At the Park

 For my out of town family and friends I took a bunch of pictures trying to catch Emily with a bunch of her crazy faces.

This one is actually pretty routine.

I took a few pictures of the other kids, too.  

We have a post-placement visit happening tomorrow.  I think Emily is liking us pretty well.

What do you think?

Here's how Kaitlyn feels about her little sister.

Emily says it's great to be out of the hospital and "regular" again.  That "Go-Lightly" name is false advertising in her book.  Filling 60-some diapers in 48 hours is the pits.   However, the playroom rocked!

After a week back home I'm starting to feel a little less overwhelmed.  Two days ago I was ready to throw in the towel.  I was sure that kid #5 was going to be the end of me.  The house was a total wreck, the Mt. Everest of laundry was threatening an avalanche, the garden is bountifully productive with more than just weeds, and I'm still trying to catch up on my sleep...diaper changing and vomit around the clock will do that to a person.  

The kids hung out with Kenton's mom while Emily was busy emptying her gut and bowel ( and colon it turns out!)  

The doctors think it was an infection caused by the enteritis she had while we were in China.  She had tests, x-rays, feeding tubes, IVs, an upper GI, and all kinds of yucky, disgusting gross things.  The words, post, illious(sp?), and infection come to mind...but not necessarily in that order.  

Once your colon is no longer full of poop, you can smile again.  

I hope the doctors are right that this is all it was.  I'm ready for a break from puke and poop.

Our lives will be a little more sane if mom is around...even if most waking hours are spent wrangling the munchkin. 

And much as they LOVE being with Grandma...there is too much of a good thing. 

So here we are. 

We've done a Pike's Peak of laundry...a few peaks short of the existing mountain range.

Done a little cleaning.  My less than enthusiastic slaves would say their fingers have been worked to the bone...you know, I made them work a couple hours.  The social worker will only have to pogo stick over the mess when she's upstairs.

Canned some salsa, tomatoes, and grape juice.

AND CLEANED UP THE KITCHEN AFTERWARDS.

(What do you think of my upside-down zombies?)

Maybe we'll pick up school again on Friday.  

We did some school this summer so we aren't behind yet. 

Oh well, more canning is coming.  We'll be behind any time now.

This is a look I see all the time.  It usually is followed by her launching herself into my arms.

We are enjoying our little toddler.  She gives sweet kisses.  As a family we don't usually do the lip to lip kiss...but that's how Emily likes it so that's how she gets it, even though sometimes she slobbers.  Ewww!

This was some game the three big kids made up involving the merry-go-round and the soccer ball.  Makes me nauseous just thinking about it.

We can't wait for all of you to meet our little miracle.

Make sure you CALL FIRST if you want to visit AND see a semi-neat house.  

We're happy just to be home from the YUCKY hospital

And be a family of seven.  :D