Amazing Friendship

So I blogged about my Steigenberg friends and how great they are before and here I go again!  My Jenni & Erin drove all the way down here from Minnesota to come for our adoption.  How great are they!?!  We were very sad that Dave wasn’t able to come but totally understand with starting his new ministry. 

Jenni and Erin drove down and made it straight to the court house in time for the adoption.  It was so neat to be standing there and have two of my favorite girls walk up to share this most special day with us.  They planed to go home the following Saturday but since MN got hit with a snow storm and then it came and hit us down here they HAD to stay a couple extra days!  Wooohooo!

One of the things that was very neat was that the day after the adoption Laila had a whole day of appointments down at Riley’s so Jenni was able to come with and see what our crazy life is like trying to juggle all of this and Erin was great company for Laila.  Erin is so completely sweet with Laila I could cry.  She’s always holding her hand and if she ever cries she says “you OK sweetheart???”  So cute!  I never would’ve guessed that Jenni and I would end up with girls the same age that could be best friends :)

Laila thought it was great having Erin sit in her chair with her!

On Friday we drove up to New Buffalo and met Jenni’s parents for lunch.  It was fun getting to see them again and catch up after they came to stay with us last spring.  Jenni HAD to go to the lake and touch the water.  She’s a bit of a weirdo but that’s why we make a good pair :)

Friday night Emma was part of the cheering section with the Girl Scouts for a high school basketball game so we all tagged along for the fun.

I really thought Laila would love it because she is obsessed with balls but I think maybe it was way too much for her.  She just enjoyed playing with Erin and taking it all in.

Because of the snow storm school was cancelled so we made our fun snow day schedule and had a great time.  Jenni is way more fun than me and let the kids spend about an hour taking turns doing her hair.

We also did some of the old reliable snow day activities like painting.  Laila loves to paint on the aquadoodle.

The day finally came where the roads were good enough for our friends to venture back home but while we always miss them, it’s not as hard anymore knowing they aren’t as far away.  A trip to MN for spring break is calling my name!!!

Laila Day December 8, 2010

 

The big day finally arrived.  This was a day that never in my wildest dreams would I have thought one year before would be happening.  This change in our lives has definitely showed that God does have a plan, we are not in control, He will set up the circumstances to give you the tools you need, we have a choice in our attitudes toward His plan, we need patience, and above all, He wants to bless us in ways we could never imagine.

Wednesday, December 8th forever changed our lives.  Yes, she had lived with us for five months before that but there is something completely different when you see her real name on paper and when you know that no one can take her away and when you know that you are always and forever her mother.   When you’re still fostering, even if it’s to adopt, you continue to guard yourself ever so much because you just never know what the crazy system will have up their sleeve.  You’re constantly being checked up on and feeling like you’re not free to just be because you’re honestly not in a normal situation.  I think the biggest problem, if’ I’m gonna be honest, was my own thoughts.  Boy did Satan have a hay day in my head the couple of months before this day.  Honestly life with Laila is hard.  There are so many things to keep track of and there’s always some medical problem popping up and I allowed Satan to sneak in there and whisper “you know you can still back out…… is this really the life you want………. God is a bully for choosing this for you…….”  I honestly don’t know where I’d be without the strong Christian support system I have.  There are a few of you that have no idea how you saved me over those months.  One of the amazing circumstances that God placed just for me was that my amazing friend Chanda is in the middle of adopting her foster children as well.  I will sum it up in a card I gave to her one day, it said “you may think you going crazy but you’re not” then you open it up and it says “now it’s your turn to tell me that, isn’t that what friends are for??”  I love it!  We’ve reminded each other over and over that we can do this and God is in control and we have to get Satan out of our heads!!!  Anyway, Wednesday December 8th was our day of victory over all of that.

I am so thankful for this amazing little girl.  She is beautiful in so many ways.  She has shocked most everyone with her wit and determination.  She loves life and smiles through most anything (except discipline of course, she’s two!!).  She absolutely adores her brother and sister like they’ve been there her whole life.  She’s a momma’s girl most of the time but of course whenever she hears the door open to the garage she whips around and says “daaaeeee” because she’s so excited to see her daddy.  I’m so thankful to God that she accepted us so quickly.  I love that she hugs and kisses.  I love that she can communicate with us.  I love that even though I struggle so much with caring for her, my love for her and incredible desire to see her be all she can be win every time.  I love that I love her the same as the other two even though God gave them to us in very different ways.  I really wondered if that would be possible.  I love watching my incredible husband care for her.  I love that he and I have gained this huge bond by going through this journey together because there is not another person in the world who knows how we feel.  I love how much she loves her new grandparents, aunt, uncles & cousins.  And I especially love to watch them love her.  So, even though it’s hard, a lot, I choose to remember how much I love this child, how much she loves us, and most importantly, how much God has done for us.

Enough with the sappy, on to the fun pictures!!

We had asked anyone who wanted to bring Laila a balloon because she loves them so much.  She was pretty excited as people started filing up the stairs to see us.

Waiting our turn to go in to the courtroom.

  

Our crowd was so big that I couldn’t get them all in the picture.  Our lawyer solely does adoptions and he said he’d never had that many people.  We’re so thankful for all of them and the different roles they played in helping us get to this day and that they wanted to be there with us.

This judge was so great!  He gave out little prizes to all of the kids that were there (and there were A LOT!!).  He called Emma & Jackson to the witness stand and was very sweet asking them what they thought about the adoption.  He even asked if they would like him to change their sister’s name to Barbie and Jackson took one look at him and with a very serious face said “um. her name is Laila.”  It was hilarious.

Everyone mingling around waiting to congratulate us.

We were very happy to share this with our friends David & Heidi who brought our baby back to life.

My sweet father had stopped by the hospital earlier in the week and bought “It’s a Girl” candy cigars for Jack to had out.

Getting the official papers from our attorney :)

So I know it took me a couple weeks to post this but one fun thing that just happen this week is that her name has officially been changed with Medicaid now so we are officially done with her old name!!  Woohoo!

Fall Fun

What a warm fall we had huh?!?  Well that all gone now but it was fun while it lasted.  We spend A LOT of time in the fall trying to stay ahead of all these crazy oak leaves in our yard.  We’ve also started doing our neighbors yard as well.  He and his wife are in their 80’s and it’s just getting to be too much for them and we hate to see them pay hundred of dollar to hire someone to do it.  Plus, he has a nicer tractor than us so Jack and I just team up and get it done pretty quickly.  He pays us in popsicles, sweet treats and an occasional pizza :)

Laila loved riding on the tractor!

This is the trailer Jack built that would hold more leaves so we wouldn’t have to make so many trips in to the woods.  Emma & Jackson are our smashers.  They get in and stomp around so we have more room for more leaves!  Lots of fun!

Also with fall comes Grandparents day at DMC.  Jackson was VERY excited since this was his first grandparents day.  I love it because the school really puts on a production and it lasts all morning.  There’s just also something very cool about having everyone there and praying together.  Papa Tom was there with us but he had to head back to work before we got this picture taken.  We’re sad that every year our group of grandparents get smaller and smaller as it gets harder for some of the great-grandparents to get out and about but we’re very thankful that God is still giving us time with all the great-grandmas.

Another fun thing that’s been going on is that Emma joined Girl Scouts this year.  She’s been having a lot of fun with all the activities although it’s been a little rough for her because all of the other girls know each other from school so it’s a little hard for her feel included but she’s really done a good job of sticking with it.  This picture is of her getting her first couple of patches that she earned.  Anyone want to buy some cookies?????

Emma and I got to go on a fancy date to watch our very special friend Samatha perform in the ballet.  I decided since neither of us had ever been to the ballet we would get all fancy dressed up and make a night of it.  We went out to dinner together and got some great time talking and sharing.  I praise God so much for this amazing beautiful girl God has blessed me with.   She is completely incredible and I know God has some very big plans for her.  She does crack me up too.  She leans over to me about 20 minutes into the ballet and says “aren’t they ever going to talk??”  I explained to her and she got a weird look on her face and then just shrugged her shoulders and started watching again.  We both enjoyed it very much and look forward to going again soon.

 

Our Cantwell friends were there that night to see the performance as well so we had to get a photo of all the girls together.  Doesn’t Sami make a cute little Mouse?!

    

One other all fall festivity if the Hamstra Thanksmas.  A few years ago we started celebrating Christmas and Thanksgivings both around THanksgiving time because it just gets very hectic for so many families to get their schedules together in December.  We had a great time playing games, eating, watching movies, eating, opening presents, eating and…. eating!  I love them all very much!

How blessed are we?!?

Deer Intervention :)

Sorry if it’s too graphic for some but he’s very proud.  Jack has been hunting in our woods for three years now with not a lot of luck.  This year he was very diligent (and I was very patient!) to go sit out there every weekend we were home.  All season he had not seen a single deer.  On the last day of shot gun season he only had a few hours left before it would be too dark so he decided to go out.  Emma had been asking all season for him to take her up in the stand with him and he figured since this was his last chance, he let her go.  Right before he headed out he told me how cool he thought it would be if this was the one time he saw deer and was able to get one with her with him.  Well…… they sat and sat and he said he finally looked at her and said they’d stay out about another 5 minutes because it was getting dark.  About three minutes later, up came a couple of deer and he got one!  He also said that when he shot, about six more ran off into the field!  He thinks it was a direct answer to prayer because he specifically asked God to let him share this with Emma.  How cool is that?  Our great friends Rod & Darryl came over and helped us get it ready and then Rod surprised us two days later with the meat already processed plus another deer he had set aside for us!  The freezer is stocked for winter!  Thank you Lord and thank you Rod!!

Wisconsin Dells

We had been talking for a couple months about wanting to go up to Wisconsin Dells for a little family getaway.  We especially wanted to make a trip up there once our friends Dave, Jenni & Erin moved by Minneapolis from Colorado because that would be a nice four hour middle point for us all to meet.  Wow that was so much better of a drive than the 20+ hours to get to Colorado to see them!  We decided very last minute to drive up there after we saw how good Laila was doing eating and since she isn’t tied down to her pump during the day anymore.

We had been to the Dells one other time but it was several years ago.  I consulted my good friend Karen who is a definite bargain shopper because they had just gone up there and I knew that she would know the best, cheapest place to stay.  We ended up at a hotel called The Wilderness and it was PERFECT!  Thanks Karen!!  We had a three bedroom suite with a full kitchen and 2.5 baths for $250/night including eight passes to three different indoor water parks!  It was so great for the kids to be able to have their own room and it was especially nice to have the full kitchen because Dave was able to make me his world famous steak (well, world famous to me… my favorite!!).  The days were planned out perfectly because when it would be time to go back for lunch the kids would get a little bit of rest time and then be ready to go again for the afternoon.

I just want to take a minute and tell you how special my friends Dave & Jenni are.  We have not lived in the same state for several years but yet we are as close as ever.  They have been such a huge encouragement through our huge life transition over the past couple of months even though meeting them at the Dells was the first time they were even able to meet Laila.  They have always cared so much about our kids and when Laila came along they loved her just as much even though they had never met.  Jenni was so excited to be able to help me and even tried her hand at feeding Laila which was pretty brave since we were still in the beginning stages of that whole process.  They had also talked with their little girl Erin about Laila a lot and she was very excited to get to meet her.  Right away she told Laila she loved her :)

Anyway, we all had a GREAT time and got to have lots of fun with all the kids.  Emma was of course a water bug as usual, going down every slide possible over and over again.  Jackson was a little scared of the slides at first but by the end we even had him going down the Hurricane (which he’s technically just shy of being tall enough for but they let him anyway).

Our two year olds holding hands :)

Pajama party on the murphy bed!

Erin meeting Laila

We played Red Light Green Light in the long hallway that leads to the water park.

She was so excited to play in the water.

Little kid slide but the only one we could get a picture of her on.  Most were enclosed.

I was a little excited too ;)

The girls swinging together

Emma LOVED the wave pool.  I would pull her way out to where the biggest ones were breaking.  It was SO FUN!

Laila liked getting splashed in the wave pool

Taking a break watching the new Toy Story 3 DVD I bought to surprise the kids for the car ride.

Laila’s first water slide

Jack was all tuckered out :)

A special thanks to Dave & Jenni also for all the pictures.  I can’t believe I forgot my camera!!!

The Miracles of Laila

We had an amazing appointment at Riley Children’s Hospital a few weeks ago.  Laila was having a swallow study done to see how should would be able to handle swallowing various textures and consistencies of food to possibly be able to start eating by mouth again.  This test was being completely covered in prayer so I’m not sure why I was surprised when I witnessed a miracle right before my very eyes.

Laila and I had been working very hard over the past couple of months (both of us in tears and frustrated with each other SEVERAL times) to try to get her used to having a spoon in her mouth and working on brushing her tongue out of her mouth and getting it to relax and chewing from one side to the other.  All things that so many of us take for granted to be able to automatically do.  Our speech therapist was optimistic for us going into this study but of course I was nervous and hesitant.  My momma bear instinct was coming out and even thinking of letting someone else try to feed her who didn’t know my “tricks” was nerve wrecking. 

Miracle #1 – We arrived and when I told them I needed to coach whoever was going to feed her they told me I would be the one doing it!

Miracle #2 – She opened her mouth for the spoon, closed it around it and swallowed.  Every time.

Miracle #3 – When offered a straw (one of the first times ever) she drank through it just like she had always been doing it.

I cried.  I’m sure the ladies in there thought I was nuts but honestly I don’t think it could have gone any better than it had.  She still isn’t able to drink thin liquid so we have to use thickener in her drinks but in the smallest amount

Ready for Miracle #4???

Miracle #4 – The nutritionst was able to pop in to see us at her doctor’s appointment (which she said she wouldn’t be able to do).  After looking over the swallow study results, she said Laila could start eating three meals a day and only get her formula through the tube at night when she is sleeping!!  Absolutely amazing!  She has to get pedialyte through her tube a few hours during the day to keep up her fluid intake and we get that in during her nap time mostly.

How amazing is all that?!?  My mom was with me for the day and she was such a big help keeping Laila busy while I got all this straightened out with the doctors.  It was neat to be able to share that with her.  It also has been so neat sharing this whole experience with her because she is so encouraging to me about my skills to take care of Laila.  She just encourages me and helps rather than trying to take charge (which is I’m sure what her maternal instinct is :)

So, since I made a list for the doctor to brag about the things Laila has accomplished over the past few months, I figured I’d share them on here too :)

WORDS:

hi, bye, dad, mom, Emma. Ahna, dog. juice, up, down, in, out, on, off (been working on opposites with the DT), five, amen, ni night, more, bath. eyes. giraffe, ball, uh oh, nah, nope, no, yeah, yes, banana, papa, pop, book, apple, April, hat, gramma, nana, light, baby

ACTIVITIES:

sing (her part is “up above” during twinkle twinkle), color, paint, point to eyes & nose, sit up alone for a few seconds at a time, take deliberate steps when held up, clap, fold her hands to pray, splash in the bath, hold her head up, point with one finger, suck her thumb, wave, hug, “blow” kisses, tease, answer yes or no to a question, follow commands like raise arms, cough, laugh, wave, hug, give open hand high five.  And of course EAT!

We still have a long way to go on the eating and some days are better than others but according to her weight checks that I’m doing, she seems to be keeping steady with what she’s doing so far.

MMMM, milkshake!!!

Sometimes we get a little messy but that’s OK :)

Loving on her baby

 

Baby came with to the swallow study and ate her food like a big girl too :)

We took this picture for our PT intern that was leaving so she could see how far Laila came in the 12 weeks she worked with her.

Here is a video of Laila eating when we got home from Riley that night.

Halloween 2010

We had lots of fun this year for Halloween.  We kind of have a tradition now to go to the nursing home to see Grandma Hamstra, head to the neighborhood by our church to trick or treat, make a visit to the rest of the great-grandmas along the way and then head to the elementary school for the costumes parade put on by the Lion’s Club. 

Emma chose to wear her Mulan costume out of her dress up clothes.  It was so CRAZY to see her with black hair!!

Jackson chose to be Wolverine out of his dress up clothes.  (Yep, it was a cheap Halloween for us!!)

We made Laila’s costume into a hot air balloon so that it would be something where she could stay in her wheelchair.  She loved it (despite her look in this picture)

  

Here’s all three of my crazy kids at the nursing home.