WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON LATELY

The school year has started out fast and furious!

For the past 3 weeks, I have had the opportunity to sub as an aide in the special ed department at the boys' school.  It has been a great learning experience, but it has also been a bit overwhelming working everyday and still being a mom and housewife.  Also I have always had great admiration for the teachers and aides at school, but now I have even more admiration after watching all the work that goes into teaching our kids.  Our school is blessed with an incredible staff who really cares about their students!  

One weekend in September, I did an intense 2 day toilet training with Jonah.  I let him go naked which is why the floor is covered in a tarp.  He had some great successes with telling me he had to go, but also he had some accidents where he didn't even notice he was going.  But I think everything we try with Jonah is helping in a small way to get him completely trained.  We are at a point now where he goes almost all the time on demand with some wetting in between.  At least we are moving in the right direction.

We got to visit Abigail this weekend up in MN because Stephen had a cross country meet up there.  The boys were so excited to see their "Bubba"- their name for Abigail.  This was a photo we texted to Abigail to let her know we were on our way there.  

The boys are very good little travelers.  They like watching movies.  They also did amazing at the cross country meet considering it was 90 degrees and humid!  

Here is a really sweet video and Ben and Abigail. 

CROSS COUNTRY SEASON FOR STEPHEN

Since this blog is also serving as our family's scrapbook, here are some photos of Stephen's senior year in cross country.

Stephen with Grandma and Grandpa

One of my favorite photos: Jonah is in the middle of the cross country team, acting like he is one of the runners.  So cute to watch him and "E" interact!  Ben was too shy and stayed in the stroller.  Just not ready to be part of the team yet.

JONAH TURNS 7!

Jonah turned 7 on 9-14-10.

Jonah's birthday brought about a lot of emotions for me.  

1st, tremendous joy and happiness because of the privilege we have had of having this wonderful little boy in our lives for 7 years now!  We are so proud of all his accomplishments over these past 7 years.  He has come so far and continues to amaze us with his determination to work hard and learn new things every day  He is super cute and super funny!  Jonah is just one amazing little boy.

The other emotion I felt on his birthday is deep appreciation to his birth mother for choosing us to be Jonah's forever family.   Words really can't describe the gratitude and respect I feel for this woman.  

Of course along with that appreciation and gratitude came sadness on Jonah's birthday.  Because I know how much his birth mom loves him, and I know that on this special day for Jonah, memories and emotions must overwhelm her as she thinks of that day 7 years ago when Jonah was born.  I have said it before but with adoption there is great joy at the expense of great pain.  

So it was a big day for me- fun but filled with lots of emotion.  For Jonah, it was just plain fun!  We had Culvers for his birthday supper, ice cream for his school treat (ice cream is the only sweet Jonah eats), and Grandma and Grandpa came over for the celebration.  He got to open presents and have "Happy Birthday" sung to him.   

Happy 7th Birthday Jonah!

By the way, Ben was very good about the spotlight being on Jonah for the day.  I was proud of him not being jealous.  

1ST DAY OF SCHOOL

Ok, this is probably one of the worst "1st Day of School" photos out there, but I am just happy I remembered to take the photo.  

Usually I am day or week late.      

So this was the best we could do this morning.  

Once again, Ben looks the most happy of the bunch to be going back to school.  

Not sure why our dog is in the picture...

Stephen, senior

Lydia, freshman

Ben and Jonah, 1st grade

Abigail up at college starting her 2nd year

Here's the report on each kiddo's 1st day:

Stephen: fine

Lydia: fine

teenagers don't talk much when asked a question:)

Ben and Jonah: all reports from teachers and aides were that the boys did a good job today. 

I appreciate that Ben's teacher realizes her first priority is to show Ben she is in charge, not him.  

I hope after Ben understands these boundaries, he will relax and enjoy school.   

Jonah marched into school like quite the little pro which he is because he has been going to school since he was 3!  He knows the drill.  Now if he can just keep his impulsiveness in check.  

That is the million dollar question!

Saying a prayer for Day#2.

GETTING TO THE END OF SUMMER

We moved our oldest Abigail into her apartment this week.  She will be starting her 2nd year of college!

Stephen toured 3 more colleges this week as he will be a senior in high school this year.

Lydia had her freshman orientation for high school this week.

The boys had their 1st grade open house this week.

Summer is almost over.  School is almost ready to start.  

Here are some photos to capture the end of our summer.

Jonah reading his Bible while Andrew reads his Bible at his desk.  

I don't know why Jonah has headphones and a stethoscope- but he does!

Mom and 3 older kids go out for mini-golf and ice cream.  Super fun!

Sandbox fun

Using Aunt Jane's hot tub when it was too cold to use our pool.

Dad goes on camping trip with the older kids.  Stephen had to leave early for work.

The boys join the campers for a morning at the beach.  

Hmm, why didn't the boys get invited to spend the night in the tent?

Jonah cuddling with Grandpa.  I don't know why Jonah has a diaper (clean) on his head- but he does!

Jonah at his first grade locker.  I am a bad mom and forgot to take a photo of Ben at his locker...

Stephen helping his big sister move into her apartment.

I found this too funny not to post.  

Not saying this is me or anything...

SOMETIMES COMPARING HELPS ME UNDERSTAND MY OWN KIDDOS BETTER

Overall I think the comparison game is one to stay away from.  It usually ends in a feeling of inadequacy or not feeling content with what I have.  This can happen when comparing material possessions, weight and looks,  children, etc.

But sometimes, when dealing with some of the issues related to Down syndrome, its nice to come upon information that I can relate to.  Its encouraging and makes me not feel like I am goofing things up too bad for our 2 little boys.

I have been following this particular mother's blog for a about a year.  I have always had the impression she is a supermom because she does such amazing things for all her kids.  One of her children has Down syndrome and is about the same age as our boys, and I have always felt very defeated when I would read about all the things she works on with her little girl.  My attempts to work on things with our boys looked pretty feeble in comparison.

However, today I read a post of her's that I can really relate to.  The mom talks about some of the struggles her little girl has and some of them I can relate to because they are the same as Jonah's struggles - easily frustrated, easily distracted, bothered by loud noises, potty training....

It was encouraging to read that this mother struggles with some of the same things as I do.   I still think she is a far more impressive advocate and teacher to her little girl, but it made me realize that our kids are sometimes just going to be who they are despite all the things we try.   Of course I am not saying it doesn't pay to help them along, but I don't want us parents to feel the pressure that what we do or don't do will be end of life as we know it.  We can only do so much.  Sometimes our kids will excel in certain areas, sometimes our kids will struggle in certain areas.  

It was nice to read this post today, and it helped me understand my own kiddos better.

Here is the link to the blog post:
some of these things sound familiar

BIG BROTHERS ARE PRETTY COOL!

Our oldest son Stephen had his 1st cross country meet today.  We took Ben along to the meet.  These photos were taken after the race.  I just love how happy Ben is to be by his big brother.  

A little over a year ago, Ben had no idea that he was about to become part of our family.  

Today he stands so proud next to his big brother "E" (what the boys call Stephen).

And because this blog is also our family's scrapbook, I am in putting this video of Stephen here.  He was interviewed by our local newspaper for the Senior Spotlight story.  I thought he did a good job!