Monday, August 11th, 2008...or the end of Daddy's 3 week "vacation"

Hi,

Today the kids are having difficulty in adjusting to life with just Mommy at home again and no Nana, no Papa, no Uncle Kevin, and particularly no Daddy. While Jeff and I were in Atlanta for a week (trust me NOT a vacation by any stretch of the imagination), the kids were with my parents who stayed in our home (did I say "Thank You Mom and Dad" enough yet??). Then the two oldest went to spend a week with my brother in Pennsylvania (Thank you Kevin as well). After that my parents took the two oldest while we had Bella here at home. The two oldest came home Wednesday evening of last week.

Daddy and the three kids had fun at the park, going shopping at the grocery stores, playing outside on our slide, multiple ride on toys and in the sandbox, and more. They were sad to see Daddy go to work this morning and asked about their other play buddies (Nana and Papa in particular). Nana is at work today and Papa (well Papa managed to get himself sick so he can't come and play with them until he is feeling better...get better soon Papa we need you here to play).

The kids miss their Daddy, particularly Ryan. He didn't want Daddy to go back to work. Ryan doesn't want Daddy to work each week Monday through Friday.

Hopefully as we get back into our regular routine, things will get better. Until then, we will have the meltdowns, we will have the attitude, we will have the youngest one not napping, we will have the behaviorial issues that some will see as my children acting up but I will look this as a whole and wonder perhaps it is just the kids way of saying we disapprove of the loss of Daddy in the home. Even if that loss is just for 9-10 hours Monday through Friday.

~Jen

Remain in One Spot so that I Can Find You...

Ryan needed to go upstairs to his room for something. He told his Daddy to stay exactly where he was (which was in the kitchen/breakfast nook area of our home). Jeff told him that he would remain exactly in that spot. Ryan went upstairs, grabbed what he needed to from his room, and climbed back downstairs. Jeff was still in the same spot where Ryan left him...ready to give him a hug to ease his worries and any of his fears.

When one of his sisters are at my parents' house for the night or weekend, he is concerned about their well-being as well. He needs to know where they are at and what they are doing.

It wasn't surprising for us. We know the thing he fears the most right now is more loss that he can't control. He loves us and we love him very much along with his tender caring heart.

And the message from our son was this Can you just remain in one spot so that I can find you...please??? And by the way, don't leave...

We are always here for you buddy be it during a thunderstorm, be it when you come home from Nana and Papa's house, or be it just a trip up and down the stairs and we'll be here in the future as well...

~Jen

The Date We've Been Waiting for...

Our lawyer called at 1:15 today. We have a court date for Bella's finalization!!! We are heading to court on the morning of the 18th. While we are sad that she could not stay with her First Mom (as we feel it is truly best that the child(ren) stay with their First Family), we are happy that we are finalizing her adoption at last.

~Jen

Please view my alter ego blog...NY Endo Angel

Hi,

On a more serious note, please visit my alter ego blog post at Help Out a Great Endometriosis Organization...Yankee Candle Fundraiser. Please forwarded the information on about the Yankee Candle Fundraiser to everyone you know.

I suffered from this disease since I was a teenager and here's My History with Endometriosis.

Please help out the 7 million girls and women in the US and the 70 million around the world with this disease. It would mean so much to me.

~Jen

While Mommy and Daddy are Away...

...we will play with Nana and Papa















~From Ryan, Katie, and Bella

Pictures of Day out With Thomas 2008

Daddy finally took the pictures off of Mommy's camera from our Day out with Thomas this year.

We hope that you enjoy them!!!



















~from Ryan, Katie, and Bella

Two preschoolers...one hour...one room

I'm not even going to bother telling you about their "fun" on July 7th outside of the fact that this is my room (along with Katie's) and my brother and sister were "playing" in there.




This is what Mommy saw when she first opened the door.



Not a pretty scene is it???




I wasn't please either since all of the clothes in my dresser were emptied out onto the floor.

~Bella