tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48437004766442806362024-03-13T13:50:51.476-07:00Adopting Amanda-Our Journey to EstoniaThe world is round, and the place which may seem like the end, may also be the beginning.
------------ Ivy Baker PriestArizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.comBlogger233125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-68929111028075260952018-03-27T08:42:00.002-07:002018-03-27T08:45:29.420-07:00Missed her birthday post by a day; Happy Birthday Amanda!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">She enjoyed her day, her </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">new toys to love on and carry around; she loves squishy baby dolls, spiky soft play balls and soft stuffed toys. While buying her gifts I was overtaken by sadness, she was turning 13 and I was buying toddler toys for her. Autism has stolen a lot from our Amanda, yes she still loves us fiercely, sometimes too fiercely, the head butts can hurt, but she is attached to her family and we; especially her mother and father, are attached to our daughter.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">She ended her night with birthday cupcakes, and decided that she needed to devour the frosting off of as many as she could, raking her hands across the mint chocolate chip frosting and shoving it in her mouth. She was in heaven! A huge smile on her face. She finds happiness in the simple joys of life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We love you darling girl. </span></div>
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Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-31052863112174537392017-03-27T20:20:00.000-07:002017-03-27T20:20:00.961-07:00Another year older!A Happy Birthday to Amanda!<br /><br />She got to go see a movie and had her favorite vegan chocolate cupcakes, we don't do huge events for Amanda because it isn't fun for her, instead we had a small family gathering following the movie.<br /><br />
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Amanda is a scrappy little girl, tiny, thin, but strong and healthy, and we are grateful for that! She is growing on a consistent curve, but she will never be a tall woman. <br />
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<br />Yes, autism still lives here, however, Amanda seeks out cuddles, reassurance when she is reprimanded for destructive behavior, which she is working hard at curbing, and she has a growing need for company and play, she no longer craves being alone. That is progress. Nothing happens fast, but we stopped expecting it to, we accept her and love her for who she is right now.<br /><br />She is content with her life and is a wonderful daughter.<br />
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<br />Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-8832958176141372262016-03-26T20:49:00.004-07:002016-03-26T20:49:47.743-07:00Happy 11th Birthday Amanda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Poor Amanda is poorly for her birthday, we kept the day low key for her so she can rest, for the first time she has pneumonia, and it unnerves me especially. It is a mild case. <br />
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Pictures and more when she is feeling better and her Mama has had more than 4 hours of sleep!Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-86501179915862884902015-03-26T17:05:00.002-07:002015-03-26T17:05:27.312-07:00Happy 10th birthday Amanda!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQBVDBMKtyfr7XjmxsnUj-pR6MSrAhbNK54XY0_PgvGfThxP0zxNRL9BOrRYk-M_J0AyVjWgZcRaoK8y4ZgRZl0mEPSeZsbhbpwHwuu_xpkf6QZ2w6oSyOm6XiOgtiZmT_Cnw3wNL9Hzh/s1600/Amanda+is+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQBVDBMKtyfr7XjmxsnUj-pR6MSrAhbNK54XY0_PgvGfThxP0zxNRL9BOrRYk-M_J0AyVjWgZcRaoK8y4ZgRZl0mEPSeZsbhbpwHwuu_xpkf6QZ2w6oSyOm6XiOgtiZmT_Cnw3wNL9Hzh/s1600/Amanda+is+10.jpg" height="516" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda's morning hair wash, hugging her new toy, and two pictures out of 100 where she actually looked at me! :) </td></tr>
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Miss Manda Moo is getting older, but not really growing much bigger. She is tiny! Just 38 pounds her last doctor appointment.<br />
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She is very healthy regardless of her size, she rarely gets sick, <i>thank goodness</i>.<br />
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Amanda spends her days moving from one activity to another, sometimes at a very rapid pace. She rarely sits still.<br />
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She adores Signing Time video's, Barney, Disney movies, right now that means Frozen, yep, seen it over 1000 times by now, but I will watch it 1000 more times if it brings a smile to Amanda, Kara and Meghan's faces!<br />
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Amanda loves playing with soft baby dolls and stuffed toys, she likes getting face to face with those toys and biting their noses, hugging them, licking them. She likes toys with big eyes the best! None of her baby dolls are allowed to wear clothing, she strips them nude as soon as she gets them.<br />
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<b>Speaking of clothing</b>, we cannot keep clothes on this girl. We have resorted to one piece swimsuits or leotards with button and zip Bermuda shorts, she wears footy pajamas to bed and <strike>sometimes during the day</strike>. She cannot get those articles of clothing off <i>yet</i>.<br />
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<br /> Complex.</h3>
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That is Amanda in one word.<br />
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She craves attention and she does not care how she gets it; negative or positive is OK with her, we try not to give her much negative attention...which can be extremely difficult to do when she is throwing furniture over or hurting her sisters. <i>Deep breath, do not yell</i>...<br />
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Amanda has mixed sensory issues.<br />
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She gets her feelings hurt easily.<br />
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She has the sweetest giggle.<br />
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Amanda can scream LOUD, it is a new behavior, oh, and I am not a fan.<br />
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She can duplicate many animal sounds with accuracy! <br />
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She has no expressive language, although she can say a few words consistently, she communicates through gestures. She had a communication device that did not work for her, we are awaiting another appointment with language specialists to help pick out a new communication program for her. She gets speech therapy once a week and has since we brought her home.<br />
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It is very challenging and disheartening not to be able to converse with Amanda. She cannot tell me with words, how she is feeling, however I have become very good at reading body language. <br />
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Amanda can eat with a spoon but prefers her hands. She likes to put her legs on the table too. She likes rubbing her hands all over her hair when she eats too.<br />
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She has the cleanest hair!<br />
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Amanda is considered severely delayed, but that label does nothing to describe how clever she is. Her delays are from a combination of factors; Institutionalization, Down syndrome, and Autism.<br />
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Amanda attends a virtual public school and is in the 4th grade. She has a special education teacher she has on-line sessions with 3 times a week, but mommy does the one on one teaching. Amanda is working on pre-academics. <br />
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Autism</h3>
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A word I do not care for.</div>
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I am angry at autism for stealing away the life Amanda could be having. It means people avoid her instead of getting to know her; her inappropriate behaviors make certain most parents keep their children far away from our sweet girl. </div>
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Amanda is not unlike other children with Autism and Down syndrome, I talk to enough parents to know there are common struggles for the kids with a dual diagnosis, and for their families, who often feel very disconnected from their Down syndrome communities. Kids with dual diagnosis are vastly different than children with only Down syndrome.<br />
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Amanda wakes up every morning at exactly the same time, she greets me with a huge hug and she giggles a sigh of contentment. <br />
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After she is out of bed, she heads right to her chair to eat.<br />
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She eats at the same time daily. She prefers a set schedule but I feel that she is getting more adaptable to change. Her behavior used to get worse after an unplanned and off schedule outing or visit from family, it does not happen as often as it used to.<br />
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She goes to bed at the same time every night, she loves her routine!<br />
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LOVE</h3>
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We love our daughter, she has been a family member for nearly 7 years. It feels like she has always been here. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt31Mc8392VvOURjimwYzCLOieU2s86gTKO_hjWs42x-lLHUIYHqt7ob4aQarJFmVRLH_gm59MLnSVouHnXFywNCPpHtc8Cs3szjvCYQOxZ0Pknc12Wtwbtt8ZpER0qZ6OJC6YfldTQuO/s1600/P6254312a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt31Mc8392VvOURjimwYzCLOieU2s86gTKO_hjWs42x-lLHUIYHqt7ob4aQarJFmVRLH_gm59MLnSVouHnXFywNCPpHtc8Cs3szjvCYQOxZ0Pknc12Wtwbtt8ZpER0qZ6OJC6YfldTQuO/s1600/P6254312a.jpg" height="296" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adoption Day 2008</td></tr>
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I think of Amanda's birth mother on her birthday and on holidays, I hope she knows that Amanda is loved and cared for, that she is safe, healthy, and thriving.</div>
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I am so grateful that we were able to adopt our sweet daughter. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Happy Birthday Amanda!</span></h3>
Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-66102657200342029872014-10-16T08:55:00.001-07:002014-10-16T08:57:28.257-07:00A little update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZWH4Ua_mC3OQkpvee0aS7UginEhYqCgQXknPmDsB0gc2D9amtb-3ay72vHPBQXnpbPbxey8lIsRdzUsSZuTwKbeL2mdASae0CJzl2WhtHFjz6RzP9A2dlAlhIan_RUICIosCZGWghqPO/s1600/IMG_0324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZWH4Ua_mC3OQkpvee0aS7UginEhYqCgQXknPmDsB0gc2D9amtb-3ay72vHPBQXnpbPbxey8lIsRdzUsSZuTwKbeL2mdASae0CJzl2WhtHFjz6RzP9A2dlAlhIan_RUICIosCZGWghqPO/s1600/IMG_0324.jpg" height="227" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taken in June, from left to right top row; Melissa and Desmond, Eric, Fred, Kris and Amanda, Brian and Kara. Second row, Meghan with her head down, Julia, Tom, Terry (standing) Mathias and Anna.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Family gatherings are rough on Amanda, she gets a bit overwhelmed and will pull hair, scratch, or she will screech-scream. She likes the sofa all to herself, she likes watching her TV programs, she does not want loud people hanging around in 'her' space. Which is why I am holding her in the picture above. She was unhappy that her brother was sitting on HER sofa.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMez5IQFCCNjm9Hv2OykSE886eU4lOK_t9twIyVbmrZcascgEOgC3uigDgI3i4Hm_fveWgAlGEvbyfAxGGyYfEvj-H6UGv2aHiutj435e0d0Q48CjLdUnA5fLJKKyVWQ6blg1H_biWkxPw/s1600/IMG_0606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMez5IQFCCNjm9Hv2OykSE886eU4lOK_t9twIyVbmrZcascgEOgC3uigDgI3i4Hm_fveWgAlGEvbyfAxGGyYfEvj-H6UGv2aHiutj435e0d0Q48CjLdUnA5fLJKKyVWQ6blg1H_biWkxPw/s1600/IMG_0606.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting next to Kara without scratching or hair pulling!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A week ago we had a birthday party for her sister Julia, Amanda did fairly well; yes she did pull hair once or twice, yes she did pay too close of attention to her nephews (spelled stalking...), but considering her last family party, it was a marked improvement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were so proud of her for showing more self-control. As she gets older, Amanda has shown that she can be a little less impulsive, she is a character, and she makes us laugh daily with her shenanigans, but she is also a very sweet little girl who loves being hugged! </span><br />
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Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-81129614403752690422012-03-26T23:32:00.000-07:002012-03-27T08:25:32.815-07:00Happy 7TH Birthday Amanda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Waking up to a few presents, she actually seemed excited when I sang her happy birthday. What she wanted more than anything else was her cake, she actually threw a hissy fit when we took too long to serve it. She had a gluten free chocolate cake with peanut butter creme cheese frosting. She had two pieces!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We cannot believe Amanda is so old, she was just three when were adopted her, 4 years went by so quickly. She has changed a lot in many ways, but autism does change who she would have been without it, sometimes we see that little girl and it makes us sad she cannot be her all the time. <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I truly hate autism. </span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-size: small;">Amanda though, we love and adore her!</span></b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Dzlp83lXaWgcVuzkPIDILhs3bblZ3F8qqKEbqwS373a9YvPa9zfKoOLcy1OFMvRBxLVbymwO6QgTpGLrH6NjY86oUAqQOHd0OtdNli-NelDxaKftV2D0aaXt0gMMuOASL5KcxhDOr9gY/s1600/1DSCF50289nlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Dzlp83lXaWgcVuzkPIDILhs3bblZ3F8qqKEbqwS373a9YvPa9zfKoOLcy1OFMvRBxLVbymwO6QgTpGLrH6NjY86oUAqQOHd0OtdNli-NelDxaKftV2D0aaXt0gMMuOASL5KcxhDOr9gY/s400/1DSCF50289nlog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda and Brain, she adores her big brother. Brian helps with<br />
the girls so mommy can get away, or just read a book.<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-36798518377754371812011-07-23T16:30:00.003-07:002011-07-23T16:36:29.679-07:00Miracles happen sometimesYes, to us this is a miracle, we have worked hard with Amanda, feeding therapists have spent time with her, and her um, determined nature stopped her from doing this for 6 years...at last she has decided feeding herself is better than waiting to be fed, and all of us are celebrating her accomplishment. WTG sweet Amanda.<br /><br /><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzfwWVtFYPw8I0J9-GRcPSHZ1NfGhFUIM118i9skF17_C3QkgcZ_6TkI42N3ZLVZtsh2GFNPXFO4nYEJ37uqw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p></p>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-23917678603798776952011-03-26T15:49:00.007-07:002011-03-26T16:31:12.267-07:00Happy 6th Birthday to Amanda<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8jfUPrUDjUbHlELFNUCGPlDnKsyuntl4QZ9IGB0UWRh5eWAqgNiG4tCNY45gWTi17k0J132yrHIlCPBGBMae3ch5KirJZunDCup58rjOmhTzeD5dygEJZQx_WVRtUh5-WpFanqHunjj3/s1600/1DSCF4411blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588533379434316098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 368px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8jfUPrUDjUbHlELFNUCGPlDnKsyuntl4QZ9IGB0UWRh5eWAqgNiG4tCNY45gWTi17k0J132yrHIlCPBGBMae3ch5KirJZunDCup58rjOmhTzeD5dygEJZQx_WVRtUh5-WpFanqHunjj3/s400/1DSCF4411blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM29xPb7ZP2MVMA_OVROwIIYEUTW9qkSwMrYUCBbE98_d5IibHcv4jtN4r-n1gmO5n5aJ0dHZQaYpe1XG3EZDgRiv1M2Mr5KTJf09NhjheY2N2m62U-Go3SACqXUChOTKXTsJ6693IYPz/s1600/1DSCF4399blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588533283773689890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 394px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM29xPb7ZP2MVMA_OVROwIIYEUTW9qkSwMrYUCBbE98_d5IibHcv4jtN4r-n1gmO5n5aJ0dHZQaYpe1XG3EZDgRiv1M2Mr5KTJf09NhjheY2N2m62U-Go3SACqXUChOTKXTsJ6693IYPz/s400/1DSCF4399blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZ-Mo7X2rZXthDzztt7o9NqikmQOwsC7xIu3ogWQKnTdpruWvMsoMHBxJDUf20aSFvvA_DRUERD2Bjru5k4IhdUh3-RstcsVV_xP1cECVP310CEo9TbSJblz31QxxQFOu81PY8aCw59gq/s1600/1DSCF4402blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588525078950947618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 381px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZ-Mo7X2rZXthDzztt7o9NqikmQOwsC7xIu3ogWQKnTdpruWvMsoMHBxJDUf20aSFvvA_DRUERD2Bjru5k4IhdUh3-RstcsVV_xP1cECVP310CEo9TbSJblz31QxxQFOu81PY8aCw59gq/s400/1DSCF4402blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1AceXGIFfgi1WfW4QDY6flr89ffKpIQwJmHd07Rn1cn4mATSHAMbqmko3tlsIPG1HjyBd0lKa8FSLKyMt11vvq3X7yGklId7JIW-TeWF0lKkQr2Po6hRj25wdi3Nk8moFeD3cnRITcXK/s1600/1DSCF4461blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588524978751277442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 370px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1AceXGIFfgi1WfW4QDY6flr89ffKpIQwJmHd07Rn1cn4mATSHAMbqmko3tlsIPG1HjyBd0lKa8FSLKyMt11vvq3X7yGklId7JIW-TeWF0lKkQr2Po6hRj25wdi3Nk8moFeD3cnRITcXK/s400/1DSCF4461blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20CyVB3Cmb2p0JoWHt92HZ36c5aq2ieCmTwSyt0sWUNuiczcdBlyTzmDxv8BfvLhy7S7WpC-d0Yk-IS8TEtdqbjPlG6JL5jzbHG0HPWoqassNHuwmgFY7ODTCV1Vw04DIrUcjFLfTeswq/s1600/1DSCF4172blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588524833919318082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20CyVB3Cmb2p0JoWHt92HZ36c5aq2ieCmTwSyt0sWUNuiczcdBlyTzmDxv8BfvLhy7S7WpC-d0Yk-IS8TEtdqbjPlG6JL5jzbHG0HPWoqassNHuwmgFY7ODTCV1Vw04DIrUcjFLfTeswq/s400/1DSCF4172blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-12454361251358323762011-02-26T22:19:00.007-07:002011-02-26T22:46:16.459-07:00Yes we are still here<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2keiCbDER2qQ_uqxW7txS_jsisUe8mm_EzqzQQJjXEx4HOI3QNDdJ1Olrkq873ZkJVbUoJ1fkWlztUAPhun6QzCuSI2SZaM0XUhtMZPjzLLJjkiJdwiOTIP4y084h2Coh0fhagYabTdN/s1600/1DSCF4068blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578237725437363554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 241px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2keiCbDER2qQ_uqxW7txS_jsisUe8mm_EzqzQQJjXEx4HOI3QNDdJ1Olrkq873ZkJVbUoJ1fkWlztUAPhun6QzCuSI2SZaM0XUhtMZPjzLLJjkiJdwiOTIP4y084h2Coh0fhagYabTdN/s400/1DSCF4068blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>I know it has been a very long time since I have posted on Amanda's blog. I do most of my posts on the family blog, though admittedly, I have not been doing that either... <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VMeAo_Nhp-vcVuT1r7RK6nCbLugbKyqoNTPq4YOeJieMzs1AlRcoiNJaCnXVGoiZkoYsDFLZJXPdW8r8R94N5O6ri0VgyuvKi7hXx0-HukI1Wkq3DALZR5vbW4osMfyJfP7BNP8d9q9j/s1600/DSCF40781c.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578237062574393746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VMeAo_Nhp-vcVuT1r7RK6nCbLugbKyqoNTPq4YOeJieMzs1AlRcoiNJaCnXVGoiZkoYsDFLZJXPdW8r8R94N5O6ri0VgyuvKi7hXx0-HukI1Wkq3DALZR5vbW4osMfyJfP7BNP8d9q9j/s400/DSCF40781c.jpg" border="0" /></a>Amanda is finally interested in playing with her sisters, solitary play seemed to be what she needed for a very long while, Kara and Meghan have bonded very well and Amanda gets left out sometimes, but not to be deterred, the little scamp pushes her way into their games, and sits on them. Like it or not, they will include Amanda! </div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJb4z_PkKcI8bEmcguvTpBi6wdu00cbaLfs9huwGj6grsDreeNEq7cMcfWHKlTcqVtrrqBFMsn6uXy5w6ATFFEn1hzDcdLpDXkkEh_aHZR1bkda406wk4-AP41g0unIYVEZfxhlefc9Hq/s1600/1DSCF4042blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578235644102600562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJb4z_PkKcI8bEmcguvTpBi6wdu00cbaLfs9huwGj6grsDreeNEq7cMcfWHKlTcqVtrrqBFMsn6uXy5w6ATFFEn1hzDcdLpDXkkEh_aHZR1bkda406wk4-AP41g0unIYVEZfxhlefc9Hq/s400/1DSCF4042blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> Amanda loves soft dolls and lately, Raggedy Anne is her favorite toy this week. She walks around the house holding the doll by her hair, and then sits with the doll in her lap, face to face so she can kiss and lick it. (time to wash this doll, yuck) Amanda is a 100% walking girl now, she is so adorable when she walks, still tiny and so slim, and she looks like a 18 month old, hard to believe she will be 6 next month. I have been asked a few times if she has dwarfism too. Umm, no.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQYaGzNe9sHE4aEBenNwaC__25dg7Yr1XM6FP0R2ykyN_Fec7-Ru8ZYhzs18GjtTPBSUlMz73fDupbgodSFY28tHNGUUcXRLm3UdhI6XevQxl7r1kx9nMcm28qJmBo9ki-uLvFoYBo7zc/s1600/1DSCF3982blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578235448715217330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 345px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQYaGzNe9sHE4aEBenNwaC__25dg7Yr1XM6FP0R2ykyN_Fec7-Ru8ZYhzs18GjtTPBSUlMz73fDupbgodSFY28tHNGUUcXRLm3UdhI6XevQxl7r1kx9nMcm28qJmBo9ki-uLvFoYBo7zc/s400/1DSCF3982blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>She is getting sassy and bossy, she does not say words, but she does tell us off in her gibberish. </div><div></div><div>Yes, wild hair girl, she loves to run her hands over her hair after licking them and her hair looks so messy, I have a 30 minute window after it is washed to get a picture of her hair clean and smooth!</div><div></div><div>She will not leave anything in her her or on her head, so no ponytails, hats, nothing. I have found dozens of hair pretties in the dirt outside after she goes out to play.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8V3yYdSuxGNP1U-TdmQUA5OHzxyf0nUqyIQxg2n2yzO9y3wFIGwBm6xHst27ZSigxQrRQwTX2g4aeRJwttQnFdNiwlg8OxdtKyGFHtx8q2MjSHtqU_F7YIinb3Zy86hHd7sZX8gp-rKv/s1600/1DSCF3980blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578235291411691234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8V3yYdSuxGNP1U-TdmQUA5OHzxyf0nUqyIQxg2n2yzO9y3wFIGwBm6xHst27ZSigxQrRQwTX2g4aeRJwttQnFdNiwlg8OxdtKyGFHtx8q2MjSHtqU_F7YIinb3Zy86hHd7sZX8gp-rKv/s400/1DSCF3980blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> All in all Amanda is doing very well, she survived a horrid flu season with a runny nose and some cold sores. She slept a lot for a few days and ran a few low grade fevers while other children were ending up in the hospital. We all passed the flu back and forth for weeks on end, but we are finally feeling better. Thankfully none of us got seriously ill.</div></div></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-12538581128806314432010-06-25T09:01:00.012-07:002010-06-25T22:17:46.544-07:002 years ago today<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLt_66g6LU-lQ1SqcW9IQS2gbYVpQ0fJegjs7nvgz7PzJjf0D9Exnz74PqGYVsY74M4EeVgKRY_KxwAoveBqaTtWyLDCh5LQ0ddEzC7kjtpmRcdgJ-CalgvBInjZ844RwQ4SRmQWHmJq-/s1600/1P6254319blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486744369057889522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 382px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLt_66g6LU-lQ1SqcW9IQS2gbYVpQ0fJegjs7nvgz7PzJjf0D9Exnz74PqGYVsY74M4EeVgKRY_KxwAoveBqaTtWyLDCh5LQ0ddEzC7kjtpmRcdgJ-CalgvBInjZ844RwQ4SRmQWHmJq-/s400/1P6254319blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> A court in Tallinn Estonia made Tom and I Amanda's parents. In Estonia, they actually remove the old birth certificate from their records and replace it with one in our names, or so I am told. That made me feel rather sad, as if they were erasing her birth family from her existence. We do have her original BC though. I never forget to say a prayer for Amanda's birth mother and to thank her for allowing Amanda a chance of a forever family. Yes, we are her parents now, but her history and heritage will always lie in her home country, she got her genes from there, her blond hair and sky blue eyes were from someone in her family, I hope they think of her sometimes too...</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmsXy4F1RwxoU_hPEcO86oWGZW2p-8ZfiM7Wb9fQcnPzDtb87AsS73g1EZgy1QPOxd6OAV1jGkSTUlJ_3a7-q71D2wWoB4tuZ3nJkXUgfCljJlKd-PMY61D7p76mmfw4NwD1a4Fssx25b/s1600/1DSCF2514blog.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486759744635452402" style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; " alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmsXy4F1RwxoU_hPEcO86oWGZW2p-8ZfiM7Wb9fQcnPzDtb87AsS73g1EZgy1QPOxd6OAV1jGkSTUlJ_3a7-q71D2wWoB4tuZ3nJkXUgfCljJlKd-PMY61D7p76mmfw4NwD1a4Fssx25b/s400/1DSCF2514blog.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">Amanda on a 104 degree day<br /></div> <p></p><p>Our little waif has changed a lot, but it happened so gradually, we did not notice, now all of a sudden we are seeing her as a different little girl. One major change is a little pot belly, oh my, who would have ever thought skinny Amanda would get a belly? She is very strong though, little stinker does a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pilates-</span>like abdominal move hundreds of times a day, I could never do it like she does. It amazes everyone. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">LOL</span> She actually moves constantly, either waving objects around, or sliding them on the floor, rocking on the dog, or trying to walk across the floor, she rarely sits still. I think I would cease to have a weight problem if I did everything she did all day.</p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2FqSWn9LPCe7ijNj-zYxOf5eHm6FeC97tqKLo4KXkmWUDIf8Pw_kORCRXtScQmqKeLp8u1IiwbFeCRyZ2eybr4rzV1sds1ZDYFEcOJ366qw_lR29eRZXf9LolTosF-UWrh7JVOn5klSH/s1600/1DSCF2502blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486758665397872866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2FqSWn9LPCe7ijNj-zYxOf5eHm6FeC97tqKLo4KXkmWUDIf8Pw_kORCRXtScQmqKeLp8u1IiwbFeCRyZ2eybr4rzV1sds1ZDYFEcOJ366qw_lR29eRZXf9LolTosF-UWrh7JVOn5klSH/s400/1DSCF2502blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>She adores this little rocking toy, originally it was purchased for Kara, but Kara is too big for it now, she tried to rock the other day and the dog refused to move for her, Kara was an unhappy gal.. Amanda has decided that it is a ride on toy and scoots it all over the yard. The bottom has been worn away so much it barely rocks any longer, and there is a hole forming along the side! We are considering getting a new one for her, but I wonder if she would still choose this one?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUUnzLrf6jgepg-ZhGfQ5jeNhE3MJjmcV3f_Ypdk7bq1bORPiwgiSpeb3SPVjKPA1xMHVC1VN4ZQczhCe3LaCkFVOlCmTmzgZWEGfgcsCHUJFZl4gOYYXSBrweolOCjvYdC229fmUNy_S/s1600/1DSCF2490blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486758485336790706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUUnzLrf6jgepg-ZhGfQ5jeNhE3MJjmcV3f_Ypdk7bq1bORPiwgiSpeb3SPVjKPA1xMHVC1VN4ZQczhCe3LaCkFVOlCmTmzgZWEGfgcsCHUJFZl4gOYYXSBrweolOCjvYdC229fmUNy_S/s400/1DSCF2490blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>Amanda and Kara adore the pool, but the pool looses their bowels and mommy and daddy are so weary of fishing out little surprises and emptying that pool, scrubbing down the little stinkers, ugh. I am hoping for potty awareness soon, hoping and praying, I think Kara may be ready, I am thinking of building a privacy screen and letting her go beside the pool in the potty chair, weird I know, but we have to start somewhere. Thankfully Meghan is past this stage.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehwSF1Knu7GV1JR6KBE0i3xtjl9nZ7vXBlRQedpX98Fnp7y-NcM-37d8q8sPNvEIKTsjdYgUyR5Co73_AM7fyza_0L1t_50CXri38X_dh8JEqBBQl3ijkc3VUUx717g4Ms5gEl6ZlRe_M/s1600/1DSCF2463blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486758343990846466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 331px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehwSF1Knu7GV1JR6KBE0i3xtjl9nZ7vXBlRQedpX98Fnp7y-NcM-37d8q8sPNvEIKTsjdYgUyR5Co73_AM7fyza_0L1t_50CXri38X_dh8JEqBBQl3ijkc3VUUx717g4Ms5gEl6ZlRe_M/s400/1DSCF2463blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> Amanda has learned to play, now that probably sounds funny, because shouldn't playing come naturally for children? Well before we had Meghan, I used to think so, but sometimes they need a little help. </div><br /><div> </div><div>When she came home, Amanda would grab objects and shake them, her favorites were envelopes and pieces of paper. She would get lost in the shaking, doing it over and over; repetitive behaviors, obsessive behaviors. Common when your child has autism too.</div><br /><div> </div><div>So it really warms my heart when I peek outside when she is playing and see her hugging a dolly baby, planting kisses on their little faces, running her hands over their hair. She is also putting objects into things now, she used to take them out and toss them over her shoulder, so that is progress as well. She enjoys rolling a ball to us, but she also throws it over her head and behind her, and she laughs her head off. Meghan retrieves it and we start over.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAuE_gC1TRrqSRVDpHzXrp9UeAeBG2p6pkfE5xxwzgW3AmfCxmzjmIKW_YBvtl491LT9cW8W2_KWUqDzMapWatO_o1nbfbbby9-vAZ1CsCQ4k7WU2xuOGusmc6cFSrAnsAGfUneBrGWJ6/s1600/1DSCF2465blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486758091098812418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAuE_gC1TRrqSRVDpHzXrp9UeAeBG2p6pkfE5xxwzgW3AmfCxmzjmIKW_YBvtl491LT9cW8W2_KWUqDzMapWatO_o1nbfbbby9-vAZ1CsCQ4k7WU2xuOGusmc6cFSrAnsAGfUneBrGWJ6/s400/1DSCF2465blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> She is exploring different toys in the yard, and venturing into places she should not go. Like the dogs water!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhashMJmVzxs_AlQfmOnPM-EwUfAWyca7bQUzJf-HgzQQ1zNucftD4yLYKeroBxfM5z3eCOXtm3Itb-mUaxn7x8cnmiyUeYpArhlYT73cFiuCWuiDUp1PCjJdZGgtBjjlY8X3ZKnIejU7mQ/s1600/1DSCF2460blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486757926858066690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 389px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhashMJmVzxs_AlQfmOnPM-EwUfAWyca7bQUzJf-HgzQQ1zNucftD4yLYKeroBxfM5z3eCOXtm3Itb-mUaxn7x8cnmiyUeYpArhlYT73cFiuCWuiDUp1PCjJdZGgtBjjlY8X3ZKnIejU7mQ/s400/1DSCF2460blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> No matter how well we block this off, she still finds her way to it, Amanda loves water, splashing in it, swimming, playing with the hose, a far cry from her first bath in Tallinn, when she was terrified and trembling. Now she hears water running, and she is there in a flash.</div><br /><div> </div><div>Amanda can walk, she is still getting steady on her feet, but her leg muscles were pretty atrophied, still she exercises daily and is gaining better upper leg strength. Her calves are skinny little sticks, though not as thin as they were. You can see muscles in her upper thighs that were not there before, she will continue to improve.</div><br /><div> </div><div>She still prefers to scoot to get where she is going, but she also crawls on her hands and knees now, which to me is a delight to see, gotta love motor planning progress.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYwC7M-ojBW2ACVlf742kiYwbs9FcIUcmalwCsETStissEPBsF22UJij411rk3rnXIxyms37vi4Wm9z6EfRVNjEoPAYxAYy_BntyeKIvgWObKEwDvVqSNyIRfZ0_dHmt8CEqc72dcP1Xh/s1600/1DSCF2417blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486752672866397170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYwC7M-ojBW2ACVlf742kiYwbs9FcIUcmalwCsETStissEPBsF22UJij411rk3rnXIxyms37vi4Wm9z6EfRVNjEoPAYxAYy_BntyeKIvgWObKEwDvVqSNyIRfZ0_dHmt8CEqc72dcP1Xh/s400/1DSCF2417blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>After a long afternoon in the pool, what does a little girl do? She falls asleep on her favorite toy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Adoption is such a wonderful gift; Amanda is our beloved sweetheart, sometimes frustrating, often stubborn and LOUD when she does not get her way, she is also sweet and silly and loving. Her therapists say she is the easiest to work with, that she is compliant (not sure that is a good thing either LOL) We are grateful we were allowed to be her family.</div></div></div></div></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-19086331042699362192010-01-09T21:38:00.006-07:002010-01-10T11:50:16.501-07:00Amanda update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdS86XNTNVaxF8L2U44fA_Y6Xb6LMxRMkvTJH36_DoVDYnz0QJ8MroSTKO8-IfKFkIN4rzTilbshB2d87v9nz5BkHjqLOgMsbfNWcdSJl7uN4H67VsCGAvKAdp0OK-QijZY3Zjfe6fLrJ/s1600-h/1DSCF1590blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424967058746288498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdS86XNTNVaxF8L2U44fA_Y6Xb6LMxRMkvTJH36_DoVDYnz0QJ8MroSTKO8-IfKFkIN4rzTilbshB2d87v9nz5BkHjqLOgMsbfNWcdSJl7uN4H67VsCGAvKAdp0OK-QijZY3Zjfe6fLrJ/s400/1DSCF1590blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> I know I have not updated in a while. Amanda is doing well, growing slowly, but definitely growing. She is trying hard to walk, when she thinks I am not looking, she will walk 8-10 steps, but when she spies me watching, she sits down. I am not certain why she does that, little stinker.<br /><br />She loves to sit in that spot above, she scoots right over there and sits and laughs and plays. The cats go over to her and sit with her. It is partly the sunlight that streams in there, but I also think she likes the dirt!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-txerLvyQASvOX-T93NOetrvf7DFoYmTuSaXm933gIO8HtUqpialwPPvD82Lcup5xRJt9Q85lWseYYbJru8XUeBLrkrNb4hyphenhyphen_z6rM0D9BzfrvyJxw1bJNWDtkRmMjAzZiFpVCieiWhac/s1600-h/1DSCF1521ablog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424966099204778626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 379px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-txerLvyQASvOX-T93NOetrvf7DFoYmTuSaXm933gIO8HtUqpialwPPvD82Lcup5xRJt9Q85lWseYYbJru8XUeBLrkrNb4hyphenhyphen_z6rM0D9BzfrvyJxw1bJNWDtkRmMjAzZiFpVCieiWhac/s400/1DSCF1521ablog.jpg" border="0" /></a> She is gradually eating more table food, but still has too much carotene in her diet and is still a little yellow from it. LOL Her speech therapist asked me if her doctors were concerned about her jaundice, I have to repeat over and over again, it is NOT jaundice, Amanda has carotenemia. Explained below, it is a benign condition, and since she is very light complected, it is very obvious in her skin, even more obvious when the flash from the camera bounces off it.</div><div></div><div>I usually try to correct her pictures a little because sometimes she looks quite yellow, this is the same picture without correction:</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcgxmen7oi0GukXGHolOhUxIaU-uHgOtHRuy19rRG2oyEauk97itxTEkrePdXeMPNNtzvZId4z0wY2AAQ0Ur7poIBtL0kjQA_L3WWfWe1VT343KHqQtinvyI1Vft65UGA5y9l-NZK-y5X/s1600-h/DSCF1521blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424969704338033698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 351px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcgxmen7oi0GukXGHolOhUxIaU-uHgOtHRuy19rRG2oyEauk97itxTEkrePdXeMPNNtzvZId4z0wY2AAQ0Ur7poIBtL0kjQA_L3WWfWe1VT343KHqQtinvyI1Vft65UGA5y9l-NZK-y5X/s400/DSCF1521blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>Carotenemia is a benign condition most commonly occurring in vegetarians and young children. Carotenemia is more easily appreciated in light-complexioned people, and it may present chiefly as an orange discolouration of the palms and the soles in more darkly pigmented persons.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carotenosis#cite_note-3">[4]</a> Carotenemia does not cause selective orange discoloration of the conjunctiva of the eyes (orange coloration over the <a title="Sclera" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclera">sclera</a>), and thus is usually easy to distinguish from the yellowing of the skin caused by bile pigments, in states of <a title="Jaundice" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaundice">jaundice</a>.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCx4gIKn9bR-idwlFZyTL-79o8pGR5lf0Vz5zIcE9v9ZOmGhkh7upyz2HTxLzAcU_zsRm0-u3ZPJqLufmyp0iPK0SV1ZLLrS2D-amlvHo32aLgftQwqbZM5ZRWGNL54rAm9e9UAsd8AHy5/s1600-h/1DSCF1482blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424965961736928754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 342px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCx4gIKn9bR-idwlFZyTL-79o8pGR5lf0Vz5zIcE9v9ZOmGhkh7upyz2HTxLzAcU_zsRm0-u3ZPJqLufmyp0iPK0SV1ZLLrS2D-amlvHo32aLgftQwqbZM5ZRWGNL54rAm9e9UAsd8AHy5/s400/1DSCF1482blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> She has learned to climb on everything, before she was a little scared to, and now, I have to rescue her off things all day. She is sitting in the sink of their play house in the picture above.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>I love living in Arizona in the winter, it has been in the 70's here and we can wear shorts and short sleeves. Amanda usually wears tights under her clothes, she is skinny with very little body fat, and needs more clothing than us. It was 75 the day I took that picture.<br /><br />Amanda is changing a little every day, people notice she is friendlier, laughs more, and self stims less. She surprises us daily, and it is very heartening to see her opening up more. I know adoption is hard on our kids, so many stressful changes, but I think they show remarkable resilience considering.<br /></div><div></div></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-31735450415062093282009-10-13T21:58:00.003-07:002009-12-23T00:39:38.963-07:00Gift of Adoption Fund<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd0R7cdgDr_-OgNIwABYoNB37I_DNuTmi10Mq51HzrpVuR8uOY0p5CObClA9I0QXhD7yJiJsPch0Vp3p4ooCAJAGK_MkFBSoyigKIIk1tf6PG-PgZf56g1eCoD9osBPDSjBs_kg_vUYVb/s1600-h/1DSCF0941blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392315819502720962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 377px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd0R7cdgDr_-OgNIwABYoNB37I_DNuTmi10Mq51HzrpVuR8uOY0p5CObClA9I0QXhD7yJiJsPch0Vp3p4ooCAJAGK_MkFBSoyigKIIk1tf6PG-PgZf56g1eCoD9osBPDSjBs_kg_vUYVb/s400/1DSCF0941blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>Amanda would not have come home without the help of quite o few friends and organizations who helped us with fundraising. Gift of Adoption Fund helped us with Kara's adoption too, with Amanda, they came through when we were feeling desperate and praying hard that we would get what we needed to travel to Estonia and bring our sweet daughter home.<br /><br />They have a new website, guess who is listed in their success stories? <a href="http://www.giftofadoption.org/success/familyStories.html">http://www.giftofadoption.org/success/familyStories.html</a> Yep, our Amanda!<br /><br />If you have extra money for donations this year, consider sending some their way, they help hundreds of families realize their dreams of adoption, families like ours!Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-54800353401090603882009-09-17T09:08:00.006-07:002009-09-18T23:15:01.218-07:00Getting closer to self feeding!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN4xFBnniP4hp6pIPi1gf7wv8Ri3-QcoUmXtMpNxcwIuIf6UpQ_cV5LDzX3xcMegKPpR1Go2vKoIq9eUvcnVFe5XUJqzSX-fgpXz4LE6nETVHjDaP3wxmh-LV_ymDDChSrzF2O0bsxIx8/s1600-h/1DSCF0530blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382469404826245794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN4xFBnniP4hp6pIPi1gf7wv8Ri3-QcoUmXtMpNxcwIuIf6UpQ_cV5LDzX3xcMegKPpR1Go2vKoIq9eUvcnVFe5XUJqzSX-fgpXz4LE6nETVHjDaP3wxmh-LV_ymDDChSrzF2O0bsxIx8/s400/1DSCF0530blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> Amanda last night, three of us have cold sores form being ill, lovely huh? Amanda had feeding therapy on Tuesday and she was picking up her spoon and bringing it to her mouth! Something she would not have done even a month ago, she is getting close to feeding herself, isn't that wonderful?<br /><br />Actually she has made quite a few gains in her development and we are so happy to see these positive changes.<br /><br />She is beginning to play with toys, not just wiggle them, but to look at them and explore them and turn pages of books. Her self-awareness is increasing daily too. I believe it is from spending the summer in the pool and getting all that sensory feedback, but she also seems to trust us more.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdgrq8tUExfSxRWd6WRatInNUNse9K7wlN2XwLgDAuJKZ0k1_tDO8FODZU_6pHYsZwGvlEpSHBeLihaiG7waxlSkPF705L0005mWNqpsNPslQfUH_0W-foVb2WpPvGPoyCz0X3dOSkFbJ/s1600-h/1DSCF0474blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382469170787953234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdgrq8tUExfSxRWd6WRatInNUNse9K7wlN2XwLgDAuJKZ0k1_tDO8FODZU_6pHYsZwGvlEpSHBeLihaiG7waxlSkPF705L0005mWNqpsNPslQfUH_0W-foVb2WpPvGPoyCz0X3dOSkFbJ/s400/1DSCF0474blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>She is taking 3-4 steps when she tries to walk, but I know walking by herself is months away, she has very under-developed muscles, but she is getting stronger. She is getting a social smile, actually smiling at people who say hi to her, not all the time, but anything is better than hiding her face from them!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvUz5tJwiYry-8WT_TJ6CEEewUHSPpiClx9Ez3EdzmdJRU5bzy0k4QHkQZ8lrQ1mbGfweHVGr_14rvDmv28ZiWyshiM4xQwHyJKqanLDsLIJiTm8UaG3KxadBW7DtRxMjTvC1MlJE9e3-/s1600-h/1DSCF0480blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382469272553272258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvUz5tJwiYry-8WT_TJ6CEEewUHSPpiClx9Ez3EdzmdJRU5bzy0k4QHkQZ8lrQ1mbGfweHVGr_14rvDmv28ZiWyshiM4xQwHyJKqanLDsLIJiTm8UaG3KxadBW7DtRxMjTvC1MlJE9e3-/s400/1DSCF0480blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here she is playing outside, yes my girls get very dirty outside, she has a blast in the grass and we have also seen her eat dirt, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">arg</span>!<br /></div><div>Today we had a few people over and she went from person to person, climbing in laps and sitting for a bit. In speech she cooperated with most of her therapy too. </div><div> </div><div>It is heartening to see her growing and learning and to know she will continue to improve in small ways. Her autistic behaviors remain, they are no better or worse. At this point in her life, it is not a huge hindrance in her social development because she spends the day with us and we do not demand what a school would of her, we do not overly stress her and give her space when she needs it. I think we made the right choice in keeping her home with us. I understand everyone has different <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">priorities</span>, I want Kara and Amanda to have a good foundation of support and bonding before they are thrust into another experience. I suppose I do not want to share the girls with others yet, I am not certain, but my heart tells me we are doing what is right for them, for us. </div><div></div></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-57096486296939908572009-07-16T09:08:00.002-07:002009-07-16T09:27:55.176-07:00We are who we areDigesting information, getting used to saying "She was diagnosed with autism" to therapists, yes, that was what the last two weeks were like for me. No one was surprised, everyone expected it, Amanda is who she is.<br /><br />SO now we move forward, "she is not terminal for heavens sakes", that is what I told myself as I kicked myself in the butt, "time to move on Kris". <br /><br />Last night was HOT, we were all uncomfortable and no one was falling asleep, Julia was restless, Meghan was too, and Amanda and Kara were in the cribs playing at midnight. Amanda, giggling her head off and having so much fun, we had to go and see what she was doing. She was just plain happy, she is a relatively happy little girl, and she engages in simple pleasures that bring her tremendous joy. Rocking on a toy, playing in the water, being held and tickled.<br /><br />We think she loves us, we love her, and we will all help her as much as we can. We are used to the scenic route in our lives journey, this is just another trip on a road we have not travelled. There is always something exciting about going a new way, lets get started!Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-20981326914095979892009-07-03T11:46:00.005-07:002009-07-03T12:59:29.547-07:00A is for Autism and for Amanda...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSpMONv0G9uhcsKfDJsIKcUEa_SOVd7sVlh8oQT23O_ngGdtzZQK14FhYHEpPoSrvWLiUT9Sj3vJP5xzUusvOlelCkeBL0fP6PXGEuzEBv4ki1GBb-IpKxgOuPniXjMjTP2EnUe99x29r/s1600-h/DSCF0081blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354309303464278882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSpMONv0G9uhcsKfDJsIKcUEa_SOVd7sVlh8oQT23O_ngGdtzZQK14FhYHEpPoSrvWLiUT9Sj3vJP5xzUusvOlelCkeBL0fP6PXGEuzEBv4ki1GBb-IpKxgOuPniXjMjTP2EnUe99x29r/s400/DSCF0081blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> The pictures I don't post, the head dropping down, her averting her eyes because maintaining eye-contact causes her stress. So many of the same pictures over and over and over, hundreds of them; why show them? They actually make me quite sad because when the camera is not out we see an animated Amanda, and then when she sees it she retreats, hiding her face, avoiding me. She also does the same thing with new people, she will relax after a bit, scoot over to them and sit in their laps, and then try to scratch them with a grimace on her face, strange behavior, wish we knew why she has that urge?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiupLRR8YK3csxjkIR48YrDslkWwWJH2Fj3hbdpUtpU1_UF3TNWL_nafeMmNmmdO11v9ytaRTj1aPcwfg2q6q9Sk6U2F6dDCkNbBDe7WJK4APfoi8Zspnp0cF3Q6fuyoYJ6r_gcO-_Jg0E/s1600-h/1DSCF0046blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354309050200811330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiupLRR8YK3csxjkIR48YrDslkWwWJH2Fj3hbdpUtpU1_UF3TNWL_nafeMmNmmdO11v9ytaRTj1aPcwfg2q6q9Sk6U2F6dDCkNbBDe7WJK4APfoi8Zspnp0cF3Q6fuyoYJ6r_gcO-_Jg0E/s400/1DSCF0046blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> We knew Amanda had some issues that were characteristic of autism, but like everyone; friends here, family, on-line friends, we had hoped and prayed it was institutional. Something that could resolve over time, and maybe some things still can and will, but we waited the year we were asked to wait, all the time seeing so many positive changes, but knowing, some things that should be better, weren't.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>"Your daughter has all the makers to indicate she has autism". That is what Dr T, the developmental pediatrician we saw yesterday, said to me. She also asked me, "But now what? Do you want me to write this down, that your daughter may have a triple diagnosis? Aniridia, Down syndrome, Autism? Your daughter is a complex little girl Mrs L., but you knew that, didn't you?" and "What will it change for her, will it provide her better care than she receives? Additional therapies? With our state budget in the toilet, can you get the therapy?" So many questions, she was very kind and compassionate, I had tears in my eyes while we both looked at Amanda, both of us wishing Amanda would get a break.<br /><br />We talked about Amanda's other diagnosis, Aniridia. We got the notice from the insurance, they agreed to pay for the <a href="http://www.aniridia.org/conditions/pax6.html">PAX6 </a>F.I.S.H. test. The most important issue surrounding an Aniridia diagnosis and whether or not she will need renal screening for life, the mutation of the PAX6 gene predisposes those people to renal cancer. We have not called to schedule the blood work yet, preferring to do all three girls at once, and Amanda's one year physical is coming up in a couple of weeks. If the test is negative, then her increased chance of renal cancer is gone. That would mean that our Amanda would more likely have <a href="http://www.aniridia.org/conditions/gillespie.html">Gillespie Syndrome</a>. Even more rare than Aniridia. One fact remains, Amanda's pupils are huge, they are corrugated and bleed into the iris, she has poor vision, though not dysfunctional. And we have witnessed episodes of nystagmus. Something is going on there, but if it does not threaten her life, I am not going to stress about it.<br /><br />Because of the nystamus and what seem to be momentary lapses in consciousness, she will also get an EEG to rule out epilepsy. Dr T does not seem to think this is Amanda's issue, but her therapists are concerned, so we will rule this out.<br /><br />I hold her, love her, feed her, bathe her, she is my daughter, and yet knowing that even the professionals agree with the autism diagnosis makes me incredibly sad. I remember almost two years ago seeing her face for the first time and asking A if she had autism. I looked at her and I KNEW something was missing from her gaze, it was not engaging, it did not connect to the camera, does that make sense? So even two years ago I was concerned about Amanda having autism, but more than anything I wanted to be WRONG about that.<br /><br />On to the next chapter of her life, she is making progress, and that is what really matters. She is up another pound and is nearly 3 ft tall, she IS GROWING.<br /></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-77493399682554025852009-06-25T16:13:00.013-07:002009-06-25T16:52:16.821-07:00Now and then-ADOPTION DAY ANNIVERSARYRandom pictures from a year ago, and the last couple of days.<br /><br />Posts from last year:<br /><br />24<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> <a href="http://ukiestoniamomto8.blogspot.com/2008/06/zen-baby.html">http://ukiestoniamomto8.blogspot.com/2008/06/zen-baby.html</a><br />25<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> <a href="http://ukiestoniamomto8.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-are-proud-to-announce.html">http://ukiestoniamomto8.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-are-proud-to-announce.html</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKvvjCOe4zcdwUUq-c-1spE4MYk_SNgCG2tOoB3FdSyGsPtFRId0WjVFpGwGrYt3gY0YobqZXxJwNGNojeRq5DvbGVgeWIeHxgNDlcA-PRMj8VdHzzzDWoB90oC0OKfG5fXFNgjskIfI1/s1600-h/1P6254282blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351411191281364018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKvvjCOe4zcdwUUq-c-1spE4MYk_SNgCG2tOoB3FdSyGsPtFRId0WjVFpGwGrYt3gY0YobqZXxJwNGNojeRq5DvbGVgeWIeHxgNDlcA-PRMj8VdHzzzDWoB90oC0OKfG5fXFNgjskIfI1/s400/1P6254282blog.jpg" /></a> Daddy walking Amanda out of our apartment in Tallinn on adoption day. She was frightened poor baby.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmymgn_svov6WMiMgLIPTBfpz-TRqr5X4sDlDK_kUxcuakb25RLoYUXqnD1Dc9iYcvH8dv1BiJzFKABv_1tUUdhPU3w6h30bud0UCEJAUHTxaVKPpM66NGtCfnnchthBK2RvGQbTqXX7V/s1600-h/P6254285court.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351412481499172994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmymgn_svov6WMiMgLIPTBfpz-TRqr5X4sDlDK_kUxcuakb25RLoYUXqnD1Dc9iYcvH8dv1BiJzFKABv_1tUUdhPU3w6h30bud0UCEJAUHTxaVKPpM66NGtCfnnchthBK2RvGQbTqXX7V/s400/P6254285court.jpg" /></a> The courtroom in Tallinn, Tom and I sat on the left, Tom was holding his Amanda in his lap. I remember vividly when Igor told us he already saw a change in Amanda. Maybe she knew she finally had a family of her own.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7tKVhUv-zmKF-Z2XZIVifJ76bRdzqN1VomHur0HdbwHsn8uBKyYt2l6Z1BHaVw4YmX89KLCnNrir2R3jNO_yPYSd0R_gWn9K7Q2rNeT8vKoiqslOpVvJZClw4bB4_LIUrKLvru080t4b/s1600-h/1DSCF0171blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 361px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351411081796158434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7tKVhUv-zmKF-Z2XZIVifJ76bRdzqN1VomHur0HdbwHsn8uBKyYt2l6Z1BHaVw4YmX89KLCnNrir2R3jNO_yPYSd0R_gWn9K7Q2rNeT8vKoiqslOpVvJZClw4bB4_LIUrKLvru080t4b/s400/1DSCF0171blog.jpg" /></a> First thing this morning, after breakfast of course :o) Amanda is not happy until she has had her food. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">LOL</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B79jMOVHkZBIyR3aoOE2L0sF5OTnckhlOnF8S4z-IHsaZvO92toztxPhuC5ezWyu67cGRYlw3FaJzhYAN-lELl6f_EcKgUda638u58S4Ckwg8KPkboYhhCra5L1RhhTdUaePlQnUDM5M/s1600-h/1DSCF0169blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351410992509509042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B79jMOVHkZBIyR3aoOE2L0sF5OTnckhlOnF8S4z-IHsaZvO92toztxPhuC5ezWyu67cGRYlw3FaJzhYAN-lELl6f_EcKgUda638u58S4Ckwg8KPkboYhhCra5L1RhhTdUaePlQnUDM5M/s400/1DSCF0169blog.jpg" /></a> Amanda does not like getting her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">picture</span> taken, in fact, most of the time she either ducks her head or turns away from me. Little stinker, this morning she was so happy, giggly, hugging us, think she knew it has been a year since we adopted her?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zH4DE7dd54QZJJ0DsSPY-U2BcOEKfpV95OO4cxUbb9UNg3KnF7bwNCEU6_iq9ofqHzePq7zy4E8FOs58jLEDdCrYqMOm_EzMELnVaz-lqhAoasadKzxQleVZHHoxXT2ANh_V-R_AgLAW/s1600-h/1P6254299blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 331px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351410843850503714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zH4DE7dd54QZJJ0DsSPY-U2BcOEKfpV95OO4cxUbb9UNg3KnF7bwNCEU6_iq9ofqHzePq7zy4E8FOs58jLEDdCrYqMOm_EzMELnVaz-lqhAoasadKzxQleVZHHoxXT2ANh_V-R_AgLAW/s400/1P6254299blog.jpg" /></a> Amanda in the van waiting for Tom to fill out his embassy paperwork, he was leaving the next morning to America.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ9cm3GrzeX5w9Y6ucrM_4RY6TQlLMdep6jI19x-qPjUeNp3EG8P26UaYxabosKZBgN6HGzcrI1N1GNW9C4-8dnxpxdBx68YpCLJ88rBE1D8oLM9Sx-5cVjYRwC_v3WASzl4gnO3iOp-v/s1600-h/1DSCF0096blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 387px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351410732828399202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ9cm3GrzeX5w9Y6ucrM_4RY6TQlLMdep6jI19x-qPjUeNp3EG8P26UaYxabosKZBgN6HGzcrI1N1GNW9C4-8dnxpxdBx68YpCLJ88rBE1D8oLM9Sx-5cVjYRwC_v3WASzl4gnO3iOp-v/s400/1DSCF0096blog.jpg" /></a> Outside after a day in the pool. Her hair is even white that it was now, all that sun.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRzsO3YrE0PfLTbpnHQ7hcxYU_8mpFUv-O7cTxbwo2KZzpWksAZ1DFM0_MNm12naBwWEFp7xTAuykHiV-6o_hDt93Vt3xDIIgX1fBQ92f_T7rYO7F_gsD21vHdeSN-bO6yLiHf2k9wbA0/s1600-h/1DSCF0089blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351409772854542786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRzsO3YrE0PfLTbpnHQ7hcxYU_8mpFUv-O7cTxbwo2KZzpWksAZ1DFM0_MNm12naBwWEFp7xTAuykHiV-6o_hDt93Vt3xDIIgX1fBQ92f_T7rYO7F_gsD21vHdeSN-bO6yLiHf2k9wbA0/s400/1DSCF0089blog.jpg" /></a> Such a stinker, I took so many picture of her trying to get her to smile.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAMga1IYWSVVLSPqNtXVks0_tkNWvGo5SFEf4IfFiUiRsIqHkDR23LZqPzgwLT9eORHvUecilJdkl0gOl2xdEPPMMAoUnr3LrFMGOQLfSffd1e1jWQhIbzLC7-Ki-vuG-TYVP3TcCGp5D/s1600-h/1DSCF0064blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351409512684511538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAMga1IYWSVVLSPqNtXVks0_tkNWvGo5SFEf4IfFiUiRsIqHkDR23LZqPzgwLT9eORHvUecilJdkl0gOl2xdEPPMMAoUnr3LrFMGOQLfSffd1e1jWQhIbzLC7-Ki-vuG-TYVP3TcCGp5D/s400/1DSCF0064blog.jpg" /></a> Getting in her pool, hard to keep her out of it.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQ7NoJdZSZ1PcU2tW5cmyyuPpbFfzh4jjHEMS_dEO6rZLMH3b9YRPzsV17dJovR6bmi6fE33HbOiLb3N96U56YJ1f2hTk6F_kjh_23wjFiMa9OenlDLhH6sIuOvo9uvZQ_rTdaKtey4yX/s1600-h/P6254308a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351408022779817746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQ7NoJdZSZ1PcU2tW5cmyyuPpbFfzh4jjHEMS_dEO6rZLMH3b9YRPzsV17dJovR6bmi6fE33HbOiLb3N96U56YJ1f2hTk6F_kjh_23wjFiMa9OenlDLhH6sIuOvo9uvZQ_rTdaKtey4yX/s400/P6254308a.jpg" /></a> What a face, she is such a funny little girl!<br /><br /><strong></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzZHNfTJx7qef1RxZN7g6TQa_fdudT4tmyUgGGqC7LHEZYelmkYSO7luUq_7eunxz7zCaaVhQci9OlU55a3_BX9WgFQ7BEk9y1L550RD0HGVD8tLbkMmC12Hyze_ei8Y4XcUqJpHHDbvf/s1600-h/1DSCF0115blog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351414315345774562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzZHNfTJx7qef1RxZN7g6TQa_fdudT4tmyUgGGqC7LHEZYelmkYSO7luUq_7eunxz7zCaaVhQci9OlU55a3_BX9WgFQ7BEk9y1L550RD0HGVD8tLbkMmC12Hyze_ei8Y4XcUqJpHHDbvf/s400/1DSCF0115blog.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />Our beautiful and complex little girl, she has come a long way, but has a ways to go to catch up. We are very proud to call her ours.Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-60905806247394298432009-06-23T17:14:00.003-07:002009-06-23T18:07:25.373-07:00Gotcha Day-one year agoAs I mentioned, we were concerned that we would not be allowed to see Amanda before her adoption day, which was the 25th of June. Thankfully Igor was able to take us to her orphanage. We watched her being fed while laying flat on her back, some broth and sugar water, kind of explains why she cannot move food back using her tongue yet, no lateral movements, and always with a sucking motion. They do the best they can in the orphanages, this is a common practic during meal time from what we have heard and seen, but it makes me sad for Amanda (and all the special needs orphans fed this way), who must be fed soft foods to this day, she is progressing but slowly.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSu9JkSxWLDRt4k7Cyun_Rqq2Ixg8AGsO4_DY8Z45kmBvMXBa-CAx0hMUtlKClawRVGgd3wh4CgIP0wa3IgevNOnRkNx-TgBZTHzlZPHri3j5-gzQx59jrFVUaGpStnulChbU7_uDC7Zd/s1600-h/P6234104a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350682688828893650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 382px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSu9JkSxWLDRt4k7Cyun_Rqq2Ixg8AGsO4_DY8Z45kmBvMXBa-CAx0hMUtlKClawRVGgd3wh4CgIP0wa3IgevNOnRkNx-TgBZTHzlZPHri3j5-gzQx59jrFVUaGpStnulChbU7_uDC7Zd/s400/P6234104a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You can read about her gotcha day here, our post from last year.<br /><a href="http://ukiestoniamomto8.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-have-amanda-with-us.html">http://ukiestoniamomto8.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-have-amanda-with-us.html</a>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-39349731819189329652009-06-22T07:45:00.008-07:002009-06-22T09:20:43.863-07:00Second day- reminiscing about Amanda's adoption<a href="http://ukiestoniamomto8.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-are-here.html">http://ukiestoniamomto8.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-are-here.html</a> What we wrote last year<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda8z2oQa9xYBnnKaUErnd7MjaSG_BbYCjMnanABK7dMpm7SsDxYsPL7MFrg5iS903fxgqpOQ45UjlFJlFfdTKAeAPXJXEuqLN62R8gYZDsHjZxNIU9iCL8tGHckady_29ooWJ5VMnsS4A/s1600-h/24.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350166388690536978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda8z2oQa9xYBnnKaUErnd7MjaSG_BbYCjMnanABK7dMpm7SsDxYsPL7MFrg5iS903fxgqpOQ45UjlFJlFfdTKAeAPXJXEuqLN62R8gYZDsHjZxNIU9iCL8tGHckady_29ooWJ5VMnsS4A/s400/24.JPG" border="0" /></a>This time last year... Tom was out and about later that evening, seeing Old Town and marvelling over it, and I was sleeping off jet lag. Our first meal in Estonia? MC Donald's!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJgFqy1EWBnRJ0srsrjqS8Yao7TgI8WIAv74NBA5AXWJo2Kn_nYKUoP2pomAESBZWLvSrJZZDfUw5pNZDaOMHS0SUWHPxCkYXcEc1h7FjOEv09BbiI_wAonizVRlIOl_a-XLIVHPxDtuN/s1600-h/1DSCF0002blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350165342416626802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJgFqy1EWBnRJ0srsrjqS8Yao7TgI8WIAv74NBA5AXWJo2Kn_nYKUoP2pomAESBZWLvSrJZZDfUw5pNZDaOMHS0SUWHPxCkYXcEc1h7FjOEv09BbiI_wAonizVRlIOl_a-XLIVHPxDtuN/s400/1DSCF0002blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> Amanda loves to do two things, play in the wading pool and rock on her doggie (uhem, Kara's doggy)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkG_MRTPVKPuUvm8xONBXTzwnk-dJZWTc2l7RwdyP6sNlCtEdbw4yJN4ApEzmJJQ3lTkXVenz-g3R5a6S5RlaGR5YSUDu63a2urL4AyktIMk_vn-pJ_cd8wXUR__fZWNnHF8HZN7bk8h-/s1600-h/P6254312a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350167293821886642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 371px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkG_MRTPVKPuUvm8xONBXTzwnk-dJZWTc2l7RwdyP6sNlCtEdbw4yJN4ApEzmJJQ3lTkXVenz-g3R5a6S5RlaGR5YSUDu63a2urL4AyktIMk_vn-pJ_cd8wXUR__fZWNnHF8HZN7bk8h-/s400/P6254312a.jpg" border="0" /></a> Being out in the sun every day has brought about some changes in Amanda's skin, we just call her Surfer Girl, she looks like a little beach bum! Who would have thought that our blue-white daughter could get such a dark tan?<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JGKIHiO597orOi_yOnr5ZpwivwrZBxpfFV7Nwy8m75vsByVja_HTjIX_TXyF0dq7aY8hYuZXD5A8cKAFKTQ2H97BEbYSmQmNgGlH98kEUOwMnnMitQ-C2_VJQBIzB0g84jK7SHDanLut/s1600-h/1DSCF0021blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350165267298722370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JGKIHiO597orOi_yOnr5ZpwivwrZBxpfFV7Nwy8m75vsByVja_HTjIX_TXyF0dq7aY8hYuZXD5A8cKAFKTQ2H97BEbYSmQmNgGlH98kEUOwMnnMitQ-C2_VJQBIzB0g84jK7SHDanLut/s400/1DSCF0021blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> When Amanda saw the geneticist, he asked us if we were concerned about her slight build and weight, we told him no, not really, but everyone else seemed to be. We know how much the little mite eats, and believe me when I say, it is A LOT. Thing with Amanda is, she never just sits, if she is sitting on the sofa, she is rocking and bouncing off it. She rocks outside on the rocking dog, or sits with her legs in the air and her arms waving about. She is in constant motion. Watching her is like watching some one do aerobics for 12 hours. She likely burns off too many calories, she eats organic food, healthy food, and we do not give our kids junk food with the exception of all natural cheese puffs and organic corn chips. Though he said we could "fatten her up" with a calorie dense (spelled high fat) diet, he said that he would not recommend it, nor would we do it. Subcutaneous fat does not equal health. So in a round about way I am saying, we accept it is who she is right now. I WISH I had her metabolism.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQrd_PwtGI1IVVrj22XMVhotIWZFFVNiCU2DZuPjrL7rIoPx5V5dBElQAz2nZ_d24SzsCDPhTn9W4KRrtsG_SoR3CM8FrAjEZQPpEZgZwY3OciWZqL810zfCON96nZkj9C6DJogHQSdnk/s1600-h/1DSCF0039blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350165182664159346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQrd_PwtGI1IVVrj22XMVhotIWZFFVNiCU2DZuPjrL7rIoPx5V5dBElQAz2nZ_d24SzsCDPhTn9W4KRrtsG_SoR3CM8FrAjEZQPpEZgZwY3OciWZqL810zfCON96nZkj9C6DJogHQSdnk/s400/1DSCF0039blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> We have decided not to take her to any more developmental specialists in Tucson, they know absolutely nothing about post-institutionalized children, and it is a waste of our time and of the money. The developmental pediatrician, while a sweet woman, did nothing at all to enlighten us in terms of behavior or their development. We got a You are doing a good job with them", and since we already had therapy in place for Amanda in areas where she needed the most help, the doctor did not recommend anything but the autism screening. Today was the day Amanda was to be evaluated for Autism, the insurance mess was never fixed, and frankly, what good would it do? This is the same office where we have seen all the specialists and we know that as a team, they are not knowledgeable about our kids from orphanages. </div><br /><div><br />We all agree Amanda does have some emotional issues, I know that every adoptive parent reading this will say "Maybe it is RAD?" and I cannot say no, absolutely not, but again, I do not think so, but who would evaluate that anyway? The doctors we saw knew of no one that was knowledgeable about <a href="http://www.radkid.org/signs_and_symptoms.html">RAD</a> in our area. The only doctor I found on the west coast to help us with post-institutionalized behaviors is in Bakersfield CA. I do not believe Amanda's (or Kara's) are severe enough to warrant a trip there. Autism comes up a lot, and possible petit mal seizures have also been mentioned (just last Friday). So yes, she will see a neurologist to rule that out, though not one of the doctors who have seen her has seen anything pointing to epilepsy. Her yearly physical is coming up in July, we can ask about referrals then. She does have plagiocephaly therefor epilepsy is a possibility, though we have not noticed anything resembling a temporary lapse in consciousness or awareness. Amanda's ST thought she noticed some <a href="http://www.lowvision.org/nystagmus.htm">nystagmus</a> the other day. Amanda does have a partial expression of <a href="http://www.aniridia.org/conditions/index.html">Aniridia</a>, the nystagmus could be part of that diagnosis and not point to epilepsy at all. Answers to more questions...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Amanda's health history is a puzzle to us, we do not have detailed information about her health or development. We got a booklet with medical information jotted down in Estonian, I have no idea what it says, though the doctor we saw for Amanda's exit medical went over it with me and indicated that is merely listed her immunizations and each time she saw a doctor. I have not felt an urgent need to get it translated. She is <strong>healthy</strong>, she got a runny nose this winter when the rest of us were sick with multiple flu's, strep and Fifth disease (Kara). She is happy, and so giggly, and finds so many things intensely amusing, especially the 5 kittens who frolic and play with her daily. All of our cats adore Amanda, and she is loving towards them. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We think she is adjusting well to life in a family, yet she has a ways to go too. She continues to prefer to be alone more than in the mix of things, but then so do I, and so does her brother. Some of us do not like to be around a lot of people (yes, even someone that taught group fitness for 25 years can dislike being around big groups of people). I would be more worried about that if she did not seek attention and cuddles, but she does. She loves to be held, and she loves her daddy most of all. </div></div></div></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-13304967830102426942009-06-21T00:53:00.003-07:002009-06-21T00:57:12.461-07:00Last year on this day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQMqFh57jCA19Lp3qSzqTFHUkLyzfUkA1VVuUGhplt7ICKm0jTkIxNKkQDYYls5MxXnYDSwZTCdGWM00GEW6TCZyJ6WYFY_i4eA5z_YiRHaznwMCb6n0dAUbB92V85QvyqBpprQggT3uM/s1600-h/1DSCF0056blogs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349686514998635522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQMqFh57jCA19Lp3qSzqTFHUkLyzfUkA1VVuUGhplt7ICKm0jTkIxNKkQDYYls5MxXnYDSwZTCdGWM00GEW6TCZyJ6WYFY_i4eA5z_YiRHaznwMCb6n0dAUbB92V85QvyqBpprQggT3uM/s400/1DSCF0056blogs.jpg" border="0" /></a>Tom and I were on our way to meet Amanda for the first time! Can you believe it has been a year? I will be doing some reminiscing over the next 19 days, the length of time it took us to adopt Amanda and bring her home. I cannot believe how fast the year flew by!Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-20440393795446228542009-04-13T20:04:00.007-07:002009-04-13T20:14:34.657-07:00Some sweet pictures of Manda MooAfter two rainy days and a 20 degree drop in temperature, we finally had a pretty day for the girls to play. Amanda had fallen asleep in the living room chair earlier today, so she skipped her afternoon nap, and while Kara slept at the usual time, Amanda was up and ready for fun! Once again we missed getting pictures of Kara, but we will get some tomorrow. :o)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQEsSxYluYizIlqDY0wMg73JnjcHy5X8tsq7s0MrZl4I7VWmDykR_KwdJLWivDoE7wyAzWfnPDi311FtuMS41wKBEOQWYH95dKdhN8iSRKKiZwNm31SiX9oNF_IhYR1FhUqMTDYHZQOAk/s1600-h/1DSCF0249blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324378281604472402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 373px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQEsSxYluYizIlqDY0wMg73JnjcHy5X8tsq7s0MrZl4I7VWmDykR_KwdJLWivDoE7wyAzWfnPDi311FtuMS41wKBEOQWYH95dKdhN8iSRKKiZwNm31SiX9oNF_IhYR1FhUqMTDYHZQOAk/s400/1DSCF0249blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> Amanda is getting some fat on her, it is nice to see some toddler plumpness on her tiny little frame. Lately she has tried very hard to stand up, she usually falls back on her bum, but she thinks that is hilarious too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdQN1xtEMY0bhdoqcQpd2a-JmbuEY4eVckfO6GklXDuzdy6bFWWBclv34H76mI6FV5R8Sl5QJQSp3orsilkKBCk1oMNJRi0M-6lsd_VH9t9D1h3YVV9GOnhN_BVMJ6JJ9OSj9vTn2evaT/s1600-h/1DSCF0222blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324378163995728434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdQN1xtEMY0bhdoqcQpd2a-JmbuEY4eVckfO6GklXDuzdy6bFWWBclv34H76mI6FV5R8Sl5QJQSp3orsilkKBCk1oMNJRi0M-6lsd_VH9t9D1h3YVV9GOnhN_BVMJ6JJ9OSj9vTn2evaT/s400/1DSCF0222blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> She adores playing with Meghan, and was giggling so hard today, it made all of us giggle with her. She is such a sweet little girl.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOariWEaNTGs0UZqF5JpSO3LRS8WLKHVKiKvnKuqosVq5vWy0PYEOqvx99xAfxCmtB-JB9QBaG9yvx3rD1vdP3FV0eurjYD4z9sCFY_ikcfHFhjLlVFDZLukl1ui9gmf3DNYG7zu-FL4C/s1600-h/1DSCF0239blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324378073972660994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 366px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOariWEaNTGs0UZqF5JpSO3LRS8WLKHVKiKvnKuqosVq5vWy0PYEOqvx99xAfxCmtB-JB9QBaG9yvx3rD1vdP3FV0eurjYD4z9sCFY_ikcfHFhjLlVFDZLukl1ui9gmf3DNYG7zu-FL4C/s400/1DSCF0239blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ58SBirNH45u2Qr1EZ7L3fxneGc1B6bYlIHR7nqJCfON2OopMG8oiyLtvlnrPJ6rcGh_ruBafQ3AL9M4Vwp0qy5ZYT-iJm-BLaccyk4-dcsOhy0Lxx4G1_pBzHOGTZelOGc2R50jo5x2j/s1600-h/1DSCF0211blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324377948430341842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ58SBirNH45u2Qr1EZ7L3fxneGc1B6bYlIHR7nqJCfON2OopMG8oiyLtvlnrPJ6rcGh_ruBafQ3AL9M4Vwp0qy5ZYT-iJm-BLaccyk4-dcsOhy0Lxx4G1_pBzHOGTZelOGc2R50jo5x2j/s400/1DSCF0211blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> I loved this one of her, she looks so precious.<br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCncwjb1a71JeFbpkXLxLfQYe0b-cK9QYiK6msdQDlTS8FsHqBs0vdpZyrRcZdasMWdL5KMjGQ71C7r9CHKAVbLlt0msItGVk1Xmj7spNmNqVX4HVoyctpFqnmAWsUa8Xl81-Pi-QG3XwL/s1600-h/1DSCF0183blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324377810363868786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 386px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCncwjb1a71JeFbpkXLxLfQYe0b-cK9QYiK6msdQDlTS8FsHqBs0vdpZyrRcZdasMWdL5KMjGQ71C7r9CHKAVbLlt0msItGVk1Xmj7spNmNqVX4HVoyctpFqnmAWsUa8Xl81-Pi-QG3XwL/s400/1DSCF0183blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>Kara is having a hard time keeping Amanda off her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doggie</span>, Amanda's aunt Becky is getting her a rocking animal for her birthday. I think it will help with our little fights around here, Kara is forever pushing Amanda off the dog!. Amanda just moves away to try something else, she rarely gets her feelings hurt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-50103804798893336782009-03-26T08:26:00.001-07:002009-03-26T08:28:11.615-07:00Happy 4th Birthday to Amanda<div style="visibility:visible"><embed src="http://flash.picturetrail.com/pflicks/3/spflick.swf" quality="high" FlashVars="ql=2&src1=http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1600/697614/flicks/1/6873161" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#000000" width="390" height="300" name="geometric" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" style="height:300px;width:390px" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></div><br /><br />We have a busy day today, so we will post pictures later on today. I cannot believe our sweet little girl is 4. And now we have two 4 year olds.Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-77590785474651649722009-03-25T12:14:00.005-07:002009-03-25T16:29:02.275-07:008 months at homeTomorrow is a HUGE day for Amanda, her 4th birthday, and her first birthday at home with us!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBjhc7DWEyPbSefyTSpzHZxx9DGB1Xd3dli3hLqRyHhOBhczAx2gJWTKsNntDDG1w9NickHZeRlIB0NVf1PgiOdLZD5Be_sAdeZm9Adn5LgXrvysga4OTaWpYGGjG6Z49ic7Wa7VoIuSO/s1600-h/1P6254313ablog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317208081290588418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 370px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBjhc7DWEyPbSefyTSpzHZxx9DGB1Xd3dli3hLqRyHhOBhczAx2gJWTKsNntDDG1w9NickHZeRlIB0NVf1PgiOdLZD5Be_sAdeZm9Adn5LgXrvysga4OTaWpYGGjG6Z49ic7Wa7VoIuSO/s400/1P6254313ablog.jpg" border="0" /></a>We adopted Amanda 8 months ago today! I just dawned on me that much time has passed, it seems like I was just in Estonia with her and it also feels like she has been here forever! Very confusing. Where in the world did the time go? Do you think she looks different? <div></div><div>Some physical changes include some added weight, darker tanned skin, her hair is getting darker, her eyes seem to be getting darker? Wonder why that is? Not the darker skin, that is AZ sun, but the other things. *G*</div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsw6C93EYx2q__NnLM8MggoRe95onN4RpahgXR12QkNNrI_VisCAzqJXIfreAefkxmMdbK9Z0MJBhAcnTml2CbDZ1H4GIFiXaX3SPHuJ0P4_6473PL503XwkO0xY_WmQkoLZM-xWSlOCF/s1600-h/1DSCF1070ablog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317209204070462850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 332px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsw6C93EYx2q__NnLM8MggoRe95onN4RpahgXR12QkNNrI_VisCAzqJXIfreAefkxmMdbK9Z0MJBhAcnTml2CbDZ1H4GIFiXaX3SPHuJ0P4_6473PL503XwkO0xY_WmQkoLZM-xWSlOCF/s400/1DSCF1070ablog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>The thing we did not realise is how much her skin color changed, it was a gradual change, and then all of a sudden we are wondering when Amanda got a tan!. She used to be a pure bluish white, and now she is a golden tan. LOL The yellow is from beta-carotene, a dermatologist confirmed that, I hope that as she eats more foods, that should resolve. I make a conscious effort to feed her foods of all colors. ;o)</p><p>Amanda and Kara have had runny noses, and they get really sore from constant wiping. Thankfully Amanda is feeling better, I am not so sure they had colds, but instead had allergies, the pollen count here has been astronomically high.</p><p>Amanda and Kara visit a developmental pediatrician tomorrow, we will see what she has to say. I have been filming some of Amanda's quirky behavior, she often shuts down when she is around new people, and I wanted the doctor to see how she acts at home.</p>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-70529579421518353482009-03-23T17:52:00.003-07:002009-03-23T18:46:39.697-07:00Answering commentsAnonymous said...<br />i love your choice of clothes. have noticed previously you are a boutique kind of woman and gymboree. i love her hair bows.<br /><br /><em>Man, am I busted, I admit to loving the more upscale clothing for my girls. I buy from Target, but find their kids clothes do not have the hand-me-down durability of Gymboree or GAP. Most of Amanda and Kara's things were Meghan's, many were bought for resale on eBay, when I used to have a store. I rarely buy retail unless there is a good sale. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>We have two big baskets of hair bows, also many were Meghan's, but when her alopecia took off, the hair pretties made her hair come out faster, so we no longer use them on her. She also complains her scalp hurts when I put barrettes on her. I am very happy to have two little girls whose hair I can put bows in again. Meghan feels badly that she cannot have them too...</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>BTW, I belong to yahoogroups for children's clothing, I have for 5 years, I made very good friends there.</em><br /><em></em><br /><strong>In reference to Amanda's self stim and teeth grinding:</strong><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14314402018363684446" rel="nofollow">Mandy</a> said... <br /><br />After Alex was sick, he regressed A LOT - started doing the head banging and "bumbling" --- went on for about 2 weeks and then faded out - it about drove me nutty though! Hang in there - you are a great mom and Miss Amanda KNOWS it :)<br /><br /><em>Meghan and Kara regressed some too, but Amanda was never ill, which is why I got so perplexed from the regression, though she seems back on an even keel now. Thank you for the compliment, sometimes I feel like the worse mommy ever, especially when all three are grumpy and whiny.</em><br /><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/15250840878487151029" rel="nofollow">Jennifer</a> said...<br />I LOVE the new photos!! She is such a princess! Aidan is a teeth-grinder, and he does it more when he's off schedule, or sleep-deprived, or getting sick. Then things go back to normal.<br /><br /><em>The teeth grinding thing is something that sets me on edge, I can almost hear her destroying all that dental work. It has eased off some, she did it more when she has a runny nose, makes sense, her sinuses were probably hurting her. </em><br /><em></em><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/06568283571712524347" rel="nofollow">Carla</a> said...<br />I just love all the pictures of Amanda. She is just to precious. Victoria our 9 yr. old did the same thing when she first came home. I think when she started getting too comfortable with us she would do it afraid of getting to attached.<br /><br /><em>I wondered about that with Amanda too, you could almost see her thinking "Wait a minute, these folks are relatively new to me, what am I doing trusting them so much?" LOL </em><br /><em></em><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/03234405670230407984" rel="nofollow">Alice</a> said...<br />Any chance she has a tooth bothering? You've probably already checked. Baby teeth can flare up fast!<br /><br /><em>Last time she did this, I rushed her right over to the dentist, he said all her teeth were fine, though if it continues, i will take her back. I am feeling like I am getting the eye roll when I call the various doctors all the time, oh well, they will have to get used to me or we will find another more understanding and welcoming medical team. *BG*</em><br /><em></em><br /><strong>In reference to scooting and buying Amanda a birthday present:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07843057037279743749" rel="nofollow">Cammie Heflin</a> said...<br />Kris there are several things on the Toys R Us website, I found a pony, horse, fire engine, alligator and caterpillar!<br /><br /><em>Thank you for looking for us! I looked on there a few days ago, what we need is a plastic rocker that can endure being outside, we do not have room inside for all their ride on and rocking toys.</em><br /><em></em><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07974293935380325338" rel="nofollow">Meredith</a> said...<br />Happy birthday little one!<br /><br />The scooting is how Brianna got around for about 2 years before she started walking, though about a year before she walked she did learn to crawl but only did it on occasion. I babysat a little girl that was crawling everywhere... she caught on ;)<br /><br />Emma now scoots like that too. She doesn't have the ability yet to separate her arms or legs to move, so if she tries to crawl it comes across with two hands forward then two legs like a little frog hop. We still encourage it but she doesn't like to do it.<br /><br />Eventually Brianna did walk tho and does it just fine, so I'm sure once Amanda is more interested in keeping up with the older girls she'll be up and running! :)<br /><br /><em>Thanks for the birthday greetings, I am looking forward to our little family party for her.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I admit Amanda is a first for me, other than a vidoe, I have never seen a baby or toddler get around this way. It just goes to show how good we humans are at problem solving! I try to get Amanda to crawl and she giggles her head off, apprently she is really ticklish. LOL Makes it more fun to do. Getting her to kneel has been huge challenge fo rme, she fights like no ones business when I try to get her to.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I am just thrilled Emma is doing so well, I bet the frog hop is adorable to see.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Lately Amanda has been working on standing from a squat, talk about a workout, she has a lot of trouble balancing, mostly because she tries to on her tippy toes.</em><br /><em></em><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01173819975698492553" rel="nofollow">Lou</a> said...<br />She's adorable! Mattea knows that scoot too! And I love her pretty, pretty blonde hair---<br /><br /><em>Amanda's hair is so pretty, and of course my husband, who loves blondes...like me I guess...thinks her hair is gorgeous. They are very bonded to one another, it is so wonderful to watch them together. Mattea looks so good, any word on surgery?</em><br /><em></em><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570" rel="nofollow">Leah</a> said...<br /><br />Where in Wisconsin is the pick-up for the rocking toy? Also, I was going to comment on the dry hair issue. The the olive oil on hers too! Angela's hair is still SO SOFT even 3 days later, and believe me, the winter here DRIES US OUT!!! Anyway, I 'm going to be driving out to the Wisconsin Dells this weekend, so if the pick up on that toy is anywhere on my way I'll gladly pick it up! How about a spinning thing? I have a spinning thing from Ikea that Angela used once. It's along the lines of a <span style="color:#006600;">sin-n-spin</span>, but they can lay their whole body on it if they want to.<br /><br /><em>Hi Leah, I have to say first, that I loved your typo; sin-n-spin sounds very naughty! As the quessn of typos, I have written some interesting things...Thank you so much for offering to pick up the toy for Amanda, but when I looked for it again on Craigslist, the listing was deleted, I guess it sold, that is so depressing! I was going to ask if they would consider shipping it. </em><br /><br /><em>I always thought Wisconsin was a wet place, but I suppose we all get dry hair and skin in the winter, I really do not have a point of reference for anywhere but AZ, the only state I have ever lived in. Of course I was in Ukraine for 6 weeks in the winter too, and yes, I remember my lips were very dry, i was thankful for my Burt's Bees lip balm. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>The girls do not play with their spinning toy, but I bet they would yours, I will look on Ikea and see what they have, thanks!</em><br /><em></em><br />Shea mentioned that: Could you maybe make your own spray in with a little olive oil and such. I bet you could come up with something. The pics are cute by the way.<br /><em></em><br /><em>I am going to work on some sprays for the girls hair, Olive Oil sounds like a good idea, I know they make special spray bottles for using it when cooking, why not try it on hair too? I thought the Organic hair product manufacturers may have something, but even those have some estrogen disruptors. Call me goofy, but my 16 year old went through puberty much too early, and I am convinced it is from a lifetime of regular milk, produce with pesticides that mimic estrogen in our bodies, and hair and skin products with <a href="http://www.organicanews.com/news/article.cfm?story_id=5"><span style="color:#006600;">parabens</span></a> and PEG. As a cancer survivor, I am very careful about everything we eat, clean with, and bath with</em><br /><em></em><br /><a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07992982993567059411" rel="nofollow">Charissa</a> said...<br />That last photo reminds me so much of Ava! By the way, Ava scoots too and ruins the seat of her pants. That's why I only buy her clothes at the Goodwill, at least until she is walking! :)<br /><br /><em>I just love Miss Ava! She is petite like Amanda, they do look very similar in body type. Thank goodness for Savers, I get a lot of denim for $1.99 and let maanda do what she may to them. I am glad Kara can wear frillier pants now that she is no longer crawling.</em><br /><em></em>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-55636617258758808202009-03-22T17:34:00.005-07:002009-03-22T18:25:25.256-07:00Cousin it has a sister<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4__lr6G0hdzlj38p07YNjHDSzD6TSpe1y0HhD_MAw_iPw1d0QBVaJdmDpKIStwNIQsShpcsrU3ptkHgqIeMSDK4XUDU4RrQhEf3OfxhcKQagzrJbniMQZ3FAj4ztwhukleoh8hca08A4/s1600-h/1DSCF0056blogc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316188131306374418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4__lr6G0hdzlj38p07YNjHDSzD6TSpe1y0HhD_MAw_iPw1d0QBVaJdmDpKIStwNIQsShpcsrU3ptkHgqIeMSDK4XUDU4RrQhEf3OfxhcKQagzrJbniMQZ3FAj4ztwhukleoh8hca08A4/s400/1DSCF0056blogc.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJfr3iuo9Mgzp4PI1G1_s2y2VAGeCJOeYCr03dz0wGXxYijQaIEqJHwIeTi6VbIjPPzY6RjYXQbaA1XPD9ng5kXjLr1-T9bE8VZ5QdqAfwYkcH97F9hnrHWzAeq2cZ9M5IWwPCoARn8YW/s1600-h/1DSCF0079blogc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316175660912526626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 388px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJfr3iuo9Mgzp4PI1G1_s2y2VAGeCJOeYCr03dz0wGXxYijQaIEqJHwIeTi6VbIjPPzY6RjYXQbaA1XPD9ng5kXjLr1-T9bE8VZ5QdqAfwYkcH97F9hnrHWzAeq2cZ9M5IWwPCoARn8YW/s400/1DSCF0079blogc.jpg" border="0" /></a> Amanda's hair makes me giggle, it all grows forward and covers her face, she reminds me of Cousin It, remember him/her on The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Adam's</span> Family?. Of course you never she Cousin It's face, and we try to move Amanda's hair out of hers. She usually has it up in a hair tie.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB6oMfW-kQHEKTbuna2htn4CruKxGbxU5hBaiVXX5dp0MwH0OX7zdRNLkQCQmQQ8dqJ_w55GpBidKoBOhm1cO5LvMPWXR_t-bW025AZIszS9SAlkzwRuPtZixMSo1pF1HlY4K6x844V2J/s1600-h/1DSCF0059blogc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316175566159111074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB6oMfW-kQHEKTbuna2htn4CruKxGbxU5hBaiVXX5dp0MwH0OX7zdRNLkQCQmQQ8dqJ_w55GpBidKoBOhm1cO5LvMPWXR_t-bW025AZIszS9SAlkzwRuPtZixMSo1pF1HlY4K6x844V2J/s400/1DSCF0059blogc.jpg" border="0" /></a> We just washed her hair, it is so dry right now, we have almost no humidity here, skin, hair, sinuses, all get so dry. We need to find a good spray on conditioner that does not have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">parabens</span>, PEG, or any other harmful ingredients, and so far there is nothing. Why do they put hormone <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">disruptor's</span> in baby products?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBw3m7E4tVHP4Gu95G3NmFMx-XMJoEUnXutSdq1wbZhnr-RVkFmFjFEOW3_-khVu-eSbk5kLAD0DIPDAyFaBYQEyOkJ4Zh-ozFqBAUw6ZPpBzNQuw0Hy6gDtpmbZLLt2Jj6bLc0t7HCCw/s1600-h/1DSCF0112blogc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316175410630614514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBw3m7E4tVHP4Gu95G3NmFMx-XMJoEUnXutSdq1wbZhnr-RVkFmFjFEOW3_-khVu-eSbk5kLAD0DIPDAyFaBYQEyOkJ4Zh-ozFqBAUw6ZPpBzNQuw0Hy6gDtpmbZLLt2Jj6bLc0t7HCCw/s400/1DSCF0112blogc.jpg" border="0" /></a> We got her hair in a ponytail, and she was so happy, she really dislikes it in her face too. Of course I missed the happy faced Amanda by seconds. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">LOL</span> </div></div></div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843700476644280636.post-63160267046108957222009-03-21T22:51:00.004-07:002009-03-21T23:15:28.495-07:00Why we call her Scooter<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gPuLvZ4WO_J0yHEA3zfhzS7j8ifwTTyxT-8QZbDdOJz5tsASrT79uTsw4PpYWWJNvopwRJ7KkdWwTvaVrNCnWpwvzzFN1S72aMIHim3qeWdanzmo8Pitk-6nJhjpXam-KASs6uC-vh2q/s1600-h/1DSCF1005bloga.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315887713912714962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gPuLvZ4WO_J0yHEA3zfhzS7j8ifwTTyxT-8QZbDdOJz5tsASrT79uTsw4PpYWWJNvopwRJ7KkdWwTvaVrNCnWpwvzzFN1S72aMIHim3qeWdanzmo8Pitk-6nJhjpXam-KASs6uC-vh2q/s400/1DSCF1005bloga.jpg" border="0" /></a> I thought I would share a picture of her I posted on Meghan's blog, I am not certain that people who read this one read Meghan's, which is really our family blog. Amanda's blog was meant to be about her adoption...<br /><p align="left"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzl45MpvQjcf0x6kOtYvVQzFWnonPyU8Pak34g_QXdykZP7US1IzHNZ82SjM_DBUcfPxoW2scxDDpOGlzRN0Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Amanda gets around this way most of the time, because of that, she wears jeans all the time. The rear ends of most of her jeans are wearing out, good thing we go to resale shops and get a lot of them, why pay full price for something she will destroy on the cement outside? We do get the skinny jeans most chubby babies can't wear, they fit her perfectly! Please excuse the clutter, it is always around, even 5 minutes after we pick it up! Too little room and too much stuff!</p><p>I wonder why Amanda has chosen to move about this way instead of on her hands and one knee and one foot like she did in Estonia, she still does it occasionally, but mostly she scoots. Her lats are getting stronger, trying scooting like her and see how tired you get! She is skinny, but very strong. We always joke that we are going to put a cleaning rag on her bottom and let her clean the floors for us. We can tell when we need to by her dirty her bum gets too. If she cannot go outside (rain, darkness) we put more delicate bottoms on her, and they pick up everything.</p><p>Amanda's 4th birthday is this Thursday, we are looking for another rocking toy for her, she and Kara fight over Kara's dog. So far Little Tykes does not have a different one in stock and I cannot find anything in Tucson for her. Craigslist had a rocking worm like Kara's in Ukraine, but they wanted local pick up. I believe it was in Wisconsin, so that would be too long of a drive, don't you think? Who would have thought it would be so difficult to find a plastic rocking toy? We do not want a plush rocker, there are plenty of those, Little Tykes also has a horse, but none in stock. I am so discouraged, but will not give up yet. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDB6xVz968nhYGL0mGpjePXHmc2IPNMev5T_7a-nHJ6Fcz_bzgkqbolhZaekDHGdDL4-BMFYPOPIpZCpHYoOsREYRpiXwW3XSdEVZC4uTl-aV793zsUbC0e0vMlsnunuG8oZN_5rUIrWjS/s1600-h/3ma3od3l1ZZZZZZZZZ92q5527a8417eba1aae.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315890459776433122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDB6xVz968nhYGL0mGpjePXHmc2IPNMev5T_7a-nHJ6Fcz_bzgkqbolhZaekDHGdDL4-BMFYPOPIpZCpHYoOsREYRpiXwW3XSdEVZC4uTl-aV793zsUbC0e0vMlsnunuG8oZN_5rUIrWjS/s400/3ma3od3l1ZZZZZZZZZ92q5527a8417eba1aae.jpg" border="0" /></a> The worm like Kara's, I have been looking for over a year for this, I am bummed I cannot get it for the girls, I think Kara would be more inclined to use the worm and Amanda could use the dog, then we could et her a different toy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oRp-pb0p14rlMmVknxY9zcqk6rU7epEBMG1sZhodrDw1YCgxFZ32n4rC6OQYwOVb6o-JJcBlF6nI4mUh0V_xwm1R_Uo0LuEdnIwb0ecNhwpxo_S9xbMA-hggk3imh1kgJd91Bhi2KR-y/s1600-h/PB2119081blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315891031195643746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oRp-pb0p14rlMmVknxY9zcqk6rU7epEBMG1sZhodrDw1YCgxFZ32n4rC6OQYwOVb6o-JJcBlF6nI4mUh0V_xwm1R_Uo0LuEdnIwb0ecNhwpxo_S9xbMA-hggk3imh1kgJd91Bhi2KR-y/s400/PB2119081blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our other option is a sand and water table, though all three would likely play in that. I also looked into a sand box, but with 7 cats, can we keep them out of the very large litter box. What would you recommend for miss Amanda's 4th birthday, keep in mind, she is like an 8 month old in development. </div>Arizona mom to eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875806984101641881noreply@blogger.com5