In the News

In case you didn't see this on ABC News the other night ... this is a piece about a wonderful family who adopted from Ukraine.  And, Diane Sawyer actually says "Reece's Rainbow" on national TV!

ABC News

Check it out!  Tonight, ABC News with Diane Sawyer will be running a story about one of the families who adopted from Ukraine through Reece's Rainbow last year!


There's an article already online, and a short preview video:

Hidden Angels: American Families Saving Children With Down Syndrome

So exciting!

Zesty

My baby is a thumbsucker!

Lilya Singing

Lilya got off the bus a couple weeks ago, singing a song.  A recognizable song that she learned at school, and has added it to her repertoire of songs (most of her other songs come from the Glee cds -- her particular favorite is Defying Gravity, which pretty much consists of her belting out "no moe GAV-I-TEE" over and over)

So, please enjoy Lil's rendition of "Skip to My Lou"




It might actually be that she's singing "Skip, skip, skip, Lilly Lu," since I do call her Lilly Lu quite often....

And I promise, no one is hurting Ruby in the background.  She's just whining.

Update on Baby Zesty

I asked Brian this weekend, "Are we really going to have a baby in less than a month?!"  And he said, "That's what people keep telling us..." I'm currently in week 36, and have a scheduled eviction date of January 4th if he doesn't come out before then.

It seems unreal at this point, but I think that's just the business of life.  We are actually pretty ready for the little guy to make his arrival.   I have weekly doctor appointments, and have for the past month or so for monitoring.  Not that there's anything wrong with this pregnancy, it's just precautionary due to past history.   We lost Lydia at around 37 weeks, so they started monitoring me (or actually, Zesty), around 33 weeks.

I had an ultrasound around 33 weeks, and he was very uncooperative.  Well, he was great for everything -- except for showing his face.  I went home without a single picture!  He wasn't shy about flashing us, so we have verified once again that he is, indeed, a boy.  I have an ultrasound coming up -- hopefully I'll be able to bring home a picture to show the kids.  But, on the plus side, he looked healthy and a good size already.

This past weekend we took the kids on a tour of the hospital birth center.  It's been completely redone since our last visit there (over 4 years ago!), and Braden kept asking questions about which hospital, and does it have a skywalk?  an escalator?  so we set up a time to go on one of their tours.

It was our motley crew and then another couple, expecting their first child.   She was 3 months pregnant, and they were so sweet and preparing for their first baby (and very nicely dressed) and here we are a few weeks out from delivering, wrangling the other kids down the hallways ... it was just funny.  I told Brian, it was like a "Before and After" example.

and I've been promising my dad a picture:

I'm definitely leading with my belly these days ... 

Serenading Mom

I know it looks like these girls are going to eat the MegaBloks...


but they are actually self-made microphones!

This was going on while I was on the phone with a friend, too ... they were QUITE loud

Watching herself in the reflection of the fridge ... Lilya really is her own number one fan!

And a sticker for Ru's nose!  Why not?!

Santa Celebration!

Last weekend was one of our favorite holiday events -- the Santa Celebration! It's put on by the local Sibling Support group, for children with disabilities and their families. It's very fun, low-stress -- and you get an APPOINTMENT to see Santa! No waiting in line!

Here we are, waiting to see Santa (Karly decided she was too old to go with us)

I have to admit, once I sat down, I was a little worried I might have to spend the rest of the party in that couch ...


The official picture with Santa is supposed to come in the mail soon!

The girls were curious, but cautious.  Braden was quiet, but hopped right up on Santa's lap (good example for his sisters!)

Then we went in to the party room, and there were DOGS!

Three therapy dogs, in fact.  Ruby was thrilled --

she immediately introduced Rar-rar to the dogs.

Lilya did GREAT.  Last year, she would see a dog and stop so fast she'd fall over backwards.  She was cautious ... but so interested and warmed up quickly!

This friendly (and VERY CALM) lab was her favorite.  She spent a long time petting him, watching him.  

The other kids moved on to games or cookie decorating, and Lil stayed with the dog for a long time.  It was great to see her so not freaked out by the dogs being there!

Ruby enjoyed the face painting!  I think it was the first time she wanted to get it done.

She picked out a star, and the color yellow...

and sat so well!  

I love this picture of her admiring her new star!

Lil playing ball 

Ruby playing a game (knocking Santa off the chimney bricks)

It was a super fun morning!

A Flock of Turkeys

Made by my flock of turkeys!

I wanted to capture them before they came down to make room for Christmas decorations.

Reece's Rainbow

We're halfway through Reece's Rainbow's biggest fundraiser of the year!  The Angel Tree runs through November and December, and it's definitely been keeping me busy. The ultimate goal is to find families for these children.  The financial goal for this fundraiser is to raise at least $1000 for each child.  So far, 29 of the children have met that goal -- and 9 more have committed families!

Click on the ornament below to check it out ... and if you donate $35 or more to a child you can receive an ornament like this with the child's picture on the reverse.  We already have one on our tree!




Grab This!