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Cold Days

It has been so cold that we have spent most of our time inside the house. I think we are all getting a little stir crazy. The kids have worked every puzzle, read books, painted and done as many projects as I can think of — I’m not very good at thinking of projects. I am really ready for some warm weather. Anyway, I have taken as many pictures in the house as I can and finally the other day when it warmed up a little we went outside and I got a few cute pics of Bella and Sarah on Sarah’s bike.

Sometimes I wish that Bella’s orphanage director could see how well she is doing. We felt that she had doubts about us when we were there — maybe our imagination. Anyway, if only she could see how happy Bella is and how well she has adjusted to our family. Sophia has done pretty well, too — but, it is much harder to see with her. I think she is content and happy, but I can’t always tell. When I look back at pictures of Sophia I do think she looks much more alert and interested in things now than she did a year ago.

Bella taking a little ride. She was not scared at all and just sat and enjoyed herself.

Everyone always wants to ride Sarah’s three wheeled bike for some reason. So, Jordan gave Bella a ride.

I guess Bella is bored.

I think Bella looks a little pitiful in this last one, but Bill doesn’t and he said he loves it.

Feeling Better

Bethany is feeling so much better already. I am surprised at how quickly she has improved this time. We are still having her do her vest a little longer than the norm, and she still has a long way to go on the antibiotic, but she definitely is doing so much better. Eating is still a problem, but that is not unusual. I actually spent over sixty dollars buying some high calorie drinks (350 per 8 oz.) and they arrived today. I chilled them and gave her one. She hated it. She said it was going to make her sick. I got half of it in her and that was it. I guess a waste of money. I don’t think she will be drinking many of them.

Since Bethany has been sick, and it has been really cold, we have spent a lot of time reading — a pleasant thing to do on a cold snowy day with a sick child. We read Here’s A Penny by Carolyn Haywood, which happened to bring up the subject of being adopted and how special it is — Penny is adopted and wants his parents to adopt a big brother for him. We also read “C” is For Cupcake by Carolyn Haywood and we are now on the last chapter of Annie Pat and Eddie also by Carolyn Haywood. I keep finding more and more Carolyn Haywood books to read and most of them are already in our home library. We are really enjoying all of them and if Bethany had her way I would read them almost all day long.

Andrew has spent a lot of time putting puzzles together and playing with his Snap Circuits. He has made all kinds of neat things with them. Now Bethany, Caroline and Jordan are starting to want to play around with his Snap Circuits and they have definitely had fun with them.

It has been so cold the past couple of days that most of the kids don’t want to go outside — except Bethany. So, they had a baking day. Bella just watched and then ate a big cookie.