Words Of Wisdom

***a dialog during family devotion tonight***

Josh: "So, what is self control?"

Zeke: "It's waiting to have the M&M's until after school like mommy says instead of sneaking in the kitchen to get them when she is in the shower or in her room and eating some."

Josh: "Hmmm, sounds like that MAY have happened before?"

Zeke:  "No way.  Huh-uh.  I'm just saying..."

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Looks like I need to find a new hiding place for the school incentives;)

Not Me Monday

I never neglect my own Dr. appointments.

Nope, not me.

I am "by-the-book-Betty" when it comes to things like that.

Yup.

And it's a good thing too, because if I were to, say, have missed 2 more OBGYN appointments and call to reschedule this morning, they would have to tell me that my file had been flagged and that if I missed another one I'd be let go due to non-compliance...

And then I'd feel like I had just been reprimanded at the principal's office:(

But that's just NOT something I would do.

Nope, not me!

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Alethia update: many of you know we had to take Alethia to the ER yesterday due to a rapid escalating fever and restricted breathing.  By the time I took her temp it was 104.4.  We had a feeling that she had Malaria and after several hours of tests, procedures and blood work it was confirmed.  She does, in fact, have Malaria and also a UTI.  We finally got her fever stabilized around 100 and her breathing slowed down tremendously with this.  We made it home around 3:30am and have a follow-up this afternoon to confirm some more test results and learn more about the strain of Malaria that she has.

Thank you for all your prayers for our little girl!

PS-When I went in to put her to bed with Rainy last night, Areyna was cuddled up with Alethia's picture:)  She loves that sister of hers!

Lessons Learned The First Week

1 - Paper plates significantly cut down on the number of times I have to run the dishwasher on a daily basis.

2 - One extra mouth to feed doesn't seem like it would make that big of a difference.  I now beg to differ:)

3 -  Having one extra little voice doesn't seem like it would really make that much of a difference in the volume in this house.  I now beg to differ!

4 - One extra body doesn't seem like it would create that many more clothes to wash.  I now beg to differ, as I am more grateful than ever that I get to wash these winter clothes for this family of six in a washing machine.

5 - I can't count on my memory/brain for anything any more.  There just isn't enough room for any more information in there at this time...please try again later...

6 - If you have tried to call me over the past week and it has gone straight to voicemail it's either not intentional, because I simply cannot keep up with my phone (see number 5), or it is intentional because I simply cannot hear the person on the other end (see number 3).

7 - My OBGYN will only get more and more irritated with me the more appointments I don't show up for. (Again, see number 5...or just realize that after the first few kids it just doesn't seem that important to come in and pee in a cup, see all the weight I gained and have them tell me "there's nothing going on down there" if I know that the baby is moving and kicking and rolling and...)

8 - A standoff for an apology between #1 and #3 is bound to make you want to pull your hair out.  I am determined that the children NEVER had to apologize for anything at the babies home, even if it was for biting, ha!

9 - "You got to moisturize that hair, girl!"  Oh yes, these are familiar words of advice to me now.  I have found a great hair product for Alethia's hair.  It's lotion for the hair ya'll.  I'm only hitting the tip of the ice burg with this new found knowledge, and ready or not, I'm gonna be learning a ton more.  (Thanks, Tashia, for the help:)

10 - I may be totally out of my element and completely frazzled and exhausted, and I may have had a few exasperated melt-down moments in this short week, but I really wouldn't have it any other way.  We are finding a new normal and continuing to lean on God because this 37-week pregnant mama doesn't have any left of her own to give.  But God ya'll, He is so good and He knows what I need, and what my kids need from me...can I get an AMEN!

Ruby Red Slippers

Alethia got some beautiful satin red dress shoes...and CAI can't get enough of them:)

Firsts

Alethia has been home for less than a week, but we have already had so many happy firsts (and only a couple of not-so-happy ones, ha!), and this is only the beginning of a lifetime of them!

The first time she saw our house while we pulled up the driveway she gave giddy shouts and squeals as she kicked her feet and clapped her hands saying "Home! Home! Home!"

Seeing her run around her new house, wide-eyed, as she explored this mansion of a home.

Her first all-out wrestling match with her siblings and daddy on the CARPET!  She's never had carpet before.  I'm sure textures in and of themselves around the house are their very own experience for her:)

She loves to look out the window of the car and shout out "Mommy! Daddy!" at every new thing she sees.

Her first experience with the washing machine and drier were comical.  She helped me sort the laundry in our room as she shouted out each persons clothing she took out of the laundry basket.  Then she scurried down the hallway after me to put the laundry in the machine.  She inquisitively watched her clothes disappear inside the big white box as I closed the lid.  She kept asking, "Mommy, clothes?" until the washer finally stopped.  We went over and she watched me transfer them into the dryer.  She LOVED helping me hand wash our laundry in Uganda (and she did rather well at it BTW) so this was very new for her:)

The first time she saw her cold food come out of the microwave "Hot!" was no different.

The first time I got to cook for our WHOLE family!  I'm sure I won't be so excited about this one in a few days, but I sure enjoyed watching her devour every bite:)

Watching her swing on the new swing set in the backyard with that big smile.

Going through a dozen eggs for one breakfast!  My babies LOVE them some eggs!

The first "looks" that everyone talks about when a white family walks in a restaurant with a black child.  You really do feel on display, ha!

The first time getting all 4 kids ready for church by myself.  That was no simple task!

Our first family pizza/movie night in the living room:)

Watching Zeke proudly show off his new sister to his teachers at church on Sunday.

Seeing Areyna and Alethia close themselves in their room for "sister/girl time".

Finally seeing Alethia occupy the space that Cai makes beside him as he plays with his stickers and his cars.

Cai demanding Alethia to play with him by shouting "Jangu, Shabiya!" down the hallway.

Family cuddle time in mommy and daddy's bed:)  Nothing sweeter...although we really are running out of room, and we are about to add another one!

Shouting, "Girls, no more tickling!  It's nite-nite time:)"

I catch myself just sitting and watching my children interact together.  In one moment it all seems so normal and old hat, while the next I'm blown away that Alethia is actually here, as part of our family!  I am a very blessed woman.  I know that Alethia being home doesn't (and shouldn't) complete me, but it sure does fill that void I felt when I had to leave her behind, not knowing if I'd ever get to see her again, and it does bring me to my knees in thankfulness for this miracle we've experienced first hand.

So, here's to a thousand more firsts...

The View From Here

Sisters!

What To Expect When You're Expecting...#5 - Weeks 33-36

Four more weeks!  Wow, this pregnancy has really flown by...I sure mostly due to the anticipation of getting Alethia home where she belongs.  It just didn't seem right to be having #5 before #4 could come and joine us:)

My belly continues to grow as this bundle inside continues to develop.  I went to my check-up this week (which made for a happy OB since I'd skipped out on the last two) and everything looks and sounds great!  Right on track for a February 9th arrival.  The Dr. assured me that I'd be pregnant for quite a bit longer, which just means that there is no "progress", ha!  I was expecting as much:)

It becomes increasingly difficult to do normal things around the house.  I have to turn sideways as I strain to get the clothes from the back of the washing machine.  My belly is right at counter level in the kitchen so I am forced to use the stool if I want anything above the first shelf.  Cai continues to be a rough and rumbly boy as he runs across the room for quick hugs.  The only problem is that his height makes him run into my belly before the rest of his body does, ha!  My lap is getting significantly smaller, which makes for frustrated cuddlers and my air supply makes for very short games if any cardiovascular attempt is made.  Driving, oh driving...we already know that parking next to a shopping cart drop-off is a no-go, but just trying to get INTO the car and the maneuver of steering has become cumbersome.  It's quite comical actually, watching me try to get around, especially if it's off of my comfy couch...and I don't even need to mention Preggo-face.  It's just bound to happen to this pregnant mama, no matter how hard I wish it away:)  Oh well, we're almost to the end!

So, as we bask in the joy and delight of Alethia being home and transitioning to life as a family of six, we begin to slowly switch gears for that day which is just around the corner of the life as a family of seven:)

36-Week Belly

The View From Here

Today Is The Day

Let the countdown to forever begin!