Hmm ever been to one of these churches?

Eric Ludy - Depraved Indifference

Grab a kleenex... yes it's worth it.

A snipit about African Missions.

This was taken from my daughters blog. She spent three weeks in Africa Uganda/Ehtiopia to be exact this summer. She spent time at an orphanage. The Abba House. This week she featured one of those on the trip with her. I am posting her post in hopes that many of you will pray for Barb and the children of Abba House.
Blessings
T



My next couple posts are going to feature those who were the core members of the Team that God called to Uganda/Ethiopia 2010. I am going to start with Barb. She is an Agricultural Missionary. I did not know they had those either. I assure you there are some kids at the Abba house that cannot praise God enough for Barbs "major" choice.   She actually did not travel with us for the Ethiopia part of the trip. She stayed behind in Uganda. It's ok, she had a mission. During the time we spent in Uganda Barb's mission... let's start with a story. The following is an exert from "Barbs Diary" her words are titled
Daily Mana...
Though I went with them as a team, I stayed in Uganda while the rest went on to Ethiopia. My purpose there was to plant a garden with good vegetables to enhance their daily food. They eat a LOT of RED BEANS and "posho" (pasha) a bland corn flour mush. Posho is a word in Swahili meaning "provision". At the school, which is on the same property as the Abba House, they cook up about 25 pounds of beans every day and serve them as lunch with posho. Big sweet potatoes appear occasionally and sometimes the beans are flavored with small eggplants or with small sun-dried minnows. I am reminded of the stories of the Israelites and their "posho" of manna, and how tired they got from eating that stuff every day! It is basically the same scenario at the Abba House. They eat posho porridge for breakfast, their school provides posho and beans for lunch, and then they return to the Home for a hearty eal of beans, perhaps with minnows or eggplant, and posho. Sometimes groups of individuals will refuse to eat,the Bible says that hunger makes things taste better. I remember in Venezuela when someone commented concerning sun-dried minnows,"yeah, we boil them together with some potatoes and then, with a little hunger they can make a fine meal." The groups wait until hunger gnaws at them, usually by suppertime, to receive their portions of the "manna".
      While  Barb was in Uganda she broke the soil and as one pastor said " I don't understand why someone would come from so far away to dig in the dirt and plant seeds. But I give God all the glory for this person who came and worked in the soil like an African so that these children could have a better diet." If you do not know anything about Africa they call it a "warm" climate. Not because it is warm but because the people are well people oriented. In other words Barb taking the time not only to go to Africa, but that she is willing to give of her time and effort to improve the diets and overall health of the children. The seeds Barb will sow in the hearts of the Ugandan people because of the seeds God asked her to plant in the ground will light up the sky's of Uganda so to speak. Word will spread of what Bard has done. When the second water source is completed and others come from abroad to get water  the love of Christ will be passed through the African grape vine and because of a few cucumbers, zucchini, beets, spinach, chard, watermelon and a white lady from Missouri who knows how many hearts will be changed for the Lord.

   By the time Barb left some of the seeds she had sowed were by the grace of God were already poking their heads through the soil. We had a reunion at our home a couple weeks ago... Barb came to the house with a basket of Yard beans. they were green beans 18 inches long. We were all wowed by them. She excitedly told us these are also growing at the Abba House in Uganda. Wow one bean per plate is all that is needed with this variety.  It is impossible for me to even imagine eating chicken every day,,,,,,,,every meal.  Nor can I imagine never getting chicken. Or just eating cheerios EVERY DAY. We have such variety here in the US we can hardly imagine eating the same thing more than once a week. Whew imagine meatloaf every day.. not just Mondays 8)  That's for the old timers.
   
   In September Barb hopes to go back for the harvest.. to see the fruits of her Labor. To give all the praise to God not only for the new foods the kids will have, foods that allow the kids to have a bit of variety in their diets imagine how their bodies will feel with a new variety of vitamins that will flood their bodies as a result of the children eating the fresh veggies. The improved health, eyesight, energy levels. Not to mention just the thrill of watching a seed sprout, grow, blossom , and become the vegetable God intended it to be. We sure get excited at our house when we pull a tomato from the vine or when the green beans don't even make it to a pot of water. Just snap the ends and pop it in your mouth. mmmmmmmmm

   Like I said , Barb is a missionary she has been asked by God to serve those in Uganda.  Barb has willingly given her life to God's service. In turn she relies on his leading  of others for her financial provisions. When she goes back in September she will be staying for three months. She is working on helping them create two water sources. One with solar power. These water sources will benifit many communities of people. Barbs story and the vision God has given her is longer than what I have posted here. Her three month journey will hopefully end with ample water sources, but he possibility for farming jobs for the boys that will graduate from the Abba house in two years. I am working on finding a a link so you can read her whole newsletter. It is great reading.
   
  Please pray for Barb and the journey the Lord has called her on.
             Pray she can secure the funds (God knows who he has called to give)
             Pray for her safety ( there has been a bit of violence in Uganda lately)
             Pray for her health ( Barb has a knee injury that the Dr has ok'd her to serve)

Barb is on the left with the green shirt. Standing with some of the children who excitedly wait for harvest day!!!

I believe it is a part of God's plan for Barb to continue to minister through gardening to  the children of Abba House  would you prayerfully consider how God would have you to help Bard in her service to those in Uganda. If he would have you to help financially go to
http://www.houseoffriends.org/  and click on donate (it's a little down on the left)  there is  a place to share that the donation if for Barb. Tax deductible of course.  

 For it was I that planted the seed in your heart, Apollis  watered it, but it was God not we that made it grown.  I Corinthians 3:6

This is the link to the page that has all the kids of Abba house pictures and stories. Feel free to go and meet the kids you would be helping Barb serve by giving of the rescource God has entrusted to you...http://www.houseoffriends.org/sponsorship.html

Almost a year!!

Wow how time flies when you have Hep A, scabies, open heart surgery a few bouts of Pneumonia, a mission trip to Africa and have two added beautiful babies to your home. I am sure many have said it. I can't believe it has been a whole year (almost). Yes it has so many things have changed. For the most part out chidlren all sleep through the night. Praise God! That took several years. Camille can talk up a storm and is presently in the process of potty training herself. Wow never had that happen before. She is doing such a great job somedays I wish I were one of those parents who gives their child candy for going on the pot. But no... if she is going to train herself.. more power to her and Praise the Lord. Henry is doing just amazing as well. Our little Spud is well a big spud now. He can do a wonderful army crawl. His has a wonderful ability to quickly memorize finger plays. His favorits sone is Jesus loves me. He is very social. Yeah!! They are both very smart. Truthfully I just figured they would both be behind for quite awhile. Well for once I was happy to be wrong. Not sure what else to say other than I am so very grateful to God for asking us to go to Africa and be the parents to Mr. Henry and Ms.Camille. The changes that have taken place in our family have been huge. Unfortunately there is someone that reads my blog that I would rather not have great details about our family. (this is why I don't post much about us and have been using it as a political outlet) anyway. I will just say that God has opened the eyes of many in our family and because of that. We look fwd to the upcoming changes that are to take place in our home. I pray that when we first be willing to hear the voice of the Lord we claim to serve, and second be quick to obey. I am always afraid of what could happen when we intentionally do not obey simply because we don't want to do what God asks.
Mr Henry loves to swing. He pretty much lovs everything. He's so great!!!





Ms Camille prefers the big girl swing, now that she is a big girl!!!


Blessings in the name of the Lord.
Tiffany
Surely the proudest Mother there every was!!!

Yes Beautiful the mess we are

Perhaps you are having a rough time. It seems many of my Christians friends are being tested by things at this time. In our busy lives we sadly are unable to serve and care for one another the way we should. Take a few momentst to watch and listen. Be refreshed in knowing that today and everyday Christ desires to hear you heart. The good the bad the ugly. Give it all to him.. he already died for your all. Take his gift..........It's better htan a Halleluhah mosttimes.
Blessings~~

YouTube - Better than a Hallelujah (lyrics) Amy Grant

Spring business

Oh Good Morning,
It has been so long since I have posted anything I almost do not know how to start. It has been sometime since I have given an update for our family. The children are all sleeping so I will try to be quick and basically pick out the highlights. Overall we are all doing well. In March I think it was we had several children with the Chicken Poxs. All three started popping out on the same day so overall it was a quick process. It was really not bad at all. Of course Peter had the worst case.. he typicall tries to outdo everyone else. It was Garrett, Maggie and Peter that were affected. We had been trying to "catch" the Pox for a few years now. With the Chicken Pox immunization they are hard to find. Luckily we had a friend who's husband had shingles so he shared with his kids and they shared with us. Good friends.

As I said Peter gets everything worse than anyone else.. in total Maggie had about 200 pox's Garrett had about 600 and we are thinking Peter had about 2,ooo. Yes he looks bad, he looks great now and has natural imminity.
Another thing that has taken a lot of my spring time is College. WHOA!!! There should be a rule book about scholarships,well just college prep in general. I did not go to college so how it all worked was well a mystery to me. My two oldest daughters Graduated High School this year.. Hippie for them. One huge milestone down. That started the whole who, what, where, how for the college questions. With the help of some people who have obviously been blessed with the gift of patience they are both enrolled in a lovely college for fall. Now we have the delima.. that one has her Major figured out and one does not. Oh growing up is soo hard.

Lets see, what else.. oh Little Henry is doing amazing, last month we took care of his circumcision. Do you know they have a medicine they give then that numbs the lower part of their bodies and well that makes them so much happier with what had just happened. Really all Praise to God, he has had no problems with it. Henry has also gained a modest eleven pounds since September. He needs to learn to walk he is well like holding a bad of concrete. Do I get an Amen from some of you that know exactly what I mean. He can sit up by himself and does a beautiful army crawl. Although he is faster at pivoting and rolling then crawling.

Camille is doing lovely as well, she also has socked on the weight. I want to say she has also put on about ten pounds. Camille is talking up a storm and is really capable of doing anything she wants to . It is the joke around here that she plans to take over my job within the year. Really I am not so sure it is a joke.
Christy has finished another year at her school. Their end of the year program was long, long, long yet shared with the families the many acomplishments of the students who worked so hard all year. She is excited about her well deserved summer break. Hoping to dip in the lake soon as part of her celebration. It is so fun to watch all our little ones play together. Yes there are a lot of them and yes bath time is tricky, however I am so grateful to God that he chose me to parent this beautiful group of his children.

Ok I gotta go, they are waking up and some are like starving animals at the zoo when they wake up. And yes I know the picture of Henry is sideways.. I don't have time to fix it right now..
Have a blessed day, ~~T

The Cow and the Ice Cream

--From a teacher in the Nashville area
"We are worried about 'the cow' when it is all about the 'Ice Cream.'
The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year...
The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.
I decided we would have an election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees.. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.
The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
I had never seen Olivia's mother.
The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better
place. He ended by promising to do his very best.
Everyone applauded and he sat down.
Now is was Olivia's turn to speak.
Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream." She sat down.

The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."

She surely would say more. She did not have to.

A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She wasn't sure.

Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it... She didn't know.
The class really didn't care. All they were thinking about was ice cream..
Jamie was forgotten.. Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 52 percent of the people reacted like nine year olds.
They want ice cream.
The other 48 percent know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess."

This is the ice cream Obama promised us!

Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone -- that they have not first taken away from someone else.

Did you vote for the ice cream?

HE is RISEN...........

HE is RISEN indeed. Hearing this little phrase is one of my favorite parts of Easter. For what so many thought was impossible.. happened. In this house we use the word Awesome very sparingly. The world uses it to explain pizza, a coloring page, a paper product, the way one's hair looks. We only use it for what it means to inspire Awe. You know a sunset that gives you goose bumps or brings a tear to your eye because of it's Awesome beauty a beauty handpainted by God. Today is the day that can bring true hope to all..the actions of the son of God.. sent to be man on earth,,,die a brutal death for me and you. Wow think of what you are "really" willing to do for another. There is always a limit of what we will do for someone else. There is a limit to our fogivness, grace, time and definately a limit to how much money we will give to another. No limits to Jesus, he chose to be beaten to have the flesh ripped from his body all the while being laughed at spat on knowing soon he would be nailed to a cross where the mocking would continue while he died. How much would you have taken? Then to have his own father(out of necesity of course) turn his back on him in his final hour. To know that he went through taht for me, WOW that is AWESOME.
May your truly be able to feel deep deep down in your soul what the last three days really stand for. May that feeling be the only feeling of hope you have, the only reason you desire change. I pray each on that reads this "truly" know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Just believing is not enough.. if it was then there would be no reason that Jesus would have had to die as he did. There will never be anyone who loves you as much as he, his only desire if to have an intimate personal relationship with you.
If you don't know how to achieve that relationship.. email me.. I will be honored to share.. ixmire@Yahoo.com
~~T

Happy Down syndrome day

Just wanted to say Happy Down syndrome day to everyone who's lives has been touched by another who has been blessed with Down Syndrome. Our lives have been so reshaped because of our children with Down syndrome. Not just because of the extra Dr's appointments or therapy's. Although I often wonder what I would do with myself if all the time/energy/money was given back to me. Oh what a boring life it would surely be. We call our children with Down syndrome perspective barometers. It is true.. How much differently our family sees the world now. There is truly not one thing I would trade to change any day of what we have experienced with any one of our children but especially our children blessed with Down syndrome. Not the month in the PICU with Peter.. not Hep A.... not having to embarrass myself in front of the optical shop gal when we have lost yet "another" pair of glass's. The changes in our home,, in the everyday and the futures of our children who I believe have become more compassionate and open to God's leading in their lives everyday and I give much credit of those changes of couse first to our Lord but then to our Trisomy Trio. We have all just become different but better people because they were brought into the world.
We are snowed in today.. yet it is still the Lords day and although really every day is a day to celebrate...today we will have ice cream at home and offer up a special prayer for our Trio..May we give back a portion to them the blessings their presence has bestowed on our family.
~Tiffany

What's up.....

Whew.. What a whirlwind last five months it has been.
We have had more illness and flooky medical things in the past five months then truly in the last five years. It has been trying at times. There have been many nights where dinner time has come around, the kids look at me like well where is it and I have not even begun to think about it. Henry have never even been to church to meet our family there. Time has flown and I would not trade even a part of one day. Not even last week and the stomach flu. No really.. all those bad times are the water you mix with the rock(life) to make the cement that bonds your home together. Sometimes I wonder how other families become bonded. Now that said I have learned that mixing infants/toddlers with teenagers can be challenging. Learning how to enroll a child in college while potty training and helping another learn to crawl. All good yet so different. The good news is Maggie is potty trained.. I knew we had arrived after she hurled all over the living room (which I thanked her for.. my carpets and furniture are all freshly cleaned now) see good in every bad.. anyway she emptied her tummy kicked off her panties then turned went to the bathroom sat on the potty and wnet. I just beamed as I changed my hurled on tshirt. Oh I am proud. Henry is coming along, he can now feed himself finger foods. Still won't drink from a cup, is rolling all over.. he can roll to wherever he desires to go. He rolls to the hall.. turns his body.. rolls down the hall..turns his body.. goes in a room. It is very clever. Camille is just running and climbing up a storm she is working hard on picking up speech. She loves the outdoors and is afraid of nothing. She is becoming a bit picky on her eating but overall just likes to eat.
Peter is also picking up more speech. He continues to be my biggest fan.. truly applauding when I enter a room. I tease my girls and tell them not to consider a man until he reacts to them as Peter does to me when I enter a room. 8) Big shoes to fill.
Like I said Maggie is potty trained.. for me that is triumph enough for now. She still continues to be Sunshine in our lives.
As for the rest.. they are great.. growing,learning patiently waiting for spring.
It is just around the corner.. the grass is beginning to green.
We praise God for the winter.. we praise God for the rain..and we will praise God for the sunshine that is soon to follow.
Have a wonderful day in Christ.
~T

The Hiding Place

We just finished watching "The Hiding Place" that tells the accounts of Corrie Ten Boom. It has been oh a long long time since the last time I saw it. In the movie Ms. Ten Boom has a group of "special" kids holding a rope walking down the road. A German soldier stops to chat with her, it is during this chat that you first see the children, in my memory I always thought she was leading children who were blind. I guess because they were holding a rope.. but this time. This time I noticed the faces, they were so beautiful much like those of children in my own home. Ms Ten Boom obviously was a wonderful person to make time in her life to spend with such children. Perhaps if you could make time soon to watch it. If you have never seen "The Hiding Place" I highly suggest it. It is an amazing tale of anothers life. The choice of "special" children in the movie...Perfect.

Have a wonderful week in Jesus...
~~Tiffany

What to post....

Well, many start their adoption adventures with a blog.. this helps people really feel connected to your adoption for awhile after your children are home it is very interesting to see how the children have progressed.. then we get to where we are now. What to post? In the past weeks we have just been hangin out watching it snow. Henry and Camille have just blossomed. Henry has for some reason had some feeding problems. Yesterday he was admitted to the hospital with Pneumonia. At home it is all going great. My back ups are the best. The children have been trained well. 8)
Yes I could elaborate yet, does anyone want to know? It seems to me that blogs/facebook/myspace/caringbridge while yes they do keep people connected. In my life anyway it has caused more disconnect. People go to their computers in a few minutes catch up and well this eliminates the need for phone calls or actually making contact after all your are up to date. Now I know not everyone who checks on our blog do I have phone contact abilities with. And I like that our out of town family and friends can check in on us. So for that reason I will probably continue to blog.. not as well as before but still blog none the less.
Have a wonderful day.
~Blessings Tiffany

Join the Virtual March for Life~~

To join go to http://www.virtualmarchforlife.com/

What's up??

Well lots and lots of immeasurable stuff. You know laundry, dished, diapers,baths, and again wiping noses....just a couple but a couple to many in my book.
We have had a lot of snow here. Matter a fact Gary was unable to come home for several days. We just hunkered down and had some hot chocolate. It was all good. Funny how we all want snow and then after about three days all we can do is complain about the snow. Oh we humans never content. Since our Ethiopian beauties have been home we have had seemingly one thing after another.. I think it is like this in some home all the time but not typically in ours. Hmmmm Satan alive and well. I think so.
Our latest is some weird splotches on Camille, when they first came home we did have ringworm and some other stuff. Now she has something. We can't seem to get rid of. It seemed to be coming from her scalp... sooooooo Wednesday eve..well we did it. We shaved her head. Oh my goodness... she is so cute.. It was interesting. She just sat so still. When we were done she hopped in the bath and was happy as a lark in the spring. Now we can see her head is covered with these little pencil eraser size spots. We have a couple creams we put on them and have a Derm appointment soon. She used to just scratch her scalp and cry now no more. Her hair is already growing back. It had grown about two inches since her arrival in America so it will grow fast she is not shy eater so her vitamin intake is good.
Perhaps if I am brave later I will post a picture.
In the last few weeks we have really seen a tremendous change in both Henry and Camille for the better. Henry still cries at night but does go typically without a bottle in the night. Camille only wakes up about every third night and refuses to go back to sleep without some comforting touch and milk. She was screaming out in the night about every hour so we have made great progress. Henry's latest thing is his belly. He is bloating up a lot, he is ok till afternoon then he just bloats up like I took a pump and pumper him full of air. He has also been spitting up which is not normal for him but seriously he is all bloated up. No, no diet changes, yes he poops occasionally, and no I don't overfeed him. Just to rule those out. 8) We'll pop him by the Pedi's office on Monday and see what she thinks. They are both amazingly non picky eaters. Not like Peter who just wants applesauce all of a sudden. Applesauce and crackers that is..... Silly boy.
Hope you have been able to find some pleasure in the cold weather and snow. Our kids have .. our lake only freezes every so many years so you can only play on the ice if we have a winter like this. That is my joy in this cold their excitment to live dangerously on the ice... That and all the Hot chocolate breaks we have taken together.
Have a wonderful Lords day, Remember Jesus loves you....
~~~~Tiffany~

Happy New Year!!!

We celebrated our New Years day by doing something not so ordinary for us. We went out in public...Now this is probably a dumb comment to most however if you have ever had a medically fragile child then you understand how quickly a cold can turn into a hospital stay. So our practice for the last four years has been to enjoy more of home then of the public world. However someone had sent us a check to spend on Christmas Cheer so in a moment of obvious delusion I said lets get up really early drive an hour and go to Science city. So we did. We had a wonderful day... this was the first time Henry and Camille have really ever been out except for Dr.'s appointments and Christmas at Grandmas. Yes being out there with all those germs makes me well nervouse. Yes I may be weird however I am a self professing germaphobe. Mainly becasue so many do not stay home when they are sick and It is one thing to have one or two children with a cold or the stomache flu... but eleven people with a cold or stomach flu well that's a hole different story. At this time we are all well and we had a wonderful time it was a great day. Camille enjoyed getting to walk around in the big world. Henry just enjoyed watching it all go by. Christy and Garrett loved it.. they are the perfect age to enjoy the activities we did... We had not been to Science city in over six years the big kids have fond memories of the last time they went and had fun helping the little ones explore all there is to do.
We also saw the grand Canyon on the Extreme screen. Some of us went to the planatarium and saw the holiday laser show that was very nice.. One thing that was refreshing in Union Station... was the music.. Peter and I do a wondrful duet of Silent Night which we proudly sang together at Union station because they were playing it... along with O come all ye faithful, O little town of Bethlehem and many more traditional Christian Christmas songs.
It must work to not take the kids out to often because they were all great. No complaining no fighting. Just fun and happiness. On the way home we stopped by Grandmas's and helped her finish up her holiday leftovers. Visited with the kids Uncle,Aunt and cousins who were also helping to deplete the food supply. Then we headed home.. most of the kids were asleep before we got home and you can bet naptime on Saturday was welcome by all. Today Gary took the bravest out to go sledding. We figured they would be gone for thirty minutes however they were gone for three hours.. Wow tougher then I would be. Cold is not my thing.
This Christmsa season our famliy experienced the most laid back season ever. Thus making it the most enjoyable in many many years.
Hope you were able to get away from the crazy expectations of the season and set aside some time to enjoy the reason for this time of year... Jesus...The birth of our savior...
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Tiffany
Below are some pictures from our day out...

Henry... so cute in glass's

Peter in a sewage tube...

Christy and Maggie in a Helicopter

Gary afraid of a Dinosaur.
2"
Water current table sooo fun.....

Garrett digging for fossils

Still open while under construction.

Well, I am going to give it a go. By no means am I a computer person however over the next couple weeks our blog will be under construction. This will be a DIY job. So bare with me as the changes come and surely go.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas.
~~T~~

Ms.sunshine

This afternoon Ms.Sunshine will join Henry and I at the pokey for a bit. She will be getting her third set of tubes. Hopefully Henry will nap while she is in surgery.
She was so good at pre-op.

Fix-a -heart week

SO far so great. What an amazing little guy Henry is. Wow, truth be told I did not think he would get to have surgery Monday. Mid week mmy husband came down with a cold.. then another child then another... well I was just sure Monday am we would wake up and Henry would be then next to drop but praise be to God once again he just smiled as usual.
He was first up for surgery on Mon which wsa great I think both Maggie and Peter ended up having to wait hours beyond hteir scheduled time and oh the screaming and crying form hunger. Maggie was the worst she likes her food more then the boys do.
Henry was given some Versaid.. a litle pre happy juice. In ten minutes it did the job. They took him to surgery where his little body performed beautifully. They kept him sedated until Tues then slowly weined him from the sleepy juice. Took him off the vent and at that point my almost always happy little fellow turned not on us. He flailed and cried best he could, he actully flipped over at one point.. He was regretful immediatly. That little move cost him his freedom at that point we put the cuffs on him. He did not really calm down but because he was doing so well they took his Art line out, those scanners that were on his head and kidneys area. Then he was even allowed to tinkle like the bigger boys you know in his diaper instead of through a tube.. At this point it was like well THANK YOU PEOPLE.. basically his eyes rolled back in his head and he was out. He knew that was an out hole not an in hole..... See he is sooo smart.
Through last eve and the night he has had five ounces of formula. So progressing. He really is just plain out of it. I did get him to crack a smile last eve and he talked to me just a bit. He is a trooper.. he stick that lip out when he is displeased but overall he is just so pleasent.
Thanks so much for all your prayers... when you spend much time here you daily become more and more greatful for the little things.. You become very aware that although you only got half your Christmas cards done before surgery it's ok. If you did not get the teachers gifts done to send with the kids.. that's ok. Yes everyone is still appreciated and thought of. Just the tangible items will be well perhaps given out at Valentines day... Yeah that's it..
Ok anyway..when you see the what if's and the could have's and the if we had only's come to be here. Well your thoughts change..Hopefully for a long time.. but sadly for some just for a bit. For that time anyway.. you appreciate time more.. you appreciate people..you are closer to God. It is good to come here.
Merry Christmas
Tiffany

Little update

God is good and always greatly to be praised. If you say or think this enough.. Satan has a tendancy to see if you really mean it. So you have to say it more. Amen!

We had an interesting week. We always have stuff. you know check ups at the ENT, Cardio, therapy, just stuff. We do not do a lot of activites.. Afterall we are an activity. I do not believe that if my childen are not enrolled in activities by age three I will have short changed them of their lifes calling. So often we just hang out here together. With the Llamas and this week puppies.

However this week, has been a little different. I do not have permission from my daughter to go into detail so I will be brieg and hopefully she will approve pictures. Two of my children were in a roll over and make your truck fly accident this week. I did not realize the magnatude of the fact that they walked away until I saw the pictures of the truck the next day. Yes I made it to the scene but was in the ambulance with the girls so I missed it. They walked away,, because God said they could. He showed grace and mercy to them. For his purpose... Amen? Some have tried to get me to be saddened by this.. Yes I have perspective..yes I knwo they would have died, been taken to the hospital be bed ridden. Yet when you say God is good and greatly to be praised you must say it in everything.

Like when the five year old comes to you and says I cold not get the lightbulb to work so I put it in my moouth as blood leaks down his chin.. Ok this one I just made a plain old weird face. WHY?? This is a smart kid.. Ok but little water spit it out rinse, repeat. all good and again God is good and greatly to be praised.

Then there is today. All is well yes it's only 645am so there is still time. :):)
Actually we don't normally have such things happen. Since Henry and Camille have been home we have had a bit "more' then normal for us. That's ok.. we can handle it.

On Monday we will have Fix-A-Heart day. Finally Henry will have his heart repaired. Yesterday he and I went and did the prelimanary three hours of testing that precedes Open Heart. As of yet no call backs so first thing Monday am. he's up.

We will be spending the next couple days getting it together best we can. There is really no sign of Christmas inside the house. Gary did put up a tree in the front yard... What isn't that where you put your Christmas tree. Oh I will let him know..
This am for a treat we are having muffins and some kids will even get frosting.. Ok make fun but this is a big deal around here. I am a germ a phobe and a "that kid doesnt' need sugar queen".
We have taken literally three hunderd pictures of the kids trying to get that perfect Christmas card picture. Let me just give the disclaimer before the card goes out today. It did not happen..
Here are some samples..



Everyone enjoy hte rest of this season it is so brief. Jesus is the reason we have this season. On Christmas, have the biggest Birthday Party you can have. Don't forget gifts for the King.

Merry Christmas everyone.
~~Tiffany~~
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/henryninemire

Nine Years

A few weeks ago I took my two year old to his pace maker/Cardio appt. When we go it is very laid back, our Cardio clinic is great. This time Peter was not so receptive to all the little probes and clips placed upon his chest. While the pacemaker was being checked the Cardio Dr and I visited about Peter which was minimal because overall he is in good shape since his repair. So we chatted about Henry... who I can not even imagine taking to the Hospital sess pool at all before his surgery. The Dr agreed he should not be out and I was thankful for that validation. The Dr and I were still talking when the pacemaker checker (she's not a Dr so i am not sure what to call her) she leaned in and said everything looks good he has nine years of battery left on his pacemaker and that was all. On the way home that hit me. NINE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I know what that means is that in nine years if his heart has not returned to beating completely on it's own then Peter at roughly around age 11 will need to have surgery to replace his pacemaker. They do not just change out the batteries they replace the whole pacemaker. Now that said... just to let you know this post now becomes controversial. Changing the pacemaker alone should not be a big deal. I am not afraid to have one of my children undergo the knife! It did cause my mind to wander to the "first" proposed Health Bill. It took my mind to socialized medicine. It took my mind to a conversation I have had with many ... when a person proposes that the new "health care plan" would be a gift to us all.... yes some rally believe this. Then my question to those people is WHY??? If you place my beautiful son with Down Syndrome and in need of a NEW pacemaker in front of the "benifits board" to deceide if he should get a pacemaker why would a system wtih socialized medicine replace that pacemaker????? Now I know how much the first pacemaker cost. I assume it will be a bit more in another 10+ years. So far the only answer I have gotten is well because he is human. Now that may have suffices them but not me. Nor should it suffice others. Do not be fooled into thinking that our children with special needs that we love so much will have health care taylor made just for them if the Health Bill as is passes. They surely will not. If they are allowed to bog down the system it wil be at the Goverments discression. Did you know the all so common Strabismus is a "Non-Covered" item in the current health bill? Look deeply there is so much more. How many of you use supplements? Guess what you will need a script to get these for your children from a Dr. That of course agrees with why you have not vaccinated your child and why you are giving them supplemts instead of going to a Dr. No more Gummi vitamins for the kids. Nope Nope Nope.
Because I believe in an Awesome God that loves Peter and the rest of my children so, so much more then I could ever begin to imagine I am comforted slightly. Afterall no parent under any circumstances wants to see their child denied anything that will allow them to prosper in their lives.
It is my prayer that the eyes of the American people will be opened. That we will all stand up for what so many fought and died for in war. Our rights and our freedoms. As of today this is the United States of America The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. I for one want to see it stay that way.
How is God to protect us if we do not ask him. We need but take the time to pray, ask God for direction for protection. Yes how is God to protect ua and give us direction if we fail to ask, or if by our life choices we loose our ability to listen. We are such a blessed nation even in our bad economic times, we are so much more blessed then other nations in their best economics times.

Please be in prayer for those who are in charge of our nations health plan. Pray their eyes will be open to all people not just those who "fit the mold." That they will actually do what is BEST for the people.
Those of you who have children with Special Needs know that our what our children teach us is of more value then many will ever see. Maggie taught me more in her first two months of life then I could have gotten out of college in a year I am sure. And it has been my honor to be her student.
Unite in Prayer for our country.
~~~There is none as blind as one who refuses to see~~~
~~T~~

The Lesson of the Leper.

Whew, that was the quickest three months of my life. Yes our Ethiopian beauties have been with us just a few days short of three months. Wow has the time gone by. Probably spending a whole month sick and two weeks of that bed ridden did help the time go by. Samantha is doing great and as I predicted tomorrow will be my first yellow free day. Hippie... By afternoon I am beat though not that it matters my title is Mom is it not?!?!?!
We have tried to have a good attitude about our illness and creepy crawlies we have killed over the past months and see the positives in it. Knowing that even before we commited to Henry God knew we would also commit to a daughter, that Camille would be that daughter that they would bring us Hep A and that Samantha and I woudl get it helps tremendously.That all knowing thing.Can bring you great peace if you let it. And yes I have to apologize to the Mexican restraunt I blamed for the Hep. Sorry Mexican Restraunt..
However I got an unexpected lesson and I truly was not even going to say anything, then in the inbox was a great missionary letter sharing that today is National Aids day. Hmmmm of course I think Africa. It's a county close to my heart with a astronomical death rate due to aides. Ok so how is this the lesson of the leper? As I read the story about Naomi who has three little children one being a five week old little girl. She told the misisonary who was there to teach Aids awerness and to test those who wanted to be, that her husband goes away on business often and seems distant. Hmm well Naomi had the missionary test her and her test came back positive. Three little ones to care for and in her community as in so many community's, when they find out you are HIV positive or you have a difference of almost any preportion you are shunned. See they are ignorant of how you get HIV. Until someone teaches them they don't know. So in turn they might think you can catch Aides from a handshake, or a hug. Nope that's not how. My point is they are ignorant and so they are afraid.
Since we began doing foster care then adopting children with Down Syndrome we have come across a lot of people who just don't understand the why's. Sadly most don't bother to ask any questions. So they stay in the dark about the answers. Sad for everyone. Knowledge is power you know?!.
So what was my lesson. Well every Dec I attend a function. This is sooo my favorite "adult lady" function well typically the only "adult lady" function I attend all year. Well many of you have it figured out already. You got it I got a call and was asked not to attend because there were others who just could not "risk" being around me. They just could not "risk" being around me because being around me automatically makes them a candidate for catching Hep. Hmmm I thought. Wow I thought. In the past I have called this function MY FAMILY REUNION. Because the function is with most of the women who watched me go from an unsaved insecure little girl to a born again, slightly more secure women. I explain this only to help you understand how fwd I look to this day. When I hung up the phone I thought this is what it feel like to have Aids. To be a leper. To have a disability that people just do not understand so you are excluded because of fear.
Did I feel bad ya.. for a bit. Then I remembered what I just wrote. It's just because of fear and ignorance. They don't know so they are acting out of fear. Hey I'm a germaphobe so I kind of understand yet becuase I am a germaphobe I also know how you get Hep A so at the same time I don't understand. It's ok, I'm not angry I should not even be sharing so as to not make anyone feel bad or angry this is so not my point.
The Irony of the whole thing is with Hep A you are most contagious the week before you even realize you have it. That week my daughter was at the church most all these women attend clueless she was even sick along with many many strangers at a judgement house. (like a haunted house just Christian)
It really is ok if I don't go after all Henry is to have his surgery that next Monday and I really should not have planned to go in the first place. Now I have that Saturday free to be with my family. So another reason to Praise God. The lesson of the leper does not have to be a bad lesson. How many of you woul pay for a free day this time of year??? :):):)
So do me a favor next time you don't understand a disability a disease or illness just ask the person if they would mind telling you about it? The worst that will happen is that they will tell you they don't want to talk about it. More often then not you will find most are happy that someone cared enough to ask and then listen while the explanation is given. Time is a commodity you know.
On the light side Henry and Camille are doing wonderful. They have both gained a whopping four pounds each. They sure have added much to our lives since they have been here. To watch then smile laugh,love and be loved by our other children is worth Hep A at least once a year....
Enjoy this season and remember Jesus is the only reason we have this month to celebrate.
And if you have any questions about Hep A. Feel free to ask.
To read Naomi's story go to http://www.sim.org/index.php/content/world-aids-day-inspiration
Blessings Tiffany

Reality

Good Evening,
Thank you for all the well wishes. It has been requested that I blog more. The reality is I can't. My energy level is returning at a slower then snail rate. It is frustrating. My family is handling it well. My SIL and MIL are sharing a couple of my beautiful children for a couple days which helps with the noise/need/stress level in the house. It is allowing Morgan to regroup a bit. Today was my target date for getting better. Not happening. I did take a good nap today. We have not gotten the results of Henry or Camille Hep A test back yet. We are eager to get those back. Overall everyone is good here. Cabin fever has been tolerable so that is good.
Please continue to pray for those doing my job. And that whomever is supposed to be learning a lesson from this learn it so I can get better.
T

Yup it's true.

Shortly after my last post. I thought I had pulled something in my back. Couple days on the couch little ibuprophen and well it was tolerable. My oldest Samantha was in bed for that time as well.. truly in bed.....sleeping close to 20 hours a day. She had a sleeping sickness a few years ago so I really thought not a lot of it. So for the next week (as mothers do) it was an up and down sort of thing. I even took a trip to the Chiropractor thinking that would help. By the next Sunday Samantha and I were basically eating and drinking nothing. Our abdominal areas were so tender to breath, touch, cough, nausea and dizziness when standing was the norm then Morgan noticed a yellow sheen about us. Uh oh!!!
The Friday before I had made an Dr. apt for Samantha hoping that would jinx her well, Mon am I made one for myself. We had(as Dr's love) already self diagnosed before we got to the Dr. Hep A was our diagnosis. The Dr said with the jaundice it surely was just which kind. So mother/daughter went to the lab and back home to bed Oh the bonding. The next day the Dr's called to say that Samantha's levels were off the charts and that mine were double hers. So the suggestion was made that she and I go to the Hospital our Dr's work with and do labs. This did not please me because they had said I might need to be admitted and this is not a Hospital you would "choose" to go to. However the Dr assured me she would send her own daughter to this hospital(should have asked her if she liked her daughter) and that is was just for labs after all. So we reluctantly went. They did labs.. assured me I needed fluids I agreed because I was drinking and eating nothing and really wanted the magical effect that fluids seem to have on my little ones. So I gowned up and layed waiting for my magic treatment. Samantha was drinking water fast as she could to escape the same fate. My hesitancy for this hospital was proven shortly after they ran the fourth bag of fluid into my body in a very short period of time. After using the facilities man did I feel SO MUCH WORSE... so what do I hear them say from the galley "Admit her" NOOOOOO I think.. not here... So I calmly prayed that God would make it clear to me why I would need to stay there, I prayed he had someone for me to talk to about Christ, Down Syndrome whatever just a good reason.(He did) The hospital stay was so unsettling I broke out the next day although I would have really benefited from another day. I kept pretending I was in Africa and in the lap of luxury. :)
To come to date.. Samantha was up most of the day yesterday.. today, I am able to blog then perhaps a nap.:) Samantha has less and less of a glow each day.. we keep saying I am a couple days behind her. I pray.. All this said God is great and greatly to be praised. He always is isn't he? Amen!!
Now to clear up some of the where did you get it?
Initially it was thought a local Mexican restaurant that I took Samantha to the day after her birthday she and I had a quick lunch and are the only two with Hep. It was my understanding that Henry and Camille had been checked for this when I took them to the adoption clinic. However I was wrong. They have now been tested so we will see if one of them is the carrier. The Health dept has been out to give those who needed immunized the IG shot. Not the Hep A vaccine as it is grown in aborted fetal tissue. www.cogforlife.com
No this has not been a fun two and a half weeks. Morgan has had almost full duty since Gary works and is now in charge of running us all around to do labs and see Dr's. Our friends have been amazing and my fridge runneth over. What peace of mind this gives a Mom to know her family is eating wonderful food, even though she cannot:):):):) Samantha and I can basically eat bread without angering our livers.We like bread so it's ok. However the meals brought in look so good.
And NO I am not sorry to have brought Henry and Camille into our home. Perhaps I should spend more time in prayer for the binding of Satan against my family. Yet Henry and Camille are still gifts from God.. the scabies,ring worm, Hep A, Impentigo, all just bonus learning experience. It's how you handle it that counts. With each child in our home birth or adopted..there are not mistakes....human error has certainly caused their stories to be "off society's norm book" the uniqueness that brought each child to our home makes me so proud to be a part of. How one could look into the face of a child knowing we are ALL created in the image of God and say whew you are to much trouble, you are really not worth it. Well I am a diamond that has taken many many years of polishing and I am just starting to shine a little Oh how grateful I am that Jesus has never looked at me and said " Tiffany you, you are just to much trouble." Sorry I'm not going to be there for you anymore.
Praise God for his Faithfulness, Praise God for his Mercy, Praise God for his Grace.
Then remember Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.... Then Praise God again.

Seven weeks

Good Morning,,
Wow! It has been seven weeks since Gary and Morgan made their way with many other couples to Addis, Ababa to pick up our precious Henry and Camille. It has been an honor to be a part of their coming to the USA. Boy does time fly when you are changing diapers, wiping faces, feeding bottles, going to Dr appts. over and over and over and over.... Their are so many who helped.. there are those who prayed, those who had soup supper/bake sale/auctions for us, and those who chose to give a monetary gift. Each day and especially when I look into those beautiful little faces, I am thankful for all who helped and supported us on this adventure. In truth so many are still supporting us. Meet and Greats, Baby showers, surprise gifts arriving in the mail and one women who just handed money to Gary as he walked past her at church. Wow we have been so blessed by everyone. Thank you so much..

So how are the kids doing? They are great. Henry is off O2. PTL!!! He is still a little wet towel.. he just has NO muscle's or tone. He has only gained a half pound since getting here. I know he has been sick but I really expected he would tank it on a bit faster then he is. We tank him full of high calorie food all day and night. Really this just validates that he needs his heart repair. We have scheduled his surgery for December 14th. So little Henry will be enjoying the holiday season from the confines of his own home and the rest of us will be going out as little as possible, in hopes of keeping him well. This means our church family who has been SOOO supportive may not see him in person until after his repair. It was initially discussed that he would have his repair the week before Thanksgiving, the change come because the surgeon is taking several weeks off around that time. So Dec 14th it is. Henry is still very personable.. he is very smart as well. The other day I was holding him and cracked a joke.. he rolled his eyes and chuckeled. So I asked him if he was really four or five to that he again looked at me an chuckeled.. so who knows what my floppy boys DOB really is. For spending all his days in a baby bed he has attached very well and seems to realize at least that I am the head lady in charge and not just any old nanny.

How is Camille? She is also great. Camille is a little rougher around the edges then Henry. Last night my husband took the older five to our friends home they have a Dairy farm and each year have a Fall Festival. That left me with the younger four. So we hunkered down in the Living room and played.. Camille who is short, stalky yet a solid muscle(she must have Henry's tone also) she crawled up the couch then down, up the toddler picnic table that is in the LR for just such a reason then down the other side.. under the picnic table up to Dad's recliner over the side.. ok this might not seem like a big deal to a lot of you, those of you with children that have DS well you will understand. Remember it has been 5 years since I had a plain ol regular kid and well her development just blows me away. Camille is taking longer to feel comfortable.. I do think she thinks I am just another nanny even if she calls me mama. Ocassinally she calls Morgan mama also we agree in her mind we are all just nannies. Last Saturday we did spend the day outside in the sun it seemed to really put her in a better mood. That said I am ready for spring.:):):):):) Or to move to South Carolina!!!!

Overall we are doing well, keeping our heads up anyway.. I am well behind the "proper" timeline in getting my thankyou's out.. sorry... we are busy mainly doing those everyday things.. just in mass quantity.

Have a wonderful weekend.. turn your clocks back and enjoy the season...
Tiffany

Sit back relax and enjoy!! You might recognize someone!!!

Reece's Rainbow

The rest of the story.. a day late... :o)

So here we are at the Tokoul orphanage waiting(could we possibly wait any longer.
There was laundry hanging on the lines, lots of laundry the poor ladies who must wash all those clothes by hand.:( We stood there ready to take the children in our arms as soon as they appeared. Then it happened three nannies with three babies whose were they?? The Waits got there twin girls so cute and the Peobles' little girl were the first to arrive, what a beautiful moment seeing families united after such a long wait. Two more nannies two more babies would they be ours, no the two precious little girls went into Ms. Moore's waiting arms. The Peobles and Ms. Moore went into the little visiting room while the Waits and ourselves hung out outside. Where were Henry and Camille???
They came and asked us again what our children's names were we told them Metesabia and Meskerem. One of the Waits little girls was also named Meskerem and they pointed to her and said this is Meskerem. Well the girls were obviously twins, that wasn't our girl. The nannies went back inside when they came out a few minutes later they told us we could go in. We walked past the laundry lines to the back door to the building Dad had his video camera out but they asked us to turn it off because of the other children. On the left side of the hallway we could see babies and toddlers in the different rooms.
A small room on the right side of the hallway is where we were told to wait. They closed the door when they left and I was praying they would open it any minute and there would be our kids. A minute later the Waits came in to feed there babies(the nannies had brought them bottles). The nannies and Tesfaye(our driver) came in again asking for Henry and Camile's numbers, thankfully we had been told we would need the numbers so Dad had them ready, then we were left to wait again. I was dying inside could they be at another orphanage, could they have already been adopted, Where were they?!?!?!
Then the door opened and there they were Camille was given to Dad and Henry was placed in my arms, as I held him I thought I never want to let him go. I looked into his beautiful eyes and stroked his soft hair, as my fingers touched his forehead he looked up and smiled. He was beautiful his smile made all that waiting worth it. How could we have lived without him? The Waits were very kind and took some picture for us even though they too had there hands full. I then had to give Henry up though it was only to Dad. Camille looked at us like who are you and what is going on here. Poor thing her face was swollen and she had just had the chickenpox so she still has scabs all over her.:( She didn't seem to impressed with me, but she did like the bubbles Mrs. Waits had brought. While we were holding Henry and Camille it started to rain OK pour outside. I felt so bad for the poor nannies as they ran to get the laundry off the line, all that work.:(
Our time with the kids seemed to fly by(unlike all the waiting before)I didn't want to give them back, but I knew though i would miss them and couldn't wait to see them again they were happy because this was their home. So i kissed them goodbye and gave them back to their loving nannies.
On the drive home we all talked about the kids, how old they were how beautiful they were and of course how we couldn't wait to go back tomorrow. Back at the guesthouse we had dinner and headed up to our rooms. I repacked my diaper bag though I knew we wouldn't be checking them out for a few more days, I was just so excited. I was in another country in a beautiful city with beautiful people and now the children we had been waiting for for so long were real and not too far away. As I laid in bed and prayed for my family close to me and across the world I just couldn't believe how blessed I was. What a wonderful first day in Ethiopia.
Morgan

Morgan is back..

O+ where did I leave off, yes we were at the Guest house and had another three hours to wait till we would be driven to the orphanage. Oh what would we do, how could we wait... So after being told repeatedly Do NOT eat fresh vegtables or fruits. We went downstairs and what did they serve us for lunch??? SALAD.. and bread..What do you do? They were watching us.. Over and over in our paperwork it warns travelers against this. So we ate it.. (then ran upstairs and had probiotics and prayed)
After lunch we hung out a bit and then our driver Tesfaye (TesfI) took us to the Toukoul Orphanage. It was about a 15 minute drive on the way there we saw lots of people it was amazing the difference in the Ethiopian people alone there were people dressed in jeans and tshirts, suit coats, tattered clothes and traditional Ethiopian garb. All walking the streets together.. some with somewhere to go, some with nowhere to go. Many of the billboards were in English. This is because there are a lot of tourists. Along with the people there were cattle, donkey's, and lots of goats. The goats were obviously unaware that they would be dinner come Thursday which was he Ethiopian New Year.Do you know what year it is there? There were many tarps laid on the ground people were selling anything and everything. books, banana's, meat. The streets in the city were made of asphalt, the road to the orphanage was mud. There are no street lights and many lanes of trafic. There was really no guides for driving you just did. The drivers used there horns to communicate not to just say get out of my way.. kind of like saying I'm over here with your horn. Our driver Tesfaye said everyone gets in about five to ten fender benders a year. However you just move on no insurance calls, no police, no anger no it's your fault you just move on. As we turned onto the mud road and saw the Blue gates of the Toukoul orphanage I could hardly wait to hold Henry and Camille. We know that some wait much longer then we have but when it's your turn... well it's your turn. The man opened the gates, we parked all got out out of the van not really knowing what to do. There were some french people waiting, after about five minutes their children were brought out. There was one couple who got a little boy about two.. he was just clueless that this was his mommy and that she had come to get him and take him to his forever home. He kept looking back at the nanny's for guidence.
It was a good to have this to watch while we waited for our little ones. The question is where are our little ones???????
Unless Henry goes to the Hospital I'll see you tomorrow for The Rest of the Story.
Dictated by Morgan typed by her Mom

How's it goin?

Well to most it would be hectic, to much work and we have even had a couple people insinuate that it is not worth it...WHAT!?!?!? not worth it.. Oh my my my, what some people miss out on .. Now I must be honest the one thing I prayed to not get was those little scabies.. and oh did we get them.. along with ringworm, Giardia, ear infections, colds, a short hospital stay, a little girl that wants to be held every second of the day (yes we do hold her) and a little boy on Oxygen. Nope would not trade it for the world.. my comment is often "What else would I be doing?" and I mean it. My next response is, always better to obey God then to not.. (learned this the hard way) do I get an Amen??
It has been a lot of work so far. Somedays I wonder if we should have gotten an older little girl, but then we left it up to the Lord to choose out daughter so no worries.. Just a few more diapers.
They are both wonderful last night we were all in the living room, this is where we spend a lot of time, especially since little Henry only has fourteen feet of tubing for his O2. Henry was in his bumbo and Maggie had her hands on his cheeks just talking so sweet to him. When Camille cries (which I must say is kind of often) she pats her and says it ok baby it ok baby... She is such great big sister. Praise The Lord...

One special treat I received when Henry and I came home from the hospital. Was a particular little man I love soooo much stood up and walked over to me.. My little Peter is a very cautious little guy so walking well is just to edgy for him. He is doing a great job and although he does not walk full time yet.. he is getting there. To be honest I am grateful to have one boy that is not all dare devil..

Back to Henry, I am not pleased with his breathing. since coming home instead of weaning him from his O2 we have actually bumped him up a bit. There has not been much time in the last three weeks to look over his medicals from the orphanage , so yesterday was the day, after looking them over it appears he has spent a fair amount of his life on oxygen. Not sure how this affects us at this point however I am a bit unhappy that the Dr did not tell this to Gary especially since he was on oxygen just a few days and possibly up to the day Gary and Morgan met him. That is not nice and really the only complaint I have about the whole process.
Today Peter goes to the Dr (ear infection/low grade fever) I am taking Henry with me.. you know slip him in.. Dr's love that don't they?? Just for a second opinion. Better go get breakfast just gave Henry is bottle, Peter is looking like if he does not get a cheerio he might fly away
Have a great weekend
Tiffany

New news

Well first let me say that Morgan is waiting patiently to continue her Note from Morgan column, however, Henry's Pneumonia has got the best of him so she is at home doing I am sure a better job of being me then I do most days.
Yes Henry has had his first Ambulance ride.. I think for his second birthday we will take him for a train ride then he will have covered several methods of transport by a young age.
Henry has been on antibiotics for a couple weeks and breathing treatments several times a day. However it's just not cutting it so Sat am I guess his tiny body had enough and when checked had a temp of 103.5 so the Dr said take him in.. There is a frustrating story that finally got him downtown but I will share that later.. the hospital is so full we are actually in the original wing so I have come down to the Ronald McDonald room to shower. So my Henry is waiting for me.
Please pray for complete healing for Henry's lungs. and any and all bugs we have inside and out..
Happy Lords day,, Praise God he is in America where there is a hospital for him to go to...
Tiffany

Technical Dificulty

Just a little not to say that Morgan has run into technical difficulty... which trasnslates as we were at the Dr's all afternoon and our wonderful friend had a get togther for us and some of our friends so the could meet Henry and Camille tonight. By the time we got home... all the kiddo's were out so Morgan went on to bed. So Morgan's post today will be post-poned to tomorrow.
Goodnight
Morgans Mom.......

Today's post from Morgan

We have been home for a few weeks now and they have been wonderful. Yes I said wonderful even with the scabies, ear infections, ringworm, and pneumonia. It's great to be home, seeing Mom with Henry and Camille..... that's wonderful.

Our trip really was an eye opening experience. The beauty of Addis and the Ethiopian people, yet the devastation and trials they endure. On the plane ride to Ethiopia there was an aire of excitement, people going to visit family, people going home, and people like us going to pick up the new special member or members of their family's. We met several families who were also adopting on the plane one of which was with our agency, the Waits. We also met a couple named Travis and Shannon who were adopting a 10 month old little boy, they were with a different agency. Shannon was wonderful to talk with and I was very disappointed that we would not get to have the joy of spending the week getting to know them better.
When the plane landed people clapped, it made me wonder how much louder the clapping would be when we landed in the U.S. after the long flight with babies.
We then went through the airport and got our visas, next they looked at our passports and we went to claim our luggage. Dad left me by one of the luggage carousels with our carry-on luggage while he went to find our checked bags and a cart to carry them. While he was away three of our four bags showed up, I hurried to pull them off the carousel before they disappeared. The last bag didn't show up thankfully until Dad came back , we then got them on the cart and headed for customs. there were three long lines so we picked one and were set to wait but then a security guard asked us if we had any valuables Dad showed him his Camera and he let us go around the people in line. I'm not sure why we got to go around but I am thankful.
We entered the terminal and started searching for the sign with our name [which it turns out they didn't have]. We were standing in the terminal thinking we would just wait until it cleared out a little bit when someone asked if we needed to call a taxi we told him not yet. As soon as he walked away a man came up and asked if we were Americans coming to adopt. When we said yes he pointed to a group standing a ways off to our left, the Waits were in it so we knew it was the right group.:)
We headed out to the parking lot and loaded the bags into the two vans that were waiting. The guest house was just a few minutes away. When we got to the guest house the "guards" and drivers carried our bags to our rooms. We were on the fourth floor and by the time I reached our room I was out of breath( I think it was the elevation not my being out of shape.) :):):)
We had to wait until 3:30 to go visit the kids because that is when they would be up from their rest. The next three and a half hours seemed to take longer than the plane ride, we were so close yet we couldn't get to our little ones fast enough. Tick Tock Tick Tock..... I'll be back tomorrow.....
Morgan

Progress...... I think!!!

Well it has been what almost three weeks since Gary and Morgan returned home from Africa with our two newest additions.. I say newest because we have learned never to say "last" additions. Gary said they had a conversation with many on the plane... everyone agreed you don't say "this is IT" on the plane ride home or soon after getting home. (Good plan) Gary will be the first to admit you should not ever say things like, "We are NOT getting a little boy with Down Syndrome!" that just may not be God's plan and your next son will be blessed with Down Syndrome... His name is Peter... :):):):) Then you should also not say "We are NOT going all the way to another country and spending all that time and money to get another child" comments like that will get you TWO children from another country... (right Mike?)
So those of you reading this, well you should just smile and say yes that's right... it would be best not to pause to long on the thought or go to www.reecesrainbow.com and look at all the beautiful children (especially those blessed with DS) who need forever homes...

Ok the adoption plug has been made now... an update on the kids.. Oh my Camille is getting more beautiful everyday.. perhaps because all he pox scabs are about gone so we are able to get a comb through her hair. Her ears must be getting better because she is starting to sing and smile more and more each day. She is quite the opinionated little one.. (she'll fit right in) she is on the verge of walking. We have a little song we sing to her and in a very concrete stand she bounces up and down on her knees. Then falls down but she gets back up and bounces some more. Yesterday Maggie patted her on the shoulder and said Maggie's sister...... that was very nice... Peter also is able to pat them or touch them and smile now. He has been having his own battle with allergies lately so is not 100% either. Then there is little Mr. Henry.. he has now been on 6 days of antibiotics and every four hour breathing treatments.. he still sounds like he smokes and today his fever played bouncy ball with me and would be up then not then up then not. We will go to the pedi on Fri and get an xray to see if his lungs look better. If not it would seem to me that a little trip to the kid pokey to get some IV meds would be in order.. he is still so happy though.. wow so happy..
My battery is running out so bye for now'
Blessings to you all
Tiffany

Having a go at it....

Well I am sure many of you are aware of a service called Caringbridge. Although we have enjoyed keeping updated on many through this service, we have never used it ourselves. Actually for some reason I did not know it exsisted while Maggie and Peter had their surgery's.
We have created a Caringbridge http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/henryninemire site for Henry and hope this will help keep you, our friends and family updated on Henry's story.
If you want you can sign up for Journal updates then each time we update Henry's story you will be notified via email.
Hope you all had as wonderful of a weekend as we did.
The kids are so wonderful, Maggie is still pleased as punch with her new sibs and Peter is coming around slowly but surely. He can even say Henry with a smile.

Blessings ~~Tiffany~~

Second opinion

Good afternoon,
Just a little update to say that when you feel as a mother that a Dr has not listened to you.. it is always good to get a second opinion. Long story short that nice Dr. on Monday from the International clinic we saw that thought perhaps Henry had swine flu and although he was concerned about the large welts on her scalp said nothing really about them. He was a nice guy however it turns out that Henry has a significant case of Pneumonia in both lobes. Camille still has a double ear infection and either scabies in her scalp ( we could not see them initially because of her pox scabs) or she has had an allergic reaction to the last antibiotic she had. So Henry got a nice shot of antibiotics at the Dr's a couple breathing treatments, that we will continue for several days and a nice 10 day antibiotic to take at home. Hopefully he will respond well to this treatment. Camille also has a new script that we hope will take care of her ears and has had her bath in that nice insecticide cream.. yes that means more laundry.. however I have learned that it is true if scabies were as contagious as my OCD believes they are we would all be covered.Praise God for OCD!!!!
That is what we are up to I must say despite how Henry must feel with 7 days of fever , bad breathing and constant coughing he still smiles every time you look at him..
Can't wait to see how the little ones are next week it will be like having different children.
~~Blessings~~
Tiffany

The whole gang

Here is a picture we quickly clicked at the airport right before taking off to the Dr's. This might be as good of a picture as we can get without going to our favorite photographer Brandi. She just has a way with us all.

Just thought I would share.

Tiffany

Camille

Little Camille. She is so beautiful and a wonderful snuggeler. Camille is so tiny yet so capable. She seems cognitively right on. Yeah!! We expect her to walk on her own anytime. Camille is a bit clingy. She certainly expects to be help when she wants to be held. So in turn she is held a lot. Can't remember if I have already said this but, there ability to attach is amazing and a total credit to the wonderful Nannies at Toukoul Orphanage. Morgan said Camille had three Nannies and after they had given Camille to she and Gary one came and took her back kissed and talked to her some more then they passed her around again all telling her goodbye and kissing her. What wonderful women they are to nurture our children for us until they come home. Camille is now eating solid foods and is none to picky. She sits in her bumbo with her hands resting on the sides looking at you thinking keep it comin keep it comin.... Oh she is also sleeping through the night with one great nap during the day. Praise God for this. She is still very congested and has a bad runny nose. Surely we will get that taken care of tomorrow at clinic. This will be her first outing.!! Her next outing will not be until Oct 2nd when a friend is having a little meet and greet for Henry and Camille. We are hoping to collect some shoes to send back with friends to the children of Toukoul. I am hoping when Gary feels better and Morgan and I are done doing laundry they will post about their time in Addis Ababa.. They both enjoyed their time there very much.

Until then

Tiffany

Henry

Ok so maybe this is not the best picture however it does capture his honery personality. Henry could be the poster child for Down Syndrome. You know when people say those Downs kids they are so loving,,,,, then I say you don't know anyone with Down Syndrome do you?? Because we all know they can be just as if not more strong willed then those plain ol regular kids. However those with Down Syndrome do have what I say is the purest closest to Jesus Love I believe you can find here on earth. They love most people regardless of age, size, race, social status.. if they are going to like you they are going to love you. Henry is just that he smiles and flirts with you so you must smile back at him. He does not like his bath however as soon as you put the towel around him he just smiles at you all forgiving. His skin looks so much better,, have you ever slathered your child with Olive oil? It makes them soooo soft. Henry is holding his head up a bit better now. He also rolls pretty around pretty good. We are working on eating solid foods. Even with milk he tends to push some out with his tongue. Making for a messy meal time. It also takes him about an hour to finish a bottle... any suggestions anyone??? Peter is still trying to get someone to return these beauties. Overall I think what ticks him off the most is that he wants their bottles. He is a lover of the bottle. Henry is a joy. Every once in awhile I look at him and just say.........WOW your the boy in the picture... Amazing.
~~~Tiffany~~~

A bit of an update....

Well, I know it is about time and sadly I just want to go to sleep so I am going to try to be brief...
We have had a great week. As of Saturday we will be repasting on the insectiside to all those who need it. Just to make sure any little guys working on hatching do not succeed. Yuck! Last count we are at 38 loads of laundry this week. (just to make sure they are all dead) you can't see them you know?? If you know me well you know this kind of thing makes me a bit OCD.
The kids are great. Henry is the most laid back little guy I have ever met. Not sure if this will be long term or just until he realized he can ask for stuff. He is already doing much better at holding his head up. The bumbo is his friend. Took him to the Cardiologist yesterday. His Cardio says he has a little hypertension.... is that like he has a little Down syndrome? So reality is that he needs his heart fixed sooner would be better then later however we are going to snuggle him a bit longer and try to fatten him up. Thought we were doing pretty good at that, then last night he started in with the water poo. So as it goes in,, it also comes out no ground gained. We do go to the International Adoption clinic next week so we will check for internal creepy crawlies.....aughh....Henry is very popular at our house even with water poo. :)
Little Camille, she does have the most beautiful voice it is high pitched but not fingernail on chalkboard high. Just a beautiful sound when she babbles... she is tiny however just on the edge of walking. It will be so cute to see her take off at her size. Canille will still not eat solid foods. She will go to the Pedi tomorrow because she has the worst wheezy cough. She is not as laid back as Henry and knows how not only to ask for stuff but to demand a bit as well. The voice is not so cute at these times. She is a smart little cookie and has even said a few words.. like mama..YES!!! It has been a long time since I have had a plain ol regular little one, It different but good. We are so pleased God led us to bring her home along side Henry. Camille has taken to her big brother Timothy very well. When she is being demanding I put a front pack on him and he walks her around the yard naming things trees, fence, dog ect. It's nice for us all.
Many have asked how Maggie and Peter are taking to their new siblings. Well Maggie is good, she likes them and is very nurturing. Peter has been going around to different people asking for help finding the receipt for them.. he is pretty sure it is around here and would like to find it so he can return them both. I did get him to greet them both with a handshake yesterday .. that was it one smile, one hand shake one nod of the head for each he was giving them no more.
Gary and Morgan are still a bit run down and it will be nice when they are up to par. This week was kind of a wash with the scabies, ear infections and the time change. We are hoping in the next couple weeks to fall into a better routine. At this time Henry is waking up once at night for a bottle then goes right back to sleep. Camille also wakes up once anywhere between 3:00 and 4:45 for a bottle however she then STAYS UP!!!!!!!!!!! This does not float my boat but we get to snuggle together alone and that is nice. And God has honored me this week by giving me several extra helpings of energy.
We will be keeping Henry and Camille home and away from people for another couple weeks, they can't wait to meet all their new friends and realitives . Again we thank you all for your support and especially your prayers. God has been faithful in ways we don't even know and we praise him for it..
Thank you Lord for all you have entrusted us with may we be pleasing to you in all that we do... Amen.
~~~~Tiffany~~~~