Group photo take 1,2, 3, .....................

You have to have a sense of humor when you try and take a group photo. Good thing, they are cute!!

Everybody ready? One, two, three...Jimmy close your eyes. Perfect.

After we got the sleeper cropped out. Jimmy asked: Where's me? I said: You were sleeping! LOL

Just can't resist that little tongue can ya?

One, two, three, Liam look at the deck, Elijah, look at Liam, and Jimmy, close your eyes. Perfect.

One, two, three, Liam squint, and Jimmy, look away from the camera. Another great shot!

Liam, you can look up now, and Jimmy the camera is over this way. LOL

And there's that tongue again. Oh right, different kid. LOL

And Caleb, well, he has finally mastered sitting and smiling perfect for Mama and her crazy camera. 

 One down and three to go. :)

Easter 2014

The boys were so excited for Easter. Caleb went up to the calendar several times a day to see how far away it was, starting about a month ago. We colored eggs. Jimmy was watching a movie and did not want to color eggs. :( Liam likes to throw them, so he was out too. LOL So Caleb and Elijah had fun coloring over 3 dozen eggs. And yes, we are still eating them.

They had a blast!

 Very proud of their eggs!

Jimmy's basket

Elijah's basket

Caleb's basket

Liam's basket

Liam's new barking puppy. It's pretty much a given in our house, that if there's a new stuffed talking toy, it is Liam's. 

Caleb was very happy to finally find his basket, hidden under a load of clean laundry in the laundry basket.

Elijah was very happy to have some help finding his basket.

Jimmy was so funny. He kinda scopes the room out and then decides, it's not there. Yes, he had a little coaxing as well.

We also had a small Easter egg hunt after breakfast.

We had beautiful weather this Easter Sunday.

He is Risen!

Atlantoaxial Instability (AAI)

When the distance on x-ray between the atlas (1st vertebra) and odontoid process (2nd vertebra) is more than 4.5 millimeters (mm), restriction on sports is advised.
This is Caleb's x-ray. When his head is tipped down, there is 7 mm between the 1st and 2nd vertebra.

 When his head is tipped back, there is 2 mm between the 1st and 2nd vertebra.

So, Caleb will have a yearly x-ray, and will be seen annually by Orthopedic Surgery. For now, he is restricted from sports just a little. He cannot jump on a trampoline, cannot dive into a pool and cannot participate in Gymnastics. 

I am so happy that I did not buy a trampoline for the boys. Every summer, I have considered it, but haven't bought one. Phew!!

April 15, 2014

 It happened. It snowed. We got over 3 inches of snow! We broke the record for the snowiest Michigan winter ever. Over 94 inches of snow fell this winter!

The back yard.

Caleb, before school.

 This was taken right after Liam and Elijah's bus left in the morning.

 We are so ready for Spring!

Finally

After being stuck inside for nearly 6 months, the weather has warmed up enough to enjoy being outside. I think Caleb was more happy than anyone, because he has wanted to ride his bike all winter.

We better enjoy it while it lasts. They are saying possible snow fall for Tuesday. No lie.

Happy 5th Gotcha Day Elijah Nikolai!

Monday was Elijah's 5th Gotcha Day. It seems like only yesterday,  I was walking out of an orphanage in Novosibirsk, Russia, carrying the most beautiful little boy. Just the day before, I had stood in a courthouse explaining to the judge, that this precious child deserved a family. The orphanage director agreed. An institution is no place for him. He would not have a future in Russia. I had brought a photo album full of pictures of our family, spotlighting many photos of Jimmy and Caleb and all of the things they were doing.  The judge looked over them and occasionally smiled. She asked me countless questions, and then after an hour, she left the courtroom to make her decision. In about 10 minutes, she returned. I stood up to hear her say that she agreed, Elijah would be better off being adopted by my family. I stood there trying not to tear up, and thanked her. Then she added, that the 10 day wait, to take Elijah from the orphanage was waived. I could go get him right away. That doesn't happen very often and I was extremely grateful. She thanked me for adopting Elijah and wished us well. :) There was paperwork that needed to be done, so I agreed to wait until the next day to pick Elijah up. When we arrived at the orphanage, the orphanage director was so happy. Elijah was the first child with Down syndrome, ever to be adopted from this orphanage. I will never forget that day. It will be etched in my memory forever, the day I became a Mom for the 4th time. My beautiful Elijah Nikolai, would never step foot into an institution. 

He was free. He was chosen. He was wanted  He was loved. 

This is the very first picture I saw of Elijah. He just took my breath away.

October 2008

Meeting my sweet little boy for the first time.

April 2009 

Ready for our US Embassy appointment :)

March 31, 2014

Celebrating Elijah

What LOVE looks like 

Elijah, you are the most amazing little boy! I am so proud of you. You are so curious and creative. You are such a beautiful gift. I love you so much sweet boy, and I am so incredibly thankful that I am your Mama!