Back to work

I. . . Shanda Sprick. . . . will begin work on Monday morning. It is true. I'm going back to work for four weeks. I haven't been on a payroll for over four years now. I'm feeling great, and I'm very excited about my new job.

I'm going to be the co-host on the morning show of the local Christian radio station: WJQ 99! Yup, I'm a DJ. I've always been interested in doing this and even looking into taking classes while I was in Chicago. Well, now I get to live the dream. I'll be on from 6:00-9:00 in the mornings. For those of you living outside of the area, you can stream it and enjoy!

http://www.jq99.com/

Plus, as a radio DJ it doesn't even matter that my latest dye job on my hair went a little sour. :)

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving! Let me tell you why:

1. God is so very faithful. My family has been going through so much, and although dad was not with us at Thanksgiving and we continue to pray that he decides to get the help he so desperately needs, we still can see God in our lives. Through all of this, God has decided to show us His hand time and again. It is my favorite thing to know that God has His grip on my hand and life. . . that even though things are tough, even though I don't understand, even though I want my kids to have their Gramps back. . . God has it and He is never late!

2. We had Thanksgiving at my house! I love having people over. This was our first Thanksgiving at our house and Gary and I wanted to make things special. So. . . . we painted the kitchen, I created a painting which has my grandfather's prayer written on it, we got new curtains, new tablecloth, new table runner, my mom cleaned our house (while I painted!). . . . It was so much fun. I feel like I'm living in a new place. What great Christmas gifts to get at Thanksgiving!

3. New Thanksgiving festivities! Since we were at a new house, we decided to try something new and it was so much fun! We had appetizers right after church, then took a break. Around 3:30, all us girls took over the kitchen and whipped up quite the meal! It tasted great, but the best part is that we had so much fun! The guys cleaned up and we really enjoyed each other for the whole day!

4.The best part is when we went around the table and shared the things that we were thankful for. God is blessing blessing blessing! I love hearing how God is working in the lives of my siblings and my mom. . . I also love hearing what Gary and my kids are thankful for. God is certainly good.

I pray that you too were blessed. . . not only yesterday. . . but that you continue to see God's good blessings in your lives every day!

Celebrating!

Pictures for our celebratory supper at the Chinese buffet in honor of Simon's Gotcha Day!

Enjoying all the choices from the buffet. Buffets mean that everyone can find something that they like (and kids get their food quickly). :)

Noel gives off her "picture smile".

Simon is exicted to be in our family. Either that or he is excited about ice cream.

Gary imitating Shanda. :)

Garrison decided to save some of his ice cream for later.

Shanda imitating Gary imitating Shanda. :)

Plus: I'm beyond thilled with the three kids God has given to me.

Final Home Study

It is over! (Well, almost over)

We still need to send in some pictures and some money, but our adoption process is complete. We had our final home study last night. It went really well. Simon's adjustment and attachment have been wonderful!

Having regular home studies has been a thought provoking process for me. When we began, Gary and I had to analyse ourselves very closely. After many hours of talking with our social worker, we received a document stating who we were, what made us tick, what our values were, etc. It was very interesting to read. . . do I really behave like that? Do we really struggle with that? Did our childhoods affect us this way?

Last night I was able to see our year with Simon through different eyes. Renee asked us many questions about him, who he is, how he responds. They are many of the same questions that she asked us almost a year ago. During her first visit with us after Simon was home, I remember her telling us that it was going to get so much better. "How could this get better?" I thought. This is going great, I love this guy. Well, things have gotten better. There has been growth from all of us in regards to bonding and behavior. Our family is truly a family.

The best part of the evening came at the end. The kids had been put into bed and we were finishing up. She told Gary and I that we really operated as a team, that it was truly a gift what we had. Gary and I reflected on that after she had left. We praise God that we are a team. Yup, there are issues. Yup we don't always take care of each other like we should.

Yup, I love him tons, and love being with him, and love laughing with him, and love that he doesn't mind when I wake him in the middle of the night when I have a bad dream, and love cooking something for him that he really likes, and love looking across the dining room table at him, and love it that he'll get up at 2:00 in the morning to paint the kitchen, and love taking him on a surprise date tonight and and and and and. . . .

It has been a great and interesting year. It'll get even wilder in May! :)

Results

We had such a great appointment with Simon's surgeon. Dr. Robertson is so very kind. He assessed that the lump (which is a tumor) on Simon's side was the same kind of thing that he already has on his back, pelvis, and leg. It may continue to change, it may go away, it may stay. It isn't anything to be concerned about. He urged us not to have it removed. You don't have to do much urging to get us to say we don't want Simon to have surgery. :) Someday if Simon does need surgery for his large tumor, they can look at removing it. For now, more may crop up. We never know where or why they will show up. Simon is kinda a mystery to his doctors. The whole office is enamored with Simon which Gary and I find funny.

On the way to the appointment, I was thanking God that He knows what is going on in Simon's body. He knows every part of this tumor. He knows how Simon's body is functioning with the tumor inside of him. He knows Simon's future. I'm thankful that God has given us great doctors, but I'm also thankful that Simon ultimately rests in the hands of the great physician.

We'll keep you posted on the status of "Lumpy" our son as new things come up.

A year goes fast. . .

Hi friends

One year ago, so many of you were praying for us, and praying for Simon. Praying that his adjustment into our family would go well, that we would learn to love each other, to communicate with each other, to grow in God.

Well, all of our prayers have been answered in bigger ways than we ever imagined! Simon is a delight. He is a great fit into our family. His English is so great! He loves his siblings. He loves both Gary and I. I love it that every morning he runs to find me and hangs on to my leg while I say good morning and tell him that I love him. He loves to hug and kiss us. He loves to wrestle. He loves to do puzzles. He loves to rhyme (something that often drives us CRAZY!), he loves to argue with his siblings, he loves to sing, he is a wonderful runner, he doesn't love school. . . unless he gets to play with toys, he loves veggies but not cheese, when he doesn't like a decision we've made he scowls at us, his feet haven't grown since we met him, he has had numerous hair styles, he loves cars. . . he is our Simon!

We are going out for Chinese tonight to celebrate. It won't be as good as what we had in China, but it will be a reminder to us of Simon's heritage. God is so very good!

November 5, 2008

As I sit in my comfy chair this morning listening to the sounds of my children waking up. . . I have tears streaming down my cheeks.

One year ago I was in a car headed for the airport with Gary. We were leaving to go to China and get Simon. We were so excited and so hopeful. Yet, just moments before, I had walked into my children's rooms and kissed them good-bye. . . wondering in some way if they would remember me when I returned. . . wondering if I might not return. . . wishing there was some other way to get Simon rather than leaving my kids for two weeks. It was one of the hardest things I'd have to do. Silly perhaps, but oh how I love them so very much.

This morning when they get up, they'll get extra hugs and kisses from this mama. I get to spend the whole day with them and I'm pretty excited about it. Hopefully the next time I leave them for two weeks I'll be dropping them off at college.

Lump

Simon has a lump: a new lump. It is under his right arm on his ribcage.

We discovered it during bath time about five weeks ago. We called the doctor, we went in to get it checked out, an ultra sound was ordered and we received the news.

"We don't know what it is."

What kind of news is that?

The results were sent to a specialist and we waited. I called. We waited. I called. We waited. The lump changed. It became smaller and harder. We waited. We decided to sent the results to another doctor to see, plus. . . the best doctor isn't covered by our insurance so maybe it was a good thing that we hadn't had any results yet. It is hard for me to get concerned because Simon is running around and being Simon!

Yesterday we received a phone call. Our doctor's office apologized. They hadn't sent the information. What?!? We now have an appointment for next week. We are going to go and see the best doctor because Tammie has taken our case and it going to be an advocate for us. She will "work" (love that!) with our insurance company to get the appointments paid for.

I love God. I love it how He makes it happen. Now we get to see the best. They want to do a full physical work-up on Simon. I really believe that we are going to find our more answers. This is fantastic! Bless God.

Russ'

We are going to eat at Russ' tonight. There are several reasons for this.

1. We are getting our family picture taken downtown at 5:30. I'd rather focus on getting little people ready as opposed to getting food ready. It'll be a special treat.

2. I'm having trouble cooking. I'm so sorry family! I can't stand the smell of anything savory. I can make mac-n-cheese, egg salad, and I'm really good at cereal. Going out helps my family to beef up on their food intake considering I'm providing pretty miserable meals lately.

3. I love Russ'. It isn't the food that's the best, it's the memories. I get excited every time we get to go. Gary shakes his head and falls more in love with his wife for being so very goofy. My kids don't have a clue, but they will.

4. We have a coupon.

Do you have a restaurant that you go to for the memories? Love it when I get to enjoy more than just the company and the food.