i love spring break

i had a house full of kids, got to read, study, referee them playing outside, do some cleaning, send some emails and watch a webinar on attachment/adoption. No beaches, no trips, no drinks with umbrellas or bikinis (as if)- but its been a great time so far!!!
tomorrow will be a park date with Sam and Gabe, some school work for me and then a night class. loverly

Spring Break - International Festival

My first day of spring break was pretty busy. Although John, Sam, and I lounged around the house for a while, watched some Mickey Mouse Club and The Soup, cleaned up some and got ready to go visit my friend Michelle and her son Dylan for his 4th birthday at Little Gym- Sam had a blast. With an orange balloon, and candy in hand and with cake frosting on his face Sam and I raced back home to get him in dressed in his Ethiopian outfit (one of two we brought back). We went to the International Festival- and Sam looked so adorable. Blue is a great color on him
More exciting news- adoption training April 14- yep we have to do it again....this is for domestic, we still aren't certain if/when we may begin the formal quest for another beautiful Ethiopian child- which would actually be my preference...but there are so many factors/variables that may prevent that. There are children in need right here, domestic foster-adoption is free and subsidized.....so thats probably the more *logical* route....but my heart is in Ethiopia. What has gotten really weird is that Sam asks about it nearly every day now...which is just odd because his language is really developing and he has grown more and more attached to us. Yet he just casually says "Momma I want it go to Opee-opia (Ethiopia)" or "Mamma, I want Opee-opia see it" (i want to see Ethiopia)....He looked at my dvd case/book from Invisible Children and my shirt with many pictures of Ugandans on it...and he always asks me if its "Opee-Opia"
John and I have discussed age ranges and full heartedly feel that a child between 5 and 7 would be best....and the more we evaluate how Sam and Gabe interact with one another and how Sam is with girls versus boys- I actually think a girl would be the best bet - Something i swore never to have. I have been "all boy" since i entertained even having children early in my life, with Sam i chose him from a WC  list....but theres just something i feel that says a 6 year old girl is out there. This feeling was even more verified when the new agency we will most likley go with (should we adopt from ET again- its the only one i have registered with) has sent me a WC file for a girl who is 5/6ish and a double orphan, having been relinquished by a family member...she has a chronic health issue but its manageable and shes just beautiful. I must really pray/meditate and ponder this (which has been hard since i have not gone to yoga/chanting or my meditation group in weeks)....in the mean time we are still going to be certified for foster care.
In the mean, mean time...here are some awesome pictures of the most beautiful Habesha boy this side of the Mississippi~!

So smiley!

Sam playing in the back yard

bouncing fixes everything

i haven't mentioned much about the magic that is the trampoline. Theres not much my two boys share/have in common....but bouncing on our huge trampoline is one thing they both love to do- together!@!! It brings joy to my heart that they at least have this. Sam officially got in to the Montessori program that Gabe goes to. However, I am really concerned that Sam lacks the focus and independence to really fulfill Montessori work....we will see. I will be working with him as much as possible this summer to help him
Many interesting, exciting and somewhat scary conversations going on- we are preparing for orientation into the foster/adopt program with DSS. At the same time i cant get something out of my mind- another waiting child adoption....i look at WC lists so much- specifically those that are HIV +. This is something i/we have never even talked about or discussed. But after watching a big special on Magic Johnson and then reading up on how HIV is not even considered a fatal illness but a chronic/manageable condition really had opened my eyes. I read over blogs of families with many adopted and bio children and theres something within me that really wants that....something i never thought was there. Its pretty unexpected. Another interesting occurrence is that i have resigned from teaching to focus on grad school work and mommy work...this scared the shit out of me, but at the same time John is very supportive of having me at home, often more than i am . I imagine iw ill be working part time...in fact i am already lining up part time work for the summer (HOGWARTS SUMMER CAMP ANYONE?!?!- for reals at the UUCC) I am not certain i will be a stay at home mom, in them ost traditional since but depending on how Sam does in school, it may be a reality for me for a while. If we go through with becoming foster parents then that will be an even bigger reason to be at home more....its exciting and scary all at once.
Sam is doing wonderfully- hes such a joyful smiley, happy boy. He has these little pouty moments but they are fleeting. We are so lucky and i must remind myself not to fall in love with and idealized version of fostering/adoption because of how well Sam has attached, because this is not always the norm. His language has come so far- its amazing how much he can say an dhow much he knows....i really feel theres barely a difference some days.

Anyhow, i am really trying my hardest to balance school, work and family....its hard but i only have to tough it out for another month!!

St Pats- Sam

 Sam's interested- and concerned- "whats all that music?"- Its the St Patty's Day Parade! A family tradition, Sam's first!

 And then the crazy starts! He sees Elmo coming!!

 Me and Gabrielle!

holding out

hi all- well i have , again, spanned many weeks with no updates or blog entries. I have been super stressed with grad school and work, and trying to stay healthy ( as in not having a total mental breakdown), be a good mom and wife...its hard- this semester has really gotten me bogged down with so much to do. However as of April 23rd I will be done! Not only done with grad school for this semester but possibly done with teaching for the year as well. Sam's surgery will be much more complicated than we once expected. His left foot has other issues going on, the recovery will be strict- 3 weeks with no weight on it...another 3 in a cast/ little movement....I am having issues with his pre-school situation not even maintaining his needs being in casts, so theres little faith in them to make sure the recovery goes well. So i am taking off to help him recover and be there for him- i wont have school or work...just me and Sam time. I am both looking forward to it and dreading it all at once. We are expecteding the surgery to be on or around April 26th
On a lighter notw- Sam's 4th birthday is coming up- on Easter....we are going to Universal Studios on April 19-21- WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER, HARDROCK RESORT, SUPERMAN, SEUSS-LANDING!!! I love this place....i am so excited to take all the boys there and hopefully meet up with some friends and family.
On an even different note- i am having WC fever again...and have been looking through waiting child lists nearly daily. I really want Sam to have a family member that looks like him...and i am whole heartedly passionate about waiting child adoption/ older child adoption. Of course John is not sold....i am not even sure i can deal with all the red tape and frusrtation of all the paperwork BUT i think if we could be matched with a sibling group it would be easier just knowing they had each other, and if they are older- then knowing they understood a family was coming.....i can dream, can't i?

Hes been mine for 6 months!

Yesterday marked the 6 month mark since I took custody of Sam....wow!! It feels like forever and last week all at once. Sam has come so far and become so wonderful. Our attachment is great, and he love shis brother and even though he likes to "act up" with his dad- like telling him to go to "time out" or calling john a "stinky boy"- he loves john too. We have started looking back at his pictures, and family books as well as pictures from other family's travels to get thier children. He loves seing the mountains and donkeys! There is a string possibility that if i decide to do my research internationally that I will be bacj in Ethiopia. I wish to study the curriculum being developed for a new language policy Ethiopia has for using tribal languages in primary grades. I told John that if i go back for a semester- two things will likely happen 1.) I want Sam to come for part of it 2.) I wont be able to leave with out adopting another child !  So i am sure John knows what could be in store for us, or does he :) heheh
Sam's legs are looking great- and Johns birthday is this weekend. However, we dont have all the kids with us this weekend. So next weekend we are going to Great Wolf Lodge  to celebrate Johns b-day and Sam's 6 months home!!

Autumn