Emergency Room

Accidents happen...and today was not a good day for middle sister Jocelyn. Daddy was pushing Gabriella and Jocelyn on the glider this afternoon when he pushed a little TOO hard and sent Jocelyn flying off into the evergreens!

I immediately knew something was wrong or dislocated because she couldn't move her shoulder and was crying buckets of tears!!!!!!!!

After two hours in the ER and some x-rays later...turns out she broke her clavical. She's in terrible pain and has to wear a very tight back and shoulder brace to keep her clavical from moving around. Supposidly, the bone will grow back in 2-3 weeks and then more x-rays to see if it was healed and then the brace can come off.

So for now, she's completely reliant on Ryan and I dressing her, going potty, helping her up and helping her down, etc. Nothing we can't handle but poor Ryan feels terrible for the accident on the swing.

Prayers and hugs to little Jojo's recovery!

Fall Photos

My lovie, Kirstie, took some family photos this past week...and it was really cold out! The photos look great and you can tell that the fall "chill" in the air is a real sign that winter is just around the corner!!! We froze our buns off taking photos. Thanks Kirstie for the beautiful photos!!!!!!!

Holmberg Orchard Day!!!

Ryan and I took the girls to our annual fall favorite spot, Holmberg Orchard last Saturday! It was absolutely beautiful out and the girls had a total blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We sipped on fresh apple cider and ate caramel apples. We took horse rides through the apple orchard, played in the hay, and came home with a bag of apples!!

I think we'll make another trip out there later in the fall for more fun!!

Ahnya's Birthday Party

Mommy and Ahnya opening presents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gabriella and Jocelyn were good helpers opening Ahnya's gifts!!

And....Ella and Annie Mae (my next very best lovies) were awesome helpers, too! We love you Annie and Ella!

Ahnya loved the chocolate cupcakes!!!!! She dove right in and made a terrible mess for momma!

Of course..............the party hat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheeeeeesssssseeeeeeeee Baby Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yum...............Thanks Grandma Ro for helping me make the yummy meal!!!!!!

``````````````````````````Notice all the drool?

...........................Bumpa with Ahnya and Harley! Harley about 4 months older!!!!

The party was a hit and we celebrated our favorite way with our dear family and friends!!!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Love

Today is the day!!!! Tuesday, September 22nd is Ahnya Leigh's Birthday!

Yep, she's one! Well, at least that's what the Ethiopian paperwork says...her birth mother wasn't exactly sure what day or month her birth date was. This is very typical in Africa as birthdays aren't celebrated, nor are they culturally important.

Another important fact to remember is that Ethiopia basically has two seasons (changes in climate rather); 1). hot weather! and 2) HOT and rainy weather. The birth mother said she was born sometime after the rainy season so that gives us about 8 months to play with. Our international doctor think that Ahnya is closer to 9 1/2 or 10 months old instead. Which makes sense as everything seems like it "clicks" better at that age, development, size, etc. etc. etc.

When I met with Ahnya's birth mother, Terafech, in Ethiopia I asked her about the day she delivered Ahnya. It is a beautiful story and one I will share with Ahnya when she's older. But, can you image giving birth by yourself basically, in the middle of the country side, on the dirt floor of the little hut she lived in, with chickens, a couple goats, and a cow standing by at the wee hours of the morning??????? No hospital, no doctors, no medicine, no cloths or towels, no bed, probably no water...

So, as this is our third internation adoption, it's no surprise that her birth day is most likely not accurrate. I'm sure the older girls birth dates are probably wrong, too! But it's a day that will always be hers and we'll keep this day as her birth day because it's special!

My Baby goes to Kindergarten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First day of Kindergarten for my baby, Gabriella. She's going to Holy Redeemer School

Kindergarten here comes Gabriella!!! She loves school already!!!!!!!!!!!!

Momma is crushed that Gabriella is now IN school. If it wasn't a law...I'd keep her home!

Ms. Tooty, Jocelyn, started another year of preschool at Wee Care Preschool!!!

Today Gabriella started her first day of Kindergarten. She's in Ms. Dudgeon's class and her two best friends Braxton and Ella are in the same class too!!! It was one of the hardest days for momma to drop her off at school and leave. However, Gabriella walked into class AHEAD OF ME, full of excitement and was ready to start the day!!!! She became nervous when Ryan and I told her we were leaving...but seemed okay.

When I picked her up from school at the end of the 7 hour day, she was pumped and said she didn't even miss me because she had so much fun! What a relief...what a change for momma....what a difference a day makes.

On the other hand, Jocelyn is completely lost during the day. In time she'll learn to play by herself...but for now, she's MAD her sister is gone all day!!!

Ahnya has RSV....again

Poor baby...Ahnya is a sick baby. She is diagnosed with Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) again. This is the third time in the 3 1/2 months that we've been home. Also, has a double ear infection and this is AGAIN her third ear infection since we've been home. However, through it all she is pretty happy if I'm holding her, fairly content overall, just highly contagious. Just really struggles to breath and eating food and drinking bottles is of course difficult if you can't breath through your nose....so this hopefully pass as quickly.

Here's the link if you want to read more about RSV: http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/rsv.html