Proud mom moment

Alyssa had show and tell for school. She came home Monday and put her 2 items in the box to take to school on Tuesday. Monday while getting ready for bed she grabbed our photo book of Aidan and put it in her show and tell box and took something else out. She said she wanted to take that, but I didn't ask any questions.
Tuesday after school she said she did her show and tell and everyone was really interested in hearing about her brother............and it was all good.
Today I dropped her off at school and her teacher said Alyssa did a great job showing everyone about her brother! She told the class that her family was SO excited to have Aidan be part of our family and she couldn't wait til he was home! The teacher said it was really neat. That just made my heart melt.............that the kids are actually embracing this and it's real................that Alyssa has feeling of love toward Aidan already and that she's excited for him!!!!!! I'm thrilled that she wanted to show everyone her pictures.............it makes me proud of her.

Aidan's moving up...

This past month has been filled with excitement for Aidan! He, and some of his friends, movied up to the toddler house---which is with the big kids. They say he's doing well with his change. He walks around with a smile on his face. We knew this was on the horizon for him, so while we were there we visted it. It's a walk up the rode from the main house at GLA. He will get some class time at this house and also have english classes!! I think it will be a great step for him as there is probably more activity and learning going on........... and I'm sure he's learning leaps and bounds from the big kids. Here is a couple pictures of his new enviroment.

His update also included that he had the chicken pox.....which we had heard. They said he had one of the worst cases.......my poor little boy.......but he's doing fine now and no problems......I guess that's one less vaccine he'll have to have, right.

Alyssa's hospital adventure

Nothing serious....no broken arms like the Huizenga's........but Alyssa was sooooo brave!

She was running and slipped with her socks and hit the wall. She had a pretty descent cut right in the middle of her forehead. Paul was with the kids while I was at dog school with Bella, so they cleaned it up and put a band-aid on. By the time I got home and checked it all out.....it was past 9:30...........but.......off we went to the hospital. We thought we better get it checked out since it's such a visible area. Sure enough, they used this glue stuff that sticks the skin together. He said it gets better results than stitches. Alyssa was so glad to hear that and that stitches weren't needed. She did so good talking to the Dr. and answering questions, what a big girl!!! The first question out of her mouth once we were done was......."so mom, where are we celebrating.....is donautville open or chuckie cheese?........ Do I get to stay home from school tomorrow?....."

She's so funny. She settled for a sucker from the nurse.........and since she got out of bed at 6:45 and was dancing around saying she could stay home and watch movies all day.................I sent her to school. She was excited to go and tell her friends..........so just as well. I would have let her stay home for the morning if she was sleeping................but that will be our secret----she doesn't have to know that:)

National Adoption Month

So Nov. is adoption awareness month......it seems like we've had alot of adoption stuff going on so it's been on our mind. We welcomed home a family with their children, we attended a West Mi Haitian gathering, I attended an adoption tea time, I've been in touch with another family who picked up their son while we visited............ While racking the large number of leaves we have........I've had lots of time to think about everything. It amazes me that each day I think about it, I really think about our whole process in a totally different perspective.

I'm amazed to think that Aidan is going to be part of our family......... I'm amazed at all the tiny steps God led us to get us to this point. When I think about the VERY beginning of Aidan's story.......it actually started about 3 years ago. Actually 2 years and 9 months.........which is exactly how old he is. See I didn't really ever realize that our restlessness from God started the exact month he was born. ..................it took us 16 months to follow all God's leadings....but God had a plan the whole time.............. During that 16 months it AMAZES me how some things occured........................and just some of the obvious ways that doors were closed..........I had requested things in the mail about something I was pretty interested in..........and amazingly we never recieved it......... I went to attend a meeting on foster to adopt, and was 5 minutes late..............and the doors to the building were locked and no one was there to let me in.........interesting, huh?......The list could go on and on how God led us............I remember having such a restlessness and praying a prayer in church...................it went like this......................Dear Jesus, I encourage you to mess with me. Feel free to mess with my comfortable lifestyle, my predictable patters, my long-held convictions. Do not allow me to settle into safe, status quo Christianity. Mess with me until I think like you think, act like you act, love like you love. Persistently, patiently, powerfully- MESS WITH ME!..................
I wanted to feel God in my life. As I reflect back................I've definately felt and seen God's will being done....................God has a plan..........and I know it's different and better than any of my plans could have been.
I also think about how exciting it will be to see Alyssa and Austin interact with another sibling. Alyssa is quite an entertainer and "mom" to her cousin Kendra. I look forward to seeing that.........................I think about entering a new phase of sorting and organizing clothes to hand down to Aidan...............see---having 1 girl and 1 boy I haven't really had to organize while I sort through clothes we've grown out of. I just pack them in a box and drop off at good will or pass on to a friend..........now i"ll have to put a little thought into organizing hand me downs. For anyone who knows the true me.........I'm a messy at heart so this will be a new adventure (challenge) for me.........................I thought about how next time we're doing yard work and spring clean up----Aidan could be joining us..............which is fun....but also the amount of work getting done will be less as we will be chasing and keeping an eye on a young one again................
I've thought about our trip to Haiti and sitting at the embassy....... Sitting next to a birth mother who was there to release her child for adoption. Thinking about these birthmothers and what a difficult decision it must be...........knowing not only are their children going to be adopted........but probably leaving the country........forever. What alot of courage it takes......Was she wondering what I was doing at the embassy? Did she think about what the family was like that her son would be going to?..........................I wonder exactly what Aidan's first 2 years have been like........I know God has protected him..... completely...................Aidan patiently waited for us.......until we surrendered.......... and followed God's leading.............and eventually was joined together. He's brought us joy already...........completed more of our family circle..............I hope he is as thrilled with us--as we are with him.........................
I wonder about how Aidan got the scar on his face.........we'll never know. Was it a skin issue?....birth mark?.........was he all boy and climbed out of a crib?.......
I think about what I dread the most...............the dirty diapers!.........I've heard horror stories about the parasites and explosions on airplanes traveling back home. Going through all the medical check--ups won't exactly be fun and a piece of cake. Getting his ear checked out. His ear canal is closed off on one side............what will this all involve?...........I pray God will send us to the exact specialists we need to give us wisdom...........maybe it's no big deal........maybe it's correctable.............maybe he will just not know any different and compensate with hearing from his other ear...........I'm sure there are lots of opinions out there...........we just need a messenger from God to help us.
I thought about how i wish I could comfort him while he had the chicken pox. To give him a calming bath and read books to him......................I wonder if he'll like swimming in the summer. I can't wait to watch him play and empty buckets of water and fill them back up again........and empty them again...........he loved to play and stack the blocks that way............
I wonder how he'll react to Bella the wonder dog..........i'm sure they will scare each other at first..........but maybe they will be the best friends in the family. Alyssa can be a little too cuddly and dress up the dog...........Austin can be a little too----what's the word-----rough, while fighting Bella with his lightsaber......
I'm excited to change up Austin's bedroom and get bunk beds to make room for Aidan. It's something to do..........
I'm scared that "our way of life" will be disrupted for a while....til we get in the swing of things...........I wonder if we should be learning more creole? I know he understands stuff.........so how will we communicate at first?..........will he test us and we'll have to have a week of discipline to start with? or a month? or will he cuddle and love being held?..................I know life will have it's challenges.......but I know he is our child...............I love him..............and yet I'm looking forward to falling in love with every part of him. ...... No matter what happens............i remember God saying..............."I will equip you".....................oh little Aidan.............we look forward to being with you and wish you were home with us.............soon