IT'S OFFICIAL...

AND WE HAVE THE PAPER TO PROVE IT!!!

Today, the children received Certificate of Citizenship as well as a nicely, written letter from the President!!! They actually became U.S. Citizens June 19th when we arrived in Atlanta from Bogota. We are 3 days shy of being home for 1 month! And it has been an exciting, fun-filled journey with a few challenges along the way...we are so absolutely blessed. God is GOOD!

Tonight, Diego got out of the bathtub by himself while we were all in the den and surprised us, by streaking and then mauling me with his water-soaked little body...it was hilarious!!! He makes some of the funniest faces!!!

I believe it was 2 nights ago that Andrew & Tatiana were playing with Tatiana's plastic tea set that our cousin had got her. They were secretly filling the tea pot with Diego's bath water. It was time for Diego to get out of the bath tub. I noticed the bath was minus a significant amount of water...I just assumed since it wasn't on the floor that he must have unplugged the tub...well, Ben checked in on the older two and discovered the HUGE water spot on Tatiana's bedroom floor (about 4x5 area was drenched with water that they had poored out!)!!! What was not so funny, was when they tried to blame Diego! Poor Diego...he gets blamed for lots of things...being the baby...

The children have had some difficult behaviors that had and continue to be addressed, but for the most part are adjusting well. Their personalities are blossoming as they have become more secure and grounded in their new home.

Tonight, the two boys were found in their closet...their feet were sticking out of the closet with a sheet over them; Ben had assumed they fell asleep in the closet. The last two nights we have found them sleeping together...it is so sweet. He came to get me and said, "You gotta see this..." It was funny. As we tiptoed in their room, Ben pulled the sheet off their heads and they sat up and yelled!!! It was so funny!!! We had thought they were asleep...(it was an hour after we had put them down for bed!) Moments like these are so precious...

I went back to work today. Ben worked a half day and then kept the kids the remainder of the day. Tatiana will start Pre-school August 6th along with Andrew in Kindergarten at Orange Lake Elementary. They are excited. We were practicing saying their full names tonight at the table. Benjamin Diego Wood, Tatiana Elise Wood, and Andrew Steven Wood...then they would point at us and say our names...Their English vocabulary is growing; we are impressed how much they have learned. They are very smart children.

Well, I should start another load of laundry before I'm off to bed...lots of clothes & dishes...and more clothes & dishes...I told Ben I wanted to do this again...they are so precious...I can't wait to see their story unfold! Thanks to all who have joined us along this journey!!! God bless you all!

"Are They Yours?"

Life has been so busy since we've returned from Colombia! From meeting family, to visiting with friends, phone calls, doctor appointments, blood work, registering for preschool, and so much more!!! We have went shopping a few times and out to eat since we've returned home...and we get a lot of "They are so cute...are they yours?" I answer it quickly with a response hopefully promoting adoption and sharing our experience in Colombia. Ben however, didn't feel the same when approached by someone who made the comment that he must have been busy after high school if those are all his kids! That was kindof rude...

Anyways, we have taken the children to Louisiana this past weekend to visit my family. They met Nana & Papaw, Grand-Papi (G-Daddy) & Mamie, and Tio Juan and Tia Amy and many more...we took them to Ruple Baptist Church on Sunday, my grandparents church, and Andrew & Tatiana went to Children's Church. The other children wanted to know how did they know so much Spanish when they are so small??!! So cute! They like church! Andrew said prayer over dinner tonight all by himself!

The children are also able to identify their nose, eyes, ears, & mouth! We began reciting the numbers and letters this week. Friends from Oregon sent us LeapFrog videos. We were finally able to get the children to sit attentively and watch the Letter Factory video. It is a fun video identifying and sounding out the letters using a song and cartoons. The children like it...well, Diego, he does have some difficulty sitting still. I have been giving stickers & grapes for good behavior. They like praise and rewards.

We are collecting change to help with the costs of a Colombian adoption for another prospective adoptive parent at this time. The children helped fill a bottle! That was neat...they don't understand now, but it was bottles of change that helped bring them home! It is nice to be able to help other families as we have been so blessed by our adoption experience.

Along with the sweet blessings, we have had challenges...We are learning how to deal with difficult behaviors, daily household tasks, and etc. The sweet moments that are filled with precious hugs and kisses make the early morning awakenings, the sticky kitchen floors, the strown toys all over the house---worth it! The children have been a blessing.

I also want to say thanks to other adoptive and prospective adoptive parents that have been such an emotional and spiritual support to me and Ben as we have journeyed thus far. Hopefully, we can be the same to you and others we are yet to meet...

Shanda's Birthday

Today we celebrated my sister's birthday. Ben bought balloons so we could send them to Tia Shanda in heaven. It was very difficult to try to explain to the children about Mami's hermana, Shanda, who now lived with Jesus in heaven. We had about a dozen balloons. My nephew, Shanda's son, Kaleb, said to be sure to write on them to Shanda and all our names and to even include his, his sister, and dad. I did that. The children sang Happy Birthday to Tia Shanda on the way home from getting the balloons. When we got home, I wrote a small note on each of them and signed our names. As I was doing that, the children were going throughout the house looking for Shanda, calling out, "Tia Shanda! Tia Shanda!" They didn't understand. When I was finished writing, we went outside and released the balloons, one at a time. On one of the balloons, I wrote, "Kisses to you, Shanda," and I was thinking of that ole' country song about the girl who gets married and her parent is not there and it starts to rain...and she comforts the remaining parent, that she felt like those were kisses from heaven from her deceased parent...(Do ya'll know what song I'm talking about?) Anyways, after we went in, the children continued to sing Happy Birthday, Tia Shanda. I showed them a picture of her and again tried to explain she did not live here anymore. She is in heaven.

We called my father who has a big 4th of July get together each year. and the children continued saying "Tia Shanda" in almost a chant. I told Daddy...they don't understand...and then I briefly spoke with Kaleb, and began crying. Andrew saw me. It began raining. I thought of that song. And Andrew came and hugged me, went to tell Papi; Papi reassured him, came back and just held me...it was so sweet...Thank you God for the gift of these children.

Today, my sister would have been 33 years old. She died of a heart condition this past November 15th. Please continue to pray for my family as we grieve this terrible loss in our lives. With much gratitude, Wendi

Lab Work Almost Completed...

July 3, 2007

Today, we went to pick up Papi from the church and go to the hospital to get all the lab work for the necessary tests to complete the recommendations of the pediatrician. Diego sat on my lap as I registered each of the children with a hospital representative. He seemed to have some severe gas issues...Ben attributes that to the Tony's Red Beans & Rice we ate last nite...whatever it was, "It was kickin'!" Uck! Then we waited...at last, the urinalysis...how were we going to do this? How do we explain to them to "Chi-chi in the cup..." I have extreme difficulties dealing with ---ya know...feces and tee-tee, pee-pee, whatever you want to call it... I sure didn't want to get sprayed...I didn't have gloves or anything...Well, Ben gave me the cup and I took Tatiana in the bathroom, no problems...Praise the Lord! Ben took the boys... Ben was also given specimen cups or containers in brown bags...It is for a stool sample. I am gonna let him be in charge of that as well...it has to be done at home and then brought back to the hospital in three consecutive days...glad I decided to stay in the waiting room with the other children. Ick!

The bloodwork was next. Tatiana was first. She is very thin, and they had difficulty drawing enough blood in one arm. She was poked twice. She cried.

Next up, Andrew. Poked once, no tears.

And finally, Bebe...Diego. Poked once, no tears.

Ben was with the children when the blood was drawn. He said the staff told him they had already had 10 children in this morning and ours were the best! He said Diego made a funny noise like "Omph!" when they poked him, and then, just sat so still and watched as the blood was drawn to fill 2 differ tubes...

We took them to lunch to celebrate their bravery...when we go out to eat Andrew says, "Comer tienda!" They often break into a chant at a restaurant, "Comer, comer, comer..." It funny to see the different expressions on people's faces...

Earlier this evening, I rearranged the children's rooms. Washed linens. Kelly & Diamond C. gave Tatiana an adorable doll house. She played with it for an hour or so. Then we all ended up in the boys' room! It was fun. Ben played Jungle Gym with the children as I continued to rearrange items on and in dressers. Then we watched Papi and Ellie play. It was a nice time as the children giggled and played.

Tonight, the children were all put to bed right before 8:30. Ben and I laid in the bed with each of the boys...they have difficulty staying in bed...well, I told Diego that I was only going to be there "Dos Momentos..." Afterwards, I left Ben and the boys to do dishes. Ben later joined me in the den to watch some tv. Ben had left to go to the bathroom around 10:30. Guess what he found! Andrew & Diego were up with lights on, throwing boys around in the room!!! I thought, how funny...they were so quiet & sneaky...

The boys told Ben they were not going to bed; Ben turned off the light on the ceiling fan instead of the light switch. That made Andrew mad...he said, "No te amo, Papi..." Ben left. Before we went to bed, Ben called me to come into the boys room. Diego was lying next to Andrew asleep in Andrew's bed. It was so sweet. I wished I could have taken a picture. They are so precious. Moments like these, I don't want to forget. We just love them so much...

Iglesia! Iglesia! Iglesia!

Today, we went to church...We did great! We sat on the first row as usual...the children seemed excited but reserved. They saw our Pastor and ran up to him saying, "Abuelo, Abuelo!" When he stood in the pulpit, Andrew pointed and said, "Abuelo!"

After worship, I went with them to Children's Church, but Diego went to the Nursery. Diego bit another child when he wouldn't give him a toy. The child was crying. I took Diego into CC with me until they took a break and Andrew and Tatiana left early with us. They did well overall.

We had a great day! It seemed to go by quickly. I just love my children! We got lots of compliments today...and I just had to agree with them all!!!! Haha... I am beginning to try to plan our Welcome Home Party/Shower and Tatiana's Birthday Party now. I can see why my sister had so much fun doing her children's birthday parties when she would do some theme. I miss her much. Wednesday, July 4th is her birthday...I just wish she could be here to see me and my babies, now! I really miss her.

This coming weekend we will be going to Louisiana to visit my family. The children are excited to go to G-Daddy's and see the horses! The picture above shows Diego sitting on our great dane, Ellie; Diego calls her a caballa (I am not sure I have that spelled right; Spanish for horse) and tries to ride her!

I can't wait for them to meet the rest of their family as well! Ben's Dad, Steve and his wife, Sandy, will visit us here in Mississippi before the end of the summer. Even though all this is fun, we will look forward to getting the introductions out of the way and moving towards some normalcy and routine. (Does that make sense?)