Almost home

Two weeks ago we received the most wonderful news. We have been OK'd by the Guatemalan government and it looks like Marcos will be home in November! It feels not a day too soon. I've met a lot of doomsayers lately who have had personal experiences with unsuccessful adoptions. I am usually so shocked at the rudeness of their sharing these stories with me, that I am at a loss for words. I wish I could look them right in the eye and agree that bringing home an 11 month old child will be hard. It will be hard on Marcos, Max and me. However, I am confident in my ability to love this baby through the difficulty. I am confident that I can maintain the routines that will help him and the other kids feel secure. At age 36 and after eleven years of motherhood, I feel equipped for the challenge. I feel like Heavenly Father has prepared me. Tony and my marriage has never been stronger and we know that Marcos is meant for our family. We are not going into this with ideations of bliss. We just know it is part of the plan for our family. Next time someone gives me another failed adoption story, I'll just refer them to my blog and walk away.

Last weekend we witnessed a miracle firsthand. Tony had taken the boys to the high school football game Friday night. Our team was ahead and one of the kids from church had made three touchdowns! The quarterback, another LDS kid, suddenly fell face first onto the ground. The EMT's responded quickly and Tony was called onto the field. Tony and a couple of other medical people focused on keeping him breathing and his heart pumping. After about ten minutes Tony was horrified to discover that his eyes were fully dilated (blown) and fixed. This was a sign of severe neurological damage. Tony and the quarterback's Dad immediately gave him a blessing, in front of coaches and EMT personell. Tony asked the coach to gather his team and start praying. The other team joined in, and then all the people in the stands joined in prayer. They landed the helicopter right on the field and flew the student to Spokane where he had a four hour brain surgery to remove a clot from a "torn" area of the brain. I hadn't seen Tony that shaken in ten years. The outlook was very bleak and all signs pointed to either death or severe brain damage. When the surgeon called Tony the next day she was a little skeptical about his report. Apparently, both eyes had resumed normal function by the time the kid had arrived at the ER. Within 3 days of the surgery the boy had been ex-tubated, was communicating clearly and eating sausage and eggs. By day 5, they had him up on his feet and were planning discharge by the weekend. As Tony and I have reflected on the situation we have never felt so grateful for the power of the priesthood and that Tony, besides having the skills of a doctor, is a worthy priesthood holder. I hope our children always remember this dramatic miracle in their life. I hope Tony and I always remember it and that it's remembrance continually increases our faith.

Wilson, Cooper and Eliza are all playing soccer this fall. As always, the kindergarten team is highly entertaining and we spend a lot of time yelling, "other way, you are going the wrong way!" I'm glad it is only four weeks long. The kids also started piano lessons today. It feels like a lot, but it isn't too bad if I don't have to drive anyone anywhere.

I've had the opportunity to teach seminary this week. It has required me to be more efficient, but I love it. We are studying the Old Testament and I'm horrified at what I've either forgotten, or never knew about the Bible.

The best advice people have given me has been to always have clothes laid out for the next day, bags packed for school and breakfast table set. Those three things are truly survival techniques. I haven't felt overwhelmed lately, but I am usually surprised at bedtime what got packed into a single day. On Tuesday I will be 36. I love birthdays. I love that for 36 years years I have thought life couldn't get any better. This year I know it will be getting better because my baby is coming home!

6 more weeks

I called the adopotion agency on Friday to schedule a visit with Marcos. I just didn't think I could wait any longer. Vivian had just received word that we were approved by the Guatemalan government and that our wait will be about 6 weeks. I feel relieved and more at peace than I've been for six months. I know our family life is going to change in ways I can't imagine, but I think we are all ready.

Tony has been asked to serve in the student stake. It means he will be gone every Wednesday and Sunday, but we feel really good about what he will learn and the opportunity for growth. The men he works with are amazing. The extra bonus is that we will get to see much more of Jeff and Stacy since Tony has been assigned to their ward.

Reason #98098347 for loving St John. I have three kids in soccer, but they only have 4 practices and 4 games apiece. They can also walk to practice and no one is uptight about winning or losing. The coaches even coordinated with the dance teacher so the activities wouldn't overlap.

Wilson had a rough week at school. The big magazine sale started and caused him lots of anxiety. He is having a hard time completing his school assignments as well. I'm thrilled that his teacher is so dedicated and is willing to give Wilson extra attention every afternoon after school. Wilson has just mastered carrying out routines developed by his teacher or parents and now we have to work on his ability to develop his own routines. Mom says he reminds her so much of Cameron, so creative and bright and completely unable to finish a task beginning to end. Mom says the only thing that truly helps kids like Wilson is for them to grow up and marry organized, efficient wives! Sometimes when I get discouraged about Wilson's school success, I watch him on the trampoline doing gravity defying flips with the grace of a dolphin. I hope those skills are marketable in the workplace.

Cooper likes school, but I can tell he is still learning to negotiate social situations. We all laughed and laughed when he brought home a C- on his first spelling test. I'm glad we didn't overreact: this week his spelling test was an A+100% I love the way Cooper is motivated by money. He works so hard when he is working for cash.

Eliza lives for kindergarten. The biggest bonus is the way she and Max play on her days off. I think it is because he misses her so much he agrees to play her "girl games" out of desperation.

Max makes several trips a day to the stop sign on his bike to see if the "kids are coming." I took him on a bike ride the other day and when we got home he was all curled up on the floor of the bike trailer fast asleep. Next time I'll throw in his pillow!

Tony and I had a nice visit with Grandma Abuelita this week. Tony took some stitches out of her leg and was amazed at how healthy she is at 93. She is taking all her children on a cruise in November. Grandma gave me one of her last "doubleknit" quilts so now all my children have a blanket made by their great grandmother. I've always loved Grandma's ability to be around kids without getting
ruffled. I think it is the quality I most hope to have as an elderly person.

We are starting to get excited for our annual trip to the beach. It is the perfect location to come listen to the prophet's voice.

Max loves Marcos

Max and I were walking today when out of the blue he said, "Let's go get Marcos." I told him we have to wait until Guatemala says we can come. Standing in the middle of the street, Max promptly folded his arms and said a heartfelt prayer that Heavenly Father would send Marcos home now. Then he looked up at me and smiled his all knowing, all trusting, beautiful smile. The neighbor standing near commented, "Wow, that is faith!" I think Max and Marcos have a special relationship already. I can't wait to watch it in person.