Random Pictures

Korbin driving Uncle Davids Mower!

Korbins old loft bed that we've turned into a fort at my brothers house!

The note on the counter at the doctors office. I figure I'll be saying OMG when I get the bills so this should be appropriate!

~Till They All Come Home~

Settling In Michigan

We're getting settled into our new home fairly well now. The boys are getting adjusted. I've loved having family around and have had so much help with the kids lately and hope that it doesn't die off in the next couple weeks when everyone decides having us here isn't so fun anymore!


Mackinley is going to be 8 months old on Friday and is amazing. She is 16lb 12 oz, finally growing at a great pace! And she's 27 inches long. She can crawl like a champ now and is eating really well too. She's now onto bite sized baby puffs and crackers as well as jars of all sorts of baby food and seems to be okay with eating any flavor though she prefers some over others.




Before Kirke left it was so obnoxiously funny that as soon as he got home and she heard his voice or caught sight of him she'd start whining and crying until he picked her up. Now she's doing it to me and it's not so funny anymore!




Korbin is very happy with his move to first grade and enjoys going to school now. Tayton likes school too and they are both where they need to be! Their teachers seem to enjoy them and that makes me incredibly happy and at ease.




Kirke is getting settled as well. He's working very very long days and eats lunch while he works most days (which is really gross because he's a mechanic but whatever). He has been getting online or calling us nearly everyday but only has been catching the boys on weekends of course. This deployment is especially hard on him because he's never had to leave behind a baby before. The boys were 3 and almost 2 the first time he went, the second time they were 5 and 7 I think.

My only problem is that I'm living just a few houses from where I always considered "home" but I feel out of place. I felt out of place in NY too but that was a lack of friends and a social life. Here it should feel like home. I have my own house and all of my things are here. I think the real reason is that Kirke has never lived here. He's never seen our house. Our bedroom feels like "my room" not "ours". There is a hole in our lives right now. There usually is during a deployment but this time it feels different. I feel like we don't have all the pieces.

But don't get me wrong. I am so glad that I am here in Michigan surrounded by family and friends. It just doesn't feel right. I miss my soldier.

~Till They All Come Home~

Korbin's Idea of Exercise

I went with a couple friends to water aerobics last Thursday night. Then we went to my brothers house for dinner and hung out a while. On the way home Korbin says to me "Mom you don't look any skinnier". I questioned his statement and he said "you know like aunt Diane, you went to water aerobics and exercised but you don't look any skinnier, I don't think it works".

~Till They All Come Home~

It's been a while.

This will be a long post. You've been warned.

I haven't blogged since the beginning of September. Life got a bit crazy. On Sept. 24 our moving truck was delivered and we packed it up and sent it off to Michigan on the 29th. We bought a camper (huge mistake) hoping to save money while we were still in NY but out of our rental house and needing temporary housing. October 1 we packed up and moved our camper and the three kids, two dogs and two cats on post to their campground. Found out the water didn't work in the camper so we were having to go to friends houses to shower. Pain.In.The.Butt!! Then we found out it was only 18 bucks more a week to move into one of the bigger, better, running water having campers that are set up at the campground. Live and learn to research better before making rash decisions during very stressful times. We lived in the camper from the 1st until the 23rd. On the 23rd we moved into a cabin on post because Kirke's parents were coming to stay with us until Kirke left for Afghanistan.

On the 28th Kirke was on his way to Afghanistan and we were on our way to Michigan. I drove our van with the three kids, two dogs, two cats and boat load of luggage and random things. Kirkes parents drove his truck towing behind the pop up camper. 12 hours later we arrived in our new home and began the unpacking process the next day.

I've been in Michigan for a week and a half now and my house is unpacked and we're settling in fairly well. The kids are doing good. Mackinley is crawling now and she's standing up. She's having some separation anxiety but she'll get over it in time. She was really attached to Daddy. The boys are now in a Charter school and doing okay. I have been having some issues with Korbin and I plan to talk to the principal about moving him back into first grade. He's struggling with the work and always has struggled so I'd rather he take a bonus year and master the skills he needs to be successful in future grades than to always be struggling.

On Friday I asked how his day went and just as she had the previous two days his teacher went on to tell me the negatives. I was walking out of the building and I said to the kids "whoa wait hold on we're going back to your class". I walked in and said to the teacher "does Korbin do anything good?" Because all I was getting was negative feedback and I know my kids are tough but not all bad. She looked shocked and took a minute to come up with his positive traits because all she could focus on was him not being able to keep up and refusing to do his work.

Kirke is settling in as well and is sad to be gone again so soon but he's tough and mission minded and will get through this just as we will.

Ok now that you're thoroughly bored I'll end this. I"m still waiting to get internet hooked up at my house and for now I'm working with just AT&T internet and its too slow to load pictures but I will post some soon.

~Till They All Come Home~

Tayton

I haven't blogged much lately so it goes without saying that I haven't clued anyone in on how Tayton's been doing. When we left Missouri we had a diagnosis of Sensory Integration Disorder and Anxiety Disorder.

Since moving here we've been screwed out of him receiving his occupational therapy which was a life saver while we were in Missouri. But he's been seeing a child psychologist and child psychiatrist which we struggled and never succeeded in getting into in there.

They are now officially willing to say he has "asperger traits", severe anxiety, OCD and of course the Sensory Integration Disorder. All of which are the asperger traits. He also has some signs of ADHD but not a true diagnosis. I actually agree with all of this.

He's an amazing kid! He just needs things done a little differently. He needs constant reassurance and refuses to let himself make mistakes which hinders his school work. Teachers don't love to have to tell Tayton three times that he has permission do something. And he's a rules kid. There's never a gray area with him. He got sent to the office last year because he knows we don't talk to strangers and no one introduced him to the gym teacher so therefore he was a stranger. The gym teacher tried to talk to him and he ran and hid behind behind the mats! Ha ha!

We went to a local pool yesterday and the rule was that the lifeguard had to tell you when it was clear before you get on the diving board. (yes that's right, he was jumping off the diving board into 12.5 ft deep water!! He's amazing!). So every time before he got on the diving board even though he could see it was clear he would yell "excuse me ma'am, all clear?" with his hand in the air thumbs up. They laughed every time because even if she said go ahead before he asked he still had to ask and they still had to say it again. That's my boy!

So now that we're moving to MI for the deployment I'm hoping we have great resources available for him. If not I will seek them out and we'll have a year of fabulous progress!

In a short time we went from him being scared but really wanting to jump off ..........

To throwing caution to the wind and running and jumping like a champ!!

~Till They All Come Home~

Writers Workshop With Kat: My Childhood Neighborhood

When I saw what Mama Kat from Mama's Losin' It was up to over on her weekly Writers Workshop I figured I'd jump in and play this week since it fit in with what's going on in our lives right now.

The prompt: My Childhood Neighborhood

My family moved every couple years when I was a kid. We stuck around the same area except the three years we decided to try out city living because my step dad got a great job in Grand Rapids. We weren't cut out for big city life.

My grandparents were a major part of our lives growing up and always seemed to be our "home base". No matter where we lived my brother and I always considered their house and their neighborhood home. They had big square house on a corner lot on a gigantic city block. In the center of this block was a gigantic empty "field".

When I was 7 we lived with my grandparents for a few months before our move to the horrific big city. It was then that I met what would become two of my lifelong best friends. They lived on the other side of the block in the center which made the field the perfect meeting place. Over the years we would gather neighborhood kids to play various games in the field or roll down the hill. The field was surrounded by back yards so we often ventured into other peoples yards to hide and play.

About 10 years ago whoever owned the field decided to sell the land and two houses were constructed. I was devastated. My kids were supposed to be able to play in the field someday and it was the place of so many memories growing up and I just couldn't imagine not being able to run through the field to my best friends house!

Well now here I am making a decision I swore I'd never make. Kirke's deploying soon and I've decided to move back to Michigan for the duration. I never thought I'd go home during a deployment but everything has fallen together so well.

My best friends parents bought one of the houses in the field a few years ago. They're going to rent that house to us for the deployment. My kids may not have gotten to run and play in the empty field but now they get to live in it!

Your turn! Go check out the prompts at and join the fun Mama's Losin' It's Writers Workshop!

This is our new home for the next year in just a few weeks.

This is the Google Earth view of our block with my things tagged. I'm so ready to get back "home" and enjoy living near family and childhood friends for the first in over 10 years!

~Till They All Come Home~

Still Around

Well I haven't blogged in a while because facebook life has taken over. Mackinley will be 5 months old this week and I'm ashamed to say I haven't taken a whole lot of pictures in the past month. She got her first tooth yesterday. She's rolling all over the place and shows signs of sitting up in the near future as well. She laughs a little but isn't cooing too much. Last week she weighed in at 13lb 6oz and is 25 1/8 in long.

Mackinley at 4 months old!

Mackinley in her new BB Bib made by my beautiful sister in law and her fabulous sister! You can get your own here.

Korbin is doing great. We haven't been giving him his ADHD meds cause we like a lively little boy running around the house all day!! He's much more fun off the meds. His kidney check up was scary because it's swollen and retaining urine but when they compared it to last years scans there weren't any significant changes so we're gonna wait it out.

Korbin on our zipline out back.

Korbin at work on family day with Kirke.

Tayton is doing okay. They are now calling his issues "Asperger's traits" as a combination of severe anxiety disorder, OCD and Sensory Integration Disorders are kicking his butt these days! He's going to be 9 soon. He's gone back and forth with some things lately. For one he's getting himself so worked up he cries and within minutes gets a killer headache. But they're going away within a reasonable time frame with Motrin. He's also gone back to biting himself a few times recently. He's seeing a pediatric psychologist and psychiatrist right now and testing out some medication.

Tayton on the zipline out back!

Mackinley with a silly nose. I came out of the bathroom and found her this way...thanks Tate!!

Lots of funny, crazy, insane things go on inside these walls everyday unfortunately facebook gets all the funny stuff and blogspot is just getting the updates. I'll work on that!

~Till They All Come Home~

Adoption Day!! The Best Family is Complete!

The finalization of the adoption was simple. The judge stood, we sat, she flipped through the paperwork asking us to swear that it was true and that was pretty much it. She made us promise to love and care for Mackinley forever and ever. At one point she asked the boys a couple questions about if they liked having a sister but that was all. Some friends of ours came along to share the excitement and take some pictures for us! (thanks Stacy!!)

After that part was finished she showed the kids the courtroom and they got sit in her chair and ask lots of questions.

We are thrilled that the adoption process is a thing of the past and are so happy that from now on every piece of paper regarding our daughter will now say Mackinley Alaine Best! We couldn't be happier!! Our family is complete!

~Till They All Come Home~

Two Quick Things

On Thursday last week we were called by Korbin's doctors and told that we needed to take him to the Watertown Hospital to have an IVP done on his kidneys and urinary tract. Apparently the specialist he's going to in Rochester didn't like what he saw on the kidney ultrasound and needs more tests so that our first visit will him will be more productive or something. I don't know but I do know that I don't like urgent serious tests. Poor Korbin will have an IV with contrast while they do a serious of imaging for about an hour. No food or drink means no ADHD meds which means off the wall frustrated, impulsive little boy. Fun.

On the upside Tuesday is the day that our family will be complete! I'm certain when I say that this time although we thought it once before, after my hysterectomy and all, this time seems much more permanent as we won't be looking to adopt again. I have enough friends who need kids so I'll point the next family emergency in that direction!

My next post will be full of pictures from the adoption!!

~Till They All Come Home~

Hammocks Are Not Safe

This is our hammock.

Today I was on the phone and decided to sit in the hammock while I talked to Wendy in Norway.

I unzipped the net and slid my upper body inside the bug net and planted my big old tail into the hammock.

As I slid into the hammock something went terribly wrong. The bottom didn't open up to embrace my giant tail and I fell back against the netting. The netting is not meant to support more than the weight of a few bugs. I weigh more than a few gazillion bugs.

The hammock flipped.

At this point I was dangling above the ground (still on the phone mind you) in a tangle of mosquito netting. It was like a giant cocoon was trying to swallow me. Cars were passing on the highway and they could clearly see me trapped. I kicked and flailed and tried to figure out what was happening.

Then I heard the rip.

Slowly the net gave way and I was thrown from the comfort of my cocoon to the hard ground below.

I was still tangled and had to crawl out. I was not a beautiful butterfly. I know people were watching me from the road and I know they were laughing. I would have been. I probably would have stopped to take pictures too. Wendy got to listen to the madness but luckily Kirke and the kids were unaware of my dilemma.

~Till They All Come Home~

Four Weeks And Some Boys Love

I am now a mother of three! We're a family of five! I love it! The boys love their little sister. Korbin will sing to her and give her her pacifiers but isn't a huge fan of holding her yet.

Tayton on the other hand is amazing with her. He adores his baby sister more than I ever would have imagined. He holds her and sings to her and puts her to sleep at times when I'm not having any luck! She's going to love him!!

Yesterday I was in the shower and when I came out Mackinley was crying. I came around the corner and Tate had gotten her out of her bed and was holding her and singing softly to her. She was screaming. He looked at me smiled and said "I've almost got her calmed down now Mom". It was so sweet. So I fixed her a bottle that he fed to her while I dried my hair.

Later on yesterday I was washing dishes and Mackinley was laying under a mobile on the floor and fussing so Tayton came out and laid with her and sung her to sleep right there on the floor!

We had our homestudy yesterday. The lady was very nice and very positive about everything. I guess I felt like she was coming out to "grade" us but it was more of just an interview to make sure we're sincere about our motives and that we can and will care for Mackinley. She seemed to be impressed enough that we have no worries.

After the home study Tayton came over to Kirke and I and he said "do we get to keep Mackinley now? Is she ours?" I laughed and said "yes baby we get to keep her and she's always been ours and always will be." He got the biggest smile on his face and pumped his fist in the air and shouted "yay!!!" as loud as he could. It was pure happiness! Perfect!

I had to explain to him that the adoption isn't final yet but that everything is going to be just fine and she will be ours to keep. We all love her so much but his love for her is amazing me everyday!!

Mackinley is 4 weeks old today and here are some pictures from this week!

Brandy made these hats for Mackinley and I took the pictures today. You can tell which one she likes the best!!

I love this one with the braids!

She loves this one!!

When I opened the box I was so excited to see all the handmade goodies from Brandy but I could only find one of these adorable flip flops. So I instant messaged her to let her know that perhaps I had forgotten to tell her but Mackinley was born with two feet. She laughed and explained she didn't mean to send it until the other one was finished. Ooops! But isn't it cute!!

The box also had Korbins birthday presents as well as a big brother gift for Tate. Thanks Brandy we miss you guys so much!!!

~Till They All Come Home~

Mackinley's First Easter

~Till They All Come Home~

Comment On A Lost Soldier From His Mom

I recieved this in my inbox tonight when I got home from showing off my little girl to one of her great grandma's tonight. I'm reminded again how precious life is and to be grateful and make the most of everyday we have with the ones we love. I can't wait to return home to NY with my baby girl and introduce her daddy to the newest love of his life.

My family prays for the soldiers deployed everyday and I hope that all of you remember that although it's not in the news so much and at the front of our minds we are still losing soldiers and their families and friends are still mourning loses like this one.

Here is the comment I found in my inbox today written by this soldiers mother. I only wish she had left an email address so that I could email her back.


"I'm the mother of Charles Dustin Parrish and I would like to tell you a little about him. He had such a big heart and quick to find humor in everything. He only had three weeks left in his tour but had re-enlisted in April. He was planning on continuing his medical training at Ft Benning, AL. He was too young to die. He had just decided what he wanted to do with the rest of his life and was putting his plan into action. He planned on making up for lost time with his son when he returned home. He had been separated for three years and rarely got to spend time with Caden. This too was a tragedy because Caden could have had more memories of his father. I will make sure Caden knows his dad through us. Dusty left behind two sisters, two brothers, and parents that all miss him dearly. I have to tell you about his other family though. His army family. Dusty was killed June 4th and his birthday was August 21, we we're all dreading that day. Everyday was a living hell for us as it was and we did not know how we were going to get through his birthday. Thirteen of his army family drove from Missouri to Alabama to celebrate Dusty's birthday. They spent the whole weekend with us and I can not tell you how much that helped us. We made it through his birthday with the help of his other family. I will never forget those soldiers and what they did for our family. I got to meet the medic that held my son the last hours of his life. I am grateful for her for being there when I couldn't. He had someone holding him as he slipped away. As Christmas approached another feeling of dread hung over our heads. We are a close family and spent holidays together. Dusty's younger brother is only six so we had to try to celebrate Christmas for him. If not for that fact we would have let the holidays slide by and pretend they did not exist. Two days before Christmas Dusty's sgt offered to come spend the holidays with us. On christmas eve Sgt Brittion, his wife and their infant daughter drove from Missouri to Alabama and spent Christmas with us. I'm not sure if they know exactly how much that meant to us but they saved us. While the void in our hearts still existed they made it a tiny bit smaller by being able to add them in our hearts. I am forever grateful to all of Dusty's Army family. There is not a day that goes by that my son is not in my thoughts. I love and miss him dearly. "

Please hug your children and your spouses tight and remember how precious each day is and say a little prayer for our troops because they are still out fighting and risking their lives everyday.

~Till They All Come Home~

Mackinley's Story

After a few false alarms and trips to the hospital Thursday night came and "Jane" called to tell me she was in labor. It was 3am. I got up and got around and went to pick her up. She and I headed for the hospital. She was in a lot of pain and I just knew it had to be the real deal this time.

We got to the hospital around 330am and got signed in and were taken upstairs to the OB floor. They hooked her all up and checked to see if she'd dilated and she was at 5cm. My mom came up and was in the delivery room the whole time. At that time I sent a message to facebook saying it was real and we'd be having a baby. I then took a phone call from one of my best friends who lives in Norway. We were on the phone for 10 minutes and then I went back in the room and she was dilated to 8cm and a few minutes later 9cm.

Mackinley was born at 4:47am. All was well with the birthmom and we got put into a recovery room together (the three of us). That choice was made by Jane and her decision alone to make. It was all just fine. Jane was discharged from the hospital Saturday morning and Mackinley and I were able to leave that evening.

She's healthy, and happy and perfect and we are all completely in love with our new little girl!! I was amazed at my bond with her so quickly! I can't wait for her to meet her daddy!

Tayton loves his baby sister!!

Korbin and Mackinley! She was born on his 7th Birthday!!

So darn sweet!

Heading home from the hospital!

In the elevator on the way home from the hospital.

Mackinley Alaine!!

Korbin teaching Mackinley about video games!

I love my baby girl!

~Till They All Come Home~