Went to the doctor feeling great, and then....

He got sick the next day. I don't know if it's a cold or allergies, but Bennett has so much drainage in his nose and throat, it's terrible. Our older kids and I also were suffering so I started some allergy medicine for the 4 of us (plus a Muclnex for me), and we're fine now. His nose seems better tonight, but he keeps having to cough, which wakes him up, to clear the stuff from his throat. I'm glad he's coughing and it's not going straight into his lungs, but I feel so sorry for him. His nurse sounded sick at the dr's office, but she barely touched him so I'm hoping it's just bad allergies or a quick virus that will pass this weekend. I increased his 02 a little for now, and he is breathing easily, just coughing occasionally when the yuckiness is in his throat. Poor baby. He went for a WELL child check-up! Good news is that he weighed more and was longer than ever recorded at the dr's office: 13 lbs 3 oz and 25 3/4." He goes to the pulmonologist for the first time in about 6 weeks on Monday. I hope he is much better because he was doing so well with his oxygen #s/requirement before this weekend's funk.


This weather we've had lately with temperatures being a little cooler but rainy at times has also affected my headaches. I get bad migraines and they are most often related to changes in barometric pressure. Last night, the allergies/sinus issues were adding to my migraine of the day, and I posted on F@cebook that I was aching for a diet coke or anything carbonated to try to help my throat feel better but didn't want to drive to the store at 10:00. Pathetic, I know. But then, my sweet friend Rachel came to my rescue. She only lives a couple of minutes from my house so I drove over to her house and picked up not only a decaf diet coke but a Muclnex too! This morning I woke up a new woman! I am so thankful for my friends. Rachel and I could talk for days about our kids, dealing with special needs and all that comes with it, and more. She is one of those people who thinks to do the most thoughtful things for people, always has a creative thoughtful gift, even when there is no occasion, is always a phone call or text away, visited me at the hospital more than once while I was on bed rest and while Bennett was in the NICU, and fulfilled needs for our family in various ways this past year. We met at church, volunteering in the nursery rocking babies, and never knew then what great friends we'd become. I'm so thankful for her and her family!

I went out for lunch with another special friend today--for over 3 hours!--and it was so relaxing and fun and nice to have some girl/mom/me time.





I am spending tomorrow cleaning and organizing at home with my friend Lori who I admire so much so it was nice to get away for a while today. My friend April and her husband and son are in the process of adopting beautiful twins from our Lily's homeland :), and we could have sat and talked for days. Their son H is between my 2 year old and almost 3 year old's ages, and it's always fun to talk about their behavior, discipline, potty training, talking, etc, and laugh about the crazy things they do. Their twins-to-be are 18 mos old and are going to bring our dinner party # up to 11! Just a couple of years ago, we were going out as a party of 5! Seriously, we hardly ever go out to dinner as a family of 6, and I doubt we'll be all going out together much with a combined party of 11, but we can just imagine the craziness that would be! Guess we'll be planning our get-togethers more at home. Too bad we don't live close to each other! I love having friends who "get" me. Like Rachel and I share the common bond of parenting children with special needs, April also shares our heart for kids who are different, seeing beauty in each child, and the call to help change the lives of some of the nearly 150 million orphans in this world. I feel like all 3 of us put a lot of pressure on ourselves as we feel called to nurture our children's hearts and want to do a good job at it so it's nice to reassure each other that everything will be okay, that we understand the way it feels to have kids who are different in some way, etc. It's funny to me that April's husband and mine became friends first because she and I are so much alike! She and her husband helped us so much when we were adopting our children. I'm just so thankful for her friendship. She is the most awesome director of children's ministry at her church too! I pray with hope that they get to travel to bring their little ones home this year.

Sometimes having kids who have special needs can be kind of isolating. Anyone else feel that way? I have another friend I love to get together with who also shares our love for adoption and extra special kids and the lovely mommy guilt I feel like I put on myself often, but I didn't see her this weekend! She and her husband also used to volunteer at our church, and they have two beautiful little 4 year old boys, adopted at different times from two different countries! I saw her last week, and she is another friend who I'd stay up all night talking to if we could. I think she and Rachel were at my house until 1a.m. last Monday night! She doesn't live that far away so we definitely need to get together more often. Lauren, if you read this, we need to make plans again! I am so thankful for your friendship too!

Well, my cutie pie Jim got home from his 2nd job tonight and crashed on the couch so I'm going to go peel him up and send him to bed, get Bennett's medicines drawn up, prepare his tube feeding, and get him ready for bed so I can go to bed too! ;-) Look at him watching football with our "big" kids today. They LOVE their daddy, and I love all of them so much!







Good night,