Day One: We arrived safe and sound last night in Portland. We were later leaving the city because we needed to drop the trailer off to get a few things "done" to it so we were an hour or so delayed. Emily travelled really well and I found out that hey you can pee in your Crocs and it's ok! No I didn't pee myself although I might have today it was close. I took Emily to a bathroom in St. John that didn't have a change table and was a wee bit grubby so I just took her diaper off standing up. I heard "ahhhh" looked around and she was lifting one leg and then the other with puddles of pee on the floor and all over her dress. Not very lady like if you ask me. You should have seen the look on the people in the line up when I came out with a baby in nothing but a diaper. The drive was good but because of the delay we didn't land in Portland until about midnight. Now the Bangor Motor Inn is our usual haunt but well this was Portland. You guessed it. Holiday Inn...booked. Days Inn...booked. Ho Jo's....booked. Quality Inn ahhh...finally a room. I was very good and knew that God had a place picked out for us. Now the next time I'll pray for a room and a room that costs less than the Sheraton in downtown Ottawa! We were ripe for the picking....the guy watching porn on the computer when Mike walked in....well not really but almost I wouldn't have been surprised... gave him a crazy expensive price. What are you going to do when Mom, Dad and Baby standing there looking like dirt and you have the only room in town. I did manage to give him "the look" and get 10% off. I actually wouldn't have minded the price if (now those of you who have stayed at the Bangor Motor Inn will appreciate this) it didn't make the Bangor Motor Inn look like a 5 star Motel. Dump is putting it mildly but hey I'm not going to question God I'll pay my five bits and try to sleep. NOT...you see they couldn't get a crib and I had to use the playpen. Yes the dreaded playpen. This started a half hour scream fest. It was a king sized bed so we just brought her in with us which wouldn't have been so bad but someone must have been teaching her WWF wrestling cause about a half hour into the tossing and the turning it was an elbow slam to my head and a bum slam to the face and a finger up the nose...after an hour of this...yes that means it's now 1:30 I put her back in the pen. Scream fest number two. Oh and the good old barf started again. We tried to let her cry but at almost 2:oo in the morning in a motel that the walls are paper thin and a yard full of Harley's I decided to let Mike sleep and I got up with her. She ate, she drank she watched two episodes of the Cosby's and well with a dropper full of Tylenol (she has a molar coming in honest) at 4:00 we went back to bed. Finally at 5:00 she slept.
Day Two: Mikey looking me in the eye at 8:00 with Baby sleeping peacefully. God truly is amazing...honest and truly. We vowed not to complain about the room because we prayed and that is where God put us...so we sucked it up. I got three hours sleep but did the prayer that "I need to feel like I got twelve Lord" and viola felt fantastic when I woke up. We went to breakfast with the Harley dudes and dudettes. After everyone left we were there alone with an older couple. After idle chit chat it turns out that they are missionaries. He is a physician and volunteers for an organization in Guatemala to care for children who need medical attention. We had a good chat about our foundation Children from the Heart we are starting and our visit to Ohio to meet Tim and our vision for orphan care. God makes no mistakes what a great contact to make. We exchanged our email and will stay in touch. Never never never complain or question God. Everything for a reason. We drove twelve hours today. The baby did fantastic. Now she is here Body slamming DH again but he's actually enjoying it this time. Secretly we enjoyed it the last time. I decided to get an ice cap which in the USA is coffee with ice cubes....grouse but nothing two sugar packets couldn't fix. Now I don't drink coffee and you coffee drinkers need to let people know that it makes you well.....how to say this delicately....stop at every rest stop to run to the bathroom. Oh my aching backside. The sad thing was I didn't figure it out until I ordered and drank another one. It wasn't pretty. In one of the rest stops an Pakistan girl .....oh about 12 asked me if I was Chinese...Now I figured my eyes were permanently squinted after the 50th stop...and I so wanted to say yes but decided against it. Children are so cute. She then proceeded to stare and asked if my husband was Chinese...what is this the grand inquisition....no he isn't we travelled to China to adopt her. Mmmm....don't you have any real children. Yikes....real children....Poor Emily I hope that in time when she can understand what people are actually saying that maybe they will stop talking like that but I doubt it. She's as real as it gets baby. We're missing the kids today. It's different with just the three of us but we did enjoy the day. We finally arrived outside of Buffalo in the middle of a humongo lightening storm and well we got a room no problem and didn't have to sell anything to pay for it and we booked it to Denny's to cram in some breakfast food at 9:30 at night. Life is good on the road. We will arrive in Ohio....Lord willing at noon in time to shop for my birthday present. That's all from the road I am optimistic that Emily will sleep and can't wait to meet Tim and the rest of the families and see what God has planned. Keep us in your prayers and remember to keep praying for Jakie and if you see my friend Christopher tell him Happy Birthday...gotta love that guy.....if my kids are reading this we loooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee you loads and will see you on Tuesday. Mama, Papa and Baby in the U S of A signing out.
About Me
- Julie Chaisson
- I am a 40 something Christian woman who is wanting to live her life wide open to make a difference in the world for God. I'm married to Mike and have two sons Matt and Andrew and a baby girl named Emily. We are embarking on an adventure together to help stop the world's orphan crisis.
Whaaa.....Whaa.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....whaa......whaaa......whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ......zzzzzzzzz. I think you get my drift about baby girl over the past few days. Son #1 arrived safe and sound. We were shopping at the mall and I decided I must have a hair cut. You ladies out there reading this you know what I mean. Your fine one minute then wham the next if you don't have your hair cut within 5 minutes you'll cut it yourself. After the week I had I deserved it. Low and behold the second that the urge hit to my left was a hair place. In I went and again they just happened to have an appointment. Son #2 took the baby with the attitude and I was led to "the chair". About half way through the cut I actually took to time to lift my head and glance around and well look at the stylists (plural). Singing "on the eighth day of vacation my true love gave to me three obvious lesbians, two emo chicks and a goth lady cutting my hair!" A whole lot of pink, black and other various colored hair. Great just what I needed to end my week from H E double hockey sticks. Let's just say I was the hippest looking 42 year old in the mall. The boys just looked and God love them said..."ah it looks good Mom". Boys went to a movie and DH, Baby and I watched a movie on tv. Oh did I mention once the two other boys got there the baby went to sleep with just a wee whimper, stopped throwing her food so much and well went somewhat back to almost normal. Life just isn't fair I say. I wanted them to feel our pain but noooo not this time. The baby did wake up twice through the night and with Son #1 and I leaving early and Son #2 in the room with her all night DH took pity on him and didn't go golfing. Yes he didn't go golfing he spent the morning with baby girl. Gotta love that guy. Son #1 is all registered for university and we visited the flight school. What a great group. His instructors were young though ...... kind of like a bunch of boys playing a video game if you ask me. I pummeled them with questions and they did just fine with the answers. Son #1 can't wait and I'm really excited for him. I choose to not think about him flying...in spins and engine failures and all the other things they train him to fly out of. They said I'd be free to go up with him and well there just isn't enough happy pills in the world right now to make me do that. I get almost hysterical thinking about it. We pulled out of the campground yesterday and started for home. Praise God home never felt so good. With the exception I now decided to get insomnia. I believe God is testing me. Really and truly I am soon going to lose my sunny disposition. Just to let you know how out of it I am I went shopping for Son #2 today for his birthday. Loaded up the back of the van with his presents and headed to the Mall for one more thing. I moved all the stuff so it wouldn't get stolen and then walked in the mall with my hatchback wide open. God must have known I couldn't deal with this because I was in the mall for and hour and a half and everything was still there. Sitting in the back of my van with what might as well have been a sign that said steal me but it was all there safe and sound. What a feeling when I walked out of the Bay and saw my van hatchback open. Sinking sinking feeling. I went to buy a birthday cake and well proceeded to knock over an Off display. A gazillion little bottles sprawled everywhere. It could have been much worse and well I could have lost my testimony with the guy rolling his eyes at me like "stupid woman". How about this stupid woman clawing out your stupid eyes....just kidding...I smiled and picked it up with the help of the summer student who I am sure just merchandised the whole thing. I am on a 7 second delay so I'm not driving anymore tonight cause I nearly swiped three cars and I'm not exaggerating. It's good to be home....There's no place like home. Oh and an update on Baby girl. We walked through the door.....she ran for her toys......ran all over the house....put on her PJ's......kissed us all good night and is napping as we speak. Who'd of thunk it. We are going again in a week I'll have to load up on the happy pills this time. Anyway I'm home and boy oh boy it feels so good to be here. Mama sprawled out on the couch with the remote....signing off.
Three words....Whaaaaaa.....Whaaaaaaa......Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.......get the picture. We arrived safe and sound in PEI...other than the dead crow no beg thang...but Baby Girl hates and I mean hates the play pen. I'm beginning to wonder if at the orphanage she was put in it for a time out or something because she goes ballistic just if I set it up. Day four and Day five were brutal. Monday was as bad if not worse than our first day at family camp. Finally at 12:30 I packed her and Andrew up in the truck and drove back and forth to North Rustico and not for lobster suppers. Finally she went to sleep. I parked the truck and in my haste opened the door lights blared inside and well I left the lights outside on so...ding...ding...ding...ding....panic....get everything closed...still sleeping. I gently placed her back in the hell pen as I'm affectionately referring to it by now and she was fine for about one minute. I of course in my panic not to wake her I bumped the d....a.....rrrrr....n thing and the screaming started all over again. She screamed for about 1/2 an hour and at about 2 finally went to sleep. I crashed hard. Trailers were packing up all around us the next day. We didn't have anyone near us by the next afternoon. I wish I could say she slept all night but like clockwork at first light which is 5:00 it started all over again. I just brought her to bed with me. The screaming I can take but the barfing that goes along with it is what sends me over the edge. She has learned that well if she screams loud enough she will gag and voila barf city. I do not know how single people do it. I'm not even really single cause I have Son #2 for help but whoa baby he's a good boy cause any other almost 16 year old would have run screaming long ago. I was determined to figure out the problem so I dug out the crib guard from our last trailer and jerry rigged up a bed and plunked her in it for a nap yesterday and well she only cried for about 2 minutes then went to sleep. I wasn't going to get too excited because she was exhausted from the lack of sleep. I put her in it again last night and she slept well and tonight well not so great...we're about 1/2 hour into the crying but it isn't the hard core screaming it was all the other nights. This too will pass. In spite of all the screaming we did have a good time on the Island. All Son#2 wanted to do was shop so anything he wanted I was getting him...but those of you that know him well that just isn't something he is comfortable with but I did manage to get him a few things he was just lookin for the "deal". I bought a new shaker but Son #2 said it looked like 5 boobs on a stick...once I looked at it I realized that hey it did...so we have now renamed it the (all you Christians out there plug your ears)....the tittie shaker. hee hee. Let's just say it isn't something I can even play now without busting a gut laughing...so you won't see it in church unless I can reshape it somehow. Shame cause it sounded great. We rehooked the trailer for the first time today. It actually didn't go too bad. A couple of hiccups but we figured them out. We must look like knobs with our little notebook of instructions I've scribbled down. I missed an exit and had to pull a U-turn which was interesting...and well I took a wrong exit and actually got lost. I was on a back road and well figured we'd be in Doaktown before I would find a place big enough to swing the truck and trailer around and said as much to Son #2. Voila biggest church parking lot in NB I'm sure. God in all his sovereignty placed that church there just for us about 30 years ago that's my story anyway it was cute Son #2 said "God is good Mom..." you betcha. When we arrived this man said wow...my wife would be too afraid to drive something that big...again...no she's not stupid enough to! I am getting the hang of it though and actually backed in with only two tries this time. I will however let DH drive it back on Sunday. I just want my cruise control back. We are in NB now and DH and Son #1 will join us tomorrow. It will be nice to have my boys back together even if it's only for a couple of days. Please pray for DH's dad who is back in the hospital again with fluid on his lungs. Pray for safe travels for DH and Son #1 tomorrow. All's well on the road...I hear little snores and I finally have internet access to update y'all. I'll post prom and graduation pic's when I get back on Sunday. Monday is Son#2's sweet sixteen. Hard to imagine. That's all from the park...trailer park that is....Mama out!
Well we made it to PEI safe and sound. Family camp was great but DH was "some tired". He helped out in the kitchen for the weekend. We didn't see him much but the food was yummy and he was a blessing for the girls in the kitchen. Baby girl finally settled down and slept in the pen yahoo. We thought we might have to cut the trip short but no way baby....we are on the road. It's a mother, son and daughter road trip. DH was so tired he missed the exit to Woodstock, missed the exit to turn around to make the exit to Woodstock and well then apparently a crow hit the car....now I know that seems hard to believe that he would hit a crow...no the crow hit us....do you understand the crow hit us....I took the keys and drove most of the way back to Moncton! Thunder and Lightening a go go though. We set the trailer up a bit crooked...good thing because the trailer people forgot to caulk the bathtub...we had slight water issues. Nothing too serious though. DH was up bright and early trying to find a place that sold some this morning. Let's just say I look like a camping hag and could use a shower desperately but I have my make up on baby! I'm at an Internet cafe right now. Getting many many looks about whose the lady with the rats nest on her head. For those of you who have camped with me before....just think of what I looked like in the morning and I am actually out in public like this right now...it's kind of fun. I do have my lipstick on though I'm not completely a bohemian right now. Son #2 and I drove, backed in and set up the trailer. Took 50 attempts to get the trailer perfect on the lot...my perfectionism was a pain today. We did just fine. A couple even came and told us how "brave" we were...I thanked her but said it was more like stupid than brave. We're here in PEI for a few days and we are going to do all the PEI stuff while we are here. I'm looking forward to the adventure. So far every day has been one. Well I need to leave this computer right now before someone I actually know walks into this establishment. It's Mama from the Internet cafe saying so long for now.
I headed off for a summer road trip on Friday. I guess that was yesterday. It's been the longest two days of my life next to Beijing! We bought ourselves a new trailer and I must say that I do love it. However, it didn't look as big unattached to the truck. The trailer salesman sort of spooked me about driving it because he kept emphasising the "sweeping turns Julie or the trailer will come through the back window"....no problem I said. So off we go 1:30 yesterday afternoon headed to drop Son #1 off at camp for the summer and we were booked in for a weekend of Family Camp. DH had to work for most of the day so he was meeting us in Hartland about a 5 hour trip away. We were to drop the trailer in Moncton to head back there for Sunday night. Off we go, myself and Son #2 driving the trailer and Son #1 and baby girl in another vehicle following close behind. First stop Irving Big Stop to fuel up. I had thought very long and hard about how to get through the pump without blowing up said Big Stop by shearing off the pump with the hind end of the trailer. I would be fine...NOT. When I pulled in first wide sweeping turn went fine. Heading for the pump straight in not a problem. Wait....two red neck hairy dudes in a BD Stevens truck sweep in and steel my pump. For a second I think about running over said truck however I am now blocking all the pumps and the entrance so I make a snap decision to go to the middle lane pumps. Mistake. Let's just say when I pulled the truck to the right the trailer went to the left just in time to nearly run over Son #1 as he was frantically waving me to stop. I missed it by oh about 6 inches. Now I am cross ways in the island. Remember the hairy red neck guys now in their wisdom they have moved from the pump they were in and have parked about five feet behind the trailer. As they say in Nascar officially boxing me in. It was about this time I nearly lost my testimony and dragged said hairy guys by the fur onto the pavement but I swallowed the urge and a few choice words I was trying not to think. I would back up a foot....they didn't move.....go ahead a foot....closer to the pump. Now bear in mind that we are three minutes from home. I looked in the window of the Irving and saw two horrified cashiers with their hands covering their mouths I'm sure stifling a scream and preparing to bolt as I was preparing to blow up Enfield. God is good though. A nice man was driving by saw the Kafuffle...and actually turned around at the weigh station and drove back. He approached the truck like he was approaching a pit bull...."Mam are you alright". "Oh I don't know I've jack knifed the new trailer in front of about a million people or so it felt and not exactly sure what to do. I just kept this voice in my head saying....be calm...look like you know what your doing...be confident....."No sir I am not alright". "Can I help"? Yes please. "Now I can talk you through it or I can do it....it was the quickest I handed the keys to my vehicles and well poor Son#2 was still in the van..."don't mind the nice stranger". It was about this time I realized Son #1 had been out of the van which I couldn't see and I remembered we had a baby. I instructed Son #2 to get out of the truck. The nice stranger sent by God in a nano second had everything straightened out....he even said the bad things I couldn't about the hairy ape men. I wish I could say it ended there. About this time Son #2 was yelling for the keys to the van because the baby was well sweltering in the heat. It was about this time that Son #1 through the keys up in the air and proceeded to land them on top of the trailer. Yes you read right on top of the trailer! So after the climb on top of the trailer we were on the road again but after I had a mini meltdown in the Irving parking lot. Now I was hyperspooked. I wasn't stopping again until Moncton. Four stops later after eating a three piece KFC, a Tim's, changed a poopy diaper, a bathroom stop so Son #1 could pee in a marsh...which for the record I told him it was a marsh but what do I know. Now he's driving in his bare feet, it's three hours later and we have reached the NB border Whooo hoooo. By the time we arrived in Moncton, parked the trailer and got that settled well it was 6:30! What a joke. It was so late that DH had made it to Moncton and he left Halifax at almost 5:00. Mercy. We arrived in Hartland at 10:30 yes 10:30 nine hours later, nine hours for a trip that should have lasted 5 max. At about 10:15 Emily started to barf in the back seat. By the time we arrived at camp and our van was stopped she had snuzzled up to me wiping much puke on me. We went into the cabin and washed up the baby the baby woke up and well did I mention she hates the play pen. Poor thing must have thought that we were going to leave her because by 2:00 she was still awake. After rocking, laying down, trying to put her in the bed...nothing worked but DH finally did the job. At 5:30 she awoke howling again well and in our bed she went. She went back to sleep and was rudely awaken by the drop she took from the bed when she slid between the bed and the wall to the floor....just about the time Son #1 fell out of bed with a huge thud waking Son #2 instantly up on his feet. Good Morning and welcome to family camp. That was the end of day one and the beginning of Day two. We did have a great day but well baby girl won't sleep in the pen. She finally went to sleep when we realized the camp speaker was attached somewhere in the vicinity of her window. Every fifteen minutes...."attention family camp campers"! Whaaaaa Whaaaaa.....zzzzzzzzz....."The pool is now open"......whaaa whaaa....I think you get my drift. Apparently she threw up again because when Son #1 went in to finally get her he slipped on it dragging it everywhere. Sigh....She loved the slide, I won one and Andrew won one in horse shoes, speaker is great, music is really good....fellowship is nice, desserts are great cause DH is making them....food...well I love camp food and the whole meal snack thang...I move the pen to a different quieter spot and right now baby girl is fast asleep. I pray that she stays that way until at least 7:00. That's all from the road we are back to Moncton tomorrow. I'll keep you up to date on our adventures along the way....Mama...oh mama needs sleep on the road signing out.
Well I'm finding myself just a wee bit emotional this month. Happy but bawling all the time if that makes sense. It's all Son#1's fault really. He grew up. When did that happen! How did that beautiful little boy turn into such a fine young man? How did it creep up on me so fast? This post is dedicated to my boy who no longer is a boy but an incredible young man and we are so proud of him. He's in his final stages of high school eagerly anticipating his move to camp and then school. I don't feel bad because he is excited because I remember vividly the day I moved to go to university. I was on my own. I was beginning my life seperate yet still attached to my parents. It was some of the best years of my life. I am so excited for him! The pictures you're seeing are two lasts and a first! His last band concert for Grade twelve last week. Great night. The group picture is the Grade twelve graduating band class. I am so pleased that he stuck it out in band for the time he did. I say stuck it out he really did love it and is now a great trumpet and french horn player. I'm a wee bit sad that he won't be playing at university but he'll have enough on his plate. My prayer for him now is that he uses that awesome singing voice for the Lord that was given him. I won't dwell on that cause he get's it enough from me all the time...in God's timing. I know I know. We went to the co-curricular awards night and he won AV team member of the year. Matt leads the AV team at school which doesn't seem like much but they logged over 1000 hours preparing for any special event that takes place at the school. He led the team this year as a beginning leader and his team won club of the year which is the picture with the "big" trophy. We were so proud of him and he was so proud of the AV team. Finally, the first. Son#1 went to meet his instuctors a couple of weeks ago and well they let him fly a plane. I will never forget the call I had with him after it was over! He got to take off and fly around for about a half hour. The great thing was they let him take his girlfriend and her brother with them. So nice he had others to share this time with him. So yes I'm sad. Yes I am shedding some tears. Yes I am going to miss him loads but like the song says I loaded on this blog...
"Staring at the blank page before you....He is unwritten..(well actually God has it written Son #1 just has to figure it.....Let the son illuminate you...reaching for something in the distance so close you can almost feel it....Live your life with arms wide open...today is when your book begins the rest is still unwritten...."
That's it. That's why I'm so torn. I'm staring at his blank page before him and now I'm releasing him from our care to his own with our support and love and he's holding God's hand now and I just didn't think it would be so hard to let go. I know I have to and I know I have to rejoice in the job we have done and praise and thank God for giving us such wonderful children and well he's just our first to let go. Thank goodness I began letting go about a year ago or well I would be a total basket case right now. I do also think it's a control issue...I'm a control freak...oh I know...surprise surprise...right for those who know me well know I'm a total control freak. I will be praying for him, supporting him, rejoicing with him, continuously guiding him, loving him, laughing with him, definitely visiting him and handing him over for the purpose God put him here for no matter how hard that may be I trust....I continue to trust an incredible God.
A bit of an update on the critters....I"m sorry to report that the pheasant met his maker. He was killed before DH's very eyes at the foot of our driveway....went hurling through the air. DH stopped and picked it up and it died in his arms...sniff sniff...he chucked it in the ditch at the end of our driveway. DH said it was beautiful up close and so soft...I'll take his word for it cause I'm not touching it. Son #2 said last night that tonight Dad has to go bury the chicken at the end of the driveway....too stinking funny...chicken...that boy needs to start wathing the discovery channel. Well DH hopes something dragged it off last night. New critter...we have a hummingbird that is stalking me now. Do I have a hummingbird feeder...no because I'm alergic to wasps and well they attract them. Which is another story we have a big wasp's nest on our house up high enough we don't know how to get it as both of us are afraid of heights and well wasps...so pray that someone knows and can tell us how to get rid of the stupid thing before the two people alergic in the house are stung! Back to the hummingbird it hovers outside our window in the family room and just looks at me. It's like..."what'ch you lookin at"? Beautiful bird it just needs to get a life. Well that's it teary eyed Mama signing out.
I'm back y'all. It's been a busy couple of weeks. Life really is fantastic right now. God is so good! Let's see....first Mother's Day as a family of five!! Friday night we went to Fan's with the other Mom's from China for a first Mother's Day celebration. It is awesome to see the babies grow. The kids are so great. I was up early cause we were playing at church this past weekend. When I came downstairs there was a fantastic breakfast cooked for me complete with menu's, yummy food, and awesome kids. Both wrote me awesome notes. Son #1 wrote me the most beautiful sonnet and Son#2 wrote me the most beautiful poem and baby girl was just there with her cutie patootie face. The kids got me a writing desk but really what touched me was the time they took to put what they felt for me in writing. I was truly blessed. Mother's day was also the day that we dedicated Emily at church. There was 27 babies dedicated! How incredible is that. A set of triplets, which were too cute and baby upon baby upon baby. It was special to be included in such a large group. It was a long time to be standing on stage though. It was nice to look out and see the faces of the friends, our family and the church family that has been such an incredible support for us. Family, Friends and church family who could ask for anything more! Now for some Chocolate....baby girl loves chocolate. We gave her puddin...tonight. Too funny we just put it on her tray and gave her a spoon. She loooovvvvveddd it as you can probably tell in the picture. However, let's just say she was a wee bit hyper. Now for the new critters. Now I call it a new critter even though it was an insect. Well I should say they were insects. Yes my title gives it away. We have spiders. Not little spiders but spiders that stare you down when you see them. They stare you down, circle you as if to say....oh I dare you to try and kill me! First it was the one above the front door. The one that you had to run by to get in the house. My husband came to my rescue on that one. Then there was the one that fell out of the electrical switch when I removed it. Luckily it met it's spider maker sometime last year cause it fell apart into a gazillion pieces. Then there was the one on the steps that when DH killed it you heard it's backbone snap I swear all the way upstairs! Finally, there was the one I inadvertently killed with the Costco 20lb bottle of dishwasher soap when I accidentally placed it on it's monstrous head. When I pulled out the bottle it fell to the floor. One of it's leg that I accidentally tore off was like a crab leg. It was so big it I could see the joint from the big thigh to the spindly part of the hairy leg. It was I kid you not about 3/4 of an inch long....the one leg....shiver.....Where did these things come from and how are they getting in the house. All I can say is if you don't hear from me again it's because I woke up with one on me and had a heart attack. DH says their good because they eat bugs....obviously like me these things need to go on a diet cause they's eatin too much!!I'm also losing my mind....as if you all didn't know it. My poor friend Amy and my favorite baby boy Cam were going to go swimming with us but dummy Julie...sent them to the wrong pool. Can you believe that oh yah...Amy we would love to swim with you just meet us at the Dartmouth Sportsplex...we won't be there but you haul your butt there. I felt so bad....good thing Amy's a good head cause well others would have smucked me in the head.Well American Idol's on and I must go watch. Even though Lakisha's gone...bunch of dummies. American Idol Mama signing out!
I saved these two images to my computer to remind me that we are to be as Christ. Christ did and Christ taught. For those of you taking my P23 study thanks so much for the blessing it has been for me. The teaching part I have thoroughly enjoyed...This week God has been pressing upon me the doing. If you look at the young girls face above...it is an indication of the beauties that are currently waiting in China. Many wait in vain as there is just such a huge need. All too often we know or sense that we are to do something. What usually happens is that through our indecision we end up doing nothing. I made a vow this year that I would cease to do this. That in order for my life to move forward towards what God's plan for my life is it won't happen as long as I stand still. I don't think it says anything in the bible..."seek yea first the Home and Garden channel"...or "seek yea first the computer"...no God says "seek yea first the Kingdom of God". I am humbled by what God has been teaching me lately. I had the opportunity to go see the Watoto Children's Choir last Sunday. INCREDIBLE!! A group of orphans from Uganda travelling the world singing of God's incredible hand on their lives. What an incredible ministry this is in Uganda. God placed on our hearts when we were in China to begin doing something for the children waiting and left behind. The Watoto orphanage villages in Uganda are an incredible example of when Christians act as Christ acts and truly "cares for the widows and orphans". These children said that they had no hope and once they went to these villages they received the hope that only Jesus gives. God has a plan for the lives of the orphans in Uganda and I believe with all my heart that He has a plan for the children left behind in China. Mike and I have made the decision to pursue a trip to Uganda putting together a missions team to see first hand how this holistic approach to raising orphans is working. Please pray that if this is God's will that the finances and doors will open to travel and that the Lord would reveal to us the others who are to go with us. Also please pray that as I begin working on the proposal for the Chinese government that they would open their hearts to this kind of orphan village and that the children's spiritual needs will get the approval of the gov't and moral teaching would be allowed in this country. God is moving and we are attempting to do that which we believe He would have us do. I will keep you updated on our progress.
I'll move onto other things now. Emily struggled a bit with me being away. Four days was hard on her. I've noticed since I've been back when I put her to bed now she cries a bit and she is clinging. However, while I was away she did great. A good friend looked after her for to mornings - praise God for friends- and Emily did great. I had to work this week one day and spoke at a ladies conference this weekend so I am looking forward to relaxing this week. It has been a busy busy two weeks. We went swimming this week. We all ended up in the hot tub because...well...one of the kids had an "accident" in the pool. Poor Bernice one of the Mom's in our group was in the pool after it was "evacuated" and was wondering...."where have all the people gone"...when she got the news! Let's just say I'm sure her feet didn't even hit the bottom of the pool before she was out. So the whole pool was closed down...because of the "incident". Son #1 has me addicted to Vanilla Milk thingys at Starbucks...so stinking good! Can you tell I'm excited he works today so I can get one yum yum...I'm gonna miss that kid when he moves. Where has the time gone. My #1 is moving away...how did that happen. When did that happen! He such an incredible young Godly man...both my boys are. Love em love em! I have a praise item this week at the top of my list is that a dear friend of ours finally finally got the call from the RCMP (no not that call) He wants to be one not run from one...He is leaving Mother's day which is kind of crappy for his wife and cutie patootiest baby boy ever...but God has been so faithful to them and we are so proud of him and can't wait to see him in his Red Outfit...Well I guess they call it something more manly than an outfit but you know what I mean. Well that's it for now I'm going to nap while Emily is napping...yes I've been reduced to a napper but I'll take it...snore...snore....Mama out.
I'm away in Calgary at the moment missing my family but thought I'd take the time away to update my blog. I love the ladybug picture of Emily and she was a princess on Easter morning. What a time to get my two big kids excited for me so I could have the "perfect" Easter morning for Emily's first Easter with us. It was a wee bit chaotic....let's just say two days after Easter I realised that she didn't open her Easter basket...now what kind of a loser is that for a mother...too funny. Let's just keep it our little secret! I have been in Calgary on business for the last few days...I know I know...it was unavoidable and God has been so good to meet me in my quiet time here. Once I got here. For those of you that know me know I hate to fly. Without my happy pills I am a bit of a basket case. Well top that off with a bit of stress from leaving. Did I mention I have an incredible husband who supports me in all I do and is an awesome Dad! Back to the flight. I'm on the plane and I had to buy business class because the plane was booked so it was nice to be in the big seat. It's funny what I think about during turbulence. What kept coming to me is "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me" and since we're going to crash "Thank you Lord my laundry is caught up". How crazy is that since it is actually what went through my mind. Now the turbulence lasted for an hour yes an hour. It started right at the beginning of the flight and didn't stop and well my happy pills were in my purse...IN THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT! What was I thinking. Twenty minutes into the bumping around I could feel my face on fire...I'm sure I looked like a big red tomato. I just repeated...the LORD is my shepherd. For an hour I prayed, praised, cried, worshipped and realised that through the bumps is when our dependence on God jumps into high gear. Now the good news is I fly back tomorrow...pray for me y'all that the flight is smooth...I've had enough bumps this week now let's hope God agrees with me...Mama on the move out.
One of the things I was so looking forward to when moving to the country was the peace and quite and living with the wildlife. That was before the wildlife took over our life. It started when we lived in Fall River and put up with the attack owl, ghostly loons, suicidal rabbits and well just stupid hosta eating deer. That was the old house. This is a new lake with new critters. There is the ancient deer path that runs across our driveway. You know, kind of like the elephants in Africa well we have a herd of deer in Oakfield. What this means is anytime day or night you may round a corner only to have four or five deer jump in front of the vehicle. I've threatened to have one of our friends bring their gun during hunting season....bwahhahahaha...kidding, kidding.....well not really. Next we contended with the nervous, insane racing pheasant. Yes every so often it runs in front of the vehicles straight down the middle of the driveway at about 40 km's per hour every two seconds turning and looking over it's shoulder with a look of sheer terror in its eyes....just get off the road...crazy bird! Squirrels love to torture our dogs dropping nuts on their heads and well the loons are back. The Canada geese arrived last week....honk...honk...honk.....all hours of the night only! Good thing they are protected like the attack owl was or there would be a few less Canada Geese flying south in the fall. We have a colony of bats that live in our back yard that comes out at dusk. Sort of like Transylvania out back. They love to eat bugs so I'll put up with them as long as they keep eating bugs. However, nothing is as bad as well I'm not really sure what they are. I say they because there are many many many of "them". At about 12:00-1:00 in the morning what seems like hundreds of well let's call them jungle birds perch in the trees outside out window and well make jungle bird sounds most of the night. Now we have gotten used to them but I've also gotten accustomed to the quiet of the winter night. Well spring is here and well the critters have returned. Nearly hit four deer leaving the driveway, the loons are apparently mating, the geese well I'm not sure what they're doing maybe rebuking the loons for mating....who knows but they aren't doing it quietly and well the jungle things are back.....mmmmm....country living. Now that my sleep is disrupted by the critters I can sort of live with this however what is really killing me is probiotics. What is it you say....I wish I had known about a week ago. Son #1 asked me to take the probiotic challenge. It's a certain bacteria that is added to yogurt that is really really good for your bowels. My bowels were just fine thank you! That should have been my first clue! Just eat this yogurt for 14 days and your better than new....right? Maybe? Two days into this I asked Son#1 to look and see what it does to a person. Well warning probiotics may cause bloating and diarrhea. I can confirm that you can change the may to will!! I'm sure my bowels will be fine as will the rest of my family because well you fill in the rest. Mama bloated, sleepless and well belly grumbling signing out.
Lola Wan is one of Emily's sisters from China. She is the youngest of the group. How is this for the cutest pic. She's smiling at Son #2 who has a way with the ladies apparently. 
I Emily and Lola had a hoot playing together. It was so nice to see her smiley face. I took this picture while they were both standing by the fireplace...don't yah just love it! One of my favorite pics.
I Emily and Lola had a hoot playing together. It was so nice to see her smiley face. I took this picture while they were both standing by the fireplace...don't yah just love it! One of my favorite pics.
What a week! It was go go go. Emily tried new things, met new friends and saw some familiar faces this week. We brought Campbell ( Emily's boyfriend) home a little Chinese outfit. How cute does he look. It was too funny because both of them were like greased pigs...slip slidding away. The only way that we could get Cam to remotely want to put up with us girls was to feed him Teddy Grahams. Emily never had those before. Bears with sugar yah..guess who loved them. Now that I think about it I loved them too. We went swimming and Emily loved it. Now I did take my boys swimming years and years ago but my how things change. Like the changing room. I went into the changing room late (I know....don't ask) it was a little further than I thought. I rush into the change room a bit frazzled, you see because I am a well kept woman and usually have three men in tow to open doors, carry bags, well just do what I need done. Mama was on her own. Bags and baby hanging off of me and in the family changing room I go. I quickly find my friends from China who are way more on the ball than I am. They have water diapers...what the heck are they? I will be getting some for this week. They are in their suits and babies ready to swim. Now luckily I had our suits on under our clothes and you will better understand why in a minute. I put Emily on the floor which by the way is wet and there is no where to sit her so on the knap sack she goes. I take off my pants just in time for the guy to walk by.....yes GUY! Since when do the guys and girls change together...I guess that's what family changing room means. Well thank goodness I had my suit on because I would have so dropped my pants with men in the room. Mercy what next. So we make it to the pool and it really was lovely. The water was warm, the company was great and Emily did love it. She chattered her teeth a fair bit but for the most part she loved it. Now getting dressed again was another story. I had the brainwave..."ok Julie dress the baby first". Right - Wrong! Now she's dressed I'm soaked the floor is soaked. Oh and I forgot to mention that the shower was like little needles she didn't like it much and in order to wash her off I had to let the shower hit me...so I was pretty much drenched...hair and all. Did I mention I didn't bring a coat either. Man what a laugh. I had to laugh because I'm soaking wet...trying to get undressed hoping the door won't open or a guy walk in...babies on the floor in the tiny change room...and I get a hot flash. Where are my men to pick up my bags, pick up the baby, open the door...ooops forgot I'm alone. My pants were falling down cause I forgot to tie them, I'm wearing a 2xl sweatshirt of my DH's ...hair wet and flat to my head...knapsack on one aim, swimming bag on the other, baby in front...and me walking with my legs two feet apart so my stupid pants won't fall down around my ankles...all this and steam rising from me as I walking to the van without a coat. Let's just say the Tim's I had later tasted really really good. I so suck on my own. God knows that and that's why he put me with such attentive guys. I have to do laundry next week. Yes I say week because I'm behind a week in it. Does the term mountain of laundry mean anything! Not complaining though I actually don't mind doing it. Oh the pants falling down thing....I went back to Weight Watchers. I gave a big story about the binge and how I wasn't ever coming back and that I probably gained yatta yatta...stepped on the scale and lost 2.8lbs...how incredible is that. That is a miracle! My brother and sister-law hit their goal weight this week...not with WW but another place. He lost 100.5lbs and she lost 52ish lbs. I'm so proud of them both. Son#1's birthday is next week and he'll be 18. I truly is hard to believe that 18 years have passed us by. I'm so proud of him. He just received his official acceptance to school and it's official at the end of June he's on his own. I'm surely going to miss him tons but God has great things planned for him I'm sure so I will release him gladly into God's hands. We had our first playgroup on Thursday which was nice to see the babies playing together. I took pictures but don't have them uploaded in time for this post. Emers had her first night terrors last week. I think it was because she missed a few naps. She loves her sleep and catching a catnap here and there doesn't work too well for her. She went ballistic. I tried calming her for at least 2 minutes. She was hysterical. I finally had to sit her on the change table and take her little face in my hands and tell her "it's ok baby girl ,you're here, you're home". That calmed her enough to at least let me console her. On a final note I sent an email out to everyone I had on my address book regarding a research project I'm doing for a book I'm writing. If you didn't receive a copy of the request and explanation make sure you put your email address in the comments and I'll send it along to you. I'm very excited about it. I've had a goob of people sign up to help. More than I thought would. My hope is to have people young, old, male, female from different parts of the world and backgrounds to participate. Please if your able I promise it will be a blessing. I think that's it for this weeks wrap up. Sorry for the delay in posting I was on the move but this coming week should be better. Oh, I have the Global stuff and our China video that I will be posting on Emily's website this week. I will let y'all know when it's done. Have a great night. Mama out.
Wow where has the time gone. It seems that I'm just coming up for some air! Good thing I bought myself a Grande Low Fat Extra Hot Chai Tea Latte or you may not have heard from me tonight. I'm wired for sound baby. It's after 10:oo and usually I am facing forward snoring at the ceiling by now but I'm probably going to have to take a happy pill to bypass the caffeine. Yikes. My DH had a Caramel Machiatto (probably spelled wrong). His eyes are oh about the size of two golf balls and only not white but all pupil. We've been busy busy. Hope y'all caught the Global special last week. I thought they did a good job. I was a bit disappointed as they removed all references to God from it but we sort of half expected that. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought to watch ourselves on tv but it was stressful leading up to it. Vanity all vanity. Son #1's girlfriend and parents visited over the weekend. We had a great time and it was awesome to get to know them all better. Emily's doing just hunky dorey. She's started to hate getting changed. I've turning into a professional wrestler whenever her diaper needs changing. I'm so glad to see the sunshine as we can poke our heads out the door and see the light! We're both a bit no a lot shack cracked. She's eating and sleeping well and is just fitting in fine like she's always been here. She's gaining weight like crazy. Oh she got two more shots last week. Not as awful as the last time but let's just say the doctor's off the Christmas list. I can't believe that Easter is just around the corner. Time is flying. I'm writing like crazy. Looking for a few volunteers to read some stuff and give me some insight and honest feedback so if your interested give me an email and when it's ready I'll send it off. Emily and I are starting to go swimming next week which should be interesting. She seems to love the water but a big old pool might be a different thing. My little China girl is super super headstrong. Wonder who that is like. She's learned very quickly persistence. It's funny because Son #2 could be left in a room full of alligators and if I said don't touch he wouldn't touch. I'm afraid the alligators would be out of luck with Emers. She'd have them all whipped into shape or beaten to a pulp. We're trying to teach her not to slap faces...yes slap...she draws you in close with the cute patootie puckered up lips and then wham out of nowhere "pow right in the kisser". Oh and the food toss is her new game you know those little cubes of whatever you cut up for her gets chucked pretty much everywhere. Now it's one cube at a time. We start breakfast at 8:00 and finish at oh about 11:30 just in time for nap. Not really but almost. Her new thing is to crawl in the dishwasher. Next time I have to remember to get a picture. When I unload it she loves to crawl on the door the second you turn your back. Her other new thing is to open drawers and close them on her fingers can you say scream at the top of her lungs. Son #2 had the brainwave one day to teach her how to climb the stairs she now has a one track mind....."must reach the stairs"! All and all it's awesome being home. I'm definitely in a routine but it's all good. That's it from our house. Mama out.
We found out from Global that they are going to begin airing our story in four parts starting on Tuesday March 6th. Tuesday is the story leading up to our trip and Wednesday is when we return back and life after China. Don't miss Thursday they will be interviewing Daisy a wonderful young woman who was adopted from China when she was 11. She's 21 now and just a fantastic young woman. Her story is awesome. Friday is the final segment and will show the Chinese adoption community here and how as parents and children we are supported and how the children's heritage is kept alive. It should be interesting. I'm nervous and not really sure why. I hope that it is honoring to the process. I must say that the folks from Global were amazing and they are going to give us a copy of the program and all of the raw footage they took and they also took our China video and saved it to a DVD for us as well so as soon as we get it I will upload the videos to Emily's website. This week has been busy busy. I started running on the treadmill and I've been going to Weight Watchers...so five days of killing myself on the treadmill I get weighed in and I actually gained weight. I of course did what any self respecting dieter would do...I ordered a donair pizza, ate two bags of tortilla chips, half a fruit cake, a pan of rice crispy squares and something that resembled an ice cream sandwich. Now don't worry I didn't eat it all at once I spread the binge out over 3 days but this morning I got up and got back on the treadmill. It's all good....ups downs. Just like life. Everyone just stayed clear. Now did I mention the weight I gained was .4lbs not 4 lbs but point 4. Imagine loosing it over point 4 but oh baby did I. I need to put something in place to stop myself from self destructing like that...how about a muzzle. Just kidding. Life at home is settling in nicely. I'm into a routine now I just need to source out a play group or maybe a swim lesson. Emily loves the water and what better way to remove the worry about living on a lake just teach her how to swim. I'll let you know how that turns out. Well I'd better get supper on the table for my men. This is TV Mama out!
Emily went to her first Chinese New Year celebration at our friends the Lai's house. She was too too cute in her red and gold satin New Years outfit. She's getting much better in crowds but still somewhat keeps her distance...with one exception her new friend Dean. She LOVED him and why wouldn't she we love him too! She thought he was too cool and loved little Jaxon's toys too. She's been eating much better and is growing like a weed. She's in size 24 months now. I'm starting to try and take her out more just to get her accustomed to different people. I'm going to look around this week for a play group and maybe something at a pool just to get her in shape for boogie boarding this summer. I've been writing tons while I'm home. My goal this year is to finish my book. I've been working and concentrating on searching through the bible using my concordance and the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries. Sounds snore...boring but whoa baby does God bless when you really dig down into His Word. My DH and I started to reread the Purpose Driven Life again today. We've committed to each other that we are going to devote the next 40 days to seeking Gods purpose. My desire has always been that God use me to Make a Big Difference in the lives of others and to use my life for a special purpose to serve others. Please pray for me as I pray and study that God would open the doors for myself and my family. We received good news about Son #1 yesterday. He got back safe and sound by the way from his trip thanks so much for your prayers. Oh back to the good news about Son #1 he's been accepted once again at camp for the summer. He applied for a different position First Aid/ Spiritual Advisor which is a senior leadership position and he got it which is great. It will get him deeper into God's word, pay him more money and he'll have an opportunity to counsel every child that makes a decision for Christ. How awesome is that. He is over the moon. I started running on the treadmill this week. I've actually enjoyed it as I plugged Son #2's Ipod in my ears and ran for over 1/2 an hour. This is my year baby. Well that's it for tonight. Did I mention that Emily loves loves loves the boys and they love love love her. Just a treat and my heart sings when I see them together. This is Mama on a Sunday night out!
Ok...so today I'm in my house looking after the baby and I got a brainwave to start her on the toddler cereal....now those that have been following my blog might remember and should be screaming right now "NO NOT THE TODDLER CEREAL"...apparently I forgot it was this very cereal that I fed her just before she had her barf fest just a mere few weeks ago. Completely oblivious in my OFCRAA state (that's Over Forty and Can't Remember Anything Anymore ) seems I can't remember my name half the time so cereal out of sight out of mind. I mix up a big old bowl of this stuff. Feed her the whole bowl...then feel guilty that I'm not rolling around on the floor enough with her. On the floor I go which in itself is a feat and low and behold "Thar She Blows Again"! I heard the rumble and just before the rumble happened I had a flashback on the cereal. What a mess and I mean a mess. I stripped her upstairs and put her right in the tub. She must be PMSing because oh baby she had attitude today so I put her for a nap a little early. Gathered up the barf clothes and put them in my great front loading washer I bought from my friend Shaun. Now this is the part where my head is a box filled with nothing. Apparently I also picked up something else and put it in the washer. Now not to worry it wasn't as bad as the time my DH's sister put Kitty Mitty in the dryer but after the rinse finished I opened up the washer and well if you can imagine a kleenex times....let's say a trillion. That's what was all over everything. For a nanosecond I thought it was the barf had baked or something? It took me a while to figure out what in the name of goodness it was! It wasn't until I pulled out the shell that I remembered taking the diaper to put it in the garbage and in my barf stupor opened up the washer and chucked it in. Not to worry Pooh Bear survived on the front I couldn't bear (no pun intended) killing Pooh (hahahahaha again no pun intended). Ok so I'm giddy tonight. I love this song that's playing. My friend Chris found it for me and I listened to it a million times on the beach in Ingonish last summer and every time I listen to it I'm transported to Black Brook Beach in the sun with the surf smashing on the sand. All you Ingonisher's reading this know what I'm talking about! The song captured my day so I thought I'd share it. I might go to Ingonish with Emers for a month this summer. I might become a bohemian and just stay there camping till someone comes looking for me. Someone will come looking for me right? Emily was into everything she shouldn't have been today. It was like you fed me something to make me barf I'm going to make you earn your vacation pay today Mama! My DH's family had a welcome home party for Emily yesterday. I had a great time. Just an intimate group but really just the right amount. She got some great things and I had a chance to catch up with family. What was great was it was like Emily knew it was family because she was super comfortable. I've been told that not leaving us or being "strange" with others is a good thing because it means she's bonded. So I don't sweat that she likes being with us because that's a good thing. We finish our interview with Global this week so I'll keep ya'll up to date on the time that it will air. Pray please for Son#1 he's headed to NB on Thursday and that he will arrive safely. Oh and I almost forgot I have a Praise Item for God....the Alongside Ministry called last week to ask if we would like some homemade meals to help us settle in. What a blessing. My friend Janice dropped supper off tonight and it was to die for! She called and I would have kissed her right then and there with the day I had. Just hectic not bad. If any of you reading this are part of that ministry it is awesome! God picked the right day to have supper arrive. My family was pretty excited too. A home cooked meal is a great thing....a home cooked meal dropped off by someone else is a God thing! I got my camera back and charged so my next posts will have pictures of the bambino! Mama grateful for her church, grateful for her God and Grateful for her family out.
The snot sucker is my friend! I had forgotten about this little tool that mother's use. You know the thing that looks like a mini turkey baster that you simply squeeze first then jam it up your child's nose and viola you are left with either a string of sticky snot hanging from the child's nose or a booger firmly lodged in the tool. Now the booger thing is awesome because the snot sucker can also be used as a booger launcher. Let's just say that the boys have been extra special listeners since the snot sucker arrived. I was wondering today, who invents something like this? A mom that's who. A Mom who was sitting shack cracked for some adult conversation and her mind wandered in her delirious state thinking..."hey if I take one of those rubber balls my little angel is playing with and attach an eye dropper to the end I bet it would suck snot...all you Mom's out there you know I'm right. My little bundle of joy is leaking body fluid everywhere. She's teething. Yes our sweet China girl looks like a drooling mad dog...her nose is running, her mouth is running, her eyes are running and as Son#1 put it when he was changing her...."Mom she has a rash on her woofy...you might want to check". Let's just say that I'm sure he didn't dream 6 months ago that the term rash and woofy would be used with his Mother in a million years. The young men in my house have been awesome with Emily. They have babysat a couple of times and like clockwork each time she had a big ole poop. I'm kind of excited by it because well....I'm liking that they have to change it. Sweet Victory for me I say. I have officially shut the TV off in the day time...well most of the daytime...I can't miss Oprah. A dear friend of mine described a tv addict today turning into..."a one eyed monster'. I can believe it. Ask me ask me about any crazy talk show and I can answer it and well I've remodelled my house a million times after watching 3 weeks of Trading Spaces, Decorate My Space, How Not to Decorate, Clean Sweep and praise the Lord What Not to Eat....all that show did was make me hungry. I'm finding my days more bearable now that I'm not addicted to the tube. I found out a couple of things this week....vinegar strips the finish off of prefinished floors (don't ask), when checking the babies sheets for "stuff" check all the blankets (not just the sheets), I still love to lick the cake bowl and when you're over forty you can't eat raw dough anymore. Yes Raw Dough....I know I know you health nuts are cringing right now but in my Newfoundland home growing up we ate baked dough, fried dough and on occasion (for me whenever Mom made bread) RAW DOUGH. I love raw dough or should say loved it! Apparently I must have eaten it after it rose because take it from me never never eat dough before it has risen cause well it rises in your belly, it rises in your esophagus and in other places to personal to mention...I was kind of like the Pillsbury Dough Girl if you know what I mean. Takes about 24 hours to go away! No more dough for Mama. Life on the Mommy train is getting better. The house is clean "today", I'm settling in "sort of" and I truly am loving my family life "for real". God is so good. God has truly blessed us and I can't even remember what we did before Emily arrived, I'm just glad that she did. Mike and I are truly becoming more and more dedicated to the cause of Orphans in the world. We aren't sure how God is going to use us beyond what he already has however we are certain that we will do whatever He wants us to do to help and be a voice. Here is a scary statistic, the United Nations estimates that there are over143 million orphans in the world right now. How crazy is that! That's almost 5 times the population of Canada! There is so much that we can do...short term, long term missions, maybe adopting again, helping other families know the joy of adoption, helping to connect children with families or funding to families...there are tons of opportunities. Please pray that we would know God's will for us in this matter. What an awesome opportunity! At home and beginning to love it...Mama out!
Yesterday was the day that we started to re-immunize Emily. Our doctor recommended repeating all of her immunizations just to ensure that she is protected. After yesterday I think that it's the doctor that needs protection. Let's just say our sweet little baby turned into an alien from another planet. I think that it's safe to say that she isn't super fond of needles. The first one was bad but the second one was heard in Bedford I'm sure. The good news is we have eight more to go. She didn't get sick just ticked. I'm having some trouble settling into the pace of my new life. The term shack cracked is coming to mind. Now I know I know...I'm not complaining I'm learning that this "Be still" thing that God is teaching me isn't going to be easy. Being the high energy person I am I suddenly feel like I'm moving in slow motion. God continues to teach me that I need Him. I see that the hardest part of this hiatus from work is going to be the hiatus from work. How pathetic is that! So as Son #2 says occasionally...."Suck it up Princess"! So this is Mama...sucking it up and signing out for the night.
Ok for those of you that know me my favorite thing to do is smooch babies...do yah think Emily has seen me coming at her one too many times....hee hee...you go girl. Thanks Scott for this picture we loooovvvve it. What a sweety. We're all sort of back to normal in our house barfing and pooping has stopped,with the grown people anyway. The pooping with the baby that's gonna stay for quite sometime. She is settling in so well and loves to nap Hallelujah Praise God. It so neet to see how as she becomes more comfortable with us little things change. Little things like this morning when she woke up and talked to the bear in her bed instead of screaming....little things like touching a strangers hand.....little things like sitting on a friends lap.....little things like blowing kisses and picking up a cheerio and actually making it to her mouth! Every day she is growing and everyday she is trusting just a little bit more. Like all new children you worry about whether you'll adjust, you worry about your free time, you worry about the change and then you realise once they arrive what would you do without them and can't quite remember life before them. We are now blessed times three and I'm just as smiley over the looks on the faces of my guys as I am about the look on the face of my smoochy girl....Mama out.
What a wicked couple of days. It started with me on Sunday night. We had friends over for the Super Bowl and I started to feel queasy and my belly was a wee bit flip floppy. By about 11:30 I found my friend Mr. Toilet Bowl and we became intimate friends, real intimate friends. I visited my new friend about once every half hour whether I needed to or not. We got to know each other really really well. Just when I thought I couldn't possibly stand my new friend anymore it just got worse until at last 7 hours later I slept. Then I slept and slept and slept and slept some more. Good thing My DH was there to care for Baby Emily cause I sure couldn't unless he put her in the toilet bowl...and well they frown on that. Now if it ended there that would be normal but here in this household normal is not a word we use much or at least it never seems to work out that way lately. Son #1 and Son #2 babysat while my DH went to an appointment. By 8:30 Son #1 was introducing himself to my new friend and Son #2 wasn't far behind. Now that wouldn't have been too bad however when my DH insisted on meeting my new friend we now had 4 out of the 5 people in the house dying to meet Mr. Toilet, Mr. Bowl, The Hurlmyster, and finally Upchuck man. Now women we suffer in silence, not men. I awoke to Son #2 who sounded like he was upchucking a Volkswagen, Son #1 who never did do the throw up thing well did what he usually did and sort of made it to the bathroom. DH came home to much barf and oh did I mention the stupid dog has the runs too! Now all of this from one little baby from China. I can't imagine that this is the bug she had because she was smiley and her usual pleasant self while she was barfing and pooping. I have a whole new respect for her but then of course she is a girl ...the whole suffer in silence thing. At one point I did have a bit of a meltdown because by about 1:00 in the afternoon no one had checked to see if I had croaked so I made an appearance, had the meltdown, did the guilt I almost died speech and just waited for them to get it so I could so pay them all back. I envisioned ways to make them beg for Gatorade but alas I do have a heart and spent the day caring for the three of them. Emily and I are fine. I'm about 4 pounds lighter literally and well God even works out our barfing schedules because if all four of us were hit at the same time with this I don't know what we would have done given Emily won't go with anyone other than us. Well she did actually go to our friend Shelly the other night which is progress! How do you make that phone call...hey Shell....Jul here...we're all pooping ourselves and barfing but if you have a spare minute could yah come and watch the baby...Hopefully we'll all be back to normal whatever that is tomorrow. In the meantime I'm washing the house with disinfectant cause I do not what a double bout of this. Until next timeMama out...(all out if you know what I mean!).
Well we've had an interesting few days. Poor little Emily's tummy has been big time upset over the past two days. It started out on Friday night at Son#2's Basket Ball game which she loved by the way. She was watching the game...had a wee bit of a gag and oh baby did she barf. It was like reliving my parenting years with Son #2. He barfed his way all around the Maritimes and I thought Emily was headed in the same direction but I think now that it might be the formula. As upset as my stomach was in China is as upset her stomach is here. She will drink Pedialyte no problem but the instant I give her any formula it just pours out of her. I don't think it is a flu because she has no fever, she isn't crying and she is in good spirits just barfy. Now this morning when we woke her up she blew again but out a different end if you catch my drift. I was wondering what was on her sheets then realised quickly what it was but couldn't figure out where it came from then noticed that whatever happened down below quickly escaped and migrated up her back out her neck in her ear and well pretty much everywhere else in the bed. She keeps down her cereal and the Pedialyte but nothing else. I'm going to give her tummy a break and not feed her any formula today and see what tomorrow brings. We bought a different type of formula -Soy based so once we change it hopefully it will work for her. I'm slowly but surely getting back into the swing of things. I've been sticking pretty close to home. If there was ever any doubt as to whether I had ADHD I can safely confirm it. This is the most docile and stationary I've been since I had my operation two years ago. God still tells me to "Be Still and Know That I Am God". It's the Be Still part that I'm not great at. Emily had her first day at church this morning and she did really well. We were nervous out how she would take it but she did just dandy. It was like she knew that everyone had prayed for her and that this is home. We pinch ourselves everyday we are so blessed. Mama out!
Jet Lag spelled backwards is "Man do you look like a bag of dirt"! Not really but close. I really didn't think that it would be this difficult to adapt to the time change. Emily's done great. Babies are pretty resilient anyway but she's settling in nicely. She hasn't figured out the whole "white folk" thing. She just stares when people aren't looking mesmerized by the difference in our faces compared to the faces she is accustomed too. The smells are different, the sounds are different and definitely the weather is different. Poor little lambie chatters her teeth if the temperature is anything less than 25 degrees. We're all walking around in our underwear cause we're sweating to death so if you're planning a visit for heaven's sake knock. Someone at NSPC is going man what's going on the heat's on at that house! I've adapted well to being a new older Mom again. Our house sitters had to move the T.V. into the kitchen. I can't bring myself to move it back out. I've become addicted to talk shows. You know the kind...."in the case of baby (you fill in the name) you ARE NOT the father"! This t.v. has definitely got to go. Just to let you know how little t.v. I watched prior to this I actually bought a paper before we left and as I read through it the headline was "Sadam Hanged"...gasp....couple of pages in..."Gerald Ford died"...WHAT....couple more pages...."James Brown Gone"...you get the picture. I put the paper down by the way because I just didn't want to see who else bit the dust. Our house now is preoccupied with poop. Yes "was it green"..."ewh it's so black"..."it's hard"..."it was soft" the worries we had a few months ago are non existent. Being a Mature Mama has made for some interesting times. My stamina isn't exactly there anymore especially with the jet lag. It's nice to talk to my younger yummy mommy friends to see what's hot and what's not in baby stuff. I did learn that Baby Mum Mum's are a must. They are crack cocaine to babies or at least that is what one of my friends said and she's right. Baby girl loves them. They're crunchy and she can hold them in her hand and well just keep them comin. I was watching on one of my talk shows that the oldest woman to ever give birth just gave birth to twins, she was 67 years old. Wow I'm a spring chicken compared to 67 I have like 24 more good years left. I was thinking that there is advantages to having children that old. You can nap as much as the baby, you can hey you can breast feed standing up, the Depends are only one aisle over from the Huggies...ok ok...I'll stop. God love her. She did say she was looking for a younger husband dah...someone needs to be alive to raise the little lambies...ok I'll really stop now. Baby girl is sleeping so I'm going to try and unpack another suitcase. Yes I know I know all you organized clean freaks reading this...I still have my luggage all over my living room but it will get done..hopefully before I have to go back to work in September. Remember God Rocks! Have a great day. Mama from the sofa signing out!
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