IKEA swings

Did you know that IKEA has swings? I checked their website, and unfortunately, the one I'm seriously considering (pictured above - EKORRE line) isn't available online. But of course, it's there on ebay, and pretty similar price for anyone that's interested. Really reasonable considering what places charge for sensory swings. This one is less than $50 with both parts. You can buy it without the inflatable piece at the store and then it is between $30-40.

We have two sensory swings in our basement, but I'd love to have one outside for when Will gets tired or overloaded and starts doing things he shouldn't be.

giveaway for moms

On one of the blogs I read (Simple Mom), there is a giveaway for some really beautiful handmade jewelry from Lisa Leonard Designs. For more details on the giveaway, click here. I'm not normally a big jewelry person, but I like some simple pieces to wear from time to time.

At the end of October, my husband and I will have been married for ten years. Don't you think one of these necklaces with my kids' names on it would make a perfect gift?

Feel free to let him know if you see him out and about. ;)

something new

We met some new neighbors at the bus stop this year. One of them has two daughters, one of which was adopted from China and started kindergarten this year. (Did I mention that I love this neighborhood?)

She gave us an Ergo carrier. I'm in love. Norah can ride on our backs very comfortably and I can have my hands free. Today I took Will and N for a walk. Norah rode on my back; Will rode his tricycle. Or sort of, anyway. He prefers me to push, but will pedal as long as we aren't going uphill!

Peeping Tom

Yeah, we're all sort of a little stir crazy after a weekend of illness.

It goes something like this...

*screaming heard from the basement*

Mom enters basement from upstairs just in time to see Will, who attempts to pull Norah from the sensory swing by her hair.

Mom tells Will, "It's Norah's turn."

Repeat 20 times.

Will finally decides its in his best interest to go and play with his Silly Six Pin game - a bowling game, a new favorite in the house.

Norah hears the sound coming from the Silly Six Pin game two feet away, jumps off of the swing, grabs a bowling pin, and runs. All in 30 seconds or less.

Will runs after Norah.

*screaming heard from the basement*

Will runs back to the sensory swing. He gets off momentarily to fix his pants which are now falling off of his behind.

Norah seizes the moment, and jumps onto the sensory swing.

Will attempts to pull Norah from the sensory swing by her hair.

*screaming heard from the basement*

I can sort of relate to the hair pulling.

I love my neighborhood!

Everyone should have the chance to live in a neighborhood that they love. What makes a neighborhood so wonderful? The people, the sense of community that you share.

After having Will, we felt our life outside of kids dwindle away to nothing. Not uncommon for parents of young children. Especially common for parents of kids with special needs.

Then, we met our neighbors. Four houses of us all together. Lots of kids, all around the same age. Fun times to be had. A social life, complete with kids, began.

In the meantime, something wonderful happened. The neighbors loved on my children, special needs or not. No explaining why he does this or doesn't do that. Comfortable. A sense of community, like a family.


Just when we thought it couldn't get better, we brought Norah home from Vietnam in December.


Jack came home from China in March.

Tomorrow, my next door neighbors leave for Russia to bring an adorable little blond haired, one year old home.

What started out as some social time outside with the kids turned into some really wonderful friendships which continue to grow with the love of orphans. I love my neighborhood. I love the people.

Good luck you guys! We can't wait to meet the next child to be welcomed into our neighborhood family.

A Trip to the Vascular Clinic

Norah had her follow up appointment at the Vascular Clinic today. For those of you who don't know, before we adopted her, she was thought to have a lymphatic malformation or possibly even Klippel Trenaunay which would be more significant involvement of her arm. We were fine with this....in our eyes, this was easy compared to some of what we've seen.

A couple of months after adopting her, we took her to the Vascular Clinic here. They actually diagnosed her with a capillary malformation (AKA Port Wine Stain), and the doctors disagreed about whether she had arterial involvement which would make it Parkes Weber Syndrome. This would mean follow up with cardiology as Parkes Weber can result later in an enlarged heart, due to the arteries working over time.

Today, two doctors looked her over and decided it was definitely NOT Parkes Weber and is, in fact, just a Port Wine Stain. We are so lucky and so blessed with this kid. The doctors today could not believe how well she is doing. Her growth is fabulous and her development is well above her age level.

On top of that (as if things could not get better), my two younger kiddos were both with me. They could not have behaved better. Sleep clearly makes such a HUGE difference for Will. I always knew it did...more so than the average kiddo...but it was so clear today. He is a different kid and was just fabulous.

What a great day. I couldn't stop thinking on the way home about how much God has blessed us recently. We are so thankful!