Lucy...Ethan's New Love

My 5 year old son has a new love in his life and she is taller than his mommy, faster than his mommy, and more exciting than his mommy. When did this happen?  When did I get replaced?  I mean, aren't I the one he is supposed to say "hi mom" to on national t.v. as he scores the winning run on a highly overpaid baseball team? Yes. It is true. My days of being the coolest lady in Ethan's life are over. I have now been replaced by LUCY.  She now gets all of his attention. He can't wait for his date with her every Monday evening.  I hear how he like to take special care of her and go  places with her.  Part of me is so happy that he has found that someone special who can captivate his attention and make him feel special, but......I don't think Lucy is the one who buys him ultra cool "aaannderwear" like I do.  Sigh!!!!!! Well I suppose I should show you all Ethan's new love.  

Please meet Lucy

Ethan began taking horseback riding lessons just 3 weeks ago from a fellow home school mom.  I thought this might be a great way for Ethan to learn some responsibility as well as keep him active in between baseball seasons.  Daddy and Ethan head out every Monday night to take an hour long lesson from Miss Theresa.  We were not sure Ethan was even old enough to be able to follow all of the commands and handle an animal as big as a horse. Not only are we surprised but so is his teacher. She says he is doing things she has not seen some older kids do.  Today they left the comfort area of the arena and ventured out for a small trail ride down a hill, through a small creek, and back. Brian said Ethan did fantastic!  In addition to riding Lucy, Ethan is learning how to care for her as well. With all of the attention from therapists and specialists that the little ones receive it is a little bit of time that Ethan gets to feel special and learn something at the same time but don't tell him it's a learning thing:)

Brian said it was a good 100 feet down the hill to the creek bed.

This was a good time for Ethan to practice handling the horse over uneven terrain.

Miss Theresa is absolutely fantastic with Ethan!

Ethan is learning how to clean out the horse's shoes.

This is a skill Ethan is learning where he has to put a ring on the cone and then once they are all on he goes back takes one off and then goes to put it on the other cone at the other end of the arena.


My little boy is growing up!!  Mommy loves you Ethan "Cheeks" Cole Burman!!

A Little Starfish

Today a wonderful mom I had the pleasure of meeting, while she was bringing home her 2 boys, kept her promise to children left alone in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. She promised that she would not forget them and no matter what it took she would find them each a family.  Now there are not 20,000+ people all gathered together in one location cheering this boy on. There are not 1,000 people lined up outside a building just waiting to catch a glimpse of this handsome fella.

 Instead there is this one mom.  

ONE.

 How can one mom make a difference?  Why would one mom want to try?

 Because Jesus commanded her to do so and He also commanded each one of us to do so.

Little Andrew is the same age as my Ethan.  Today Ethan looked at the computer as I was reading this mom's blog post and he said "woa."  I used that moment to talk to Ethan about how this little guy is his own age, has no one to love him, or give him medicine when his leg hurts, no one to kiss him, and no brothers or sisters.  I asked him is he wanted to pray with me for Andrew to find a family and he told me "you pray". I asked Ethan why does he not want to pray. He said that he did  not know how to pray for a family for this boy. So I told him let's pray together and we did.  Just a few minutes later Madelaine came into the room and Ethan wanted to show her Andrew and tell her how he does not have any brothers or sister to love him.  

See. That ONE mom. That ONE promise. It has multiplied.  It has reached into the hearts and minds of those who never met nor knew of this little man.  Now that ONE has become 1,000 and then 10,000   etc.. Would you please help that ONE to become 100,000, or even 1, 000,000?  Will you show that ONE can make a difference for Andrew?

2 Years Home For the Triplets

May 2, 2010

After days of dealing with a volcano holding us back from coming home, the triplets arrived home in the arms of Madelaine and myself.  Three little ones God blessed with Down syndrome were about to embark on a new life as Burmans.  All 3 children were raised in the same orphanage and even in the same groupa but each would come home affected differently by the treatment they received during their almost 6 years.  

Evelyn was the smallest one in height and weight weighing in at a mere 19 pounds. She is now 40 lbs and by far the tallest and most active of the three. She has been diagnosed not only with Ds but she also has severe autism and attachment disorder.  Right now she is still nonverbal but is slowly picking up sign language.  Her autism has been a difficult diagnosis to deal with as it is such a barrier to so much for her.  Our biggest battle with Evelyn is the fact that she literally eats any and everything in her path.  We are trying to find out how to deal with this because it can be very dangerous what she eats.

Hudson was the middle child weighing in at 20 lbs and literally the middle in birth dates. He now weighs 34 pounds and is without a doubt the smartest little guy.  His diagnosis of Ds and deaf does not slow his  little mind down in the least. Hudson can sign so many words and even a few sentences. His ability to do puzzle and create things is amazing! What we struggle with his motivation for Hudson. If you let him, he would sit in one spot all day and never move. Walking is not his idea of fun and forget climbing or anything else of that nature. It is not that he can't, it's that he WON'T!  Soon he will realize that if he wants something he will have to move to get it.

Owen, our oldest of the triplets, is very much his own person. When he was at the orphanage they did not like him at all and even told us that. He received much abuse and that has dramatically affected him!  It is only now that we are beginning to see a little boy emerge from the broken, angry, and frustrated little person we brought home 2 years ago.  He struggles severely with sensory issues but we have an idea on his triggers and are able to manage them most times. Owen has had traumatic issues with eating and has a gbutton now in order for him to get the nutrition he needs. We backed off trying to get him to eat foods and ever since then have allowed him to tell us when and if he wants to eat something. Now Owen comes up to us quite often and will want tastes of anything without texture such as yogurt or applesauce. No matter what time it is we give him some tastes to show him eating is pleasureable. Even when he had speech therapy they were trying to make him eat and he just didn't want to.  We stopped speech because they wanted things that we just felt were not what Owen needed and ever since then he has done remarkable!

Having the triplets home for 2 years has brought a lot of memories to our family and home.  It has also been a major learning experience in parenting as we have no idea all the things our children endured. Yes, we have ideas but that still does not help us to erase all that was done.  When I first brought the triplets home I had ideas as to how we were going to parent them.  I set up therapies, went to all doctor appointments and even had their rooms set up based on the info we were given about the children.  It is now that I am tossing all those "ideas and plans" out of the window and embark on a new and uncharted journey. Sometimes a parent must step back and evaluate their parenting style and how it is or is not working for each child. That has been the case for me with the triplets. Right now Brian and I have decided that we need to sort of go back to square 2 and really work with each one where they are at.  Now for each of them it is a vastly different place. Hudson can do all sorts of academic things whereas Owen and Evelyn really are not ready for those things.  With that in the forefront of my parenting ideas I hope to be able to chart a new course for the triplets and what their future holds is tailored made for them by God and I am choosing to accept that rather than trying hard to prove to the world that my children can and will be productive members of society in such and such a way. We will get there I know but it may look different for each one!

A swing still can put a smile on Evelyn's face.

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Often this is Evelyn's look but what it is is that she is being swung so high and that actually allows her brain to organize and concentrate.

Her face sure has grown from a baby face to that of a little girl!

This is what your face will look like after you too eat dirt.

Her blue eyes are so beautiful. Evelyn still is nonverbal but her eyes can say more than words can.

The Professor is contemplating the theory of actually moving can equal fun.

Hudson smiles with his whole face. He is such a sweet boy!

Hudson's smile can melt your heart. It usually does of all the ladies in church!

Owen's signature trait is his tongue sticking out of his mouth but to us that shows he is happy.

Owen is our serious guy. He went through a lot in the  orphanage and that has sadly affected him deeply. Only time and our love can help erase those effects.

Carrington Updates

Just 13 months ago Carrington was finally deemed healthy enough to leave Cook Children's Hospital and come home to her family.  She did not miss her homecoming back on March 17, 20111 but just waited until April 20, 2011 to make her grand entrance into our home. When Brian and I walked her through our front door we told her that these 4 walls would always be her sanctuary; a place of total and unfailing love.  A place where she is valued for who she is. A place where she can grow, learn, and discover.  

Yes 13 months later she has rightfully taken her place in our hearts and home as Princess.  It seems everyone is standing ready just to love on her and of course give her tons and tons of snuggles.  She rules from her mighty throne: the swing.  Here she also commands her subjects with her royal wand: a small water bottle filled with beads. And royal commands are given with an ever boisterous voice.  Now some may think her voice and sounds indicate she is upset but to our family those sounds are the sweetest music ever!  One day, in God's perfect timing, she will talk with us but for now she is just discovering all the sounds she can make.

Carrington has crept into my heart in a way that only God could have planned. The intense love and protection I have for her is beyond my comprehension.  When I am gone from her I am always itching to get home and be on the receiving end of one of her raspberry kisses or just to scoop her up and swing her around to hear her infectious giggle. A giggle that was once hidden so deep inside of her I was afraid it would never emerge.  Having many beautiful children has shown me all the different ways a mother can love.  Not one of my children is like the other and my love for each one of them is just as colorful and unique as their little personalities.  God blessed me with the type of love He Himself has for each of us.  Heaven is His creation of a place, a sanctuary from the world where we are loved for who He created.  I cannot even begin to imagine what glory He has planned for each one of is children.  Some have asked if I love my adopted children differently than my biological children.  The answer is YES and NO. Yes I love them, all 10 of them, differently because they are all different. No I do not love them any more or any less than my biological children. Isn't it interesting that just 6 years ago when I was pregnant with Ethan I shared with a very important person, who is just like a mom to me, how worried I was that I would love Ethan the same as I did Madelaine. She told me of course I would love him different because he was different but that my heart would have just enough love for him as it did for Madelaine.  She was so right!

Our Princess is now weighing in at a healthy 27 pounds and is wearing clothes in size 2T-3T.  She will snuggle into my chest and put her arms around me.  This is one of my favorite things in the world because when we brought her home and she was in the hospital she did not, or rather could not, tolerate being touched or held. Her physical abilities continue to grow and we are hoping she will soon want to crawl after her siblings.  Brian and I have decided that while we will encourage her to grow and do things we are also just going to allow her to experience the world in ways she missed as an infant and young toddler.  Carrington still eats by her gbutton but she is now taking tastes of food from mommy's finger. Her favorite is sweet potato with butter and brown sugar. When we dress her she now puts her arms into the arms of the shirt all by herself.  Baths are no longer scary but rather a time in which she sings even more.  Her sleep is pretty predictable at night but she still does not want to nap during the day. Again, we let her have that because she does not seem to need a nap. At night she sleeps about 11-12 hours (I wish the triplets would take a lesson from her on that).  Anytime there is a breeze or wind she is at her happiest!  We watch her discover new toys and actually begin to play with them.

I do not know where Carrington's life is going, that is God's area, but I am so blessed that a couple of years ago Brian and I answered His call to go.  Now if the world will only stop and listen to God's call to help the orphans than all will be well with the world!

Look at the delight on her face as she swings and the wind pours over her face.

Just snuggling with her daddy for bedtime.

I snapped the picture and the flash woke her up. She the look on her face. Just so you all know, no dads woke up during this photo shoot.

When Carrington first came home she was swallowed up by a bouncy seat that is how small she was. Now when we put her in one not only was she way longer but the seat was dragging the ground.

Madelaine is such a great big sis to push Carrington as long as she wants. And that can be a LONG time!

Big Brother Ethan is giving Carrington a horse back ride.  I love Ethan's smile!

Back on the Ranch

This was the second year one of our families with our Ds partnership opened their ranch to families of children with Ds.  Last year our family had the best time and were so looking forward to spending time just having fun and that is exactly what we did!  Ethan thought he was a genuine cowboy since he was given a cowboy hat by our friend Barbi and a bandanna by one of the volunteers.  Then Reagan was put on one of the ponies and at first she kept saying "woa horsie" but Daddy told her to say "yeehaw". Well that was all it took and you could hear Reagan shouting "yeehaw" all during her ride. She even convinced the man who was leading the pony that she needed to go for another ride!  One of the coolest things Barbi and Gary had out there was one of those circle things that horses walk around and are attached to. I think it if for teaching them to be used to walking with a harness. Oh I don't know but anyways, they hooked up swings to it and this guy would just push a button and this thing would swing the kids. Now is that an ingenious idea or what?!  I need to install one of those in my back yard then the kids could swing to their hearts content while I sit on my porch swing and drink diet Cokes:)  Hmmmm, maybe for Christmas!!! It was nice to just relax and visit with friends and to see some families we had not seen in awhile. There were quite a few babies for me to take into my arms and love on.  I remember last year when we went Carrington had just been released from the hospital and she was quite tiny.  This year she was really into what all was going around and even tasting some of Sarah's watermelon. We can't wait until next year when the boys will be able to attend!

Look how big the Princess is this year!

We asked Reagan if she had fun and this was her response.

Ethan (note the bandanna and Texas Rangers hat) and Reagan all ready for the hay ride.

Our very own little cowboy.

Evelyn really liked the animals in the petting zoo.

Ethan on the cool swing thing.

Evelyn is all about swinging so this was great for her.

Really Hudson did have a great time once it got started.

Give Carrington a bit of wind and her day is happy.

Sarah took Carrington on her first pony ride.

Reagan was so excited to ride the pony with Daddy.

Ethan looks like Rambo meets the Wild West.

Madelaine and her friend Wendy were such great helpers with the kids.

Carrington had to lick Sarah's watermelon.

Here we are on this year's hay ride.

Burmans and friends at the B&B Ranch Round-Up

I can only imagine what is going through Hudson's mind.

Ethan could not get over how big the tires for this tractor were.

Something About...

• Being the most blessed mom to have such a priceless treasure to grace each day I have.
• Watching expressions come from a once still and distant child
• Looking into deep brown eyes that are taking in all around her
• Marveling at the creation God has filled my arms with
• Wondering what my Princess is thinking
• BEING CARRINGTON'S MOMMY!!!!!!

THAT FILLS MY HEART AND SOUL WITH PURE JOY!!!!!!

I have seen this look before and usually it's right before she makes her wants known.

Look at those pretty eyelashes and round cheeks!