I've been tagged

One of the most amazing mothers I have ever "met" tagged everyone that reads her blog to take a walk down memory lane. Christine is the mother of 11 kids, yep 11! She has some biological children and some that are adopted. The latest is a precious two year old little boy from Ukraine that is facing many medical procedures in the coming years. If you haven't read about this amazing family, click on Smiles and Trials at the side of my blog, I read about them everyday and so enjoy watching their family.

Okay:

15 years ago- I was 22 years old I had just divorced my high school sweetheart after two years of marriage, but a six year relationship. I was now a single mom of an amazing one and half year old girl who was the light of my life. I just started my masters degree in speech pathology at Missouri State University.

10 years ago- I was 27 years old and had just celebrated my two year anniversary with Scott and we were finally pregnant after trying those two years and suffering a miscarriage. We were so excited to know that a HUGE bundle of joy was soon coming!

5 years ago-I was 32 years old and was now the mother of three. I was dealing with the diagnosis of Autism with Cooper and was really at one of my happiest times since I now knew what we were dealing with.

3 years ago- I was 34 years old and had recently attended the National Down Syndrome Society convention in Chicago. I met Robin Steele when I was there at her booth in the exhibit hall. Scott and I had been throwing around the idea of adoption and when I saw her booth I knew that that was the path God was leading us down. We were to adopt a child with Down syndrome! We had just filed our application in July of 05 immediately upon my arrival home. I was watching my father's health begin to deteriorate even more than before and felt like every moment with him may be my last. Fortunately we did have one more year.

1 year ago- I was 36 years old and I had my precious little angel with that wonderful extra chromosome in my arms! We had brought her home on August the 6th and were still in the adjustment stages. She had been here almost two months and we were in the swing of things with this little medical miracle. It's pretty amazing to see all of the things that have changed in this past year. We have gone from 24/7 on O2, tube feedings 20 hours per day, multiple colostomy bag changes because they just would not stick to her delicate skin, pulse ox alarms going off several times a night due to low O2 levels, Viagra, Lasix and two breathing treatments a day to no meds, no O2, bolus feedings and one breathing treatment a day and the joy of this ornery little grin that melts my heart. I had a daughter about to turn 16 which still scares me and two little boys that are the best of friends and the worst enemies almost simultaneously. I was also approaching the one year mark of losing my father and the dread of the news that my mother had breast cancer.

Today and I am being a bum and skipping out of church because I am too tired and in pain to go (my shoulder is about to make me loony). I am going to spend time with all of my kids and husband and watch the clock until 8 pm. when Desperate Housewives comes on! Don't get me wrong I will also be scrubbing toilets, vacuuming, tons of laundry (definitely not as much as Christine's but close), and I think I'm going to get out my fall decorations because it is my favorite time of year and Jarika will be going to homecoming on Saturday and I need the props to match of course! I'm also going to be sitting beside the phone to hear how my mom's second date went :)

Tomorrow I will head off to work to teach precious little 3-5 years old learn that their ability to communicate is one of their most rewarding gifts. I'll get one child to the upper elementary, one to the lower and run the other one back and forth between the high school and other places since her car is wrecked. I'm also giving our favorite Dr. Ford a call because Addy's g-tube site is still not looking good and I'm sure we need something else. Then tomorrow night Cooper and I will settle in the watch the premier of the Amazing Race, we love it! BTW I will also be checking my Facebook and everyone else's blogs!

Tag you're IT!

-Cammie