Monday, September 15, 2008

Gray Days, More Gray Hair...and A Busy Week! (Adoption Reunion Photos Too)





Another week has flown by...a busy one...and almost three months since we brought Esther Marie home. We've had more gray days lately (weather and otherwise)...which reminded me that I have more gray hair lately too! Whew! Now that school has started, I find it harder and harder to get on here to write. Of course, having four children now might have something to do with it. Esther Marie has been more clingy than ever this week, not just shadowing me but wanting to be held much of the time. Thus, bonding is happening but not much else in terms of housework. We don't go out much, but when we do, afterwards, she is more anxious and clingy. We saw this happen on both Saturday and Sunday especially.

I have mentioned before that Jasper is basically working two jobs and has been for quite awhile now. He is working as a consultant for a firm downtown, and he also is doing projects for his own practice. This past week, he was in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday and Jacksonville, Florida, on Wednesday....working downtown on Monday to prepare for the trips. I was really glad he got in and out of Texas on Tuesday before Hurricane Ike hit!! We stayed tuned to some live feeds online before, during and after the storm since we know a few people who live in Texas, including two of my brothers and their families. I guess I will have many interesting things to recount to Esther Marie about the year she was adopted. Gasoline prices and Wall Street have gone crazy too...but those are topics best saved for that new blog I want to write...if I ever get that one started. Esther Marie HATES it when I get on the computer, even for just a few minutes to check for email! She whines and cries and literally tries to pull me away from it, so I don't get on much while she is awake...unless others are home to distract her so I can.

Thinking about what else has been going on since the last time I wrote.....
  • Hannah had a physical last Wednesday so she could be cleared to try out for the 7th grade basketball team. This is required in our state. She has training for two weeks (started today) and then try-outs during the third week. She REALLY wants to make the team.

  • Mid-term report cards came home last Wednesday and all is looking well. Two of the kids have a few areas to work on. Math seems to be one of the big ones.

  • Esther Marie went with me to her second music class last Thursday and she enjoyed it much more. She was still clingy, but she got down a couple of times and did a little dancing.

  • Last Friday, someone from the Early Intervention Program came out to the house to go over Esther Marie's evaluations with us. She tested greater than 25% behind in several areas, so we will be have three different therapists helping her here at home each month...until her 3rd birthday in April. The lady who came wrote up a "plan" for what we wanted to see accomplished. Of course, language is the biggest issue for her right now...the lack of it.

  • Jasper and I joined a gym on Friday night! We cannot stand looking at our flabby selves in the mirrors around here any more. It's close to the house and only $10/month for each of us...and the joining fee was only $1.00 that day! They "claim" they will "kick our butts" if that's what we need to get motivated to work out! (haha)

  • Saturday, we went to our adoption agency family reunion. The theme was "Around the World in Three Hours." Each child was given a "passport" which was stamped at each station as they traveled around the world (a.k.a. the gym) playing various games and doing activities. This is a once a year event, so it's fun to visit with everyone who comes and check out how the kids have grown. Our children love to be around other adopted children too.

  • Joshua attended his second boy scout meeting on Sunday afternoon and he looked SO sharp in his uniform! He had an "inspection" to see that he was wearing it correctly with all the pins and patches in the right places.

  • Tonight, I attended "Literacy Night" for MaryAlyce's class at her school. I just love her teacher and think she is right on target about how to teach the children how to be great readers and writers. She really wants to foster a true love of reading. I'm SO happy MaryAlyce is in her class!

Jasper is working at home most of this week on a deadline for one of his own projects. Yippie..he is not going out of town! Esther Marie will see her surgeon on Thursday for her follow-up appointment and her hearing will be tested. I feel anxious about how that is going to turn out. And of course, Hannah is dribbling, dribbling, and shooting her way through this week each afternoon. It may take me longer between posts, but I'll keep you updated about things when I can. Life is certainly more interesting...and challenging...with four children now! Hope you all have a fantastic week!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Sarah. Just wanted to let you know that we have been thinking about you all!!! Email when you can.

Ann (Lizzie's Mom)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for so much info ... I can understand HM's persistance about the computer - or telephone :) The pictures are great .. not too much flab showing ... :} Appreciate family life dialogue. b