There is hope

Last night I was flipping through the channels before going to bed and I found an old episode of "All In The Family" on. I have NO IDEA why I stopped to watch it-morbid curiosity, I guess. I have never seen an episode before, so here was my chance. I sat there with my mouth hanging wide open in pure shock and disgust. They actually had an episode addressing interracial dating and how "Edith" was absolutely NOT OK with this sort of thing. From the way they were talking it was as if this girl was dating a mass murder-ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. I turned it off after watching for about 5 minutes and went to bed...but I couldn't really get it out of my head. This episode originally aired in 1972, which was before I was born, but not really that long ago. People really thought these things just 30 years ago? And it was acceptable to be a racist on prime time TV?! Oh, how far we've come-THANKFULLY. Now here is where the hope comes in. Seeing as though we have come so far over the past 30 or so years, I am hoping this continues-for my amazing son. I hope that when he is older and tells his friends he is HIV+ they do not cringe or treat him like he is a leper. I hope that when his friends tell their parents they will be supportive of their friendship and not instruct their child to no longer play with my child. I hope that people will no longer ignore studies and statistics about HIV and how it is NOT spread through casual contact. I hope that one day there will be a cure for HIV, but until then, I HOPE.

The Three Naughties

My best friend, Kristi, and I have been DREAMING of having kids that are the same age for years. There have been a million reasons why we were unable to accomplish this feat...until NOW!!! Introducing "The Three Naughties"!!!

Home for one month! (In our arms for two!)

In Ethiopia after having them only a few days

It is crazy to think that I have only known my babies-I mean REALLY known them-for 2 months. Over the past 60 or so days I have learned the meanings of their different cries, their different laughs, where they like to be tickled, what their babbling means (well, some of it!) what food they like, and what position they sleep in. And even though I am still learning their little quirks and getting to know their HUGE personalities, it feels like they have been mine since the day they were born. As soon as they were placed in my arms back in September I KNEW them. I had no idea what their birth weight was or if they were fussy infants. I did not know when they cut their first tooth or when they said their first word. But I KNEW them...and they KNEW me. All of a sudden they were thrust into the arms of some crying blond girl who smelled different and talked weird. But they KNEW me. They latched onto their new mommy and haven't let go. They shower me with wet, sloppy kisses, laugh when I am being silly, cry for mama when they are sad-all because they know me. I know that God has given us these beautiful, amazing little boys to raise and I know that he prepared our hearts as well as theirs for this new life that we have all been given. There is no other explanation. I knew them and they knew me.

I have loved every second of the past two months with them. Oh, sure-I am exhausted beyond belief and my brain is mush by the time Marty comes home from work, but I am just completely in love with these guys and I LOVE that I am their mommy. They continue to amaze us with how quickly they are learning new things. Isaac is now walking (!!!) and Eli is repeating every word we say-for the good and the bad!!! They LOVE all of their older brothers and sisters and RUN to them for hugs and kisses when they come home from school. They have brought so much laughter and life into our already very lively house (hence the exhaustion!) and we all just feel so blessed and so thankful that they are HOME!!!

Our little monsters!!!

Isaac was the cutest chicken EVER!!!
Eli was such a sweet little lion!

Sammie and Samuel as "Sally" and "Jack"

Emma and Quincy as "Mario" and "Luigi"

The boys had their first Halloween and LOVED it!!! They wore their costumes proudly and were just so dang cute!!! Eli quickly caught on that when you hold your bag open people fill it with CANDY!!! (We've been rewarding him w/smarties when he goes potty so he KNOWS candy when he sees it!!!) Isaac was perfectly happy with one piece of candy for each hand. He didn't need to eat it-he just wanted to hold it! The older kids loved trick-or-treating with the babies. They held their hands and helped them up to the door. SO SWEET!!! We all had a really great night!

Eli and Isaac's first trip to the pumpkin patch!

She's 12!!!

Sammie turned 12 on Saturday!!! She had her two best friends come over for a slumber party and to go see "Where The Wild Things Are". They all had a blast!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMMIE GIRL!!!

Just hanging around the house!

We know we are adorable!!!

Look at me go!

Time out in the corner...naughty, but SO darn cute!!!

Giving daddy some lovin'

Just crawling around!

We like to go, go, GO!!!

Our first Twinkie...are we supposed to like this?!?!

Marty's parents left on Monday after being here for 5 weeks and watching our crew for 4 of the 5 while we were in Ethiopia! They were such a huge help to us and so much fun to have around. The kids loved having so much time with grandma and grandpa and were so sad to see them go.

The boys are amazing!!! They are sweet, funny, cuddly, silly, smart and just the cutest things ever!!! I still cannot believe that they are ours and that they are home. We are truly blessed!