Change...

The only thing we know we can

expect here is change. We get a call

and new littles come, we get another

call and they go. We don't get a say.

We just get to love them and care

for them the best we can while they

are here with us at En Gedi.

 This week we got the call that my 'gut' had been

telling me was coming for a week now. He had

been gone for almost 2 weeks, and the medical

appointments in Kingston continued to get added.

For his consistency, and so he would be closer to 

the children't hospital, Big J was moved to

a home in Kingston. 

 Please be prayerful for him that he

can thrive there. That all the great strides

he made here with us, continue and that

he doesn't just get lost in the mix there.

A few days later we got another call.

There was a 2 year old waiting in a hospital

would we be willing to take her in.

We do our best to stick to babies 0-2,

but in times like these we are willing 

to step up as God calls and take them in

to get them out of the hospital, and love

them until long term placement can be

found for them.

 So Thursday we welcomed another 2 year old (almost 3)

Miss J. She is a big lady, so smart, and the opposite

of our quiet and calm, Big J that just left us.

Prayers for Miss J and her time with us. She comes with 

a lot. A lot of experiences a 2 year old should never have.

And She is our first placement that has come directly 

after being removed from her family. So this is her first 

"children's home" experience.

So thankful for Neiah at these times. She can step in

and love and play with them in a way that already

Miss J looks for. With the other littles my focus can't 

be solely on her, so she sticks close to Neiah her

favorite playmate:)

Lots Going On.

En Gedi officially has a 2 year old!

Big J turned 2 on Monday, and with it

has come the 'terribles' okay not really,

but he has started pushing limits and his

naughtiness has seemed to intensify 

since then :)

 I think Neiah was more excited about

the birthday party then Jacob was.

 He had no idea what was going on.

 But loved getting a cupcake and 

kept such focus while eating it, making

sure not to let any hit the floor.

An update on J. He came back last Sat. from his

clinical appointment, and sadly he came back with

more appointments, and a surgery that needs to be 

scheduled. Instead of appointments calming down (or

even stopping) they just keep coming and multiplying. 

And they all have to happen in Kingston. Next week alone

he has 2 different appointments in Kingston. 1 for an ultrasound

of his abdomin and one for a hearing test with JAD.

His social worker made the comment when she brought him back

Sat. that with all these appointments he may need to be moved

to a home closer (or in Kingston). Prayers for wisdom appreciated 

as we figure this out. We would hate to see him go, BUT we also 

know what a burden it is for a social worker to drive hours each way 

just to pick him up and take him to each appointment.

Now on to this lady. Yesterday Little Miss D had

her 3 month check up and with it Dr. found she had

a heart murmur, and gave us a refer to get an 

Eco-cardiogram done. Praise! They only do 

Eco-cardiograms the first Sat. of each month for littles

like her. and we were able to get an appointment for

her, tomorrow. I am so thankful we just had to 

wait 2 days and not a month before her heart

could be tested and we can figure out next

steps for her.

Prayers appreciated. Thanks!

Back Home!

 The End of July- Aug, God Blessed Neiah and I with an opportunity

to travel to the states. He provided the perfect people (the only person)

who we knew, and trusted to move into our home for a month and who

was willing to take on the responsibility of our 3 En Gedi babies. And

above all the CPFSA had to approve her and they did! So with her

assistance, and the Amazing help of the Aunties who already help us,

Neiah and I were able to step away to refresh with family and friends 

for a month.

 As much time as possible was spent with cousins.

 We got a long weekend in Tenn.

 with extended family...

 And our favorite Aunt Becki.

After a much appreciated and needed month away

for Neiah and I, we were ready to come back home

to our babies.

 It took us a weekend at home to get acclimated

back to reality with littles, but now we are settled

and loving life. 

This guy has made some great strides in our time away.

He has learned some new words, became very protective

of his little sisters, and now mimics EVERYTHING we do

as he continues to learn and develop. 

A little catch up with him. He came back from his last Hospital 

appointment with lots of vitamins and creams and a Rx. 

He also came back with more appointments. One that is tomorrow,

so far they have not been able to get him transportation to and from 

his appointment tomorrow. Prayers appreciated that a ride can be found,

and that his results are all positive.

 Little Miss A grew one massive gangly tooth while we were

away. So now every time she gives us one of her big A smiles

we now see her one gangly tooth :). She now pulls herself up on 

anything and anyone who is around. She LOVES chasing Jacob

and Neiah around the house, and playing with whatever they 

have in their hands. She has a wide range to her voice and loves to 

growl, 'sing' nicely, or scream at us most of the day.

 Little D changed the most while we away. She is now rolling

all over. You put her down and away she rolls at just 3 months.

 She also has become a finger sucker. And loves to have all the 

things in her mouth always.

 mostly, its because while we were away she pushed

2 teeth out from month2-3!. I have never had a baby

teeth so early, and it looks like they will just keep coming.

An update on her situation. Sadly I read her family situation 

completely wrong. Her birth mom was not going above and 

beyond that first time because she was fighting for Miss D. 

Instead, that was her birth moms way of saying goodbye as 

she was putting her baby girl up for adoption. Please be prayerful

that she can be matched with a family quickly so she can bond 

properly with them. 

Thanks!

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!