CRAZY FEW WEEKS....

I cannot believe how much has changed in our lives over the last few months.  Fred has been looking for a new job for awhile.  He has a masters degree in Engineering Management but was "stuck" at his job and not able to move up.  He was not really even using his skills at all and the company so very busy yet not hiring new help.  We had been praying for a long time for him to get a new job.  God blessed him with a job right in Zeeland at a wonderful company.  He did have to take a pay cut but we know God was all over this and will provide for our family.  Fred has so much more potential to advance at his new employer.

We found a new house too....we have been praying for that for a year!  It was a total God-thing again :)  I love how He shows off for his children.  Fred and I had looked at this house nine months ago but it was too expensive.  It is a cape cod and the whole upstairs and downstairs needed to be finished in order to house our family.  We just could not afford it.  Well, two months ago Boukie hurt his thumb and I took him to the ER.  The doctor and I started talking...come to find out, she owned the house we had looked at!  She told us her husband had already relocated to Florida and they were selling the house for what they owed!!!  Needless to say, we went and looked at it again :) 

At that point, we had to sell our house.  Now imagine selling a house with 10 children.  I was a little concerned.  Yet something all along had told Fred and I that it would sell fast.  Guess what, the FIRST person that looked is buying it!  We only showed the house three times and it was sold in less than two weeks.  I love it!!!

The owners of our new house have moved and are allowing us to move stuff in and start finishing the house.  We have the main floor almost painted and then we will move to the construction phase.  There are many hands willing to help and we are so thankful!  Every time I drive up to this house I feel so happy!  It is my favorite style set back on five acres.  There is so much room for my kids!

On the fourth we will have had the boys for six months.  They are doing very well. Obviously, they are still grieving.  It is hard to understand that given the sad stories they have told us about their past situation.  But nevertheless, they still have moments of sadness.  However, they are very attached to us and have fit in perfectly.

Here is a picture of us on our way to a Christmas party.

Ready for the Big Move

Again, my apologies for not posting lately. We are in the middle of packing as well as Christmas time and events.
We are moving sometime in early January to a home that will better accommodate our family size. It will have some acreage that is exactly what we wanted to do all the fun things our kids have wanted to do.
The only thing about this home is that it needs the upstairs finished. The homeowners never finished the upstairs, but we intend to do so, but need a lot of help to do it. We're praying that God will provide the finances and physical labor to help us. He's done it before and all we can do now is ask for His provision in His economy, which is unlimited.
We hope to have some time next week after the current homeowners are out of the house to start the insulation and wiring, etc. But we need materials first. That's the first order of business.

Lightening is doing very well from his surgery. His large intestine has decreased in size smaller than when we first picked him up in Arizona. The doctors believe he was slowly getting backed up and Thanksgiving dinner may have been the final "plug". He will have another surgery in February/March time frame to reconnect things and hopefully he won't have to have another bag hooked to the small intestine while the colon heals. The doctors will not know that until they get into his abdomen.

Christmas day is an exciting day for all of the kids even though we don't have the house decorated for Christmas since we're moving. Either way, they all understand. The three new boys probably haven't had a Christmas like this. So, we aren't sure if they fully understand the real meaning of Christmas, not with all of the presents and such.

Until next time, pray that we survive the move and construction project!

Lightning Update

Sunday afternoon was when Lightning arrived back home after a week in the hospital. He is like a brand new kid! We also celebrated his 5th birthday yesterday, but we didn't enjoy any cake as his stomach and colon have to adjust slightly to a new diet.
We anticipate him wearing the colostomy bag for three months, which will allow the large intestine to decrease in size. Then, they will go and perform another surgery to connect everything back the way it was meant to go.
In the mean time, we are trying to pack anything we can so we can move in early January!

HOSPITAL!!!!

We are currently in the hospital with Lightening. He has Hirsch Sprung's disease. That means he was born with a diseased part of his colon and it was removed and more colon pulled down to help him pass his stool. Basically, he started throwing up a lot on Monday and by the evening we took him to the emergency room. They thought maybe he had a twist in his colon but now it looks like stool has just backed up pretty bad.

At this point, they are draining fluid and stool from his mouth and bottom. He is in a lot of pain and his stomach is very enlarged. Sounds like we will be here a few more days. Pray for him. Pray for our other kids since mommy and daddy are not home. Poor Peanut Butter is very sad without mommy :(

THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE BLOWING...

Again, sorry for being a bad blogger.  Time, don't have much! 

Life has been moving fast here.  We found a house we really like!  Actually, we had looked at it before the boys came home.  It was over nine months ago.  We liked it then but it was too much money for us.  The house had so much potential, basically when all finished it would have seven bedroom, but we could not afford to buy the house and still fix it.  So, we forgot about it and moved on.

Just last week I was at Prime Care with one of the boys.  The female doctor and I started talking and we realized that her house was the house we had looked at all those months ago.  Her husband was relocating to Florida and she was here with the kids.  She mentioned they were thinking about selling it for what they owed just to move it faster.  All that led to us seeing it again and our house is now on the market.

It still will be a higher payment for our one income family but we hope we will get a little money from our house to start the project.  If not, we will just have to wait.  The main floor is all finished so we would be squashed but we are pretty squeezed in here anyway.  However, we have faith that something amazing will work out!

The house is on five acres!  We have all been longing to be out in the country for a long time.  Most of my kids love animals and have dreams of goats, chickens, cats, and alpacas.  Ok, the alpacas are my thing....they are just so cute!

All the kids are doing well in school.  Most days go pretty smoothly and we are done by lunch.  Sunshine has longer but she is in high school.  I am not sure what will happen with showing a house a moving....school in the van??

Also, we have one other bit of very exciting news but I want to wait until it is confirmed on paper.  No, I am not pregnant!

Can you tell I have 10 kiddos??

Goodness, I cannot believe how long it has been since my last update!  Not that I am normally eating bon bons all day, but starting school with all the kids has made me lose even more time.

The boys are adjusting well.  Charmer is more reserved and stand off-ish.  Of course, he is the oldest and is probably grieving heavier than the other two.  I do notice that if we have company, he will immediately come over and grab onto my leg.  I think we are heading in the right direction with his attachment.

Lightening is much more passive about his behavior.  He is very sneaky.  I found him one day in our neighbors yard picking peaches off the ground and eating them!

Spiderman is a super cuddler.  He is always telling me he loves me and cries if he cannot find me.  I would say he has the least "issues" off all the boys so far.

It is interesting to see how they gravitate towards me.  They had been raised by their biological father for their whole lives basically.  I was not sure how they would react to a mother in their lives.  So far I have food on my side!  Food is BIG DEAL to these boys.  That is one area that frustrates me even though I know where it is coming from....it is a security for them.  However, I do know from talking to others that food was a huge thing in their lives.  They basically sat and watched t.v. all day and ate fast food.  I guess that explains why anytime I am in the kitchen (which is 90% of my day!) they want to play upstairs....of course, then they can see I am cooking and constantly ask me what it is :)  All during dinner I hear "Momma, you are a good chef!"  Ok, that part is cute!

We had to postpone our court hearing.  At this point, we are dealing with the biological mom and termination of her rights.  Every time we think things are done more issues arise.  We would appreciate your prayers that this will be finalized soon.

At that, the only other report is that my quiver is busting!!!!!  Our house is too small.  A great friend asked me what I thought God wanted me to learn (because no matter what we cannot find a house in the country in our price range).....I know what!  Gratitude and Contentment.  He will provide a house at some point.  Probably one that will blow my mind!  But for now, I need to remember what I saw in Ethiopia.  What I know millions of people live in every day and be thankful.  Winter may be hard but we can do it!

And the rest of our kids are still doing great :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to.....The Charmer!

He is six years old today!  And he is a handsome little guy :)  We love you buddy!