Ok, I am sooo proud of Seth.
When we first brought Seth home at 18 months old, he was already telling us when he pooped. He would say the Ethiopian word for poop, and while many kids would be happy to run around in it all day, he almost always came and told me when he was done.
Anyway, since we had no water and the stress on me was so overwhelming until last week when we sold our house, I put off potty training. And the fact that he just turned 2 in December, I wasn't in too big a hurry.
Yesterday I decided to bite the bullet and go buy a potty for him.
Bad thing about Seth, he hardly drinks, so he doesn't pee real often. Which makes it harder to catch.
This morning I sat him on the potty right in front of the TV while he watched Mickey Mouse. I repeated often for him to go potty and gave him a glass of milk, then a glass of tea.
After about 1.5 hours of sitting on the potty (not being forced, just entertained on the potty) I got tired of waiting.
So, I told him to get up and sat Ethan on it naked. Which Ethan did NOT like. Then I got a glass of warm water and put Ethan's hand in, which he did NOT like, at first, then he wanted to play in it. Still no peeing from Ethan. Then I got warm water and poured it over Ethan's privates. Which he did NOT like, at first, then he thought it was funny. Still no pee, so Ethan got to get up.
In the meantime, Seth was watching and a little jealous that Ethan was on his potty, which worked out well for me. I sat Seth back down and tried the hand in warm water with him.
Nothing.
Then I got the warm water and poured it over his privates and during the 2nd cup, he Finally peed!
We all clapped and made a big fuss,gave him a gummy bear, and it was then that it dawned on him what he was supposed to do on the potty.
I put a diaper on him and sent him to play.
About an hour and 1/2 later, I sat him on it again. This time I went for the warm water after about 10 min, but I didn't need it, he peed while I was at the sink.
Each time I put his diaper on him, I would say
"If you need to poop, don't poop in your diaper, come tell me and you can poop in the potty, ok?" And he would say "ok"
After the nap, the same thing. And he pooped a tiny bit in the potty. I couldn't believe it!
But the most impressive thing was that after telling him not to poop in his diaper over and over, this happened...
I was right inside the door with Ethan, while Aaron, Seth and the girls were outside with our telescope.
Seth comes to the door and says "poop", so I open the door to let him in.
He is crying because he HATES to come inside, especially when others are outside.
But I have him sit on the potty anyway. For about 10 min. And when Aaron comes in, he checks, and that awesome kid had pooped in his potty.
So here are the stats:
Day 1 potty training
Peeing 5 times in potty
Pooping 2 times in potty
1 diaper wet during waking hours
INCREDIBLE
I can only hope it continues.
Next stop China
Next Stop China!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
We did it! Our house is no longer ours!
Well, we officially sold our house at 3:30 pm today. Whew!
I already feel lighter, although I don't think it has sunk in yet. I feel good because I am making myself choose to look forward.
We got there on time and had to sit in the lobby with our realtor and the buyers for about 15 min. ..Chatting...Awkward.
Finally, they took us back with our realtor. And we saw the check we were getting... What is ours to keep... Everything has been paid for...
And it was $3000 more than we guessed we would get! That made the day even sweeter.
Signed papers, then had to sit in the lobby and wait for the buyers to sign their papers and there you have it.
3-4 weeks ago, we were at the bottom of our savings.
I was getting complaints about how I was working too much by the family.
So I did a budget and showed Aaron. With our savings gone, living in this new rental and paying for our old house, plus all of our adoption bills was very hard.
I figured up that I would have to work 76 hours a month just to come out even. That is a lot of hours for someone who is homeschooling, toting to basketball, and trying to fit work in on every Saturday (missing bball games) and working days Mom was off and getting school in.
I admit, I was at the end of my rope. I was SOOO overwhelmed knowing how many hours I had to fit in until our taxes came back. Hopefully in March, but you never know.
After the budget talk, no one was allowed to complain about me working too much.
Then about 3 weeks ago, Aaron, in desparation, blurts out "I just wish someone would offer us $$$$$$$$$$ cash for the house"
Then about 2 weeks ago, someone offered us the exact amount Aaron blurted out, in CASH!!
And we took it.
And the irony in all of this....
The main reason for selling the house was the lack of water and our broken well.
We go through a year of trickling water. Then 4 months of no water whatsoever, then 2 months of extra bills in a rental, and who calls me on Monday????
The contractor that is planning to start digging the city water line. Asking if he could park his equipment on our property at night..
To top that off, after closing today, we drove up to the house to check the mail and what do we see parked at a neighbors? A backhoe and plumbing pipes. Ready to bring city water to our dream house!
And I'm truly laughing about this because even though it could be terribly irritating and maddening that the day we sell our dream home because we have no water, they start to dig for city water, I know that God wanted us out of that house. And that is good enough for me.
Why? I am not sure yet. But I would rather be in His will than in that house out of His will.
And in my prayers and insomnia last night, I also realized another thing about the last year. All this time I have been praying that God fix our well or give us money to fix it or even better, bring city water. Now I firmly believe that God silted our well in. And that is ok too.
And the timing of the digging of city water. Out of the almost 4 years we lived there waiting for city water, it comes the day we sell. That is no coincidence. Because Aaron and I toyed with the thought of taking the house off the market once they started digging for water.
Back this summer we first put the house on the market because I realized that it was very likely coming between us and what God wanted for us.
Aaron casually said one day "If we had city water, I don't care how many kids we adopt"
That statement coming from Aaron was a miracle in itself.
And it hit me. I was clinging to something that very likely would keep a child from having a home. And that is what made me agree to sell.
So we will see what God has in store for us.
I already feel lighter, although I don't think it has sunk in yet. I feel good because I am making myself choose to look forward.
We got there on time and had to sit in the lobby with our realtor and the buyers for about 15 min. ..Chatting...Awkward.
Finally, they took us back with our realtor. And we saw the check we were getting... What is ours to keep... Everything has been paid for...
And it was $3000 more than we guessed we would get! That made the day even sweeter.
Signed papers, then had to sit in the lobby and wait for the buyers to sign their papers and there you have it.
3-4 weeks ago, we were at the bottom of our savings.
I was getting complaints about how I was working too much by the family.
So I did a budget and showed Aaron. With our savings gone, living in this new rental and paying for our old house, plus all of our adoption bills was very hard.
I figured up that I would have to work 76 hours a month just to come out even. That is a lot of hours for someone who is homeschooling, toting to basketball, and trying to fit work in on every Saturday (missing bball games) and working days Mom was off and getting school in.
I admit, I was at the end of my rope. I was SOOO overwhelmed knowing how many hours I had to fit in until our taxes came back. Hopefully in March, but you never know.
After the budget talk, no one was allowed to complain about me working too much.
Then about 3 weeks ago, Aaron, in desparation, blurts out "I just wish someone would offer us $$$$$$$$$$ cash for the house"
Then about 2 weeks ago, someone offered us the exact amount Aaron blurted out, in CASH!!
And we took it.
And the irony in all of this....
The main reason for selling the house was the lack of water and our broken well.
We go through a year of trickling water. Then 4 months of no water whatsoever, then 2 months of extra bills in a rental, and who calls me on Monday????
The contractor that is planning to start digging the city water line. Asking if he could park his equipment on our property at night..
To top that off, after closing today, we drove up to the house to check the mail and what do we see parked at a neighbors? A backhoe and plumbing pipes. Ready to bring city water to our dream house!
And I'm truly laughing about this because even though it could be terribly irritating and maddening that the day we sell our dream home because we have no water, they start to dig for city water, I know that God wanted us out of that house. And that is good enough for me.
Why? I am not sure yet. But I would rather be in His will than in that house out of His will.
And in my prayers and insomnia last night, I also realized another thing about the last year. All this time I have been praying that God fix our well or give us money to fix it or even better, bring city water. Now I firmly believe that God silted our well in. And that is ok too.
And the timing of the digging of city water. Out of the almost 4 years we lived there waiting for city water, it comes the day we sell. That is no coincidence. Because Aaron and I toyed with the thought of taking the house off the market once they started digging for water.
Back this summer we first put the house on the market because I realized that it was very likely coming between us and what God wanted for us.
Aaron casually said one day "If we had city water, I don't care how many kids we adopt"
That statement coming from Aaron was a miracle in itself.
And it hit me. I was clinging to something that very likely would keep a child from having a home. And that is what made me agree to sell.
So we will see what God has in store for us.
Don't look back
So much stress lately!!!!
However, this afternoon, much of that stress will be lifted.
At 3:30pm, we sell our beloved house and land. Lord willing.
More details about that after closing on how God worked this out.
This is definately bitter/sweet
I couldn't go to sleep last night until almost 1am. Thinking, praying, stressing, looking back, etc.
I keep having to remind myself to take a deep breath.
Finally, after wrestling with prayer between hope and tears, God reminded me of Lot's wife. He had something better for her. But she looked back and it killed her. I am not saying that God was threatening me at all.
I just think God was telling me to look forward, quit dwelling on what we will miss, get excited about what He has in store for us.
So, at least until after closing, I am looking forward.
Because if I dwell on the past and the memories there and our hopes for that place while we close, I fear I will either break down crying, have a nervous breakdown, or spend half the time in the bathroom. Stress does that to me. Somehow my nerves are directly linked to my stomach and intestines!
But it was so funny after deciding not to look back and dwell on the past, I had the weirdest dreams about the past. And I actually took a road trip in my dreams. I drove the kids in the van to SC where we used to live and see all of our old friends. Stopped by our old church. Then once I was there, our van turned into our farm tractor with a trailer and I wondered how in the world I was going to drive all the way back to AL with 5 kids using a tractor and how incredibly long that trip was going to take.
I woke up this morning when Aaron did and when I went back to sleep, I had another dream about the past. I ran into a good friend from my teenage years who I used to have a major crush on. I haven't seen him in probably 15 years, so I went and said hi to be nice. He said "wow, you are chunky" I said, no, I am fat and you are a jerk that the first thing you say to an old friend is how fat they are. HA!
And God just used that to remind me. Sometimes there are things that you want really, really bad. But God doesn't let you have them. And when you look back and realize the AWESOME thing God gave you , when if you had your way you would have settled for mediocre or worse, you become much more willing to wait and see what God has in store.
So that is where I am at this moment in time. We'll see where I am 20 min. from now.
However, this afternoon, much of that stress will be lifted.
At 3:30pm, we sell our beloved house and land. Lord willing.
More details about that after closing on how God worked this out.
This is definately bitter/sweet
I couldn't go to sleep last night until almost 1am. Thinking, praying, stressing, looking back, etc.
I keep having to remind myself to take a deep breath.
Finally, after wrestling with prayer between hope and tears, God reminded me of Lot's wife. He had something better for her. But she looked back and it killed her. I am not saying that God was threatening me at all.
I just think God was telling me to look forward, quit dwelling on what we will miss, get excited about what He has in store for us.
So, at least until after closing, I am looking forward.
Because if I dwell on the past and the memories there and our hopes for that place while we close, I fear I will either break down crying, have a nervous breakdown, or spend half the time in the bathroom. Stress does that to me. Somehow my nerves are directly linked to my stomach and intestines!
But it was so funny after deciding not to look back and dwell on the past, I had the weirdest dreams about the past. And I actually took a road trip in my dreams. I drove the kids in the van to SC where we used to live and see all of our old friends. Stopped by our old church. Then once I was there, our van turned into our farm tractor with a trailer and I wondered how in the world I was going to drive all the way back to AL with 5 kids using a tractor and how incredibly long that trip was going to take.
I woke up this morning when Aaron did and when I went back to sleep, I had another dream about the past. I ran into a good friend from my teenage years who I used to have a major crush on. I haven't seen him in probably 15 years, so I went and said hi to be nice. He said "wow, you are chunky" I said, no, I am fat and you are a jerk that the first thing you say to an old friend is how fat they are. HA!
And God just used that to remind me. Sometimes there are things that you want really, really bad. But God doesn't let you have them. And when you look back and realize the AWESOME thing God gave you , when if you had your way you would have settled for mediocre or worse, you become much more willing to wait and see what God has in store.
So that is where I am at this moment in time. We'll see where I am 20 min. from now.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Electricity
We moved into our friend's empty house at the beginning of the month. Things have been going pretty well. We have dealt with one toilet for 5 of us. (not counting 2 in diapers).
Ugh! Last night around 6:30, Aaron had just gotten home with Madelyn from B-ball practice.
And the lights went out. It was pouring rain, but not storming. Seth freaked out because he happened to be in a room alone when it happened.
Aaron quickly figured out that it was a problem with the fuse box. The breaker box was running, but the fuse box wasn't.
So I called Mom to see if we could bring the kids over, since they were running around in the dark, getting in the way, and Aaron and I were irritated.
We took the kids to Mom's, Aaron grabbed the large fuses he thought might be the problem and we drove 25 min to Lowes to find new fuses. They had every one but the size we needed. So we drove to Home Depot. Same thing, every fuse known to man, but there was one little space empty - the one we needed. So we drove back to town, got sleeping bags and blankets, emptyed our fridge and freezer into baskets ( I had just stocked it at walmart that morning), and carried it all to our empty "No water" house. Because at least our "no water" house had lights, unlike our "no electricity" house that had water.
What a nightmare our housing situation is!!!!!
I want to cry, but what is the point?
Aaron and I drove separate cars to the "no water " house last night, so he could drive straight to work. Mom had to work this morning, so after packing some food that didn't have to be cooked from our '"no water" house to take to the "no electricity" house so we could eat.
Add to this, that our van is making bad noises and I am afraid to drive it. But it is the only vehicle that we all fit in. Our mechanic is closed until Jan. 2.
So this morning, I picked up the boys and Madelyn and Mom brought Natalie and Hannah over on her way to work.
I called an electrician we used to go to church with. He came over about an hour later and was able to diagnose the problem quickly and fix it with the flip of a switch. He didn't even charge us, so that was a blessing.
Apparently, we flipped a breaker with our fuse box. So confusing.
So, now 95% of my food is at the "no water" house in the fridge, but I can't go get it because I can't fit all the kids in the working car I have.
Aaron normally stops by our "no water" house to feed the pets on the way home. When he does that he normally gets home between 5-5:30. But tonight, Natalie and Hannah have practice at 5. But I can't take them - again - van broke, until Aaron gets home. So I will probably just tell him to come straight home. Then one of us can take the girls to practice, while the other one drives out to the "no water" house with the other 3 and pick our food back up and bring it back here.
By the way HAPPY 14th ANNIVERSARY to us today.
Aaron left me the sweetest note this morning. On a paper plate, because we were at our "no water" house without supplies. I will say this... I would rather have all these housing problems with my Aaron than to be without him or with someone else. Any day!
Ugh! Last night around 6:30, Aaron had just gotten home with Madelyn from B-ball practice.
And the lights went out. It was pouring rain, but not storming. Seth freaked out because he happened to be in a room alone when it happened.
Aaron quickly figured out that it was a problem with the fuse box. The breaker box was running, but the fuse box wasn't.
So I called Mom to see if we could bring the kids over, since they were running around in the dark, getting in the way, and Aaron and I were irritated.
We took the kids to Mom's, Aaron grabbed the large fuses he thought might be the problem and we drove 25 min to Lowes to find new fuses. They had every one but the size we needed. So we drove to Home Depot. Same thing, every fuse known to man, but there was one little space empty - the one we needed. So we drove back to town, got sleeping bags and blankets, emptyed our fridge and freezer into baskets ( I had just stocked it at walmart that morning), and carried it all to our empty "No water" house. Because at least our "no water" house had lights, unlike our "no electricity" house that had water.
What a nightmare our housing situation is!!!!!
I want to cry, but what is the point?
Aaron and I drove separate cars to the "no water " house last night, so he could drive straight to work. Mom had to work this morning, so after packing some food that didn't have to be cooked from our '"no water" house to take to the "no electricity" house so we could eat.
Add to this, that our van is making bad noises and I am afraid to drive it. But it is the only vehicle that we all fit in. Our mechanic is closed until Jan. 2.
So this morning, I picked up the boys and Madelyn and Mom brought Natalie and Hannah over on her way to work.
I called an electrician we used to go to church with. He came over about an hour later and was able to diagnose the problem quickly and fix it with the flip of a switch. He didn't even charge us, so that was a blessing.
Apparently, we flipped a breaker with our fuse box. So confusing.
So, now 95% of my food is at the "no water" house in the fridge, but I can't go get it because I can't fit all the kids in the working car I have.
Aaron normally stops by our "no water" house to feed the pets on the way home. When he does that he normally gets home between 5-5:30. But tonight, Natalie and Hannah have practice at 5. But I can't take them - again - van broke, until Aaron gets home. So I will probably just tell him to come straight home. Then one of us can take the girls to practice, while the other one drives out to the "no water" house with the other 3 and pick our food back up and bring it back here.
By the way HAPPY 14th ANNIVERSARY to us today.
Aaron left me the sweetest note this morning. On a paper plate, because we were at our "no water" house without supplies. I will say this... I would rather have all these housing problems with my Aaron than to be without him or with someone else. Any day!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Oh the pain!!!
For the past few weeks the left side of my mouth had been aching. I was past due for a dental cleaning and figured I had another cavity so I got an appt. last Wed. I did have a small cavity on the left side, but the real problem is that one of the teeth I had crowned last year now needs a root canal. After much tapping to figure out which tooth was the problem I went home.
Starting that night I got stopped up and felt like I was starting a full blown sinus infection.
Then my side my mouth gradually hurt more and more, until Sunday afternoon, I had to pull out some leftover pain medicine from the last root canal.
Monday afternoon, I was scheduled to fix the small cavity ( I have to go to an Endodontist for the root canal).
Mom was planning on taking the kids to B ball practice and I was planning on driving to the dentist 40 min. away. Well, by noon, i was in so much pain I called Aaron to beg him to come home so he could take the kids to Bball practice, Mom could drive me to the dentist, and I could take a few more pain pills. ( I refuse to take them and drive)
So that is how it went down. I rode to the dentist with an ice pack on my face, still in severe pain. He was so nice to numb not only the cavity he was fixing, but gave me an extra shot up top so I could have some relief from the root canal tooth. He thinks the sinus infection was putting pressure on the tooth and causing the pain, so he wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic and more pain pills.
Yesterday was so bad, Aaron called into work and I pretty much sat around doped up on pain medication, still in pain, with an ice pack to my face. Awful!
Finally, this afternoon, all I have is a throbbing instead of a stabbing, pain. And I can finally lie down...
I have had to sleep sitting straight up on the couch the past two nights. Tonight I am going back to my bed. I am so happy to be almost pain free!!!!
And we should be getting a new camera soon. We never found the old one. Probably will find it if we move some day. So, when we get our new camera, I will post some pictures!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Contentment
What can be learned from us not having water?
I don't know if I have the answer, but I keep having this feeling that God put us here, without water, for a reason. I at least know that God is aware of it.
My attitude has been so crazy. For a while when our water dwindled, I was ok because I love it here. Then when we decided to sell, I had to make myself hate this place in order to sell it. Which brought with it a stinky attitude.
Well, now that we have hade the house on the market for months and no offers, perhaps God expects me to be content.
Phil 4
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
(with city water and without)
So, when it drives extended family nuts that we don't have water, I can be content. Sometimes it seems like it bothers them more than it bothers me. And really, it is so far from being the worst thing in the world.
Right now, I am content. I can't predict the future and what will go down with our house.
Will we get water in 6 months like we were told a few weeks ago by a county commissioner?
Will something else hold up the project?
Will we sell the house and move into our friends house?
Will we sell the house and immediately find one that we can buy that can better suit our needs?
Will we Not sell the house and get city water and be able to build on here and stay?
Will we get city water and then sell our house for more?
I HATE being in limbo. Bad thing is, I can do nothing to answer any of these questions. They are all out of my control. So I am learning to be content. Right now, where we are.
And also building up some pretty strong arm muscles from carrying jugs/pots of water in and our of the house.
I don't know if I have the answer, but I keep having this feeling that God put us here, without water, for a reason. I at least know that God is aware of it.
My attitude has been so crazy. For a while when our water dwindled, I was ok because I love it here. Then when we decided to sell, I had to make myself hate this place in order to sell it. Which brought with it a stinky attitude.
Well, now that we have hade the house on the market for months and no offers, perhaps God expects me to be content.
Phil 4
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
(with city water and without)
So, when it drives extended family nuts that we don't have water, I can be content. Sometimes it seems like it bothers them more than it bothers me. And really, it is so far from being the worst thing in the world.
Right now, I am content. I can't predict the future and what will go down with our house.
Will we get water in 6 months like we were told a few weeks ago by a county commissioner?
Will something else hold up the project?
Will we sell the house and move into our friends house?
Will we sell the house and immediately find one that we can buy that can better suit our needs?
Will we Not sell the house and get city water and be able to build on here and stay?
Will we get city water and then sell our house for more?
I HATE being in limbo. Bad thing is, I can do nothing to answer any of these questions. They are all out of my control. So I am learning to be content. Right now, where we are.
And also building up some pretty strong arm muscles from carrying jugs/pots of water in and our of the house.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Still haven't found our camera. Seems like each day there is something I want to take a picture of and can't. I really want to find ours rather than go out and buy another.
Not much going on. The boys both go over their fevers.
No one else caught them.
I was supposed to take a math test at work yesterday. On my calendar I had it down as Nov. 1st 10am. I had left Natalie and Ethan at Mom's to spend the night trick or treating Monday night and took Madelyn, Hannah, and Seth home with me Monday night.
My plans were to go to Mom's about 9am, take a shower and leave the kids there while I ran over and took the test real quick.
At 8:30, I had not taken a shower and Madelyn and Seth were still asleep. I thought I should call work to make sure they were still doing it. I hadn't worked in about a month and sometimes things get cancelled and I wouldn't know.
So I call the pharmacist and ask if they are still doing the test. He says "Yes, at 9am" WHAT!!
Here I was 15 min. away, 8:30am, no shower, and two kids still asleep.
I ran and woke the kids up. Completely changed Seth's clothes because he had peed through everything, and took off for Mom's. Thankfully, I had washed my hair late in the afternoon on Monday, so it wasn't Horribly greasy yet, just a little.
And I made it to work by 9:02. Pretty good. Got there before they started the test.
They called again at 5am wanting me to work today.
I am working 12 hours tomorrow and Saturday. I have to get my mindset on "work mode" it is all mental. Since we are ahead in school days, I can take off some days and get some work in.
Not much going on. The boys both go over their fevers.
No one else caught them.
I was supposed to take a math test at work yesterday. On my calendar I had it down as Nov. 1st 10am. I had left Natalie and Ethan at Mom's to spend the night trick or treating Monday night and took Madelyn, Hannah, and Seth home with me Monday night.
My plans were to go to Mom's about 9am, take a shower and leave the kids there while I ran over and took the test real quick.
At 8:30, I had not taken a shower and Madelyn and Seth were still asleep. I thought I should call work to make sure they were still doing it. I hadn't worked in about a month and sometimes things get cancelled and I wouldn't know.
So I call the pharmacist and ask if they are still doing the test. He says "Yes, at 9am" WHAT!!
Here I was 15 min. away, 8:30am, no shower, and two kids still asleep.
I ran and woke the kids up. Completely changed Seth's clothes because he had peed through everything, and took off for Mom's. Thankfully, I had washed my hair late in the afternoon on Monday, so it wasn't Horribly greasy yet, just a little.
And I made it to work by 9:02. Pretty good. Got there before they started the test.
They called again at 5am wanting me to work today.
I am working 12 hours tomorrow and Saturday. I have to get my mindset on "work mode" it is all mental. Since we are ahead in school days, I can take off some days and get some work in.
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