Family Update - Shwew!

I love city doctors. They aren't going to say MeeNa has epilepsy at this point. We will see what happens over the next two months.

The boys loved camp for Cub Scouts. It was H-O-T!!!! but fun anyway. I'm definitely more of an October camper. Ugh.

School is back in session for me in 4 weeks. I love the honeymoon stage of teaching.

We're home!

Well, I want to update everyone on MeeNa's situation. She had at least 2-3 seizurs on Friday. The final diagnosis is Complex Partial Epilepsy. You can check it out at epilepsy.com. She will take an anti-seizure medicine twice a day for the next two years. If she doesn't have any more seizures, they will begin to ween her off of the medicine and go from there.

I don't anticipate her having any more. I'm being optimistic. I guess that all of these years of people saying I'm a worry wart or a mother hen will now pay off. There must be a reason why God has made me that way, and I think I know why. If another person ever tells me I worry too much, I'm gonna have to say that it's a good thing that I do. I have plenty good reason to worry and be vigilant over my kids. I really don't want to hear those words again in my life.

I do believe that God gave me MeeNa for many reasons. I'm so glad to have her and happy that I can do for her that her may not have been able to. I really wish I could sit with her mom and find out if these things run in the family or not. It would be so helpful. And... if they knew about this, let them know we can help her and ask if that was the reason why they gave her up. Hmpf. I don't think I'll ever find out.

I hope I'm not offfending anyone.

Well, we are home, and she is napping.

Mike took the boys to our camping trip that we've been planning pretty much since January. I just couldn't let them miss it. We'll have to go together as a family again before school is back in session. They just LOVED the fireworks that are sent off about 100 yards away from the house. I can't wait until they are home and my family is all together.

Update on MeeNa's hearing

Okay - the evaluation for MeeNa's hearing has been done. I feel better in one respect, horrified in another. She can not hear these things at all: water dripping, rattling, birds chirping, monkey type sounds (lower oo sounds, an alarm clock (how do they do this when she is without hearing aids?) people conversing, and these letters - z, v, j, m, d, b, i, sh, ch, g, h, p, k, f, s, th.

She can't hear these additional things with her left ear: a dog barking, a vacuum cleaner, and a baby crying (which hurts my feelings for when she becomes a mother and doesn't have her aids in at night,) and the following sounds - n, ng, e, l, u, i, o, a, r.

With hearing aids she will do so much better - I just can't wait to get them!!!!!

The boys, MeeNa, and I will all be learning sign language twice a week with a specialist in our home. Then, in the fall, it will go down to once per week. She will also be going to a sign language daycare in the fall.


Please keep in mind....
1) she can hear sounds but has no way of knowing where they are coming from unless she sees your face
2) she will not understand any background noise - this noise will make her life with or without hearing aids a nuisance until she learns to tune out background noise and focus on what is in front of her
3) she will tell us what form of communication she prefers (signing, reading lips, or relying on aids) signing will probably be the most effective now because she doesn't talk, and she is showing signs of liking it to communicate
4) she will most likely need an interpreter for school because noise, like another child asking a question in another area of the room, will not be understandable (with aids even,) forget about when the teacher uses an overhead in the dark or when her back is faced to the kids
5) she is VERY smart for her age and has great fine motor skills - yay!!!!
6) patience is needed by everyone, and sad to say, we will all eventually know some signing in order to communicate with her without her hearing aids, especially if she chooses to use signing as her main way of communicating. Also, you will need to speak loudly to her while touching her to get her attention and within arms length. Even then, the above applies.
7) lucky #7 - there are too many pros about this evaluation to mention. The main one I can state is that my relationship with her will only get better once we can clearly communicate with her. Her frustration level (and mine) will go way down. Just think about my situation this way...

She comes to me with a problem of some sort or a want (even boo boos.) She babbles or cries needing me. I have NO IDEA what she wants and feverishly try to solve her problem or help her. I'm not getting it, she's getting frustrated and decides to just do without or she runs away.

I'm her mom, someone who is supposed to provide for her, help her, understand her. She runs to me and yet feels like I'm not really there for her. I don't get her a drink when she is thirsty, I don't kiss her boo boo and make her feel better. No wonder why this attachment thing is tough.

You may see things differently when I am with her. Even though things seem ok, keep in mind that she hears things but doesn't understand them. Early Intervention did tell me that she is way above in understanding me according to her hearing loss. She is more "in tuned" to my voice than anyone else. Because she is smart, she is picking up on more than expected by watching our faces. It's a good thing that we are a loud and dramatic family. : )

Anyway, that's about it. My first signing lesson is Tuesday - wish me luck! If anyone has a question, please ask. Also family.... everyone will need a signing of their name. She'll know mom, dad, grandma, etc. She will need to know your name in sign. It's whatever you want it to be. The boys are making the letter of their first name and using that. Patrick is making the letter P by his face because he wears glasses. Anthony is making the A and is rubbing it from one side of his chest to the other like an upside down U. We are thinking MeeNa will the the letter K for Korea and touch it to her heart because she is from Korea and is in all of our hearts. Whatcha think?

Recent cakes I made

This is our solar system ala cake - just the big 2. The little ones are frosting.

Okay, B-Day pics

Wow - it's been a whole year

Patrick loves his broccoli, as long as he doesn't have to eat the stem!

The past year has flown by so quickly. My kids are another year older! I was just thinking the other day that Patrick will be getting "The Talk" in about 2 years. I can't wait to see how Mike handles that. Here are some updated photos of the kids. They are from the kids' party. I celebrated all three this year at one time - I will continue to combine their birthday parties with the family. Kids' parties, obviously, will be separate. Enjoy

It's summer again

Boy, do I have to update this site soon

Summer is almost over!

Well, it's back to school next Tuesday. It's a bittersweet time. I love being home with the kids, and I feel guilty for putting MeeNa in daycare. I was home with the boys longer. On the other hand, I am just that kind of person who likes to get up and go to work. I can hear some of you saying, "You're strange!" hee hee So, here are some of our end-of-summer pics.

Auntie Red came to town for a visit. Boy, was she a busy woman that week. We had lots of fun with her!!! The Shedd Aquarium, CoCo Keys, Sonic (the new fast food in town with totally awesome milk shakes,) and MeeNa's first birthday pictures were just a few things we did with her. Thanks so much for coming to see us, spend time with us, and everything else. We'll see you in two years in Florida!

One last thing, Anthony lost his first tooth! He just yanked it out!

More pics

Summer 2009

We have all had one busy summer this year! The boys' birthday, MeeNa turned 1 and was baptized, we vacationed at Omi and Opa's house in the tent, Cub Scout camp and activities, a HUGE garage sale. Jeesh - it's almost more relaxing to be at work? Hee hee. Here are some pictures of our summer memories.

Family update

Here are updated pictures. MeeNa picked up the strawberries first and then a hair brush for her birthday ceremony. I love the way she looks in her Korean birthday attire.

I don't know how anyone can find the time to update their blogs. I'm having a hard time! I will try to post more later next week. The boys are in Chemistry camp this week. Last week it was Cub Scout camp! We are vacationing next week Wed. thru Sun. Here we go again. I hope it's much more relaxing. : )

Stay tuned

A recent update

Christening
I love my birthday cake!
Godparents

Mom made angels who are decorating my cake.
I'm napping at gramma's
Patrick's 7th birthday at Red Robin. Yummy - I love lemons.

Silly MeeNa

Meena is so funny. Here are some pictures reflecting her eating habits. She is going to be nicknamed "Messy MeeNa." She is so funny to me. She fits right into our family. She's a bit stubborn, head strong, and loves to have fun.

She is making "fish face" in one of these pictures. She mocks me, especially when I eat. Wait a minute, did I just insult myself? I can guarantee you that I don't eat like this. hee hee

The quilt you see was a gift from my friend Edith. I just have to brag about how beautiful and colorful it is. It has a bunch of textures on it that MeeNa likes to touch and check out. She loves it! Thanks Edith.... you did such a great job!

My little MeeNa B. She wasn't digging the camera when I put that little headband on. I just can't seem to control her hair. She has about as much as I do. hee hee.

And look at her with her godmother, Shannon. She is just sleeping like an angel in her arms. MeeNa will be wearing Shannon's christening outfit for her own christening. Isn't that sweet? It's funny. Shannon must have been a little porker or something. What she wore when she was about 3 months old is going to fit my little peanut at almost 11 months old. Ha! Just kidding Shannon. : )

I had a funny thought the other day.... Justin (the godfather... no, not THE godfather. hee hee) was adopted by his stepdad several years back. It's funny to think that they have a special bond with each other. I'm praying that Justin can be a support for MeeNa if she ever needs to talk to another adopted person in her future. Of course, we would support her. But, Justin is closer to the experience than anyone else is. Hmmmm. It's a weird coincidence that Justin is the godfather. It never popped in my mind until recently.

Justin is going into the army June 2nd. Pray for his safety! It always scares me when someone I love joins the military. Especially now.

I am not as prompt as I should be.... I will be sending out thank you notes to everyone who gave MeeNa a little something. I haven't gotten to them yet, but will shortly. I just want to thank everyone now for the gifts she received. Thank you so much for every little outfit, hand me down, toy, gentle gesture, and support you have given her and her family. : )

Spring Day!

MeeNa was digging our spring day. Isn't she cute? She loves the camera, and I think she's quite photogenic. Of course, I'm not bias. NOT! She's such a pretty little girl to me. I just love how she looks into the camera when you take her picture. So far she is doing extremely well. She's a bit crabby at times, but so am I. HA!

My favorite pictures

This is my 'gotcha' day. It's the first time I held MeeNa. I like the second one too. That's my second favorite. The boys are so silly. The were chowing down on their pretzels. They were so patient at the airport.

More pics

I'm trying to figure out how to setup a slideshow. Until then, here is another pic.

They're home

Here is just one picture of the family, well, almost the family. These are The Three Muskateers who battled the long flight from South Korea. I will post more soon.

I spoke to Mike this morning!

Here is the run down:

They got there just fine, but their butts hurt from sitting so long on the plane. hee hee The cab ride was an hour from Incheon airport to the hotel and cost $100. For all of those future travelers... take the bus shuttle to the hotel if ESWS can't be there to pick you up. I'm sure it's cheaper. I'm not sure if Mike was aware of the buses, there is a list of hotels at the exit for the shuttles.

He got to see MeeNa! She is a real cutie, he said. She is 17kg = 37.4 lbs.? I'm not sure about this. It is either 7kg or 7.7kg. That would make more sense because she will be between 15-17lbs. He said she was a chunky monkey. She would play with him and go to the foster mom for reassurance. He is having a hard time getting the laptop connected to the internet to send pictures, sorry.

He gets to see her tomorrow (well, when we are sleeping) for awhile. They will have lunch at the agency. Friday morning they will go back to the agency to pick up MeeNa and be driven to the airport. Phew! I can't wait until he is home. I told him this morning that he should get the video camera running before he sees me. I want my, the boys, and Omi's reactions on tape. Especially the boys.

Well, toodles....