Taking a break

Well, it was bound to happen. Addy finally needed a break from all of the excitement. This morning she just could not wake up. We woke up to find her covered in formula! I was afraid she had vomitted, but fortunately/unfortunately somehow her Mic-KEY extention had come out of her button so some of her feeding was lost. So into the bath we go and I didn't get one little smile! She loves her bath, so this worried me. We got out and got our meds and breathing treatment and she fell asleep during it, she even slept through her morning bolus. She slept from 10 until 2 and woke up a much happier little girl! She is smiling and playful, thank goodness! So she and I decided to let everyone else head to EPCOT while we just chilled today. I think the heat finally got to her yesterday, it was the hottest day so far

Avery is still covered in his itchy rash and it appears it's getting worse instead of better. His face is no longer swollen so that's encouraging but he's itching like crazy. We're making him shower right after he gets out of the pool and that seems to help the itching some. If it doesn't go away we'll head to the doctor when we get home.

Jarika is turning into a bronzed beauty and Cooper has memorized every parking space/section and all of the maps of the parks. He's so fun to have around!

More to come soon!

The Vacation

Okay, I just tried to update more and ended up deleting all that I have done, so no more photos for now. I may wait until I get home so I can separate things better! We are having a blast and the kids are doing great! Well, Avery is covered in a rash and his face is swollen! I'm assuming it's an allergy rash from the way it looks. Not sure yet, but he feels fine, no fever, sore throat, etc. So hopefully it will pass! Addy is amazing and she met an adorable little girl named Caitlin at Magic Kingdom last night. Caitlin also has DS and is around 6 years old, she was so adorable and had the most amazing articulation skills! She must be working like Michelle's Ciarra! We're heading to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios today, we rearranged our schedule a little, we stayed at MK pretty late last night so everyone could sleep in some today. We are tired but really enjoying ourselves! It's been raining at home so we are pleased with the sunshine!

Part 1/The Vacation

Okay everyone, this is just a bit of what's happened so far! Enjoy! Charissa, check out Addy's dress!:)

http://www.onetruemedia.com/my_shared?z=2a0f04d1a925d7b3d899b5&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Getting Ready!!

I can't believe that I only have three more nights to get six people packed for our trip! Okay just 5, Jarika totally takes care of herself! I have Addy packed except for some of the remaining medical supplies etc. I'm nowhere near ready for me! Scott's pretty much done, he went and bought some new clothes yesterday during his lunch break. The shorts didn't fit so he was going back today to exchange! He hates shopping so I'm sure it was a total thrill for him! I'll have Cooper and Avery done tonight most likely. They're pretty easy!
The travel plan is to leave Marshfield Friday afternoon and head to Memphis. We're going to eat here: Scott's favorite Food Network Show: Down Home with the Neely's, he's very excited! Addy loves to watch the show too, she loves Gina's voice!



After we finish eating we are then going from Memphis to just north of Birmingham. I'm hoping to somehow try to meet Rita and the girls, but it's looking doubtful since we'll be in so late and leaving so early. I'm gonna try though! If I don't get a chance on the way down we might be able to meet up on the way home on the 31st. Saturday morning we're going to head to the gorgeous house that my SIL found for us! We're gonna head to Sams for food and such then unpack and attack the pool! The kids are going to have a blast!
The rest of the week looks like this:

Sunday: Discovery Cove/Animal Kingdom?
Monday: Sea World/MGM?
Tuesday: Magic Kingdom
Wednesday: Epcot
Thursday: Animal Kingdom/MGM Studios & Clearwater Beach!
Friday: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
Saturday: heading to the beach ( I think Daytona) then heading back to the midwest to make it home sometime late on Sunday.
Then Monday morning Scott and I head to work and the boys to summer school! YIKES!

I better get busy on the laundry(again) and start figuring out what I have to wear! I wish I was like Addy and Jarika (look absolutely perfect no matter what!)

It's May 17th!

I have grown to love this date! This is the date that twelve years ago my husband told me he longer wanted me to be his girlfriend, he wanted me to be his wife! Therefore, this day has always been special to me.
It was one year ago today that I was conducting and IEP meeting and my cell phone started singing "ABC, easy as 123". I know, cheesy Jackson 5, but it reminded me of children, so that was the special ringtone assigned to Robin Steele, the adoption coordinator at the National Down Syndrome Society! I swear my heart skipped a beat when I heard it ringing! I wanted to jump out of that meeting and talk to her sooo badly! However, I knew my boss may frown upon that, as well as the parent of the child's whose IEP we were going over! I hadn't had a call from Robin since January and was so saddened by it. Anyway, that was the longest meeting of my life and honestly, I couldn't wait for those parents to head out the door so I could check my voicemail! It was so nice that I could share my excitement with some of my closest friends who were with me when I checked it. I just started crying and kept saying "baby" to them as I was listening. They were looking at me like I had lost my mind, but knew I was excited so waited until I disconnected to find out what in the world was going on! When I told them they were all excited and went to tell others that I had received a call about a baby. I called Robin and I could barely listen I was so excited about the information she had! She began telling me about a 6 month old girl whose parents were looking for a family. I listened to all of the past medical issues that she had, her birthdate, current medical issues and the process that would happen if we were interested. IF? DEFINITELY INTERESTED! I called Scott at work which is a major NO NO but he had to know too! He was thrilled as well, but the serious side of him was "Let's not get too excited just yet, they have to pick us!" I know, but I was so hopeful! You know when something just seems right, well this seemed right. I was so excited the rest of the day I could not even work. I can't believe it's been a year since finding out that our daughter was coming into our lives. After waiting two years it just seemed unreal that it was going to happen and soon! After talking to the family a little later I received the first pictures of this little angel. I was on the phone with my mom as I was opening up the email attachments of the cutest little girl with Down syndrome that I had ever seen! I just started crying and saying "Mom, she's perfect! She is so precious!" I instantly sent the pictures to her and she opened them up and was raving about how cute she was too. I cherish this day and these pictures of our precious girl, that without her,I would never know the joy of having a child with DS in our family.

Planning a trip

Okay, Scott and I have been married for almost twelve years and have only been on one "vacation". No it wasn't our honeymoon, we didn't have one! I had to start a new job two days later! Anyway, we went to Nashville with Jarika and my mother in law for a long weekend. Anyway we are taking a family vacation! I am so excited and overwhelmed by this endeavor! My brother and his family and all of my family are going to Florida for a week! Scott and Kent (my brother) are making the travel plans. Scott is planning the trip around restaurants he has heard about from one of his favorite Food Network shows "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives". and the shortest route from Missouri to Florida. He's too funny! I hear about the route we're taking and all I can think about is "Oh Rita is is Birmingham! I can meet her and those darling girls! or Wait! Meredith is bringing Emma to the doc in Orlando on the 30th I want to hook up with her and see her angels!" Do you think we're on the same page? I am so drawn to my Reece's Rainbow family and I really want to be one of those fortunate families that is smiling so brightly on the Homecomings page. I want to see first hand how adoption has blessed these precious little angels that were once orphans. Charissa, I AM coming to meet you this summer sometime! Ava and Addy have to meet! I must admit I really want to spend time with Hope, she cracks me up! Well, I just was in the mood to post but I don't have my camera next to me to post new pix of my kids, but I will tomorrow. I think I am also going to make that humongous list that I must have to make sure that I have everyone's things to start packing! Packing for six should be fun! All of you that have these large broods, send me your tips!

Look who's "crawling?" and Standing!

Okay so she's not crawling crawling but she does this adorable backwards commando scoot crawl thing! My video camera is out of tapes and I keep forgetting to buy more. They are on my list for Florida though! So, I have some still shots of the "crawling".

Tonight her PT hooked us up with a local family who had a stander that their child was no longer using and they gave to us for Addy! We thought she would hate it because bearing weight on her legs is definitely not her favorite thing to do! However, she shocked us and stayed in it over an hour before she seemed to tire. Her hand was constantly by her face which is definitely her comfort. She pretty much looks like that all of the time during PT! Enjoy!

This past week has been crazy

Well, this past week has been crazy. I am in the middle of preschool and kindergarten screenings so I have been working extra and getting home late and realizing that I am really ready for a break! I know I can last two more weeks but ugh! So I've loaded pictures of the past week which includes the Art Show and Write-On Festival starring Cooper and Avery, pictures of Addy's FIRST HAIRCUT!, and other random adorable pictures of Addy minus the O2 tubing! and the new bikes that our awesome economic stimulus package bought for the boys by their daddy! If you are reading this then obviously I have invited you to read my blog, which means I consider you a friend, thank you for being a part of my "family"!

ADDY'S FIRST HAIRCUT!

Poem

I got this poem off of a fellow adoptive mom's blog. I hope you don't mind Rita! It's just so beautiful I wanted to share with my friends and family as well!

A Special Child

by Sharon Harris

You weren't like other children,

And God was well aware,

You'd need a caring family,

With love enough to share.

And so He sent you to us,

And much to our surprise,

You haven't been a challenge,

But a blessing in disguise.

Your winning smiles and laughter,

The pleasures you impart,

Far outweigh your special needs,

And melt the coldest heart.

We're proud that we've been chosen,

To help you learn and grow,

The job that you have brought us,

Is more than you can know.

A precious gift from Heaven,

A treasure from above,

A child who's taught us many things,

But most of all-

"Real Love”