Crackers

I noticed today that Little Man had some stuff on his hands. I couldn't figure out what it was so I asked him what was on his hands. He said, 'Crackers'. Um, OK, we haven't had crackers today so I asked where he got the crackers. He said, 'Noni (my mom).'

I couldn't help it, I had to run to the bathroom, to get a towel, and to laugh. Oh the things he says! My mom hasn't been here today but boy was he sticking to his story.

I had to call my mom and tell her and she got a kick out of it.

I gotta write this in his babybook.

Here's another for your enjoyment.

Earlier today Little Man was asking for salad (Pistachio salad). I told him it wasn't supper time yet but he was adament and wanted salad. I told him it wasn't supper and he could have some after supper. Very frustrated he said 'I want salad!' I said 'Not yet' and then he yelled 'But I'm hungry!'

Well in that case...how much do you want? :)

Health Insurance

With God by my side I'm on a mission to get us health insurance. It is very scary knowing that on Dec 1st we won't have insurance. Even more scary when we have a 2 year old boy. I know God provides and he has provided (did I mention Daddy's unemployment and Cabela's covers what he got paid at Precast?). We just need insurance to cover us incase something happens.

I decided to look at individual plans with Health Partners. That's who we had while Jeff worked and I use to work with them when I worked at North Ambulance and TCO. So I'm very familiar with them and how they operate. I found a plan that is only $240 (or so, it's late and I'm drawing a blank on the actual number right now) a month. Oh, Daddy is actually making $200 MORE with unemployment and Cabela's. Hmm...I think God just provided. :) The plan isn't perfect, there's a $4000 deductible. YUCK! But we'll get 3 office visits that are covered at 100%, the deductible will be waived AND if for some reason Daddy hasn't found a job by July Little Man's well check visit (and any shots he may need) will be covered 100% and again the deductible won't be included.

I have one question to ask Health Partners on Monday and maybe by the middle of the month (do to their processing time) we'll have insurance. (insert excited shrieking here) So much better than paying $882 a month for Cobra.

Pray that the plan can be canceled any time (that's my one question) and I can sign us up.

Also pray Daddy starts hearing back from some of the jobs he applied at next week. Some companies have had his resume for almost 3 weeks.

Blessed Thanksgiving

God loves to surprise me everyday. He blesses and continues to bless us even more. Daddy calculated his unemployment and pay at Cabela's and we are actually breaking even (with $100 extra!) from what he was making at Precast. God is awesome! He can concentrate on looking for a job and know we have enough money to put food on the table and pay the bills.

We spent the day at home with just the 3 of us today. It was wonderful. We had church this morning where Daddy and I sang in the choir. Little Man got to sit through the WHOLE service with A and B. They watch him every Monday night when we have handbell and choir practice. He did very well and I didn't hear one peep from him the whole service.

We got home around 10am and I got the cheese and crackers out and put some on a plate for Little Man and stuck him in front of the TV to watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. And of course, he had the annual Thanksgiving Turkey to color that is in the Star Tribune. My sisters (and brother) grew up coloring this turkey every year and I'm excited to pass this tradition onto Little Man.

Daddy and I got the turkey ready to cook and I did my first batch of homemade gravy and mashed potatoes. I had a little problem getting the gravy to thicken but it turned out pretty good.

Oh, around 11am Little Man looked at Daddy and said 'I'm tired'. Daddy told him we'll all take a nap after we have turkey. (Little Man's normal nap is around 11:30am.) At about 12:30pm Little Man said it again and Daddy and I both were ready for a nap too. We ate around 1:30pm and Little Man ate his full of Watergate salad, Applesauce Jello, and Crescent rolls. He wouldn't touch the turkey. He had a few bites of stuffing and mashed potatoes though. He also was having troubles keeping his eyes open. He put his head down a few times during dinner.

We finished eating and Little Man went down for a nap at 2:30. I follwed shortly after (Daddy stayed up looking for more jobs). I was woken up around 5:15pm by a little hand trying to give me a hug.

For supper we had pie and more Applesauce Jello (Little Man's choice).

Today was a great day. We are so blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Faith

You know, God has a reason for everything. We may not understand at the moment why something is happening but there is a reason. We may never even find out the reason why it happened but again, there is a reason.

Daddy came home from work today and said I need to meet him in the garage. I thought he meant me AND Little Man. I quickly had to get Little Man back into his booster seat to eat his kidney beans so I could go back into the cold garage. But I didn't fail to notice the box sitting in the backseat. I thought "Oh No". I went back to the garage and Daddy took me into his arms and had me look in the car. I only needed to see his radio to know he was laid off. He said 3 of them were laid off today and only 2 are left and Bill may have enough work for them until the end of the week. Then he'll be closing down his office.

There's alot of emotions that go through you during a time like this. There are also a few the could go through you; anger, fear, resentment, anxiousness, pity, doubt, confusion, frustration, and sadness.

I on the other hand only have one emotion, well come to think of it, 2 emotions. Faith and Love. Faith that God will lead us through this. Faith that he will keep us in his palm and protect us. Faith that he will provide for us and take care of us. I also have Love. Love for my God, love for my husband and love for my son. Nothing is more important to me than those 3. And yes God is first. God rules in our house and he is number one.

He has blessed us through everything and is blessing us now. I was reamed by Daddy's grandpa a few months back about our finances and he kept asking how we are going to get money. I kept telling him God will provide. He didn't seem to understand that you can't put your trust in earthy things. Your trust belongs in God. Only he can get you through. We've been down this road before and he provided and he WILL do it again.

Right now, Daddy is home and we are going to enjoy our Thanksgiving with him. We are going to shout our thanks to God and know that when one can't look at another we can always look to him.

Slow Fade by Casting Crowns

I love this song. It applies to all aspects of life and our choices we make.

I've been thinking

I've been thinking about this alot lately and after reading a friend's blog (I would link it but it's private, sorry) it really brought it to the surface. My friend mentioned in her blog she sent her quarterly pictures and letter to her daughter's birthmom. In her letter she requested that her daughter's birthmom send pictures of her siblings.

I have been thinking alot about Little Man's sister. We know he has one and she is 5 years older than him. We know she lives in Virginia or somewhere over on that side of the US. (I'll have to relook at our paperwork to make sure I have this right.) Our agency never really dwelled on the fact Little Man has a sibling. They told us he has one, what her name is, and where she lives but they don't know why S didn't ask them (or maybe she did but again why would they turn down another adoption is another question) to adopt Little Man.

We have a semi-open adoption. Actually, it's more like semi-closed. We send letters and pictures to S once a year. We don't hear from her and she actually hasn't contacted our agency in about 2 years. So my question is, Do we have the option (or right?) to have our agency ask her for information on A (Little Man's sister). Would A's family want to know about Little Man? Why didn't they adopt Little Man? Did S not tell them? Did they (possibly with a heavy heart) turn her down? But Marlene, the birth parent counselor, told us that S had opened the phone book when she gave birth to Little Man and that's how she found Bethany. They were pretty much right in the front. So I'm thinking they don't even know about Little Man.

Also, if we contact A's family and they indeed don't know about Little Man, would this ruin what (if any) relationship they may have with S.

I don't know if I should leave this alone and deal with it when he's older or if this is something we should do now.

We pray for S everynight with Little Man and I'm wondering if we should pray for A too.

Not only is there no guidebook to raising kids. There is no adoption book explaining what to do in this situation. Each situation is different but it doesn't make it easy.

Daily routine

'Don't open drawer, Don't open closet, Don't turn on light.' That is what Little Man says pretty much everyday. I think he got the hint. When he goes to bed he should not open his dresser drawers, his closet and turn his light on. So far he goes down for a nap without a problem Yahoo!!

It's at night that we are having problems with. I seriously lose count on how many times he gets out of bed. I walk him back into his room and put him back in bed and not a minute later he is out of bed. This lasts from 40-50 minutes EVERY night. It's getting very old and very frustrating. If you have ideas I'd love to hear them.

Little Man is also still off from the time change. He has been waking up at 5:30-5:45am every morning. Ugh. At least he knows how to turn the light on in the livingroom and will play (mostly) in there while I lay in bed. Although he has to lay in bed with me until daddy goes to work at 6:30am. So it's not like he's running around for an hour and a half while I'm in bed. And no putting him to bed later won't make him sleep in. On Monday nights he doesn't get to bed until around 9pm and he still is up early.

Maybe I should get to bed before 10:30/11pm and I won't be so tired.