What a Month!!

This post is rather...umm...you fill in the word!...I'm tired and it shows!  lol!

 

 

This may go down in history as the busiest and craziest month ever!  We out-did ourselves with appointments this month.  We had 12 medical/dental appointments.  Plus 2 X-Rays and blood work...8 vials for Wren! Thank goodness they didn't fill each vial completely!

 

 

And then there was Christmas!  It was good!  But crazy!  Think of mixing sugar + late nights + appointments + adjusting + Christmas + a full moon....Ahhhhhh!!  Yup!  It was crazy!!!

 

Today was an unusually long day! I may have dozed off at the pharmacists, listening to Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night!   HA!!!

 

 We knew it would be a long day, but at the last minute some medical related opportunities opened up and we couldn't pass them up.  Two days ago we got a call to have an EEG done for Wren.  We already had 3 dentist appointments, but with the EEG being at 9:30 and the dentist appointments at 12:30...we knew we could make it work.  The plan was for me to take Wren to her appointment, be home by 11:30 and then take the 3 other kids to their appointment.

 

However.....

 

The EEG tech felt it would be best to get Wren to see the Neurologist on call (at the hospital).  I kinda freaked out for just a bit, as I figured it must mean some bad news?  It didn't...only things we already knew were discussed.    The Neurologist ordered an x-ray.  So we did that right away too.  And seeing as Wren's pediatrician had already ordered a different x-ray and some blood work (that had to be done at the hospital)...well, we did that right away too!

 

So we found a sitter for the youngest 2 kids and Martin took the other 3 to their appointment.

 

As for the results of todays appointments....braces will be necessary for yet another kid.  We honestly excel in this area!  Seriously!!  Who has 6 kids that ALL need braces?!?

 

...meds for Wren's seizures.

 

...and now we wait to get the results from the x-rays and bloodwork.

 

So all in all, it was a very productive day.  I'm exhausted, but so at peace and grateful. Throughout the day, little things happened that just made me smile cause I knew the big man upstairs was walking with us, giving us little gifts here and there!

 

Today I was grateful for...

 

* an earlier than expected EEG because the secretary told the EEG tech a bit of Wren's story and in his words..."I just couldn't say no!"

* the friendliest EEG tech ever!  Seriously, I loved him!  It may have had something to do with the look of shock on his face when he found out that I had a 16 year old, cause surely I wasn't old enough for that!  lol!  (Gotta love 20 something kids that don't know what 40 something looks like!)

*a highly recommended Neurologist with the best reviews!

*my SIL willingly looking after our youngest 2...and then sending supper home with them!!

*my Christmas gift...a Starbucks card!

*the nurse that went out of her way to find us some Emla to numb Wren's arm for the bloodwork.

*and....our handicap parking permit!!!

 

 

Now to get a good nights sleep...before the crazy of tomorrow starts!  Malia is having her tongue flap surgery tomorrow.  As you'll recall, she has already had 2 failed FAMM Flap surgeries to repair her fistula.  This surgery has about a 50 % success rate for Malia's case.  It's hard not to be discouraged and I am worried...something I'm usually not. 

 

Anyhow, if you happen to think of Malia, and the rest of us as we try not to worry, would you please pray...for a successful surgery with as little pain as possible, for Malia as she hates the anesthetic, for me as I help put her to sleep, for the surgeon and his team, and for Martin as he spends the day with the other kids, for Wren as there is a very good chance we will be in the hospital overnight and she has never had to go to bed without me around.

 

Thanks so much!  I honestly can't thank you all enough for all your prayers!  It really has been what has carried us through this last month...and the meals we've gotten!  We couldn't have done it without those two things! 

 

Thank-you!!!

 

 

 



Finally an Update!

I've been meaning to post an update for the past few weeks, but each time I have a moment, I'm too tired!

 

We are doing well!  Very well!  So well that I keep wondering when this honeymoon stage will end.  But then I'm not sure it is just the honeymoon stage.  Perhaps, it is our new normal.  God has been so very gracious, and made this entire adoption an out of this world experience and I have a feeling this whole bonding adjusting thing is another one of His out of this world things! 

 

A few days ago I was chatting with a friend and mentioned how we know what to expect...how we feel like we're gulping water in a huge ocean for the first 3 months, how at 6 months we finally feel that we've learned to tread water, and by a year we can see that our new normal is very good and we love it.

 

It was only after our conversation, that it dawned on me that not only are we treading water most of the time, with a few big gulps of unwanted water, but that our new normal feels very normal!

 

I honestly think a huge part of this is the incredible support we have had.  Yes, there are still people who chose to ignore our new arrival.  That has always happened and I have come to the conclusion it always will happen.  The faces change, but the instigator doesn't.  Satan hates adoption and he will do whatever he can to make life miserable for as many people as possible. Understanding that this is a war against darkness and evil puts so many things into perspective.

 

Thanks to all of you that have prayed for us.  There are people around the world that have prayed for Wren and her forever family since she was an infant.  I have never met many of these people, but if you happen to read this...please know we send you a GREAT BIG "THANK YOU!!"

 

There are still people around the world praying for us...in China, USA, and Canada.  There are people in our local church and community that have and continue to uplift us in prayer.  Thank you!

 

And then there are the meals!  Oh, my!  We have been treated like royalty!  So very many people have brought the most delicious meals and baking. And it has been such an amazing relief and an incredible help in our bonding and adjusting process.  Thank you to each and every one of you!

 

Wren is doing well. 

 

What that means is this...she is happy.  She is grieving.  She is testing the boundaries.  She fits into our family perfectly.  Her siblings adore her...at least when they're not dealing with an episode of jealousy. 

 

And in it all, Wren is learning to trust...learning to cuddle, learning to be loved as only a mama, papa and siblings can love.  And we continue to fall more in love with our precious Wren each day!

 

 

 

Wren loves to play dress up with Malia and Raina.  She likes to play with her dolls and Barbies. She loves to colour.  She loves being outside, even in the miserable cold!  She loves bossing Jackson around...and he hates it! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She loves "skating".  And the other kids love pushing her around.

 

 We've been busy getting ready for Christmas.  We scaled back a lot this year, but still managed to do a bit of Christmas baking and decorated a Gingerbread house.

 

One of the greatest blessings and most spectacular gifts of all, is having Carla and Nate lend us 2 chairs.  The one above, which we use when we head out; and the one below, which we use at home.  It has saved our backs, not to mention a whole lot of other inconveniences!  Thank you for being so gracious and thoughtful!



 

 

I really like how the lighting in this pic makes the basement ceiling look a little less ugly and unfinished!  lol!

 

But mostly what I LOVE is the awe and wonder in Wren's face as she admired that big, beautiful tree!

 

 







 

I had to post pics of this little guy.  He is struggling.  He has lost his position as being the one needing the most help.  And that's hard for him!

 

His sweetness melts my heart!

 

 

 

These three...who knew I would have not one, not two, but three gorgeous girls?!?! 

Be still my heart!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 ;)