We received our official foster care license from the state of Ohio on Ryan's due date last January, the 16th, to be exact. (He was already 16 days old at that point.) We received our first foster care placement on June 13th. Little Miss T is four years old. She is spunky, energetic and very nurturing to her baby sister. Little Miss D is the same age as Ryan. We essentially have twins for this moment in time. Miss D is the sweetest, happiest baby ever. She loves to dance and could probably be walking by now if she wasn't so busy dancing and bouncing! While we would love to adopt these girls, their mom is working hard to get them back. They will most likely reunify with mom sometime after the new year.
If you're keeping track, that means that right now we have a 5 year old, 4 year old, 3 year old and 2 11 month olds. Life is BUSY!!
Alex is five and a half and started kindergarten this year. He is learning and growing so much. It is so fun to watch him learn to read. He surprises me almost everyday with something new that he knows. I always ask "How do you know that?!" and he replies "I just learned it!" He loves his role as the biggest brother. He is very helpful with the babies, especially Ry-guy. He loves to have some "Ryan time" in his room at bedtime and play and wrestle with him.
Noah is three and a half. He is growing so fast! He is much taller than Alex was at this age. He started preschool this year and is doing great. He recently learned how to write his name. For a while, he would write NOH and then ask me to write his A for him. :) He is my independent guy. He will go into new situations, usually, without any hesitation. He recently went on his first plane ride. He ran through the airport, onto the plane, sat in his seat while I went on to my seat in a different row, and waited patiently for Ma to join him. He is so brave.
Ryan will be one on January first! He is such a happy guy. We call him Ry-Ry or Ry-guy most of the time. He is a busy guy and loves to play with all of the kids. He started walking this month. He toddles everywhere now. He also loves to clap and play peek a boo. While he is definitely a Mama's boy and loves to cuddle with me, he also lights up when his Daddy walks in the room. One of his favorite things is a squeeze hug between the two of us. He also has his four front teeth and looks like a little chipmunk.
We have, thankfully, had a very quiet year with our heart issues. Noah has remained healthy and active despite his hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We keep a close eye on him, but he is doing great. Ryan tested negative and does not have the gene! We are so blessed. I came through this third pregnancy without any changes to the structure of my heart and am feeling great. I am due for a new defibrillator sometime after the first of the year. I will also have my leads extracted and start fresh with a whole new "system." The doctor who normally does my lead extractions up at OSU is leaving for NYU, so I am on the search for a new doctor. (Lead extractions are tricky, and only performed at certain hospitals with experienced doctors.)
We traveled to Minneapolis last week to visit Medtronic. I was invited to speak at their quarterly Cardiac Rhythm meeting. I was able to share our family's story and share with them how much their work impacts us. It was a great trip. I met the engineers and product designers that have created my last three devices. Over lunch, they shared lots of information and even showed me the next device I will get and the "guts" of it. They are simply wonderful, giving, kind people. My amazing doctors, Dr. Knilans and Dr. Jefferies made the trip as well. They support me so much and it meant so much to me to see them in audience as I spoke. There were about 400 employees at the meeting and they live-streamed it to several thousand more around the world. It was such a great trip.
Life is full, life is crazy, and life is good. We are blessed every day by God's provision and direction. We pray that you are blessed as well!
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