Oh my… Lynae is ONE!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!
I can’t believe it’s been a year since you were born, and yet it feels like you’ve been with us forever.  Thinking back on your birth it was one of the scariest and most wonderful things all in one.  I never thought I’d be so nervous to have a scheduled c-section, but waiting for you was such a different experience!  When I was pregnant with you I thought you were going to “seem big” after our other kids were all so petite.  But when they brought this tiny baby over for me to kiss your cheeks and fingers before wisking you away to clean you up, I knew that God had special plans for you. 

It’s amazing to see you learn and grow each day.  I’m relearning what the ‘typical’ goals at different ages are, and you’re teaching me that no matter what there’s more love to give.
We are so proud of you and you bring your daddy and I so much joy. 
I love our morning snuggles even if it does mean getting up at 4am.  I love our playtime when the kids all decide to go to school and we sit and sing silly songs.  I love to hear your giggle and that playful little smirk you show me when I tease you.  I love that you expect to be held every minute that you see me and that you think that sitting down on the job is unforgivable.  I love that you play so sweetly with all your brothers and sisters yet all they have to do is look at you crooked and you burst out in tears.  I love that you have your very own little personality and that you let us know your needs and wants and try to get away with everything you can.
I love that you know ‘no’ and will turn around and go the other direction, put down the cheerio you found on the floor, and even close the baby gate for me.  I love that you think baby food is out of style and want only finger foods for dinner now and sippy cups—no bottles.  I love that you call me maaaaaaa maaaaaaaa at the top of your lungs and then you giggle when I laugh at you for fussing over nothing.  I love when you sign “all done” and tell me then hand me your pacifier or your cup.  I love that you think that when you’re finished eating that you should pick up your cheerios or peas one by one and hand them to me to clear off your tray.
I love that I can stand you up and step away and you laugh and half cover your mouth up like you’re playing shy.  And if distracted, you’ll stand there for quite some time… but as soon as you realize you’re standing, you squat right down and crawl away!  I love that you think we don’t notice when you cruise all around.  I love that one day soon you’re going to let go and surprise yourself by walking across the room unassisted. 
I love that you’re you, and that I’m me, and that you have a special place in our family where God put you.  I love you, Lynae Sarah Cornish!  Happy First Birthday!



         


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Final Judgement!

We received the Final Judgement for James today!  It's a very bland and unassuming notarized piece of paper that means that he is OUR SON! :)  Court was last Wednesday but we had nothing after court to prove that he is ours.  It was a pretty weird feeling! LOL Still no birth certificate and it will be a little bit before we receive that, but now we have the court paperwork at least and can begin the (awful) process of changing his name everywhere! :)

Exciting even if it means more work!


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WHEW

Last night I found that the tracking sent to me for a document that needs to be county certified and apostilled in Maryland said that it was going to the APOSTILLE office (state capital) and NOT the County where it was supposed to go first!

I stressed (only minorly since there's nothing I could DO about it until today...) that it was going to cost another $40 or more and even worse, that it was going to make it take several extra days to come back to me.

Today I went to the Mailbox Store and found that they had put the same dates and tracking on ALL THREE of the overnight envelopes.  So, I *should have* received 3 emails saying each destination along the way, but the one that it was headed to first WAS INDEED the state capital.  YAY!  Now, what happened to the other 2 emails? USER ERROR.  Yep, MINE!  I am new to Gmail and hadn't noticed that there were two more messages BELOW the original one!  When I got home from checking on the shipping to be sure it was right, I took a look and interestingly enough there are 2 more emails all piled on top of one another.

Guess I need to take a little more time to figure out Gmail (and remember to check below messages).  And, it might help if I don't check email at 11:30 at night too! :)  Being awake for that is generally helpful in these cases!

So, all a goof up for nothing.  Everything's on its way to where it should be going!  :) :)


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NO MOUTH!

Our kids hear this phrase multiple times a day.  Micah licks EVERYTHING.  Emma puts things on her lips to 'flap' them.  Brianna sucks her fingers.

Yesterday Mike came over and kissed me, and Brianna walked by and said...
"Daddy! NO MOUTH!"

We all got a good laugh out of that one :)

Just needed something fun to lighten up the blog a bit tonight :D


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News!

My sweet friend Lyndi (Patrick's mom for those of you not in the Reece's Rainbow circle) is in Ukraine right now bringing home her 15 yr old son, Fedia!  They are leaving on WEDNESDAY to fly home. YAY!!  Today she did something that I dream about... she met our son!!  Lyndi's Patrick was adopted from the same location that Monroe currently lives, so Lyndi went there and visited and was able to spend some time with our little boy :).  Some of what she told me was a little unexpected (and somewhat confusing to both her and I) but most of it is things that we were either very much aware of or had suspected based on photos and other people's visits with Monroe.

Unfortunately, no photos today, but it will be no time at all before we are there holding him ourselves, so a little about his personality and his abilities was more than I could have asked for!

So, here's a bit about Monroe!  He is a good size for his age, not really small or underweight.  He seems to be a favorite in his groupa right now which is a wonderful thing because it means that the adults really care about him and likely treat him well.  He was OUTSIDE with all the other children, being pushed in a stroller, when she visited!  That is much more than we had imagined!  In addition to having CP, we are told that Monroe was diagnosed blind at a year old.  He also has an 'injury' on his spine and it appears that he is paralyzed below that.  It's uncertain whether this is something that he was born with or whether it is something that happened to him.  The word arthrogryposis was also mentioned in conjunction with this and to be honest I don't know enough about spinal cord injuries or malformations or arthrogryposis to really be able to interpret any of that.  Maybe some of the experts (MOMS) in the field can give me a little insight into that?? :)  Would greatly appreciate it!  I've begun my googling, but moms generally can guide a newbie so much better than some generic terms thrown together.

As far as the blindness goes, he certainly DOES see and has the most gorgeous smile when interacted with.  Lyndi was told that he can tell shapes and colors apart and that the doctor has no question of his ability to learn, but he is physically very limited.  We had guessed at his visual issues based on friends' accounts of him not paying much attention to others until they were right up with him and then getting friendly when approached.  He also responded to his name when called and obviously knew that worker that was speaking to him.

Having zero movement of his lower extremities is not what we had expected- we were 'expecting' limited movement, spasticity, or uncoordinated movement.  Something we'll just deal with as we learn more about it because there is no question that God has sent us for him and is preparing us to parent him.

The updates and additional information about him are SO WONDERFUL, but even more so than that, what I was very glad to hear is that when Lyndi asked about him, the doctor that she spoke with said "he needs a family."  Then... Lyndi was able to tell her that he HAS a family, and that we are coming SOON!  The doctor cried at the news and apologized for crying- she was so happy that he wouldn't be moved and face the future that she knew for him.  How wonderful for them to know that we are coming!  Hopefully we will be there in about 6-8 weeks, God willing!

Please continue to pray for the remaining pieces of our paperwork, specifically our 171H that we would receive our approval by MONDAY, the 13th of September!  We also have an out of state apostille that we need to receive back by WEDNESDAY the 15th of September in order to bring our completed dossier to Ukraine on my mission trip on the 17th.  Those dates are coming up SO quickly!  God knows the timeline, and we are standing in the knowledge that His timing is the absolute best for every step in this process.


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We've plugged the leak!

It appears that our 'newest tactic' is working with James!  I changed his tube back out for a Mini (like a Mic-key but a different style) and we've started thickening his bottles with rice cereal.  More calories, thicker so it doesn't run right back out of his stomach, and the Mini isn't 'adjustable so although it was leaking constantly at the hospital, it seems to be working much better now!

So, the leak is plugged at the moment and James is drinking 8 oz at a time 3x/day and we'll work on getting the other 8 oz added back in as soon as possible.  90 extra calories in each bottle by adding the rice cereal too! :)


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Mat fellowship

Today's sermon at church applied to me in SO many ways.  It had several different 'hit points' and one of them to me was the idea of "The fellowship of the mat."  The story of the paralytic from the book of Mark chapter 2, where four men brought the paralyzed man and dug out the roof of the home that Jesus was preaching in, then lowered their friend through the hole.  It was the faith of the FRIENDS, not the paralyzed man, that brought him to Jesus.

In our own lives, our own 'story' right now, we are trying to bring home a little boy who could be that paralytic.  He has little use of his arms and legs.  He's dependent on others to get around.  He probably cannot even sit up on his own right now.

In Bible times disabilities were seen as 'sins of the parents' and in Eastern Europe, that belief still exists and the children are still 'hidden away' and not seen as able to contribute to society.  The friends must have seen something in their paralyzed friend to believe that he was 'worth it' to go through everything that they did to bring him to Jesus.  Today it was suggested that those friends might be seen as 'outlandish teenagers' that were seen as strange and outside the norm.  After all, they dug out the roof of a house!  And they lowered their friend- who likely others see as not worth a second glance- and brought him to Jesus.

Today, I feel like those crazy teenagers.  We're the roof diggers, the ones that are going against the social norms and choosing to bring a child who is seen as worthless in the eyes of his current society.  We're going through these trials and leaps to be able to bring him--- where??  Not to Jesus in hopes of his healing.  Not to a place to be forgiven of his sins.  No, into our home.  Where we fully expect that he will stay 'disabled' and continue to need our care and assistance in most areas of life.

Yes, we'll teach him, and yes, we will absolutely bring him to the feet of the Father, pray for him (as we already are) and teach him about Jesus.  We have wonderful hopes for him knowing and understanding Christ one day.  So in that way, yes, we are bringing him to Jesus.

But here's the thing... the point that I was brought to while listening to this sermon, and one of the pieces of the main message is this: We can't do this alone.  Monroe is the 'man on the mat' at the moment, but we all have our mats, our own issues that we need to be brought to Jesus because of, but Monroe, in this moment, is the child whose mat we have picked up and chosen to carry to Christ.

Because we believe that he has potential.
Because we believe that God has called us to do this.
Because we know that Monroe needs to be carried out, and in his current circumstances there is no life for him.

But we cannot do it alone.

The mat has four posts.  Michael and I can only bring half of it.  We need the community to gather, people to step forward and pick up the other two sides of the mat.  Without YOU, we are dragging in the sand, with so much resistance against our own efforts that it makes it more difficult for us to do.  God can use even that, but He doesn't intend it.  The gathering, the "hooking on" to others in trust that they won't let you fall.  That is the fellowship of the Body of Christ.

Many times we have been the ones that are the 'stable climber' and others hooking in to us feel that if they fall, we will catch them.  Right now, though, we are the ones with the mat, needing others to pair up beside us and to help carry us all along.

How can you help?
-Most of all-- PRAYER
-If you're local, there are so many other areas, ones which we don't generally ask for help, but during this season of carrying the mat, we know it would be especially helpful.  Things like our friend Chris watching 4 of the kids so we could be fingerprinted the other day.  Michael's mom doing the dishes while we were out getting to spend a little time alone.  My mom folding and sorting the laundry when the kids were sleeping the other day.  The person that gave Monroe's grant stepping out financially and each and every person that enters the Vacation give-away for their financial contributions.
-When we travel our needs will be greater.  Just as those 'crazy people' carrying the mat for the paralytic in the Bible may have had families at home who they left to bring the man on the mat, we have a family that will need looking after while we go to bring Monroe home.  We have a wonderful support system available and willing, but every little bit of extra help makes the task that much easier.  The more people willing to step in for a time to help carry the mat, the less of a load on the carriers.

Not everyone will be used in the same ways, and not everyone is called to have a part in every part of God's work.  Many people certainly thought that the four men bringing the paralytic to Jesus were crazy, doing a pointless task, and would be better used elsewhere and doing other things.  Many probably thought they were shirking their own responsibilities to take care of this other man.  But those four knew that this task was what they were to do and had faith and determination to bring their friend to Jesus.  We will press on, despite those who feel we're spinning our wheels and despite those that say our responsibilities lay elsewhere.  Because God has called us to go and carry the mat.  And we pray that He is calling up others to join us for 'legs of the relay' to pick up the mat and join us as we bring "Monroe" home.

And here it is, my request for help.  If you can help us carry the mat, if you feel called to be a part of bringing Monroe home, please let us know what role you can play in this journey.  Maybe you are or have been praying for us and him.  Maybe you can or have contributed financially.  Maybe you can help with a meal or two when we are away and our families are chipping in with the kids.  Maybe you can be 'on call' if one of our families needs help one day or evening.  Maybe you can help in other ways for our family and children while we are gone.  Maybe there's something else that you can think of that is a gift that YOU have that we might not even know to ask for.

We are blessed abundantly by those who step forward and say 'yes' when we ask.  But rarely do we ask so publicly because rarely is our need this great.  Even our last trip to Ukraine to adopt Emma and Micah- when I was gone for seven weeks straight and Michael for 4- we had just two children back home to care for.  Leaving two, and leaving six, are a world apart.

THANK YOU for your prayers and your support.  THANK YOU for helping us to carry this mat.  THANK YOU for stepping up and saying that Monroe has a worth that you can see, that makes it a task that you want to join in to and be a part of.  God has used so many already.  He continues to use the willing to do the impossible.



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One more day in paradise :)

Oh yes, I admit...I'm loving the 100 degree weather more and more when I think about all the emails I've been receiving about people being COLD in Ukraine!  I went to Wal-Mart today and returned the pants I bought on clearance last week which... don't fit.  And then to Target and bought some that do.  In case you're a similar build to me, I now know that Target CARRIES smaller sizes, whereas Wal-Mart has one here and one there. And I'm cheap, and even found some clothes on CLEARANCE! :)  I was looking for pants today, since I pretty much don't own any that fit.  Last winter I was still a bit bigger than I am now since I'd had a baby in September...

And now that baby is almost ONE!  I can't believe it!  Lynae is going to be a year old on Thursday, and Micah is going to be 4 on Friday!  It's exciting and scary all at the same time :)

Lynae has decided that she doesn't mind that she's almost one, she's very quick on her knees and tho she stands and cruises, she has no interest in walking LOL.  I'm sure she'll be there and fine in the next few months, but for now she prefers to walk with a toy to push or holding a hand (or two!) and isn't so motivated to take off on her own.  I'm ok with that, no point rushing the 'baby phase' though we are working on encouraging her :)

Micah has gotten 'mature' overnight!  He's listening so much more, he's responding to verbal directions, and, get this... yesterday I handed him his curved spoon and a bowl of macaroni and cheese... and he sat and ate it.  Yep, all by himself!  So proud of where he's headed, it's exciting to see the 'lights turn on'!

James' gtube continues to leak and today, out of frustration with the 5 oz bottle that was NOT digested and instead all came out onto the diaper wrapped around his middle... I took it out and put the mini button back in.  Surely it has to be SOME better, right?  We shall see.  We also began thickening his pediasure hoping that maybe it won't run out as much if it's thicker??  Here's hoping.  I will try anything at this point!  Thursday James came down with a fever again and he was home Friday and went to the doctor.  Nothing else but the fever, which went away on its own later on Friday.  Just wanted a few days home with Mommy maybe ;).  He's lost another pound over the week between doctor's visits, and that concerns me.  We have a GI appointment for him on the 13th and it can't be soon enough.  Hopefully they will have some answers for us then and hopefully the Mini button will be good until we can do that.

Off to clean off the dining room table so we can have my brother, sister in law, and some of her siblings (and maybe my other brother?) over for games and dinner tonight.  Looking forward to an 'adultish' evening :).  Last night Michael and I went out without the kiddos and had dinner out and lots of time to just hang out and talk.  With the 'busy' that it's easy to get in to, it's so important to both of us that we intentionally carve out time just to spend together and keep our marriage healthy.  Can't do anything for anyone else if we aren't healthy first...





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Dossier progress!

We were fingerprinted yesterday! Here's hoping that we might come in under the wire and get our 171H approval from USCIS before the 15th... God can do it!!

We are going to finish our medicals today, we're waiting on Michael's employment letter, and we've got a few other things just to photocopy (but their coversheets are alredy notarized). One more "print, sign, and notarize" document to do (I didn't have an extra copy and the pen ran when signing it) and our dossier will be FINISHED!

We're so close! Just a few little pieces of paper and a trip to Tallahassee (and one paper needs to fly solo to Maryland and back) and we will be DONE!

Please continue praying for our last documents! I really thought "impossible" when I was burdened to pray that it would be done by September 13th so everything could be approved and apostilled on the 15th to bring with me to Ukraine on the 17th. But, if this is God's timeline, then He will fulfill it!

IF we have our immigration approval in time for me to bring it to Ukraine with me, then it is very possible that we could be traveling before the end of October. WOW! It's in God's hands, we continue to release it to Him. But loking out at the prospect of being home for Christmas sounds wonderful! :)

Welcome to the Family!

The Cornish Family has grown by one more!!

Please join us in welcoming James Hunter Cornish to the family!