Our New Normal!

So many people ask me how things are going?  How are the boys doing, adjusting, coping?  How am I doing, adjusting, coping?  What is life like with all the change - how are the bio kids with the new kiddos in the house - how are the new kiddos adjusting to the rest of their siblings?  I have to tell you that a LOT has changed...

There is SO much more laundry, cooking, and dishes to do when there are SEVEN people in the fam!

There is SO much more laughing, wrestling, and rough housing with FOUR boys in the house!

There is SO much more NOISE in the house - FIVE kiddos playing and being kids increases the noise level exponentially!

There are Frustrating times trying to sign or play charades trying to figure out what the non-English speaking members of the fam are trying to say or what you are trying to get across to them!

There is LOTS of giggling and joy watching the boys experience things for the first time - Just this Week....riding bikes, going to the zoo, going to a movie theater (Nahome said "That is a BIG TV, MAMA!")

There is fun times and frustrating times watching the boys learn the ins and outs of our family, get used to our routines, and make themselves comfortable in the family.  We are doing our best to show them what being a part of the family is all about.  They are getting to know their siblings and act like siblings (which at times includes bickering but that is a good sign, right?  Feeling comfortable enough to be themselves and show emotion).

There are LOTS of Sweet times - hearing "I love you, mama" in Ethiopian accent from my precious boys!  Nahome curling up in my lap in the evenings and nuzzling his head into my neck and falling asleep.  Hearing my boys giggle when they get tickled (Man, are they ticklish!) My boy who screamed and cried when we would lay him down for a nap when he first got home 2 months ago - going in and crawling in bed this afternoon and falling asleep just cause he was tired (This is called PROGRESS, folks!)

OUR hearts have probably changed the most...our hearts are full and our eyes are open!!  God has blessed us tremendously MORE than we ever imagined and we are continuing to trust HIM with our lives and our family!

We have a BIG week ahead of us!  Daddy and I both head back to work (I've got parent-teacher conferences which are always fun, but late nights!).  Isaiah is excited to start school tomorrow - his class has been preparing for his arrival ALL school year and will make sure he has a warm welcome!

It feels weird to NOT be waiting by my phone for 2AM emails from the embassy or news from our Family Coordinator on court status...we have made it through to the other side....our kiddos are home, sleeping just down the hall, all in the same house and on the same continent - I feel blessed and full of joy each time I think that GOD has chosen ME to Mama these FIVE precious kiddos!  Love them all!