Monday, October 29, 2012

6 Months! But Sick:(

Today, Bethany Jilma Solange Mikolo Gilbarte is
6 months old!
That is quite a long name for such a little girl!
 
I hoped it would be a nice, fun day for everybody,
but Bethany is sick.
so pitiful!
 
Last Thursday she started to get sick, and by Sunday night she was really, really bad.
She was coughing, wheezing, and had trouble breathing.
The doctor said she had a respiratory sickness,
one that couple last up to six weeks, and is very contagious.
It is so hard when she is feeling rotten, and you can do nothing about it.   Please pray for her healing.
But thankfully, she is doing a little better, and even gave us one of her smiles.
Sickness aside, here is the post I hoped I would be able to write:
 
Bethany.
I remember the day we saw her for the first time so clearly...
That morning my dad told me that a new orphanage had just received a two and 1/2 old little boy, (actully he is 3 1/2), who was adoptable.  That was a Monday, and I was on my way to co-op classes, and didn't get many details.  Afterwards, I had to go to swim team practice and didn't hear anything more about it until about 5:30pm, at my brothers baseball practice.
I was swinging, and saw my dad's car pull up.
I walked over to say hello,
"Huge news,"  my dad said.
My mom was with us, and my dad started taking out his smart phone.
"The little boy has a younger sibling?"  My mom guessed.  Adoption was on everyones mind.
"No."  more fiddling with the phone.
"Dad, what is it?"  I asked.
"There's a baby girl at the orphanage,"  my dad started,
"Six months old?"  asked my mom
"Less." 
at this point I literally started shaking.  I remember clenching my fingers into a fist, trying to stand still.
And then I saw the picture.
Above is the picture we saw of her first. 
Below is a picture of when she was about 2 weeks old.
The email was very short.
Baby girl. Email says 4 days old. Looks a little older...  I will send you another picture shortly.

I didn't need any more information.  That was my baby.  That was my sister.  We also saw a picture of Kadi that day, and accept them both.
At that point I was still very sad about loosing Chance and Benjamin, and God really comforted me during that time.  It was so hard to accept, and so hard to realize.   But I was praying very hard for another referral.
God does amazing things.  He simply blows my mind with his power and amazing love for us.
On the night after the day that Bethany was born, I had a dream of a baby. 
 I didn't know what it meant, and I didn't know she had been born until a little over a week later. 
 But I believe that God gave me that dream.  Just as a reminder of his power.
 
Over the months that followed, we didn't get pictures on a regular basis.  Months went by, and we memorized every detail of the three photos we had.  
And when we did get more pictures, it was better than Christmas.  Seeing her grow up without us was so hard.  But we knew that the Lord would bring her and Kadi home at the right time.  (although I forgot that alot, and often wanted my way instead of waiting for God's timing.)
She was about 2/3 months old here, and laying snugly on a pile of clothes!


three months and sleepy!


two ish months old

2 months

two months and smiling!
 
And then, she turned four months old and met her Daddy for the first time!

And then at almost 5 months, met her Mommy!


 
 
 And now she is 6 months, and such a cutie! 
We all love her so. much.


 
 
 

 


Friday, October 26, 2012

Momma Kadi

This little guy cracks me up.

He is a ball of energy, and personality.
 
like the time when he wanted "baby Jilma" to lay in the wheel barrow next to him.
 
But I think one of the best examples of his personality is
"Momma Kadi"
One day we got out some costumes, and a couple wigs.  At first he was scared of them, but then he wanted to put one on...
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a good picture,
but when he saw him self in the mirror he smiled and said,
"Momma Kadi!"
I guess it was the long hair, because when he put on this wig...
He turned into "Papa Kadi!"
 
Things are never boring with "Momma Kadi" in the house!
 

Ummm, who is that in the stroller?

We thought that our little dog would have a hard time adjusting with the new additions.
 
He has, but we think he secretly likes them...
especially Bethany.
 
 
but after last week he may like Kadi more too...

 
...after getting a very nice stroller ride.


 
Yep, he has it made!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Reminded

Every day around our house is full of surprises.
And excitement,
and love,
and joy.
Although we do have a couple arguments, frustrated moments, bad attitudes or what ever,
we get over most of them quickly, and move on.
 
One of the most wonderful things about being homeschooled,
is that I am right there with everybody.
Watch new firsts,
making memories,
and enjoying my family.
 
I'm gone for about 7 hours at homeschool co-op classes on Mondays,
and even though that is a normal school day for many,
I feel like I've missed way too much time away from
my siblings and parents.
But that time is good.  It reminds me how much I love my family. 
And makes me even more ready to enjoy day to the fullest,
and reminds me how blessed I am to be called these kids big sister.
 
 
 
look at that smile... love it!






 
Tomorrow's a new day,
a day that the Lord has made... let us rejoice and be glad in it!
{ Psalm 118:24}

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Fall Fun

I love fall.
I love the cool weather, and the crunch of fallen leaves,
and the pumpkins...
After a long, hot summer the cool air feels so nice,
and so perfect for the fun we are having out side.
Brandon is becoming a master at the ripboard, and David is learning scary fun new tricks on the skate board.
And Kaden is right there with them!
No, no skate boards or anything like that yet, but so far he's pretty content with his bike and scooter.
I've been able to get some really cute pictures the outside fun.




 
I love my family!
What's your favorite thing about fall?


Friday, October 19, 2012

2 weeks!

I can't believe that it was an entire week since I wrote about Kaden and Bethany being home a week!
 
Really, it feels like they have been home always.
We are kinda wondering if we are in the "honeymoon stage".
But it is hard for me to imagine Kadi acting out.  He is such a good tempered, sweet little guy.
And he is such an actor and performer!
just watch the video.  Words are not necessary.
 
Yeah, that pretty much describes him.
 
And then Bethany.
We all love her so much! 
It is so sweet to see Kaden give her a kiss. 
He is the only one in our family who has been with her since she came to the orphanage from the hospital after her birth.
These two pictures (below) are from the orphange, about 2-3 months ago.

 
Bethany is a cutie!
 


 
Kaden enjoys playing the camera... a little scary sometimes, but still a good thing.
But anyway, tonight while my mom feeding Bethany, we put the timer on the camera and tried to get a good picture.  We did... sorta
 
 


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

His Picture

On the wall there are pictures of Kadi's brothers and sisters.
He recognizes their faces,
And he knows that they belong and that they are loved.
Maybe that is part of the reason why he loves to see pictures of him - Kadi - on the wall too.
To reinforce his knowlege that he belongs and is loved just as much as they are.
Maybe that is why he is so excited about his pictures around the house.
they are more symbols of the love his family has for him.
More symbols that this is his family, and this is his house.
Maybe that is why he loves to see his pictures.
 


"Kadi!"





Numbering the Days ~ 1 March