Spoiled

Ever feel like you are barely hanging on?

I had one of those days earlier this week.

I actually sat down all ready to write about my

"horrible" day and how frustrated I was.

 I found out we were further behind on our adoptions

finalizing then I thought.  It really overwhelmed me and

made me sad.  We can't move out of state until our adoption

is finalized.  I mean technically we could but it would cost a

whole lot more in legal fees and time to get a new home study

and ICPC etc...  We have just been playing the waiting game

in our lives in so many areas regarding selling our house,

building a house, which land to build it on, finalizing our

adoptions, hearing about whether

or not the kids qualify for adoption subsidies the list goes on.

On this particular bad day I felt

so overwhelmed with all these unsolved questions and with

house work and laundry and all the

errands I was behind on.  I was also as always just feeling a

little too plump.  I have been trying to loose a few pounds

before we go to Florida at the end of the month so I don't

traumatize the locals when they see me in a swimsuit.

Ok so back to the point

I sat down to write this whiny post and as I was editing the

pictures to put in the post my mood changed. 

While I began

to type sweet Zoe snuggled in my lap and laid her head on

my shoulder.  The mood was gone.  I felt as if God was

shouting at me from the heavens saying "Rachel get over it!" 

I mean I know God cares for me and wants to bless all of us

and truly cares for our burdens. 

On this day I was just acting like a spoiled child. 

I had forgotten in those moments of frustration that

his timing is perfect. 

I would hate to rush anything and ruin his perfect

plan.  I am beyond blessed.  While I wait for the adoption to

finalize I am still their Mommy.  I still get to hold and love

them unlike so many parents around the world desperately

waiting for their children to be in their arms.  I get to live in

a beautiful house while I wait for someone to buy it and

then I will get to move to another beautiful house.  And

unlike some dear friends who are suffering through cancer

and health uncertainties my family is healthy. 

Seriously, I could do nothing in that moment but repent to

God tell him I trust him and his perfect plan and thank him

for this beautiful life he has given me.

Don't we all get a little spoiled at times.  Caught up in the

very small details of the day and forget the big picture and

purpose of our lives.

Late this week I was catching up on some other blogs and I

found this. 

Read it and you will immediatley realize how blessed you are.

And speaking of blessing lets continue to give to Anika and

bless her adoptive family with the funds to bring her home. 

You can read about her here.  Seriously even a $5 or $10

donation will make and difference and you won't even miss

it.



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I am back

This little girl scared us.

Last Monday Eli was out of town for work.

Ayla woke up with a fever she seemed tired, was really

thirsty and wasn't interested in eating.  As a mom of five I

have been there before many times with sick kids. 

I gave her some Tylenol and let her sleep it off. 

She threw up a couple times.

We had a really long day outside the day before so I just

thought she was tired from the day before and needed to get

some extra rest.  She slept most of the day and drank a lot. 

I decided to have her sleep in my bed that night because she

had been throwing up and I wanted to keep an extra eye on

her.  She said she wanted to watch cartoons in my bed while I

got the other kids ready for bed.  So I was standing in front of

my bed flipping through different cartoons. 

While still looking at the TV I said,

"Ayla how about Max and Ruby?" 

No answer

So I turned around and there she was blue.

I ran up to her and yelled "Ayla, AYLA!"

No response.

Her eyes were rolled back and she was foaming at the mouth.

I screamed for Jackson to bring me my phone.

I quickly realized that would take to long and I needed to get

Ayla to the ER now. 

I had 4 other little ones and Eli was gone.

I ran little blue Ayla out the front door and yelled for help

while our hero Jackson started banging on our neighbors

door.  Ayla's coloring came back but she was lethargic.

Praise God our neighbors had just gotten home and

ran right over to stay with the other kids. 

I called 911 and off we went in the ambulance.

Once we were in the ambulance we were pretty sure that

Ayla had a seizure.  I was so scared though because she

barely reacted when they put and IV in her little arm.  I kept

thinking of her blue body and thinking could she have brain

damage.  The Ambulance driver's probably thought I was

crazy as I was praying out loud for Ayla.  The ER doctor

confirmed that she had a seizure and as scary as it was for me

to see her blue and unresponsive it was more common then I

knew for kids to have fever induced seizures.  It is a

hereditary condition that triggers some kids to get seizures

with a high fever.  I had never seen a seizure before or heard

of anyone in my family having one.  Now we have learned

that my sister in law has the same condition. 

She had a seizure as a child and never had one again.  We are

hoping that this was Ayla's first and last seizure.  They

monitored her for a few hours that night and

she slowly returned to her normal silly self. 

She was thrilled that they let her have two purple popsicles. 

I barely slept for a couple nights just watching her to make

sure she didn't get to hot.  So I was wiped out and then last

Thursday we went on a trip. It has taken me a few days to

get reorganized and caught up and make time to post this.

Seeing my daughter like that really knocked the wind out of

me.  In the few moments that she was blue and unresponsive

I was so so scared of loosing her. I suppose this really wasn't

as big of a deal as it felt in the moment but it made me realize

the blessings I have in my life. 

 I have 5 healthy children. 

My husband and I are healthy. 

My sister's, parents and in laws are all healthy.

I don't want to take that for granted.

Praise God for our health.

There are so many mommies, brothers, sisters, fathers, sons

and daughters watching there loved ones suffer and praying

for their health.  What they would trade for health.

Thank you Jesus for giving my family health!

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Dates!

Pedicures and Manicures with my girls

and haircuts and Ice cream with my boys

I am one blessed Mommy!

If you haven't joined my giveaway yet click here to enter.  I

have loved reading about you guys.  I have learned so much!

Thanks for letting me peak into your lives.

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Snow Day

We have had a couple snow days this year and it cracks me

up because it seems as soon as a few flakes fall from the sky

they call off everything.  I am originally from the Chicago

area were I remember driving to school in a near blizzard

and sliding off the road because they rarely called school off

for snow.  I love snow days with the kids because it is so

rare to have a lazy, cozy day like this with Jackson.  I have

really been missing all the time I had with him before he

started kindergarten.  Max and Zoe had to stay warm and

cozy inside because they have both been sick.

I don't think there is anything cuter than a bunch of kids in

snow suits {grin}. 

 

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Play

We call the three in the middle the little tornado's

Can you guess why?

I would love some advice from those of you with large

families with lots of toddlers.  What do you do with the toys?

How do you get all the kids to pick up their fair share of toys

and put them back in the correct spot?

I love their creativity and excitement when they are using

their imagination but then when it is time to clean up it's like

pulling teeth (especially with my 3 year old).

We tried saying whatever toys don't get cleaned up will go in

a bag and we will give them away to kids who don't have any

toys.  Ayla says "great idea and grabbed lots of toys to

give away".  This backfired on us because it wasn't fair to the

kids who are cleaning up the mess they made and I don't

want them to feel like they have to clean up their brother and

sister's toys just so they don't get thrown away. 

Even without toys they make a lot of mess.

{which I don't mind as long as they clean it up}

My bed a few minutes after I made it {monkeys on the bed}

I totally understand the 5 kids equals lots of mess and

I don't want my hatred for clutter to take away from their fun

but I have to draw the line somewhere right? 

Any and all advice appreciated.

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Sisters

I am

so happy

they have

each other!

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Sometimes!

Sometimes

you just need

a tea party

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