Strawberry shirt

This morning Adam was going through his clothes, and pulled out a yellow shirt with a nasty stain down the front of it.

I asked him if he wanted to pitch it.

He said it was one of his favorite shirts, so no way. I asked why he liked since it was so gross.

He said that the stain was from when we had strawberry pie (must be two years ago, since I didn't make it last year...) and that he didn't want to throw the shirt away because it made him happy that he got to eat such yummy things here in America.

Couldn't believe he could remember what he ate two years ago!

We kept it.

Nice day!

We had a nice, nice day at Willow River State Park. They have waterfalls (a dam, actually), nice river to canoe/kayak/fish in, a beach, a playground for the kids, nature trails galore, etc. Super weather, and everyone was feeling well. How 'bout that! Just a fabulous day together relaxing and having fun skipping rocks, wading in the water, playing in the sand, taking extra time to notice caterpillars, bugs, birds, etc.

On the way out of the park we passed (and then turned around to take pictures of), a really long Western Fox Snake (hadda Google it when we got home!) It was sure pretty! Yellow body with brown spots. Huge. After that fun discovery, I'm half-tempted to up and do a unit study on snakes with the kids this summer. That might be kinda fun. Evidently there are 20 species of 'em in WI, so that would give us a nice and tidy number to look up and learn about. John thinks they'd be more interested in a botony unit, so we'll have to see. Adam likes to ask what different plants are, and what they're used for, etc. Really need some nature journals. Haven't found a good one yet, but I suppose we could just as easily make our own. (So much for only "math and reading" this summer) - but the more I think of it, the more it makes sense to continue doing science in the summer when we can actually be out and about. (I'm becoming SUCH a homeschool mom!) lol!

Happy Memorial Day!

Well, this weekend's plans have really flown out the window. Saturday we had rain, rain, rain, which ruined the picnic idea. John took us out to supper instead. Which was good because I was having lots of different cravings, so we opted for a buffet-style restaurant. We came home stuffed and happy. (I think I ate more than Adam!)

Saturday night Liana started really coming down with a nasty sore throat. She woke up Sunday with a fever too. So, she and I layed low while everyone else went to church. Kind of a ho-hum day. I read her a pile of books, popped in a few library videos, and she guzzled juice.

I'm HOPING we get to do SOMETHING fun today! lol! The sky looks clear, and Liana has perked up. (She is currently singing at the top of her lungs in her room... Her throat must not be bothering her TOO badly! lol!)

Hope you all are having a nice weekend!

Mornin'!

Bright and shiny here after a few days of rain. We had really needed it, though. I'm hoping the weekend stays nice. The rain sure made everything nice and green up here. It could still probably use another day or two of it, but we'll take what we can get. (And hope it doesn't spoil everyone's weekend plans!)

Tomorrow we're headed to a State Park here in town, (just right down the road, really). Not planning to camp overnight, but we'll plan to spend the day. There's a beach, nice hiking trails, a waterfall, etc.

Not sure yet what to do on Monday... Nice to have a "free day" to not already have penciled in. I'd kinda like to head down to Osseo and have a slice of pie at the Norske Nook, and poke around the little shops. (It is a little Norwegian town). Not terribly kid-friendly, but *sigh*, maybe there's a park there to hit also. Need to see what John thinks about that idea. Haven't run it past him yet.

Next weekend we're getting together with another family that adopted from Ukraine. We call them our Ukrainian cousins. Hopefully the weather will be nice then too - we're meeting at the Como Park Zoo in the Cities. (Anyone else out there adopted from Ukraine/going to? Would you like to join us?) (Email me! shelly@johnandshelly.net)

School is winding down here. The older two have finished their language stuff, and Liana has just one more week of math before she finishes her book. (Poor girl doesn't realize though, that I'm buying her the next book to get started with right away... we do reading and math all summer!) That's about it! Hope everyone has a great day!

Video clip

Ok, you all need to head over to Tami's blog "Finding Maddie" and watch the short video clip she has on there. Don't forget the kleenex... It's about Ukrainian orphans/orphanages.

http://findingmaddie.blogspot.com/

Tagged!

Groan! Someone just tagged me on their blog and I'm supposed to write 8 random habits/facts about myself, and then tag 8 more people to do the same. I won't say who, because she is very private about who knows/has access to her blog.

But I have a confession... I don't read a lot of blogs... so I'm not sure I can come up with that many! And to think of 8 people who read MY blog to KNOW that they're tagged... uff, it's a stab in the dark.

So. Lemme think. Uh. I must have some random facts or habits around here somewhere...

1. I must, repeat must fall asleep with my right arm thrown over my eyes. Really bad for my eyes, and I've tried to break the habit, but alas, I've been doing it too long. And while my right arm is slung over my face, my left hand rests on my tummy and my feet are crossed at the ankles.

2. I'm much more shy and reserved in person than you might think by reading this blog. I can rarely think of anything to say in person... and social gatherings tend to stress me out. Much rather write than speak.

3. Oh, here's one. I have hazel/green eyes, but alllll growing up my mom always bought me blue pajamas "to match my eyes." It drove me batty. She had blue eyes, and several of my siblings do, but mine aren't. But she swore they were. So, in college, I bought myself a set of GREEN jammies. And threw away my blue. !. (I was such a rebel, lemmetellyawhat!)

4. I'm the youngest of 7. Well, actually 9. Two brothers died as infants. I was the "whoops" baby of the family - Mom and Dad were "done" having kids for 14 years when I strolled along. So, really, I was an only child with a bunch of siblings that were up and out by the time I could remember much. I guess that's why I've always wanted a big family. I missed a lot, and was frankly rather lonely... (though all my sibs think I lucked out instead.) (The grass is always greener, isn't it?)

5. I don't really like "Stuff." I don't have any fancy collection of teapots or ceramic birdies, or whatever. (Do you know you have to DUST that stuff?!) The things I have that don't "do" anything but are just for show are few and far between in my house. Just a few keepsakes - precious few, and boy, they'd better be Pre-Cious. Pictures on the other hand, aren't "stuff." They're treasures. "Stuff" just has too much of a tendency to take over my life and swallow my house. So, I'm extra careful on what I bring into the house. Not having a basement in anyplace we've ever lived has really been a valuable lesson for me. I can't "hoard" stuff because there isn't room, so I only keep things that are meaningful (VERY meaningful!), or useful.

6. I hated, was freaked out by, and refused to learn for the longest time, anything about computers. I figured I'd poof them if I touched them. Avoided them like the plague. Then I married John Fisher, Computer Geek Extraordinaire. Fought it for a year or two, and then he plunked me down in front of ours and made me learn on my own. Grrr. And I was hooked in no time. And he had to buy me my own. :O)

7. I'd love a garden. Veggie garden. I'd love to have a root cellar full of canned goods (not tin cans, I'm talkin' the glass quart jars Grandma always had...), and fruit trees galore. And a strawberry patch. And maybe a couple chickens in the yard. Or more than a couple. (For the freezer). ;O)

8. And last but not least.... I have a perfect record in Skeet Shooting. I was dragged out with a shotgun once and told to smash a clay pidgeon. There was a big group of us and I was mortified. (See Number 2). But, being a good sport, I followed the directions and did what they said. And I smashed that clay pidgeon in a million pieces. Best shot of anyone there. And after my turn, I handed back the gun and declared that I'd never do it again - didn't want to mess up my perfect record! lol!


Whew, glad that was over with. How stressful! ;O)

I tag Ruth, Missy, Kate (though I KNOW you're swamped, so don't worry about it!), Jodi, Julie... and isn't that sad, but those are the only blogs that I read and have a feeling I'm being "read" in return... I don't get out much, I'm tellin' ya.... (or else not enough of ya tell me that you're out there reading...!)

Update on the Carpet Ride

My sister was asking me where Leks finally decided to go on her magic carpet. So I asked her.

She decided on India.

I asked her what she did there. She said she adopted 14 kids.

"Wow," I said, "That's a lot of kids!"

"Yeah," she said, "and I already have 12 at home. That's like a hundredy-one kids!"

I guess so! lol!

Freaked Wits

I keep forgetting to write about the new phrase Adam coined... The other day I told Adam something that surprised him or shocked him. He said, "Mama, you're freaking my wits!"

Don'tcha hate when your wits get freaked? lol!

Mother's Day Comparisons

Thought it would be fun to do a little compare/contrast... The top pic is from today... My tummy is pooching, though you can't really see it in this pic... It was fun to wear something that proved I was expecting... I still cringed at the part of the church service where the pastor asked "All the moms" to stand up. A part of me wanted to stay seated out of protest for those sweet ladies (including our own pastor's wife!) who haven't ever been able to have children and who feel horrible not being in the "in" crowd on Mother's Day...

The bottom, is 2 years ago, my very first Mother's Day. I'm frazzled there... Not only because my trio was rambunctious and uncooperative, but also because I was still recovering from surgery and dead tired... I had just had an ectopic pg a week or so before... While it was a bummer that I'd just lost a little one, I remember that the sting wasn't nearly as bad as the previous loss... This time when I came home from the hospital, my house was full of laughter, energy, and lots and lots of legos on the floor to step on! Coming home from a hospital after a miscarriage to a house that still didn't have children there was much, much harder for me. An extra sting, if you will.

I'm only 13 weeks right now, and everything is fine as of right now, but ya know, if this pg doesn't work out either, it will be ok. My heart is very full with my sweet Ukies, and I am truly content. It has been a blast being able to share my Pg News though so far, and so, even if something horrible does happen, I'm so thrilled to have been able to have such joy in the days I have had... Last weekend when we did our announcing will always be a delicious memory no matter what happens to Little Fish. Hopefully I'll be able to carry this one the full nine months, but ya know, sometimes we forget to smell TODAY's flowers. And TODAY, the flowers smell wonderful!

(I just heard tonight that a friend from home lost a baby today - Mother's Day - at 11/12 weeks... so this stuff is heavy on the brain...)

Anyway, I'd appreciate your prayers... for me, but especially for my friend... Losing a child is rough, but on Mother's Day? :O(

Happy Mother's Day!

Mothers

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's alright honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who don't.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

And for the mothers who lost their baby in that precious 9 months that they will never get to watch grow on earth but one day will be reunited with in Heaven!

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read " Goodnight, Moon" twice a night fora year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there,only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love... sometimes totally unappreciated!

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking t o school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us.

Hang in there.

In the end we can only do the best we can.

Tell them every day that we love them.

And pray.

Magic Carpet Rides

Aleksa just came out of her room dressed to the 9's declaring that she was going to Kenya, Africa on her magic carpet.

"Well, cool!" I said. She hasn't talked about going on magic carpet rides for many months now, so I was tickled she still "liked to do that." :O)

Off she went, outside in her dress-up shoes and necklaces... Fifteen minutes later she came in saying, "Mama, there's a war going on in Kenya, but I just shot right through them and had a fun time anyway. Now I'm going shopping in Mexico! Bye-bye!"

She left again and came back in. "Well, Mama, I got a bunch of stuff in Mexico. Now I'm either going to India or Minnesota. I can't decide which."

Tough choice! LOL!

Mr. Toad

The kids found a toad the other day. I could tell they found something from all the screaming and squealing coming from the woods. They brought it home and "played" with it (which means touching it, and screaming, running around the yard and in and out of the house) for a while, and then things got pretty quiet....

Found out the next day that they had killed the toad. Evidently its skin got dried out and it died. That's what they said anyway.

And then they buried it.

And later that day, Liana dug it back up.

It wasn't dead. *gasp*

So, she put it in a box in the garage and kept it overnight.

As Liana excitedly related this amazing story, I turned a few shades of green, but calmly made her go out to the garage, and set Mr. Toad free in the woods where he belonged.

Oy.

Big Announcement!

Been holding out on you.

No clue why, but evidently God has decided to give us a baby in my tummy that would actually stick around. Which is weird, because I've been pregnant many other times and it has always ended quickly with an ectopic or an Abandon Ship.

I'm 12 weeks now, however, and the doctor says things are hunky-dorie. Heard the heartbeat on doppler, seen the heartbeat on ultrasound; the whole nine yards. We are floored. And amazed. And in shock.

We got to tell John's parents the news this weekend. My family already knew because I had to spill the beans to my dad as to why we couldn't drive down and do "Cooking Day" to fill his freezer with meals for so many weeks. And since I know my dad can't keep a secret, we had to quick tell the rest of my siblings before he did! ;O)

The kids are thrilled, but they have not enjoyed seeing me so sick, and frankly, it has stressed them out in many ways.

Aleksa is my official bucket-holder. I start gagging, and she runs to the garage for my mop bucket. She has been the most excited and least traumatized by the whole "new baby" idea. She's thrilled with the prospect of being a big sister. She wants a baby sister Big Time. And she wants to name her Bonnie! The weeks before we told the kids "the news" she saw the movie Rigoletto whose main character had that name. She also read a book where a horse was named Bonnie, and once she heard there might be a baby girl in the house, she has declared that it should be named Bonnie. Which is funny because that was my mother's name. But I didn't tell her that. Leksa is the one that has always reminded me most of my mom, so I find it interesting that she has such strong ideas about that name.

Liana has been sucking those lips, as you already know... especially after seeing the movie Sarah Plain and Tall which is about a father and two kids, who lost their wife/mother during childbirth. It really messed with Liana. She has already lost one mama in her life; it really shook her to the core to think she might lose another. She has needed tons of reassurance that God knows what is best, and that whereas the family on the prairie didn't have a doctor or hospital, that we have both, and they are excellent. She has not liked that I've been so sick, and haven't had the normal energy levels. Unfortunately it has come out with some control issues. We've gone round and round a lot more than usual over her need to control and be in charge of everything and everyone. Her big brother especially has not been impressed. Frankly, her mama hasn't been that thrilled with it either! She has needed lots of extra snuggles and reassuring, but also lots of correcting and reminding.

Adam has had a hard, hard time with my constant need of snacking or smaller meals spread throughout the day instead of three main ones. He still has a major food "Thing" that makes him irrationally furious with me when he sees me eating something that he doesn't have. Even if he has JUST had a snack or large meal, if I grab something different - even if it is a couple crackers, he will come into the kitchen and really start an attitude. I'll ask him what he wants for a snack, and when/if I choose something different, he will insist he deserves that too, on top of what he already has, and if I don't agree, he fumes.

I've tried waiting until he's off playing outside or in another room, etc., but if he hears the fridge or a cupboard, he will literally drop everything to come into the kitchen to see what I'm doing, and will stomp off seething because I haven't included him in my snacktime. (And yes, he has been getting lots of extra snacks; he's on a big growth spurt, and we've definitely indulged him. But he has some major heart-hurts in the food department, that have been tough to deal with with all of this Mama Snacking business.) If we let him, he would literally have something in his mouth allllllll day long. And not necessarily because he is hungry. Those food issues run right down to his core.

The other day at John's sister's house, the kids were all outside, and while they were, she passed out some chocolate chip cookies to us adults, explaining that there weren't enough for all the kids. I made sure to hide mine when Adam came back in the house for a minute. It would have really hurt and angered him.

All this food stuff has been revving up many of his old food behaviors. Like licking out the container of honey-mustard from Burger King on our trip home this weekend. He *must* lick every drop of everything he is eating. We've been having to watch him with his plates, because he has been licking them, and licking crumbs off the table. We haven't seen this behavior for a long, long time. I will never understand hunger like he has known.

We have some neighbors that have been giving the kids snacks whenever the kids stop by. Like bakery cupcakes with toys stuck in the top, and Little Debbie Snack Cakes, and candy, etc. That kind of stuff we don't really keep around here except on Very special occasions, and the kids have been looking for excuses to go visit those with the best treats. We eat healthy snacks of fruits and raw veggies, boiled eggs, sandwiches, yogurt, cheese, baked goods, etc. So. I have some major competition, and I'm thinking it might be time to go talk with the neighbors about "feeding" the kids. Unfortunately, most people just don't have a clue about food/attachment/adoption issues, and we parents just come off as Big Overprotective Psychos. I'll probably chicken out. *sigh*

Because I've been so sick, I haven't been able to do extra baking/cooking. I hadn't really realized how big of a deal that was to Adam for me to do so, though really, I should have. This last week I've finally been feeling "ok" and before our trip back home this weekend, I did a bunch of cooking to bring to Dad for his freezer meals. Adam was my right hand in the kitchen all week. He didn't much like that I was packing up so much for Grandpa and not him, but we did make doubles of most things for our own freezer also, and that took some of the sting out of it. Looking forward to being completely done with this morning sickness stuff so we can get back to normal with our cooking routine.

So, anyway, that's our news! Good news, and while the children are thrilled with thoughts of Little Fish, they've had some adjusting to do, and it has obviously resurfaced some old insecurities.

Matching Noses?

My big sis sent me this picture and wanted me to show off their matching noses...

I PROMISE, she Wanted me to post this!

LOL!

Thankful to be adopted

I was going through some old family pictures recently, and came across a picture of my great-grandmother. She was no beauty. !. Liana happened to come into the room curious what I was doing. She looked over my shoulder and asked who that was.

When I told her it was Grandma Mable, she asked me if I was going to look like that when I got old. I told her it was a possibility... That we were related, afterall. She grimaced, feeling sorry for me. (I even got a hug).

Then I explained that sometimes being adopted is an extra blessing... There's no chance she'll have Grandma Mabel's nose and ears unless her birthgrandparents looked like her too. I reminded her of how beautiful Ukrainians were. She was visibly relieved! ;O)

I think she now has a new appreciation for being adopted... LOL