Tidbits

*I told you I would report back on what we did for service on Chris (and Jace's) birthday. I haven't done that yet, so here I am. The day was crazy busy getting ready for Jace's party, but we did manage to bring a big box of food to the Food and Care Coalition and we also babysat the neighbor kids for the evening. I honestly wish that we would have had time to do more-- but the good news is, we don't have to wait until next year to serve someone again! I want to look for opportunities where Hallie can get involved and understand on her level what it is to serve and the joy it can bring.

*I also mentioned that we got a new car...yes, we got a new car. A VAN to be exact. I know, you have all fallen through the floor right about now, and believe me, I was equally as shocked at first. I have never pictured myself as a van person, but let's be honest...with our growing family, a van is the most practical and cost effective option. We have just been driving Devin's parent's car as they kindly allowed us to drive it while they are on their mission (we sold our Corolla to start Flor's adoption fund). Now that we have three kids and they are returning, it was definitely time to get something bigger. So, hello van. So far, so good. It is a red Chrysler Town and Country (2004) and we got a really great deal on it. The older and wiser we get, the more important not having debt becomes to us so I think our Corolla purchase from our first year of marriage may just be our first and last brand new car. So, wahoo for a new car where the children can spread out and we don't hear comments like "Mom! He is looking at me!" and "Mom, her arm is on me!" (All from Hallie who for the week and a half pre-van was sitting in the middle of the two other kids). And, having a DVD player in the van is an added bonus that we appreciate.

*Flor, Flor, Flor. Poor thing has been through a lot of doctor appointments lately. She saw the infectious disease specialist earlier this week who was honestly quite perplexed by her. He acted more like a pediatrician than anything, checking her very thoroughly and recommending us to have full labs done and an MRI on her brain. The good news from him is that she has NO parasites. We had the MRI today and that was rather a traumatic experience for both of us. In short, they had real issues getting an IV into Flor to sedate her. There were literally three people holding her down on each side and that was with her on my lap. She was furious about all the pokes (and do you blame her??) They tried to draw blood earlier this week and were unable to get a vein then, too. So this time, a supposed "expert" who they bring in when no one else can get the vein, came in and lo and behold, she couldn't do it either. They have all commented that Flor seems to have a lot of scar tissue on her veins, which makes it difficult to get the needles in. That makes sense given that practically her whole first year was spent in the hospital on countless IV's. I felt so bad for her. Imagine your kids getting shots times 1000. She was so mad at me, too. She kept giving me these looks like "How can you let them do this to me??" Heartbreaking. They finally gave her some pre-sedative something or other through her nose that calmed her down within 5 minutes. In fact, it made her rather loopy. She was giggling at everything and had no coordination at all. I was thinking "Why didn't we do this long ago!?" They were then able to get an IV in since she was not thrashing as much. They agreed to draw her blood for the labs  that she needed right then so that we don't have to go through the whole ordeal again later. That was a blessing.

We then moved down the hall to go into the MRI and Flor started thrashing, crying, and freaking out again. It was horrendous. She kept trying to pull out the IV that was pumping her with the sedative. The poor nurse practitioner heard her clear down the hall and came down to give the order to give her yet another type of sedative that was supposed to have instant effect and then continue to pump the other one in. So, in case you are counting, this is the third type of sedative poor Flor needed. She thrashed around for another 5 minutes or so and then finally fell asleep. She was supposed to go on the scanner at 12:30 but with all the problems didn't get on until about 2. Yikes. The only other issue was that she was so drugged by that point that when the MRI was over (about a half hour on the scanner total) she definitely did not want to wake up! We let her sleep for an hour after and then forced her awake. She was none too pleased about that...

We should get results tomorrow or Monday. We'll see. I hope they tell us something about her developmental delays and what we can do to help her progress.

*Another Flor item of note is that she is starting school on Monday! YAY! I feel that she is more than ready as she has been out of school for three months now. She was going to school at her orphanage before and it has been hard for me to know that she has not been getting the services she needs while we have had her since we are not therapists nor are we special ed teachers. I also feel that the timing is right as we have had 3 months now to bond as a family and for her to get accustomed to us.

 I had a meeting this week with a number of people from the school district to determine her placement and to determine on her IEP goals. I met all the teachers, aides, and therapists that will be working with her and we toured her classroom and school as well. The school is not the one we are zoned for, but one also very nearby that houses the more moderate to severe special needs students in the district. It is brand new- it's first year in operation! Flor will have 11 other classmates and her teacher seems phenomenal. I am so excited to see the progress that she can make and to have some reinforcement for the things that we are working on with her at home. I think it will be such a great thing. She is in 1st grade, so she will be in school all day! So insane that I have a child in elementary school. WHAT?! We paid for a month's worth of school lunches for her while we were at the school and I kept thinking "Wasn't I just barely in elementary school wishing my mom would pay for hot lunch for me?!" (We always had cold lunch). I am so excited for my little Flor to be a big girl going to school!

*I haven't cooked dinner once since being home thanks to the wonderful frozen meals. I can't even tell you what a lifesaver this has been for us. The food has been amazingly good and so easy. We are going to get back into ordering Bountiful Baskets each week to have fresh fruits and veggies to go along with our dinners, but besides that, we really have only had to grocery shop for milk and bread. We still have a billion meals left and try to keep two in the fridge at a time ready to go. When these are all out, I have already made plans with my cousin and sister to get together to make another month's worth or something. I love the simplicity of it and especially because they are foods I would be making anyway. Brilliant, brilliant. We have meals from family on both sides. They must have all been on the same wavelength on this one--the right wavelength! Honestly one of the best gifts that could have been given to us. They have been so helpful.

Well, this was supposed to be short. I just can't do it, I guess. I ramble too much! I need to do a post about Hallie soon as I haven't said much about her lately. I'll try to get on that.

Happy (nearly) weekend, everyone!