Challenger Baseball

 Hannah is very excited to be playing baseball this year.  She is playing on the challenger league for kids with differences that make playing on a typical team not possible.

She is fun to watch.  She still has to think about how to step when she throws the ball, and usually it does not go far.  Notice Caleb has no mitt because it usually ended up on the ground.  It is part of her motor planning issues.

 It is so fun to look out on the field and see more parents and coaches than kids at times!  And coaches and parents helping out kids on both teams.

 Yeah!  Who needs to pay attention to the game when you have such a great smile!  She liked playing first base, but had no idea what to do with the ball when she did get it :)  Didn't matter much because outs don't count anyways.

 Notice the amazing hitting stance.  But don't let her fool you.

 She hit it from a pitch all the way to the outfield!  Best hit seen all morning!

She got to first base and stood for a while then decided why not head to second for a double:)

We are very thankful for the opportunities she has to play on teams such as this, where she feels 'safe' socially and can be herself and have fun.

The Importance of Friendship

 Our sweet Hannah Charlesetta turned 10 last month!  

An amazing milestone for my precious one, who without the opportunity of adoption would have become another African statistic.  Did you know her birth country is ranked in the top 5 for infant mortality?  One in 15 children never reach their 5th birthday.  Hannah most likely would have been one of them.

 

 Through God's wonderful mercy, our treasure came home very ill and malnourished at 2 3/4 weighing a mere 21 pounds with little energy but lots of determination.

 As many know our Hannah "Belle", as we call her, suffers from a variety of developmental delays due to her rough start.  Did we know when we adopted her?  No, but it has no bearing on the fact that God wonderfully chose her for us!!!  We have learned so much about ourselves and the grace and mercy of God through the blessing of parenting a child with developmental challenges.  I am so thankful we did not miss  it!

 Up to this point in Hannah's life she has seemed fairly content with not having lots of friends.  She has always preferred playing alone, or in one on one situations, or with younger children.  Her speech delays have made groups intimidating so she stayed on the edges of them.

 Well this year before her birthday as we were talking about what to do, instead of naming all the kids she wanted to come, she started naming all the kids who don't talk to her.  I was shocked and in such pain for my precious treasure.  Her innocence is lost.  She knows she is different.  It hurts.  We cried. Talked.  Comforted. 

 And made special plans with her best friend, Bethany.  I call her "Hannah's special gift"  the friend who accepts and loves Hannah for who she is.

 A few days before her birthday Hannah had her first ever breakdown with anger.  If you know Hannah, you know anger is not a part of who she is.  But we have seen it a couple of times now.  As we work through the anger it is stemming from not being accepted.  She feels alone.  It breaks a mom's heart.

 We are working diligently with her speech therapist is social communication right now and she is making great progress.  We are also working with some things from the therapist and from big sister Erinn on understanding our  feelings and finding proper outlet, and not letting it build up.  She is doing great and I am so thankful for all the amazing resources to help our little one find her voice. 

The fear of rejection for her is still a very big thing, so her steps can be tentative or on the other side awkward.  We are praying for some little hearts that are willing to hear her call for friendship.  For growth on her parts.  And for wisdom for this Mama who wants to help her little treasure blossom into all God is calling her to be.  Thank you God for my Precious Hannah, my gift from You!

Sickness

We have been fighting colds around here, but I think yesterdays hike sent little Hannah over the edge, sadly.

She spent most of the morning and afternoon in bed, but I am happy to say she doing lots better tonight!

My youngest treasures have not been sick much, there is some questions running around out there as to whether kids who have suffered some kind of early trauma are sick as often as other kids.  Their early trauma usually puts them on high alert much of the time, hence their bodies are like hyper-vigilant, and possibly this keeps them from getting as sick as other kids.  I am not sure of this, but I do know mine are not sick very often at all.

This was probably the one of the sickest I had seen Hannah with a high fever and sweats.

All this got me to thinking how differently all my kids have been when they are sick.

Danielle my wonderful first-born who introduced me to motherhood----when she was sick everyone knew it because she was a moaner!!  Kind of like she wanted everyone to suffer with her--LOL!  Lets just say we were always very excited when she got well!!----Love ya Danielle :)

Erinn my middle child peace-maker---when she was sick just give her a good book, something soothing for her throat and some quiet and she was happy and would come and let you know if she needed anything else.  We did not so much rejoice when she got better, because she was so quiet when she was sick.

Drew my rough and tumble boy who never stopped---he spent his first 10 months sick and in someones arms, after that when he got sick it was about the same.  He was my snuggler when he was sick, not so much at any other time, because he was so busy all the time.  I almost enjoyed him getting sick, just for the snuggle time!

Caleb my curious kid who is always fidgeting---the few times he has been sick he is up and down and back and forth, as though he would get more sick sitting still.  Kleenex are torn apart and blankets are everywhere!  I just pray we can keep him caged enough he doesn't get everyone else sick with his constant motion and sniffling!

Now my little Hannah the baby of the family---she never complains, I am serious, we are working hard on her verbalizing her needs, so when she says she is not feeling well it is a BIG thing.  Today she stayed all day in her room and I never heard a peep.  I had to keep checking, just because I was worried and she was so quiet.  When the fever went away, I had to go tell her it was OK to come out an join the family. 

So there you got it.  Five kids and  5 very different outcomes to sickness.  I just thought it was interesting and that I should put it down before I forgot the uniqueness of the situation.

Now don't ask me about David--Let's leave it by saying Danielle got it from somewhere!

Joy abounds

 Our at home kids who enjoyed sleeping in till 9 o'clock!  No early risers around here!

 Little Miss Joyful with her Pooh socks.  No, it does not take much to make her happy.

 My boys wrapped my present for me and put it under the tree like this!  Can you guess what I got?

 At least this one was totally covered!  In their defense I guess wrapping a new soup pot is a hard task!

 Drew with his annual traditional duct tape wrapped gift from Caleb and Hannah.

 We did not let him use a knife this year.  It took a while for him to find his treasure.

 As you can see Caleb was very proud of his wrapping of his Dad's meat tenderizer!

 Liberty usually had to get into the midst of things.

And here she is with some help.  She did leave the ribbon around her neck all day!

Happy Birthday Jesus Party

When our first set of kids were little we used to do a Happy Birthday Jesus Party with our good friends, The Wolfes.  We decided this was the year to resurrect the tradition with our friends, The Rondas and their 4 kids.

We had a nice chili dinner, then attempted to make graham cracker nativity scenes.  Why is it that Pinterest makes it look so easy?

Caleb making his shepherds.

With my help and a glue gun, Hannah was the first done. Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, a shepherd, sheep, and donkey.

Caleb quickly followed.  One thing I have found is neither of them are real into crafts, they will do them, but don't usually ask to do them.  Of course unless Caleb is making a new set of armor which is anytime he can get his hands on cardboard and duct tape!

Close up of Caleb's.  I think his donkey is sleeping.

All the finished projects.

Hannah and Madison quietly listening to the Christmas story---girl style.

Caleb, Aaron, and Josiah piled onto one chair eating peppers--listening to the Christmas story--boy style!  Caleb is not irritated, he actually loves it, he is asking for more peppers.

Blowing out the candles on the Jesus birthday cake.  All the kids left with candy canes and a note to surprise someone with.  It was a fun night and moms and dads got in two games of Ticket to Ride while the kids were watching The Nativity Story.

Thanksgiving

 Since the blog is still being happy and taking my pictures, I though I would catch up, since this is a journal of our family's journey.  And who would not want to see more pictures of cute Harrison all bundled up like a little polar bear to go on a cold evening walk.

 The crowd out for a walk, not all so willingly--LOL!  Some thought we were crazy--Danielle.

 Drew and Courtney on the other hand are very familiar with cold nights coming from Eastern Washington.

 Our cute little Harrison getting ready for bedtime before Thanksgiving.  He is such a cutie!

 Harrison can not believe they put him in an outfit with a large TURKEY on his BUTT! 

 My parents, Great Grandpa and Grandma Fogliasso, with their first great-grandchild!

 David's grandmother, Harrison's Great-Great Grandma Mae.  Yes we have 5 generations on both sides.

 Drew and Courntey

 Caleb and Harrison

 My mom and dad, Loren and Marsha

 Ryan and Danielle

 David and Grandma Mae

 Thanksgiving night hike.  Part way up you can see Medford totally socked in under the fog.

 You can see where they are headed behind them, Roxy Ann Peak.

 Wow!

The evening sunset over Medford---Beautiful!