Little Hands

Hello! Well, the kids and hubby are still not 100% better, lots of coughing still going on and general tiredness, but I think the worst is over. I still have remained healthy, which I am so thankful for!

The picture quality is not the best, it's hard to get a good one with light reflecting off the glass, but I wanted to share it anyway. I finally got some crafty time and felt like doing something as well! Yeah! I had this idea when I got home with Kai, to convert this frame I've had up that held a couple pictures of Zach and Ayana, and make into more of a keepsake wall art. I had taken ink prints of all the kids handprints either as soon as the boys came home to us and right after Ayana was born, so I trimmed them down, did some stamping for the background paper, their names, the hearts and the sweet saying.

It reads:

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living my

baby you'll be."

Robert Munseh

The we are so blessed frame I bought at a store called Real Deals, love it! I hope you are all enjoying a relaxing weekend. I am hoping for a much healthier week on our end! hugs....

More pictures

 These were taken the very first night we were home.

Both Zach and Ayana were so anxious to hold their new baby brother.

 Happy boy!

Well, getting back into a normal, or new normal routine, is proving to be a bit challenging! For the last week the entire family, except me, has been very sick :(  They are all starting to feel better, but it's been a little exhausting caring for everyone including hubby. But, there are good things too, like lots of snuggles all together on the couch and just really being home. The poor kids though are very tired of being sick and keep saying, "I don't want to be sick anymore."  Makaio is doing fabulous, sleeping through the night already too!! He loves to eat and is responding to his name and for sure knows who mom is. He goes to the DR. today to get a check up and be sure there are no pesky issues that need to be taken care. I am so enjoying these long warm days of the end of summer and hopefully will start our homeschool routine again next week. I haven't really had time or felt an inclination to get back to crafting yet, but am starting to miss it which is good. Hopefully my next post will have some crafty goodness in it. Hugs....

Home!

The very first moment we saw each other again. A huge smile for me!

Makaio and I are home. So thankful to be home, so jet lagged and tired, but adjusting well. The trip was both uneventful and smooth and at the same time so hard. I didn't expect to be so solitary the entire time and that was rough. It really is such a big help emotionally and physically to have other families to meet up with and talk with and help each other out, but that just wasn't the case this time. The guest house I stayed at was okay but was so lonely as everyone else who was staying there had their own schedule to keep and so it was just Kai and I for hours on end. The Embassy appointment was flawless and they got the Visa packet to me on time by Friday, so that was all wonderful. Friday afternoon I became very, very sick with food poisioning and had a really long night of vomiting and caring for Kai. The next day was spent trying to rest and recover and pack up. They took me to the airport 4 hours early which began our 32 hour trip home. The first leg of the trip was the worst. We were seated next to a very young man who was so rude and made sitting for 6 hours so hard. He kept leaning into our chair and falling asleep and I kept trying to push him back and was so frustrated. Makaio had the hardest time since it was the middle of the night and he was exhausted and cried and screamed for an hour straight and I cried too. Finally the flight ended and the rude guy got into the aisle and was getting his bag down and dropped it onto our heads! It hit me mostly, thank God, but poor baby had a red bump on his head for a good while. I just lost it then and was crying when this sweet woman stopped and asked how we were and I lost it even more. She was truly a God-send as she helped me with my bags and got us off the plane and then walked us all the way to our next gate. I was quite worried about the next flight as it was our longest, 11 hours. I honestly didn't think I'd be able to make it through without a basinet seat for him so I asked the counter if they could possibly change my seat. The counter guy was nice and told me it was really too late to do anything and I said okay but was so disappointed. Then about 10min. later I heard my name called and he said, I changed your seat, here's your new boarding pass! I was SO thankful. So the 11 hour flight was not too bad since he could lay down and sleep. We got home on time and it was the best thing in the world to see my family waiting for us at the airport. We are all ajusting well, Zach and Ayana love their brother and it feels so good to be in this new phase of our family life. Thank you for all your prayers and support....more pictures to come!

Oh Baby! Here I come!!

After almost 20 months of waiting, paperwork, ups and downs, delays and rushes ahead we are finally at the long awaited end of our adoption. I leave MONDAY! to go get our boy. Our gift...our Makaio. I just got some new pics of him this morning and this one was taken the day we got Embassy approval....maybe he knew! It's uncanny because I have almost an exact picture of my oldest just like this one, they look like twins! I am so beyond excited and thankful that the time has finally come and that he will finally be home with us. I hope to be home Sunday night, Aug. 14th, but may have to stay through the 15th. Thank you for sharing in this journey and I can't wait to share pictures of us all together. Hugs....

We Got Our Miracle!!!

I certianly have received one blessing after another, even through the pain of waiting and anxiousness. I got the long awaited and much anticipated email very early this morning declaring that our case, our Makaio, has been CLEARED by the US Embassy for me to go get him!!!!  We have no issues with our case, no delays...just a few more days of waiting to nail down the exact date of my leaving to go get my boy HOME! Thank you for all your prayers, support and standing with me, I have no doubt that this is a miracle and you are all a part of it! Rejoice with me, as in just a few more days I will be finding out when I can go and will be on that plane (well several *lol*) to bring our sweet baby boy home. I am overwhelmed with thankfulness and excitment...I will keep you posted on the progress! Hugs to you all.....