Court Date #1 - December 7, 2012

We received our first court date today.  This court date is for Miles and on December 7th the judge will review the files, submit the case the the Ministry of women's affairs (MOWA)  for their comment and  then assign a court date for us (Fred and I).  Once we receive our court date, then its time to make arrangements to get on that plane and go see our boy!

Thanksgiving

My kids and My sisters kids - All together

 

                                           Nana & Paw Paw with all the grandkids (minus 1)

 

We have so much to be thankful for!!

Court...

Today our file was submitted to the Ethiopian court.  One more milestone, one more step closer to getting on a plane and heading to Africa to see our little man. 

Life as we know it....

will be taking a turn for the better.  With two surgeries down in the last month we should be surgery free for a long time!  This has become "life as we know it" for the last 2 1/2 years.  It just becomes part of what you do.  Lots of doctors appointments and lots of love and care. But, this is going to become of thing of the past for us and I am so happy!  My little ones have been given the care and attention they needed and I am so happy to see them healthy.  Between the two of them we have had 5 surgeries in the last 2 1/2 years and lets not forget the transition of bringing two special needs children home during that time.  Its been a crazy ride, but a good one.  Some days are harder than others, but I wouldn't change anything - the good, the bad or the ugly.  They are all components of what make us who we are.  Teaching moments from God to grow us into the people He wants us to be.  I have grown and changed in so many ways.  Thank you to all my children who help make me the mom I am today and to my husband who encourages me and loves me through it all.

We had a great weekend around here.  We started it off with a bang on Friday night with Chris Tomlin!  He was just amazing.  On Saturday night Fred and I had yet another date night and headed out to help celebrate a friends birthday.  Two date nights in a row - well that NEVER happens.  I did enjoy it however.  And we ended the weekend with a beautiful day out at the barn for Morgan's horse show.  We had a rough start but ended the day very well!!  I am so proud of her perseverance.  This girl is growing up right before my eyes and I want to stop time immediately!  I love the young lady that she is becoming.

 

Hoping to hear that our papers have made it to the court in Ethiopia this week!  Then the wait will being for getting our court date.  I can not wait to be able to show you all a picture of our little treasure that is waiting for us in Ethiopia....

 

Halloween

As you know we spent our Halloween at the hospital for Lily's surgery.  However, we were able to get in on the festivities prior to the actual day.  While Fred and I were out of town visiting family in CT my mom took the kids over to their church to get in on a little fall festival action.

 

And of course we had to get our pumpkin carving in!

 

 

We arrived at the hospital at 6:45 on Wednesday morning.  Lily did such a great job.  I was a little unsure how she was going to do with it all.  After all she has been through 2 major surgeries in the 2 years she has been home and seen her little brother go through 2 major surgeries as well in the last 3 months.  She handled it all like the mature 3 year she can be. 

 

 

She went back into the OR fine and woke up fabulous.  Never any tears - the entire time! 

 

 

Once she came to and had eaten a little we took her down to the Halloween party the hospital was having for all the kids.  I have to say they did a fabulous job!

 

 

We spent the rest of the day in our room.  Lily grazed on her spaghetti and watched TV.  My mom and dad came up to visit late that afternoon and brought Liam up to see his sister.  Lily was excited to see everyone and didn't want her Nana to leave. 

She slept through the night very soundly.  The doctor came in and woke us up at 7 am.  We were out of there by 9 am.  Wahoo!  Short and sweet that is what I like. 

We are home now and recovering well. 

Liam is also doing better.  We went back to see his doctor on Monday and he decided to put him on a couple different meds.  One to take the acidity out of his stool and another to slow down his bowel movements.  We were also able to get some more of the paste that we were out of when we were at the hospital with Lily.  It is just going to take time to heal, but it does look better.  Last night was the first night he has slept through since the surgery and he is still sleeping now!!!

We have also begun the daunting task of taking away the thumb sucking.  Lily can't right now because of her mouth so I thought it would be a great time to break Liam of it as well!  I put his "thumbkin" on last night and he did great.  Went to sleep like a champ and like I said slept through and is still sleeping. 

Thanking God today for the many blessing in my life and for giving me the perseverance, the strength and the courage to battle through these tough weeks.

Also a huge thanks to my family for battling through as well.  Everyone one of them stepped up and made sacrifices along the way.  I love them soooo much!!!!