That was a loong blogging silence.....................not sure why, had lots to tell and share, but at the same time couldn't share what all was going on, still can't share a whole lot, but..............................back at it we are.
Today was the last day of school, we have 11 weeks of summer vacation ahead of us...............holy mother of God ! Thank God for our pool ! It has been super hot and muggy, like a wet blanket slapping you in the face, yuck.
Sebastian will start VPK tomorrow, he is excited about that. everyone else will be at home with me.
Just got a call that L's AFO's are ready (his braces) so we'll have to go there tomorrow and get them, very curious to see how he will do on them !
Yup L is still here and won't be going anywhere anytime soon..............long story that I can not share, stuff has happened that left me so rattled/anxious/shocked, I am just now getting over it..............................big time stuff............big enough so the goal will be changed to adoption...............
He has not had any unsupervised visits for a month and he has gained almost 4 lbs, can you believe it, his legs finally look and feel like they have some meat on it !
He has finally started to play, actually play instead of this aimlessly wandering around, picking up a toy and dropping it. Flashbacks of Max !!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
what a funky day !!
So my bedroom has the bed in one corner (the boys love it ! HA) and my plan was to paint the side and back wall today...............however I have been on the couch, doubled over, in an ibuprofen fog.........................why do periods have to get worse ?? really, it doesn't make any sense..........you should think tapering off would be the deal..............not getting worse before stopping, and apparently the stopping won't be for a couple of years....................the way I feel now I'd say yank it all out and let's be done with it ! Seriously !!
L's weight at the doc was 18.2 lbs, not happy with that, but the ears is all cleared up, lungs sound good, etc We are having a quiet week with lots of time spend on tube feeding and oral stimulation/feeding. He just looks so happy and content to just be at home, without having to go somewhere all the time !
The kids had a great St patricks day at school, apparently Sebastian had been telling his teacher for weeks that he was going to eat green mashed potatoes.................don't know where he got that idea...............would have been cute.........that kid could eat mashed potatoes, rice and corn every day, all day !!
Papa called this afternoon, he sounds like he is having a good time, catching up with all his friends. What a blessing to have group of friends that close, to be able to see eachother and the years just disappear. Just what the dr prescribed LOL
L's weight at the doc was 18.2 lbs, not happy with that, but the ears is all cleared up, lungs sound good, etc We are having a quiet week with lots of time spend on tube feeding and oral stimulation/feeding. He just looks so happy and content to just be at home, without having to go somewhere all the time !
The kids had a great St patricks day at school, apparently Sebastian had been telling his teacher for weeks that he was going to eat green mashed potatoes.................don't know where he got that idea...............would have been cute.........that kid could eat mashed potatoes, rice and corn every day, all day !!
Papa called this afternoon, he sounds like he is having a good time, catching up with all his friends. What a blessing to have group of friends that close, to be able to see eachother and the years just disappear. Just what the dr prescribed LOL
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
need to blog
There's so much to tell, but I feel so restricted because of confidentiality, bio family etc.
Anyway, getting ready to go to the pediatrician for a re check, I have a feeling the ear infection has not cleared up, L is stil getting up in the middle of the night. The continuous feeds at night have been a mess, no throwing up but just crying.
Papa is in Peru, oh no he will be landing in a couple of hours, that is a whole other story in itself ! I am hoping to finally get my bedroom painted this week, BIG plans for a mini make over !!! Just because I have so much time on my hands HAH !
And I need to blog more, I know there's at least one person who enjoys reading it ! My cousin Annelies, hoi nicht !
Anyway, getting ready to go to the pediatrician for a re check, I have a feeling the ear infection has not cleared up, L is stil getting up in the middle of the night. The continuous feeds at night have been a mess, no throwing up but just crying.
Papa is in Peru, oh no he will be landing in a couple of hours, that is a whole other story in itself ! I am hoping to finally get my bedroom painted this week, BIG plans for a mini make over !!! Just because I have so much time on my hands HAH !
And I need to blog more, I know there's at least one person who enjoys reading it ! My cousin Annelies, hoi nicht !
Thursday, February 4, 2010
blog funk
It has been a loooong time since I have blogged, seriously stricken down with blog funk....................................It seems like I have been reading plenty of blogs in the past weeks, especially the ones about Haiti...............the people that are there, helping, doing, taking care of the kids.................and the blogs of people waiting for their adoptive kids to finally come home............
Yesterday, our local Bounce-U had a fundraising for Haiti, all proceeds to go to Agape flights..............L was going to be on a visit, so I invited 4 more kids and went there with 8 kids total........................they had a lot of fun and I had a chance to finally speak to someone of Agape in person............!
Turns out they are very familiar with Real Hope for Haiti and I could send anything as long as it had their name on it, they would make sure Lori and Licia would get it.
The kids bounced and jumped around, got their faces painted and had great fun !
Once back home I started dinner and started labeling cases of pediasure, filled a box with all the medical supplies I could spare (medical tape, gauze, 2x4 IV sponges, syringes in different sizes, antibiotic creams, etc, etc) and ofcourse the 10 cans of duocal ( extra calories for kids)
L came back from his visit, and I took him with me to go drop off the supplies, they will all go out on a flight later this afternoon, straight to PAP (Port-au-Prince)
L has been doing good, he started walking last week and now is even standing up without holding on to anything ! He signs more, please and thank you, says "mama" loud and clear ! LOL. Still gaining weight, but also still throwing up a lot and getting him to eat is a daily struggle, he is definitely the most food aversive kid I have ever seen !
His mom is doing better every day, she truly has made a complete turn around, is attentive to his needs, is actively involved in his therapies and has been doing so very, very well in communicating with CW, therapists and myself. She looks like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, is more self assured, feels stronger, etc
It shows in everything !
Fostering sometimes is as much about taking care of the child as mentoring and supporting the parents, giving them a little boost and making yourself available for questions/support. In this case it has made a world of difference !
L has 4 visits a week now, all unsupervised, 5 hrs at the time. There can be no over nights until a family member does their part of the caseplan................
So until then we are slowly increasing the visits, mom now picks him up and drops him off here at the house, much more relaxed for everyone involved. L is happy to see her, she is bonding to him and he to her. All in all, very positive !
This afternoon I have a CMAT meeting, a review to determine his level of care. I feel his level should go up but we shall see.
Yesterday, our local Bounce-U had a fundraising for Haiti, all proceeds to go to Agape flights..............L was going to be on a visit, so I invited 4 more kids and went there with 8 kids total........................they had a lot of fun and I had a chance to finally speak to someone of Agape in person............!
Turns out they are very familiar with Real Hope for Haiti and I could send anything as long as it had their name on it, they would make sure Lori and Licia would get it.
The kids bounced and jumped around, got their faces painted and had great fun !
Once back home I started dinner and started labeling cases of pediasure, filled a box with all the medical supplies I could spare (medical tape, gauze, 2x4 IV sponges, syringes in different sizes, antibiotic creams, etc, etc) and ofcourse the 10 cans of duocal ( extra calories for kids)
L came back from his visit, and I took him with me to go drop off the supplies, they will all go out on a flight later this afternoon, straight to PAP (Port-au-Prince)
L has been doing good, he started walking last week and now is even standing up without holding on to anything ! He signs more, please and thank you, says "mama" loud and clear ! LOL. Still gaining weight, but also still throwing up a lot and getting him to eat is a daily struggle, he is definitely the most food aversive kid I have ever seen !
His mom is doing better every day, she truly has made a complete turn around, is attentive to his needs, is actively involved in his therapies and has been doing so very, very well in communicating with CW, therapists and myself. She looks like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, is more self assured, feels stronger, etc
It shows in everything !
Fostering sometimes is as much about taking care of the child as mentoring and supporting the parents, giving them a little boost and making yourself available for questions/support. In this case it has made a world of difference !
L has 4 visits a week now, all unsupervised, 5 hrs at the time. There can be no over nights until a family member does their part of the caseplan................
So until then we are slowly increasing the visits, mom now picks him up and drops him off here at the house, much more relaxed for everyone involved. L is happy to see her, she is bonding to him and he to her. All in all, very positive !
This afternoon I have a CMAT meeting, a review to determine his level of care. I feel his level should go up but we shall see.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Haiti heartbreak
Why did this happen to a country already devastated by poverty, corruption, disease, etc...................
I have had to stop reading the articles, watch the news, the tremendous heartache, tears falling without noticing, and unable to stop..............................the only thing I check is a blog that I have been reading for over a year....................
www.haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com
They are this amazing family, 2 sisters that together with their father (the original founder)their husbands and volunteers, run
a home for orphans and malnourished children. They also run a clinic and you can imagine how overloaded they are right now.
Their faith in God shines, even now, or maybe even more so now, but they are an inspiration !
They have had to make the hard decision to send their kids back to the US, but they are staying to help the people of Haiti, the people of Cazale, a small town about 20 minutes from PAP (Port-au-Prince)
Check out their blog, pray for them and if you can, donate some money. With these smaller organizations, you can see that all money donated is used for the children and the people of Haiti.
I am sittting here, thinking of all the supplies I have here, that they could use (bandages, tubefeed stuff, tons of cans of Duocal, a special powder to add calories to formula, formula, cases and cases of pediasure, etc) I have been trying to find out a way to get this over to them, either on an Agape flight from Venice or a different way.......................................
I would walk it over there if I could..................the feeling of being powerless is strong..................but there are always solutions !
I have had to stop reading the articles, watch the news, the tremendous heartache, tears falling without noticing, and unable to stop..............................the only thing I check is a blog that I have been reading for over a year....................
www.haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com
They are this amazing family, 2 sisters that together with their father (the original founder)their husbands and volunteers, run
a home for orphans and malnourished children. They also run a clinic and you can imagine how overloaded they are right now.
Their faith in God shines, even now, or maybe even more so now, but they are an inspiration !
They have had to make the hard decision to send their kids back to the US, but they are staying to help the people of Haiti, the people of Cazale, a small town about 20 minutes from PAP (Port-au-Prince)
Check out their blog, pray for them and if you can, donate some money. With these smaller organizations, you can see that all money donated is used for the children and the people of Haiti.
I am sittting here, thinking of all the supplies I have here, that they could use (bandages, tubefeed stuff, tons of cans of Duocal, a special powder to add calories to formula, formula, cases and cases of pediasure, etc) I have been trying to find out a way to get this over to them, either on an Agape flight from Venice or a different way.......................................
I would walk it over there if I could..................the feeling of being powerless is strong..................but there are always solutions !
Bi/tri-lingual family..........
With me being from Holland (or the Netherlands officially) and papa being from Peru, you can imagine there's some pretty interesting and funny conversations/use of words going around on daily basis.
When oscar was little he spoke a mix of the 3 languages, he basically would use whichever word was the easiest and he had his own language...............the best example would be the day he was reading a book with oma and she pointed at a picture of a pair of rain boots and asked him what those were, he thought aboutn it for a minute and then said............"patos for the regen"
Beautiful, we laughed so hard, "patos" he used for zapatos, shoes in spanish and regen is rain in spanish.................. I even think we have this on camera !
The other day I was cooking and serving dinner, Sebas ofcourse needed to know exactly what we were having and I told him arroz and frejoles (rice and beans) After a full minute he excitedly says, papa we are having strawberries....................mama said the spanish word for strawberries..."ejoles"
LOL LOL, almost, not quite, I had a good laugh over that one !
When oscar was little he spoke a mix of the 3 languages, he basically would use whichever word was the easiest and he had his own language...............the best example would be the day he was reading a book with oma and she pointed at a picture of a pair of rain boots and asked him what those were, he thought aboutn it for a minute and then said............"patos for the regen"
Beautiful, we laughed so hard, "patos" he used for zapatos, shoes in spanish and regen is rain in spanish.................. I even think we have this on camera !
The other day I was cooking and serving dinner, Sebas ofcourse needed to know exactly what we were having and I told him arroz and frejoles (rice and beans) After a full minute he excitedly says, papa we are having strawberries....................mama said the spanish word for strawberries..."ejoles"
LOL LOL, almost, not quite, I had a good laugh over that one !
Saturday, January 16, 2010
scary librarian
Usually on Saturday when I have to run an errand, I take only one of the kids, so we get a little one on one time, make them feel special.......................
So today was Max' turn, had to run to Publix and swing by the library. Publix was a hit, we found stroopwafels !!! Max finished a whole pack while we were in the store ! ( stroopwafels people, are the bomb ! sort of like you live in another country for years and all of a sudden you find oreo's !! hallelujah moment !)
At the library, Max picked out a DVD, we "read" a book, and then went to check out. Max is busy stacking up books and DVd's.............................the whole pile falls over. Combine sensory problems with horrible motor planning and that's what you get....................not just a child who constantly bumps into stuff, but literally a child who has constant accidents. If your sensory stuff is off, it is almost impossible to stack up books/DVD's, you come at it too hard...............that's why Max does not play with blocks, lego's, puzzles, etc. HE CAN'T !
Anyhoo, the librarian flipped out, she almost came over the desk while loudly saying; "oh NO that's not how we treat books, how about you try that another time....."
Max looks up and says..............I didn't do that on purpose, it was an accident....................tears in his eyes........
I told her he did NOT do that on purpose and she needed to back off ! I was getting upset and I really did not feel like explaining sensory integration and motorplanning, with a line of 5 people behind me................................
I will write a letter though.........................disabilities are not always visible.............................witch.....!!
So today was Max' turn, had to run to Publix and swing by the library. Publix was a hit, we found stroopwafels !!! Max finished a whole pack while we were in the store ! ( stroopwafels people, are the bomb ! sort of like you live in another country for years and all of a sudden you find oreo's !! hallelujah moment !)
At the library, Max picked out a DVD, we "read" a book, and then went to check out. Max is busy stacking up books and DVd's.............................the whole pile falls over. Combine sensory problems with horrible motor planning and that's what you get....................not just a child who constantly bumps into stuff, but literally a child who has constant accidents. If your sensory stuff is off, it is almost impossible to stack up books/DVD's, you come at it too hard...............that's why Max does not play with blocks, lego's, puzzles, etc. HE CAN'T !
Anyhoo, the librarian flipped out, she almost came over the desk while loudly saying; "oh NO that's not how we treat books, how about you try that another time....."
Max looks up and says..............I didn't do that on purpose, it was an accident....................tears in his eyes........
I told her he did NOT do that on purpose and she needed to back off ! I was getting upset and I really did not feel like explaining sensory integration and motorplanning, with a line of 5 people behind me................................
I will write a letter though.........................disabilities are not always visible.............................witch.....!!
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