Lily's Big Week

This is a big week for our Lily.

On Monday, she turned 12 years old. We celebrated with a lunch out with friends on Sunday, lunch out with relatives on Monday, and with gifts and cupcakes Monday evening.

Tuesday morning we headed off for haircuts.

Lily will be having surgery on Friday. They will be doing a revision of her ear-post area so she can eventually wear her prosthetic ear again, and they will be placing a fourth post farther back on her head for a BAHA hearing aid. She is excited about this as it will allow her to hear on both sides of her head. She will need a second surgery in 4 months to finish this procedure.

To place the BAHA post, the doctor will need to shave a small part of her head, slightly above and behind where her ear would be. To make this easier for him (and because he's guy and not a beautician), we talked with Lily about getting her hair shortened before the procedure.

She chose to go much shorter than she would've needed to and to donate her hair. It was a very unselfish thing to do and I'm very proud of her.

Her beautiful thick, black hair will be sent to Locks of Love and used to make a wig for a child who needs one.

Here she is after getting her new style! Doesn't she look great?

Mango Turns Nine!!!

Nine years ago today, my daughter was one day old. I did not know her then. She was born into a place very different than the one she now lives in. There were hardships that brought her out of that place and into another, but I do know that she was always precious, always loved, and always wanted.
I only have to look at her now to know she was a beautiful baby. I imagine that she was a content, calm, and happy infant, and that she smiled early and easily, because that's how she is today. Her amazing ability to love others tells me that someone lovingly cared for her then.
And today I find myself feeling grateful. Grateful for all of the people who loved and cared for her before I even knew her name. She is who she is today because of what each of her families, and each of her caretakers have given her...and who she is today is one very amazing girl. She's funny, kind, responsible, compassionate, unselfish, loving, patient, and just enjoyable. I couldn't love her more than I do and it's a privilege to be her mom!

Christmas Day 2009

We hope you all had a wonderful, safe and blessed Christmas, remembering the real reason that we celebrate.
We awoke to more, wet, heavy snow on Christmas morning, but all was warm inside. We spent the morning at home as a family, opening gifts and giving the kids some time to play with their new treasures.

Seely's siblings gave him several boxes of his beloved Mike N Ikes in addition to some Chuck Norris' Texas Rangers on DVD.

Monkey received Batman's cave and a Batman computer, amoung other things.

The three oldest kids all got Ipod touches from Mom and Dad. It was rather quiet the next hour as they all "hooked up" to their machines and played happily!

Mango got an MP3 player and a bunch of other stuff, but the thing that really made her eyes light up were the pair of glasses that she'd been wanting ever since trying some on at her last eye exam. She really doesn't need glasses, just thinks they are a fun fashion statement, so these glasses have no correction in them.

Later that afternoon we made our way through the slushy snow back to my parent's house for more food, gifts and time with family. It was a wonderful Christmas for us this year. Thank you God for sending your precious Son to a fallen world just to be able to save it.

Christmas Eve 2009

The day of Christmas Eve was spent dealing with and digging out from several inches of snow. Later that afternoon, we headed to my parents for good food, conversation, and gift-opening.

Seely and Random both received cash locked inside of a puzzle box that they had to figure out before they could get their hands on the money.

Mango got her long-awaited Wowee Lion Cub that she has named Baby...when she wasn't wearing the box.

It was a great evening!

Dear Cashier

Dear Grocery Store Cashier,

Please know that you do not have to feel sorry for my five year old son when he tells you that he (gasp!) earned the money for the candy bar he is currently (and quite happily) purchasing from you. You asked him where he got the dollar, and he told you. He earned it himself by folding laundry. No, I do not make him do this chore; he does it by choice. Yes, he folds the whole load, and yes, I have to refold much of what he's folded, but he didn't realize that until you said it in front of him. Thank you for pointing that out to a little boy who has taken much pride in his work.

While you were busy giving me the evil eye for "making" this young child earn his candy money, you completely missed the look of absolute pride on his little face as he bought this favorite treat with his very own money. Instead of commending him for his work, you gave him the impression that there was something wrong with working for his money. And he stood there, still smiling at you; still just happy to be buying his candy bar.

What you don't realize is that at five years old, he already knows that you have to work for what you want, and that you can't spend what you don't have. He also knows that it feels really good to help out the family. I think those are some pretty important lessons. And as he will someday be the one paying your social security, I bet you think they're important lessons for him to learn too.

And just so you know...he enjoyed every bite of that candy bar. I bet it tasted extra sweet to him knowing he'd earned it himself. And when he was done, he asked me if he could fold another basket of laundry....already planning ahead for our next trip to the grocery store. I hope you can find it in your heart to greet him with a smile and a word or two of praise the next time he ends up in your check-out line.

Monkey's Mommy