Thursday, August 27, 2009

Artwork  

Look at these chubby little hands!! And on the purple print you can even see his extra thumb.
Too cute.

Last night, Eli also had an art project of sorts. They made fruit loop necklaces. He ate it on the way home and when he got in the house, it was gooped all over his face and hands. Wish I had a picture to upload.

Either Matthew didn't make anything or didn't bring it home. :-(

Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Some New Old Pictures of Micah (then Misha)  

Here are some pictures of our precious Micah from a couple of trips made by Mission to Ukraine. There were at Christmas 2008 and during January/February 2009 (just before we met him).



We never saw this high chair in the area they ate, but it may have been in the "physical therapy" room that was used as a storage room. He's clearly restrained and not eating. He is a bundle of energy and perhaps they just felt the need to have a break. :0) Isn't he sweet?


That's our Micah...wanting to be involved in anything and everything. Never left out. Bless his heart, he couldn't see those pictures at all with his vision. I wonder what the brain does to make up for that.


Doesn't he look happy to be held? Ha. This was at their Christmas party.


Decorating (or at least throwing ornaments at) the tree.

Mary showed him these pictures this morning. He clearly remembers this place. He wanted to see all the pictures. Then he kissed Mary and jumped down to play. (Probably to unroll a whole roll of toilet paper into the toilet. While I'm on the subject, he never saw toilet paper until we got our hands on him...how does he know to unroll it all into the toilet? Is this instinct built in to all little boys????)

We marvel at the blessing he is to our family. Hopefully today will be a good day at school! :-)

No s-p-i-t-t-i-n-g we hope.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord

Oh...several have asked how the "clean" eating is going. It's going great and I feel GREAT. I'll share more about why I'm doing it some day, but not today. But I'm on day 8 of no sugar, no gluten, no dairy. That's NONE at all. It's amazing how good I feel. It's definitely worth it!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Quick Update  

We got Eli's blood results yesterday and they are GREAT!  That's good news.  It still doesn't explain his lethargy, etc so we are going to take him to an endocrinologist because we don't know what else to do.  We don't want something to slip by us that could prove to be more of a problem later!


Matthew started therapy yesterday and did very well they said!

Micah spit and hit all day at school.  They didn't call us for some reason.  Ugh.  The IEP is supposed to be revised this week to include spraying his mouth with vinegar when he spits.  That works like a charm at church!  (In fact, it was suggested to us by another aide at his school.).

So I'll update more later.  I think we might be able to arrange a few pictures too!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Friday, August 21, 2009

A Great Blessing...  


If you've been a reader for long, you know that when we got home from Ukraine with Micah and Matthew, we had an amazing baby shower and received diapers to last 5 or 6 months. Well, we're into the last package of diapers. It's been 5 months. THAT was a HUGE blessing. We were SO GRATEFUL to not have to buy diapers during this time at all.


The phone rang last night and it was someone telling us that her and a group of people have decided that they would like to provide diapers for us for the next six months!!!!

Isn't that AMAZING how God makes provision. And at just the right time!!!

What a truly amazing blessing. Gratefulness doesn't describe our feelings.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Micah & others  

Micah had a HORRIBLE day yesterday.  In fact, he was biting and hitting other kids and the school called us and told us we needed to come up and do something (they aren't allowed to discipline kids at all unless it's in the IEP as a specific response to a specific behavior...ugh)--(needless to say we are going to be revamping the IEP next week).  So Mary and I both went up and was he surprised!!  I did the disciplining and we also explained a little more to the teacher about his background.  He was an angel after that.  Surprise surprise. 


So today, we made sure he understood what would happen if he bit or spit or hit (maybe Dr. Suess should have written a book!).  He was a VERY GOOD boy today.  In fact he has been all day.  

Of course, there will be more really bad days, but we were so thankful for a good one today.  God definitely knows our cracking point!  :-)

Thanks for your prayers.

The other kids are all doing great in school so far.  Everyone is happy with their classes and schools.  Matthew is just doing wonderfully.  He listens and pays attention and we fully expect him to come out of his shell!!

Matthew went to the doctor today because his nose has been POURING for a couple of weeks and we've tried everything we could to fix it.  It's been running so much that his nose is broken open all around it and inside.  Not raw, broken open.  The doc said he has infontigo on the outside of his nose so he's on k-flex for 2 weeks to get rid of the infection.

On another note, Eli has become very lethargic and is rather pale again so he's having his blood checked again soon.  The doc wrote the script today.  We'll keep you posted.

I'm on a "clean" eating regimen for the next 9 weeks to try to clear up some issues I've been having because I don't want to live on medication.  So it's no gluten, no sugar, no dairy for at least 9 weeks.  Only WHOLE foods.  I'm on day three and already feel MUCH better.  I've also made the gym a priority again this week and that's helping too, I'm certain.

Mary's coping well with the demands of getting the 5 littlest Malones to school (I take the 2 older ones on my way to the office).  She has enjoyed the alone time with Micah (and so has he).  She also enjoys having the two other crumb crunchers to herself while Micah is resting after school (he demands a lot of attention, you know).

All in all...the Malone Nine are doing well and God is continuing to bless and prosper our family!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Ugh... Jesus help us.  

Well little Micah had a rough day today.  He was spitting, hitting and biting his teacher when she wanted him to do something he didn't want to do.  Any suggestions? 

Monday, August 17, 2009

Here's some video clips of the kids today. Eli is only in one clip. He wouldn't do any tricks. :-) He's actually really tired today for some reason so was in NO mood to have a camera in his face.


I picked Micah up from school today. That he was happy to see me, is an understatement. He saw me and just started jabbering. He jabbered all the way home (and there was about 15 minutes in there we were waiting in line at Seth's school to pick him up). His teacher just went on and on at how well he is doing. She said he picks up signs with 1 showing and then he uses them later. She taught him the sign for cookie (hmmm...I guess we didn't tell her we don't give them sugar) and after snack time was over he went to her and signed "cookie please." It is very encouraging that he can logically put words together in order to communicate.

I asked if he spit today. She said, well, he's doing better...he only spit on me once today. Ugh. She said she told him it made her very sad and he wiped it off. I guess that's good. Hmmm. Well, Jesus knows about it and can take this habit away.

Week two is under way and it's going well.

Things at work will be exceedingly busy this week. We are implementing a new member management software package and there's LOTS to do with that. Unfortunately, I worked most of today (my day off). But that's the way it is sometimes. :-)

There is a plethora of things I have to accomplish tomorrow before 5:00. Thankfully, I did manage to work in a little over an hour at the gym. Guess I'll have to go at lunch time tomorrow. Unless I get up EARLY in the morning. Not likely. Ha.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Lucky  

I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have found the woman of my dreams 20 years ago. Mary is my best friend. There's no one else I'd rather be with. No one else I think about. No one else I want to grow old with. The years have rolled on. The children have come. There have been easy days. There have been hard days. Together we have faced them all and have grown even more in love.


God has truly gifted me with you, Mary. I love you babe.

Friday, August 14, 2009

"He's not the worst we've seen..."  

School started Thursday. It's kind of a crazy schedule to get them all to and from school. I leave with Blake and Hannah at about 7:40. Drop Hannah off at 7:45 at the Junior High, then drop Blake off at 7:50 at the High School, then it's off to work (with a jiggedy jig).



Then, at about 8:40, Mary leaves to take the rest. Bethany & Seth get dropped off at 8:45 at the elementary school.


Then, it's off to take Eli & Matthew to the special school they go to. They start "around" 9:00.


So from 9:00 until 11:15 (when Mary picks up Matthew & Eli), Micah has the house and the mama all to himself. He enjoyed this on the first day. He does love attention (personal, one on one attention).


Mary picks up Matthew & Eli and it's off to home to make lunch for the three crumb crunchers and then Micah goes to school at 12:45. Of course, the two little guys who are at home at this point are the ones who will NOT take a nap. So they go to their bed for rest time.

Hannah get's picked up around 2:30 and Micah after that. (Off to rest for Micah when he gets home). Blake gets out around 3:00 then the other two at about 3:20.

Deep breath.


Obviously, Micah is VERY PROUD of himself for going to school with his backpack!

The older kids all had good first days of school. They like all their teachers (they always do) and are excited for the new beginning. Blake and Hannah especially are excited to see how God will give them opportunities to bear witness to Christ Jesus this year.

There is always a dark cloud looming over the first day of school, though. You see, the elementary schools put out their supply lists about 6 weeks before schools starts. This allows us to purchase supplies whenever we want and avoid the crowds and the frustration of having things be out of stock. BUT, the upper grades do not. I guess it would be difficult to provide the lists early because of the many variables with schedule, but maybe some day they can fix it. :-)
The DARK CLOUD comes when it's time for me to go to Walmart and buy the supplies for the junior & high school classes. I walked into Walmart last night at 6:00 and instantly felt a tremor in the force. I knew I was in trouble when I heard the rumble coming from the school supplies section as I got close.

Forget about getting the basket down the aisles. I could barely squeeze in myself. And as long as I'm talking about it, WHY does Walmart have SOME supplies in one section at the front of the store and OTHER supplies in a totally different section in the BACK CORNER of the store? What is that about??? So you don't find it one place, go all the way to the other (after surrendering your spot in the aisle in location one) and figure out that it's not there so it MUST be back in the other section. Hrmphhhh. But it's done. Oh, except for the THREE TEACHERS who didn't give out their supplies lists and will give them out within the next few days. WHY??? The supply lists are the same every year for the most part. Why make parents go through the tragic experience of purchasing supplies more than once. Oh...I know why. It creates endurancea and perseverence because I can guarantee you that when I go back to purchase the additional supplies, some if not all will be SOLD OUT and I'll end up going to Office Depot and paying at least twice the price! That's why.

Okay...venting over... :-)

On to the three crumb crunchers. Eli and Matthew did well, as expected. When Mary went to pick up Micah, the teacher (Miss Sam) said "Well, he's not the worst we've ever seen..." Okay. So, at least he's not on the top of the "bad boy" list. :-) He did spit a couple of times and tried to hit her when she was making him do something he didn't want to do. But she was firm with him and he submitted, if a bit unwillingly. On the bright side, she was very shocked at his level of learning. She signs everything she says and he picked right up on the new signs he was seeing. He even signed to her "more music please". He knows "more" and "please" and uses them correctly. But he learned the new sign for music AND integrated into the signs he already knew in a correct manner. His motor skills, according to Miss Sam, are also very good, all things considered. He'll probably be our "mainstream" child if we have one. But Matthew and Eli could definitley surprise us.

All in all...a great first day!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Final Day  

The sounds of the last night of summer are what I hear as I sit here typing this post.  Baths for ALL (usually, we alternate which kids take baths every other night...except the older kids take showers whenever they want, of course).  The little boys are tucked away in bed.  Micah and Matthew go to school for the first time ever tomorrow.  The kids all made their lunches after family devotions.  The supplies have been purchased (oy vay...THAT was expensive) and packed up in new backpacks.


We got home just about 1 hour ago from Texas.  My mom wanted us to come visit before school started because she wanted to get the kids a couple of things before the headed back to school.  Well, come to find out, what she meant was, she wanted to buy the kids everything they could possible need for at least the first 6 months of school (if not the whole year)!  What a blessing.  We had gotten them a few things here and there and they can still wear many of the same things they wore last year (and they will, of course), but frankly, with all the medical bills we have now and the ones that will be coming after the next round of surgeries, there just hasn't been a lot of extra cash laying around.  So this was truly an amazing blessing to us.

They each got at least 2 pairs of shoes, several pairs of pants or shorts each, many shirts each, new underwear, socks, accessories, and lots more.  Again...an incredible blessing.  I don't know why God provides for us the way He does.  We are so unworthy of His blessing yet so grateful.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day for sure!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Long-Awaited, Often-Promised Pictures…  

  If you are on dial-up, this post will drive you to the brink!  Here’s some pictures from the summer and from various events in our lives.  We are doing so well and the family is like it’s always been this way (for the most part).  :-)

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Snickers, I said, “LOOK THROUGH THAT HOLE!!”

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I have no idea…but probably spying on the neighbors.  CREEPY.

 

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What a big boy!

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The new swing set has been a God-send this summer!!  THANK you to all our friends at FBC Moore who gave so generously to our family and made it possible to bless our children and our family!!

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Micah, peeking through the little window.  :-)

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Can this guy communicate without verbal language or what???

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Bethany & Seth

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Our “little” Seth is no longer little!

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Yes, he loves ice cream.  He gets it VERY rarely though.  We don’t give the little guys sugar except on rare occasions.

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Yep, Matthew likes it too.

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Don’t let Eli’s face fool you.  He LOVES ice cream too!

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Micah is a good self-feeder.  He’s a precious little guy.

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Part of our young labor program.  Eli’s in charge of folding laundry.  :-)

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Couldn’t resist posting this.  What is that face about??

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Micah loves the water table.  Matthew tolerates it.  Eli runs at the first sign of splashing.

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All I can say is… GROSS!!!

AND NOW…
The FIRST HAIRCUTS I’VE GIVEN.
The much-anticipated pictures are finally here!

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Yes, I am reading instructions.  Believe it or not, the kit came with a step by step instruction sheet with pictures.  Supposedly a monkey could do it.  Hey wait a minute!!…

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No, I’m not squeezing.  Okay…maybe a little bit.

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He was so good.  The buzzing tickled him something fierce, but he did great!

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This was Micah’s first haircut since coming home.  His hair coming in thicker and the bald spots around his scalp are all gone.  Guess he’s getting enough to eat now!  :-)  He’s up to 36 pounds.  (He was 31 when we first took him to the doctor after getting him home.  I reported 30 previously but was in error)

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Eli wasn’t so excited about getting a cut.  I decided to brave the bowl haircut for him.  Let’s just leave it at that.  :-)  But hey, I didn’t have to take him to supercuts to get it fixed!

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Finished.  Everyone breathes a sigh of relief!

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Matthew was a GIGGLE BOX while I was giving him his cut.

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Seth decided he wanted to lose the bowl cut that he has his whole life.  If was VERY DIFFICULT for me to cut those locks off.  Mary was very shocked when she saw the finished product.  Our little boy is turning into a young man.  YES, I know he’s still only seven!  But he’s growing up so fast!

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He wanted the spike look like dad has.  He’s a special boy.

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Micah likes this helmet.  He wears it backwards, of course, but he likes it just the same.

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Thanks to a neighbor who works at the Oklahoma Science Museum, we got to spend the day there.  I took the 4 oldest.  We had a wonderful time together.  I was so glad to be able to treat them to the day out.  They have really stepped up to bat since the new guys came home.

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Bethany inside the tornado chamber.

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Blake…15 already.

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Hannah, one of our beautiful girls, turns 14 on August 3.  It seems like yesterday these two were just wee tots.

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Yep…I brought a picnic for lunch.  We enjoyed it.  And considering lunch would have cost over $50, I REALLY enjoyed it too!

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On a massive swing in the front yard of some friends of ours.

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Micah colored for almost 2 minutes this time.  That’s good for him.  Then he played with playdoh (sorry, no pics) for about 30 minutes.  We were surprised and he actually PLAYED with it.

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Today (August 3) was haircut day again.  Spike number one.

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Spike number two.  Bowl cut gone.

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And you guessed it…  Spike number three.

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I had to post this.  Matthew makes this face every now and then.  I have to wonder whats going through his head!!

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Eli is only 6 months younger than Micah, but he really treats him like a big brother in his own way.  It’s rather cute, really.

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This was just before Matthew began pushing to get out of the corner of the couch.  They kept getting closer and closer.

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Eli was all smiles tonight.  Had to keep snapping!

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Eli and Seth.

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Blake was gone to band tonight.  The girls all gone to JCPenney’s for Hannah to use some birthday money to get some clothes.

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Seth wanted me to take pictures of him in the backyard.  I let him choose the “poses.”

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Well, thanks again for being interested in our lives.  God is good all the time!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!