True Blessings on Mother's Day

Hawk, December 2006

I have GREAT Mother's Day news. Hawk is coming home to the orphanage. He is well enough to be released from the hospital, and several adoptive Moms are visiting the orphanage right now and hopefully they will be able to get some updated pictures. I have to prepare myself, because I hear he is thin, but other than that he is fine and doing well. YEAH. As for further news in my world, I have decided and prayfully let Katiana's referral go. For the last two weeks I have talked and discussed my two impending adoptions with many childcare professionals and everyone..everyone, said only pursue the adoption of one at this time, and then in a few years when everyone is attached well, and there is a nice routine to life, pursue a third child if I still have it on my heart to do so. They "the professionals" felt it what was best for all involved. I struggled with it for awhile and then I finally accepted the truth in their advice. Up until the point that I let Steph, the facilitator, know what I had decided I thought I'd be giving up Hawk's referral, but then at the last minute I told her just the opposite. Must of have the been the move of God because not even within 24 hours Katiana had another family commit to her. So all is well, and now this GREAT news about Hawk.


The other love of my life, May 2006

Yesterday was a good day around here. Owl received from me a little red riders wagon for her "family day" celebration gift and the she and I put it together. It was cute how busy she was thinking she was helping to build it. That is one other thing I have gotten good at since becoming a Mother. Building things by using the instructions. In the past I would usually call one of my brothers, BIL or male friends to come over and build items that I had bought that required assembling. But not anymore or for the last year. It is me all the way, and of course now me and Tuki. I want her to watch me be self-sufficient so that she knows she can do these type of things herself. Once again she pushes me to be a better person. Later my friend B, visited from a town 2 1/2 hours away and my friend E came over, and we cooked a great meal, and celebrated good friends and family. It was a day to last in my memory for some time. B is a very important person in Tuki's life. She was the person who came with me to Guatemala on my visit trip. So besides me, Barb was the first in my circle of family and friends to meet Owl.

Now, to finish up on my pick-up trip story from one year ago. It was a crazy and busy trip. After the embassy appointment, we stayed in Guatemala until the 16th. On the sixteenth, we flew home to the USA. Boy it felt good to land on American soil. We drove to Louisiana from the Houston airport. Owl and I stayed with my brother, his wife and daughter for three days. It was a relaxing and refreshing time. I started to enjoy her more and was a little less worried about the "just meet her needs" and started playing with her and doing all the fun parenting stuff. My brother's family loved spending time with her, especially her cousin E. It was good time. On the 20th we flew from Houston back to my home state. We spent the night at another friend's home and then the next day we drove 2 1/2 hours finally back to our home. AHHH, Home sweet home, nothing like it when you have been gone for a long time. Within the first 24 hours of arriving home, we both came down with the flu. Tuki just the diarrhea, and me vomiting and diarrhea. Now that was my true baptism into Motherhood. My step-mom stayed over night to help care for her while I was so sick. From that point on, it has all been up hill. Now being a mother feels like an "ole shoe". Comfortable and very normal.


Tuki and her Aunt D


Two things I think I did right for attachment, carried her on me in this Ergo carrier, and co-slept for 1 month.


Tuki and her foster family. They really loved and cared for her.


Tuki and her cousin E in Louisiana


Uncle J and Tuki on Embassy day