"Daddy Fix It"

It's been a while since I've blogged. Basically I don't know where to find or make the time. I plan to. I want to. I hope to one day. Im actually not even sure if anyone even glances at it to see if I've updated. But this morning I feel compelled to share a moment I had with my Heavenly Father. This has been the first quiet morning in a while that I've been able to truly spend quality time with God. I spent my time like a little girl curled up in my daddy's lap telling Him how I want things to be in an ideal world. He listened then gently asked, "What do you want me to do?" I want Him to fix it, His way! Then with full confidence I felt the God of the Universe, Creator, Heavenly Father say He would! My job? Keep my eyes on Him. He will fix it!

Come Along for the Ride

Yesterday we drove to my Dad’s house which should take roughly 8 – 9 hours. My original plan was for us to leave at 4am. The kids usually wake up but they are so tired that they just sit there dazed and will often fall back asleep. This allows us a few hours of fairly quiet hours with no stopping. However, when we went to bed Sunday night there was a wintry mix falling and the temperature was falling below freezing. We were concerned that at 4am the roads would be slick with black ice. So we decided that the safest thing to do would be to not leave that early. Byron & I were both tired so we went to bed with the plan of me getting up early to finish the packing (which had not been done already like I normally do because in the past 2 weeks Vance had an ear infection & lung infection followed by the stomach bug which he then decided to share with me on my birthday!) and then we would leave after lunch. We made this decision because when traveling with Vance we have to pack every meal because there is literally no fast food restaurant that has anything safe for him to eat. Leaving after lunch meant only snack and supper in the car. Then hopefully the last couple hours of the trip they would be asleep….IDEALLY. Now I want you to enjoy the ride with us.
1:17pm – Finally pulled out of our driveway & only about 17 minutes later than planned.
• 2 houses away from ours Ella asks to watch a movie. Really? I want them to look out the windows not stare at a DVD screen the whole time.
• Vance said, “Excuse me Mommy. Where’s Daddy?” My reply, “Right here Vance.” Followed by, “Excuse me Mommy. Daddy is here…Excuse me Mommy. Vance is here…Excuse me Mommy. Ella is here.” He did this a few times. I think he was excited we were all in the car together.
• After 2 turns Ella asks if we were almost to Grandpa & Granny Lu’s house. Oh my!
• Vance was tired, the reason for leaving after lunch, and fell asleep in the first 20 – 30 minutes.
2:20pm – Ella did not go to sleep so we made our first stop for a potty break.
2:45pm – Vance woke up. I gave the kids a snack & they started watching a movie…Dora
3:00pm – Stopped for gas (yes, this was our decision to stop so soon but we were waiting for the gas to be cheaper & we were just about on fumes) Byron & I decided we wanted a snack and split a sandwich from Subway. When we pulled off the interstate Ella asked if we were there. I believe it was at this point I told her that the sun will be down & it will be dark before we get to Grandpa & Granny Lu’s house.
4:40pm – Ella had to potty again. So we pulled off & stopped on the side of the exit ramp & let her use the little training potty that we keep in the car. We also changed Vance’s diaper.
4:50pm – Dora is over. Ella tells me she doesn’t see the moon. I explain it is because the sun isn’t down yet. She clearly was looking for the moon so we would be at Grandpa & Granny Lu’s house already. We started TinkerBell.
6:10pm – Yes, we stopped again! We stopped at Sonic for a potty break & supper. There was a grassy area between Sonic and the hotel beside it so Byron ran up & down that area with the kids for a while. We finally ordered and I gave Vance his meal from home (roast, baked potato & green beans…yes they were cold, my only option). The rest of us ate yummy, but not so healthy food. Actually I didn’t finish mine. Since we don’t eat fast food anymore it just wasn’t as good as I remember it being.
6:45pm – We were back on the road with no movie!
7:35pm – Stopped for hopefully the last time to get gas, take potty breaks & change the kids into their pajamas. My dad called just as we were pulling off & I got so tickled because of how many times we have stopped and how long it was taking us to get there. I seriously could not stop laughing. The only thing to do is laugh instead of being frustrated.

8:00pm – Started Curious George while Byron double checked our final directions.
8:03pm – We were back on the interstate.
The kids were quiet and I realized I was a little tired so I decided to close my eyes and take a little nap. But that lasted only about 10-15 minutes and the rest of the movie Vance, in an effort to not fall asleep, kept saying, “Excuse me mommy….” Followed by either a request to sit in my lap or go home. He also threw to the side every blankie or stuffed animal we handed him. All in an effort to not fall asleep.
9:30pm – The movie was over. Ella was almost out but Vance was getting very cranky. The three of us held hands and prayed. Ella fell asleep right away. Then I sang our praise songs, as is our bedtime routine, while rubbing Vance’s leg. He immediately calmed down & eventually fell asleep at 9:50pm!
11:15pm – We finally arrived at Grandpa & Granny Lu’s house. Thankfully God answered our prayers as we were able to completely unload the car, set up their beds in our bedroom, get them out & put them in their beds without waking up. They slept all night too!

If you have kids then our ride might sound normal to you. But what you need to understand is that since I was a little girl my family drove many hours to see family. Then as I grew up I did the same thing. But I would only stop one time for gas, potty break & food on a 9 or 10 hour trip. Stopping this many times is truly out of the norm for me. But I managed to smile, laugh and know that this is what I do when it’s no longer about me! But we will be leaving at 4am on the return trip. I need to get a few hours on the road before needing to stop!

Together is Best

I am so thankful that our birth mother wanted her kids to grow up together. I can't imagine them not having one another. The love they share is precious and touching to watch. Don't get me wrong, they are typical 2 & 3 year olds and can push, taunt & hit one another. But they have fun (sometimes too much fun) getting in trouble together often encouraging the other to do something they shouldn't. They both at times imitate the other to receive the same reaction from me or whoever is currently showing them interest. Vance turns to Ella sometimes for comfort, instead of Mommy (not always a huge fan of that). If one is hurting or sad it doesn't go unnoticed by the other. I've actually seen more sorrow & discomfort in their eyes when realization has set in that they caused the other pain or sadness.
How half-empty their life would be without the other. I've said it over & over again and I'll say it one more time. Our birth mother chose to do the most selfless thing in her life twice! She wanted them to have a life she knew she couldn't give & she wanted them to be together. How blessed am I that I am the one who is so blessed by her decisions.
On the way to church Sunday Vance out of the blue asked Ella to hold his hand. They held hands the rest of the way to church.
Couldn't wait to see one another when they woke up.
During one of Byron's impromptu photo ops Vance just wanted to hug his sister.

Only My Kids

The day before Valentine's Day my daughter dresses herself in an orange jack-o-lantern shirt and butterfly leggings.
I knew we would be making our Vance-safe Valentine Candy for our friends but fought the temptation to make her change to be more color coordinated for the holiday. (I knew I would be taking pictures.) Then when it was time for their part in candy making Vance had put on Ella's tutu. Really? If anything, it made for a great picture and one day they will know that Mommy let them be themselves. Even if it embarrasses them when they are older.

If you're curious our Vance-safe candy was a Sesame Seed treat. It was sesame seeds, honey & brown sugar. Far from the traditional chocolates but not bad.

Too Adorable Not to Share

Tonight I was set to catch you up on what has been happening here the past two weeks. However, I ended up writing a 13 page letter to our birthmother (long overdue & much needed) so I've decided to go to bed. But I won't leave you empty handed. The other night we took this cute video of Vance. I hope you enjoy it and I will write tomorrow.

What's a Mother to do When...

What's a mother to do when...
- your husband is out of town and both kids wake up at the same time, one has a persistent cough and the other is restless? This mommy took them both into Vance's room. We rocked & rocked. Then I used that time to pray for my kids, my husband and friends that God laid on my heart. I held my kids tight, kissed them & thanked God I was the one holding them. This happened the last two nights & we were up for hours.

- your 3 year old daughter has pulled out way too many things to play with and it's just too overwhelming to "want" to clean up? I turned it into a game. We started with all the ribbons & hair bows she had taken from the bathroom into her room. I asked for 2 or 3 colors at a time. She brought them to me & I put them in the drawer. We finished the rest of her room that way. It was great team work & learning all in one!

- your 2 year old son has taken off his diaper, running around the house & he only knows you pee pee on the potty but doesn't get it? My first task was getting him into the bathroom, at least if he had an accident it wasn't on the carpet. Told him he could potty, which to him is just sitting on the toilet & doing nothing. He sat for all of a second and then stood up. He did this over & over & over again. I was fine as long as he was in the bathroom. Eventually I came up with a good reason why he should put on his diaper & he let me without any fuss.

- you have had two nights of very little sleep & no plan for supper? At first I wanted to be lazy & spend money we really didn't have on a meal that Vance couldn't eat. But I texted a friend and asked for an idea of a Vance safe recipe with chicken. She suggested chicken stir fry. I had fresh veggies, chicken & rice. So I began cooking & my husband came in and finished it (because he is the better cook in the family). We had a delicious Vance-safe meal!

- your husband comes home after being gone for 3 days & your daughter is happy to be with him?
I took a picture of course. Actually I took more than one. This one is when she was showing him on the map where we live & where he was for 3 days. Then I thanked God that I have a wonderful husband who loves me & our kids. And I was quite proud of my daughter for remembering where the states were we talked about on Saturday.

Extremely Thankful

Tonight I am thankful for many things. I am thankful for God's protection. Tonight as I turned off the light in Vance's room I noticed the lamp shade was crooked. As I tried to straighten it out it wouldn't budge. That's when I realized it had started to melt onto the light bulb. I freaked out in my head so not to alarm the kids and then just started praising God. That was a fire waiting to happen. I am so thankful that light was not on any longer than it already had been. I am so thankful it didn't catch on fire and that we are all safe.
I am thankful for God's provision. His timing on meeting our needs is perfect!
I am thankful for friends. My friend & her kids came over. It was so nice to let the kids play and for us to talk. When you spend time with someone you learn how best to pray for them.
I am thankful for my husband. I love that he enjoys serving. I am thankful for the things he has learned over the years and how he is now sharing that knowledge & experience with others.
I am thankful for Ella. I love when we are rocking in the rocking chair how she looks at me and smiles as we sing songs together. I am thankful for the things we just have to do in a day... I have to help her jump high off the toilet almost every time after she goes to the potty (panties & pants back on first). We dance on the last song of The Fresh Beat Band TV show. We also dance every time Click or Rescue Pack makes an appearance in Diego. I am even thankful for the "accidental" things she does, the things she knew she shouldn't have done. I am thankful when she hugs me & kisses me and calls me mommy.
I am thankful for Vance. I am thankful for how affectionate & loving he is with each one of us. I am thankful for how his face lights up when he hears the birdies on his clock tweet. I am thankful for how deliberate and careful he is with his words. I am thankful for his desire to do absolutely everything Ella does, even when it's probably not a good idea. I am thankful that he now hides when he poops in his diaper. That means he actually gets there is something going on down there. I am thankful that now when he falls, bumps his head or is "accidentally" pushed by his sister that he may or may not cry but gets over it easily. Believe it or not I am actually thankful that he has food allergies. I have realized that we eat healthy because of it. I can't do the quick & easy and probably not that good for you processed food. I am thankful that because of his food allergies they don't really know what junk food is. They think frozen peas are a snack!
I am thankful for the world of Vegans. If it weren't for those people who choose not to eat anything from an animal that I am able to fix Vance a lot of foods that actually taste good. Like tonight, I made potato soup & there wasn't a drop of dairy in it. How awesome is that! Guess that means I am also thankful for the Internet because how else would I find all those recipes.
So I am thankful, extremely thankful. God has been good to me. He continues to amaze me with His awesomeness.