Fun and games on Saturday

Noah's last soccer game.  Noah was never far from the action on the soccer field!

Joy's first time in the little pool!

Brian and Joy having a great time in the pool!

Drying off in the swing!
To see this smile, it is hard to believe the massive fits that come on out of nowhere, usually when she wants something and I don't realize it and we turn the opposite way.  We had a rough morning before church today and I thought about not going because I was so tired and stressed by that time.  I had already had a meltdown and a fit myself!  When we got to church, I ran into an old friend who also has a daughter with special needs and when we stopped to talk, the tears started stinging my eyes.  It is amazing that everything she said is exactly what I needed to hear.  She relayed situations and stories that sounded just like what Joy and I are going through!  It was so good to hear her talk and know that I'm not alone when I feel frustrated and overwelmed!  In between worship and sunday school, Joy and I ran into another old friend who adopted his daughter when she was 18 months.  Again, everything he said I could relate to and again I was reminded, we are not alone in this.  Everything we face, others have faced already.  This morning when I left for church I was wondering if I need some medication to get me through these first most challenging months.  However, I left church today with two people saying "call me when you need to talk!"  God knew I needed to hear what they had to say and put them in my path today.  I am thankful for a God who knows!  Please keep us in your prayers!  We are at a point where Joy is comfortable enough to really push my buttons and she knows exactly what buttons to push!  I can see in her little face the question, "How far do I have to push before you leave me?  Will you really always be there for me?"  I have made many mistakes and I still feel like we take two steps forward and one step back.  When I get tired, I have a hard time being consistently patient and gentle and nurturing.  And she REALLY needs that consistency!  I pray that God will be strong for her when I am weak and that He will cover over the mistakes I make with His perfect love.

Playing around the house

Just a swingin'

Daddy found the ticklish spot!

Sorry, I couldn't get these to stay rotated when I put them on the blog!

What's going on...

So sorry it has been so long since last post.  We have been seeing many Doctors, specialists, etc.. while trying hard to keep on a daily schedule and routine.  Joy is not happy when things don't happen as she expects.  I had a dentist appointment yesterday morning and Greg stayed home with her while I was gone, so she was pretty fussy and clingy for the rest of the day.  I was thankful that Greg encouraged me to also go excercise last night.  I had so much more of me to give after some time away.  I tried to post this yesterday, but it bombed.  I want to post several pictures because it has been so long, but I will break it into two posts so that hopefully it wont bomb again.

Joy in her Easter dress at Hope and Stu Peters house.
Hope invited us to come see their baby chicks!  It was so funny, because the boys were scared of them!  We couldn't get them to hold them without dropping them.  In the picture below, Brian had just dropped the chick he was holding.  Look at Joy sitting so patiently waiting for the picture to be taken! :)



We have thoroughly enjoyed watching Noah play soccer! 



Joy washing and cooking vegetables!  Yum!  Unfortunately, the plastic toy kind is still the only kind she will eat!  We are still working on ways to get her used to eating food.  However, we are so enjoying bottle time and the bonding that comes with feeding her a bottle in the rocking chair!

So funny!  She apparantly knows what the camera does now.  This is the smile we get everytime we get the camera out!

This one was taken in between BIG smiles!  She takes my breath away!

Greg bought me a camera for my b-day because we were always fighting over who got to use the camera every day.  I obviously need a camera with me at all times...never know when those photo ops are going to come along!  This picture of Brian was the first taken with my new camera!  What a handsome young man he is becoming!  This morning he was telling me something and his voice squeaked for the first time!  Hello puberty!