Prayers Appreciated

 Last week (or the week before), I got a call from 

the children's hospital in Kingston looking for  Big J.

apparently he is in a medical study, or testing group... or something

(they could not tell me over the phone), and became worried

when he continually missed his appointments and went looking 

for him. We had no idea Jacob had a medical condition. I tried

asking his social worker and they were unaware of any medical

condition either. Whatever is going on with Big J requires him

to do testing next week on the 18th at the children's hospital in

Kingston. I asked if it could happen in MV, but apparently 

whatever he needs can only be done in Kingston.

Prayers appreciated as he prepares to go next week. and that 

through this we can get some answers to what is going on with him.

Prayers for little Miss D. She goes back to court on the 16th.

I assumed/ prayed that she would be placed back with her

family on this court visit, but the social worker informed me today,

that she is being placed up for adoption (she thinks) and so will be with 

us for a while longer. Please be prayerful for Miss D's mom. She

cried and cried at the last court appointment. Prayers that Miss D

can get into her forever family quickly so she can bond would be

greatly appreciated. Thanks

June.

I thought I was doing better at keeping up, until I saw the last post

was a month ago today. June was clearly not documented as well as I 

thought. Sorry about that.

Life at En Gedi has been busy but so blessed.

 Big J continues to make positive strides

in both physical and cognitive development.

He still doesn't talk, and has very few letter 

sounds/ words, but he continues to develop new

words via sign and uses that to communicate.

 When Neiah is home these two are

best buds (if Neiah doesn't lose 

patience with his wanting to do every

thing she does:). She always asks to 

dress him so they can match the days she is home.

 This guy loves to be outside or on the 

porch, and is daily learning as he takes

things up to put in his box... then carries it

around, sets it down, and takes out whatever

it was he puts in his box. This is repeated for

long lengths of time.

 This girl is growing and learning so quickly.

She is now moving at a very quick 'scoot' along

the ground, and has learned to sit up, and lay back down.

She is very proud of this new 'trick' and does it over and over.

Praise Jesus food has been started, and she loves it. She is finally

gaining weight at at 7 months she has moved out of size 1 diapers

and 0-3 month clothes!

 Neiah continues to take her responsibility

of nightly devotions with Big J very seriously.

Even if she is 'grounded' for the night for bad 

behavior she asks to come out to do devotions with

him before bed.

 Last week Tuesday we welcomed little D. to En Gedi

She is one month new. We picked her up from the hospital,

(where she has been since birth) and took her right to court.

The court then placed her with us for the next month.

This court visit was hard. I was able to visit with the birth

mom a few mins. after court and the mom just cried and 

cried as she held little D. She seems to be fighting for

little D and my prayer is that the bio mom can get

everything in order so July 16 (little D's next court date)

little D can go back with family. Prayers appreciated.

 This girl LOVES to be held, and quickly lets you know

she is not happy if you try to set her down.

But I can't blame her after she laid in a hospital bed for a

month. So we take her up and love her to the best of our 

abilities. ( Praise Jesus for Moby Wraps and other baby

carriers that make it possible to 'hold' her and still

give us use of our hands.)

 We love seeing this gummy smile but are so ready 

to see the bottom teeth pop through. They have been

'growing' for what seems a very long time.

 Little D is so strong at just a month old. She is able

to push herself so high that we often come back 

and find that she has rolled over on her back.

We also learned she can't be left alone on the boppy

or she uses her strong legs to push her over and ends

up on her head.

 Over the last month we have had some 

work done in the back yard. We added a 'garden' 

shed to clear out the garage of all the extras that

have accumulated (mowers, weed wackers, wheelbarrow

ect.) this will help in cutting down on the obstacle course that

we now have to work through to get babies in and out of the car.

Jacob loves to sit and watch the workers, and now signs "work"

to me when I check in to see if he is ready to come out of his chair, or

continue to watch them work:)

We are all ready and very excited (It should be finished

today or early next week) about this new outdoor play place

for the babies to play. And just in time for summer vacation, and

getting the pool set up for the littles to splash in (without fear of the 

dog trying to join in or pop the pool:)

Thanks for all the prayers, love and support.

Blessings

A Holiday Weekend

My mom and sister flew to the island to join us in Mobay

for a few days getaway. 

After a rough start (The hotel wouldn't let me check

in, then called the cops on me because I couldn't prove

I was the foster mom of the kids I have. Thankfully

with the help of CPFSA the hotel got the proof they

needed and finally allowed us to check in.)

 because we are early risers our mornings were spent

on the beach... because nothing else was open yet.

 at first Big J wasn't to sure about 

the sand, but as soon as he had

a bucket and shovel he was content

to play as long as he was allowed.

 The ocean was nice and warm, and Big J became

a champion splasher.

 This lady spent most mornings sleeping in the stroller.

 The hotel had a splash pad that 

Big J loved. It was perfect for him

to get used to vacation life.

 These two spent most of their days

in the water.

 This little lady got in the water too if she wasn't 

sleeping.

 The splash pad was a big hit with her too!

On Sat. we hugged Auntie K and Mamaw so they could

fly home, then made the trip over the mountains back

to our house. We then spent the next few days transitioning 

out of vaca mode, and back to reality.

We were so thankful for the time away, but I am equally

thankful to be back home and in a normal routine again.

Little J

Please be prayerful for Little J.

Last week Monday we got a call that he has been released to his

potential adoptive family. He left an hour later to go for his initial week

visit with the family. We were informed yesterday that his visit has been

extended to a 3 month trial stay with the family and that he would not be

coming back to us.

Please be prayerful for Little J and his new family as they all transition to

this new life together. 

This is something new for us, we have never had a child go with an 

adoptive family before, and we are so excited that Little J got placed 

so quickly. We will miss him and his snuggles, but Rejoice that

he now has his forever family!

Everyday life.

 I am thankful for the help of Auntie Betty who

comes 3-5 days a week to help out in the mornings

or afternoons with the littles. It gives me a chance

to run errands and step away for a little bit each day.

This boy has made great leaps and bounds

in his time here. BUT he is still clumsy 

on his feet. Weds night he tripped and bit

through his lip and we ended up at the Dr.

Thankfully after an hour we had seen the Dr.

 who assured me it was not as bad as I thought, and given

a Rx to help seal the wound to help it heal.

 Thankful that after just 3 days things are healing nicely

and it doesn't seem to bother him at all.

 One of Neiahs 'jobs' that she has taken on is

reading nightly devotions and stories to the boys before

bed. She takes great pride in this, and gets excited

when she can read them to sleep:)

 This is one of the boys favorite places. We don't really have a 

nice place for them to play outside as they are still unsteady

on their feet, but they love standing here and watching 

Neiah and Minnie run around the yard.

 Minnie typically ends up sitting right next

to them trying to play with any part of them 

she can reach.

 This girl is doing awesome. She is eating better, but

is still just a little peanut. She has also started creeping

(aka scooting) and starts to move around as soon as

you lay her down.

Neiah LOVES the roll of big sister and is always ready 

to play with (mother) the littles as much as she can.

Happy Easter

So Thankful that He is Alive!

Blessings to you this Easter!

Now is already April...

I have not been doing a good job in keeping

up with the blog this year and for that I Apologize.

 Little Miss A is still here and she loves being social

with anyone who will talk to her.

 The end of February she got to go and

watch Neiah's Jamaica Day program at school.

 She is small but mighty. We have settled into somewhat

of a routine with her. Its still hit or miss on naps and eating.

Some days she does great, then the next is a battle, but she 

typically smiles through it all. She is teething big time 

and everything goes in her mouth. She loves to pull hair, or pinch

your face, or grab onto and yank anything she can reach. 

She has one level and thats loud

 The end of Feb. we were also blessed with a visit

from John. We were thankful for his willingness to

come visit us at En Gedi on Sat. Then the girls and I 

went down to Kingston for church with the HCJ

team on Sunday.

 Last weekend we celebrated Palm Sunday.

We got all ready for church only to be informed

(on the way to church) that church was cancelled.

We we had our own devotion time at home instead.

A few weeks ago we got a call from the head placement officer

for Jamaica. She informed us that the government is closing

another home and they had 4 1 year olds they needed to place 

in a new home would we be interested?

We them we were able to accommodate 2. We operate

as a foster home so our limit is 4 and since Neiah is still

under that label, and Ashely is already here... En Gedi

is at its limit with the 2 additions.

This past Monday we welcomed Big J and Little J to 

En Gedi. 

 This is Little J. He is 13 months old, very ornery, and 

loves to be held and snuggle. In less then a week he has

already become very protective/possessive of Momma, and will

yell " Hey!" at Neiah if she gets to close to me, and will also come running

if someone else is on my lap or in my arms.

 This is Big J. This Boy has made great strides already

in his short time here. He is 18 months old, but seems

to be delayed in many areas. His first day here he only

army crawled everywhere on his belly. The second day

he would crawl on his knees or walk along couches or other 

things he could hold onto. The 3rd day he was walking,

he still falls alot, but he is doing so much better!

 He has also already been to the Dr. and came

home with a bunch of meds to get him healthy.

Its nothing major just little things but prayers appreciated

as we get him healthy, and get both boys into the Dr. next

week to get them up to date on their immunizations.

Ashley doesn't seemed phased by them. Neiah LOVES

having them and is constantly mothering (smothering) them.

Prayers appreciated as we figure out this new normal.

Thanks

Blessings

Erin