Merry Christmas

Well, it has been quite a while since I have posted. It has been very busy and stressful around here. But Praise God for wonderful friends and family that have helped out and continue to help out in many different ways.

Michael's behavior is like a rollercoaster. He is great one week and terrible, horrible, awful, etc. the next. It used to be a few good days and then a few bad days. Now it seems to change by the week. It is very challenging to deal with. I'm hoping he improves for the next few days so that we can enjoy the holiday together.

Matthew passed his level 3 Red Cross swim class. He is so excited and does so well at swimming. It gives him an outlet away from Michael. He needs that.

Alisha is struggling with school. It breaks my heart that I can't just poor the information in her head and have her understand it. I wish I could stay home and homeschool her, but financially that isn't an option.

Kevin is the light of our lives. He makes us all laugh. I love driving at night with him. He loves all the Christmas lights. It is great to listen to his excitement.

We have enjoyed reading through a special advent story the past few weeks. It has been a really good reminder to focus on the true reason for the season. Thank you God for sending Your Only Son to earth just for us. Thank you for loving us even when we really do NOT deserve it at all!!

Please Pray

Please pray for Michael as his behavior has gotten worse today. We are facing new challenges and we don't know anything else to do except to fall to our knees before our Holy and Merciful God and beg for help.

Update

I feel like I should give an update and yet I never have the time to sit still long enough to write one. Michael is still struggling with behavior issues. We had our first parent teacher conference for him last week. It lasted around an hour. We met with his teachers and then we met with the behavior specialist. They all seem to really care about him and about helping him be successful. They are already working on setting up a plan to help him transition into kindergarten next year and be successful. Keep praying!! He needs a lot of prayer!
Alisha is starting to make some progress in kindergarten. It doesn't come easy to her. But she really tried tonight when we worked on her homework. Praise God!
Matthew is loving school and doing very well. He is excited about learning.
Kevin is always sick. I get him over one cold or croup or strep, and then something else hits him within two weeks. It is very frustrating. He feels yucky all the time and he is very clingy when I get home from work.

Halloween

It never ends

Well, we have been having a pretty good week with Michael. He has had only a handful of incidents and most of them have been "normal" 4 year old things. But then he has to blow it two of the last three nights by sitting on the rug watching a movie and just peeing on himself. The bathroom is only about ten feet away and yet he sits there and just pees. And not only does he pee himself, but then he just sits there in it for who knows how long until something happens that I notice he is wet. The first night I had told him to get up and get his jammies on and I noticed the wet pants and tonight it was when he put his foot up on my lap for me to cut his toenails and I got the whiff of pee. GROSS!! Please pray that he gets this figured out soon.

Trials

Michael continues to put us through many trials. He is insisting on stealing things (mostly food and drinks). He is continuing to throw screaming fits if he doesn't get his way. He struggles with obeying anybody other than us and sometimes he doesn't even listen to us very well. He really isn't a bad kid, but he refuses to make good choices. The above pictures show the first time we could get him to go near goats at any of the petting farms. He fed the goat and got very excited.
Matthew and Alisha continue to do very well in school. They love it and are really learning a lot.
Kevin has croup. His medicine is making him even more hyper than he already is.

We appreciate any and all prayers on our behalf.

A Good Day

Well, Michael has been up and down with his behavior since he came home. He threw a hammer at a girl last week at Lowe's because he thought that she had picked up his hammer (even thought they were identical and all belonged to Lowe's anyway). Then he screamed for 30-45 minutes because I made him come sit by me. So today he didn't get to build at Home Depot. But after the building was done he got to participate in the rest of the day. The kids played in a bounce house, played carnival games, checked out a firetruck, went on a horse and wagon ride, visited a petting farm (at the park), did a fireman obstacle course (the older two boys did this), got pumpkins, and watched Scooby Doo. Michael behaved very well all day. He was a little loud in the afternoon, but that is just being a kid. I'm praising God that Michael has made it through two weeks of preschool and had a good day today. Now if we can just get him to stop peeing his pants after preschool. They don't monitor him in the bathroom and he drinks crazy amounts of water while at school.

Riding Bikes

Now that Alisha has figured out how to ride her two wheeler, she doesn't want to stop. Her and Matthew both rode their bikes quite a bit today. I am thankful we have space in the yard for them to do so. Michael has finally figured out how to peddle his bike as well and he rode it some today. He doesn't stay doing the same thing for very long though.
Michael went to an hour long orientation on Friday for preschool. He did really well. Hopefully, he will be very successful with his new teacher and learn some things in preschool.

School

Alisha was very excited because she got a "music award" today. It didn't say what it was for, but she says it was for "singing good". She seems to be enjoying school. They have been having color days to review their colors and she has been really enjoying finding something to take in for each color and something to wear that is in each color.
Michael starts preschool again on Monday. He got kicked out after 8 days last year, so please pray that he will be able to stay in school this time. Pray that his teacher will be willing to work with him this year. He has a new teacher and my experience with the new teacher has been much better than with the other one.
Kevin is starting a new phase. He wants to watch monster trucks all the time. He took it to Aunt Bekah's today and then on the way home from church tonight, he was telling Michael that he was "going to Aunt Bekah's watch monster trucks".

Oh! Alisha taught herself to ride her two wheeler last night. We tried all summer to teach her, but everytime she realized that we had let go (even though she sometimes had gone ten feet on her own) would throw herself over onto the grass. The pedals on her brand new bike are very messed up from the bike landing on its side so many times. But Matthew keeps talking about riding our bike to Burger King, and I tell him we can't until Alisha can ride her bike. So last night she started practicing on the cement space in the backyard. She taught herself to ride her bike on the CEMENT in CIRCLES. What kid teaches themself on the cement going in circles?
Well, that is it for now.

Pictures

Alisha started Kindergarten this week and Matthew started 2nd grade. Matthew ended up with a severe migrain headache Wednesday evening and spent the evening in bed, but other than that the week was good. Well, for the kids anyway. My first week of school was challenging!




Today we went to Lowe's and built a drum. I didn't realize when I signed the kids up that I would have to take them by myself because Aaron had choir practice. But I figured that Lowe's would have workers there assisting the children. When I got there, I realized that they only had one lady there passing out the supplies and not one person at all to help, I almost left without bothering with any projects. But I'm glad I stayed. I helped Matthew get started first and then he did the rest of his by himself. He even helped Alisha after I got her started. After I helped Matthew, I got Michael started because he was struggling with being patient and I didn't want a meltdown in the store. He did okay finishing hammering in the nails that I helped him get started. Then I got Alisha started. Kevin waited so patiently for his turn. He had been singing all morning about going to "make drum, make drum". He enjoyed using a hammer for the first time. They were all thrilled by the time they were done. Alisha concentrated so hard on her work. I've never seen her have such intense focus.

Praise God!!!

My friend brought her son home this weekend. Check out the airport story on her blog and watch for pictures to come in the next few days.

Kevin Slept Good in his Big Boy Bed

He slept in his big boy bed all night!!!!!!!!

He cried when we first walked away. But it didn't take long before he was sound asleep. It is now 7am and he is still sleeping in his "big boy bed". Tonight he will have his sister sleeping above him, so hopefully she will not disturb him. Tonight he slept in a room all by himself for the very first time. He has been in mommy and daddy's room since he was born.

Big Boy Bed

Kevin is very excited that we set up his big boy bed tonight. We will try some weekend naps in it to see how he does. He will be joining Alisha in her room for now as the boys room doesn't have much space. Kevin's "big boy bed" is actually the same bed that my dad slept in when he was a little guy. He pulled it out of the attic and sanded it down and put fresh stain on it. The mattress is a little short (possibly because they made youth beds a different size when my dad was a kid), but Kevin doesn't care. Once he takes his stuffed animal collection in there it should fill in the crack anyway.

Busy Summer

We have had a very busy summer. We have visited the park a number of times, made a "beach" in the sandbox, went to the beach, cleaned house, and played outside. I have really enjoyed spending time with my kids this summer. Now I am back to work, but had today off so I thought I would try to give a quick update.

Matthew had his first official sleepover at a friend's house (one that isn't related). He is tired now, but he had a great time. He is getting ready to go to 2nd grade in a little over a week. However, he is going to spend a week up north with Grandma and Papa first. I will miss him greatly. He is such a good kid. He is generally quiet and reserved, but he entertains himself very well. He loves doing things on his "laptop" (netbook), swimming, and playing wii. He loves riding his bike and scooter. He has started a fund to save up to buy a 4-wheeler.

Alisha is very excited to be starting Kindergarten soon. She is excited about wearing her new school clothes (she is such a girl!). She is finally starting to learn some of her letters and numbers. She loves playing with her purses and dolls. Alisha doesn't care for the pool so much, but enjoyed the slip-n-slide. She is starting to "read" books to her little brothers. She is very bossy and is trying to learn that she is not the boss of her baby brother and cousin.

Michael just turned 4. He was so excited that it was finally his birthday. A few weeks before his birthday, he told me, "I am 3 now and when it is my birthday then I will be 4". I was pleased that he figured it out on his own. He has begun to try to identify letters and he counts very well. He still struggles with behavior. He often throws a big fit if he doesn't get his way and tends to be defiant. We are working with him to help him overcome these issues.

Kevin is a riot! He is such a fun kid. He is almost 2 and he already talks up a storm and is so smart. He loves stuffed animals and riding "Sandy" (the penny horse) at Meijer. He is finally growing some, but is still small compared to Matthew at that age. He loves music!! I think that comes from the Kevin we named him after. He definitely got the right name. He is generally very happy and likes to play around and make other people smile.

Much Prayer needed this week

Please continue to pray for my friend that is trying to get her son home for Haiti. It is urgent that he come home this week!!!!!!!

Also pray for a friend of a friend. Her name is Herta Llusho and she is being deported for no good reason. You can go to change.org and search her name to sign the petition to help stop her deportation. But we also need everyone praying!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks.

Please Pray

Please pray for my friend that has been waiting for 4 years for her son from Haiti. You can read more at her blog.

Summer

I have really enjoyed spending time with the kids this summer. They love to play outside as much as possible. I have also enjoyed having time to get some housework done. So I haven't spent time blogging, but I have enjoyed my family and that is important.

Matthew is now 7 years old. He is a sweet kid most of the time. He loves swimming and he reminds me of my brother because he spends most of the time in the pool under water. He also loves riding his bike, but he scares me with how fast he goes sometimes. He is truly an outdoors kind of kid. He loves playing in the sandbox, the sprinkler, the slip-n-slide, and anything else outside. He enjoyed going up north for the fourth of July. We did some legal fireworks (you know the little ones that don't leave the ground), had a campfire, and slept in the camper. He also enjoyed going to soccer camp. He can't wait to go again next year.

Alisha is now 5 years old. She is getting so tall and is so beautiful. She is trying to learn to ride her bike without training wheels, but gives up very easily. She loves playing outside. She loves to swing and does so very well. I have to remind her not to swing too high. She loved going to VBS with her papa and can't wait until our VBS next week.

Michael is almost 4 years old. He is our challenging child. He likes things to go his way IMMEDIATELY! He loves to play in the sandbox with the trucks and shovels. He also loves anything to do with water.

Kevin will be 2 in September. He is an amazing little guy. He is full of smiles and has really enjoyed having mommy home this summer. He loves chocolate milk and horses. He got to ride a horse at my parents' VBS and has not stopped talking about it for weeks. He sleeps with a picture of him on the horse. Every animal says "woof woof" according to him. It is so cute. He is really starting to put words together and he comes up with some really cute statements. He loves when daddy comes home from work.

When we went up north for the fourth, Michael got to stay home with grandma and papa. So it was just Aaron and I with three kids. It was an adventurous night. We got to bed late after the fireworks and campfire. We put Matthew and Kevin on the one bigger bed, Alisha was on the top bunk, and Aaron and I each got a bed under Alisha. We got woke up about 2:30ish to a loud thud. Alisha had fallen off the bed. Aaron grabbed her as she was kind of standing between our beds. I went to put my arm around her and realized that she was soaked!!!!!! Here she had wet the bed (which she hasn't done in many months) and didn't realize it. She thought she still had to go and was trying to get out of the bed, but couldn't figure out how to get out of the zipped sleeping bag and ended up just coming down sleeping bag and all. Luckily, she didn't get hurt. The noise woke Matthew and Kevin also, thankfully, Kevin laid right back down and went to sleep. Matthew and I took the flashlight and went to the outhouse while daddy got Alisha changed. So then I put Matthew back with Kevin and put Alisha in my bed. I laid with Alisha only with my head at the other end of the bed. It got cold, so I had to unzip the sleeping bag and try to snuggle in by her feet. Then Kevin woke up and was scared and crying. So I had to switch spots with Matthew. While I dozed off with Kevin, Matthew had a bad dream and got up and went to daddy. So daddy gave his bed up to Matthew and went to lay on Alisha's bed. Only he thought Alisha had gotten up and gotten in bed with me, so he spread out on the bed. Then something moved under his legs and he realized that Alisha was still there. So needless to say, we were all tired the next day. But it sure was fun!!

J Has a Passport!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend has been in the adoption process for almost 4 years now. Her son, J, just got his passport. Please pray that he will be able to get his visa and be home this month. I know it is a stretch for anything to happen that quickly, but I know God IS able. I have been praying for him to come home in July since about May and I ask that you join me in prayer.

I'll try to post about my kids later this weekend.

New Pictures

Alisha right after her preschool concert.
The kids waiting to go into school for the concert.
Michael learning to play baseball.
Alisha's attempt at batting.
Matthew at his field trip.

I'm a Proud Mommy!!

My sweet little Alisha has been with us for exactly five years as of this afternoon. Wow! Time sure does fly and things change so much. My little tiny baby girl is now a sassy, energetic 5 year old. Alisha has her last day of preschool today. They are having a picnic at the park and she is excited that Papa B. is going with her. Then tonight is her preschool concert. She can't wait to sing Miss Mary Mack for us.

Matthew is being honored this afternoon in their school assembly for being a "super bee" of the month. This is the monthly award for behavior and academics. This is the second time this year that Matthew has been awarded this honor. I am so proud of him.

Michael is still a challenge but is doing a little better each month. I can't believe it has been almost a year since he came home.

Kevin is changing so much. He is really starting to talk a lot and play pretend. He loves his John Deere tractor and playing outside in the sandbox. He is so much like Matthew. But I think he is definitely more verbal than Matthew was at this age and smaller in size.

Thank you Lord for allowing these four blessings to be in my life!

Happy Birthday!!

Seven years ago today it was Mother's Day, my first mother's day as a mother. Because it was seven years ago today that Matthew was born. He has amazed me each year as he has become smarter and more inquisitive. He loves to learn. He is finishing up 1st grade and is already done with our school districts 2nd grade spelling curriculum, is at a middle of 2nd grade reading level, and is excelling in math (go figure!). He is already adding multiple digit numbers including carrying (there are 3rd & 4th graders at my school that can't do that). He is starting to multiply single digit numbers. He enjoys reading the Bible together as a family and reading Bible stories.
As I was going through college and as Aaron and I began our married life, I wondered if I would be able to have kids. I loved children and dreamt of the day that I would be a mother. God was very gracious and gave us Matthew right away and I will always be thankful for my wonderful baby boy.
I LOVE YOU MATTHEW!!!!!!!!!!

HE IS RISEN!

He is RISEN indeed!! Thank you Jesus for dieing for our sins and offering us your free gift of salvation. John 3:16

She's Five Already!

I can't believe my little girl is five already. We have enjoyed celebrating Alisha's fifth birthday today. We didn't get to celebrate quite how we wanted because Matthew is sick, but we had a good day anyway. Alisha and I went shopping together in the afternoon and bought eggs to color tomorrow and stuff to make cupcakes for her party tomorrow. The red dress in the pictures came straight from Germany (Thanks Aunt Nikki!).

Please Pray for this Dear Friend of Mine

Read here for more info.

Please join me in prayer for this family and their adoption process. Please pray that God would allow J to come home very soon. Please a comment of support here or on her post to let us know that you are joining us in prayer for this young boy to come home to join his family.

Reading with Rosco

Since March is reading month, the Alisha's preschool had a Reading with Rosco program. I took Matthew, Alisha, Brandon, and Ashley. Beck needed a break and Kevin has been really crabby lately, so I had Aaron keep two of ours and I took two of Beck's to give her a little break. The kids had a blast. Rosco did balloon animals, magic tricks, read stories, and did some activities with the kids. Then all of the kids got a free book and a goodie bag. It was really fun. Now Beck and I are working on getting Brandon and Michael into preschool in the fall. This will Michael's second try at it if he gets in. Please pray with us that the boys would both qualify for the free program and that they would do well in it once they are in. Michael has improved a lot since he came home, but he is like a rollercoaster. He has his constant ups and downs. Today has been a pretty good day for him. But he usually only has at most four good days in a row. Please pray with us that he would continue to improve. Pray that he will bond with us. He says he loves us, but sometimes it doesn't seem like he is really bonded completely with us.