We are still here!!!!

I know I haven't posted in what seems like forever, been trying to settle into a schedule and do a little spring cleaning/winter clean out before having knee surgery.
God has really been placing on my heart (more so if usual, if that can be) the need to open our hearts and homes to HIS children in need. If you would like to see some great videos, go here.

Snow day- Home day

Our one appointment was canceled today and we don't have to get out and try and make up piano lessons because Mr. Incredible took our van to work. (It's a little safer than a '78 Ford pickup :)) YEAH!!!!!
I ran into someone yesterday from our foster parenting days... I've been reminded of those days a lot lately. The snow reminds me of the last "real" snow we had six years ago. Mr. M was just a wee baby and he and I stayed inside while Mr. I took Mr. Z, Mr. J and I. out. It is amazing what God does.

Six years ago

February 11, 2010
I was "done" when we had Mr. J, little did I know how God would use me/us. Eight foster placements + three homegrown + and one Chinese princess = 5 beautiful blessings.

How to Deal with Telemarketers...and Life

I was spending a few precious minutes with Mr. Incredible when the phone rang. I saw that it was a telemarketer and so I just let it ring. Unbeknownst to me, Mr. M our very literal six year old answered the phone. So anyway, I was cooking dinner and talking with Mr. I when Mr. M comes down stairs and snuggles in between us and says to me, "Somebody called for you, it was a man and they asked me to take you the phone and I told them that I couldn't, so he will call you today". Mr. M had answered our corded phone and I am so glad that he didn't try to bring me the phone. A phone jerked from the jack bouncing down the stairs is a picture that pops into my mind all too readily.

So the rest of our life that doesn't involve telemarketers is hecticly busy. I was informed today that I can live with a knee that doesn't bend all the way and doesn't straighten all the way (not fun) or I can have surgery to replace my ACL. Apparently that little fall in China not just tore my ACL, but blew it to smithereens- two frayed ends and nothing in the middle. Soooo.... trying to get surgery scheduled and figure out how all of this will work. Trying not to be depressed at the thought of NINE weekly appointments for the six weeks that I will need physical therapy three times a week!!!!! (that would be 54 appointments in a month and a half, maybe an all time record! and that's not even including the several once a month appointments that we have) It will be a two month recovery and then an additional 4 months of restricted activity. More than a bit overwhelming...

We made the choice to homeschool, but this year is filled with trying to fit school in whenever possible as quickly as we can do it, instead of enjoying the process of learning. ~sigh~

We had to have a homestudy follow up for Elizabeth's adoption. Still trying to work out how much we are going to have to pay for something that we already paid for.... What?!, your saying. Yeah, us too. I would say more, but I can't say anything nice, so I'm not saying any more.

People keep asking me to do more and I see so much need in the world around me and want to do more, but it feels like I am in the deep end of the ocean, held under by the current and only able to gasp a breath occasionally. So if you ask me to do something and I forget or I say "no", please don't be offended. I am just trying not to drown.

I can tell that God has plans for us, because the Enemy is trying so hard to get me bogged down. So at the end of each day, I give all my scheduling, appointments and failures over to HIM and rest.

Matthew 6:25-26
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

OH MY!!!!

Just got a call, the MRI is going to be almost $1000!!!! Mr. Incredible is hunting down why the family deductible, which was met, is not showing up for me!!!!! Not panicked, but just not wanting to spend that in the next 24 hrs!

Sometimes God Justs Wants to Bless You

Ever have a day, week, month or maybe year and you felt like God didn't REALLY see your needs or meet them? Ever feel like your striving as hard as you can and your going nowhere?
Well, I am here to say that God can and will meet your needs. It may not be how you had planned, but he is SOOOOO much bigger and can do SOOOOOO much more than you can ask or imagine. Seriously.
God has been providing us so much lately that I am in shock and awe. Our deductibles carried over from last year, YES! God is providing the help that I have been trying to arrange for months. God provided all the stuff pictured above with rewards/bucks in my pocket and at a profit too boot. I don't know exactly how, all I can say is I met an angel in the store. God cares about even the most basic things such as diapers, paper towels and advil- used a LOT at our house. May your week be blessed.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

So This Is What I Do

Well it is the last business day in January and we are having appt. #29, #30 and #31. Nothing happened our first week of January and nothing on the fifth, so in 19 days we have had all these appointments and I think I may have even missed marking down a Chiropractor appointment (or two) for me. So who could we possibly be seeing? The dentist-5, the counselor- weekly, evaluations for therapy and starting twice weekly speech and occupational with one child, E's eye exam, several chiropractor visits for my knee that's been oh so hurting, orthopedic for my knee (that's today), the audiologist, the ENT....(I am sure I have forgotten someone if not a few and I'm not even including piano lessons, basketball practice or games). So that's the reason you haven't heard much from us. When we are home we are trying to get school done, a little bit of housework .... I am looking forward to a much calmer schedule next month of only having one appt. on M, T, and W and two on TH, every week that is, not including E's monthly ECI appt's. Oh my, at least most of them will be at our house which will be a blessing (I think:)). Lest it sound like I am complaining, I am not. I am very thankful that M is getting some much needed specific help and I am happy that Elizabeth is progressing- did I tell you she eats pretty much anything now?! And she looks so cute in her glasses (this picture doesn't due her justice). We have good days and bad days, but God remains faithful.

Oh my Goodness!

Just had another hearing test and it shows only a mild loss!!! Waiting to see what the ENT will want to do.

Www.elizabethssong.blogspot.com

Say What?!

Well before I start running this morning, I just wanted to update that yesterday we found out that Elizabeth has a bad astigmatism, as in alot, and is very nearsighted. I think I was in mild shock with hearing this at the opthamologist's office, it wasn't until after we ordered her glasses that I started coming up with questions and digesting all that I had heard. So she's half deaf and half blind?!.... I know this shouldn't shock me, just par for the course at this point, but it still does. Maybe it's how much has been going on- 18 doctor, therapist, dentist appointments since January 5th. Not counting the weekends that's 11 days for all that. Maybe that's why I am resorting to chocolate and coffee so much lately. Lest it be thought that the "fun" of these appointments are spread around our clan, most of them are for Elizabeth and Mr. M. (sigh) But they are receiving help that they otherwise probably never would have had unless God had placed them in our family. I guess it's good that I'm proactive?! Maybe I can call the opthamologist's office later today and make sure I am understanding correctly- though we go back in another six months (sigh).

It's been 4 months!

Today is four months since Elizabeth's adoption. Yesterday was the four month mark of when we got her. It's hard to believe that it's only been four months to be honest. Everyday is filled with so much to try and get her caught up. We have been able to drop the feeding therapy and the need for occupational therapy is questionable, because she has made so much progress in the last four months. Hopefully we hear something from the ENT today about another hearing test... I feel like the longer we wait the harder it is going to be to explore other funding options for hearing aids and the harder it will be for her to adjust to them- especially with four big brothers making a whole lot of noise :)
It is at times like this that I am trying to rest and be still and know that God is still God. We've come so far, but our journey is still beginning.

Seven Appointments

Seven doctor appointments in one day are behind us and all are still alive. Everyone got the all clear at the dentist and we got out with 40 min. before the next appointment so I grabbed some Starbucks. I had one of my worst parenting moments (it even happened at the therapists office!), but later in the day Mr. Z assured me we all have days like this. He is so sweet when he wants to be. I have to give Miss F a big thank you for sitting with the boys during the ENT visit. Elizabeth's ears were clear of infection and so we got to do another hearing test!!!!!!! The results are...(drum roll)....inconclusive! Yep. More waiting to know for sure. Possibly more testing involving putting her to sleep... Big bummer. But she is babbling more and today even started saying "mama", YES! She has been saying "dada" for a couple weeks now and in the last couple of days I'd heard a mama when distressed, but she was just walking around saying it tonight. Oh, it does a heart good. Mr. Incredible might be home tomorrow evening before the kids go to bed. For this year he's been gone more than he's been in town, rough way to start the year. But life goes on and we persevere.
Today I witnessed a mom have a meltdown in the doctor's office. I wanted to help, but what could I do with five kids in tow. I wanted to offer to pray with her, but she was on her cell phone most of the time we were in the waiting room together. The "whole" problem was that the doctor wouldn't see the 16 mo. old without verifying Medicaid first, she did offer to pay if need be. As I tried not to listen to her phone conversations I gathered she was single, the baby had Medicaid, her meltdown at the doctor's office was embarrassing her, she wanted to be seen by the doctor NOW. But is today where the problem started? More and more people are choosing to have sex outside of marriage. It has devastating results for all involved and even ripples to innocents because it is sin and sin has consequences. Had she had the baby out of wedlock, or maybe they got divorced or maybe she was raped? I don't know. I will never know. But in any of those cases sin is involved in some way. How can I with my arms laden with bags and coats and kids show love to her? Because it is not my place to judge, I sin too. I will deal with trying to repair a relationship with a child because of my sin today. Some sin is apparent, some is not, but we all sin.
Dear Father, please help that mom and child find you and the comfort and peace only you can provide. Amen.