Do me a favor, please...

If you are a follower of this blog, please make the switch with me and sign up to follow my other blog instead.

(If you read regularly, sign up to be a follower if you aren't! I have read blogs for years without signing up to follow....oh my, how much easier it is when you are a "follower" of a blog...you can check them all at once, without having to click through each link in your favorites each time! Am I the only one who didn't know about this feature?)

I think I've finally decided to merge the two blogs together. This blog began as Norah's story. I threw in some ups and downs with Will along the way, and it has primarily served to do just that - keep people updated on Norah and Will.

I can't keep up with two blogs. When I began the other one, I wanted to reach out to other parents who have adopted or who have kids with special needs. But I find that my updates fit in both places, so it seems only natural that the second blog becomes the only blog...and that all goes there. I will leave this blog up for a while so that people can find my new one. Maybe for a long while....I still haven't finished Norah's scrapbook, and so I need my notes here.

Thank you for following us on the beginning of our journey. If you are interested in what comes next, please feel free to follow along on Thoughts from Holland. I can assure you from where I'm standing, it is going to be quite a ride. :)

Blogging...

I haven't abandoned this blog, I promise.

We've had a lot of computer issues and power outages as of late. However, I keep my other blog - Thoughts from Holland - updated more regularly. Will's name is used on there, but the other two are not. I've been considering marking this blog as private, protected by a password.

I can't decide. My other blog is written for the purpose of what I imagine I'll be blogging about more, naturally...life as a mom of a child with special needs. Well, really, two, I guess.....but perspective causes me to not even notice Norah's arm, much less consider it special needs.

I began this blog because of the adoption, and I realize people check in on Norah. I will still blog about her, even if it is on the other blog. Honestly, though...blogging is theraputic for me, and Will's issues are generally what causes me to need therapy. ;)

I'll keep thinking on it.

Thank you, Grandma(s)!

If you'd like a laugh this morning, check out my post about what I did with the kids on Father's Day. Holy cow...some days I wonder why I leave the house with all three.

On to the topic, however...

We are so very lucky to have two wonderful sets of grandparents in our kids' lives. I hear stories all the time from friends and am reminded about how blessed we are. Both sets of grandparents are willing to watch our kids - all three of them. At the same time. Overnight even.

They bless our children with their love and phone calls checking on them as well as actual "things" occasionally. (Sometimes more than occasionally. LOL)

Saturday night, Caroline spent the night with Jim's mom. C left us from Will's baseball game wearing nothing but broken flip flops and a dress covering her bathing suit. Yes, I know. We are THAT family.

Sunday she came home complete with new panties, a new pair of flip flops, a nightgown, and a beautiful dress that she wore to church.

My mom has been watching my kids while I work part time this summer. By request, she has come with paint and rocks...to paint rocks, what else? :) She also happened to bring a sprinkler that the ENTIRE neighborhood enjoyed, as well as special donuts because she knows Will will eat them. Oh, and I can't forget the necklace that Caroline will NOT. TAKE. OFF. From a bubble gum machine, no less. ;)

So, here's to the Grandmas who make our kids' lives special every day. Thank you! We love you!

Just a Few...

We got our Littlest Hero photos!! Here are just a few of my favorites....

Special Exposure Wednesday: Reflecting

This is a favorite of mine, from Will's third birthday. He was SO over picture taking. :)

{You can check out other photos of some pretty cool kids or join in the "Special Exposure Fun" by clicking on the button in my sidebar.}

A day full of appointments

AKA Why I drink mid-day

Seriously. What was I thinking?!?

My day consisted of Will's social group therapy at one outpatient site of Children's Hospital from 10:15 till 11:30 followed by a quick lunch at McDonald's and then Norah's international adoption clinic follow up at an entirely different outpatient site at 12:45.

Now, I must say in my own defense...I forgot about N's appointment until this morning. Otherwise, I would have made arrangements for my other two because, after all, these appointments are 3 HOURS LONG.

Then, to top it all off, N had bloodwork drawn. Which would have been okay if it were not for Will's amazing fear of the lab where blood is drawn. Who can blame him really...he's had more experiences there than we can count.

Envision trying to restrain a tired, screaming 17 month old who was already about...say...three hours past due for a nap all while the poor man spent many minutes just trying to find a vein. Meanwhile, I've buckled Will into Norah's stroller because he's already attempted bolting out of the room several times, and also turned the lights off on the nurse just as she was about to stick Norah for the TB test. Nice.

And one wonders why I can not lose any weight. Red wine and popcorn, anyone?

It's time!

I finally have Norah's report ready to send. Sorry Cheryl! It is a little late. The main hangup with getting this report ready is having both of us in the picture with Norah...I always take the pictures, and apparently, we are never together. LOL

It is also time to start the process to readopt her and officially change her name to the name we gave her. We kept part of her Vietnamese name, and her new name will be Norah Lan. This is the name she now answers to, but to make it legal in our county, we have to wait six months and then apply to have it all changed through the courts.