Spencer Birthday Fun Facts

In light of the big birthday season for our family, I bring you, "Spencer Birthday Fun Facts"!

Of my little half-dozen, 3 of them have June birthdays. Micah, Kate and Emily.

My late summer/ fall babies are Ashley: August, Mabry: October, and Abby: November.

Micah and Emily are my very closest in age- they were both born in June 2005. And though we usually list Emily 2nd in the Spencer kid line-up, Micah is actually 3 weeks older.

Oleg (my baby boy in Ukraine who didn't come home to us) is four months older than Micah, so he would have made Micah #3 and Emily #4. (If you don't know Oleg's story, you can find it on my adoption blog.)

Also, Ukraine does this weird thing were they give adopted children new birth certificates listing the adoptive parents. So on paper: I gave birth to Micah, in Ukraine, on June 4, 2005. And 3 weeks later, I had Emily, in Tennessee. I know y'all know I've got some mad child birthing skills, but you didn't know I was that good, did ya? ;)

Little Miss Kate's birthday fell 2 days before Emily's birthday. Which means in 2011, Kate came home from the hospital on Emily's birthday. Most girls 6 year old girls can only pray for a real baby doll on their birthday. Emily actually got one that year. :)

Though she was my third baby, I was only 23 when I had Abby Grace. My "odds" for having a baby with Down Syndrome at that age were 1:1400. But we know that God had a plan for her and she is fearfully and wonderfully made!

My birthday is in November too. My mom was 2 weeks past her due date, October 31st. It really would have stunk having a birthday on Halloween. So thanks Mom, for working that out for me.

Jake was born on the 4th of July. So feel free to call him the Yankee Doodle Boy --or better yet, just sing him the song-- on his birthday. ;)

And for my last fun fact: there is a small stretch of time each year where my kids ages align and I have a child of almost every age, spanning 8 years. Yesterday and today only, their ages fall at 

2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Happy 8th birthday to my strong little man...

Happy 2nd birthday to my baby...

Happy 8th birthday to my peanut girl...

I love each of you so much and pray for The Lord to pour out many blessings to each of you this year!!

VBS: Micah and Abby style

I mentioned before that Micah and Abby got to be a part of our church VBS this year, for the first time. Each with a "buddy". Micah's buddy got this video for me of the kids during worship. I wasn't able to see any of this in person that week because my crew was in the back and there were over 400 kids and leaders in the gym. But this is so Micah and Abby. Fully embracing the music. 

And once again these two teach me life lessons. I wish I could enjoy each moment like this. Carefree, enjoying life for what it is. Dancing with abandon and no concern for what others think but occasionally turning to show others what they've learned... to show them the way. Loving one another, dancing together playfully.

Being a crew leader I can tell you that some of the kids in my group were hesitant to do the hand motions. Worried if the other kids were going to do it too or not. But not Micah and Abby. There is zero concern here for the hundreds (literally) of people behind them.

Oh that we would enjoy life this way...

Clip 1:

http://youtu.be/_K0OwLjQdVo

Clip 2:

http://youtu.be/KQjWHRD7Ods

Motherhood for dummies

I've got nearly 10 years of parenting under my belt. 6 children: 5 separate deliveries and a 4 year old brought home from another country. 2 of my children require constant care because they have special needs.

So you'd think I'd have some basic, logistical parenting skills down by now.

Like: Don't forget to check a room for markers before you lay a 23 month old down for a nap.

And the ironic part is, I've made this mistake before. With Abby. I've got sharpie stains on my sheets to prove it. You can see those pictures here.

But how do you punish a face like this?

Good thing that this time it was a washable Crayola.

Standing Strong

In efforts to catch up my blog so that our family memories are {sort of} in one place, I'm going to recap some of 2013. But I'm afraid the first post is one of the most painful to write.

January and February are sort of a blur. Christmas and New Years were fun and crazy and everything that Christmas and New Years should be. Friends, family, sweet memories and traditions. But on January 2nd... 

I had no big plans for the day but I got up early and jumped in the shower. Hadn't even had coffee yet, I was trying to hurry before the kids woke up. When I got out I realized I'd missed 2 calls. One from my mom, one from my Grannie. My heart beat sped up what felt like 100% because... well I knew what I thought it meant. And I don't even remember what phone calls took place after that. I only remember that my fears were confirmed. I found myself in my suburban too upset to cry, racing down the street and tearing into my grandparents neighborhood. Ambulances and emergency vehicles crowded the tiny subdivision street. I jumped out without even turning off the car and ran towards the house. Though I could barely see where I was going, the panic was so intense.

What happened after that- what I saw, the emotions and exchanges shared by my grandmother, my mother and myself- is all too sacred to be shared here. So I'll suffice to say,  Papaw went to be with Jesus that January morning. On the birthday of the wife he'd left behind. His health had been going down for a while-- we knew it wouldn't be long. But it's still incredibly difficult not to have that one last goodbye.

Even now, 6 months later... it takes my breath away to think he's not walking on this earth any longer. 

Now. Let me say, I can rejoice because theres no doubt - he's alive. Actually, he's more alive than ever. He's free. He  is no longer in pain. And he doesn't wear oxygen tubes on his face. He's in the presence of his King and Savior whom he loves so much.

But for us...

In those days that followed came whirlwind of events. Decisions to made, family coming in town for the memorial service, flower arrangements pouring in from loved ones all around the country, choosing old photos for the slide show ...... explaining to my children that Papaw is with Jesus.... 

And tiny moments when I can't breathe because he's not texting me reminding me that it's supposed to rain in the morning or calling just to say "goodnight hun."

Just days after the service, I finally realized how bad I was feeling. Like, literally. Complete exhaustion, sore throat, headaches, and glands in my next so swollen you can see them. So Jake finally convinced me to go the doctor. 

Diagnosis: mono. 
Treatment: as much rest as possible for 6 weeks.
Are you serious?

"How did I get mono?" I asked the doctor. 
She said, "Well, it's more common in teens and younger adults, but if you've had it before and you've been under a lot of stress or aren't taking care of yourself- it can come back." 
"Hmm. Well all 6 of my kids just had strep throat over christmas break while my husband had the flu. Oh and then my grandpa just passed away." 
"There's your mono," she laughed. But I didn't think it was as funny as she did. "One more thing Mrs. Spencer. It's best if you don't lift your kids for the next 6 weeks either because your spleen is enlarged and has a greater possibility of rupturing if your children push on it." Awesome. Thanks. *eyeroll*

I'd like to add here how completely amazing my family and friends were while I was sick. People brought us meals, helped with the kids, and even took some laundry. Jake had to be out of town one weekend for youth winter retreat but people were so great helping to carry me through that. I'm so humbled and grateful for my church family, school family, and neighbors.

~~~

This past week I volunteered as a crew leader at VBS for the first time. It's rare that I'm not pregnant or nursing (I'm only sort of kidding). But this year they had childcare for Kate, mini-VBS for Mabry, a buddy each for Micah and Abby so they could participate, and of course Ashley and Emily went as they do every year. And because of all of that, I was able to be a volunteer myself, which was fun. Thoroughly exhausting-- but fun.

The theme this year was "Kingdom Rock: Where kids learn to stand strong"

Each day was a different catch phrase. Like,

"Gods love helps us... STAND STRONG!"
"Family and friends help us... STAND STRONG!"
"Prayer helps us... STAND STRONG!"

and so on. And of course each time you say the words "stand strong" you have to stand with your feet apart and fists on your hips to shout the words. 

The whole week was awesome and I may have been caught crab walking with my crew across the church, being a "pole" that kids threw giant rings over, wearing a cool whip beard, and other VBS adventures. In related news, I'm down 5 lbs...

But through the lessons this week,  it reminded even me- a tired mom and VBS crew leader- the eternal truth that Gods love, family and friends, prayer, and Gods Word all help us to stand strong.

When my Papaw went to heaven... and I stood in the front row of the service unable to breathe much less speak, one of my closest friends stood next to me, helping me to stand strong. When my body was weak and friends brought us meals, they were helping us stand strong. When I need to know where my Papaw is now and what he's doing, I grab our pastors sermon series on heaven. And the scripture gives me strength and hope.

So that I can stand strong.

Thank you God that You love us and carry us. Thank You that Your Word and promises are eternal and are for every generation: "Those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)  "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)

He speaks

Four years ago today... I would never have thought that Micah would still be non-verbal. Sure, anything is a possibility with kids who have varying special needs. When we signed up for this, we didn't know if he would speak or not. Or if he could use the potty, or if he would have major heart problems, or if he'd be partially blind... We were just being obedient to The Lord. Trusting Him for all of it.

And here we are. After 4 years home, what can he say? Well... he says "no". He verbalizes a few letters. And the beginning sounds of a few basic words... Sometimes... But only when he's in the mood.

A few months ago, the school system approved Micah for a speech device. An iPad with an augmentative communication app. Fancy words that mean Micah pushes some buttons and it speaks out loud for him.

And for a mother who desperately wants to know what's swimming around in the obviously sharp brain of her now eight year old son... It's a small, flat, miracle machine. 

I've been working on it to get it in order- all of the buttons he would use at home. Rooms of the house, activities he enjoys, the foods we eat.

So far his favorite sentences are, (now imagine a deep, slightly British sounding voice speaking from an iPad, with a cute little Down Syndrome face peering out from behind it)... 

"I want a fruit and grain bar please" and "I want to take a bath" ... Like every 5 minutes. So we stick to our old signing routine around the house until we hit a moment where further communication is needed.

Like today.

Micah had just come downstairs and I wanted him to go to the living room and not into the playroom. Abby wasn't feeling well so she was temporarily quarantined in there until I could determine if she was really sick or not. 

So I said, "Micah, don't go into the playroom buddy, go to the living room." To which he completely ignored me and I repeated myself, more quickly and loudly this time as he was approaching the playroom. 

Just before he opened the playroom gate to let himself in, I ran over, grabbed his hand in mine and (admittedly too harshly) I scolded him for not obeying and sent him to a mild time out- sitting on the livingroom couch. But in a typical mad-he's-in-trouble Micah fashion, he sat and cried. And kept crying long after we told him he could get up and play.

Frustrated, I finally said "Why are you crying Micah?!" I grabbed his iPad, handed it to him and crossed my arms. I only half expected him to give me an answer that didn't involve food, TV, a bath or playing in the baby pool.

He wiped his tears and started hunting the screen for the right words.

At first it was something that had to do with cars or something. He shook his head no and kept searching. And then he came up with 4 words that softened my heart. Words I presume he's wanted to tell me countless times for the last 4 years but couldn't. 

"I... is... why... bad"

I knew exactly what it meant. "How have I been bad?" "What have I done wrong?"

Sometimes Micah is SO obviously defiant. He tests boundaries bigtime. He's notorious for it. But being the human, not-perfect parent that I am, it's hard to differentiate when he's being disobedient and when he's just not paying attention. Just the same as my other kids. Except my other kids can defend themselves. Micah can only cry.

Until now.

Sweet buddy. I explained to him the whole situation and I'm fully confident he understood. What a freeing thing. For both of us. 

Father give me patience with my son. Give me discernment and eyes to see when any of my children are testing the boundaries or merely being oblivious. Thank You for the blessing of a device that gives him a voice. Thank You for Your son Jesus who is the voice for all of us before the Father. And thank You that because of Jesus, Your mercies are new every morning... for mother and son alike.

I miss blogging

I miss blogging. I do.

It's something I often want to sit and do.... but don't.

Sometimes I look back through the old posts and I can't help but smile. The memories.... The good, the bad, the comical and the scary.

I look back at all that God has done... all He's brought me through... the blessings He's poured out on me through my husband and my beautiful children... It makes me want to keep blogging.

Because there certainly isn't want for stories now. You could peek inside my windows on any given day and laugh at the comical and strange events that take place here. And I'd love to keep recording my memories in some way.

If I'm honest, in the last year, (the last 6 months especially) Facebook and Instagram have replaced my blog. Because its convenient. And fast. But that makes me really sad... I wish I could go back and move all those updates and photos to my blog. Precious memories that I wish were in one place.

Maybe it's because I have 6 mobile children now. Maybe this is just a busy year. Whatever the reason, it's time to get back in the groove. It's therapeutic for me and I love looking back on our ever-changing life, and our rapidly growing family.

I've considered ditching FB all together so many times recently. But because of some really wonderful groups-- adoption, school, DS, etc --I really want to hang in there. But a few weeks ago I took the app off of my phone and that helped worlds. No more crazy-frequent checking of news feeds.

I think I might just use Instagram for pics but go back to telling the story here. Or maybe I'll just ditch Instagram. We'll see.

But I'm going to determine to jump back into blogging. Not for my readers but for my family. For myself. For the value of giving Glory to the Father for the great things He's done and is doing in our lives.

But if you do enjoy reading along, feel free. And leave me a comment or word of encouragement. I'm happy to share these stories with you as I record them. Thanks for continuing to stop by!