Happy 5 months home Caleb!

Gracious, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted!  To say things have been busy around here would be an understatement!  We have had a bunch of back to school events, football practice, volleyball practice, taekwondo practice, doctor appointments, and of course a special birthday party for our sweet Caleb!

I can't believe that 5 months have flown by since Caleb joined our family!  I am so thankful that Caleb is very low key and not high maintenance at all!  We are a family on the go and he just goes with the flow!  He is so happy and brings so much laughter to our family!  He has had many doctor appointments the last couple of weeks.  I know he has learned to trust us because he used to freak out at the doctor even if they weren't doing anything!  Now he trusts that we are not going to do anything to hurt him and he is the best patient!  We really don't know what all was done to him in K*rea so maybe he had reasons to be scared but not anymore.  You can just feel the confidence and trust that he has gained.  We found out that he does have hearing loss in his left ear.  We are still doing testing to figure out the type of hearing loss and the extent of the loss.  We are also facing future surgery for his bladder.  Let's just say potty training will not be happening anytime soon.  Despite these challenges Caleb continues to amaze us with how much he is unaffected by his spina bifida.  Just watch him for a little while as he runs, jumps, does somersaults, climbs and on and on!  I marvel at the goodness of our God to bless Caleb with legs that work!  I am so thankful that God spoke to our hearts that day back in May 2009 and told us he was our child.  I am also thankful that we didn't let the fear of adopting a special needs child stop us.  God has big plans for Caleb and I thankful that I get to watch it play out each and every day!

Enjoy these pictures from his birthday celebration!

He knows it is all about him today

Nicholas, Caleb and Claire

Our friend Ryan

Our friend Gracie

Our friends, Scott and Jodi

Hunter and Caleb

Daddy and the little ones

Waiting patiently for cake

Yummy cake

Happy 5 months home, Caleb!

CALEB

C is for copy cat!

A is for adorable!

L is for loveable!

E is for energetic!

B is for birthday boy!

Happy 3rd birthday, Caleb!  We love you and are so thankful that we are sharing this birthday with you!

First Day of School

Today is the first full day of school for my kiddos.  They went yesterday for a half day but today is the BIG day!  I wondered what Caleb and I would do just the 2 of us.  It has never been just me and Caleb since he joined our family 4 months ago.  I was so looking forward to a nice quiet day at home enjoying my boy.  Well....Caleb woke up with a fever this morning.  So off to the doctor we went.  He is okay just a pesky fever.  I am still enjoying my boy but we are spending the day snuggling and watching movies.  Which is probably just the kind of day I needed!  I am missing my big kids!

Brianna - sophomore

Nicholas - 8th grade

Hunter - 4th grade

Claire - Pre-K/ Kinder

She is so excited!

The big kids don't let me follow them to school and take pictures anymore!

Super Summer Special Edition!

Wow, I can't believe that summer is coming to a close already.  My kids start back to school next week and we have already been busy with school related things.  Brianna just survived 2 weeks of band camp in the sweltering heat and she has the sunburn to prove it!  Nicholas did 2 weeks of band before Brianna so he lucked out and beat the heat!  Nicholas also has started football practice.  This is his first year playing tackle football and this momma is a little nervous but mostly excited!  I love football and can't wait to watch his games!  Next week, Brianna tries out for the volleyball team.  This is her first time trying out for a team so keep her in your prayers!  Claire will be starting school this year!  Right now, it looks like she will do pre-k in the morning and kinder in the afternoon.  The school will provide a sign language interpreter for her full time.  She is super excited about going to school and I think it will be good for her language development to be with other kiddos.  What on earth are Caleb and mom going to do with the other kids at school all day??

In honor of my super summer special edition I am going to post pictures from our crazy, fun summer!  So sit back, relax and enjoy my massive amounts of pictures!

Nicholas fishing with Dad in Alabama.  He caught the biggest one!

Nicholas and Hunter with their fish!

Hunter going for a ride with Uncle Wayne!

Hunter thought it was awesome!

Free military day at the zoo!

Nuff said!

Caleb and Brianna on the free zoo train!

His shirt says "Daddy's little wingman!"

Brianna, Brandi, and Kacie - Brianna's friends who are awaiting their treasure from Korea right now!

Claire and Caleb at the bowling alley

Claire celebrating her great shot!

Our Alabama friends who are anxiously waiting for their little brother!

The eagle that we saw at the base library

What an impressive bird!

Hunter going down the slide at our adoption agency reunion

Brianna's turn!

I think Nicholas liked it!

Caleb liked the little slide!

Thumbs up from Claire!

On the hay ride..yes we are sweaty!

Claire and the boys!

At the reunion posing with Victor!

Meeting Mike the travel guy!

Meeting Dana - Dana is the one that called us and asked if we would like to see the file of a little girl..that little girl is now our daughter!

This is what happens when you go on a trip and forget to pack swim diapers!

It was quite funny until it exploded...what a mess!

Grace, Caleb, Hunter and Claire

Grace and Caleb

Special visitors...Teddi and family!

Claire and Teddi together again!

What fun!

Tina got to meet our precious boy!

It was great to see our dear friends and old neighbors again!

Spending time with Grandma Vickie!

Braving the big water slide with Dad!

Sweet niece Sierra!

Claire, Sierra, Mia, Hunter and Nicholas

I think Sierra loves her newest cousin!

Claire and Sierra

Train show with Grandpa

Awesome Lego layout

Look Toy Story friends!

Going on a train ride!

Building Legos with Grandpa

Brianna playing the flute with the band.  She is on the outside in the white shorts!

Whew, if you made it through all those pictures, congratulations!  Thanks for sticking it out!  We have a had a very busy summer but have been blessed by our time with family and friends!  Time for school to start again boy the time sure flies!