My 3 Stooges Will Soon Be No More...There will be 4

To the Corners of the World, til Your Work is Done!

An Almost Spring Picnic

Some News From Taiwan

Our court hearing was last Thursday night. I had heard from Trena a couple hours before the hearing and didn't expect to hear from them til the weekend was over because they had soccer tournaments for their children. David has been nagging me, yes nagging me, to email them ever since Saturday to see how everything went. I kept telling him I wasn't going to bother them. Well, I finally caved last night and emailed them. Come to find out, they sent me an email Sunday after they had completely forgotten to send one Friday. But, for some reason, it did not come through. So, we had an email waiting for us this morning.
Not a whole lot of news. They said everything went really well in court. The birth mother and her grandmother were both there. The jugde ordered for birthmom's homestudy to be done Friday afternoon after the court hearing. We are all really happy about that. Holly and Trena accompanied Mickey, Leia's birth mom, to the Catholic Social Work office for her homestudy. I believe the homestudies for the birthmother are simply to ensure and ease everyone's minds, judge inlcuding, that she knows exactly what she is doing by placing her child for international adoption. Holly and Trena think the Catholic Social Welfare Service was the "best organization we have worked with so far." Maybe this means they are efficient too. The social worker was to go to Mickey's grandmother's house Monday afternoon to speak with her. Mickey is 18; in Taiwan you have to be 21 before you are the sole legal guardian of your child. His Hands has to have a homestudy completed as well, but they believe this was done as well when they accompanied Mickey on Friday and were able to speak to the social worker as well.
As of right now, we could be traveling anywhere from 4 weeks away to 4 months away. We are waiting for the homestudy reports to be written up, sent back to the judge, and the judge sign off for the final decree granting her our child by law. Please, Please pray that the wait is 4 weeks. Leia is 3 months old today.

Note of My Other Children
As most of you know I work 2 nights a week. In case any are wondering, it is a horrendous schedule, and I loathe it. No one can even comprehend how it is to work nights, unless you have done so before. It is horrible in so many ways. It is not natural. I am up for 30hours straight 2 times a week and then will nap for about 4 hours and get up so that I can somewhat stay on a day schedule on my days off. I feel horrible all the time. Anyways reason for the above explanation....I try to sleep as long as I can in the mornings. I know people think I am lazy for not starting my day til 9 or 10 in the morning, but I am in survival mode. I get up around 7:00 usually and fix the kids their breakfast, give them orders to stay out of the kitchen, eat in the dining room not the living room, no running and screaming, be nice, and watch your movie or pay quietly, and Carson is put in bed with me because no way do I trust him. Olivia has always been so good to not get into anything and would not bother me unless she needed something. Well, I cannot say the same about Logan. If he is not supposed to do it, then it has been done. Yesterday I awoke to a kool-aid packet dumped all over my kitchen floor, and yes it was cherry. Grape koolaid was dumped in my kitchen sink. This morning there was a strawberry fruit dip gourmet packet split open and dumped in my pantry. It is nothing to find all kinds of wrappers for granola bars, candy, yougurt, american cheese, string cheese, grape vines, and other odd items all over my living room. He knows everyday that he is going to be in trouble. He is constantly busting through the door in my room to tell me Olivia has done something, which is usually in self defense on her part. He turns the dvd player on and off which he knows he is not to do as well. I don't know what else I am going to do. If I get up when they do then I lose my catnaps that I get in between kids running through my room to tattle. And , lately the boys have not been napping, until 2 hours after they have been put down. I pray for the day when I can be a normal mom and awake at 6:00 in the morning everyday, because I am on a normal schedule.
One of these days I will have a normal schedule and I am so looking forward to it; one cannot imagine how I long for that day. The plan is in place, and I see light at the end of my tunnel. Hope you do too!

# 2

Today is Carson's 2nd birthday. I can't believe it has been two years already that he became ours. I can can truthfully say that he has already hit his terrible twos. Sweet one moment and naughty the next. I guess that is the toddler years though. He is our cuddle bug though. This afternoon his biological aunt called to wish him a Happy Birthday. She is always so thoughtful, she never forgets to ask how the other children are doing or how David and I are doing. She said that Molly, Carson's birthmother, has bought a nail shop in Bryant. They are now on speaking terms again. Anna, Carson's aunt, says that Molly is doing well and that they talked about Carson last night and his birthday being today. She says she is slowly moving on. Anna told Molly about seeing him at Christmas and how happy he is and how he is thriving. She described what he looked like, chubby cheeks, smiles, and full of good health. We are so thankful. I know so many people who think I am crazy for maintaining a relationship with his birth family. But I cannot tear away from them. They are good people and I love having a relationship with them as well. They only wanted what was best for Carson even though it was the hardest things their family has ever endured, aside from their conditions in Vietnam. Anna says it is hard for her parents to talk about, but they know Carson is being well cared for and loved beyond belief, as Anna informs them. She said she went to Vietnam right after Christmas and stayed for 2 weeks. She took pictures and they all say that he looks like Molly. I am preparing myself for how I will react if I run into Molly while in town. Anna informed me that Molly has purchased, with their help, a nail shop in Bryant and will be moving here next month. She also said Molly is trying to do the same things because she knows it will be difficult to see us should we run into one another. Molly sends her love on Carson's birthday and everyday, Anna says.

MILESTONES AND MORE
1. Carson is running everywhere, climbing on everything.
2. He loves to eat most anything.
3. His favorite drink is milk : )
4. He loves snuggling in bed with mommy in the mornings.
5. He loves to watch movies with his siblings. All snuggled on the couch.
6. He wears a size 6.5 shoe
7. He is learning to assist brushing his teeth.
8. Loves to play hide n seek with his daddy and siblings.
9. He is not a fan of taking naps right now...but mama still wins the battle.
10. He has started trying to pray with us when we do bedtime prayers...so cute.
11. Loves to sing at church.
12. His favorite toys are the Schluck Animals.
13. His first word was mama.
14. The mosquitoes eat him alive.
15. Cutest little chunk a monk ever!

We took him to Wendy's for lunch, one of his favorite foods, chicken nuggets. We will be having his birthday party next weekend after Nana and Papa are home from their vacation. We are planning on an outside party at the park. I can't think of a better place with this beautiful weather.

Olivia is outside cooking supper with weeds, grass, and leaves. The leaves are her plates, the grass is spaghetti. Oh, and we can't forget the pine needles are suckers. And an appetizer is sea weed. Ah, the imagination of a 5 year old who is so happy to be outside. She is acting like she is a chef.

Life? What is it?

What does your life mean? What are you doing with your life, and is it really acceptable to God? Are you doing the mission you were set here to do? David and I have been talking about these things for so long now...yes talking...but you have to do more than talk. You have to take action. Our steps will be small at first but we pray they will be the steps God has planned for our lives and the lives of our children. Think about these things as you plan extravagant birthday parties, 5 star vacations, eating out every night, gorging oneself at a potluck...is this really what we want to be doing when the Lord comes back. Will he be happy to see us spending so much money on these things that don't matter. In the end is it really worth what we think it is? These are things we have thought about and encourage others to do as well. Life is far to precious to waste our efforts on those things. Speaking of precious...

Let's Play

Saturday was such a beautiful day. We had so many things that needed to be done around the house, but they will still be here next weekend. Next weekend my children will be a week older, a week gone. So, I said forget all the work to be done and let's play today.
We all slept in, Daddy cooked us breakfast. Simple...Mr Pillsbury dough boy is my husband's friends when it comes to cooking. But it was all the more yummy because I did not have to prepare it. Then we all got ready and headed to the park. I think everyone else must have had the same idea; it was packed. The kids had a blast...I think the pictures can describe their intense fun without my wordiness. Once we were finally able to convince them that we needed to leave and go eat lunch we headed to chick-fil-a, like the rest of the town : ) We were there forever, because it can take a 5 year old and a 3 year old almost an hour to eat an ice cream cone. I thought David was going to get an ulcer from having to sit still and wait until they were finished. Logan thought he was so big going up the the counter trading in his book for an ice cream cone, while Daddy thought he needed the bowl of ice cream instead of the cone. But, hey they are only a child once, and it was Saturday with no pressing appointments or naps at 1:00 on the schedule for this Saturday. Afterwards we headed home, kids down for a nap. When they got up from their nap at almost 5:00 there was still daylight so they went out and rode their bikes. Logan had a crash and required a Spiderman band-aid to make it all better. And this morning before he could leave for church we had to replace the Spiderman band-aid with a new one.
Olivia has been telling me she can whistle for a couple of weeks now. But every time she would try and whistle it was just soft air that came out. Well, yesterday she was successful and has been whistling like a bird ever since. She is so proud of herself.
Carson will be 2 this week.....We will be celebrating his birthday next weekend since my mom and dad are in Hawaii right now. I'm thinking we will be doing something outside. Boys...simple...dirt...slides...rocks...swings...what more could a toddler want?

Court Date

This week has been super crazy. All of the kids have been sick, I still had to go to work because I am having to save ever bit of time for when we go to Taiwan. Plus I have called in the max I can until April due to sick children and me having the flu. Linda took Logan and Olivia to the doctor on Monday. Olivia finally stopped running fever yesterday, after 7 straight days of a fever. They both have pneumonia. I took Carson to the doctor yesterday, first the ENT then the urologist. Urology appointment went well; no surgery will be needed, just a little painful procedure before we left. We go back to the ENT in two weeks to address the possibility of tubes and adnoids being removed. Carson has a double ear infection and a horrible cough that sounds like the other two. Hopefully everyone is on the mend, and I may just keep them in a bubble so they are not exposed to anything else.
Last night was our court date. Trena sent me a message prior to the hearing that Leia's birth mom was already there and everything should go well and to not worry. Leia's birth mom's homestudy was a couple hours after the court hearing, and they think that Leia's is soon to follow. I prayed that the social worker might have decided to do Leia's homestudy while she was already there. I have not heard anything about the court date, so I am hoping that is a good sign and maybe I'll hear something soon. I just want to hear, "Second Court Decree is hear and you can travel." Look at all the sweet pictures. She is precious, the kids can't wait to have her home. Us too! I know God is watching over her and will protect and comfort her. With God at my side the days are passing and I am surviving without my baby girl.

Another Addition to the Family

I've been waiting for pictures to make this post. Wow, I am going to be an auntie again. Our precious Leia is being taken care of by her older cousin Caysen Ming Jia Kirk. He has been watching over her since she was born. It is so wonderful that they have each other. He is such a little man, who has stole his parents' hearts. I can't wait to hold him and Leia together, hopefully sometime very soon. They were born in the same town and will always know each other....wonderful.

A New Season

We are so ready for the Spring season in our house and the things that it may bring. We pray that we will be bringing our baby girl home this spring. Olivia and Logan are no more praying for snow, now we are praying for flowers. They are so ready to play outside everyday.
Also ready for the winter germs to leave and the spring allergies to come. Weird of me, uhh? But allergies are much more welcome than germs that make my kiddos super sick. You know that Logan is REALLY sick when he doesn't wake til 9:00 and cries for his bed at 10:30. He climbs in my bed, I cover him, get Carson his milk, pour Logan's medicine, go to my room and he is fast asleep. His lungs sound horrible, as well as Olivia and Carson's do. They are all sick, with Carson being in the best shape at the moment.
No stories about the kids really to share, they aren't as funny with they aren't feeling well. They have become everyone else and have started asking everyday when are we going to go get Leia. David put together her crib this weekend and we got the beddding all in it. I will take some pictures to share when we are all done with the girls' room. Logan asked, "Is Leia going to sleep here tonight?" when he saw the crib.
Our court date is Thursday night our time. Please pray that the judge will have complete favor for us with no glitches, and yes I pray no glitches. We have been praying that maybe Leia's homestudy and her birthmother's homestudy have been done since there was a couple weeks between when we found out the court date and when it actually was scheduled for. Please pray with us that that is the case. Because if that is the case, we could be traveling very soon.
Justin and Brittany came this weekend. I took Brittany to the hospital and scanned hre. We are having a niece, Lydia Jean. YAY!!!!! Some more girls : ) Then we went to Rhea Lana's and did some shopping.
Olivia had her first girl birthday party that she attended. We went to the ice rink Saturday. Good thing I can ice skate fairly well, because she tried really hard to bring me down. I think it took about 15 minutes to make it around the rink the first couple times. But she got better and faster, and she had a blast.
Pray for us this week as we wait for news about our court date.