Hello, Spring

We've emerged!  Spring is here, the sun is shining, and my little girl can hardly wait to get outside.  It's time for those after dinner walks, where you barely make it around the block, as you stop to chat with everyone else who has emerged from the winter.  The first spring runs outside, pumping up all the yard equipment and bikes, running to a friend's house to play, wanting to be outside until dusk settles.
I love the sun, it's warmth, the heat. 
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One year ago....

A year ago, we packed our bags, said goodbye to our kids, and traveled across the ocean to meet Sarah.  I look back at what a year we've had.  She is as spunky as ever and more independent, and definitely a risk-taker.  She has yet to master the concept that she doesn't float when the life jacket is taken off.

She will sit and watch a performance at school, lift her hands in a wave, and laugh when she sees Addy or Austin up on stage. 

Taking a picture of her sister during the program.

I laugh as I'm now Sarah's mama to everyone we see.  At school, "Sarah, your mama's here."  Dropping the kids off at their parties, and the kids and their mamas' ask, "Where's Sarah?"  She's known and recognized in our circles.  She is loved and I marvel at the gift we received the moment she came home.  Whenever she passes a milestone, learns something new, or will find her Easter basket tomorrow that matches her siblings, I count my blessings, my half-full glass.

While we were in Florida, she was a rock star.  The neighbors in the pool, those passing by, could hardly wait until Sarah joined them.  Even those we see one week every year, she mesmerizes in her cute factor way.  My parents loved watching her take to the water in a few short days, and they, also, see the blessings she has bestowed on our family.  "She will never know how truly blessed she is," was a remark spoken in the pool. 

But, it's the other way around.  We are the ones who are truly honored, blessed, and been given a gift like no other.  I can't look back at the 3 1/2 years she was alone.  All we do is look forward to where she is going, what she will do, and how she will make a difference in this world.
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Friday, I learned the book I had been waiting was in stores.  At Target, I pushed my cart to the book aisle, there it was...the very last copy in the store.  It was mine and I held onto that precious book all the way home.

I remember two years ago as I was learning more about orphans with Down syndrome, I stumbled upon Kelle Hampton's blog and I remember reading into the wee hours of the morning, crying tears of joy as she wrote with raw emotion the morning of her daughter's birth.  Since then, she has become an advocate for the NDSS, sharing her story through her words and pictures, and showing us all that life is beautiful.  I recommend it for anyone.  The glass if always half-full.

Have a blessed weekend.
Shelly

Inhale

I've been absent from writing, but following all those who've continued to write, post, and update.  January and February were months of constant recycling of colds, viruses, and yuck.   Addy was the lone ranger unscathed by the runny noses, coughs, fevers, and laryngitis.  Then, Andy's travel schedule, my work, and the happenings of having 3 active kids left me very little time to write.  Plus, the only pictures I could take were of runny noses, chapped cheeks, and droopy eyes and who wants to see those:(

 This past week, we flew to Florida to spend time with my snowbird parents and grandparents.  It was Sarah's first trip there and we spent our first day at the park and rode the mini-train that is a yearly tradition.

That evening, we brought a picnic to the beach as we watched the sun say good night.

With Sarah's zeal for sucking every possible moment out of every adventure, she ran straight into the ocean without checking the temperature!  Her expression was priceless as she acclimated herself to the cool temperatures.

 She loved digging in the sand, playing side by side with her brother and sister, and sitting with her family as she took a rest.  What a wonderful moment to watch her wide-eyed soak up every nuance, sound, smell, and sight the beach night opened up for her moment.

And I inhaled deeply as I watched my family enjoy their time together, walking in the sand.  Just being.  The reason I love our Florida time, our Carolina time together.  Just being together.

It's like she's saying, "Hello Sand, can we play together?"

Then, it was time to say good night to the sun, pack up the van, and rest for another adventure in the morning.

Children have neither past nor future; they enjoy the present, which very few of us do.

Jean de la Bruyere

On The Mend

This deliciousness is for the Grandparents...THE GLORIOUS PIGGIES ARE BACK!!!

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Last week while Andy was traveling, Sarah woke up multiple times every night and I was exhausted.  Being the AMAZING husband he is, he stayed out on the couch in case Sarah came down again on Friday evening.  Around midnight, he brought Sarah in and informed me that he thinks she has croup and is having difficulty breathing.  So, off to the ER they went.  Even though we've experienced it with our other kids, with Sarah we're erring on the side of caution this first time.

After giving her an oral steroid, they sent them both home.  She was the BELLE of the Ball in that ER.  Waving and hugging each and everyone as she left...her way of saying thank you for their kind service in her time of need.  She's making a difference in her own way!

Saturday and Sunday, she'd take many tissues out of the box and then put them back in for future use.

Then, make another bed for herself elsewhere with numerous blankets, water bottles, and books.

She's doing well with some minor coughing fits, mostly when sleeping.
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I've mentioned her DIVAish ways of recent and have been trying new "QUICK" hairstyles that I can do to match the sassiness of Miss Sarah.  This morning, she was the only one who had school (besides me), so I had a few extra minutes.   When lo and behold, her hair is long enough to bestow the awesomest pigtails she had when she first joined our family.  Without further ado...

Seriously...NO MORE PICTURES, Mama.

It's difficult being a star.  Always having to turn down the paparazzi!!

Perhaps if I put my thumb in my mouth, she'll stop.

Guess my grin is too cute!

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Aaron Shust, a wonderful Christian recording artist, was blessed with a beautiful boy this past weekend.  Michael Aaron was born with an extra chromosome and is having some other medical issues.  Aaron writes about their son's birth, the grieving process, and how they are walking God's plan for their lives.  "You don't need to know the future, only WHO holds the future." 

Check out his blog here.

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I know our children have a place in this world.  All the children like Sarah, Michael, Mia and Bree, Bridget and Alina, Nadia and Josi, Pudge and Zippy, Leanne and Josie, Ben and Davis, Nella, Mila and Zoya, Joachim and Sofia...all these children are precious gifts who can teach us all something about love, challenges, keeping it simple, forgiveness, and many more.  

When Sarah comes down at 6am, crawls into bed and says, "Mama," all the while smacking a Good Morning kiss on my cheek;

Or she wants one more hug at bedtime...

It doesn't get any better than that!

Happy Tuesday!

Skills for the Fashion Diva

Once the 5 Christmas events in 10 days were completed, we hibernated at home and spent time organizing closets and dressers.  Our focus on the remaining days was to put Sarah through Potty Boot Camp and to our surprise, she took it quite well.  We continue to be in pull-ups, but she remains dry mostly throughout the day.

Lately, she's had strong opinions about the clothing I pick out for her to wear and changes her outfits multiple times a day.  I've compiled a few visual aids for those who need practice taking off their clothes and acquiring new items for their wardrobe.

  Step 1:
  When Mom is occupied take off all your clothes and TRY to put on a new shirt.  Be Careful because the arms are tricky and they may get stuck behind your back.  It's not fun walking around in that manner.

Step 2:  If said arms are stuck, shimmy your way around and hopefully a kind friend will remove the vile shirt from your body.

Step 3: 
In case the papparazzi appear to snap the obscene photo and keep it hidden for future embarrassment of the clothing debacle, hide your eyes and cover your head.  If you can't see them, surely they can't snap a picture of you.

Step 4:  Walk upstairs and find new apparel that matches your mood of the day, all the while signing and saying stop to the offending person taking pictures.

There you have it.  Sarah's Surefire Smart Steps for Sassy Fashion Changes.
More laughter to come soon...
ADDENDUM:
After tucking her in for the night, I was working on the computer when she proceeded to bring me the outfit I had laid out for her tomorrow and say, "NO!"  So, back up we went and I found another that meets with the DIVA'S approval.  If this is what the future has in store, I'm in BIG trouble...