Enjoying the outdoors

Along the river in our town














Taking a hike on this nice fall afternoon



















Playing in the gourd patch






Showing Mama the gourd. Only two have grown, and we have already had some freezing. I think the problem is that the place where I grow them has become too shaded by the tree growing next to the patch.










A chipmunk using the gourd as cover.


















Remember the the mother deer and her fawns. Well she did have twins and Tuks and I were blessed to see them frolic in our yard all summer. One day, the day after arriving home from Haiti, we even saw the fawns butting heads, front leg foot boxing and zipping all over the yard. I was worried sick that they'd be hit by a car, but they have made it to fall and I noticed several weeks ago they are turning brown and losing their spots.

Yesterday we even had a young red-tailed hawk vocalizing from a tree near the house, and so this of course set the crows creating a full fledged chorus in attempting to get the red tail to move out. Needless to say I have a small but active yard.

Last weekend the dark-eyed juncos had come through from the north, stooping by for a quick snack before moving further south for the winter.

Every day I see more flocks of geese moving about. Fall is here and the wildlife are preparing for the months ahead. I love fall even more than spring!!!

Tuki is 22 months old!!!

I didn't have a CC meet this weekend so I have time to enjoy two un-interrupted days with Tuks....


I am 22 months old today and I LOVE to say the word "NO"


The devilish look after being told not to pull sMurph's(cat) tail for the 100th time.


Tuks the builder


Play dough is her new obsession. But beware dogs like to eat it!!! Who would have guessed.

Guatemala 5000 Initiative-Call to Action

http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm

Please read and respond


5000 children!!!

That's alot of children without permanent homes!!!!

The problem behind the pending crisis!! Here is some additional information…

· Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to effectively stop all adoptions into the United States including those children who have already been referred to adoptive parents
· Over 5,000 children have been referred
· The birthparents for these children have already relinquished their parental rights. As a result, they currently have no family and the Berger suspension will result in these children having no prospect for a permanent, safe and loving family
· The government of Guatemala currently does not have the finances or facilities to even provide housing for these 5,000 children
· The Berger plan is a crisis waiting to happen

Petition to Pres. Bush

On line Petition to President Bush regarding the dire situations for children coming home from Guatemala

Please take the time to add your name!!!!


http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html

Thank You!!!!

Guatemala Adoptions

If this had happened a few years ago, it could have been Tuks affected. Scary!!!
Picture from last Christmas enjoying her first snow without a care in the world!!


Please read this post about future and current in process adoptions from Guatemala
http://sunflowersandladybugs.com/blog.asp?ID=545

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!!!

I have good friends that are the process of bringing their son home from Guatemala!!!

The well being of children's lives at at stake.

Thank you

Cheetah-(code name)

Ok for my big news, I am bringing home another daughter from Haiti. So yes that makes two. Oh yeah, if you think I am a little crazy, then yes, I will agree, but I know a God that has led me to this place AND with peace and joy.

But to fully understand this whole situation I have to tell you the story about Cheetah.

Last February, I had originally committed to Hawk, believing at the time that he was a healthy, happy 10 month old. I quickly scheduled my home study and acquired the papers for my dossier. I was approved for 2 children, with the hope of bringing Cheetah home too. So come April, I finally made a commitment to her as well as Hawk.
Soon after (weeks), I found out how ill Hawk truly was, and after talking with many people, and freaking out a little about the idea of bringing a young sick toddler and a healthy 6+ year old home at the same time, I let Cheetah's referral go (She was not at the O yet, so I felt I didn't alter her life in any negative way) so I could devote the time to Hawk. Another family committed to her right away the next day.

Then come late June, I traveled to Haiti to meet and assess Hawk. It was at that time, I realized that I could not pursue his adoption because I felt his condition was just more that I could handle in my given situation, single and working mom with a young child already at home. I also had the opportunity to meet and spend some time with Cheetah. The last night there, I played catch ball with her, another girl and three boys from the O. It was this time and the fact that I noticed her within hours of arriving even though I was still across the street at Walls Guesthouse, that I knew she was to join my family. Somehow I felt there was a connection and I was angry with myself for letting her go. Many, many other visiting adoptive parents that have met her, had also noticed how sweet and kind Cheetah is. BTW, Hawk has a new forever family that is better suited for him.

As soon as I arrived home, I started contacting the O's facilitator and let her know that if Cheetah's adoption with the other family didn't happen then I wanted to bring her home to also join my family. I was also in deep prayer about this whole situation as well. God really worked a deep faith in me for trusting his provision over the summer. Basically letting me know through various situations that Cheetah was his idea and that he would provide through me for the 3 girls (includes Tuki). After all they are his children first, secondly they are their birthparents and thirdly they are/will be my children.

I also just felt deep within my spirit I was to also be her mother, but then early September, I heard that the other family was to send in their dossier within the week, so I reluctantly let the idea go and starting thinking and praying about the possibly of a different third child. There are so many that need homes. I could not, no matter how hard I tried, shake the idea of a third child away. But then lo and behold, this Saturday, Cheetah became available again. The O's facilitator let me know late Saturday and I committed to her that night. So...that means I will be a mother of 3 sometime later next year. I am over the moon over all 3 of my daughters!!!!!!!!!

I do realize that it will take time with allot of work, understanding and patience to help the two new girls adjust, attach and trust me and Tuki, but I know God will be with me through the thick and thin of each and every day.

Before this summer, and before God's deep working in me, the past years with difficult situations, I had lost trust and faith in his provision for me, yes I believed in him, I just didn't trust him....thank goodness he didn't give up on me.

For those of you reading this and thinking OMG, does she know what she is getting into, the answer is yes and no, yes, because I have read, am reading and preparing for their arrival, and no because until they are home and I am parenting three children, I won’t understand completely. But I feel in time, it will all be good!!!!

News

I have some VERY exciting news, but I need to wait a little longer (hopefully within the next week) before I can share, but I am excited BEYOND belief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited I just had to say this much to start letting some of the energy out of my already overly-hyper and excited body and mind. LOL!!!

The Dress

Doesn't she look lovely!!


Look at that giggle..soaking up the special attention!!!

Warms my heart to see her so happy!!

Thanks Janet!!!

A Little Sad

I'm a little sad tonight.

I informed the head CC coach that Panda's adoption may be complete by next September instead of Novemberish. I also let him know that I was informing him now so that he can think about whether he would even want me to start the season next year with the possibility that we may have to be creative to finish the season out. He needed to think about it and I completely understand that. BUT, then he said that he'd like for me to stay until the end of practices next year, instead of what he has allowed me to do for the last two years since Tuki has been home. You see practice goes until 5:30pm, but I have been leaving right at 5:00pm give or take 10 minutes. This prevents me from hanging around with the athletes at the end and basically bonding with them in a different way than running. Which is a necessity.

Thirty minutes doesn't sound like a big deal, but several things;
1. my daycare provider is already making an exception for me and Tuki by keeping her until 5:00pm.
2. I am extremely antsy the closer it gets to 5:00pm, and more than ready to leave and pick her up.
3. Tuki is and has always been a 12 hour a night sleeper. So since school has started she wakes ( I wake her up) at 6:20-30 am, and she wants to go to bed by 6:30pm. So that means if I stay at CC practice until 5:30pm, then pick her up around 5:45pm, I may have 45 minutes tops with her every night for 2 months. NOT GOOD!!

So the reason I am sad is that I realized tonight, that this will probably be my last year coaching CC until maybe when the kids are older. It is a bitter sweet year, and because I am somewhat a feminist..in the sense that I think women and men should be treated fairly and equally when doing the same job, it really bugs me that men can continue to coach after they become fathers, and women usually have to hang up their coaching shoes when they become mothers!! NOT FAIR!!

I knew I'd have to quit in a year or two anyway, but I guess I didn't think this would be the last year.

So I am sad, and I plan to enjoy this season to it's fullest

Fever??!!

Well Tuki and I stayed home today. It was her third day of running a fever of 101 degrees and so I decided that I needed to deal with it. I called the doctor and they said to bring her in for a 2:30pm appointment. So this left me with this morning and her nap. She was low key ALL morning and then her nap came, and she didn't want to sleep, and she was hysterical crying. So I wrapped her in two blankets and sat and rocked with her laying against me. She slept that way for over 1 1/2 hours. She of course broke out into a big sweat, and so when she woke, her fever had broke. This is the third time I have done this with her since she has been home and each time her fever broke. Well, I kept today's appointment anyway, and when I told the doctor what I had done she acted like and looked at me like I was crazy. So basically she sent me home stating kids get unexplained fevers all the time and we'll just watch her. I did insist on getting her stool sample checked because since I have been home from Haiti, my digestive system has been really out of whack (no I haven't gotten it checked out yet..hoping it goes away on its own--LOL), so I wondered if Tuks got anything from me. I am waiting results. She weighed 29.8lbs and was 35" tall at 21 1/2 months. Remember when she was sick in late July, it was the same deal as this time, unexplained fever??!!

Nipping Biting in the Bud!!

Many people have asked how I stopped Tuki from biting. Well, first let me say she was just biting me whenever we would wrestle and rough house. I think she bit because she was overly excited. She has never, at least not that I am aware of, bit any other kid, or person for that matter.

I also want to say that this method worked for me and I am not advocating it as the method for all parents. But, with saying that, I also do believe every parent needs to find a way to stop inappropriate social behavior, such as biting. Remember I am a school teacher and I see all kinds of behaviors that probably weren't and should have been dealt with at a younger age.

I think I am pretty laid back with Tuks because I feel she needs to explore her world..it is again the science mind in me. Science first begins with curiosity and then exploration for explanation. I have witnessed many ..many people get all concerned with things Tuki plays with that in fact I let her play with it. Oh Yes, I am watching her, but I don't grab every little thing away that MAY be dangerous, (note I am not including any sharp objects in this anything).

With stating this, there are some actions that I react strongly and swiftly to stop them. One is biting. When she would bite me, I first attempted the "no biting", holding her hands, look her in the face etc., route..did no good. She would just get that "great I got a reaction from Mama, I'm going in for another bite" look, and yes indeedy, she'd bite me again. So, I decided that I needed to up the anty, and so when she would bite, I'd take my index and middle finger and tap (note: I said tap, not hit) her in the mouth and strongly say "no bite". This would make her stop and think a second or two, but then again she'd go in again for another bite. My next tap was a little harder and then I would overact and get angry, state again that "biting was naughty" and actually turn away from her, and then walk away..yes, sort of like if you are going to hurt Mama, then Mama doesn't want to play with you anymore. Subject closed, no more discussion. This would usually cause her to cry. This method only took a couple of times to convince her that biting was inappropriate.

I also did this over reacting when she tried to touch the hot stove, I showed her great displeasure, spoke loudly, and really relayed to her that under no circumstance is she to touch the stove, it was never a game to play. She hasn't tried since and she so far hasn't tried to bite me again either.

Take my methods for what they are worth..but please no flames if you don't agree.

What would I do if she was only biting other kids and NOT me, I will have to admit I don't really know since I have not been in that circumstance, and I wouldn't really know unless I found myself having to deal with it.. I know, not much help. Anyone else have ideas in this case???

Here She is

Pictures taken by fellow adoptive mom from a visit trip!!


Finally a SMILE!!!

I'm still here

I'm still here, but I am totally obsessed with the CC season and the meets. We have a strong team this year, and very likely we will make it to state. It is exciting!!!
My nights are filled with playing with Tuks and getting ready for the next day's lesson.

Tuki was bit in the cheek yesterday at daycare. A new boy around 2 years old started attending and he bit her. I guess it is an issue with him. She has a circle on her cheek where his top and bottom teeth left an impression. She seems to not be bothered by it at all, and I understand that when you have a bunch of kids together, no matter how careful you are, things just happen. BUT, I sure hope his parent's work with him and stopping the biting!! I don't want it to happen again. Once is enough. Tuks was biting me this summer when we were wrestling and playing around, but I nipped that behavior right away, so I know it can be stopped.

AWFUL!!

Ok, I know this picture of both of us is well, AWFUL!!! It was taken at the meet yesterday by a runner's parent. In our defense we were both hot, tired and looking directly into the sun.....But I decided to post it anyway to show how un-vain (is this a word) we are and because I haven't posted a picture of Tuks in awhile.

So have a good laugh, and proclaim.."at least I don't look as bad as her, " her meaning me because as you know Tuks is just the cutest!! and I hope this thought carries you into a good week!!!

Off and Running

The weekend started out busy..I had a home cross country meet to attend and coach, so I left the house at 7:15am. As soon as CC Angie (the name I call our babysitter during the CC season) came through the doors this morning, Tuks started crying. She KNEW I was leaving and she didn't like it!! This season is more of a struggle because Tuks is older and struggling more, therefore I am struggling more.

By the way we won all three of our races against 17 different schools.

Later around 10:00am my friend E picked Tuki up and brought her to the meet. She loved yelling, clapping, running around and just hanging with all the other spectators. It was a blast for her. I am really grateful that E took the time to bring her over. He then brought her home and put her down for her nap, and stayed until I arrived home. She slept 3 hours and then once awake we were off and running to our annual family reunion on my Dad's side of the family. Around 6:30pm Tuks let me know that she was ready to come home for bed. Tomorrow, besides church and grocery shopping, we are staying HOME!!!

In IBESR

We are in IBESR (similar to PGN in Guatemala)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My number is posted to the left. This is an important number. While watching other numbers coming out of IBSER, if they are close to this number, then I know it will be soon that my papers are released....so I have to keep my eye on 15648!!!!!!!

Length of time in this step is 4 to 6 months, so I am hoping for next February!!!

Congratulations to all the adoptive parents from Panda's O that came OUT of IBSER..they have about 5 - 9 more months to go IF all proceeds as hoped!!

New Day, New Year

Well today started out great. We went for a 4 mile run, then when we returned, I started cutting, peeling and coring apples to freeze. It was amazing how many apples I had to cut up in order to be able to freeze a little bit of it. I hope to turn the apples into filling come Christmas time and serve the pies at my annual family meal. We also played outdoors quite a bit and went for a 7+ mile bike ride tonight.

In addition, today I made breaded eggplant. Now, to understand how amazing this is, you need to know that I have never liked eggplant made by others nor have I ever cooked it myself before. BUT, today I tweaked a recipe and I breaded (this was the tweaked part) and baked the eggplant and it was FANTASTIC!!! This recipe, to my credit, pat on the back, is the 4th new recipe I have created out of tweaking (adding additional or different ingredients) existing recipes that I don't like. I just may create a cook book someday. Good way to raise money!!!

Yesterday Tuks and I along with cousin N and her parents went to another local fair. If you were at all counting we have 4 local fair in any given year. This year Tuks and I made 3 of the 4. She is quickly learning the the joy of rides and breaded cheese curds. I love them too.

Boy I just realized how many breaded things we ate this weekend, quite a bit considering we, like hardly never eat breaded or fried foods!!!

As for on the adoption front, it looks like things are going well this week for the 3 adoptive moms in Haiti, kids are adjusting well, and testing their boundaries, just like all kids do. It is fun to see the updates. Kids are also continuing to come home from Guatemala, even though there is much uprising and strife with the pending Hague Treaty being enforced.

Hope everyone had a GREAT Labor Day weekend. I feel refreshed, and am able to hit the ground running tomorrow morning.

I am ready to meet all my new students shinning faces tomorrow, who I just KNOW will be so eager for school to start for another year!!!

Inner Thoughts

How many other parents struggle with patience?
Tuki is REALLY a GREAT kid, but still a typical almost two year old. On some days I struggle with being patient with her grabbing and pulling at everything. I love her curiosity, yet some days it tires me out. It is not her fault, it is all mine, she is just being her age..but what age am I being when I lose my inner peace???

When those days come, usually the same time each month, I can't help but think she would have been happier in a better family, specifically a better mom. Logically I know this isn't true, but emotionally, sometimes I really wonder!!!

Gourd Success

Yesterday, we had one of those longer than 10 hour days because I had a CC meet last night. But, considering all things, it went well. Tuks started showing me her disdain for this new schedule of spending more hours away from home, than at home. I understand that, but it is only for 2 months..so I justify it.

My care for Tuks on meet days/night are as follows: she goes to the daycare during school hours and then at 5:00pm I have a college student pick her up, bring her home and feed her, play with her, put her to bed, etc., and then stay until I arrive home. I hired the same college student that I did last year and it works well because it guarantees that Tuks will be at daycare for the maximum of 10 hours, and then onto home. I was told all went well yesterday, Tuki is tired today, but otherwise good. I was planning to go to the fair, but she wanted nothing to do with that idea for today, so we are just hanging around home. We both need the respite from wandering.

On another positive note, I am starting to get some gourds growing, and since we usually don't get a freeze until mid-October, I may actually get some of decent size.

Well, that's about all that is exciting here...still waiting to hear how the 3 mothers are doing who are picking up their kids from Haiti this week...it is always nice when they come home.