Forever Family Day post coming soon

I know Isabella's Forever Family Day has come and gone--It was Sept. 8th--and I know I said I would have this wonderful post about it. I want to do a montage of pictures and half of my pictures are on my OTHER computer. I just haven't had time to transfer them to this computer so I can use them. SO, this weekend when I have alot more time, I will post something special about Isabella. Bear with me, with 3 other kids and working, I just haven't had the time. So check back on Sunday (I hope) and maybe I'll be done with it.

Sorry it's been so long!

Isabella and Krystal's neice, Jordan. They loved each other and Jordan is GREAT with kids. She will make a wonderful babysitter!

Isabella on the trampoline
The Birthday boy, Brayden and his sister Parker

For those of you that faithfully watch my blog for new posts, I'm sorry it's been so long since the last post. On Aug. 24th Isabella and I went to Krystal's house for Brayden's birthday party. We played, swam, jumped on the trampoline, and ate hotdogs, cake and ice cream. It was a fun-filled afternoon and Isabella's first party. Krystal's son is from Guatemala and we're "blog buddies" but it was nice to get to spend the afternoon with her and her family and friends. Thanks Krystal!



We also had our final social worker visit which was pretty painless. It only took 30 minutes or so. We are now officially done with everything relating to her adoption. Yea!



She also had an ear check to see if her tubes were still in place and everything is fine with that too. She's also getting better with her eating. The babysitter is feeding her all kinds of stuff and the most surprising thing is Vienna sausages. She loves them. I would never have thought to try that.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

By the way, 1 year ago today we landed in Guatemala to pick up Isabella. Our thoughts and prayers are with the foster family because I know they are thinking of this time with happiness and also sadness. We love you M and family! So needless to say, Isabella's FOREVER DAY is coming up so I'll have a special post for that so check back!

Surgery went great!

I had to have Isabella at the surgery center by 6:45 this morning. We checked in and went back to her room. She watched videos and waled the halls until about 8:00 when they took her back. She wanted nothing to do with the female nurse, only the male nurse could carry her. As soon as they took her back I went to the waiting area. I took out my ipod and watched a 6 minute video and started another and they were calling my name that they were done. I think it literally took 10 minutes from putting her to sleep to taking her to recovery. The doctor came to talk to me and I went to recovery to give her some much needed hugs and kisses. She cried some but that was because of the anesthesia more than anything. As soon as we got to the van she was okay. We even made a trip to Wal-Mart to get Hunter some poster board, took it to him at school, went to another Wal-Mart (because the pharmacy wasn't open yet at the first one), then went home. She did great the whole time. I fed her a light lunch and put her in the bed. She climbed out 3 times before she finally went to sleep. I thought she would be so tired. She hasn't event whined once. She's still her smiling self. She's such a good girl!! So, that's how the morning went. She did fine and all is well! Thanks for all the prayers. Have a great weekend!

trying to play catch-up

She loves the water.
Who needs a swimsuit

First day of school
Finally! A picture of Shane!
A close-up
The babysitter's daughter, Britton, fixed Isabella's hair. I thought it was cute. It was sticking up everywhere!


It's been a couple of weeks and I'm sorry about that.

We decided not to have that x-ray for Isabella. The speech therapist doesn't think it's a physical issue. I agree. I think she will work her way through it. She's gaining weight so all is good. I did find a food that she absolutely loves--taquitos. She eats the WHOLE thing. No spitting this out for her. She is Guatemalan after all so maybe she wants food from her culture. She also like refried beans. Go figure! I guess I'll have to stock the pantry with hispanic food. She has her ear surgery on Thursday so again, remember her in your prayers.

As you saw, I do have a 17 year old here at the house. I actually got pictures of him to prove it! He's taken up the guitar and he's actually pretty good. He still has a girlfriend named Avery. He wants to take her on vacation with us in October. I told him we would see....they may not even still be a couple then. I took my boyfriend on vacation when I was his age so we'll see.

Yesterday was the first day of school here. They had a very short summer. They always seems to go to school into June because of snow days so that always make for a short summer break. Shane is a senior this year. Just seems like yesterday I was taking his picture as he got on the bus for kindergarten. Time flies! Hunter is a freshman. He moved up to the high school building so everything is new to him this year. He's happy because he thinks the high school has better food. Alex is in third grade. He was the most excited to get back to school. He loves school, his teacher, and his classmates. He's never tried to get out of going to school.

That's it for now. We're going to my brother's house today to cook out for my dad's b-day. Then we have to come back to church because Allen's mom and dad are getting baptized again tonight. I'll post more pictures from today later. Have a good weekend!

New doctor news

Sorry, no pictures this time. Well, the doctor tested Isabella's hearing and that was fine but she still has fluid in her right ear. So she will get tubes on August 14th. I also had him check to see why her nose sounded stuffy all the time. He put a scope in her nose to look and said her adenoids were a little swollen but he wouldn't take them out yet. She is also going next Tuesday for an x-ray to see if there is any reason for her chewing food and spitting it out all the time. They are going to x-ray while she eats so they can see how the food goes down I guess. She normally does not like doctors but she loved this one. She followed him around and gave him hugs. It was really sweet. I know the operation is a few weeks away and isn't that difficult, but pray that Isabella does well with the operation and tubes. I'm pretty sure she do fine since she's such a happy baby, even when she's sick. I'll post more pictures later. I just wanted to post an update real quick.

Dr. update, the weather, and a little fun

Ok, first the doctor update. Isabella had her shots on Tuesday. She's doing really well except for those pesky ear infections. Her right ear was still bad even after taking medicine over the July 4th weekend. So another round of antibiotics. This Thursday she will go see an ear, nose, and throat doctor to see about getting tubes in her ears. I'll post more about that visit later. She gained a little weight and got a little taller. She's 30 1/2 inches tall and 20.13 lbs. She's still tiny and petite which makes her all that more adorable.

Now for the weather. We had a storm blow through here last night and the clouds were beautiful. I love seeing the weather change like that. If I had it to do over again, I would have studied meteorology in school. Or be a storm chaser. I'm just fasinated by the weather. Not long after the storm blew by, the sky was glowing. It was so beautiful. This made a rainbow. You could only see a piece of it and it looked like it was coming through the cloud. The picture really doesn't do it justice. The sky then turned pink and lavender. I tried to take pictures but it was so bright that they didn't turn out that good. I love good sunrises and sunsets.

On to the fun part of the week. Me, Alex, Hunter, and my sister and her kids went to Fort Boonesborough (sp?) on Wednesday to go to the pool. It was a long way to drive but it was worth it. The kids had fun and the pool is awesome for kids. The main pool is basically all one depth with an awesome slide. They also have a nice kiddie area. I highly recommend going if you live nearby. Thursday we went to Woodland pool in Lexington. Shane was off that day so he took his girlfriend. Alex discovered the high dive. He LOVED it! That's all he wanted to do. I will dive off the low dive with no problem but the high dive....it still scares me. I jumped off once and I really didn't like it and Alex called me a chicken. The child has no fear. He had the most fun of everyone. The rest of the week we hung out at home in our pool, or took naps because we were so tired from swimming. It was a good week away from work.

I'll post more on Thursday of Friday about Isabella's doctor's visit. I have more to post about Hunter but will do that later too. Bye for now!

Our trip to Chicago

She's asleep on the bus ride there.
Chicago theater
view from our hotel room
asleep at the aquarium

waiting on a bus

something I thought was pretty at the aquarium


at Hard Rock Cafe
Alex's birthday sundae

On Thursday July 3rd we left for Chicago on a charter bus at work. We went year before last too and had a great time so we thought we'd go back. I was worried how Isabella would do on the bus but she was GREAT. She slept for half the time. I was also worried because she had a fever but I didn't have time to take her to the doctor before we left. I'm sorry that the pictures are in no particular order. We went to the Shedd Aquarium on Friday. We all loved that and spent alot of time there. Isabella didn't seem so impressed since she fell asleep in her stroller. We went to Navy Pier which has a mini mall, restaurants, children's museum and some amusement rides. We walked around on Saturday and did some shopping.

Alex's birthday was on Sunday and we were riding the bus back on that day. So, Alex wanted Hard Rock for dinner on Saturday so that's what we did. We also went to the Hershey Store where he was a "factory worker for a day" and he got his own bucket of candy and a badge. We tried to make his day special since we weren't home on his birthday. Overall it was a good trip since it was the first time we were all together doing something as a family in FOREVER. With Shane and Hunter getting older it seems we go our different ways alot. I let Shane and Hunter walk around Chicago by themselves a little. That made me nervous but Hunter is a big boy. No one will mess with him. I think he's actually taller than Shane now.

On Saturday, Isabella still had her fever but she was still a good girl the whole time. I called the doctor here and got her to call in an antibiotic to Chicago and she's fine now. She goes for a check up and shots on Tuesday and I'm going to inquire about ear tubes. Hunter had them and it helped him alot. It just seems like I get Isabella over 1 ear infection and she's good for about a week, then she gets another one. Poor thing. I still get ear infections so I know how miserable she is.

I took her to the speech therapist for her spitting her food out and they had no clue what to do. I took some cheerios and goldfish and she ate them just fine. Figures! She used both sides of her mouth and ate more than one at a time so everyone is at a loss of what to do. We'll figure it out I guess. Hopefully it's just a phase.

Next week Toyota is shutdown and we have a few fun things planned. I'll also have time to take more pictures so I'll try to post alot next week.