Jonas Brothers Concert

Mom and Makenzie night at the Jonas Brothers Concert

Paris and Shawna,Paris falls asleep at EVERY concert, its so loud, we don't know how she does it, but its too cute and she is a doll!

Dancing with the Jonas glow sticks


Jonas Brothers, My Fav is Joe..he is my crush :) HA

Jonas FAN smile

Ice Cream and a Concert!

Mom and Makenzie

My feet addiction

August 11th Makenzie and I joined Shawna,Paris,Rose Mary and Jacque for a night of fun at the Jonas Brothers Concert. The girls had a blast, and we did too! They performed so well and did some great interaction and put on a show for us. It was a late night, but fun :)

Faith,Life,Moving Forward...

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "move from here to there," and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)

I got a thought on the way home from dropping KK off at school and decided to set everything aside for a little while and sit down at the actual computer, check emails and blog. I hope to get pictures and my updates up on here, lets see how far I can get.

Life has been rough, I will admit it. 4 kids is not different than 3, I don't see that as a issue, I think that we got hit with a lot more than we thought or bargained for with Bryce and since the arrival of him its been none stop and we are all so worn and beat up mentally.

After Bryce arrived and he had to go into the hospital, coming out and home, we all got scabies! It went away, came back and went through cycles. We had to be treated with 10% Permethrin cream and the oral Ivermin and we still seem to show signs it.
We have been treated a few times at the Mayo Clinic hospital and numerous doctors and specialists due to Intestinal Parasites, Bacteria in the blood,worms,scabies,lice,and my brain is not working I know some other stuff.

We are recovering and taking meds and trying to get up to speed but we cant seem to get over the problems this has caused. Also, African Termites..Nice! And some other bugs from Africa have infested our house and even in bedded into our skin, the doctors are literally pulling BUGS of all kinds OUT of our skin. Hands,feet,arms,legs,fingertips, face etc! Its the weirdest things you would ever see, and our bodies are scared up.

We have infectious disease helping us at the Mayo Clinic and 2 wonderful doctors at the hospital that have taken so much time and care for us, its been nice.

Its a ongoing battle that seems to not have a end yet, we are praying, and its hard, and its a struggle. On top of that, Bryce is not gaining weight, very picky eater, happy as can be, crawls, gets on knees, can stand holding on things, walk in walker, and do a lot of things. I DO think he is OVER 2 years old, I don't think he is 18 months. I DON'T think he will grow fast, or be very tall if he does. He will struggle in life and really have a hard time to catch up if possible.

We will resource all options of course for help and therapy, we CANT now, which everyone emails me about. HE IS CONTAGIOUS, and NOBODY will come near him! New patches show up here and there of all sorts of funky stuff, and than I am his primary person that touches him, so I get it, and it gets passed through the house.

I think the hardest part is that I have to stay away from Makenzie and Logan so they are over the bug and scabies so they can have some sort of normal life and go to school. So washing bedding everyday, washing them, medicine from head to toe, and then I cant hug and hold them, and they cant cuddle up with me. Its very very hard, and than THEY SEE that I can touch and hold the 2 babies and change their diapers bath them and feed them, but not the 2 older?! I can explain to them a million times, but THEY ARE KIDS, and emotions and thoughts still in their little brains. Its heart breaking when your children cry to you about not getting love, attention, etc because of Bryce and his needs. Because Mom is in the hospital again, or the meds have made me so weak.

The kids have been through A LOT with this adoption, I look into their eyes and can see how much they want to give him and I love and cant. And they want him to be apart of our lives closer, but he has limits and he is so fragile. Its a tough spot to be in. My family is not that close so I don't have anyone that comes over, helps,gives me a break, etc. Its been none stop since he arrived. Of course no sitters or nannies want to be around sick people, and if you saw the marks all over us, you would stand 10 feet away. My sister has helped with walking the kids into class and out to the car for me, that has been such a big help. I hate not being able to do it, its so hard to watch them walk away and I drive off to go home clean the whole house again, wash everything again, and start all over again for when I go and get them from school. Its a cycle that feels like a trap. Its so wearing on me mentally physically and emotionally. I am very blessed to have met Joy from our board. She has given me so much support through the phone and email and just prayer. She is amazing, and I hope she is blessed by the Lord is so many ways with her life and family and all she does. Its amazing, I would love and die to have one ounce of the strength she has and the drive she gives to her family,faith,and others. I am so lucky she is in my life.

Now how do you attach and bond and get so tight with a new baby when you are getting sick from him? you are watching you and your family have to be on medicine, go to doctors, get things from him, that YOU exposed them to?! Hard to deal with as a Mom, hard.

I pray and pray WHY, I know I was suppose to go back to Africa and get him, and now all this bad that follows with us. Not only all this but I could write a book of just our lives in general seem to be at a stand point or crash point since his arrival. We pray and know God has direction for us. Answers, and will lead us to where he wants us in life. We hope we can heal, bond, and move forward with our lives and put all this bad,illness,etc behind us and just go back to LIFE and LIVING! This is NOT suppose to be like this, I understand delay, and that he will need help to catch up, that's fine, but to hit me with all these medical issues on top of it, WOW.. blows my mind. I feel like a punching bag, and when doctors know you by name and the pharmacist's and special medicine ordered in for you, the list goes on, IT WEARS YOU OUT.

Just a little of whats going on here, I need to post past things like first day of school, and concert, and other stuff. I need to catch up and have time for me and a moment to think :) thanks for every ones love and support and emails. Its nice to have people out there even though you are not here..literally.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17)

Growing,Smiling,Loving,Walker

Like any other living, growing thing, love requires effort to keep it healthy."
~Leo F. Buscaglia

I need to measure Bryce, I think he has gotten longer in the past 3 weeks, seriously! He is still tiny, size 2 shoes are too big for him and he is suppose to really be around 2 yrs old. He was starved too long, its sad.But with tons of work, I am determined to get him caught up. We have been working on straightening his legs, standing with him, as when he first came he would only go into the fetal position when you would try to get him to stand on his feet. Now with help he will put his feet down, and hold on to the chair, we practice and his wobbly little legs stand strong and its amazing the drive this child has to catch up. He does some sign language, more when he wants more and all done when he is done. He will crawl to you and reach up as high as he can for you to hold him, he latches on like none of my other children ever do, rests his head on my shoulder and wraps his legs around my tight, its such a loving comfort feeling for the 2 of us. I sling him around the house, of course aslynn get jealous but when I do it to her, she wants down, shes a mover and a shaker, not a snugga like Bryce.

I got him into the walker for the first time and he at first sat and did not know what to do, then started just going backwards. I figured out this little boy loves yogurt so I stood a few feet away with yogurt and after a few huffs and puffs he walked forward for a bite, of course got rewarded and walked all over the house for bites. Now he is a walking fool around, not straight legs but he is mobile in the walker. I dont know how long it will take him to pull himself up,walk on his own, or do things that Aslynn can do, even though she is younger. But I hope that watching her he will catch on and want to copy her. The journey has begun and we are hoping goals will be met and he becomes stronger daily. I wish he would put weight on, I have tried everything the doctor said and every type of food, if anyone knows any tricks to weight gain, I am all ears because I have tried it all!

We are Blessed, and Thank God all day for our family.

Finally a long update...and pictures of Aslynn

“Wisdom is a blessing only to those prepared to absorb it."

I have been so busy with Bryce that I have not been blogging in awhile. I finally told Jon I had to sit down and update a little today. So here I am, sitting on my laptop with the kids playing in the living room, Bryce crawling around the floor and Jon giving Aslynn a bath. I have a moment and I thought, OK its time to chat.

Life has been off and on good for the past 3 weeks since we brought Bryce home. He is so sweet and so gentle its amazing that he has bonded and just became such a part of this family so easily, much more than Aslynn at the beginning. BUT, Aslynn did not have the health issues that Bryce has been going through. With scabies,pox,malnourishment,hospital trips,the abuse he has been through during his time either before his mom left him at the orphanage or there (he has burn marks all over his body, the hospital had to get CPS to talk with us, and we had to prove that he was recently adopted and that there was no way we could have done them in that short of time)

He has been through a lot, I wish I knew, I wish I could talk with him and he could share with me all that he has had to go through to get to our loving home. He was in the orphanage too long, I can start off by saying that. He was dropped off last July. They give us a bday that would put him at 17 months old. BUT we had a bone density test done and they put him at 2 years old. Which this is very disappointing as once a child goes past their first year so malnourished its hard to have them recover in a good amount of time or at all. We have been working with him day in and day out. He is pretty much like a infant, small, tiny, his hands are the smallest little thing. Of course because of Rickets his head sticks out and is large, his tummy bloated, and he has water diarrhea so bad. The doctors have tried 3 different meds and I even started him on one we brought back from Africa. We have tried different formula, as he needs to be on it to gain weight. And we started him on solids, he had never had them before, so that was interesting to teach him to swallow. He is missing hair around his head from being starved for such a long time, he is 5% below for weight for a 17 month old, and 5% below for height.

He is a snuggle bug, smiles, seems so grateful that we are here for him. When he wakes up and I go to get him, he glows and beams like "wow she is still here, and she is not leaving me"

He can crawl, now can sit up by himself, and go from sitting up and back to tummy alone. We practice 2 to 3 times a day with him standing and building his legs. He does not like this at all, he wobbles but holds on to the chair and sweats and gets a work out from it. You can tell he is trying and fighting and getting stronger daily. When we first got him he could not use the lower part of his body, he was in the crib for over a year, the nannies said he got out about 1 time a day, but sharing a crib and just laying there has made his legs bowed and so oddly twisted. He can turn his feet completely backwards, its so strange.

The hospital did mental tests and he is ok and not retarded in anyway, just very behind and needs love and a family that has the patience to focus on him. Its hard, I will admit it. I did not know what I was getting into. I don't have family or friends that help or give me a break, so its a constant daily battle to work with him. In the beginning he wouldn't wake up, it would take us almost 2 hours, and he wouldn't eat, that is why we had to get him to the hospital and on IVs. Now he eats, and he wakes up, he is getting stronger daily, if he is outside in the heat it wears him out and he passes out, so he is inside pretty much from car to house.
I cant really go anywhere or run errands until Jon comes home from work because he has constant water poop that leaks and explodes everywhere. Aslynn caught it, Kenzie did, I did, Jon did, and then we all recovered but Bryce. We hope that soon it will fade away or die down a little so that we can leave the house without a big mess all over us and where ever we are at.

He is a tiny little blessing that I think God gave us to learn from. I pray that he can grow and become a normal boy that can catch up to his age and really go full force in the world.

Having 2 babies 3 months apart is more work than I thought it would be. But having 4 is not that bad. Just the diapers, and cups of milk, and feeding and fighting over toys, that's the downfall. The good point is they talk and babble to each other and you can tell they have a special bond.

Makenzie and Logan love them both and just kiss and hug on them, we have all become so attached to them both, its like they came from my tummy and nowhere else.
I am happy we did the adoptions, I would not change my mind or decision for one second as I see what I can offer and how I can make life better for these 2 babies. I know its only 2 out of millions of children out there, but its a start, and maybe someone will see what I am doing and follow along and we can help and save these children from disease,death,abandonment.

I wish I was more prepared with Bryce and all that he has wrong. All the medical reports the agency gave me were false,and when Jon brought home his actually file there were pages and pages of information,illness, etc that was not disclosed to us. We learned more than we knew and wow this kid has been to hell and back. I think God had us NOT bring him home in May because I don't think he would have lived for the plane ride. He was no malnourished when we got there, and the visa was not there, and of course the condition he was in. There is no way he would have survived the flight. Jon flying him home this time was hard and Jon kept having to check that he was still breathing. It was a rough flight but he made it and he is doing better day by day.

I had to post some pictures, I guess since I am talking about Bryce they should be of him, but I am doing by date, so these are Aslynn, my little walker, chatter,independent girl that has the funniest attitude and just owns you and the world just better move aside. Bryce is shy and appreciative that you give him love and attention, Aslynn could careless and push you away to go to the next person or a toy. 2 totally different personalities, but again Aslynn was only in the orphanage for about 4 months. Bryce over a year and he zones to his own world in high stress situations. Its sad what can happen to a child that has not gotten love, attention, touch, and fed. I see now the flip side of the 2 different children, and would not know the full effect if I did not get Bryce. We are happy with our decision, with the 4 children and we cant wait to see them all grow up to be loving,open minded, aware of the world and its surroundings and most of all know where they all came from and how they all are connected with loving arms and hearts.

God is good, and I pray the days ahead get better for Bryce (he has gotten 4 teeth just in 3 weeks) and he grows and flourishes in our environment.

Picking Jon up at the Airport

In you the orphan finds mercy.
Hosea 14:3

Jon came home late around 11 with Bryce a few weeks ago. Unshaven Jon with a Bjorn on, you have to love it. The kids made signs and were so excited to meet their brother, Aslynn was so tired I don't think she knew what was going on. As you can see we have a car full now, from 2 to 4, amazing how this past year has flown by and changed our lives forever. Some might think I am a nut, my crazy idea of adoption and expanding my family, but I felt a calling and I walked down this road, and I am dying to see what else God has in store for me and the family.

Bryce was very dehydrated and not wanting to eat when he first arrived, he had rashes and scabies. I took him to our doctor the next day he arrived and got medicine, but he worsened with not eating over the weekend so we took him to Phx Children's hospital. I must say, if I was to do both adoptions over again, I would go from airport to hospital, have all the specialist look at the kids and run tests. With aslynn I saw the doctor, and went to individual specialists for each problem. With Bryce we got it all knocked out and seen by doctors during his stay there. He is now at home, thriving, eating a lot, and building muscle tone.
He was so weak when he arrived, couldn't hold his cup, lift his hand or grasp anything. Amazing what food does to the body.

He now is crawling around the whole house, if I put him up he will hold on to the table and stand there. He babbles, wakes up by himself (he would crash and not wake up, it would take me 2 hrs to wake him up)he is eating great,plays so good with Aslynn, the older kids just eat up that smile and charm he has. He is delayed for his age, which they guess is older than we are told but we are keeping him at March 16th. He learns something new everyday and I know he will catch up to aslynn and start walking and doing more things. He does sign language for what he needs, which is great he caught on to that. His legs are weak as they have never been used, and now he is getting exercise and actives. He loves to go in the car, he is always smiling and happy. His personality is so different than Aslynn's. She is more independent, not that much of a snug bug but loves attention. Bryce wants to be held, loved on, rocked and just given attention. He was in the orphanage for over a year, could you imagine, poor guy; Aslynn only 4 months. There is a HUGE difference when they stay longer and get into that mindset, start shutting down the world and emotions. BUT I am luck I found a way to turn him back on slowly,he is waking up to the world for the first time, and at first I think maybe mourning leaving the only place he knows, but now I see smiles and laughs and wanting to learn and see new things around with me.

I now need to find the time to keep my blog updated, I have pictures of what we have been up to, but need the time to get online.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers, its been a bumpy road, and I know its not over yet, so we are still trekking it and learning so much about ourselves.

Jon Got Bryce!

Bryce Canyon

Jon flew last month to get Bryce and returned with my bundle of snuggles! He is a doll and just a love bug. He has adjusted to us and bonded already. Right now he is in the hospital for a few days due to malnutrition, not wanting to eat, scabies, and the list goes on and on. I am actually pretty disappointed in the orphanage with this second adoption as they really slacked in taking care of Bryce and holding to their word, along with our agency. Its a long story and gosh would take forever to write about.
Bryce has gone through test and is mentally normal, they question his age, saying he is younger and will run more test to determine that. He is tiny,needs lots of love and is just so sweet.
I thank GOD for this blessing of another son and I am so glad that this time he got to come home and be with us.
I will post pictures when I have time of Jon's trip, and give more details of what happened, what went on, and what we are planning on for the future. Keep us in your prayers as Bryce heals xoxo L

A video that makes your heart cry,and open your eyes

I came across this video on another bloggers site. It is graphic so I will put that warning out there. I sat,watched,cried and prayed. I thought WOW how much a difference I had,even though it is small, on 2 children's lives and how or what would have happened to them if adoption was not a option. The Lord gave us the blessing and the guidance to adopt and expand our family. 30,000 children die a day of starvation and preventable diseases.Can you imagine that for a moment, that large number of children, hopeless children. My heart bleeds for all people that struggle,and my heart is in Africa as visiting a few times and seeing it face on is a lifetime experience. I thank God that he pointed me down the road to adopt my 2 angel God has blessed me and Jon with. The simplest things we take for granted like food or water now looks different to me, I look at it when we have left overs and think, there are people that have nothing and I wish I could help and change the world,I want to scream out loud and help the land, help them build a wonderful country that they can provide for themselves and not have to let their people die. We are blessed, whatever you might be going through in life and this economy, we all need to remember that there is always someone that has it worse and pray that God heals,helps and bring more people to open their eyes to what goes on in this world. I wish I could help and save them all, take them all home with me, and its so hard to leave the blue gates of the orphanage knowing that you cant save them all, and pray that others will get the calling and find Africa in their hearts and go after it in full force. This journey to bring my babies home has been a long process mentally from the beginning to the end and I would not trade a single minute of it. Now I get to watch these amazing children grow up and become something outstanding and impacting to the world all from a stack of paperwork,notarized,state sealed, and mailed off. God has more planned for me, I don't know what it is yet but I wait anxiously for the road to be open and I will follow with all that I have to give and all that I am able to provide. Hug your kids tonight,love your family, appreciate what we have. Blessings...

Aslynn's First Video Walking

"You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourself any direction you choose." ~Dr. Seuss

Since May we have had a step here and there, but now we are walking, and even with shoes on this week. It's amazing how just one day she decided, "OK I will walk for Mom instead of teasing her with a step or two." Aslynn also got ONE tooth in! Its too cute, about half way in, or she has tiny teeth, and its on the bottom, of course the tongue is in the way for a picture but, she is starting to grow into the tongue, and when asked to "please put your tongue in" she actually does it! :) She is growing up so fast, and fits in so well with our family. We are all fully bonded and its like she has always been here...and we know she always will be! xoxo

Had to Share the little bear

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
Isaiah 1:17

My friend Mona went to get her daughter Janissa the same time I was suppose to be in Ethiopia in June. She took photos of Bryce for me and said he is developing very well, sitting up, smiles, laughs and so much more. She said he is like a regular little boy and she doesn't see any problems with him mentally! I am excited to get him and finally get our family together and start bonding and attaching with him.I love these pictures, I cant believe they cut off all his hair, but wow has he put on a few lbs! He is like a little bear, snuggles.

These photos bring such a smile to my face.

My Trip

I tried,I failed

I have been planning and preparing for awhile now my trip back to Ethiopia to get Bryce. Jon cant take off anymore work days right now,so I went alone. I had everything in order from a sitter,to meals,and then of course my luck I didn't make it there. I took off the day after my birthday on the 26th and while flying there was a storm in NJ where I was changing planes to go overseas. The plane circled and circled and then the pilot said he had to stop in Pittsburgh because we were low on fuel. After landing and waiting at the terminal,I was not feeling well,I had the worst stomachache and was on the phone with Jon almost in tears. I went up to ask the attendant when we were taking off again, and all of a sudden I passed out.
When I woke up I was surrounded by people and airport paramedics, then a ambulance came to the gate and they took me down and loaded me up inside. I went straight to the hospital and the doctor came back to my room after tests and told me that I was so anemic I needed a blood transfusion as my levels were so low they were shocked I was alive! And I had numerous bleeding ulcers and they had to go in and do surgery to repair them.
My trip of Independence and going to get Bryce, failed! I ended up alone in Pittsburgh with a 8hr blood transfusion,surgery,and so disappointed.
I flew home Sunday when the doctors got my levels up a little,but I have a appointment this week with a specialist and I can feel my levels have dropped already,I know I will need more blood. I am OK and glad to not be stuck in a hospital out of state.But this puts a hold on Bryce until I am OK to fly again. I am praying I get the OK soon :)
Had to share my trip,as I attempted to go and get Bryce again.

4th of July weekend,and a Adoption Meet Up

Friends,Family and the Pools

The ugliest picture,but too funny,I say "say cheese" and she sticks her tongue out, so far closes her eyes,and puts her head back.. oh my..pizza shirt and all!But she is with her 2 Ethiopia buddies Jeremiah and Josiah from the same agency and orphanage.

Joy and I

Watching the fireworks

Some of the kids enjoying dinner outside

The girls,Kenzie had a blast with her new friends

Mona french braided their hair

Me, Happy 4th

Loves and Hugs

Mona,Tania,Joy and I with the kids (1 more of Joys sleeping)

Mona and Aslynn

Tania and Aslynn (Tania was in Ethiopia the same time we were when we picked Aslynn up,so it was great to get Aslynn and Sabah got to see each other again)

Aslynn and Sabah,both picked up from Ethiopia at the same time meet again!

Mona,Me and Janissa

Pool Hair!
Sunblock,way too much!

Over the weekend we met up with some girls from the same adoption agency as us. It was so great to get the kids together and get a picture of them and have them all see each other. They were at the same orphanage and saw each other there during their time there. We got 5 together in AZ all of them around the same age, 2 and under.

We had a nice time enjoying the pool,firework,our friends the Diaz's and just relaxing and taking a deep breath with life right now. Happy 4th of July!

I have a fingerprint of smear on my camera,you can see the blurry spot in some pictures, I hate that I didn't notice it when taking them,bummer,but they still turned out ok.