Experiencing Water

Our 4 newbies reportedly LOVED swimming before they got here. The first time they went out to swim they stood on the side in their life jackets in complete fear-could barely get 'em to dip a toe in. They obviously have not experimented in water much, they had no idea that if they hold onto the side the water helps hold them up. Or that if your face gets in the water you will can still live.  M-boy made a lot of strides in the lake on the camping trip. He was convinced he would drown if Phoebe succeeded in her attempts to push in him into the water. I took him out into the water myself and showed him some tricks (back floating, floating a water bottle.) As he became a little more comfortable he loosened his death grip on me and let me drag him around and eventually he was experimenting by himself in the beachy shallow end, walking on his hands while letting his legs float out behind him and back-floating while I pulled him around. 

Anyhow, here are pix from a couple days ago. You can see their progress as they dunk their faces and continue to experiment with the way water works. Better keep this on the down low 'cuz we're not allowed to "homeschool." hahahaha

This girl acts like a bear is chasing her. If I take her in the water with me she climbs up me like she's climbing a tree to escape a crazed bear. She has about 8 arms and as soon as I free one another is tangled around me in a death grip. She screams and carries on like anything. She doesn't want to put her feet down even though her shoulders would be out of the water. She sits on the edge with her feet in the water if she's not stuck to me like an octopus.

The pool may be terrifying but the goggles are AWESOME!

These pix are for the people who have asked about our backyard.  Although they really don't tell the whole story-the perspective isn't right. These make the pool look like it takes up the whole yard but it doesn't.

I have no idea how we managed to get the girl off the steps by herself for this pic. She's even smiling for you.

Isaiah 44:3

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 

We're Colored People

Wonder how to address our color differences? or if it's okay to address it? Well, it is. It's okay if you refer to my new kids as "african american" or "black" or brown-skinned or "children of color" or whatever other phrase that comes to your mind to help identify them. I know it's kinda scary and you are worried you'll say the wrong thing and offend someone.  I'd like to say, "You can't offend us." The reality is: you just might say something terribly awkward. But then, you've probably done that before in your life anyhow. It seems people get into more embarrassing situations by not using the obvious words like black and african american so instead people end up searching for alternate words which make matters worse: (like calling white people hair "good" hair or "normal" hair) but we are a very forgiving bunch and who knows, you might just learn something as I'm sure we'll think of a clever way to help steer you through these new waters (and then it's not like we're experts here, we just figure this out as we go.) Dive in! 

By the way, I am thinking more and more about our family "colors" we range from cream to dark brown which, to my mind, is a lovely color palette. In my mind, I see this great photo of our cream, tan, and brown family in our future. I think it will be beautiful. 

We love you guys!

Wee People

In case you're tired of kid pix.

Friday Is a Fine Day

It's Friday-we've been back from the camping trip now for almost a week. I've had no return to head spinnies! Our little big family is taking GIANT steps forward. Every day I am knowing more and more who each of my kids is, their strengths and weaknesses.

I have one that is a helper, always asking to fill the water glasses, set the table, generally, trying to keep justice and order in the place. Another one needs clear explanations with demonstrations and almost a definition of each word. I can't say, "Go get the lotion, it's in the bottom drawer of the kid bathroom." I have to show what a "drawer" is (versus a cupboard) and which is top and which is bottom-this is not the littlest kiddos either. Yet another child has issues with having an attitude, pouting, taking offense easily yet that one will rise to meet our big expectations too. One follows me around all day wanting to do what I do. One is barely able to put feet in the water, another was scared initially with me in the water yesterday, but by the end of the day she was floating around in a life jacket and noodle all by herself (ok, THAT is the 3 year old.)

A hurdle I wasn't prepared for is "language" differences. So many expressions and phrases that I can't understand. If one of my new kids says, "Ah gotta USE it" with crossed legs, that's the signal for potty. We are insisting they say "potty" or "bathroom." There are many things I don't understand and I bend down and ask for them to repeat it again and again and again. Sometimes I just give up trying to interpret.

If you're wondering how we're doing...we are wonderful. This is a time in all our lives where God is at work in us in big ways. One month ago I was bored out of my mind. I would sit down to read to my kids (from N.D. Wilson's book-a fun series, by the way) and I'd fall asleep after 1.5 chapters. My days were easy, I was lazy, and I didn't make the most of my days to organize, clean, minister-I did enough to where no one could say I needed to step things up but I knew I needed to. I always figured I'd have time tomorrow.
My house is better organized than it was a month ago. And the 8 of us stronger spiritually than we were a month ago.
I also look my original 2 and am thankful for the good things I see in them. I see how they have grown since we got them. I know June 1, 2013 will hold amazing differences for all these wee Killys.

You Are Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

A birthday party for M. We did this before we left for camping. All the other kids have bdays in Sept. and Oct. We wanted him to have that celebration with us this year too and his bday was only in May so we barely missed it. Also, the foster home didn't celebrate it.

Cupcakes and ice cream

birthday boy

it's a party in the back yard

birthday boy and brother

gift opening

We wanted to keep gifts to a minimum so as not to cause anyone to go out of his mind, overwhelmed with good stuff. The gifts included things he was continually asking Anthony to borrow: swim goggles, a snazzy hat, sunglasses, a light up drawing globe, and roller blades.

Hair Care for the First Time

Last Monday two friends we met while taking adoption classes whirled into the house to meet my new kiddos and take a look at their hair. Ts hair was in need of help and since we were leaving for camping the next day they just dug in and got started on the hair.

T had braid extensions in her hair. I started removing them around 4:30. It was a slow start because T did not know they were extensions. She bawled and wanted to have a fit that we were taking them out/cutting her hair (which we weren't) but we talked her through it and while the other ladies went to get more supplies I took the extensions out-took about 45 minutes.

Removing braid extensions with rat tail comb

 We had a cupcake break after the extensions were out. I LOVED the funky messy hair-do that was present after the extensions came out and made a point of reassuring and giving T lots of compliments and good feedback to her so it wouldn't be devastating. She came around fast.

New Sisters

We shampooed hair in the kitchen sink with moisturizing shampoo then followed with conditioner which we ended up leaving in for 30 minutes or so and covering with a shower cap. I can't remember when we combed it out. Before or after the washing?

Hair Washing

After the wash we used a blow dryer w/comb attachment and dried the hair. We put products in. It's kind of a blur. My friend used a hot comb (like a curling iron) and combed through sections of the hair to soften it-of course, like other new aspects of the hair care process that night this initial attempt with the hot comb was met with a fit: screaming and tears so we took some time to talk about it and demonstrate on our hair that it wasn't going to burn. My friend Dale started cornrows Monday night and it was about 9pm when they left. Dale returned Tuesday to finish the top part of her hair. Thanks lady(ies) I don't know what I'd do...

Cornrows, Day 2!

My little girl with beads, M, lost the beads on one strand yesterday so it's time to take the plunge and see what I find under there. Shelia from church and I were looking yesterday. We think the braids under those beads are probably extensions too. Natural, here we come! I'm so nervous. I think I'll pray particularly about it. Why didn't I think of that before? 

¹³ Isaiah 41:13
For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.”


This verse makes me trust the Lord for the girls' hair and know that really, He is the one guiding my hands and even helping me with creative ways to style their natural short hair. 

Camping Trip Does Wonders for Mom of 6

Hi Friends,

Another email to update you on our progress. But this is a blog you say, not an email! Since I've found keeping friends and family updated on our big changes enough of a priority to make it happen I decided to continue but in blog format so I can save these notes for myself since I don't have time to journal.   Our relationships here at home are growing and changing quickly and even reading the emails from 1 week ago seem so distant as things progress and time keeps ticking by.

I am a new woman! My last email I was spinning and woozy. We managed to get the camping trip off the ground only 1 day late and once we were there it was AWESOME. (Praise the Lord!) I didn't wonder if my kids were riding bikes in the street without permission, I KNEW they were riding bikes in "the street" (dirt road around our little group camp sites.) All us campers KNOW there are a zillion kids around so everyone drives super duper wooper slow and we all look out for each others chitlins (by that I mean children) as if they were each our own.

I have the final stages of unpacking to go and I'll see if I'm all adjusted and feeling mentally "normal" again or if being home returns me to a state of mental jello. I walk through the house and in every room something yells, "pick me up, put me away, organize me..." (not the kids although they are in every room yelling as well.)

The day we were leaving for camping the kids' things got dropped off. 4 big black garbage bags and 4 boxes full of clothes and toys that belong to my kids, and now to me. One week I'm scrambling for clean underwear and the next week it's coming out my ears.

I did take my camera camping but the only pix I took were of the slip n slide:

Whee! 2 girls enjoy the ride.

Goin' Back for More!

At the top

2 Girls and a slide

Chloe takes the little one.

No Sweat!

The Ringleader of our crew.

A Bible verse for camping with 6 kids:

Psalm 27:6

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Sidenote for those of you helping me look: I am so thankful that we found the cord to charge the camera battery. I was thinking I was going to have to buy a new one. Turns out the cord that charges the camera also works with the video cam (although the video cam cord, which was laying around, would not work on the regular camera.) So happy, it's found, YAY!