I'm Going!!!!

It's finally happenning. It seems surreal. Something I've been wanting to do since 2001 is finally going to be a reality!

What is that you ask?

I get to fly half way around the world to visit Dhaka, Bangladesh. What's there? Only about 400 children. Only about 400 orphans or abandoned children. Only 400 pairs of big brown eyes to see. Only about 400 cutie pies to hug. I'm going to the H.E.L.P Bangladesh Samaratain Children's Home. Back when I first started to date Paul, his family had recently started to get involved with a man named David Halder who was starting to build a Christian Children's Home in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It had started out with 20 street kids or orphans in his own home, and has now grown to about 400 kids. In the middle of this Muslim city where the call to prayer sounds multiple times a day live 400 kids who are being fed and nurtured spiritually, emotionally, and physically with Christ-centered principles. Most children leave with an education, a future, and most importantly a relationship with Jesus Christ. My husband got to go visit this home back in 2001, and I've been itching to go ever since. First it was college that was inhibiting a trip. You can really only travel between Sept. and April, because Late April-Early September is monsoon season. Then, we were planning to go the fall/spring after we were married in 2005, but I became pregnant with Izzy and we decided it was not wise to travel while pregnant. Then, Izzy tied me down for about 12-15 months. But, she is now weaned....I'm not pregnant.....my schedule is free....and so I'm going!!!!

I am so pumped. I'm going to be traveling with my husband which is icing on the cake and with his parents. We are going to witness a marriage ceremony for two young adults who grew up in the children's home. I am going to meet our sponsored kids Robin and Monie!!!! I cry each time I think about meeting Robin- he is such a handsome little boy and growing so tall! I get teary thinking about holding our little girl Monie- she is the littlest girl there. She just had to have her head shaved for lice- poor thing. She is so tiny- she'll be my Izzy fix. We'll get to bless these children with lots of love and attention. I'll be able to help the teachers with some of their lesson plans. I'm going to teach the kids some songs and help them practice their English! Whohooo!!!

Then, to top it off, we're going to detour through China on our way home. No, I don't get to visit the site of the 2008 Olympics (which would be awesome!). No, we're headed to Kunming, China where Steve and Chris Weber minister through Bless China. They have long been family friends and we've supported them for a few years. (come to find out recently that our church supports them as well!).

Tickets have yet to be purchased, but tentative dates are mid to late November departure and being gone about 10 days. I'm so excited for this opportunity!!!!!!!

Pediasure

Isabelle had her two year check up this morning. As I had predicted, the doctor is not too excited with my daughter's lack of weight gain. At a whopping 22 pounds, my daughter is hanging on to the growth chart by mere threads. While he is not too worried yet, he wants us to more proactively get her to gain some weight. Our goal? He wants her to gain about 5 pounds in 6 months.

Now, Izzy is a GREAT eater. She eats almost anything you give her, and she eats a lot of it! She will eat more than my niece and nephew, who are both 4, combined! So, he reccommended Pediasure supplement. Fine, great! I want her to gain a little mass as well!

Well, I get home and start figuring out how much this stuff is and where to get it cheapest to find that this stuff costs an arm and a leg. Rougly $2 per little bottle. Obviously buying in bulk is cheapest but not by much, and not knowing if she'll like it, well, I don't want to have cases of this stuff just sitting around.

Does anyone know where to pick this stuff up cheap (good store brands??). Does anyone know if boost or ensure is ok for toddlers?

Or, does anyone have any nice high calorie recipies for smoothies or something? Any help you can be would be appreciated! Thanks!

Happy Birthday Isabelle!!!!

The past two years.....

The night we went to get induced- about 36 hours before birth.

About 5 minutes (maybe more, I don't know) after her eventful emergency birth! A perfect 7lbs 1 oz, 18 inches.

1 Day Old

October 2006- 3 months

1st Christmas (5 months)

July 2007- 1 year!

September 2007- 14 months

December 2007- 17 months

Happy 2nd Birthday Isabelle! We love you very much!

We're Going on Vacation!!!!

After many bumps in the road, Paul and I are finally able to go on vacation- ALONE!!! We've booked a 7 night all inclusive resort in Xpuha, Mexico called Catalonia Royal Tulum! We fly out of Detroit on October 15th and come back the 22nd! We are soooo beyond excited, elated, thrilled. The good deal we got helps too! We need this getaway. Our marriage needs this getaway. My mothering ability needs this getaway. I don't know if Izzy needs us to get away, but she'll reap many benefits, not to mention a whole week and Grandpa and Grandma's house!

We are so blessed and thankful that we will be able to take this trip!!!

Off topic, but here is my new favorite picture of my two very favorite people in this world.

Never Underestimate....

Never underestimate the power of:

• dark chocolate dove squares
• a good cry
• a fun tickle session
• a 79 cent slushie from speedway
• free gift cards from redeeming points
• a big hug from a loved one
• A wet kiss from a little one
• the ever increasing vocabulary of a two year old
• being cheered on by my two year old for going potty (we cheer her on, she cheers us!)
• clean sheets
• a good chick flick
• any more to add????

Not quite the day I imagined....

Well, today is not panning out quite as I had hoped. Got a call in the middle of the night that Paul's grandpa Morgan fell at the cottage and was being sent to Butterworth downtown with what appears to be a fractured neck. We'll know more later- scary nonetheless. Since Paul's mom has been at the hospital all night, she won't be able to watch my nieces this afternoon, so I'm going to be a mom of three girls under the age of four today. Should be interesting. On top of that, I had already scheduled my carpets to get cleaned today...so we'll be stuck in the basement for awhile I think.

I'm really enjoying my new car. I've only driven it a few times, and it will take some getting used to. I love not having to bend over to put Izzy in her carseat. I love that I can offer to be a carpooler for other passengers too!!! We'll be taking it on our first road trip Monday when we go down to Mishawaka, IN to help my sister set up her first classroom! Should be fun!

Hope your day Glorifies our Lord today!

What a day!!!!

I feel as though I have lived an entire day or more in simple the first 5 hours of my Friday. Izzy has had a terrible diaper rash/heat rash since the 4th. It seemed to be getting better with the A&D ointment, but yesterday came back even worse. It started spreading down her legs and up her lower back. This morning she woke up screaming and not even able to sit down. I was able to have my mother in law rush me to the doctor (boy am I glad for family when I'm without a car!). Found out she has a very serious yeast infection. She is on a perscription ointment that is very strong and has steroids in it too (not something perscribed for most yeast infections, but this was bad). I'm hoping she'll get relief soon.





Amidst all of this chaos, I had forgotten about the auction today. The car we were going to be bidding on, was missed by our agent friend, so we were pretty sad, but knew we had a backup. Well, come to find out later, we were able to purchase the one we wanted from the guy who had won it in the auction, so a couple hours, some paperwork, a check, and a lot of headache later, I am now the proud manager (God's the Owner!!) of a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica. Like this:

Yeah for getting wheels and my freedom back. Needless to say, I'm exhausted and ready for the day to be over, but so excited at the same time. I'd like to go take a joy ride, but the kitchen sink is calling my name from under the pile of rubble I call dirty dishes.

Car

Oh how I miss having a car!!!!

I wish I could just go run errands when I need to.

Oh how I miss going garage saling!

When, oh when, will we find a car??????

Talk about a lesson in contentment and patience- I think I'm getting it God!!!!

Really, it hasn't been too bad. Its given me a good excuse to stay home and clean and play. No random shopping trips. Its been good. But its been three weeks, and well, I'm really getting sick of having to carpool to the grocery store. I hope we find a car soon.