Running with the big dogs

We are a pet loving family and we currently have two dogs and two cats. Our dogs are Boston terriers, which are rather on the small side. We also think they are too untrustworthy to be allowed down by the lake. So, it was quite a novelty this week when our good friends Heather and Abbey brought their very well-behaved dogs over to swim in our lake. Sidney is a lovable Newfoundland and Mabel is a goofy yellow Lab. Yep, these are big dogs!

Candace is a little nervous, so Abbey gives her a lift.
(That big stick in the foreground was the fetch toy!)

Abbey introducing Sarah and Thomas to Sidney.

Water park fun

Summer isn't officially over for a few weeks, but it's winding down now... school starts next week. This week we put in a late summer visit to the very nice water park at nearby Mahoney State Park.

Thomas and Anna playing in one of the fountains

The girls enjoying the wave pool

Thomas in the fountain

Sarah

Candace

Ways to help!

My friend Carmen and several other adoptive families have set up a great site to take donations for the Horn of Africa famine crisis. Aid organizations include Children's Hope Chest, Doctors Without Borders, World Vision and World Food Programme. Donations of $25 or more qualify for some neat and unique gifts too... TODAY ONLY! So hurry, click here to find our more and make your donation!

Horn of Africa drought 2011 HELP TODAY

The Horn of Africa region, including large parts of Ethiopia, is experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. This is leading to wide-spread famine. I like this YouTube video because it has the great map at the beginning showing how large the affected area is. Please consider giving... go to the aid organization of your choice and make a donation today.

Dark Girls Documentary Trailer

I found this trailer on the blog "Whatever Things Are True: The Good, The Bad and the Beautiful of International Adoption". As the mother of two beautiful dark skinned girls from Ethiopia, I found it thought provoking, disturbing and really sad.

Different feet; same hearts

I was looking at the littles' feet the other day and thinking how there is no way that those feet look anything like mine:


My feet are vein-y and bony with weird shaped little toes. The twins' have long, narrow, almost elegant little feet. Thomas has feet like little planks... their sturdiness makes me laugh when I look at them. They're wide with short little toes.

Even if our skin matched, these feet would give us away.

But as I was looking at these feet the other day, I was thinking how it didn't matter that we don't share a single gene... my heart doesn't know the difference. And this is truly the miracle of adoption. There are lots of hard things surrounding any adoption under any circumstances. But there is also this miracle of love and the heart's boundless ability to love more and more. Our hearts can grow to love as much as we want them to.

Even if our feet don't match.

One month

Thomas has been home with us one month today. And may I just say... it has been easy. We so deserved this after the twins! Everyone is getting along well and the stress level is fairly low. For comparison purposes, you can read this. Or this. Or even this.

It's just been a whole different ballgame this time around. We so hope and pray that we maintain this course, but... we are ready if we don't.

Sarah and Candace with their little brother Thomas, aka "Mr. Cool".
(Accessories selected by Thomas)

Kids Bowl Free!

We signed up for a program this year (at the recommendation of a friend) called "Kids Bowl Free". Each week, we get a coupon via email for each child to bowl two free games per day (shoe rental fees not included). We have used our coupons a couple of times this year, but you could theoretically take your kids bowling for free every day. Not including snacks, the above mentioned shoe rental, games for big people etc. Still, I think it's an awesome deal and I believe it's offered at bowling alleys across the country.

Each kid has their own unique bowling style:

First up, Candace prefers the brute strength caveman style.

Followed by Sarah, who utilizes a less confident
but equally effective approach.

Thomas is up next, and he favors a cool style with lots of flair.

Last up was big sister Emily, but fortunately for her, the shots I took of her didn't come out so well. But here she is relaxing with her fellow bowlers.

All in all, it was a very fun outing!

30 years ago...

...this adorable couple graduated from high school.

And here they are last weekend, getting ready to attend
their high school reunion:

Did I mention that it was a thirty year reunion? I know... that couple doesn't look like they could possibly be that old, do they?

Ever wonder how you can help?

Please consider donating to my favorite charity, Because Every Mother Matters. BEMM is made up of five ordinary women here in the US and a handful of dedicated Ethiopian citizens. Some of us are mothers to kids from Ethiopia, and we have experienced the pain of a child losing their first family. All of us have a calling to help mothers stay healthy and alive to raise their children... no matter where they live.

You can click here to read about the latest mama's story to reach us; a story of a mama who needs our help. You can donate by clicking on the logo and going to the website for BEMM. Every little dollar goes right to our causes... won't you consider reaching out?

And then there were none!

When we passed court on April 15, our happiness was dampened by the knowledge that four of the eleven families in our court travel group still hadn't passed. Last week, two of them passed after many agonizing weeks of wait. Today, the final two got word that they too had passed and their children are legally theirs! Finally! No more families waiting for court! It makes me so happy. Now we just have to pray the five families waiting for embassy clearance home through the last hurdle.

The joy of firsts

One of the fun things about adopting an older international child is watching them enjoy their first time doing so many different things. A few things we have enjoyed with Thomas are: escalators, elevators, airplanes, riding a bike, riding a scooter, listening to an iPod, swimming, Wii, riding the jet ski and today, riding in our boat. Here are some pictures from our boat ride this evening, during which Thomas exuberantly exclaimed "I love boat!"

Sarah, Thomas and Candace

Captain Thomas gets an assist from Daddy

Like a hot potato

Dropped...
One thing I have noticed after two international adoptions... and this is a caveat for those of you contemplating undertaking this journey or in the early stages... is how quickly the agency/client relationship diminishes after you walk through your front door with your new child. You have developed a relationship with the agency, a very needy one that involves anxious emails and phone calls and the writing of large checks. Maybe a large part of your week revolved around when you would hear some news, any news, from the people at the agency, the people who seemed to almost control your future. And then, you're home and... nothing. No emails, no phone calls... you are done. Complete. Maybe you get a "welcome home" packet detailing how your post-placement reports should be filed, with a list of "resources" for you in case of problems. I don't know... even though I was expecting it this time, it still just feels so abrupt. Like, "Hey, I just added a whole kid here to the family... and you're just leaving me to my own devices? What's up with that?"

Fortunately, we are having an easy transition this time around. So far. So I guess we learned some things the first time. But I wouldn't turn down a friendly "how's it going?" phone call or email from the agency people.

Edited: I just want to add that I feel that in general this is something that agencies can improve on... I'm not picking on specific people. It's much like sending moms and newborns home from the hospital with a wave and a "good luck!" , which is pretty much what happens. However, this is my blog, and I should be able to post about my feelings regardless. And my feeling, whether truly warranted or not, is the panicky feeling of suddenly being on my own.

Adoption announcement

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Modern greeting cards and party invitations by Shutterfly.

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This is the announcement I made to mail out to family. I think it turned out pretty cute!

One week

We have been a family of eight for one week now. Thomas seems to be adjusting beautifully. The twins are doing much better than I expected... jealousy issues have been at a minimum. Daddy is thrilled with his new son and the feeling is mutual. Big siblings are so relieved to have us home that to them anything else is a bonus.

I feel... weird. Unexpectedly down. Slightly panicky. I've also been sick almost all week. I'm feeling impatient and out of sorts. Not like a thrilled new mommy should feel... sigh.