Fedna’s weekend.

Here’s an update on Fedna and our weekend.
We went back to doctor on Thursday and he said her back looks great. He still wants her to stay off of her back for one more week, so we need to make it through Wed night and then she’s good to go! It is getting harder and harder to keep her on her belly. Tonight I found her sitting up on the couch moving her arms and quacking like a duck – she was watching Barney of course!!

So in the car she has to wear this special device and lay on the seat in the back. Here’s what it looks like:

Fedna went to her first fundraiser this past weekend. We drove up to Dallas to attend a dinner put on by a family and all the money benefits REAL HOPE FOR HAITI. How cool is that?! Fedna was there and enjoyed her time. She loved the spinach and artichoke dip – she is just like me!

This was her first meal to eat sitting up in over 2 weeks. I wasn’t going to make her lie on the floor and eat at this dinner, so she got to sit up! She seemed to like it, but it seemed weird for her to sit up!

She also visited her first Bounce House this weekend! Nope she didn’t get to bounce, but she enjoyed watching Cayden and Deacon. We didn’t get to stay the whole time because Fedna got a little overwhelmed, which is to be expected. It was overwhelming for me!

We were visiting Amy, Jack & Mabry and we got to tag along to a birthday party for Jack’s friend.

She was smiling most of the time, but this was taken right before we left and she was DONE.

I also did Fedna’s hair tonight for the first time since we’ve been home from the hospital. I”ve just been letting it go and putting a head band or clip in. I love it when it’s not done, but I thought I would fix it up for church. The parts aren’t that even, but it’s done! She laid here the whole time. What a sport!

Another first happened on Thursday night. Thursday night was the first time since she’s been here that she hasn’t cried/screamed while falling asleep. Each night she’ll scream/cry (no tears though) as she falls asleep. Not the whole time, but just scream a little, quiet a little. I usually go in about every 10 min for about 25-40 minutes each night. She doesn’t ever cry, just seems mad. Now she just goes to sleep. I’m so happy for her.

Fedna has 13 more days here in Texas with us. She has changed my life. I love this little girl so much. It has been SO HARD for me to care for her and put my life on hold, but I wouldn’t change it a bit. I’m not going to lie, I look forward to coming home from Haiti and having my life back, but I will miss her sweet face. I will miss her voice calling for me all day long. I will miss her hilarious laugh. I will miss her asking to watch Barney all day long. I know my kids will miss her too. They really do love her. I can only pray and hope that Fedna will have a small memory of us and can remember the love we had for her while she is here.

Amos Birth Certificate

I found out today that someone was sent out yesterday to check on Amos’ birth certificate.  I might know something on Monday.

Please join me in praying that they can get it registered without a problem.  This has to happen before we can move on.

Honestly I will not rest well at night until they are home.  Not one day goes by that the thought doesn’t enter my mind … what if they never come home.  We’re so close, but until we land on US soil I will not forget that we’re never in the clear until we’re home.

science kit needed

Licia’s boys are in need of some science kits for school.  Any teachers out there know just the right ones??!!

Here’s one they already have:

Email me if you have any questions:  jamie@aaronivey.com

Thanks!

the dress I won.

did i tell you about the dress i won a few weeks ago?  yeap i bid on it and won it.  so much fun!  it is a size four so i’ll save it for our sweet story when she’s here and a little older.  it is so beautiful!

here’s the website of the lady that makes them.  they are all so cute and the money she makes goes towards her adoption, so it is a good place to shop!

7 weeks

Today marks seven weeks that Fedna has been here. Wow! On one hand the time has flown by and on the other hand it has been a very long 7 weeks. I think the hardest part for sure has been the past 13 days. Her having to lay on her belly and not crawl or sit up has been hard on her and hard on this mommy! Since being here she has been pretty consistent with being happy, but this last week of being home has been hard on her. It seems as though she is either very happy, or very upset. Not much middle ground. I think it has lots to do with her being stuck in one spot. When the boys move on to play somewhere else she is left there. When the boys go out to play she is left inside. When she wants to get away from something she can’t move. I would be emotional too!

Her vocabulary is getting bigger by the day. I had a list of all the words she was saying, but I can’t keep up with it now. Her favorite phrase by far is “mommy, eat?” followed by a close second of, “barney, mommy”. It is so cute. She loves her some big purple dinosaur.

This experience has for sure changed me and shaped me differently than before. I went into this very naive as to how it would effect my family. I thought it would only effect me and change my life. I think I learned that when mommy is challenged, the whole family is! After Fedna goes home I’ll be able to look back over our time together and get it all out on paper as to what this process was for me.

Pray for our doctor appointment tomorrow. We go to see the doc that did the last surgery at 12:45 tomorrow. Please pray for not only a good report, but a GREAT report. I need him to tell me she is great and can get back to normal. I need her to be able to get back in her car seat so I can get back to life! I need her to eat at the table with us and be able to chase the boys around the house on her hands and knees. Her and I both want her to be able to move again!!!

The plan is to take her back to Haiti with me when I go in about 2 weeks. The doctor knows of this plan, so tomorrow he’ll confirm this and we’ll start making reservations.

Here’s a picture from snack time today:

reading Charlotte’s Web

I have been wanting to start reading books to the boys at night, and the last time we hit up the library I checked out a classic.  We are reading CHARLOTTE’S WEB by E.B. White at night before they go to bed.  It is a struggle for me, because the teacher in me wants them to sit still and pay close attention, but the mom in me realizes that it a lot to ask of a 5 and 3 year old, especially when there are hardly any pictures in the book!

The reading at night is going well.  I’m not sure Deacon is paying attention at all, but Cayden is getting into it.  I have to stop and ask questions every now and then to keep their minds on the story.  We’ve gotten to the part where Charlotte is writing things in her web to try and save Wilbur from his final destiny of bacon on the family’s breakfast table.  So far, she’s written “some pig” and “fantastic”.  Last night after we finished Cayden had that look on his face like his mind was going crazy and he was thinking about something so important.  We like to say around her that his “gerbil” is going crazy in his head.    He looked at me and with the most serious look he could muster up he said, “Mom, why doesn’t she just write “don’t kill wilbur” in her web instead of fantastic?”.  How funny!  He was wondering why Charlotte just didn’t get to the point!!!!

I can tell that Cayden is paying attention, because we’re watching the movie this morning and he is pointing out similarities and differences from the book and the movie.  After this book, I”m not sure what we’ll move on to next.  Any great ideas for my 5 year old?

cooking.

Since Aaron does the majority of the cooking around here my kids are convinced that I do not know how to make anything on my own.

The other day we had grilled cheese sandwiches and soup and Cayden said “Mommy, did daddy teach you how to make grilled cheese sandwiches?”.  I told them that I knew how to make grilled cheese sandwiches.  I tried and tried to convince them that my mommy taught me how when I was a little girl.  They weren’t buying it.  They would not believe me that I knew how to make a grilled cheese sandwich without their wonderful daddy’s help.

Fedna eating

Many of you have asked how it is that Fedna eats since she has to be on her belly 24/7 since her surgery on Feb 13th.  Well here you go:

At first I had her on a blanket on the floor, but that just felt awful.  I felt like I was treating her like the dog in the family.  So we moved the ottoman over and put it by the table and she is happy to eat all her meals here.  I can’t wait until she can sit with us at the table again!

books.

Licia has requested a few books for her and the kids. If you have any you want to donate or buy let me know.

Beverly Cleary books

books for her & Lori to read

They could also use hard candy! They like the mixed bags!

I just updated the NEEDS page on my website.  Go there to see how you can help us get things to the Rescue Center!

Happy 15 months Story

Today my baby girl turns 15 months old!  I can’t wait to see her and love on her.  Happy 15 month birthday baby girl.  Your momma loves you dearly and can’t wait to see you and hold you and kiss all over your face.

*all these pictures were taken when we were there in December