Programs

Last Sunday we had the kids Christmas Programs at church. Baylor was a part of "No Wonder", and I thought the program was wonderful. He was not interested in having any parts, but he took his job as part of the choir seriously. He did not miss a move, and the smile on his face let me know he enjoyed every minute of his Praise and Worship.

The preschool program "Room Around the Manger" was Sunday evening... and started with a jolt. I had a fear that "things" were not going to be lined up just right and sent my scout (Brent) to check on everything at 3PM. I was right. So we rushed up there to get everything in order for the program (a friend and I were in charge of the "production"). All was well and ready to go at 5:30. Our wonderful 15 MINUTE program came and went and considering that we had more than 100- 3, 4, and 5 year olds on a stage with all sorts of "mamarazzi" flashing and videoing and waving. Only a few random incindents that (to me) only make the program memorable, funny, and just how it should be. Pictures were hard to come by. But I will post what I have.


These are of the preschool program. Silas is the waving donkey, and Callan is on the back row with the yellow head covering.

GO!

My blogger/ adoption mommy friend (I have never met in person), Tricia, is in Guatemala right now on a trip they created to love on the people of Guatemala. Lots of adoption mommy's are heading this up, and it is truly amazing. Go see what they are doing. There are already 4 or 5 post about their adventures.

Tricia's Blog

Favorite Foto Friday

I love you... you love me... even if I am choking you... and you can't see.
(Really he loves her so much, he is the big brother all you future boyfriends are going to have to look out for)

Too smart for her own good!

I know my little bloggy has been neglected. I am sure I will have all kinds of fun stuff to blog soon but right now, I am zapped. I did not even have the energy at Thanksgiving to get my camera out, and there were some good opportunities. The boys went on a ride with my Pa to see the cows and actually fed the BULL apples out of their hands. I do not think they will soon forget it. I also have video of us telling the boys about a new baby on the way... it may not be funny to you all, but to see each of their personalities cracked us up. I have also thought about a nice pajama parade post because we spent most of last week in our PJ's and we are having trouble re-adjusting to life where you have to get up and go somewhere... UMMM we missed the bus this morning.

But anyway, the reason for my post. I thought it would be a good idea to have our little Eliza evaluated. She has words and we all here in the Jones house know exactly what she is saying and what she wants. But the outside world would think that my little princess can not say a thing. She just does not talk, AND SHE HAS LOTS TO SAY! I talked to the Dr. about it when we had her 2 year old visit and she told me to contact the local Early Intervention people. So, I did. Monday a very nice young lady came to the house to evaluate Eliza on her speech. Just as I suspected, Eliza did not say a word. Sure she mumbled and "na na na diddy'd", but did not talk to the lady at all. So, the lady started asking me questions. Does she... point, follow commands, change her expressing according to your tone? She then proceeded to ask Eliza a series of task questions and Eliza performed like the genius we know she is. The lady then told me that we could stop the evaluation because what she just showed was that she was "communicating" on a 3 to 4 year old level. WAAAHHHH? Yep, according to her "communications" test, she was evaluated on all her communication abilities and my little girl is too smart for her own good. She said she does not know why she is not talking, probably because she does not have to. But that all her other communication skills make up for her not speaking.

It cracked me up. I know some day I will look back on this and say WHY did I want to push her to talk??? But for now, I will enjoy the fact that I can say "Shoo, Eliza you stink. Go upstairs and get me a diaper and some wipes so I can change your diaper." I will hear feet pitter patter away and a few minutes later she will show back up with the requested goods, and will not have said a word about it.

Details?

You people really want details? Well, it all started one afternoon... JUST KIDDING.

The long version, Brent and I thought we would adopt again. We have been researching, asking questions, talking to people and all we found out was that Guatemala is closed and IF it opens back up the process may be very disheartening. We also contacted 4 domestic agencies. 2 of them told us we were not candidates for their programs because "we could have our own children" and 2 told us that they "would take our money" but did not feel like we were likely candidates because most birth moms were looking for smaller families, and that it could take a lot of time. We looked into other countries, and even though our hearts cry out for the orphans... we could not find a program that would work for our family (based on our family size, travel times, time lines, etc). That may sound like we were giving up on adoption to some, but we feel like we listened and were not given confirmation. I talked to Brent a lot about "just seeing what would happen", for a long time he did not agree. One day he either had a weak moment, or he just got tired... and agreed to "see what would happen". And that folks is the rest of the story. And I am serious... ONE TIME. I know that that fact probably hurts some of your hearts, because as I type this I think about how upsetting it is for so many of you who have tried for so long. But truth be known, that is why I am in such shock. I do know how it happens, but just one time???

And then there is the other side. I AM SICK! I have never been sick in pregnancy before. And when I say sick, I mean the doctor put me on Zo*fran. The medicine they give chemo patients for nausea. I had spent 3 days curled up in the fetal position in the bathroom floor when Brent said I had to do something, so I called thinking she would tell me some magic trick to avoid nausea... and she called me in a prescription. I cried! Because my friend, Nicole had to be put on the same meds... and SHE WAS SICK. Surely I was not in the same boat. That med was for people who really got sick, not me. But, I got it so I could be functional for the rest of my family... some days I am functional. Some days not so much. I hope the side effects include the ability to fall asleep in the middle of the WWF wrestling simulation by my boys, because I sure can accomplish that. The meds also have the ability to COMPLETELY stop all function in your colon and intestines (if you know what I mean), but "that's all I've got to say about that".

So, today I am officially 8 weeks and 2 days into my God given blessing (due on Brent's Birthday... July 7th) . I know many of you think 5 kids is crazy, it has crossed my mind a time or two as well. But, if there is one thing that God made me to be it is a MOMMY. I am not saying that I am the best one out there, or that I am even all that good at it, but it is who I am and what I love. I am thankful that God thinks enough of me to think that I can handle it, and that He has blessed me "exceedingly abundantly", because I KNOW I don't deserve it.

Wordless Wednesday

November 25, 2008

FREE

My friend, Melissa, is an amazing woman. She has been through more than I have the words to describe, yet she remains a pillar of strength, and a testimony of faith. She is also a wonderful writer. She is serious, heart-felt, funny, and poignant all in the same sentence. If you follow her blog, then you know that we have followed her journey From Foxholes to Faith. But, because it has spoken to so many already, she has put it all on one place... FOR FREE. She said tell someone about it who needs it. WE ALL NEED IT. Go get it, go read it, go NOW.