Some Updates

This rainy morning we had a doctor appointment for Magdalena, and I tacked Abigail on since she is still having bowel/constipation issues. Let's start with Mags.

Magdalena: 1-year well child check-up. She is 28.5 inches long and weighs 17 pounds, 2 ounces. She is still considered to be in less than the 5th percentile, but she is following her own curve, which is great. She will stand for a few seconds by herself, but I haven't been able to get a picture of it yet. Today after her appointment she was standing up holding onto the bookshelf in the living room. She had a small toy in her hand and turned around to show us. She stood there for probably 15 seconds smiling and waving her toy around. When she realized what she was doing she immediately sat down. Little stinker! :) A just for fun comparison in height and weight for the girls at 1 year.

Maggie: 28.5 inches, 17 lbs. 2 0z.
Annie: 30 inches, 18 lbs. 4 oz.
Abbey: 29 inches, 16 lbs. 10 oz.

It's hard to believe but Maggie has already surpassed what Abbey was at one year! Magdalena has more than tripled her birth weight, which is fantastic, and she has grown 11.5 inches this year!

I discussed with the doctor doing an actual blood test to check Magdalena for Celiac Disease. He does not really like to do these kinds of tests on little ones, but I am at the point where I want to know for sure whether or not she has it. If she does, fine, we'll continue what we are doing with the gluten-free diet. The doctor has promised to do some research on other local doctors and Pediatric GI's in the area who would be willing to do the test. Any prayers would be appreciated.

**Those of you with a weak stomach or who don't want to read about poop, please skip this portion.**
Abigail: She is still having serious bowel issues. The doctor calls it constipation, but when she goes it is not hard at all. She will hold her BM for a long time, sometimes it's a full week. She is at the point now where she will only go if we give her a laxative. I am not convinced that it is just constipation. After she eats her stomach is distended and hard and she is bloated and gassy. The doctor assures me that this is just because she is holding it so long. When Abbey has to go she will just lie down on the couch/floor/bed and cover herself up with a blanket. She gets goose-bumps and is shivery. It breaks my heart because she is literally making herself ill by not going to the bathroom, but I can't force her to go. If anyone has any suggestions on how to help this problem, I would gladly accept any advice. Today the doctor recommended giving her 2 doses of miralax a day until she is going every day or at least every other day and to call him in 2 weeks to check in with her progress. Again, prayers are appreciated!!

**Weak-stomached readers may resume.**

I also wanted to update you all on where we are at with fostering-adoption. We went to an information meeting with a local agency who does foster care and adoption. It was very informative and helpful. We are still trying to process everything and are praying for guidance and for direction and to be able to discern what God would will us to do in this situation.

Basically, we would be going in as foster parents. Typically the goal is reunification with birth parents. This would be considered high-risk, since there is a very good chance that a child or children would be with us, and then be returned to birth family after some time. There is also the chance that a child would be placed with us and maybe birth-mom/dad are in jail or had drugs in their system, has other children in the system or are "known" for their lack of parenting. This might be considered moderate-risk. Meaning the goal is still reunification with birth family, but there is a chance that the child/children would be available for adoption at some point down the road.

I think I've come to the point where I am willing to take the emotional risk because I want what is best for the dear children who are in the foster-care system. I am realizing that as difficult as it will be for me to watch a child leave my home for another, I am an adult and I could get over it. I want to provide the best possible care for a child or children who are in need of it, whether it is long-term (forever) or short-term.

Now here is where the next part of the struggle comes in. I have crossed this hurdle for myself, but what about our birth children? Anne has such a tender little heart. She asks on a daily basis for a brother. She is constantly asking when we are going to have another baby. When Trent was explaining about our foster-care meeting he told Anne that some children do not have mommy's and daddy's who can take good care of them. Anne's immediate response was, "We can take care of them! I want a brother!" As excited as she is, we both worry about the trauma it would cause her to have a brother or sister in our home for say 6 months or a year, only to have to give that child back to a birth mom or dad. If anyone knows of some good resources to read up on this topic I would be very grateful for them.

I think that is all I have time for today... again, prayers are definitely appreciated in regard for wisdom concerning the many decisions we need to make!