Here's a little something to go along with that:
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
YAY!!
MONTAGUES: 1
HURDLES: 0
Finally--a break!!
Took Natan to see his pediatrician to have his hearing re-checked and to get a letter of permission to have the county start his testing.
Lo and behold he PASSED!!!!!
What a great feeling when half the nurses, who have known us since the day George was born, cheered along with me! Major shout out to The Kids Specialists and Dr. Catherine Mauer, hands down best pediatrician out there! LOVE HER!!
After George's diagnosis back in 2004, I received a call from Dr. Mauer, having only known her for three months. She was just calling to say, "Thinking of you" and "Are you holding up OK?" I will never forget that kindness and for that plus many other reasons, we will be loyal patients!
Now, almost six years later, she still shows the same concern for each and every one of our kids. She has embraced all four children with a loving heart and tirelessly deals with my never ending questions!
So...hurdle one is no longer--we are in the process!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Stuff
Heading to a music festival in Marietta this morning with my children's choir--they will be awesome, because they are awesome!
Supposed to go on to Six Flags after, but with the weather, thinking not! Rain date!
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Ethiopia update: We now have to make two trips...yikes! Parents are now required to be present for the court date. Both parents. Unless there are major circumstances that prevent one parent from going. I am thinking that having no one in the country to help watch the kids 24/7 is considered a major circumstance!! Then, one parent returns for the visa appointment and to bring home baby! Still no referral, but at least we know ahead of time what to now expect.
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
Just wanted to say...
I would just like to point out that there is nothing wrong with adoption.
There is nothing wrong with foreign adoption.
If you have completed neither a foreign nor domestic adoption, you should probably just keep your opinions to yourself.
People adopt from other countries for many reasons.
We went through a domestic process a few years back, and simply did not want to mess with the crazy red tape. We chose Ethiopia instead. Man, am I glad we did.
Yes, there are many kids right here in this country that need homes.
But there are millions dying in other countries that need homes and there are no programs in place to take care of them.
That's not a political statement. It's not a liberal thought. It's just the opinion of a person who thinks that we could do a better job taking care of each other--loving each other--without judgment.
Monday, April 12, 2010
What's your verdict?
So...we have had confirmation that it is indeed racist and just plain thoughtless to make the following comments regarding Natan:
"How can you tell if he's dirty?"
"Doesn't he blend in with the mud? How can you tell the difference between him and the dirt?"
So...my question, readers:
Is it OK for people to imitate the way Asian people speak in a not-flattering way?
What if I started making fun of Southern accents, insinuating that with the accent comes stupidity? And what about now that Mimi cocks her head and gives a look that says, "I know there is something wrong with this, but I don't yet understand..."
Perhaps I am realizing that in truth, some things are not funny. We expect children to do things and say things that are not always appropriate because they may not have learned any better yet...but an adult?? No excuse.
Perhaps I am becoming earnest as I get older and wiser. I know you can have a sense of humor without being cruel or racist.
Just be funny.
Or try silence...
Friday, April 09, 2010
Scrambled, poached, or fried...
George: (looking at my stomach) "There are no more babies in your tummy."
Me: "Nope. That's right."
George: "Can there be another baby?"
Me: "Do you want Mommy to have another baby?"
George: "Yep."
Me: "I'll have to talk to Daddy."
George: "No...you just need to eat the baby, and then go to the hospital and squish it out. It's in an egg. That's how."
Oh--NOW I get it!!!!
Monday, April 05, 2010
Sad Day
After a most fabulous weekend, our guests have departed...from our house, not the earth.
When the kids got up, Mimi asked where they were and started crying when I said they had gone back home. Very sad. George is "pissed up." Not sure if it's at them or me...he just wanted them to stay!
We had a great visit, and we can't wait to see them in the summer on our way to or home from Nova Scotia!
Saturday, April 03, 2010
The Eagles have landed!
Our cousins are here!
Family!
We are so excited!
Olivia and Nikol have NOT changed and do not look a day older than they did the last time we saw them!
And they are still liberal Democrats!!!!
Life is good...
They gave us some stuff of Bill's--"Billy Montague" report cards, homemade stuff, the newspaper, wrapped in its original brown paper, from the day Billy was born.
I forgot how much I miss Bonnie and Bill--and how much our kids would have loved them.
The kids were bouncing off the walls all day in anticipation of the visit. In order to explain where they live (Maryland and Georgetown), I simply told them that they live near Barack Obama. That sent them over the moon!
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Mimi and George attended Jason's choir program last night with me--it was fabulous!!! An in-tune orchestra made up of volunteer teens and adults is worth its weight in gold--and his choir always sounds great!
And Jason in a tux, I must say: YUMMY!!!!
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Received a referral update Thursday--there are more babies who are getting through the legal stuff as we speak, then we are next in line! I can't stand the wait. It could be number ten, and I would feel the same impatience. Her lovey arrived yesterday, and now the kids are getting VERY excited!
Mimi suggested we let the dogs lay on it so it would smell like us.
Hmmmm.
I suggested we all give her a snuggle and then Mommy will spray a teeny bit of perfume on it. Nothing about Elizabeth Arden says dog!
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Speaking of dog.
Had a Marley & Me moment on Thursday. I heard some rustling nearby and caught Reggie stealing some wrapped Easter chocolate I had set out for my students. I chased him, literally in circles around the sun room (not very calm-assertive), without yelling because I was laughing, and finally got him. He had three pieces of chocolate, wrapped in foil that he was madly trying to swallow until I reached down his throat and got them--those pieces are for kids who never practice!
*****
Natives are restless...and I don't mean our company!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Ahhh...
Spring...I welcome you with open arms!
Today was what I consider a perfect day.
Kids agree.
Clear blue sky.
Strong sun.
Light cool breeze.
Played outside until we had to come in for a break!!!!
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Things said of late:
Mimi (when I took out our pound cake baked this morning):
"Mama...you are a good cooker!"
George, yesterday while Jason and I were having a conversation about Elvis Presley:
"Elvis? We know Elves, Mama!"
Me: "Huh??"
George: "You know--at Nana's Blue House!"
Me: "Huh??"
George: "Elvis...who lives by Nana on the farm."
Me: "Oh! You mean ELDON!!!!!"
George: "Yeah...Eldon."
(moment of silence)
George: : "I like Eldon. He's my friend."
And finally, this one was heard while the kids were playing with play dough. They were making little play dough balls and rolling them along the kitchen table:
Natan: "Wook, Mama! I have Georgie's balls!"
George: "Mama! Natan gots my balls! NATAN!!! Give me my balls back!!!!!!"
Yeah...I really have no comment...
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Jason's cousins (Dad's side), Nikol and Olivia, are coming this weekend to visit form D.C. The kids are SUPER excited to see them and it is all they talk about! Is today "Cousint Day?" I hear every day, all day! Have baked and cooked and shopped and we will pick them up Friday evening! It's been awhile and we are all looking forward to their visit!!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y---NIGHT!!!
The song is so much more exciting than me sitting here listening to Jason snore on the couch beside me!
Saw some old friends at Jason's school yesterday...so good to see familiar faces!!!
Afterward, we tried a new Ethiopian restaurant, Bole, which is around the corner from his school. It was excellent--very spicy!!!! The kids loved it--only Vinny ate the spicy food!
They have only been open 2 months, and we really want them to stay--it's good and also closer to us!!
*****
I think I am nesting. I sorted through all the kids' clothing this morning--dividing up the 0-12, 18 month, 2 year, all the way up to 10-12! Friends have been so generous with their own kids clothing, handing them down to us, and I had a crazy urge to get it all organized and separated. And it was so much fun going through the baby girl stuff!!!
*****
Lovie for Lovie!
Here is the "lovie" for our new Lovie...it is sibling-approved!!!! Mimi has a pink bear lovie and thought her new sister would LOVE to have this one! We are starting to get stuff together so we are ready when her referral comes! The agency suggests sending over a few items and a picture (for the staff), which we did for Natan. It is kind of nice to arrive and see your new child with some things from his/her new home...
This child, number five, is as exciting as one through four!!!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
All in a day...
Mimi: "Mama...where did you get the recipe for this?"
She was referring to my evidently righteous "Beans & Wieners"--I told her it was a family recipe passed on from my great-great/her great-great-great grandmother. I told her it would be hers one day and now she is very excited!!
What a letdown it will be one day when I smack a pack of turkey wieners down beside a can of Bush's Baked Beans and say, "Heat 'er up, girl!"
****
While on the treadmill, V and N were napping and M and G were watching Kai Lan. George came running into the workout room and informed me that Sponge Bob was coming on--that is a "no no" show. Don't ask me why, I just don't let them watch it.
George: "It's OK, mama. We can handle it. We can handle Sponge Bob."
****
Tonight was our weekly Wal Mart shop. As a treat, we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for a coffee (obviously for Mom--DECAF). Vinny and I waited in the van. As Jason came back with the others and a cup of coffee, Vinny started singing,
"Coppee, coppee, cooo-ppee!" Music to my ears!!!!!
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Natan sat at the piano today and placed a nice little bit...do we have a musician in the making??
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Must. Get. Some. Sleep.
Midnight.
I was wide awake last night into the wee hours of the morning. This always happen, as my mind tends to race as soon as my head hits the pillow.
Thinking about so many things and I absolutely cannot stop. Suggest what you will--this has happened all my life and nothing helps.
Hoping to be asleep within the next thirty minutes...thought my blog would do the trick!!
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Mimi came downstairs tonight around 10:00 or so...dazed and confused.
I asked the standard question when this happens:
"Where are you?" (she said basement while standing in the sun room)
Now I know she is asleep--we don' wake her up unless we have to--it's what the exerts say!
I pick her up and hold her.
Then the crying starts.
Get her on the toilet before she pees in her jammies or throws up--or both on a tough night.
Tonight was an 8 on a scale of 1-10.
Mimi has Night Terrors.
Night terrors can happen to anyone, not just to children who are adopted. This is part of the reason we co-sleep. This daughter of ours didn't have anyone snuggling her or loving her for almost a year of her life. We are not going to just ignore that because of those around us who are conventional, anal people who frown on our sleeping arrangements.
You don't have to sleep with us, so why do you care??
Now that I understand her night terrors, I know how to properly handle them.
The part that worries me is that she sleep walks from upstairs and has no knowledge of where she is. This is a tad dangerous...
By the time I got her "calm", her eyes have stopped rolling back and she is asleep in my arms.
Back upstairs, she snuggled in and had a few bits of conversation. Phew.
It breaks my heart to see and hear her go through this, and all I can do is hug her close until it passes. She is sleeping soundly beside me with Reggie and Stanley on her feet and I can hear the post-cry sniffly breathing...
****
Still, with all the insomnia and chaos, I wouldn't trade this for the world.
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OK...I really need to sleep.
Well, uh, OK, let me see!
The other day Mimi asked, out of the blue:
"Mama...how did Daddy put the baby inside your tummy?"
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
So go already!
My wish for today:
Every person/American that is "threatening" to move to an island or whatever because of a health care bill that while not perfect, will help so many, MOVE ALREADY!
Stop making idle threats and getting our hopes up!!!!!!!!! A country without some of you would definitely be better!
But please do not move to Canada--they don't want you--trust me!!!!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Rainy Sunday Randomness
The other day, Mimi was laying on her "Diego" pillow. I reminded her that she used to love Diego, even more than Dora. I asked her if it was that she likes all the boys we have...
She answered, "It's because he has eyes and hair like me."
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George: "Mama, may I tell you something?
Me: "Sure--what is it?"
George: "I love you..."
****
And, some puppy love:
Saturday, March 20, 2010
First Day of Spring!
I believe this YouTube clip says it all--four out six Montagues were in the pool today!! Obviously not Vinny or Minna! Mimi went in after Dad, then George (SURPRISE!!!), followed by Tan-Tan (Vinny's name for Natan!).
Enjoy the clip--Karen L, this one's for you and may I say, "Good times!"
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