On Tuesday, Sean came into the house announcing that he had found "a kitty with no family." He was a precious kitten probably about 6 months old. He had no fleas and seemed well cared for, but he obviously had missed several meals. Michael and I knew we could not keep him. We already have two cats and a dog. We could not afford another animal. We called the vet for advice and ended up taking him to the animal shelter. On the way to the shelter we tried to explain to Sean why we could not keep him. This was definitely NOT my favorite moment as a grown up! The very nice lady at the shelter scanned him and (PRAISE GOD!) he was microchipped. She called Home Again and got his name and address and called his owners. She told Sean that he had just helped the kitty find his home! Sean kissed the kitty good-bye and got in the car smiling! As we pulled out he said, "I sure am going to miss the kitty." Michael and I decided that deserved Chick-fil-A ice cream!
Wednesday morning we had to go to court for the judge to check on Sean. He was a perfect gentleman and got complimented by many different people on how good he looked in his tie! The judge even said he looked better than one of the lawyers! The judge said everything seemed fine and that she would see us again in January unless we are able to finalize by then.
After court we ran some errands and one involved going to a store where Michael used to work part-time until just before we got Sean. The ladies all loved on Sean! One lady, as she was walking away, said we had a beautiful family and all we needed now was a little girl! That got Sean thinking. After a minute he asked if we were going to get more children. I said we would like to. He informed us that he would like a brother AND a sister! We told him we would see what we could do!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Soccer evaluations
We signed Sean up for Upwards Soccer. Today was soccer evaluations. Sean had to go through several stations and just show his skills. We were very impressed. Michael has been working with him and at first he did not understand the idea of dribbling the soccer ball. He thought soccer was a form of kickball. Today he dribbled like a pro. We are so proud.
God also orchestrated some events this week that may help us to help Sean. We received some information that may help us keep Sean's counseling and we met a lady who is not only an adoptive mother, but also a special education teacher! What a blessing!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Prayers, prayers and more prayers
God has certainly forced us to our knees repeatedly over the past few days.
First, our new church is going through some re-structuring. The doors will be closing at the end of July until next spring. The church planting group, Stadia, is being brought in to help us grow. We must make some decisions and seek God's hand in our future there.
Second, we must make some decisions about Sean and his schooling. We want to have another IQ test done by an outside, professional source. We have an appointment with a psychologist for the last week of July. However, we keep hearing such wonderful things about the testing that the neuropsychology department at Scottish Rite can show. The problem is that Scottish Rite can't give us an appointment until December. That means that we could not have him retained in 1st grade in August. He would have to complete 2nd grade this year and then, if his IQ come out average, he could be retained in the 2nd grade in May. We don't know what to do. We want to do what is best for Sean, but we don't know what that is or who to ask. We need guidance and prayers. We need God to close some doors so that we know which way to go. We are also still trying to figure out what to do with his Medicaid and counseling.
Third, our new niece, Ruth, was born on June 29. She was taken to the doctor last night and was diagnosed with RSV (a respiratory virus that is highly contagious among children and can be life-threatening). She is in NICU and is expected to be there for 2 more days and in the hospital for up to 2 weeks. Please keep her and her parents in your prayers.
First, our new church is going through some re-structuring. The doors will be closing at the end of July until next spring. The church planting group, Stadia, is being brought in to help us grow. We must make some decisions and seek God's hand in our future there.
Second, we must make some decisions about Sean and his schooling. We want to have another IQ test done by an outside, professional source. We have an appointment with a psychologist for the last week of July. However, we keep hearing such wonderful things about the testing that the neuropsychology department at Scottish Rite can show. The problem is that Scottish Rite can't give us an appointment until December. That means that we could not have him retained in 1st grade in August. He would have to complete 2nd grade this year and then, if his IQ come out average, he could be retained in the 2nd grade in May. We don't know what to do. We want to do what is best for Sean, but we don't know what that is or who to ask. We need guidance and prayers. We need God to close some doors so that we know which way to go. We are also still trying to figure out what to do with his Medicaid and counseling.
Third, our new niece, Ruth, was born on June 29. She was taken to the doctor last night and was diagnosed with RSV (a respiratory virus that is highly contagious among children and can be life-threatening). She is in NICU and is expected to be there for 2 more days and in the hospital for up to 2 weeks. Please keep her and her parents in your prayers.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Catching up again
I have not been so good with updating lately. Here is another catch up session.
Sean continues to learn and grow in God. He made a "present for God" the other day. It was a cross with two American flags around it. I will try to post a picture later. We have found a lawyer who will help us fight the SSI denial. If he is approved for disability due to his developmental delay then we can keep the Medicaid and get him some tutoring. We are continuing to work with an awesome counselor. We are also trying to get an IQ test done on him. Right now he is slated to be in 2nd grade in the fall. His IQ is the determining factor. We work on school stuff every day for a little while. He is making progress, but won't be ready for 2nd grade. We are praying for guidance in this situation. God's will be done.
Michael preached for the first time on June 28th. We had amazing family and friends come out to support him. He did an fantastic job and was so open to God using him! He has been working pretty regularly for IST Management, the company he has worked with off and on for three years. He enjoys the work, but it is an on-call status. During the summer he works regularly, but during the school year...not so much. However, he has a job interview on Monday morning for a full time administrative assistant position at a local private school. Please pray for him!
We have had quite an adventure lately. On Thursday, July 2, Michael, Sean, our dog, Beau and I went hiking at a local state park. It was a gorgeous trail along the side of a river. Well, I was climbing over some rocks and my foot slipped. I fell, catching the other foot between two of the rocks. I felt my ankle pop. Both were throbbing. Michael and I knew there was NO way we could get me back down the trail, so he ended up calling 911. Between my sister and our neighbor, Rene, we got Sean and Beau home. One Fire Rescue unit showed along with an EMT and a park ranger. However, there was no way to get me out along the trail going either way. So, they called in a hook and ladder truck, strapped me to a body board and pulled me up the side of a cliff at a 65 degree angle (sometimes steeper) for over 100 yards. At one point I counted 8 different voices around me pulling me up and there were at least 4 more men at the top with the pulley. Michael was right there with them, helping in any way he could and constantly reminding me he was near. By the end of everything we had two park rangers, two fire trucks, two ambulances, 15 EMTs and Fire Rescue guys and Michael helping! I know how to draw a crowd! I am grateful that God steadied everyone's feet and no one else got hurt on that steep hill!
Three and a half hours after falling, I finally got into the ambulance. Fifteen minutes after that I was in the ER. Two and a half hours after that I was headed home with one foot in a brace and one in an ace bandage. The left one was in the brace because it was the less injured, so I had to put pressure on that foot. The right foot was swollen so badly that I thought it was trying to create it's own zip code and I couldn't put any pressure on it at all. The pain was so bad for several nights that I couldn't sleep more than 90 minutes at a time.
Things have improved. I can now put pressure on both feet, but still have to use the crutches. Both feet are still swollen and I think they are creating never before seen colors! However, the swelling is less than it was. I can also sleep for several hours at a time with the help of Ibuprofen PM. Every night gets a little bit better. Michael and Sean have both been so strong during all of this. They have taken wonderful care of me! My hat is off to them as well as the Fire Rescue team that came to get me!
After all of this excitement, we still managed to go to the local mall on July 4th to watch fireworks. We took Michael's Sportage, put down the back seat, and I could sit with my feet propped up! We were joined by our friends Courtney, Laird and Sandy, Brigit and her daughters Sydney and Alyssa, and my sister Naomi and her daughter Amani. We had a great time. It was good to laugh!
Sean continues to learn and grow in God. He made a "present for God" the other day. It was a cross with two American flags around it. I will try to post a picture later. We have found a lawyer who will help us fight the SSI denial. If he is approved for disability due to his developmental delay then we can keep the Medicaid and get him some tutoring. We are continuing to work with an awesome counselor. We are also trying to get an IQ test done on him. Right now he is slated to be in 2nd grade in the fall. His IQ is the determining factor. We work on school stuff every day for a little while. He is making progress, but won't be ready for 2nd grade. We are praying for guidance in this situation. God's will be done.
Michael preached for the first time on June 28th. We had amazing family and friends come out to support him. He did an fantastic job and was so open to God using him! He has been working pretty regularly for IST Management, the company he has worked with off and on for three years. He enjoys the work, but it is an on-call status. During the summer he works regularly, but during the school year...not so much. However, he has a job interview on Monday morning for a full time administrative assistant position at a local private school. Please pray for him!
We have had quite an adventure lately. On Thursday, July 2, Michael, Sean, our dog, Beau and I went hiking at a local state park. It was a gorgeous trail along the side of a river. Well, I was climbing over some rocks and my foot slipped. I fell, catching the other foot between two of the rocks. I felt my ankle pop. Both were throbbing. Michael and I knew there was NO way we could get me back down the trail, so he ended up calling 911. Between my sister and our neighbor, Rene, we got Sean and Beau home. One Fire Rescue unit showed along with an EMT and a park ranger. However, there was no way to get me out along the trail going either way. So, they called in a hook and ladder truck, strapped me to a body board and pulled me up the side of a cliff at a 65 degree angle (sometimes steeper) for over 100 yards. At one point I counted 8 different voices around me pulling me up and there were at least 4 more men at the top with the pulley. Michael was right there with them, helping in any way he could and constantly reminding me he was near. By the end of everything we had two park rangers, two fire trucks, two ambulances, 15 EMTs and Fire Rescue guys and Michael helping! I know how to draw a crowd! I am grateful that God steadied everyone's feet and no one else got hurt on that steep hill!
Three and a half hours after falling, I finally got into the ambulance. Fifteen minutes after that I was in the ER. Two and a half hours after that I was headed home with one foot in a brace and one in an ace bandage. The left one was in the brace because it was the less injured, so I had to put pressure on that foot. The right foot was swollen so badly that I thought it was trying to create it's own zip code and I couldn't put any pressure on it at all. The pain was so bad for several nights that I couldn't sleep more than 90 minutes at a time.
Things have improved. I can now put pressure on both feet, but still have to use the crutches. Both feet are still swollen and I think they are creating never before seen colors! However, the swelling is less than it was. I can also sleep for several hours at a time with the help of Ibuprofen PM. Every night gets a little bit better. Michael and Sean have both been so strong during all of this. They have taken wonderful care of me! My hat is off to them as well as the Fire Rescue team that came to get me!
After all of this excitement, we still managed to go to the local mall on July 4th to watch fireworks. We took Michael's Sportage, put down the back seat, and I could sit with my feet propped up! We were joined by our friends Courtney, Laird and Sandy, Brigit and her daughters Sydney and Alyssa, and my sister Naomi and her daughter Amani. We had a great time. It was good to laugh!
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