Sunday, November 29, 2009

More Asher Pictures......

Now that I can post pictures of our boy, I thought I'd give you a little more!

This is the first picture I saw of Asher. Poor guy just looks scared and cold (and ready to fight).


This is one of the next set of pictures we received.


These were next in line. You can't see really well, but he has a rash/skin problem in these pics. His next medical report stated he had a skin infection (still beautiful though!).


This is one of the most recent pictures. He is at the foster home in Addis in these pictures. He has amazing eyes!


The first smile we ever saw! Very gummy and perfect!



I am still overwhelmed with joy. I just praise God that He entrusted Ryan and I with one more amazing gift!

Julie

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Please let me introduce.........


Asher Houston Cole



By the grace of God we were surprised with an e-mail this morning that we PASSED court yesterday, November 25th. Apparently, they tried to fit into court some of the cases that had been postponed. We were one of the lucky ones to get an earlier court date and to pass!!! We got an e-mail this morning from our agency saying "surprise." Surprise indeed. What an amazing blessing and we could not be more thrilled. I think I am still in shock! Seriously, I can just hardly believe that we legally have son half the way across the world!

We don't know yet when we will travel (and probably won't know for another couple weeks), but it will probably be in early January. We will talk to our actual case manager on Monday and work out some of those details.

I just feel so humble right now. He is just so beautiful and he is ours. This Thanksgiving we have been especially thankful.

Julie

Monday, November 23, 2009

This is my life.......

Argh! Madeline is very honestly the most high maintenance child I have ever had. Now please don't harass me for blogging that thought because Madeline has a long list of amazing qualities, she is just a bit "difficult" right now. She is smart and sneaky. I feel like I have to be on her case ALL DAY long. Well, I know she sneaks candy and sneaks in to places in the house she not suppose to and sneaks out of bed, you name it. Well, I finally got them to bed tonight and I was
plugging my laptop in behind the couch and this is what I found.......



Those would be Hershey Kiss and Tootsie Roll wrappers. Give you one guess where they came from. It is just agonizing some times. This is probably the 4th or 5th time I have found wrappers like this around the house.

It is a good thing though that my life is full of so much more. I am so blessed, candy wrappers and all. Here, see what I mean........




Aren't they beautiful (and sleeping :))?

Julie

"Jonah.......where you going?"

I am putting up applesauce today and the 3 little ones are cracking me up. One kid will be "God" (I am guessing) and the other two will be "Jonah." "God" will sit in the kitchen and say (in a very deep god-ish voice) "Jonah, where you going......." The other two will run into the living room (two rooms over) and say "I can't hear you......" How funny is that? Poor old Jonah, always running away and pretending he doesn't hear.

Also, Gideon is such a corker today. Sometimes he gets this way and it is truly a hoot. I just think Gee is shy a lot, but more and more at home he turns in to a typical youngest child. You know, anything to get a laugh. A little bit ago he kept doing a little jig. He would put his arms up and shake his body and say "Oh yeah, oh yeah, I did it, I did it...." I had to get the video camera out for that one. He even did it for the camera!

I got some more Asher pictures today. Again, they were amazing! He was smiling in two of them and he looks so great!

Julie

Saturday, November 21, 2009

He just melts me........

We got some new pictures of Asher Thursday. They are taken of him at his new place at the Addis foster home. I got two separate e-mails of pictures and the last picture I saw he was smiling. Not just a little smile either.... It was a HUGE gummy smile. It was incredibly beautiful. I have been worried about him and missing him of course, well, that picture was gold. Overall he looked well. It was so nice to get pictures of him playing with toys, with clothes on, just looking like a normal baby. Most of the pictures up to this point have been pretty stark and he has been scared looking. Oh, I ache for him.

My CWA buddy is leaving a week from today to pick up her little boy! I am so very excited for her. She was the gal that was one referral in front of me at our agency. They passed their October 26th court date. They only had a little over a month between passing court and their Embassy date. That is encouraging for us. Maybe it won't be quite 6 to 8 weeks to travel? Time will tell I guess. Still though, I am just so happy for her and her family. They seem like such good people....

Julie

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Asher Update and some fun sewing.

I got an e-mail from our case manager saying that Asher was moved from Awassa (where he has been in an orphanage) to the foster home in Addis (the capital). This is pretty exciting, but they don't normal transfer kids until they have passed court. My case worker is out until tomorrow so she couldn't field my questions. So, I think they are just getting him ready which is super cool. Plus I am pretty sure that the foster home is a much better place for him. Please continue to pray for him. The new report today states that he is on antibiotics for tonsillitis and ointment for a diaper rash.

So, I have been sewing some, which is fun. I really enjoy creating things. This is my new purse/bag and I love it! I bought a t-shirt with this saying on it (that is really special to me) but the shirt became way too short after the first wash (no more on line shirts for me, I have been burnt one too many times). Now I have this awesome bag made out of a recycled sweater.





Julie

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

A very productive day.

I feel like lately someone has lit a little fire under my hiney. I have organized the house pretty well. There's a little painting left I would like to do, but for the most part our house is more organized now than it has been in a while.

For a while I have been wanting to do "Once a Month Cooking." It is where you spend a day making and freezing meals for the entire month. I will make an extra dinner here and there and freeze it, it freeze bread/muffins and rolls pretty often, but that is it. Today I didn't do a full month of cooking, but I did a lot. I made enough chili for two meals, enough meatballs (thank you Mindy-I love your recipe) and marina sauce for at least two meals, two double sized turkey macaroni casseroles (one we ate for dinner), a double batch of yeast rolls and corn dog muffins. Whew, it was a lot. I also cooked a 17 lb turkey yesterday. We ate dinner off it last night and the rest went into the two casseroles and I filled a gallon sized freezer bag to store away. I still have one of our chickens in the fridge thawing also. I am not sure what I will do with that. I will definitely cook it tomorrow, but we won't be home tomorrow evening, so I might just turn that into some freezer chicken and noodles. Anyways, I am proud of our haul today!

Here's all the goods ready to go into the freezer


Here's our poor picked clean turkey. I don't know why I felt the need to include this pic......


Oh and I am finally getting to make diapers for Asher. I am excited to be using cloth again and I am more excited that I will be making it all! I have been collecting fabric for weeks and it is fun to actually be using it. This diaper is a little wonky, but not bad considering it is my first one I have made of this type. I did this one yesterday and I finished another one today. I have tons of sewing on the docket. Christmas, clothes for the kids, you name it!



Later. (please don't forget about Asher in your prayers!)

Julie

Update on Asher.

We just got Asher's monthly medical update and he has malaria. He is being treated for that and a skin infection. Our case manager said that malaria is quite common in Awassa because there are a lot of mosquitos/lakes. I have a call in to our international assistance doctor. I don't think this is anything that is immediately threatening him. He looks pretty healthy in his pics, but I am still worried. Could you all pray for our little guy?

Everything else looked good on the medical. He is starting to get some "real" food and the report states he likes potatoes. He has gained some weight and he is almost smiling in one of the pics. I have yet to see a real smile though. Maybe we will have to wait for that in person..... Anyways, that's all.

Julie

Monday, November 16, 2009

Life in pictures!

We've taken lots of pictures lately, so that is mainly what this post will be.

Leah, Madeline, Anna and Gideon all take gymnastics. Leah and Logan took them for 3 or 4 years when they were younger, but we have been out of it for a while. We started back up this quarter. It was a huge hit. All 4 kids love it! I was super impressed with Leah this past Saturday because she was involved with a skills competition at the gym and she did great! Especially for only being involved for one session!

Here's Anna on the beam.


Gee's big finish (yes it was staged :)).


Maddie on the beam.


So, Madeline turned 4 years old on the 6th and we celebrated in style (and celebrated, and celebrated......). I prefer to do something with just our immediate family on each kids actual birthday. That usually works out, but this year, Leah had a piano "thing" and hour and a half away. So, we celebrated Maddie's birthday the night before. We ate at a local spot for dinner and then went and saw "Astroboy." It was fun. The kids did really well at the movie (although I think it was a smidge scary/old for the 3 little ones) and it was odd to be out doing "big kid stuff" with the whole fam. Usually we have someone too little to take to something like that.

Oh and I need to add that Maddie is finally binki free. Normally we totally break our kids on their 3rd birthday, but for whatever reason, we let Madeline have her binki to sleep with. The day before she turned 4, I just took it away and explained to her how she was too big for it. She fussed for a couple times and got to sleep on our floor one night, but she has done great!

Here are our dinner pics. I have to say here, does Leah not look WAY too old. Holy cow (I am dabbing my eye right now). Oh, by the way, Madeline LOVES this dress. I let her (and Anna) pick out anything they wanted to go out in. Both picked dresses and Madeline picked this dress.

(Birthday take #1)








Movie Pics (they each got their own box of candy).



Friday (her actual birthday), Kayla, Aunt Jami and Noami came over to play and celebrate a little bit. I let the kids decorate the cake. Gee seriously dumped a whole bag of sprinkles on it.

(Birthday take #2)



Saturday evening we celebrate Kayla and Madeline's birthdays in Columbus, after church. Kayla turned 5 in October.

(Birthday take #3)


Getting a birthday song.


Finally, last Thursday we had my crew over the the house to celebrate one more time.

(Birthday take #4)




Ok, enough with the birthdays! Here is the computer/sewing room I just finished. Yes it is orange and I love it. Gee's favorite color is orange and when I started painting he said (in a high pitched squeal) "Mommy, you painting the room my favorite color!" It was so cute!

The trim piece above the door has to be specially made, so it will be a few weeks before we can get that up there.


(FYI, the kids have become camera hogs) This wall was very difficult to work with because of the core surface. There was no way to strip it like I did the other walls. So, I used this technique. I am happy with the results, although I might do things a tad different if I were to do it again.


So, Gideon has been long overdue for his big boy bed. The boy loves "Spidy-man." I was not planning on doing a Spiderman theme for him (yes, I am so mean). The whole room was redone just a couple years ago in a camo theme, which I like. Spidy and camo don't so much go together and I don't really care for character themed stuff. So back in August I was talking to Rick (aka, pawpaw) while on vacation and he asked it Gideon's new bedroom was going to be Spiderman (or something to that extent). I explained to him probably not and why. Well, after we got home from vacation Rick picked up these little Spiderman wall stickers for Gee. That got me thinking, but I was not totally motived at that point to do Spiderman at that point. Well, literally less than a week later I was at a consignment and they had a Pottery Barn "Spiderman" comforter and pillow sham, brand new for $15 bucks. I didn't even know Pottery Barn "did" Spiderman. Well, I snagged the set and the rest is history!

Here is Gee very happy with his new bed.


Here is our new "compromised" room. :)
(Note the armoire off to the side, that is Asher's and it was kind of exciting to get it in place and start filling it with all his stuff)



Julie

Thursday, November 12, 2009

"Johnny Head" and "When I am five......"

I have no cue where this comes from, but somehow Gee has become "Johnny Head." Sounds strange eh? He calls himself Johnny or Johnny head. As I am sitting here, Gee, Anna and Madeline are sitting behind me eating breakfast. It is like a chant. Gee says "Johnny" and in unison Anna and Maddie say back "Johnn-y He-ad." Very strange indeed.

Oh and now that Madeline is 4 she can't stop talking about being 5. Like, "when I am five I will be able to do ______." I don't know why 5 is so old for her. Maybe it is because her buddy (and cousin) Kayla turned 5 last month. Yesterday she came downstairs to tell me that when she is five she will be able to give the babies spank'in, but "only if they are naughty." I asked her who the babies were and she answered "Anna and Gee." I did set her straight, but then we got into how old everyone was, well, I left the conversation recognizing the huge gap of understanding between a 4 year old and a 33 year old.

Nothing new on Asher. I think we are getting due for some pictures (or at least I hope). I am still very bummed our court date was postponed, but I am dealing with it much better. It will be a busy next couple months and while that doesn't make me want him here any less, it does help occupy my thoughts.

Julie

Monday, November 9, 2009

May 20th

Well, we found out today that Asher's "official" birth date will be May 20th. No one really knows when exactly he was born, but that is the date that was put on the court documents, so that is the date we will keep. It is kind of cool to know when we will celebrate his birth. Another May birthday for us. I am sure Anna will not mind sharing!

Julie

Friday, November 6, 2009

A little more....

Sorry to be so brief yesterday. I am still pretty bummed about our court outcome and have no desire to start bawling again. But, I feel I should explain a little better.

Our court date was postponed because a piece of paperwork was missing. This piece of paperwork is from MOWA (Ministry of Woman's Affairs in Ethiopia) and every case has to have one. From what I understand, MOWA is notorious for waiting until the last minute to add that document and if it is not there, you do not pass. Our agency said that MOWA had been off for a couple of days and therefore didn't add that document to any of the cases like they were suppose to. Our agency was expecting all their cases going before court yesterday and today to be postponed because of this.

Really, this is just beyond my ability to grasp. It made our big court date seem so arbitrary. I mean what was the point? The MOWA letter has to be there, MOWA knows that, the court knows that, what a waste of time.

Also, a month until another court date?? I mean seriously. I have seen people get rescheduled for court in like a week, maybe two, but a month?!? Even then, we have no reassurance we will pass. For all I know they didn't even look at the rest of our documents. I really do realize that as ridiculous as this is, it is part of the process. My heart though, aches for our son. I want him home. We have just added at least another month.

God is still faithful though. Our whole family prayed that God's will would be done with court. I trust that His will is perfect, even when it is beyond my understanding.

Yesterday, Ryan called back after the initial news to reming me that this must be God's will for Asher right now (yes, I very much needed reminded of that right then). Well, as soon as I got off the phone Logan came down stairs and said "you know mom, maybe God has a reason for Asher not passing, and we just don't know it yet." Thank you Lord, for surrounding me with a faithful family!

I really want to add to this post, that my baby girl is FOUR today. Even though court has been a downer, it has been nice to be celebrating the life and birth of one of my precious kiddos. Madeline is such a little firecracker and blessing to me. She was the baby that we conceived right after loosing our twins from Russia. The Dr.'s told me that we would miscarry her and took me off all medicine I was taking to sustain the pregnancy. I honestly don't know if I have ever been so down in my life. Then, a week later we had an ultrasound "just to be sure" and there she was. Her heart was beating and she was perfect. I am still amazed. Although is does not surprise me at this point that she was a fighter, even then.

So much has happened and it is hard to believe that this time four years ago, I was laying in a hospital room holding my minutes old baby girl. Madeline, I love you more than you will ever know. I feel extremely blessed to have been given such an amazing gift.

Julie

Thursday, November 5, 2009

We were postponed until December 7th. We are very sad right now.

Julie

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Tonight is the night!!!!....... (and some pictures)

Tonight, while we are sleeping (or at least should be sleeping), Asher may officially become a Cole. I am trying my hardest not to think too much about it, but how can I not? I want to be prepared for the worst, but I really feel we have a better chance than average and I will be pretty disappointed if we do not pass. I know that not passing is not the end of the world and Asher will still become legally ours at some point, but I am not sure how reassuring that will be tomorrow if we fail.

So, just continue to pray for us and at the end I will have faith that God's will was done.

Now, on to some pictures......

I just thought this was cute. We got to church a little early on Saturday and we were killing time.

Here are my two "China princesses" fishing for candy at the Harvest Bash at our church.


Here is "Spidy Gee" just looking adorable.


Happy little princesses waiting in line to go through the inflatable bouncy thingy.


This picture cracks me up. Do you see the blue line Gee is suppose to be behind? Umm...he still didn't hit the target.


All three little monkey's.


We made caramel apples last Friday. My apple is on the right, Ryan's is on the left. :)


The kids' apples.


It was a very messy undertaking.


Unwrapping caramels.




A cute picture from Logan's last regular season soccer game.



Julie

Psalms 10:14, 17-18

"You are the helper of the fatherless.  LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more."