Time to Catch Up

I am totally in love with my new computer... it is AWESOME. My husband is equally as awesome for surprising me with it for my birthday. Hopefully because of its incredible processing speed, photo editing and blogging will take me a quarter of the time as it did on the old computer!!! Now, since I am waaaay behind in posting on the events of our lives, I hope to have a new post almost every day until I am caught up.

So, sit back and enjoy getting a glimpse of spring 2009 in the Haut House. I'll leave you with some images of my adorable youngest of the brood.

The Horror. The Hope.

Many of you probably heard already on the news of the abortionist being shot to death this morning. As with any murder, I am horrified that a person could take a life in cold blood. Vigilante justice is no exception, after all a thousand wrongs does not make a right.

Naturally, I am sickened by the murder of millions of unborn babies... ESPECIALLY late term abortions in which a viable baby is killed out of convenience. Babies who are developed enough to survive outside its mother's womb, murdered within the womb, therefore making it socially acceptable. The abortionist murdered this morning, was known for his performance of these late-term "terminations."

However, what truly makes me sick is the fact that this man was murdered in his church, while he served as an usher. He was an active member of this church, enough so to actually take the duty of being an usher. Does this not just shock you!? I can't wrap my head around the lack of church discipline here. This isn't some satanic goat sacrificing church. In my eyes it's worse...

1 Peter 2:1 (The Message) But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They'll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They've put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can't tell right from wrong.

This church obviously ignored a huge sin of one of its members. I am not saying Christians within churches are sinless, however habitual sin which is blatant and yet ignored by the governing powers of the church... heartbreaking.

Galatians 6:7 (NIV)
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

I do not condone the murder of this murderer. The man in custody will have to face the consequences of his unlawful actions, as well as the truth that he is no less a sinner than his victim.

This is once more a reminder of the state of our broken world. The sadness and pain we face everyday due to sin. There is hope, praise God:

1 John 5:3-5 (NIV)
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Two Quick Things

I know, I know... no new fun photos yet... honestly, I'm a bit intimidated by my new computer, and I need Noah to help me transfer all my stuff on there. Hopefully in the next day or so, I can start getting up to date on our life (it's been busy!).

I read a blog post yesterday that really spoke to my heart... if you have a chance stop by Books and Bairns and read her post on not being the mother she wants to be. Awesome. MG writes so well and often articulates thoughts that are in my head that I can never get out clearly. She is also a foster to adopt mom with 3 bio kids who homeschools, so I have a lot in common with her.

Secondly, all you ladies with adorable daughters, nieces, granddaughters, etc. Please check out Little Bow Head's Etsy store. She has the cutest hair bows, and I would buy them all if I could. My girls have been looking extra cute due to these sweet bows!

Kristin Speech Update

Today we had two lovely ladies come and evaluate Kristin to see if she is delayed enough to qualify for speech therapy with the early intervention program through the state. Kristin truly enjoyed the attention of her new audience, and started the meeting by "singing" and dancing to three different songs (abc's, twinkle twinkle, and something I didn't recognize). While Kristin can carry a tune perfectly, the lyrics aren't quite there yet.

My funny little entertainer... she was probably the easiest kid these ladies have ever evaluated. Kristin is not at all delayed in the social skills (according to the assessment, she's actually ahead for her age ;-)

However, in the area of communication, Kristin has a 28% delay. The evaluation does not test her clarity of speech, however, and both of the ladies felt like she needed further testing with a speech therapist. Additionally, Kristin's hearing was tested with some gadget (a portable machine of sorts), and while her right ear tested fine, her left ear did not. This may just mean that there was some fluid or wax that gave a false reading, so there is nothing be concerned about until more tests are done, and we have a clear reading.

So, on June 9th we'll head to the Amos Cottage in Winston to meet with a speech therapist and an audiologist. We'll get their opinions and go from there. I am happy we are dealing with the CDSA (Children's Developmental Services Agency) simply for the peace of mind. Hopefully soon, we'll actually understand what our little entertainer is singing.

A Plethora of Posts...

...soon. I promise. My dear husband bought me a NEW iMac for my 30th birthday, and I am simply waiting to load photos and post on my new toy. My old computer is ssssllllooowwwww. Nine years old, and loaded down with a kazillion photos. The poor thing is just not equipped for my love of photography.

So, in the next day or so, my new computer will be up and hopefully functioning. Noah is painting my "new" used desk, courtesy of my mom. My iMac will reside in our bedroom, and we are going to clean off the old computer to keep in the school room/office. Woohooo! I can't wait!

All Grown Up

30. I just can't believe it. I equally can't believe my baby boy is 6. I love how he greeted me with a grin this morning, "Happy Birthday, Mommy." In turn, I sang him "Happy Birthday to Isaac." Such sweetness to share a birthday.

Seeing that it's Memorial Day weekend, the festivities will go through Monday :-) Tonight, Isaac is camping by Granny's fire pit with Daddy and Jefferson. His first real "sleep-over."

I'll have plenty to post on in coming days. Of course, as behind as I am in my posts... ugh.

Washable

Every writing utensil in my home SHOULD have "washable" clearly marked on it... thankfully, this one did.





Would you believe I was in the room when this occurred? I was washing dishes and looked over to the table to see her masterpiece.





I was impressed with how she managed to color her own back, without getting any on her dress. I may have to buy some stock in Crayola... this all came off with a wet wash rag.

In my kitchen.

Honestly, my kitchen is in a perpetual state of chaos. I am not a neat freak, nor am I even slightly organized in my kitchen. Wanna peak?


Dirty dishes seems to have taken permanent residence in the sink.


I bought this not expecting it to work... it's now my new favorite kitchen cleaner. But I still use bleach on occasion.


Love this season of fresh produce.


Drawer after drawer of disaster.


This is bad. Check out one of the meat lifter forks I bought for 10 cents at a yard sale a few years ago... think I have ever used meat lifters? Um, no.


This is the "junk drawer."


Sippy lids and valves, a gross bottle brush, medicine syringes, battery charges, a night light, teether, Little Man's pacifiers we no longer need (hooray) and a random cheese board that I have never used (part of a wedding present over 7 years ago). Seriously. This is pathetic.


I love my dry erase calendar that is on the freezer. I especially love what is written on June 18. (It got moved from July 2). Please be praying for a positive outcome.


My favorite thing in my kitchen is this little dishwasher gnome.


He is also the reason my dishwasher is now catawompous.

Musings and the Tub

Kristin and Little Man are 17 and a half months apart in age... our closest age gap. The other kids are 20 months, and 22 months apart respectively. When we signed up to become foster parents, we had no idea we would be placed with a baby so quickly. Honestly, I was thinking Kristin would be closer to 2 before we would ever receive "the call."



Naturally, we know Little Man was meant for us, and have simply rolled with the punches so to speak. Kristin is finally starting to be okay with being big sister, and not the family's baby. (I do still consider he my baby girl though). I have called an early intervention program to have her speech evaluated. Ideally, they will recommend we wait on any therapy, since it is free through the school system once she turns 3. And maybe she is just a late bloomer... remember she finally learned to walk at 18 months of age.



I don't mind having children close in age. It's actually a bit easier to stay in baby mode rhythm. Exhausting, but rewarding, too. As Little Man nears his first birthday, I see him rapidly becoming a toddler. Unlike Kristin, he is eager to be able to keep up with his siblings. I believe walking will be in the not too distant future.



With Little Man's desire to be like his brother and sisters, and Kristin's lackadaisical approach to conquering milestones (she is very intelligent, she just marches to the beat of her own drum), these two cutie pies may be more like twins before too long. Nothing short of miraculous considering the start to life Little Man faced. God has certainly been merciful to our sweet boy.

Flashback Friday: Our First Fostering Experience

Five years ago, Noah and I were foster parents... to boxer dogs. We volunteered with the Carolina Boxer Rescue, until we had to "adopt" our second foster dog because the rescue had decided to put her to sleep due to a pesky biting problem she had (probably stemmed from being abused by a man). That was Taz, and we did finally find her a wonderful home, and she really is a sweet dog (as long as strange men don't pet her when she is growling at them). But that's another story.

Roxanne, was our first foster dog. I actually rescued her out of the Davidson County Animal Shelter. She was a wonderful dog, although she was scared to death of hardwood floors. After she was with us for about 3 months, she was adopted by a nice family, who take her to their carpet business everyday so that she won't be lonely at home.

Little did we know that God would put fostering on our hearts a few years later. Here are some flashback photos of sweet Roxanne:

More from Saturday

If I didn't have to clean...

...I would play with my camera all day long. I love photography. I piddle with it, and don't have the time or motivation to learn all the technical stuff. I manage to get some decent shots here and there, and I do know enough Photoshop to edit (not perfect, but enough to get by). More than anything, photography is just fun, and I appreciate people who have great photographic skills. Several of the the blogs I frequent have excellent photographs. My favorite one lately is Whatever. She has awesome vibrant color in her photos... love it.

Here are two of my favorites shots from yesterday. And for those of you who follow my adoption blog, I did update it this morning. If you don't have access, leave a comment with your email, and I'll hook you up.

Flashback Friday: A Few of Her Favorite Things

Glancing back through my photos, I found one from July of last year. Here is Kristin with the infamous blanket, paci, and white tutu (before it had been washed twenty times and lost its luster). Old habits die hard.

Our Little Man

I can't believe Little Man will be one in a month! He has grown up so much in the past few months. Eager to be like the older kids, he will probably be walking as soon as he can figure out how to put one foot in front of the other.

The other week, Little Man figured out how to pull up and stand on his own. I grabbed the camera and caught him in the act. This is the same place Kristin learned how to pull up. Nothing like watching your sibling in the bath to motivate you to stand up.



Now he pulls up on everything, and I am certain he will be my first dare devil. He goes head first without caution and is constantly moving. I am always finding new bruises on him.



This past week, Little Man has been cutting several teeth all at the same time. He has taken it in stride, mostly with extra drool and lots of chewing. Who can blame him...teething is painful. I look forward to seeing his pearly whites. He will look so grown up with teeth.



Also, Little Man has recently finished drinking formula and I was able to pack the bottles up to save for the next baby. He is now a pro at drinking his soy milk from the sippy cup, and we are all very glad to be done with the stinky formula smell. Thankfully, his reflux is mostly gone, and the bibs and burb cloths also were packed away. Little Man loves to eat, and he mostly eats table food.

Learning my lesson (finally), we have managed to now keep the paci and blanket in his crib. I wish I had been smart enough to do this with Kristin. Live and learn. Kristin will be taking the drivers test with the pink blanket by her side and a paci in her purse at this rate.

Little Man has a wonderful, silly personality that is blossoming before us. He makes me laugh all the time with his antics. This is a fun age. Except when I change his diaper, and try to keep him from flipping over. He understands commands like "no" and "gentle." No real words yet, although he certainly seems to have a lot to say.



My charming Little Man. I adore you endlessly. My precious son, you are a treasure, and I stand in awe that God would grant us such a gift.