worth the money savings of course)
Monday morning started really early. My husband had to leave the house at 2am to get to work by 4am. Ouch. I felt terrible for him since I knew he had very little sleep and because of the commotion of him leaving essentially in the middle of the night- my sleep was interrupted- to say the least. Workout plans with a friend were foiled for the early morning because her husband had to go and blow it for us with his good oral hygiene an appointment. Since I was up- I woke the kids up early to get the day started. They had breakfast then worked on chores and school work. Bean was ready for her 2nd to last day of school and we headed out the door. We made it to the corner of our street and she broke down in tears. She was not having any part of school today. (This is unusual for her so I knew she must have not been up to it.) I turned the van around and came home just hoping she would make it the next day for her last day of school before summer.

My children with the exception of one Miss Lulu "I can't hear a word you say or sit still for one minute" did a fine job at getting lots of school work done in record timing. The occupational therapist arrived and started working with Bean (since she was home) then moved on to Baby Bear. Meanwhile I chatted with him, checked school work, organized coupons, called on the shipments of medical supplies we have coming for the kiddos, checked phone messages, watered the plants, asked Lulu to please get her math done ten times, thanked Lauren profusely for taking the time to sort through the mixed up math flash cards, and basically got my Monday morning situated for the day.

Because I knew we had to grocery shop and my children really needed an outlet after a rather drab weekend at home. We decided that after the OT left, we would eat some quick PBJ's and head out to the pool. Everyone scrambled and got it together. We had a great time swimming and I had thought if I made it the goal of the kids to really help and behave while at the grocery store then I would let them pick a "snack" of whatever they want basically. That's good motivation right?

We had two carts and one stroller and tried out best to stay in a line up on one side of each aisle. We had pool supplies and other things to buy while at the store, so I sent David and Cole with a short list to go and price the items and decide what is best to buy. (They are super capable like that.) So basically there was some shoving of the carts into one another which happens right? And Lulu kept wandering off. I finally took a hold of her hand and kept her by my side. When I realized that wasn't practical because each time I would let go of her hand to get items off the shelf she would spin in circles in the middle of the aisle- I asked her to hold the cart and not let it go until we left the store. (She eventually spun so hard she fell over into someone else- oh my.)

Did I mention I think it was perhaps 5% off day for senior citizens? We were very much in their way at every turn.

Dominick handled holding Baby Bears bottle while we made our way through each aisle like a trooper. Trying to stay organized I gave Sophie several coupons for her to go and find the items and see what the final cost would be. She did a great job at making some choices about certain things. Lauren was pushing one shopping cart with Angeline in it (one of those massive "car" shopping carts) and Grace had the other cart. Each time I would buy an item with the coupon I would give it to the person who was pushing the cart with the item in it. It was working out fairly well and keeping things organized for later on when we left the store to making it easier getting things put away.

When we finally made it to the check out- we were all feeling tired. I got to hear miss 19-21 year old check out girl chatting with another girl about how tired she was. How she just wished she was at home eating a Klondike bar and watching TV. I thought about this young woman and I wondered if she ever felt this way.

I tried my best to ignore her whining and I gathered the coupons- of which between the three girls- we were missing many of them. (Had they been dropped somewhere? We searched.)

Then the manager came over to declare that this was Miss Check Out girls first week working at this store. They both stood and complained about large "orders" and people buying multiple carts of food. Then they asked me if I was "stocking up". OK people- if you see someone grocery shopping with NINE children- perhaps use your deductive reasoning and assume that they might have to actually feed all those children something from time to time! No I was not stocking up you moron!

I made her life far worse because I brought my own bags and this was just overwhelming her beyond belief. I took deep breaths and kept encouraging her and telling her she was doing a good job. I even told her manager that she was really a trooper and fast for it being just her first week. The manager commented that she wished her children were half as nice to one another as my children are. That made me feel great and I thanked her.

She loaded my two carts of food in bags and needed four shopping carts to put the bags in. (I am not sure why this happens!) I handed her my pile of coupons (which we eventually did find them all) and she slightly fell backward. She started ringing them through and a shampoo coupon that was buy two get $1 off wouldn't work. I had FOUR of those coupons and she was trying to get them to work and couldn't. She then asked her "friend" who was also her coworker waiting for her to get done so they could leave work- what to do. She told her that we would have to get the shampoo out- ring it up again and then try the coupon. Are you serious?

Since we had four coupons and EIGHT bottles of shampoo- I had all the kids start digging through the bags to find the shampoo. My kids were looking very tired and super hungry at this point as we had been checking out for over a half an hour. The woman waiting in line behind me was gracious and called someone to pick up her daughter for her because she knew she was stuck for awhile.

We found all the shampoo- she tried her coupon working method- she still couldn't get it to work right. She called over the manager who didn't need the bottles of shampoo after all and she got it to work.

I paid- it was over $500 with the coupons. I felt blessed to be able to fill our cupboards and to have some special things for dinner so my husband could have a lovely meal when he got home. The kids and I looked through this fabulous blog for some "treat" ideas for the next couple weeks and bought supplies to make them. I planned to make some treats for Angeline to take to school for her last day as well. I thought that might be a good encouragement.

The check out girl printed my receipt and it got stuck in the machine. (of course) I told the kids to go ahead to the van because I was stuck for a bit longer and I knew that they could start getting the food in the back etc. She ripped my receipt out of the machine and it was really only half a receipt and it was in two pieces. I would then have to go to customer service and get a new one. I went over to customer service- just thankful to not have to deal with check out girl for another minute. There was a line- so I waited and tried to be patient. Finally it was my turn and they start to print me out another receipt. But they had to print it on printer paper in their circa 1987 dot matrix printer. They kept remarking at how long the receipt was. It took 15 minutes to print. I am not exaggerating. I finally looked over at the girl and asked if they sold printers there.

Why "yes we do!"

I suggested that they buy a new one for the customer service desk. She explained that it had to come from the corporate office. I suggested that they consider a return or scratch and dent- anything would be better than what they had!

So finally I have my 27 page receipt. (so handy) I am out the door of the store. Yeah!

I get into the van and the kids are acting like they are starving. I ask why they didn't get their snacks out before they put everything in the back? No one thought of that. I told them we would get them when we got home. Meanwhile my van is running on fumes and we need to stop and get some gas. I had David dig through the bags while I was getting gas and pull out some snacks to tide everyone over. We worked up a plan on the massive grocery "put away" from the gas station to home.

David would oversee the putting away of the groceries- he is so good at organizing things. Lauren and I would take Bean and Bear inside for "potty" and clean diapers. Lulu would assist us as she provides lots of entertainment for the little ones. The kids planned to carry bags from the van and stop in the garage to put away the very melted ice cream in the freezer and other assorted things on the shelves, fridge and freezer that are out there. Instead of bringing everything inside then back tracking to the garage- this plan made sense. (We have a good set up of storage for canned goods etc. in the garage to save room inside.)

Meanwhile Lauren and I were getting things situated inside with the little ones. Lulu quickly disappeared and I waited for the bags to be brought inside and checked my email. Far too much time had passed but I still assumed the positive about the grocery organizing efforts. Finally one of the kids comes inside and they tell me how since things weren't packed well in the bags by Miss check out that one of the jars of pasta sauce broke. (Which was for dinner last night and what the kids desperately wanted.) They tell me that they are cleaning it up and not to worry etc. I tell them to please be careful putting everything away and please keep your shoes on!

More time passes and still no bags are brought in the house. I finally go to the garage and see a sight that made my blood boil. Grace was washing down the driveway where the jar broke. Lulu was running around bare foot where the glass was. David was chatting with the neighbor boy in the garage. Cole, Dominick and Sophie were no where to be found.

And on the garage floor was about 40% of the food. Spread out and dumped. These images came into my head. And these ones too. My heart went from feeling tired and blessed to just plain pissed off.

I then turned into Kate. Not the Kate whose pictures are posted here- but the BEFORE reality TV Kate. The one with no nanny, no hired help, the one struggling to feed her family healthy foods and keep on top of her laundry. I exclaimed vile words that I choose not to repeat. Not Kate kind of "oh Lordy be!" words but much worse. The moment ended with the neighbors teen son quickly headed home and my children headed towards their bedrooms. Lauren ran to the garage to start putting things away and I stopped her. We just sat and felt in shock from the moment of fury and wondered why if they didn't care and didn't want to put the food away- why didn't they just say so?

My husband came home a few moments later and nearly fell over at the exhaustion he felt from the past 16 hours. (Four hours driving and ten hours working HARD manual labor and he is no spring chicken let me tell ya.) And he nearly fell over seeing his hard earned money and weeks worth of food on the garage floor. And couldn't park his truck where he normally does because of the glass. And there was no dinner cooked because it broke. And his wife was frazzled. And his children were all nestled and snug in their beds in trouble.

I never claimed to be perfect. I don't want to be an expert at anything. I pray to be a better Mom, wife and child of God each and everyday. We are all human and make mistakes. I want my children to know I make mistakes. I want them to see my mistakes rectified with grace and humility. I want them to learn that its OK to fault er and overreact sometimes- that it happens to all of us. That sometimes we behave out of exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed and that we learn from our mistakes. That we say things we don't mean. That we feel sorrow for our actions and genuinely need to learn how to make heart felt apologies that we mean. That family means forever and that we are like boats on the sea- we work through the rough waves and calm waters- in good times and bad.

After the storm settled we all played for the same team. We put away the groceries and let Dad take a nap while dinner was being made. We have now moved forward to a better day- another gift- another chance to do it better this time around.

This blog post serves as the lesson reminders:

1. Do not shop with ALL the children

2. Say what you mean, do what you say

3. It's just food and we can wash most of it

4. The shortest line at the grocery store isn't always the best one

5. The garage floor isn't that dirty

6. Every now and then Moms need a time out too

7. Snack first- then errands

8. Even though my children are the most capable children I know- they are still children

9. no expectations= less frustration

10. Kate is now officially an adjective

11. Behaving in HIS likeness helps avoid having to apologize later

Lauren and Jeremy (photography)

(full moon by lauren)

Photos by Lauren and Jeremy
(unedited)
Here are some of the favorite pictures
by children have taken over the past month.

"Let us out"

by Lauren

Little Ladies by Lauren

The butterfly release

(home school project)

by Lauren

Spring Bee by Lauren

Flowers in her hair by Jeremy

"Don't take my drink"- by Lauren

The town bridge- by Jeremy

Kylie and her kite- by Lauren

Sammy S. by Lauren

Take a guess?

This week we spent some time at the beach.

During low tide you can find all kind of tide pools

and in the tide pools are all kinds of creatures.

Anyone know what this is?

It freaked me out.

We have been trying to figure it out.

Sea snake? Millipede? Centipede?

It was in the water.

And I can't believe my children would hold it.

The kids were fast moving to catch the fish with their hands.

It was quite impressive!

Take a guess at whose hands are holding all of these creatures?
In all three pictures above.

No animals were brought home or harmed.
(all went back where they came from)

It's official!

Baby Bear has been ferberized!

And he now sleeps through the night.

(Well slept through last night.)
You will notice a much happier

well rested Bear and Family too.

Whoohooo!!

Last weeks appointments for Bear went well.

He still has some rash on him.

He will go back to Dermatology next week.

Once they give him the GO- he will revisit

orthopedics. They will put casts on his legs that

will only stay on for a few days.

The casts will go over his ointment and

other protective materials.

They will also put a cast on part of his arm.

(just to determine if he is indeed allergic to the casting material)

He will need surgery for his club feet.
(They will not do the surgery until they
figure out how to cast him afterward.)

Bear had his urodynamic study done.

His bladder is very hard and doesn't hold much urine.

He is now starting medication to help soften his bladder.

He will likely need to start "cathing"

in the upcoming months.
(we want to protect his bladder and kidneys

as much as possible!!)

But this means another med for Bear.

He already takes SO many.

Reflux meds three times a day.

Breathing treatments as needed

every 2-5 hours.

Culturelle twice a day.

Now urine meds. twice a day.

Not to mention the arsenal of skin

creams and diapers ointments.

(I need a charting system if you have

any ideas-please do share!)

Developmentally Bear is doing well.

He can now roll front to back.

And back to front.

He babbles, laughs, coo's.

And I swear he can say HI and Mama. :)

He is very social and smiles.

He frowns when he doesn't like something.

He can transfer objects from one hand to another.

He grabs onto things non stop.

If placed in a sitting position he sits.

He can't sit up on his own yet-

since he does have one thing

going against him other than his legs

being paralyzed... he is over 18 lbs.

And that belly makes sitting difficult.

But we are working on it.

Bear is only 24 inches long.

This makes it hard to find clothes to fit.

Bear will also see a pulmonary doctor

in the upcoming weeks to figure out

if he needs something else for his breathing.

And an upper GI has been scheduled.

(They want to rule out microaspiration)

We are so in love.

Bear is one of kind.

And perfect of course.

Keep praying about his parents.

More to come soon.