Monday, April 18, 2011

A Hard Month

Miss O has had a hard month.  It began with a tumble down the stairs, that resulted to a trip to the ER and a cast on her broken arm.  It continued today with the removal of 4 teeth.  The actual tooth removal was not too hard.  Going there and thinking about what was going to  happen that was the worst part of it for her.  It took 3 nurses to hold her down because she was so scared.  When it was over, she told me she didn't feel anything. 

Here is Miss O when we got home, biting gauze to stop the bleeding.
 The empty mouth:
The Teeth:


 The Cast:


Sunday, April 17, 2011

Home

http://www.natureofcreation.org/

Oh my word - it is good to be home!

It was also GOOD to get away.  It's amazing what a short break can do for the body and soul.

I don't have time at the moment to write a lot, but what a great weekend we had!  We were able to spend time together, with friends, and learning about God's Word.  How could a weekend get better?  I'm not sure!

So for now, I'll just share my #1 favorite conference.  It actually was a series of sessions, given by Mike Snavely of Mission Imperative.  He is one a very select few who is willing so speak out about Creation, and reasons science can point to proof of a creator. 

Do I feel the need for proof? - No.  I believe God's word, no matter what.  However, MANY children are rejecting the faith, mainly because of lies told to us and taught in our public schools.  Mike has a fantastic way of presenting information in clear, concise ways, and making it interesting at the same time. 

I invite you to check out his website and resources - I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

MACHE

Once a year, Mike and I get to go off by ourselves to the MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators) conference, thanks to his parents, who graciously take the kids for us.  This year it's this weekend, and in Duluth.  Right now, the kids are all napping, and I'm hoping Mike will be home soon.  We're hoping to meet up with some friends for dinner tonight, and then hit the conference tomorrow morning.

I look forward to this every rear, but am especially looking forward to it this year, for a number of reasons. 

#1:  I need a break.  Ato T has been extremely difficult to deal with lately, and I just really need a break from it all

#2:  Creation science.  A number of the sessions offered are about topics in creation science.  I'm excited to learn more, so that I am able to teach my children things I never learned about our Lord and His creation, that I never learned as a child.

#3:  I'm anxious to also go to some sessions about teaching a struggling learner.  it's nice to get get fresh ideas.

#4:  It motivates me!  I get pumped up to home school, at just the time of year that my energy for it starting to fade.

#5:  I get to look through curriculum before purchasing it!

#6:  I get to look for used curriculum to use, which makes home schooling the way we do it much more affordable.

#7:  I get to eat meals while they are still hot, and don't have to cut or blend up food for anyone.  :)

#8:  We get to sleep - all night long!  A rare occurrence at our home.

#9:  My kids get to spend some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa - they are so excited!

#10:  My kids get to learn that when I leave, I will come back for them.

#11:  This is my favorite.  I get to spend time alone with my husband!  Lately it seems that we are always running in different directions, trying to get things done.  I really look forward to spending time alone with him.

I'm off to finish packing.  I can't wait to write about things learned this year at the conference!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Transformation Complete



The bedroom transformations are complete!  Little Miss and Miss I moved in together this week.  Miss O moved into her new room a few weeks ago.  She did not want picture of her room up on the blog.  She says "it's private."  So if you want to see it, you'll have to come over.  :) 

Little Miss and Miss I have a Disney Cars themed room, and Miss is oh so excited!  the painting took longer than I had expected.  I went to start, and noticed I had to do the ceiling.  Then I primed the 3 walls that would be creme.  The Creme walls all took 2 coats of paint after the primer, and the red wall took 4 coats.  But it was worth it to see the excitement Miss I has to have such a "cool" room, and to share it with her baby sister! 

We still need to put doors on the closet, and then we'll be finished, but I couldn't wait to get the pictures up.

Things you could say


    So I decided that just writing what not to say sounds pretty negative, which I don't want to be. It's great when people truly want to know answers because they are maybe interested in adoption, want to know how to care for people with disabilities, or want to know how to help. It's the rude and nosey questions and comments that are disturbing. So, I thought I'd write some kind ways (in my opinion) of asking questions.
  • Where was your child born?

  • When did your child join your family?

  • Do you mind talking about what led you to choose adoption to build your family?
  • Would you like some help? (But please, if you ask this and the answer is "No, I'm okay thanks" - PLEASE don't insist on helping, saying "I know you need help." Sometimes I do need help, but if I say I don't, I really don't.)
  • I've been thinking of adopting, do you mind sharing with me what fees are involved? (In my opinion, this question is appropriate if you truly would like to know because you are seriously considering adoption as an option. However, if your intention is just to know what we paid for our adoption fees, just don't ask. We don't ask you what your hospital fees were, do we?)
  • Why did his birth family make an adoption plan? (I put this here for a more appropriate way to ask, if you really feel the need to ask this.   Just be aware that child's birth history is their private information, and many parents choose not to tell. We try to keep our kids' birth family information private, because it is THEIR information to share, or not share, as they choose.)
  • God had greatly blessed you.  (This would be great to hear, rather than "Boy, you sure have your hands full!)
  • Does your child have a disability that could effect how I interact with her? (Please, don't ask "what's wrong with her?")

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Concert night

The big girls don't love doing many things more than they love putting on concerts for us in the evenings. Here are some shots from our latest concert night.

Miss O Conducting Daddy and Ato T play the drums


Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Things you shouldn't say

I read a fantastic blog that my sister introduced me to. The woman who writes it actually referred us to our adoption consultant, who led us to Little Miss' birth mom. It's a great blog to read! Check it out at www.storinguptreasures.com Courtney wrote a post today called "Things you Should Never Say," and I'm stealing her idea and a number of her comments. She wrote a number of things that really struck a cord with me, and I'd like to share with you my own list. Some of them I am borrowing from Courtney, and others are my own.

  • Never ask an adoptive family if those are their real kids, or which ones are their real kids. They are all our real kids, no matter how they entered our families.

  • Never ask an adoptive family if the children are "real" brother and sisters. Siblings are siblings, no matter how they became that way.

  • On the same note, never say they "really could be real siblings." - They are real siblings! No, your intentions don't matter, especially to young ears listening who hear things like that all the time. It plants in the back of their minds thoughts that are not true.

  • Never ask a homeschooling parent about socialization. It's Laughable.

  • Never ask if the black child (or children) in a family is from Africa. Not all black children who were adopted are from Africa.

  • Never offer disciplinary advice to a mom with a child who is out of control. You don't know if that child has Autism, ADHD, RAD and that mom may very well be doing the best she can.

  • Never give a dirty look or sigh to a mom appropriately disciplining her child, even if that child does have a disability. Having a disability does not mean a child doesn't need to learn.

  • If a child is having a melt down in a public place, don't stare. Move on. Again, you have no idea what that child may be mentally dealing with.

  • Never ask a homeschooling mom how she manages to teach all of her children. Paid teachers have 25-40 students to teach, and they are not even their kids.

  • Never ask an adoptive family which child(ren) was adopted. No adopted child wants to be pointed out.

  • Never ask an adoptive parent how much their child "cost."

  • Never make an Angelina Jolie reference to an adoptive family. Most of us don't have nannies, personal trainers and housekeepers, or look like her.

  • If a child you don't know very well comes up to hug you, redirect them to their parents. The child may have RAD.

  • Never ask an adoptive parent about their child's birth parents, especially in front of the child. Things like Why didn't they want him or Why was she given up? are hurtful to the child, and private information.

  • Never ask a family who has chosen to adopt first when they are going to have "their own." They ARE our own!

  • Never ask a family what their fertility treatments were. They don't ask you what position you used to conceive your child.

  • Never say how "lucky" the kids are to have been adopted by you. It degrades their birth parents. You have no idea what kind of people they are.

  • Never say "You sure have your hands full!" Hearing it gets REALLY old, and we don't see it that way!

  • Never ask an adoptive mother, "What about his real mom?" or "Where is her mom?" or "How old is his mom?" I am his mom! I am her mom! ME! The one who takes them to every appointment, fights to get them medical supplies, advocates for them, holds them until they sleep, changes every diaper, teaches them, hugs and kisses them. I am their mama!

  • When a child passes away, never say, "I know it's sad, but I bet it's a relief." It's NOT! No matter how much extra care that child required - It's NOT a relief!

  • Never assume that because a family is adopting first they are infertile. If someone is infertile, never say to them they will get pregnant now that they have adopted because "it happens all the time." NOT TRUE. Adoption is not a fertility treatment.

And finally:



  • Never read information like this and then continue to do the things you were told not to do. Learn to change your words that can be hurtful to others.

Well, that's my big way of breaking back into hopefully blogging more regularly again. (Hopefully) Thanks for reading and not judging, especially if you have never been in the same place. Thanks to Courtney for bringing up the topic!