The Daily Grind

Post Children's report

2012-01-28T17:33:00.001-07:00

The hand thing is a result of a virus he had and it will go away, especially with help from Vaseline. Ok, and here's my $1000 check. Hmm. Not sure I agree but we will wait it out a few more weeks. With the supplements, I can imagine his immune system rising to the challenge of beating this thing, but I still wish there was something we could do to make it go away NOW. Grrr. More soon, as I know

more tests - more absences

2012-01-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Ted is having a rough go of it. Once we started the supplements, he started randomly throwing up, every 2 days or so. So we stopped them, but it kept happening. And he started complaining about school, saying it was boring and he didn't want to go. It is NOT boring. He has a fantastic teacher. We are guessing he is under stress, perhaps from all his absences last week. Well, he was twice sent

Dermatology Update

2012-01-18T15:18:00.004-07:00

This morning Ted saw the dermatologist. She was lovely and knew what each issue was as soon as she looked at it. And she has a plan! First, his bad leg eczema is Molluscum contagiosum. It's part of the pox family. She applied Cantharidin, or beetle juice (really!) to the areas and it should scab up and wake up his dormant immune system so it can fight it off. Second, his lip (and the sides of

Results are In

2012-01-13T20:48:00.001-07:00

The long-wait strep test was also negative. Darn. Iron and Vitamin D are very low. Zinc test isn't back yet. We'll start on Iron and D drops tomorrow. Next step is to see a dermatologist. Paul wants to wait 2 weeks on the "new diet" to see if his skin improves on its own. I am noticing how tired he is at night - unusual. I am thrilled beyond belief that I can make him a smoothie out of

Iron and Zinc

2012-01-11T14:15:00.001-07:00

I searched the Archives in vain for the same title, back in 2007, but couldn't find it. We've been down this road before. Recently Ted started having skin problems: split lips that wouldn't heal, eczema that hurt and bled, and recently, the return of blisters on his fingers. We suspected Strep again but the test came back negative. His doctor ordered a full bloodwork panel, mostly looking into

2011 in Review

2011-12-22T17:16:00.004-07:00

As is our custom, here is our annual "Year in Review" movie! Enjoy, and happy holidays!

Musical musings

2011-12-08T22:43:00.001-07:00

Because I've worked so hard to make this blog about adoption, I feel like I've lost a space to talk about myself. A bit self-centered, perhaps, but it's fun to talk about what is going on in my life, as well as what the kiddos are doing. So I've created a little blog about my music. If you'd like to follow along, the link is to the right, as well as here: ellenkmoeller.blogspot.com The kids will

Unplugging - the old-fashioned way

2011-11-28T12:52:00.001-07:00

Today I am honored to be the guest writer at Unplugged Sunday. Pop over if you like - there are such wonderful voices writing there!

Creating a Beautiful Lifebook: Back Home

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is the last of the series "Creating a Beautiful Lifebook." Previous posts can be found here. So, you've made it through all the juicy parts of your child's Lifebook. You've documented where she came from, what she was like in the orphanage or foster care, and your experiences together in China. You can include a section of Returning Home, since the loooong airplane ride was probably pretty

2011 IronKids Tri

2011-10-29T19:30:00.001-06:00

3 months later, we finally did the video! Ted is in the 9-11 year old division now, and looks very small compared to the kids around him (in the bike leg, at least). He didn't have a very fast time this year, but he also didn't feel much pressure and had a great experience. He's in the red shirt and black swim trunks. Enjoy!

Creating a Beautiful Lifebook: Gotcha Day

2011-10-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

I admit it, this is the post I've been waiting for. There isn't much more exciting than Gotcha Day. What do you call Gotcha Day, by the way? Some people call it Family Day, because it is the day they became a family. It wasn't, in our case, since we had three members of our family back in the US. We call our day "Mae Day," because it is the day we got Mae! It works for us. Whatever you call it

Creating a Beautiful Lifebook: Travel in China

2011-10-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

It is nice to include a section in the Lifebook about your time together in China. Often, agencies will include tours to the major places of interest in the city. The capital city of your child's province is an important one - give it some loving attention. In Changsha, we toured an embroidery factory, the beautiful Xiang river, Martyr's Park, and the Six Banyan Temple. I included pictures and

Creating a Beautiful Lifebook: Referral Day!

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

February 28, 2006. That was our referral date. I'll never forget it, I think. We had a video camera going and kept the boys home from preschool that day. Oh, what a day it was. Referral Day is really the only place in your child's Lifebook in which you can safely wax emotional about how you felt that day. After all, the Lifebook is about your child, but on Referral Day, it's really about how the

Creating a Beautiful Lifebook: Updates

2011-10-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

This week's topic is so much fun. It's all about the updated information. You may have received an update from the orphanage or from the foster parents. In either case, use every picture and include a translation of every word of the update. These precious words and pictures will give your child a very special glimpse into her life in China. This will be very important to her, if not now, than

Creating A Beautiful Lifebook: One Child Policy

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

This one is a biggie. Hang on. I think it is essential for my daughter to know about the one-child policy. I think she needs to know the climate in China and the possible reasons her biological parents had for giving her up. She needs to know WHY parents abandon their children. image credit The one-child policy has a lot of information available on the internet. Just do a google search and

Holiday Preparation - already?

2011-09-20T21:55:00.001-06:00

First, let me apologize for not having the next installment of the Lifebook Series up here today. Things got a little wacky. I promise it'll be up by the end of the week! image credit I was very excited to see the FedEx man today -with my soap supplies! I am going to try making our soap, after being inspired by FIMBY. Actually, all my friends and family will be receiving homemade gifts this

In my kitchen...

2011-09-15T10:54:00.001-06:00

Today has not turned into the day I had planned. Life is funny that way, isn't it? I had planned to do my 20-miler today, to free up my weekend. I woke up this morning, still tired from rehearsal in Denver last night, sneezed, and felt my raw throat tighten when I swallowed. Oh dear. This was not the day to be out in the chilly, wet air for four hours, I supposed. I got the kids off to school

Creating a Beautiful Lifebook - Painting Orphanage Life

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hello again! How is it going? I hope you've had fun researching your child's country (province, city, etc.) hallway in the HuaiHua SWI This week we're going to dig more deeply into the orphanage (or foster home) that your child spent the first months of her life. Many of you have been fortunate enough to procure pictures, from a digital camera you sent, or from a friend who traveled before

Creating A Beautiful Lifebook: Gathering Information On The Country, Province and City

2011-09-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone! I am so happy and excited to be back in the space with you! Thank you for your patience and understanding - August was a crazy month! The first step to creating your child's lifebook is to gather information, which was your assignment before I abandoned you all! If you haven't stated yet, no worries! Here is some help. image credit An essential component to a lifebook is

Eight

2011-09-04T21:38:00.000-06:00

Sam, you are eight years old today. Eight years ago, you emerged screaming in rage from my belly and spent the first three years of your life trying to catch up to your big brother. Those were hard years, for all of us. The last five years of your life have been easier. You've settled into your own. You are your own person, to be sure. You love Gogos and Legos. You love to draw and write

Tournament

2011-08-27T21:55:00.000-06:00

Ted, Mae and I had a TKD adventure this weekend. We drove to Littleton Friday afternoon for some black-belt only competition, and to watch our instructors mid-term. Then we spent the night at a hotel, with the fun swimming, breakfast and TV that my children l.o.v.e. Saturday Mae competed as a Tiny Tiger while Ted helped out by time-keeping in the rings. We got lunch around 2pm and Ted's ring

weekending

2011-08-20T20:40:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure which of my favorite inspirational bloggers first coined this phrase (it may have been the lovely Soulemama) but I love the sound of it. Weekending has taken on a life of its own during this height of marathon training. Friday night there must be pasta - there must! We don't eat much pasta; we are more rice and quinoa folk. But you can't beat pasta for the pre-run meal, so pasta it

Fun running update

2011-08-13T21:28:00.001-06:00

Hello! School starts on Monday and I can hardly wait to carve my 2 hours of writing into my day! Until then, a brief update on the running business. The training is coming along. I've decided to forgo my IronGirl Tri on the 27th, so I can take Ted and Mae to a TKD tournament in Littleton. I think I'll compete too, since we're there anyway. I am super disappointed to miss this tri, in its first

{this moment}

2011-07-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

{this moment} For me, a Sunday ritual of reflection. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Completely inspired by Soulemama. If you are inspired to do the same, leave your link in the comments for all of us to enjoy. * * * * * * * image credit

a shifting ...

2011-07-27T20:23:00.000-06:00

I apologize. While my enthusiasm for posting was easy to maintain while the children were in school or camp, I have found it difficult lately. With all three children home, as well as my training ramping up into high gear, I find that the only free hours I have are at 9pm. And frankly, if I'm not in bed by 10:30, I am a grump come 6am the next morning. look at those long locks! buzz cut coming