Christmas pictures

 

the tree before a present was unwrapped!

 

Christmas Eve 2013 and Sam finds his Christmas Eve present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah didn't quite get into the gifts

                                                     Oh but Sam LOVED Sarah's present LOL

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah Miss Kay's cookbook!

Now I'll know how to cook up squirrel LOL

 

 

 

Broke LOL

 

Sam loves his bubba

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas morning 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at Sam unwrapping his own present!

 

 

 

Lego Man!

 

Steve took the blanket off his big present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then we went and opened Selah's presents

she got clothes, Pj's, some toys and a big pillow chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selah and Daddy

 

 

I don't know if you can see the pink back  vibrator  Sarah is holding.  When we first gave it to her, she got scared and almost cried.  Then she held it and put it on her face and arms.  She played with it all day and wore the batteries out!  And the CRAZY thing, she absolutely was so still in her body.  Very little doing her hand motions and her body was STILL.  She sat with me on the couch at our friends house and she was still....it's hard to explain if you don't know Sarah but I think this toy with the motion is giving her some input that will help her to relax.  It was like $4 at Walmart, I think I'll buy the store out tomorrow! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selah on her new pillow chair with some of her new toys and blankets and outfit:)

 

the girls have matching outfits, Sarah in green and Selah in red

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jon and his dad. 

 

 

Jon and his brothers with their dad

 

 

 

Some more of the family

 

 

 

I wish I'd taken some more pictures today but it was a good day. 

 

This was my FB post today to my friends & family and I'll share it with you also....

 

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I am very thankful that we were all together and that Selah is NOT in the hospital today. We had a good day, the kids all loved their presents, got to see all of Jon's family and have a great dinner out with some dear friends. I'm thankful to be home for Christmas this year and to have this past year of learning about our new "normal" almost over..... tonight a poignant memory of Selah almost overwhelmed my heart. It's been a rough year but God has been the Faithful One to us. "Fear Not....a Savior is born...." Thanking God for that Savior who saves us from our sins and from life when it seems to overwhelm us........

 

 

My heart was a little broken today a few times, the tears welled up but I was able to keep them in.    I just wish things were different and imagining how it could be.  Selah never got to have a Christmas with us before the accident happened.  In all my gratefulness, for all we have I just wished I had my little girl back with us completely.  That's what was on my mind today as we went about our day.  It was a good day, but a piece of my heart was hurting for the little one who stayed home with our wonderful nurse.  Having the other four children makes me HAVE to go on with life on some level.  But it hurts.....sometimes the smile is forced.  I'll never quit asking for prayer for Selah so I'll ask again tonight....pray that our little girl is restored back to us.  Thank you.

 

Christmas Day!

We started a new tradition, we opened presents in our church under the tree rather than in the house.  We just don't' have room at home to have a tree and to have the presents under it.  Plus a bad little boy named Sam discovered how to unwrap presents this year and did all of his and anyone else's he could get to LOL!  It was so cute to watch him.  He has never understood opening a present before.  In years passed, we've either opened it for him or had his stuff in bags and he'd pull things out but this year he did it all himself and really enjoyed it!

Selah seemed to enjoy her presents too.

Then we went over to my oldest brother in laws to see Jon's family and his dad who is in his 80's.  We had a good time together and my father in law remembered my name and was quite witty:)  Love seeing PaPa come through the cloud of Alzheimer's. 

Then we met some long time friends and went out to eat at Ling's one of the absolute best Chinese buffets in Florida!  Everyone left full and happy!   After that we went over to our friends' house for awhile. 

So a good time was had by all:)

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I appreciate all of you for your prayers and kind thoughts towards our family and especially towards Selah.  I'm often encouraged by your comments & emails.   Thank you for sharing in our lives and caring about us. 

Pictures coming tomorrow.....

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve here at the Clanton's and everywhere else.....


I'll be honest, holidays are just overwhelming to me.  I start out good but things just go downhill from there.  I'm already counting the days until I can take down the tree and put up all the ornaments.   The first few presents are fun, but by this time it is overwhelming to get everything wrapped.  Hope they like it, hope it works, hope I can find the receipt if  I have to take it back......  should I have gotten something for someone who surprised me with something?  You know the feeling....

Then as I skimmed through FB, one of my friends had posted this verse....
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:10-11


What a refreshing verse, to know we are not to be afraid because a Savior has been born.... that spoke to my heart.  I know I need to hear "do not be afraid" often.....life can be so scary at times.  I don't find Christmas scary, it just seems to sap at my spirit.  But not the REAL Christmas, the REAL Christmas, the coming of a Savior brings hope and joy.  That has to be my focus! 

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Jon had the day off so we all went out to eat and did a little shopping.  Most of our shopping has been done for awhile but we had to buy little last minute things AND batteries LOL!  We dropped off something at our "grandparents", a couple who attend our church but have really become grandparents to our children.   Our time with them always fills my heart! 

All the presents are wrapped thank God!  I hate wrapping presents.  Jon took the easy way out and just put things in bags. So some things we open tomorrow will be in bags from the girls' welcome home showers LOL! 

We will let the kids open one present tonight.....that's been our tradition for a long time. 

Selah has been ok, just a little fussy today.  She didn't want to be in her stander at all.  Her oxygen level has done good.  She didn't have to be on oxygen last night, first time since Friday night:)  thank you for all your prayers!!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Merry Christmas, stay safe and for my northern friends, stay warm!  I'm sure I'll have pictures for tomorrow!

Quick Update on Selah!

Selah is better.....

But I have had one heck of a day trying to get her meds.  She never did get the Toby, the best we can hope for is getting it the day after Christmas.  It was just a long day being on the phone....at one point I was on the cell with the doctor's office and the home phone with the insurance.....

Luckily the doctor had put her on the antibodic and I think that is kicking in.  Plus the wonderful nursing care, she has!   The nurses have been giving her more fluids, doing breathing treatments and "beating" on her chest to clear her out. 

After she finished PT today, a lot got suctioned out and now the rattle/wheeze sound is gone.  She also was able to come off the oxygen this morning too and has kept her levels up, hopefully she will be able to keep them up at night too.

Today was such a long story with the meds, that I can't even go into it....UGH!  This maybe mean but there are times when I really hope the people I have to deal with will one day have the pleasure of having to deal with others like themselves ......OK I know that is mean but it has been a long day!  And I always have such a knot in my stomach when something is wrong with Selah.

If we didn't have 24 hour nursing care, she would certainly be in the hospital.  Not only do they do such a great job but I would not have the confidence to wait something out.  She has not had but one small fever and that was on Friday so at least we aren't worrying about that! 

Thanks for your prayers for Selah! 

Also I just read this story one of my friends wrote
http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/medicine/flu-victims-father-mourns-daughter-urges-public-to-get-vaccines/2158074

A  young lady who lives near us, just died of the flu.  Her father is urging everyone to get their flu shots.  I got all of the kids' shots back in October but hadn't taken the time to get mine.  This story got me thinking!   So tonight I ran up to CVS and got my shot.  My husband is going tomorrow and I was warned, there weren't a lot of flu shots left! 

Some people have doubts about getting the flu shot.  I will tell you everyone who works with us  in the medical community from nurses, to doctors to therapists....ALL get their flu shots and encourage others to get them.  I had asked our nurses to get it, 3 of them had already gotten it when I asked.  It's something they take serious!  So I encourage you to get your shot!   We always get the shots that are free of preservatives and had dead viruses in them.  We don't do the mist even for the kids since there is live virus in that.

I'm very sadden for the family of this young lady.  The pharmacy helper at CVS was related to her and my cashier at Publix knew her family.....it's very sad.  God be with them!

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I'm tired tonight!  Steve went to Busch Gardens with some of his friends today and he is beat, Jon worked late at the prison....we are all ready to go night night around here!

Some Christmas pictures

 

 

 

Ever trying for THAT picture!

 

 

 

Jon telling Sam some secrets....

 

 

I'll let you in on it....it had to do with FOOD!

it is a funny picture, looks like two CEOs discussing a take over LOL

 

 

 

I think this one was the best, we took like 20:)

 

 

 

Selah is doing better.  She was in our after church picture but she stayed home today and just came over for the picture.  We wanted her to be comfy and not stressed.  Her heart rate and oxygen levels have stayed normal and she hasn't needed anymore oxygen!  Tomorrow we will start her on the inhaled antibodic Tobymincin.  HOEPFULLY!  I think she is going to be ok:)  thanks for all your prayers!

 

 

Today was our Christmas service and it was nice.  The church was full and we sang a lot of Christmas carols. 

 

 

Looking forward to the week ahead, Shad is giving us hour by hour reports of how long it is till Christmas.

We let the kids each open one present on Christmas Eve, Shad is really excited about that.  I reminded him today that I don't need a live talking calendar/watch LOL!

 

Hope you all had a great weekend....after we ate I came home and collapsed, took a 2 hour nap and now I feeling a bit more cheerful   :)

 

 

 

Happy 7th Birthday Sarah!

Today was Sarah's birthday.  She is 7 years old.  What can I say......we are so very blessed to have Sarah in our family.  She is a JOY and is so precious to us.  With an adopted child, on their birthday you always think about the biological parents and wonder if they think of her today....do they have regrets?   When I think of her actual birthday, I know more of her history of any of our adopted children. I know the parents, specifically the mother would not touch her. Can you imagine turning away from a newborn?  That hurts me to think of, so I smother her with love & kisses.  I tell her all the time that the stork got lost and dropped her off in Ukraine rather than the US with me.  I tell her things she doesn't understand, but I hope she can grasp with her heart that she is loved forever & ever with us.  I hope she knows we'd never leave her or turn away from her. 

Sarah is so special to me.  When I saw her picture, I fell in love.  When we committed to her adoption I felt exactly like my biological child had been stolen and was in another country.  I stayed up nights doing the paperwork to rush her home.....I couldn't eat, but to wonder if she was hungry.....

That love has only grown and what is so beautiful is to see Sarah respond to our love.  Some children with such learning disabilities, then add the blindness and the time in the orphanage and then in the mental institution come out so scarred that the families can only love them without receiving love back.  I knew that going in.....but that's NOT our Sarah.  Despite it all, she has recovered emotionally in an amazing way!  My heart just swells when she reaches for me (which is often!  LOL)   We are so blessed to be loved back by this darling girl. 

The other day at the school conference (at our home)   There were about 6 female staffers there.  Sarah crawled from a toy to one, who I think she thought was me.  Then I called her, she turned, smiled and crawled/hopped (she has a funny way of crawling) right to me, at the far end of the room and sat on my lap for an hour. It just warmed my heart to see her want to be in my lap and not real interested in anyone else in the room  (that is a huge developmental step by the way!!!)  

She is a gift from God to us in many ways!

So for her birthday we went to her favorite restaurant, Olive Garden.

 

Steve and Shad playing a game

 

 

 

Sarah enjoying her purred soup!  She ate THREE bowls!  I opened my mouth here to "help " her LOL, like she needs any help!  And look no high chair, she is sitting in a chair like a big girl!

 

 

 

 

 

it's good

 

 

 

 

she still opens her mouth WIDE to eat!

 

 

It was so hot today, we were all wearing summer clothes!  In the 80's at the end of December!

 

 

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Please pray for Selah!   Late yesterday afternoon she started having a higher than normal heart rate and her oxygen levels dropped between 88-92%.   We called the doctor and he said he'd call in some meds today.  Around 3am this morning the nurse had to put her on oxygen.  That stabilized her.  This morning the doctor called me back.  He had wanted her to go on Cipro but we've had trouble with that going through her gtube in the past.  But we tried it.  He also wanted to put her on Tobyminicion a week early.  But we had issues with our insurance and it called for an override. 

 

We got the Cipro and had problems right away with it in the gtube.   So I called the doctor back and he put her on another med Lev.....something or another.  

 

So today she has been fine without oxygen and has kept her levels up to a normal range.  Not quite normal for her as she is usually at 99-100% and today she has been at 96% which is ok but just not Selah.  Her heart rate has gone down into the 60's some but it is still a little higher than normal.

 

We are praying that we are able to keep her out of the hospital.  She hasn't been in since the last of April!   Please pray that we are able to get the Toby on Monday easily with no issues with our insurance.  It is such a pain!!!!!!

 

Selah doesn't seem to be in distress or uncomfortable.  She isn't having  a lot more secretions but it seems it's a bit thick in her lungs.  I'm so thankful for our nurses, if not for them, I know we'd be in the ER/hospital already. 

 

Thank you for your prayers for Selah......