Jumping Through Hoops

I had a tough time coming up with a name for this post. Some other options were: Watching My Money Go Down the Drain, Positive...or not, or Could it Get Any Better!. Here is what has been going on in the past week at the Troedel house: We got the information we now need to apply for Delson's green card and then can apply for his Certificate of Citizenship. Good news right?!?! But as with everything that comes from the government this too comes with a price. I won't get into all the details, but want to get to the meat of things. One of the things we need to do is have Delson get a physical at a Civil Surgeon (aka Federal Government Approved Doctor!). In order to get him this appointment we need to first get him in for a TB test. Simple right?!?! WRONG! We took him in last Friday so they could read his scratch test and he had a positive reading. Now, before you panic, the most likely reason for this is that he probably received a vaccine while in Haiti that would cause a false positive skin test and therefore would need to do a chest xray in the future to rule out TB. We have NO documentation of him having had vaccines while in Haiti, but it is possible. So today we had to bring him back to the clinic for a chest xray and also lab work (5 Tubes of Blood!). I had to cancel his appointment we had for tomorrow with the civil surgeon because we first have to have the proof that he does not have TB, so now he goes next week. Did I mention that we are unsure whether insurance will cover any of this since it is elective testing?!?! Great!
To put icing on the cake Delson also failed his eye screening at school (especially the depth perception part) and we need to bring him in for an actual exam ASAP...did I mention that we took him in April and they found nothing so insurance will not cover it unless we wait till this April to bring him in...
So there you have it! On a good note, I think that I am making some progress on my resolutions. This is a VERY good thing. And after all, it could ALWAYS be worse!!! Melissa

Things to Work on 2011

With the new year brings resolutions. This year I have several areas I would like to work on. Most are goals regarding how to become Happy again, I feel I have lost the Joy I used to have and really want to work on getting it back! 2010 was a year of MANY changes for us and I would be lying if I told you I have adjusted to all of them well and am Joyful for what I have been given all the time. This year I REALLY want/need a change in attitude more than any other changes :) Here are the goals I will have posted to review everyday:
1. Laugh more and Yell less
2. Listen more and Talk less
3. This is a tough one to even type, but I want to learn to LOVE my son (Delson). You see everything about Delson's adoption has been hard. The process, the years of waiting, behavior issues, attachment issues, RAD, etc. I have struggled to attach and see past the behaviors and LOVE my broken, but perfectly as God planned little boy. This year I will do EVERYTHING I can to help him and help me to accept him.
4. Make a difference in the life of a stranger.
5. Make time for myself to do things I enjoy(ed) doing. I have felt like I never have time for me anymore and I know that I would be happier if I would just make a little time to get back to things I have always enjoyed!
6. Workout videos HERE I COME :)
This is a list that I will not take lightly and will be posting them and reviewing them everyday so that I do not forget about these things that are SO important. Here is wishing everyone a HAPPIER NEW YEAR!! - Melissa

One Year With Our Little Girl

One year ago today I met and held my daughter for the first time. What a year it has been! When I first met Sitota she was a quiet, shy and frail little girl. She had and still has a smile that will brighten your day. She amazes me with everything she has learned over the past year and how she will try anything! She has learned to read, write, ride a bike and rip stick, ice skate, swim, and so much more in this past year. She has also physically grown A LOT...when we brought her home she was 4 ft 4 in and 59 pounds. Today she is 4 ft 10 in and 85 pounds!! It is hard to keep up with her (on many levels!). She is truly an inspiration to us and we are So Blessed to be able to call her our daughter. Enjoy the pictures of her from a year ago and today...looks like she aged about 3 years!!! Love to all - Melissa

JOB

Do I work? Yes! I work 24 hours a day. Why? Because I'm a MOMMY. I am a cook, a cleaner, a parent, a teacher, a referee, a nanny, a nurse, a handyman, a maid, a security officer and a comforter. I don't get holidays, sick-pay, or a day OFF. I work through the day and the night. I am on call at all hours. Now tell me my job isn't a real one, ITS THE BEST ONE!

Preparing for Christmas

This is a Very exciting Christmas around our house for all of us. It is the first Christmas as a family of 5 and the first time Delson and Sitota are experiencing Christmas (American style!). We put up the tree this weekend and they are loving it. Another thing we have enjoyed is the Christmas music. I am looking forward to seeing them all in their Christmas programs. Sitota and Delson have a school performance and all the kiddos will be in the church program this year too! Here are a few pics of the events so far! Enjoy - Melissa

Colorful

Having conversations with Micah is always an adventure. It is often hard to remember that he is only 2, as he has conversations like a little man :) Here was the talk we had today after lunch:
Micah - "Mom, come here and put your nose on mine!"
(I go and put my nose to his)
Micah- (excited) " Look Mom..we match! Wait, we don't match because my nose is brown! Well, we kinda match!"
Gotta Love that boy!!

HAPPY Thanksgiving

Tomorrow we will celebrate Thanksgiving and boy do we have a LOT to be thankful for. This year has brought about so many changes in our lives. We went from being a family of 3 to a family of 5. We brought home our little guy from Haiti, which was a miracle in itself. I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a stay at home mom. We have certainly had challenges, but through it all the blessings have been overwhelming. I am so thankful for my supportive and loving Husband, my 3 great kiddos, my family who has for the most part been supportive and so generous throughout everything. I am also thankful for the 3 women in my life whom I have NEVER met, but have given me the greatest gifts I could ever ask for...these women gave so much for me to be able to call myself a mom and I could not thank them enough.
This Thanksgiving I pray that you all are as Blessed as I have been and continue to be. -Melissa