heart breaker

I have recently had my heart broken over a little girl named Olive, from Eastern Europe.
She is 3 years old, is the size of a 10 month old, and has down syndrome.
She is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen - and I literally cry every time I look at her pictures.
The idea that such a beautiful being of God has a good chance of going to an institution to live the rest of her life in meager conditions, barely survivable, literally makes my heart ache.
Karl and I are doing what we can, we're advocating for her, and trying to raise funds....



We've started a facebook for her, and we have committed to donating $10/week until she is adopted.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1490888789&ref=name

We are also prayerfully considering adopting her.

It is agonizing, waiting on Word from the Lord, and waiting to see if people will sacrifice and help this little girl escape a life of hell.

Ethan's 2nd birthday:
Ethan wasn't too sure about the cake - he doesn't get it often, and was a bit weary.

He did warm up to it though, and decided to try the candle.

He quickly learned that the candle didn't taste that well...

but that the cake was much better.

We celebrated small, because we're planning his 1/2 birthday this summer with Amelia.
He got a few books and a fisher price car toy from Karl's parents, a potty book, and a walking dragon from my parents, and a veggie tales movie from us.
Ethan was terrified of the dragon, but Evelyn loved it.



I wanted to make cookies with Ethan - but if you have spent much time with Ethan, you'd know he hates dirty hands.
So, I mostly made them while he watched, and we talked about what I was doing, and when we would eat them.

Evelyn sat watching and babbling from her chair

She was in such a good mood.


Here is ethan trying to pick up just the black frosting... my crazy boy


I snapped this picture the other day because Evelyn totally conked out in the middle of eating a cracker.
I guess she was more tired than either of us thought.

My little momma - I could eat her up!


I ressurected an old shirt of Karl's, he wore in high school, and then I wore it, and now I made it Ethan size.
I wanted to take a picture of it - and this is what I got... I thought it it as too funny.
My little drama king.


I could slap myself for not taking pictures the other night - Collin, Ciara, Justin, Nana, Lance, KP, Karl, and I were all together! We had a little party here at our house, and it was so fun. I wish so much that we all lived in the same town, so we could experience such fun and fellowship all the time.

Karl and I went to IKEA saturday, picked up some things to prepare for foster care. Today we painted the foster room, set up the toddler bed (thanks Kasey!) and the crib, and put everything in its place for Tuesday. I will try and take some pictures tomorrow.
I am so excited to start fostering.
I feel like we've been preparing for this moment, well because we have, since last june. That's almost as long as a pregnancy! So, you can imagine the anticipation.
I'm afraid the second the kids walk in the door I'm going to jump on them and love them straight to death... haha.

Speaking of, I am not allowed to publicly post pictures and information about our foster kids online. So, if you want to read posts about our foster care experience, and see pictures, you'll have to add me as a friend, because I'll have to make those post friends only.

Bible study was good tonight! A few things during the video really hit me - and I'm feeling good.

We got our first call for respite care!
We will be trying our hand at being foster parents Jan 20 - Feb 1
to a sibling set of two, boy and girl, ages 2 and 3.
So excited!!!!!

(Respite care is like being a really long term baby sitter for another foster mom)

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry!

I know, I said I'd update this all the time.
And I haven't.
I aplogize.
I will try and do better.

It has been very busy around here - and isn't going to stop anytime soon.

I've been doing my photo work, along with getting new orders for sewn, crochet, and knit items.
I recently have made about... maybe 5 pairs of longies? for ladies.
They're little pants made out of 100% wool yarn, they're used as covers over cloth diapers.
I have been crocheting them, but I just learned how to knit this week! So, I'm making my first pair of knit one right now.
Here is a poorly taken shot of a pair I had Evelyn try on for size:

Here is the same pair, with a matching hat that I made with the excess yarn on the little one they were made for.

Here is a picture of another tiny little new born only a few days old wearing a pair I made for her:


We finally got through the whole process of foster licensing - and are officially licenced!
We are so excited about it!
We are on the call list, and can be called at any time to take in children.
We are expecting a wait of at least a few weeks before we receive any calls though.

We are also going to finish two classes and a modified home study to be considered prospective adoptive parents as well.
We have put in an interest form online for a sibling group of three, stating that when we're approved as PAPs we'd like to know more about them.
Let's just say they'd make us an inter-racial family of 5 under 3 :)

The kids have had an awful cough and cold symptoms for almost a week now.
I also caught the bug and have been feeling sick since Friday.
Not fun.
Karl's the only one that's escaped the sickness... so far!

The real reason I was inspired to post today is because it's Ethan's 2nd birthday!
I wanted to post a little bit about my growing-too-fast little man as to remember when he's older.
Names
We still call him "The boy"
Momma calls him "my little man"
He calls himself "tee-tan"
Talking
He has more words than I could even begin to type.
He is starting to talk in 3-4 word sentences.
He can't say his "F"s, they're replaced by "P"s. It is quite possibly the cutest thing ever when he says things like "pish" and "peet". My favorite is when he laughs and says "I parted"... :)
He loves to sing "songs" which consists of air drumming or guitar accompanied by "singing" every name of ever person he knows. Most repeated are "papa" and "Dan-yo"
Favorites
His favorite toy is quite obviously his new, real drum set, and his "cars".
His favorite person alive right now is Daniel, my 8 year old brother. He will say his name about 20 times on average per day.
Daniel has graciously taught him how to shoot guns, play punch fights, play guitar hero, and cross his arms and go "humph" when he's mad. Hey, someone's gotta do it sooner or later right?
Really though, Daniel has proved to be wonderful with my kids, and it's no wonder why Ethan loves him like a best friend and brother.
His favorite TV show is The Upside Down Show, which he only gets to watch with Daddy when he stays up late on weekends.
His favorite movie (said MOO-bee) is anything Veggie Tales (said "tales").
He is also enjoying his baby muppets movie now too.
His favorite Food:
He was on a total banana kick for about 2 months, his daily routine was to get up, get in mommas bed, drink a sippy of juice, watch Jack's Big Music Show, go down stairs, and have a banana (10 if I'd let him).
Now he will not eat anything that's not primarily composed of CARBS.
He loves toast, muffins, dry bread, waffles, pancakes, cereal, crackers (called cookies), and his sister's puffs.
(This is not his mamma's choice, but none the less it's the way it is)
Random Tid Bits
He has out grown most of his bow-legged-ness, but still walks a little pigeon toed.
He just figured out how to jump and get both feet off of the floor about a month ago - it was a work in progress for a long time!
He continues to grow up looking more and more like his daddy.
Mom can't get enough of his cheesy, all teeth and dimples smile.
He loves to pretend to crochet or knit like his momma, but adores and copies every little thing his daddy does.
He has officially turned in to a little boy, being that he now thinks it's funny (punny) to burp, fart (part), and make awful boy noises.
He asks to go read books when he wants to go to bed, and generally will not get out of bed in the morning, until mom comes in to get him.
He absolutely loves having his Grandpa Joe, Grandma Jen, Auntie C, and Daniel next door. He would live there if we'd let him. He gets a kick out of "being mean" to Grandma Jen - and will not tell her he loves her (unless she gives him junk food).
A lot of people predict he'll be one of those kids on The Tonight Show, drumming at age 4 - Mom and Dad would be proud!
He has an arranged marriage to his mom's best friend's daughter - Amelia.
He loves to play with the trains, spring horse, and piano at his Nana and Papi's house.
He is in 18-24 month clothes, and size 6.5 shoes. He hates wearing socks, but LOVES shoes!
He is still vegetarian but is allowed to eat things that have small amount of cheese in them.
He is a wonderful big brother, cares about his sister immensely, comforts her when she cries, is next to never jealous, and mom and dad think they'll be best of friends.

I never knew I'd love something as much as I love my little man.
Happy TWO today lovie!

Blog Give-Away

I've never been one to attempt to be the "winner" of a blog give-away, but this bundle was just too good to pass up.
Check out Simple Mom for her awesome give away:
http://simplemom.net/a-big-gift-basket-giveaway-for-the-littles-in-your-life/

WE'RE IN!

We have finished our home study, and are just waiting on our license from Lansing now!
The SW said within the month!
We are so excited it's ridiculous.
We want so badly to offer our family to a child that needs us,
and we're *this much* closer.
I cant wait until I've got 4 or 5 little ones running around my house and running me ragged.

Here is what I've found online about this whole melamine scare:

Health officials say there's little risk if melamine is ingested in small amounts. But large amounts can kill. Melamine is high in nitrogen. Chinese suppliers added it to watered-down milk to mask the milk's protein deficiency. Asian children have been drinking that milk for a long time, accumulating large amounts of melamine in their bodies.
Toxicology experts say the body simply can't metabolize so much nitrogen. It crystallizes in the kidneys, forms stones and can lead to kidney failure and death. Melamine-contaminated milk killed four babies and sickened 50,000 children in China alone. Six children in Hong Kong and Macau have developed kidney stones from the contaminated milk.
Twelve countries have already banned Chinese dairy products and U.S. health official say the safest thing is to avoid any food products made in China
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/marilynbrooks/17583549/detail.html

recall in the United States for 100 ml plastic bottle packages of Blue Cat Flavor Drink (Lanmao) because it may be contaminated with Melamine.
http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/10/us-company-recalls-drink-for-melamine-contamination.html

All of these products were listed as tainted in the US
Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)
Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)
OK OK Kaiser Strawberry Dressing Pretzels
OK OK Kaiser Chocolate Dressing Pretzels
S & P Milk Cookies
Sherwood Pirate's Gold milk chocolate coins
WHITE RABBIT CREAMY CANDY
http://www.nowpublic.com/health/recalled-melamine-milk-products-list-ongoing

Target Candies made in China
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3dbBQPIFf0

U.S. company recalls cookies over melamine concerns
Lotte USA Inc. is recalling China-made cookies sold both in Canada and the United States because they may be contaminated with melamine.
The recall covers several flavours of Koala's March creme-filled cookies sold in both king-size and family-size packages.
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/10/18/lotte-melamine.html