Allergic to Halloween?

Remember last year when Punk had to miss Halloween and Fall Festival because he had chicken pox? Well, it happened again. Same exact symptoms, same exact timing. Tuesday I noticed a little rash on his face. It was worse Wednesday, but it didn't bother him, so I let him go to school. Wednesday afternoon I realized it looked just like the rash he had this time last year. So, I figured, it must not be chicken pox like I thought. I took him to the doc on Thursday and they tested him for strep (negative) and said it must be an allergic reaction. Then, yesterday, when the rash was all but gone, the doc's office called and said the throat culture came back positive for strep! Ooooops! So, not only had he been to school for a couple of days with the rash, we also took him trunk-r-treating and to the county fair! We went to a friend's house and to church and out to eat and who remembers what else! Sorry town where we live!

At least he looked cute while spreading a virus throughout the city! :)At the fair--I always get carmel on my nose!

Pea's Second Anniversary

It's hard to believe Pea's been at home with our family for only two years already (if you know what I mean!)

Yay! She Got Frustrated!!!!

Yesterday, Pea and I were getting into a friend's car to carpool home from the Fall Festival at preschool (I forgot my camera--sorry!). My friend asked Pea if she wanted help with her seatbelt. No way, no how, thank you very much (except without the thanks). Pea struggled to get to the magical "click!" with no success. Finally, it seemed she had shoved the metal buckle in far enough, and she let go. Unfortunately, it retracted on her. And that's when the miracle happened. She expressed frustration! It was written all over her face and she even let out an exasperated sigh! I'm pretty sure I caught a certain rolling of the eyes! I was thrilled!!!! This was the first time I had seen her express frustration!

I know my excitement may seem odd to you, but if it does, ask yourself whether it's odd for a child to get past her 4th birthday having never expressed frustration! The fact that she has grown 4 inches in height already this year is just a picture of how she is still on a trajectory of spiritual, cognitive, and emotional growth. Seeing her appropriately express a new emotion was an amazing moment for me. Like Mary of Nazareth, I'll "treasure up all these things, pondering them in [my] heart."

Pumpkin Carving Day!

Punk has been looking forward to this day for at least 6 weeks. We FINALLY went to the "Pumpkin Patch" to pick the perfect carving pumpkins. I forgot to bring the camera to the Patch, but here are a few shots of the fun when we got home.I love the expression on Pea's face here! She was a trooper and did a great job getting her pumpkin cleared of its guts.Punky hated the feeling of the pumpkin guts, so I had to take over for him. Tada! Here's Pea's happy face pumpkin.And Punk's fierce, yet happy jack-o-lantern. :)Say "Pumpkin Carving Day!"

Weekend with Dottie

We had a houseguest this weekend. A visitor from Pea's class. A giant, soft, stuffed ladybug named Dottie. If you've been following the blog long, you may remember when Dottie visited us once before as Punk's guest. Frankly, I think her first visit with us was probably more fun. Aw well. She got introduced to the wonderful world of yarn braids this time around.

I would have waited another week or two to redo Pea's hair, but the next three weekends are booked. So, it was now or something simpler and less lasting. I thought I'd save myself time this go-round by preserving the divisions from last time. Well....nope. In fact, I had to enlist A's help (he took out old ones while I put in new ones) and it still took us ALL day (we kept the kiddinkies up until 10 PM!) to get her whole head done to this point.
Then I had to do the finishing this morning.Every time I re-do the yarn extensions, I intend to make them longer, but, somehow, they always end up shoulder-length every time! Oh well. It's cute and I worry that longer hair would be too heavy for her anyway.

Of course, Dottie was interested and wanted a few yarn braids of her own! :)

Uganda, Here I Come

A couple of months ago I heard that our church would be sending a mission team to Uganda. Every time I hear of ANYONE going to any part of Africa for any reason, I have a pang of "I wanna go!" But, this time, when I heard about this trip, I had a pang of "I have to go!" Later, when I heard more details, I was even more excited to get on board.

Here's the deal. Our church has had a on-going relationship with the Charlotte Eagles pro soccer team. Through that partnership, the church was introduced to Sports Outreach Institute, a missionary organization that brings the gospel and practical aid to people in need in Africa and Mexico through sports ministry and other means. SOI has noticed a trend in Uganda where villages they've visited just aren't there a few months later. So, they are asking for churches to "adopt" a Ugandan village where they are already working but cannot meet all the needs. The church chooses a village and then sends teams every 6-12 months to continue the development of the village. The first trip, the one I'm going on in February, is the "scouting mission" to discover the village we'll be partnering with. Then, subsequent teams will build relationships, dig a well, teach about sanitation and hygiene, buy a brick-making machine, help build a school/church, purchase lifestock and train in husbandry, etc. I'm so excited about this strategy for ministry and feel so very honored to be going on the scouting trip.

We leave on Feb 10 which sounds like a long time from now, but it's really only 4 short months away! If you are one of my praying friends, I would so appreciate your daily or weekly prayers during the preparation time. Right now, I'm most nervous about how the timing will work out with our adoption plans (no word yet...). As if I wasn't anxious enough to get our mystery baby home as soon as possible, this trip makes me feel like Baby needs to come home NOW! :) The other concern is, of course, the money. I know it will cost some $3,000 to go, but I don't know the deadlines yet (we have a meeting next week, so I should know more then). Timing things perfectly and funding them adequately happen to be two of God's specialties, so I'm looking to him to do his thing! But, I'd be so grateful to know you've joined your faith with mine and are praying along the same lines.

Yippeee!!! I'm going to Uganda!!!!

Robbing the Cradle

One thing led to another and somehow Punk landed on the topic of whom he will someday marry. We do not encourage our kids to romanticize marriage or dating, emphasizing instead the weightiness of choosing a mate and the fact that marriage is fun but challenging. However, although Punk knows he will need to be at least 20 years old before he weds, he sometimes likes to speculate upon who will fill the role of the bride. The forerunner has always been a little girl from church who is two years his senior. However, things took a major turn tonight when he realized that Daddy is much (3 WHOLE years!) older than Mama. Despite the fact that we gave him numerous examples of lovely families in which the wife is older than the husband, he became adament that he must marry someone at least 3 years his junior. He asked, "Who can I marry who is MUCH younger than me?" A and I threw out the names of some younger girls ranging from age 6 months to 3 years old. Finally, A quipped that Punk could marry the unborn daughter of our friends. This being the youngest possible alternative, he declared that, indeed, he will marry this girl who is due in November. Even if it means putting off marriage til he's 25 instead of 20.

My Man and Me

My Man and Me

Pea

Pea

Punk

Punk

Talk To Me

I blog for myself and my kids and I would do it even if no one else cared, but I do like to hear from you (and think it's a wee bit creepy of you to voyeurize us without my knowing it). So, please leave a comment from time to time, or email me anytime at xawilsons@hotmail.com. Much obliged, I'm sure.

Where You're From

Stalkers, Caught Red-Handed!

Round Two Timeline

  • 9/24/08 Home study update home visit for Ghana adoption
  • 10/15/08 Dossier sent to AOHG
  • 10/15/08 I600A application sent to USCIS
  • 10/30/08 First heard about possible domestic private adoption
  • 11/18/08 Last spoke with contact about possible domestic adoption; expected to hear back about meeting with birthmother
  • 12/3/08 Withdrew application from AOHG
  • 1/6/09 Found out another family had been chosen for possible domestic adoption
  • 1/21/09 USCIS fingerprinting appointment
  • 1/8/09 Received USCIS fingerprinting appointment notice
  • 4/11/09 Sent Pre-Application to Covenant Care Adoptions for Domestic Infant Adoption program
  • 6/8/09 Social worker visit to update home study from International to Domestic
  • 7/24/09 Received completed home study update
  • 8/25/09 Went "on the list" for birthfamilies to choose from