......since my last attempt at a blog post!! Eyob had only been home 3 weeks!! Now he's been home almost 8 months! What a ride it has been. Blogging just hasn't been a priority, I guess.
Since November we've had holidays, birthdays, many trips to Children's Hospital, Eyob's g-tube and mickey button placement, a family wedding, Dan traveling multiple times for IV, a homeschool conference, crew meets, much learning and growing together as a family of 8, and much more!
Eyob is such a joy! He is the easiest baby I've ever had. He sleeps 12 hours through the night in his crib. And sometimes takes a 3-4 hour nap. He eats anything and is very happy and affectionate. He is talking a lot and practically running. He and Abel get along so well now. One day this week, Abel came down in the morning after waking. When Eyob saw him, they shared a wonderfully mutual hug. So precious! I really love having them so close together. It's double the diapers to wash, two high chairs wherever we go, and will be a bit of a challenge to keep up with them at the pool this year, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! Abel continues to blow me away with his take on the world through verbal expression! He is so bright and so funny!
I've been experiencing an usual amount of joy lately, for me that is. I'm sure it's God working in me as I'm not naturally a bubbly, content person. I just feel like I'm right where I need to be and doing a decent job of managing everything. It's a good feeling! I am so grateful for the paths God has made clear for our children educationally. I just can't believe how much I love homeschooling! It is such a good fit for us. The girls and I have really enjoyed our Ancient History reading/projects and study of marine life. Sadly, it has not been a good year for Noah academically and in other ways. After a two month attempt at homeschooling him this past year, I sent him back to public school. Not a good idea! He's really struggled and I've done a lot of worrying. We have decided to enroll him in Ohio Virtual Academy. I'm really excited about this option for him. Brianna has been disappointed in her education this year and after signing Noah up, surprised me by her interest in OHVA as well. They are both officially enrolled and we'll receive their materials/computers some time in July. It will be added work for me, but at this point I'm willing to do anything to help Noah be successful. It will be so good to have them home and be more involved in their education. They will also be able to participate in our local homeschool cooperative. It's an incredible co-op with over 150 kids, a large amount teens, for them to connect with. Exciting stuff!
Dan and I are longing for a get-away. We are hoping to do this some time this summer or fall. It's been 6 years since our 10 year anniversary trip! We do look forward to our month of IVLI at Cedar Campus coming up. Although it's work for Dan, it will be wonderful to simplify and be there as a family. I was very strongly feeling pulled toward adoption about 4 years ago when we were last there together. I spent the summer studying the scriptures about orphans and God's desire for us to care for them. It will be wonderful to be back there with our larger family and look to God again more deeply for his will in our lives.
