Homeschooling Three - the Truth!

We have started school and I am thankful to be back into routine.  Lizzie is able to sit for a couple of hours at a time - sometimes we don't sit that long, but glad she can do it.
She is learning the Days of Creation, her numbers, letters and so much more!  She is taking it all in very well, and we are so pleased with her progress.
She will gasp each day as she recognizes a letter she knows or sees something on a walk that we have learned about.  She is so full of excitement!  What a joy she is to us.  She says "God made the sun, the moon and the stars and then adds whatever she is seeing... snails, snakes, rocks, worms!"  She is getting the important stuff!
Our life is full and busy and not always so easy.  Homeschooling three is a challenge, especially keeping her quiet while the big kids work, but we are making progress in that area, too.
Lizzie started dance and Children's Choir last week and moved up in her Sunday School class.  I am so thankful that she can do all of this at our church and we don't have to move her around alot.
She will also start preschool on Thursdays next week.

I mostly keep this blog as a scrapbook to her to record her first year home, so I am careful to be honest, but also not to share the "yuck!"  I have recently felt conviction about FB and blogs only showing the cute, sweet memories with our precious children when there is so much that happens in a day with kids that is not cute or sweet.

Please know that our days are filled with that, too.  There are days when I think - "There are places for these kids to go - why on earth do we have them all at home?"  There are days when I want to go to Starbucks and Target all by myself and come home to a clean house without toys and school books everywhere.  The kids argue and complain - somedays over too much work, somedays because they do not like their hair (not John Reese), somedays over bedtime.  Some days we are just grumpy or rude or selfish - all of us - at different times - which makes for a long day!

But... I am truly blessed with these I have been given and pray that God will use me and guide me and fill in for all the things I miss or mess up!
And... there are sweet, sweet moments each day that I have the privilege of watching because we are all here!

 Morning exercises!

 First day of dance

 First day of school

Praises

I finally spoke with the GI doctor last week.  After undergoing more bloodwork and a series of tests to determine some malabsorption issues, we are starting a B12 nose spray once a week as her levels were somewhat low - not alarmingly - he said :).
And, though she is not completely absorbing certain sugars, as long as we are all ok with the digestive issues, it is not causing her any harm!  Again, he was just amazed at how great everything looked.
The biggest thing is that there are fewer worries if she is growing and gaining weight.  She definitely looks bigger and healthier - but there's not a big difference in her height and weight ... yet!  So, we will pray for her to grow and to be a healthy little girl!
She amazes us everyday with her language and also with her absolute wonder.
Yesterday on the way into church she said, "Mommy, pretty."  I said "Thank you!"  She said "No...outside"  I said, "Yes it is a beautiful day.  She said, "Yes, beautiful day!"  Though I thought the compliment was for me - so much better that it was for Him!!

First picture is the day we met her...

The Princess

Just wanted to post a few pictures of our little princess!  Lizzie is doing great.  Her English surprises us every day.  She did VBS last week and LOVED every minute of it.  She learned the songs and the motions and requests the CD EVERY time we get in the car!  She ran the 1 mile run at Cotton Row.  And was so proud of her blue ribbon.
She loved the balloons here Memorial Day weekend and cried all the way home the first morning because she wanted "more bloons!"  It was  just a big meltdown - which is never fun for mom and dad, but so different this time around - because she rarely does that - and she needs to be normal.  It really shows she is secure with us - which is a great thing.
We love this precious child more each day and are so privileged to be her parents.  We will dedicate her this Sunday morning - what an honor!
We stay so busy just enjoying being a family of five that I rarely have time to stop and be amazed at all God has done - but there are moments each week where He just stops me - so I can SEE that he is really A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
"Mommy, I love you big, big, big!"
"This is MY sister and My brother!"
"Daddy, you are so cute!" :)
"If God is for us who can be against us ...whatever happens I know I can trust He is in control"
"Mommy, I like this song."
"Jesus is ALIVE" - yes He is!

Medical Update and More

We finally had the Upper GI and Ultrasound at Children's on Wednesday and also had an appointment with the Pediatric GI doctor.  We are praising God as that day is over and the results are really amazing.
Everything looked great on both tests.  She does have some gallstones that we knew about. These are from her early IV feedings and are not causing any pain or problems so they will be left alone for now.


She does have some reflux, BUT... Dr. Mestre's words were "I know she has the diagnosis of Small Bowel, but I don't see that a significant part of her intestine is missing."  This is the unanswered question we have had since we received the referral.  Lizzie was born at 26 weeks and weighed 1 1/2 pounds and basically due to complications with the premature birth, part of her intestine died and had to be removed.  We were not able to find out how much when we received the referral and were hoping that since she had not had any recent hospitalizations and was growing and seemingly healthy, that it would be ok.
We are so relieved and in awe of her medical care in Hungary and God's amazing provisions for our sweet girl!
Because she does still have some tummy issues we will spend three more mornings at Children's doing some tests to see if it is lactose, sucrose or fructose that she may have a hard time digesting.  And... she will have to have a little more blood work.
Lizzie is learning to trust us more and more and while I cannot stand to put her through these appointments and tests, she is recovering well as her bond with us is growing.
It is just very different than with children you have been with since birth.  We are working so diligently to build a bond with her and show her that we will love her and protect her always, yet she has so much fear that we are having to hold her down for these tests while she screams hysterically.
The funny thing is that as soon as it is over, it is over and she will even laugh about it and mock cry when she retells it.
She is doing so much better with me.  She is letting me be "Mommy" and it is so precious.  I love being able to hold her and scratch her back as she falls asleep or wipe her tears and kiss her when she is sad.
We are still continually thankful and amazed at God's plan in bringing her to our family.
She is a perfect fit!
This week she:
*Constantly said she is sad (with a smirk) because Poppy's car is broken!  It is broken and duck-taped, if you haven't seen it!
*Prayed out loud in the car while looking at the night sky "Thank you God for the sun, the moon and the stars"
*Sang "Our God is Greater" at the top of her lungs - in the car, in the potty, in the bath...everywhere!
*Made John Reese and Ellie kiss and say "sorry ..now" when they fussed during school!
*Told Jake to "look in my eyes, Jake" when she was getting on to him for jumping out of her lap
*Ran a mile on the trails while we rode our bikes beside her
*Pretty much mastered writing her name and has written it on her drawings without me telling her!

*Used "Lizzie" more than "Sugi"
*And... answered when I asked her if she wanted to be called Sugi or Lizzie "No... princess!"
And she is our little princess and His - a child of the King!

Love to you all and thank you for caring and praying and rejoicing with us!
Lisa

Easter Egg Hunt, Easter and our first time to paint!

Lizzie loved hunting eggs, petting the animals at the farm and jumping in the inflatables.
Easter Sunday was precious.  Every time she sees a cross she says "cross - Jesus loves you!"  That is what she said on the video while holding the cross from resurrection eggs.  I have no idea why the video didn't work!
She loved having her picture made on Easter morning.
She loves her new pink scooter!
Today she learned how to paint!

She really loves life!  And we love having her in ours!

Lizzie video - attempt #2

Happy Easter - He is Risen

This week has been full of Easter.  We have made bird's nests, a bunny cake, decorated eggs and are waiting for butterflies to hatch from their chrysalis.  We have studied about Peter and read about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  We have talked about the cross and the blood and the sacrifice
I hope they are getting it -I hope I am getting it!  I want to get it!  I want to do the fun activities because I want them to remember this as a precious time in our life as a family.  If there is no Easter - there is no point in all of this.
He conquered death - He rose again - He is our Savior and Mighty King.
Wonderful, Merciful Savior
Precious redeemer and friend
Who would have thought that a lamb could rescue the souls of men

O, You rescue the souls of men!