Happy Memorial Day....

Always a bittersweet holiday weekend. So nice to get 3 days off in a row.. makes all the work being done on Sunday so much more palatable when you don't have to get up and go to work on Monday. However, it is unfortunate to have these benefits because so many men and women lost their lives fighting for our freedom and protection. So, a few thanks are in order for those we remember today.

OK... some more thanks. Of course, I don't expect anyone from the Forest Fire Service or collective township fire departments to 'just happen' along my Blog and see the thanks my family has for their help last week. But as with most other things, I feel that saying it (or writing it in this matter) helps me to express myself and let others know how grateful I and the family are for the gifts, assistance, help, etc. we receive. So please join me in giving a big "Thank You" to those fire fighting warriors who saved our community... I am sorry to say that 5 people did lose their homes, but with over 20,000 acres burned... I just thinkit could have been muh worse. It just sucked to leave the house those couple of nights without knowing if we would have something to come home to. And thankfully, we had everything we left behind waiting for us. Alas, word has spread that the government will be reimbursing those of us who had to leave our homes for those couple of evenings. And initially Susan and I thought that it was quite ridiculous to accept this money; I mean was it really an inconvenience? I mean, hell we wewnt to Mimi and PopPop's house for dinner; this is something we do on a regular basis anyway. However, when we thought about it more, we decided that we would indeed accept the money being offered. Our plan is to take a small portion of the funds for some home improvement, but more importantly donate a large portion to the volunteer fire company in Stafford. They all went above and beyond to make us all safe and set up shelters, all the while volunteering their time.

So, with that being said, some other updates....

Everyone seems to be doing well. Olivia is finishing up her year of Kindergarten and seems to be enjoying herself. Of course, the little bugger is getting too smart for her or our own good. Susan and I cannot even spell things out in front of her any more that we don't want her to know about. All in all, it is very nice that she can read so well. It's a pleasure to have her read road signs while we're driving, read books to her sister and bother, and even just spend some time reading to herself. Kira is, well, Kira is 2. She is displaying all the classic behaviors of a 2 year old... tantrums are commonplace, potty training is frustrating, and everything we do or say is the opposite of what she wants. And of course, the addition of a new little person is causing a little more intensity to these issues. Now don't get me wrong, she continues to be one of the funniest, most interesting toddlers I have ever come across. Some of the things she says and does just put Susan and I into tears of laughter. And she is starting to really develop that beauty that has alreayd beset her sister; thankfully they are looking much more like mom than dad. And alas our dear Cooper. He is doing so well. He is now starting to babble some consonants - baba, some variation of dada, and I think I even heard a little mama. And sleeping fairly well. Falls asleep about 8, wakes at 10 for a bottle, then sleeps until about 4-4:30 before 1 more bottle... sleeps again until about 7. All in all, not bad at all. Susan and I seem to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night, and 4-5 consecutively. And he does it in his crib most of the time (75-80%). Occasionally he has to come to bed with us after the 4 o'clock bottle because he is not quite so 'soundly asleep' and is seeking some comfort, but that is still very far ahead of the curve. In many circumstances, Korean adoptees can spend months, even years, cosleeping because that is how they were raised in Korea. Also, they go through a horrible grieving process. Cooper still is having episodes where he will cry and scream rather intensely, almost as if he were in severe physical pain, knifelike jabbing pain. I am sure it can be considered physical pain with an emotional basis. However, even though this does occur, it's reduced in frequency and intensity. Susan and I can calm him from these attacks usually within 10-15 minutes at max, where the first few days would go anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour several times daily. Other than that, he has his cranky periods during the day, but not much more than the girls would at his age. He has one bad temper; if you don't 'hurry up' with his food or take his bottle or dish away before he is done, he lets you know about it. Cooper has started crawling on all fours for short distances and is sitting up unsupported rather well.

We had our first social worker visit this past Monday and everything seemed to go rather well. We will have another visit in July, and then 2 more spaced at 2 months. Following that time, we can petition with the court to finalize the adoption. Hopefully this can occur by the end of this year.

Hmmm, reading back through it seems like this may be a good point to stop. Lots of information, but unfortunately no pictures. I will try to rectify this within the next few days and get some updated picures for all to see.

Talk to you all later.

Scott