I Will Blog Again

but sheesh just not right now.

There are 7 kids in this house.

Funny thing about that.
When the  kids aren't in school all day your house becomes well...
a whole lotta work to keep up with.

And here's the thing,
they all expect me to feed them
and entertain them
and clean up after them
and drive them here
and there
and over there
all while stopping at Sonic for happy hour.

And oddly..
are you ready for this groundbreaking news?

Now that school is out and they are back from camp
they are home
all.
day.
long. 

What the?

So in place of my blogging time I am unloading the dishwasher for the 14th time today.
Or searching for lost swim trunks because they cannot for the life of them put them back where they go after we get home from the beach or the pool, or the sprinkler outside. 
And I'm doing about 800% more laundry than normal. 
And
and
and
and there's the good stuff too.
Turns out these kids...
all 7 of them...
are pretty stinkin fun to hang out with.

This is my first summer with 7.
My first summer really with the 3 latest additions since I don't really count last summer what with the move and all.

7.

Alrighty then.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I can
hire a maid
and a chef
and a taxi
and a nanny
and someone to rub my feet
and tell me I'm beautiful even though I haven't showered in 2 days....unless you count the pool....which you shouldn't.....cuz that's gross...just don't tell anyone I haven't showered in two days.

Yep.
I'm good.

Blogging to resume Fall of 3024.
See you then. 

7-3

I've gone from 7 kids this week
down to 3.

What.
The.
Heck.

The teens are at a sleepaway, week long baseball camp.
The twins are at a sleepaway, week long church camp.
It's just me,
and the Asian Sensations. 

I had 3 kids once
10 years ago.
But then 6 minutes later we decided to have a fourth and then Jack made his appearance.

So those brief 6 minutes,
a decade ago
of having 3 kids isn't really a huge memory for me.
Could have been the drugs,
could have been the artichoke and spinach dip I was begging my husband to run out and get for me
{ummm, hello! In labor here.....and STARVING!}
Giving birth twice in one day can make you a wee bit hungry after all. 
Could have been a lot of things.

So 3?
What on God's gorgeous green earth am I to do with 3.

I slept in a bit today.
{gasp!}
Cooked less than half as much breakfast as I usually do.
{double gasp!}
Only made 3 beds instead of 7.
{yippee}
Thought I should really stop making everybody's beds and make them do it themselves.
{gasp!}
And then drove the 3 remaining children to VBS.

So here I am.
Alone.
In this house.
Until noon.
In the middle of the summer.

Which can only mean one thing....

I have spent the morning sobbing over children that wait and heart babies that will die if not adopted. 

like this one
and this one

Let's just say I have been looking at children that wait.

This could be a long week.

GKTW Day 1

The day finally arrived.
And I
like a kid on Christmas
was wide awake at 5:34am.

Car was washed
vacuumed
and packed
We.were.ready.

I tumbled downstairs in excitement,
threw some blueberry muffins in the oven to bake
got some water bottles out of the fridge
and a bunch of bananas off the counter.

Kids were about 5 minutes behind me dressed and ready to roll.
We drug daddy out of bed,
I threw my portable breakfast for everyone in the car
and all 9 of us were out the door about 3 hours ahead of schedule.

Holla.

We arrived at GKTW roughly 5 hours before check in
all hopped up on excitement, blueberry muffins and having to pee
really
reeely
bad.

Good thing they are sweet people who don't mind in the least that you show up way before you are supposed to...and immediately ask for the bathroom.

Our villa was ready so we unloaded,
I snapped some photogs and we headed directly to the Ice Cream Palace.
The kids had been waiting for this day for a long, long time.

Ice cream.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check.

We spent the rest of that day exploring the village.
Give Kids the World is an incredible place that houses families that are in Orlando on wish trips.
The people,
the place,
the ammenities,
the ice cream,
it's incredible.

Truly, truly incredible.

We mini-golfed,

took a train ride,
drove remote control boats,

ate ice cream,

had lunch,
picked the nose of the giant tree man

played arcade games and games that we were way to old for

rode the carousel upteen times.
ate ice cream
went swimming

and ate even more ice cream.

I'm tellin ya.
Incredible.

Sunday night rolled around and we headed out to Disney to do the Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage
We checked in
got all decked out in pirate gear

got slain by a pirate

a couple of times

had good convo with another pirate

waited and ate
ate and waited
but alas me-hearty
it was huge thunderstormed rained out.
So we had our fill of pirate faire and headed back to the village whilst simulatenously trying to not get struck by lightning in the middle of that rather large storm.

Something you should know about me...
I don't so much do lightning.
So the ride back was....ummmm....super fun for me.
At some point John suggested I just put my head down and close my eyes so as not to gasp loudly every 3.2 seconds.
It didn't work.

Finally we made it back to the village
marriage miraculously still somewhat intact
and went to bed circa 10:58pm.

We have never felt more loved and welcome than we did this week.
They made one special little boy feel so, so special.

And the week was just beginning......

{Update on Joey coming soon. I be doin a lil investigatin, THANK YOU for your helpful suggestions!}

Trying Not to Freak Out.

Alright people's.
I interrupt this Disney vacay recap for something else at the moment.
Something a little more pressing.

I was just sent this photo of Joey.
{He's the one in the white}

Cute right?

But dude.
Look at the date stamp.

3/3/2007. 

His estimated birth date is 4/2/2004. 
Which puts him roughly 1 month from turning 3 in this picture.

I know it's been awhile since I have had babies and toddlers waddling around my home but does this look like a child that is just a month shy of turning 3?
He looks way younger than that to me.
Does it look that way to you?
I would guess like 18 months?

My mind is blanking on how big my kids were and what they should look like right before 3.
I am seriously freaking out  concerned that we may be way off the mark when it comes to his age.
A few days, or weeks off I can live with.
But years?
Seriously?

Is Joey really only 6 1/2 and not 8? 

Did I put a 5 year old into first grade last year?

It's a bit sucky, awful, weird, disconcerning  strange  
to say the very least
to realize with the opening of an email that you may have been completely wrong about your child's age.
I feel like we just got sucked into a time warp.

Honestly?
It could explain a lot.
But I won't go down that road just yet.

Help me. 
What do you all think?
And more importantly,
what the heck do I do now?

On yet another note,
I can't tell you how many people came up to us in China,
and twice since we have been home
telling me he's not Chinese.
That he looks like he is from Thailand.
I didn't understand what the heck they were talking about at the time
as I'm not terribly dialed into the subtle differences in the physical appearances of the people in different regions of Asia
but gracious
comparing the two of these babies side by side now
I kinda get it.

Doesn't matter to me of course,
but sheesh.
I'm just feeling a little confused today. 

~sigh~

The Do's & Don'ts of Disney World

Don't buy a new uber comfy pair of flip flops 2 days before you leave and then promptly forget to pack them.
Do use words like "uber" it makes you sound wicked awesome. 

Do get a pedicure before you post a picture of your feet on the internet for all to see.
Whoops.

Don't wear a speedo at a water park you 50 year old man you.
Just don't.

Do realize while you are at said water park that you are apparently the only person in the country that does not have a tatoo.
Nothing wrong with one...
just shocked that everyone appears to be inked but me.

Do let your kids have ice cream for breakfast one day.

Don't laugh to hard when one of them busts out a ballerina move.

Don't forget to have your fish fed for the week you are gone.
Do be surprised when they are still alive when you get home because you forgot have them fed.

Do get your Star Wars lover into the Jedi training academy.

Don't cry when you see how happy he is.
It will ruin your mascara.

Don't bother getting all gussied up before walking out the door each day.
Nobody cares.
You will get sweaty.
Nobody cares.
Your hair will fuh-reak out in the humidity 5.8 seconds after you walk out the door.

Don't bother with your eye makeup.
You have sunglasses on.
Pfft duh.
It only took me 3 days to realize this.

Don't wear a white sundress and then get soaked on the log ride.
I'm just sayin.

Do strap camel packs to each of your children instead of bringing 800 water bottles with you everyday and spend an inordinate amount of time filling them like I did.
Camel packs people.
Camel. Packs.

Do take your teenagers out on a date to see the Blue Man Group whilst you are there.

Do take your kids indoor skydiving.

No really.
Do. 
It's wicked fun.

Do realize that teenagers get excited on the inside.
Not so much on the outside.

Don't say things like over and out on a video.
You sound like a dork. 

Do go to Midevil Times once in your life.

And then act like all the sword fighting and such is really, reeely neat even though you are a girl and really don't get what the big deal is and you don't understand why the heck you have to eat your entire meal with your hands. Blech.

Do go on the Pirates & Pals Fireworks Cruise.

Don't freak out when it gets cancelled because a storm rolled in.
It happens.
Roll with it.
Do, however, realize that in this picture your husband looks like he is carrying a purse.
Do make sure to tell everyone he was in fact not carrying a purse but was merely holding your bag.
Do realize that most people will still think it's a purse.
Do laugh at that. 

Do chuckle when your 10 year old flirts it up with a princess.

And then giggle when you realize you caught her mid sentence so she looks like this.

Bless her pretty little heart.
{A footnote: I have no idea who this princess is. I realize I should probably know but my ignorance is alas a product of the testosterhome that I reside in.}
Princess ID anyone?

Do know that if your children look like this on the way home

that it was an incredible week.

Do realize what a tremendous blessing this trip was to your family and especially your sweet, sweet boy after a rough year. 
Do know that tomorrow I will begin re-capping our week long experience beginning with Magic Kingdom Day 1.
Don't go on the Tower of Terror.
The end. 

Rehab.

Annnnd we're back!

But I am currently in what can only be described as a post Disney World induced haze.

I cannot remember how to cook for these fools all by myself.

Nor clean up after them.

Nor entertain them without the help of the Buzz Lightyear ride.

I think I need help.

Like WDW rehab help.

I'm going to go sing a few rounds of It's A Small World
and then I'll be back to fill you in.

Peace.

Surgery!

UPDATE!! There is an update right here!!


Did you hear??!!

Did you hear the news???!!
She's having her liver transplant today!!!
In China!

This
is
a
MIRACLE!

Please keep this precious girl bathed in prayer as she recovers.

You can find updates here and here!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

..In Which I Reveal What Kind of Mother I Really Am.

A couple of weeks ago Jack told me he needed new shoes.

As I am talking to him amidst the hustle and bustle of our morning routine I glanced down to evaluate.

And here is what I saw:

Sure they are a little frayed at the edges.
But nothing to write home about.

"Ok buddy." I said.
"We'll see. I'd really like to see if you can make it through the rest of the school year though since you only wear your crocs and flip flops all summer I don't really think you need new tennis shoes right now."

Ok. He says.

And life goes on.
And Jack's shoes are not
in the least
at the forefront of my mind.

Fast forward to the beginning of this week
we are heading out the door for school and I see that he is tip-toeing down the wet sidewalk.

Whatcha doing kiddo?
I say.

Just trying not to get my sock wet.
He says.

Uhhhh.....wa?
Whatchoo talkin bout Willis?

Well this.
It turns out this is what he was talking about:

And the side view looking into the hole:

Seriously people.
I may as well have sent the poor child to school barefoot.
It was that bad. 

It had apparently been like this ever since he first told me
weeks ago
that he needed new shoes.

And in the spirit of full disclosure and truth...
that was on Monday.
Today is Friday,
the last day of school.
One guess what he was wearing when he left the house this morning.

I.
Am.
Awesome.

{And if your guess is brand new shoes...well then you don't know me at all.}

I'll be right here if any of you feel compelled to report me to some governing authority. 

Good thing he's a sweetie and he still loves me despite my glaring shoe related faults.
God bless him.

In completely unrelated news please check this out right here.

And meet Mr. Cutie Pants and read their other posts about how this family manages with a beautiful little girl, Sophia, who has the same special need.

Wanna be his momma? 

Unwired.

5 weeks.
8,000 milkshakes.
400 bowls of pudding.
72 cups of soup.
12 pounds lost
And 1 spaghetti incident we shall never speak of again

He is healed.

Excuse me whilst I break out into a happy lil jig.

So it's been about 3 hours since the Great Unwiring of 2012
and so far we hit KFC drive through for mashed potatoes

And then on to Panda Express for his long anticipated fried rice.

 
And a pit stop for some candy/cookie somethin somethin

And as I sit here and type this he is sitting on the back porch joyfully munching on some goldfish
while waiting for water to boil for some pasta. 

My hunch is that this kid will not stop eating for a few days.

He.
Is.
So.
Incredibly.
Happy.

It's definitely not an experience I ever want any of my kids to have to go through again but man alive did he ever handle it like a champ.

Thank you for all of your advice,
your love,
your wisdom,
your recipes,
and your lessons on gluten and blending of pasta
and most of all for not making too much fun of me when I was using my margarita machine as the blender. 

Jason Michael, you are so loved!
{And yes, I will take you to Five Guys for dinner. Just don't tell your brother.(s)}
or for that matter your father.
Shhhhhhhh.....

Snip, Snip!

If you need me today I will be driving all over creation to any
and every
food service place on this earth.

Today's the day folks.

Last milkshake for a long, looonnngg time.

He's getting clipped.
Oh.Yeah.
We are so excited.

His surgeon will be clipping the wires that hold his jaw shut but leaving the hardware on for now.

When we get back from Disney
and back from eating every funnel cake he can get his hands on
the surgeon will take another look and be able to make adjustments with rubber bands anchored to the hardware for awhile if needed.

I'll be back later today with some photog evidence of our day of food.
I'm pretty sure it is my duty as his mother to eat everything right alongside of him.
Ya know.
It's like a show of solidarity and stuff.
Yep.
Just being a good mom. 

All 400 pounds of me will be back later!
It's a great day!

Makin a Wish

A few months ago this arrived in our mailbox

It arrived right side up of course...but I...for the life of me...cannot get it to flip.

It was humbling.
It was overwhelming.

But it was also a boo-hoo worthy reminder.

A reminder about how fragile he is.

Or,  
if you are a fan of A Christmas Story,
he is Frageeeeelay. 
We think he's Italian.

But he runs.
He jumps.
He swims.
He plays.

But he also has what equates to a ticking clock inside of his chest.

His valve will fail.

At some point.
It will fail.

And that will be his life.
His whole life.

Replace and fail.
Replace and fail.
Replace and fail.
And until technology can catch up to itself and not require him to undergo open heart surgeries periodically for the rest of his life
this is what we live with.


Each checkup we wonder.

Gracious we love this man and his careful care of our son!

Each surgery a risk.

A risk.
To this incredible life.

So here we are.
Healthy, happy and about to embark on a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.
We've never, ever been...any of us. 
So all tips and suggestions are appreciated!

To say he is a wee bit excited would be understating it substantially.
The countdown is on.
We leave in about a week.

And we can't wait.

I intend to blog the trip each day
course...
I also intend to scrub the bathtubs in my house
and I intend to plant a garden
and vacuum the car
and formulate a plan for world peace
and
and
and
well
never mind.

A Post In Which I Break Your Heart

Because here are some more heart babies that need a home.

All 3 need a good cardiologist
and all 3 need a family.


So get ready to let your heart break into a million tiny pieces. 


Buckle up.
Here we go.

3 years old.
Little boy.

Complex CHD
Single ventricle.

3 years old.
Little boy.
Complex CHD
Single ventricle.

4 years old.
Little Boy.
Moderate CHD: Double exits of RV, VSD, enlarged RA and RV.

Scared?
Heart issues make you a wee bit nervous?
Yeah.
Me too.
Here are my thoughts on that now. 

I've said it before.
I'll say it again.

You.

Just.

Never.

Know.

Take a chance.
Save a life.
Be brave. 

If you would like more info on any of these kiddos just shoot me an email: mommyof4jays@msn.com