Mazlin's Visit to the Emergency Room

Yesterday was scary to say the least. High fever, red bumps, no sleep and stomach pains. Poor Mazlin. Such a little trooper. When she arrived at the emergency room she was so excited to be up late that she just sat there and looked around as if she didn't have a care in the world. She is fine. Undetermined Virus. It will pass and there is nothing they can do. Dennis and I love the side benefit of having the most affectionate one year old in St. Louis. We just realized what a little snug bug she is when she is sick.

The Beauty of Blogs and Mazlin’s Special Gift

I can’t tell you how many times I am surprised by people telling me they go to my blog all the time or they know someone that forwarded the blog and they love to follow our adoption journey.

I find this both really wonderful and really odd all at the same time—until I’m honest with myself and admit I do the same thing. In fact, I’m afraid I’m going to run up to a few of the bloggers I follow as if we are friends for life and they don’t even know me. What goes around comes around. Let’s be honest.

The other day my sister told me she met a woman who adopted from Guatemala and my sister mentioned her niece Mazlin (it isn’t a name you soon forget). She knew immediately who we were and went on to say my blog was one of the reasons they decided to move forward with their adoption. You can’t get much better than that. I’ve tried to be as open and honest with the ups and downs of adoption and creating new families. As with the first, the second adoption brings so many additional elements to the family. You have the sibling to sibling relationship, the additional transition for the entire family and expected second child dynamics.

Bringing Mazlin into our life was the best thing that could have happened to us. We are seeing an amazing attachment therapist (initially for Mazlin to better attach to the family and then the very wise lady quickly turned to me and in so many words told me it was more of a mommy attaching to the new family dynamic kind of thingy) I’m a big girl. I can take it. Sniff. Sniff.

She has taught us so much already about the power of attachment. It is much easier to begin to understand when you realize Mazlin came to us from a place of loss. She believes all adopted children do. Even if the child is adopted at birth, it still was attached on a molecular level to his/her brith mommy. I didn’t give Mazlin or Mia’s (for that fact) transition the respect it should have had relating to attachment. The fact we are embarking on the journey of understanding is truly a gift.

Thank you Mazlin!

www.attach.org (for all my secret blogger friends)

We miss you daddy...

We wanted you to join us in our leaf party today and mommy had to add some sappy music in the background. Love M+M

My new business partner

 

Working from home is great in many ways. Working from home is not so great in many ways. The biggest issue for me is the isolation. Everyday, it goes like this-get coffee, have breakfast with the girls, grab Zeke and head up to the office. He is so content to just hang out all day and watch cars and sleep. I looked over at him this morning and thought about the first day we went to get him on an Amish farm in Liberty, Ohio. He has been a great companion and an excellent pull toy for Mia and Mazlin. Zeke is almost 17 and I know his days are limited (at least it smells that way)

But for now he is my business partner. I just need to curtail his expenses. Snausages are not cheap these days.

The Happiest Bee in St. Louis

 

Mazzie loved her costume. She laughed at herself and her sister all night. It was quite chaotic around here but a ton of fun.

 

Mazzie is eating part of Mia's costume

 

 

 

Getting ready for the big event

 

So Happy!

 

 

 

 

 

Notice her new manicure. Boo!

Pumpkin Carving

 

 

A day of discovery

 

What do you get when Dora meets I Dream of Jeanie?

 

My sister continues to amaze me with her ability to send Mia home with such memorable purchases. I'm certain these pajamas will become Mia's new favorites just because I can barely look at them without laughing. In case you can't tell, the pants are a bit sheer as well.

Congrats Kristin and Tom!

We attended the wedding of Dennis' good friend this weekend (child-free) and I realized why I love weddings. You get to share in such a wonderful event and remind yourself of why you married the person you are with in the first place. They were married in the Tower Club of the Opera House. Simply beautiful right down to the letterpress invitations. We are so happy for Kristin and Tom. We had a great time. What else do you do but drink too much and find yourself walking to your hotel with hiccups at 2:00am without the kiddies!