WHAT WE WOULD HAVE MISSED

I just read something written by a mom who adopted a child with Down syndrome- she wrote about what she would have missed if they hadn't adopted their little boy.

That really struck me.  What if we had said no?  Look what we would have missed...

HAPPY HEARTS

Today Ben had his cardiologist appointment in follow up to his heart surgery he had in September 2012.

Ben’s surgery at 18 moths: VSD, ventricular septal defect. 

Everything looked great!  Praise the Lord!

What really touch me though was that during the set up of the EKG, Ben got very scared and upset.  And he called out, "Mama".  He looked to me for help and comfort.  I was so privileged to be able to be there for him when he has been through so much without a mama.  But today when he needed a mama, he finally had one at his side.  

That made this mom's heart very happy!

On a side note,  "One healthy boy"- that is the phrase we have heard at each appointment we have taken Ben to: pediatrician, ENT, eye, and today cardiologist. The cardiologist was very impressed with the quality of Ben's heart repair that was done at the Vilnius Children's Hospital. 

Praise the Lord for Ben's good health! I tell you, this child was a hidden treasure in that Lithuanian orphanage!

OUR NEW NORMAL

Sometimes the phrase "new normal" is associated with something difficult.  I have been reading a lot lately about our country's new normal since 9-11.  

However, sometimes, a new normal is about a good change like having another child.  

With the addition of Benjamin Kostas to our family, this is our new normal.  So here our some of our first official photos as a family of 7.  

Photos by Jamie Brill Photography.

THE BEST ENGLISH EVER!

Ben is doing an amazing job at picking up English.  

Last night at bedtime, he hugged me and said, "You my mama."

Doesn't get any better than that!

OFF TO SCHOOL

Stephen, Lydia, Jonah and Ben had their first day of school on Thursday, 9-1(Abigail's first day of classes at college is tomorrow).

Jonah and Ben are in 5K, in 2 different classrooms.  We thought they might need a break from each other!  

Jonah will be at school from 8:30-1:30 instead of the full day which ends at 3:30.  We hope as the year goes on, he can stay all day.  For now, we are getting him use to eating lunch at school and having outdoor recess every day.

Ben is starting at 1 hour a day.  This is to help him get use to the school experience gradually instead of just throwing him in for 6 hours a day.  However, the biggest reason for limiting his time at school right now is to make sure he is bonding to me and not a teacher.  I want to make sure our relationship is solid and firm before we introduce him to another "caretaker".  

Lydia is in 8th grade, and Stephen is a junior.  The biggest deal with these two is thinking about where they will be next year:  Lydia will be in high school and Stephen will be graduating high school.  How did this happen????

Here are 1st (and I confess 2nd day because I am not organized at 7 a.m. in the morning) day pictures:

Why is Ben the only one who 

looks happy about school?  

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

What would you do if you came across a whale-themed playground?

If you are Jonah, you would act out the Jonah and the whale story! In this photo, he is praying "inside" the whale.

I would like to think that Jonah is teaching us deeper lessons about witnessing to others by praying in public or that we should always live out our faith.  Perhaps, God can use the funny antics of a 6 year old to teach us this.  

However, as usual with Jonah, the biggest take-away I always get from watching Jonah is that we should live life to the fullest.  Don't let what others might think of you stop you from doing what is in your heart.  

So now, think again, what would you do if you came across a whale-themed playground?  Remember, think like Jonah!  It will be fun!

WHAT A SUMMER!

Can't believe we're doing this: last month we brought Ben home from Lithuania, and now we are bringing Abigail off to college in Minneapolis. What a summer!

Best wishes to our beautiful daughter Abigail in her new adventures at college!