Our Sweet Sweet Norah Lei is 3!!!!

Where to begin, seeing as I have left this blog far behind the daily happenings of our lives. Needless to say, we have been so busy and I have felt overwhelmed for the past 6 months - adjusting to 3 children, Joel's fall football schedule, 3 surgeries for the girls, Nate's first grade year....need I continue?? However, I do feel as though I am no longer treading water. I feel like life is slowly catching back up and I have some things back under wraps. Not that I expected life to simply be as it was before we traveled to get our Norah lei - but the change did catch me rather off guard and, 6 months later, I am climbing out of the thick of it :)

Norah turned 3 last Wednesday!!! I totally missed posting about it on the actual day - we had a very busy week last week as we prepared her to exit our First Steps speech program and enter our public school IEP program. Literally she started preschool on her birthday - which was fabulous cause she did not miss a beat in regards to therapy, but it meant a lot of paper chasing for me as I signed off on her previous therapy and into her current routine. But it was all worth it - the nerves and sleepless night I had before she started. I was SO nervous!!!! She did great and has now gone 3 days and walks right in, hangs up her back pack and starts to play. Her teacher seems fabulous and Norah really likes her, so I am counting my blessings and now praying that Naomi gets into the program. We'll find out in a few days when she gets assessed for speech and OT. 

Until last week, our family had made it 6 months with no illness!!! Talk about a miracle!!! We all got the nasty cold, cough, etc virus that seems to be going around. It was/is no fun, but truly we are so thankful to have made the fall and most of winter with our health. Norah's palate is healing beautifully. So far, no perforations and she is back to eating normal. She attempted to blow out her birthday candles - I sat and held my breath in hopes that she could do it. But, alas, she blew them out with her nose - but that's OK cause she has come SO far and we'll get there in time. Air flow is difficult to control for children with palate repairs - we are teaching her the best way we know how. She'll get there!!

Naomi is adjusting well, seeing as she is the only one not loading up a backpack each morning. She really wants to go to school, but for now - until she gets assessed - we are keeping her home. I think she is loving the one on one with me!! I am cherishing this time. One thing Joel and I would LOVE to see change is her morning routine, which starts at 5:30AM everyday. It's so crazy how her sleep has really never been great  but we did think as she got older that she would outgrow this early morning thing - and it seems to be getting worse!!! Norah, on the other hand, loves to sleep until 9 or 10 each morning!! Waking her at 8am for school is no small feat, but I think she'll adjust just fine over time. 

Nate is doing very well in school. They have a spelling test each week and over the entire first grade year he has only missed ONE word!! He LOVES to spell and has a photographic memory. We are so thankful for his sweet sweet spirit. There is a little boy in his class, how was also in his kindergarten class, who is a bit of a trouble maker. He comes from a tough family situation and shares the words he hears at home with his classmates on a regular basis. Nate's K teacher and current teacher have always placed this little boy next to Nate. Nate often mentions how this little boy hurts hus feelings and bullies him. We have tried to remind him to show the love of Jesus to him and we know  the teachers have placed Nate with him because of Nate's sweet spirit - however, Nate has had enough. This week is his parent/teacher conference and Nate is begging us to talk to the teacher and have him moved. We will see what happend. I am so thankful that we have a wonderful public school 2 streets away. We realize there will be these situations throughout our kids' school years, but also know they will be shaped and molded into the image of Jesus - these trials and hardships are part of growing and being challenged. Nate is a wonderful little boy and I look forward to seeing how God will use him throughout his life. 

WOW - this might very well be the longest post I have ever sat down to write.