I got THE NEWS!!

After over 21 months of being in our home as a foster child, today I received the most wonderful news that I have been dreaming for, for over a year. Cody's caseworker called around 9am this morning to announce that our agency was granted permanent custody of Cody. She then began to state that Cody will be transferred to the adoption unit this week and we will begin the adoption paperwork this coming month---November! This makes it very special because November is the National Adoption Month!! Words cannot express the joy that is in my heart. This joy has replaced fear and worry that has been in my heart for over 21 m onths. I can now breathe and not think "what if.." This joyful, special needs child will now become apart of my forever family. He has always been in my heart as a son, but now we can officially name him Cody Matthew Schmidt! Praise the Lord for His wonderful blessings! "Matthew" means gift from God and that is what Cody truly is!

Halloween 2005

Last night, our family went to Matt's family's church. They had a Harvest Party where children dressed in costume and went around to play games for candy. Cody's costume this year is Raggedy Andy and Carleigh was Raggedy Ann. They were too cute! I plan on posting the pictures soon. My digital camera needs to be repaired so I am waiting until my sister takes pics of them this evening at our church Harvest Party and then I will post them. They were the cutest kids there!! Okay, I am a little biased! Their cousins looked cute too. Raygan was a girl pirate, Riley was Jeff Gordon with sunglasses and a cap, Ryan was Spiderman and Devin was a Middle Ages Knight in Armor. Cody did not like the sailor hat with red yarn hair attached. He tried pulling it off many time, but then he got used to it and he was simply adorable. Carleigh looked like a real Raggedy Ann doll and would smile and coo all evening! It was a fun time!

My poor little girl!

I had to take a half-day yesterday because my mom called and said that Carleigh had another fever. She started to feel bad Sunday night, but I thought it was a little cold. On Monday, mom thought she was teething, but I wasn't so sure. So on Tuesday morning when the fever wouldn't go away and she was just crying, I called the dr. She started screaming when the dr. barely touched the tip of her ear. The dr. said that part of her ear drum was torn due to the infection and pus breaking through to relieve pressure on the ear drum. She prescribed an oral antiobiotic, ear drops and Tylenol or Motrin as well. My poor little girl! Cody was even concerned for her because he would cry or touch her little head yesterday. It was so precious....I have such a sweet, tenderhearted little boy.

Progress!

Well, yesterday, Cody was dragging around his Rock-n-Play Piano by walking on his knees and using the piano as a "walker." I decided to try the walking toy and he started making steps and pushing the toy along! I am so proud of my big boy! Then, today in physical therapy, his therapist placed him on a riding toy and he used his feet to push himself along!! He is making such progress in balance and stepping that I truly feel he will be walking by Christmas! That would be the best Christmas gift he could give Mommy!! I was planning on getting him a riding toy for Christmas, but due to his success, I might have to give it to him early for an extra reward! I thank God each day for his progress. Thank you Lord!

Update

Carleigh is sitting up by herself! She can sit up by herself for about 10 seconds before losing her balance and falling sideways or backwards. It is such an improvement for her! She loves to play in Cody's old exersaucer and doesn't not like to be put down. Spoiled!! We cannot wait until she can sit up in a high chair well and will not have to lug around the infant carrier seat! She is getting heavier and the carrier is getting almost impossible to lug around. Boy, I can't wait until we get her a new carseat like her big brother! Cody's newest skill is to take out everything from a diaper bag or a purse. The cute and annoying thing about it is that he takes everything out one by one!! He is literally getting into EVERYTHING! We really have to keep our eyes on him at all times. What a fun stage they are at right now! I am loving motherhood....I didn't know if I would ever be a Mommy to two small little ones and God has surely blessed me indeed!

I'm home today!

My mom became sick yesterday and had a fever, so I took a personal day and stayed home with the babies. Of course, I loved it! The babies could sleep in and so could Mommy! It has been great getting more time alone with them! I wish I could be a SAHM, but it isn't possible. Carleigh is learning new things every day. I am so proud of her! She has the cutest smile and Cody keeps saying "Ga Ga Ga." I just know that he will have a word explosion soon and LOOK OUT!

It's getting cold!!!

Cody and Carleigh donned their new sweater jackets for Canal Day on Saturday. Their Aunt Connie bought them at the Pork Festival from Native Americans. They looked adorable in them! I will try to post a picture of them in their sweaters. They were so well behaved at Metamora on Saturday. Aunt Connie bought Carleigh the cutest colorful poncho from Native Americans there and she has been wearing it everywhere! She is adorable in that poncho! Yesterday, Cody crawled into his bedroom and was laughing. Of course, I had to find out WHY he was laughing alone in his room. Well, he crawled to his full length mirror and was looking at himself which made him laugh!! He is such a silly guy! Carleigh is very jabbery now. I just love the stage they are in!!

Canal Days

My sister, Matt, Cody, Carleigh and I are going to Canal Days at Metamora, Indiana tomorrow. I go every year! There are hundreds of vendors selling everything you can imagine! I love buying clothes and toys for my little ones there and of course I love buying things for myself also! I hope it isn't too chilly tomorrow and that the crowds won't be impossible. Cody and Carleigh usually enjoy riding around in the stroller and I hope they aren't whiny.

She finally did it!

Yesterday, Carleigh officially rolled over! I was very worried that she was going to start slipping into Cody's delays. Last night, I placed her on a pillow and took my eyes off of her. The next thing I notice, she was on her belly! She rolled from her back to her belly. Tonight, I was finishing her butterfly beaded banner and Matt has placed her on a blanket on the floor. She was playing and babbling as I was stringing on the last row of beads, then all of a sudden...she was crying! I looked up and she was on her belly! She rolled over on her own! Yeah! Go girl!! I am so proud of her. We are still going to work on her rolling from her belly to her back and sitting up unassisted. We are closely monitoring her as we do not want her to get behind developmentally as Cody. I also have to keep in mind that she was also 5 weeks early so she is at a 5 month development and at 4 months they are rolling over, so she is not as delayed as I was afraid. Help Me Grow will be coming out this week to evaluate her and for a weekly visit for Cody. I am so proud of my girl! She ate a full container of sweet potatoes and wanted more so we gave her a 8 oz bottle. She is such a growing girl!!

His newest favorite foods...

My mom started giving Cody puffcorn and he absolutely LOVES it! I have to hold it and he bites down on it and chews up the piece in his mouth. If I am not careful, he will bite down on my fingers. For a boy who has feeding issues, he has a strong bite!! He also loves to eat any cake, macaroni and cheese, breads and french fries. I think I have a carb-addicted little boy! He also takes 8 oz of Pediasure to give him the extra vitamins and nutrients lacking in his diet. We are hoping he will gain a little weight! At the beginning of Sept., my little man was only 22 pounds! He is soooo tall and skinny. Carleigh on the other hand is such a little pig. She knows what to expect when I put her bib on her, she gets hostile and almost cries until I put the bottle in her mouth. So far, she has tried green beans. I am introducing sweet potatoes and squash this week. If that goes well, it will be onto fruits next week. She eats her cereal regularly and likes it but the new solids, she isn't interested in yet....but I am sure she will fall in love with them soon.

Thinking about Christmas already

We are thinking about Christmas now due to the fact that we have two children and partially because we got the Wish List for both of them to fill out and return to our agency before the end of the month. We write down 3-4 items that total to $50 or less. I hate writing down 5-6 little things so I put down 1-2 big gifts that both of them will enjoy. Last year, Cody received a Laugh and Learn Learning Table that he loves to play with now. PARACHUTE (Child's advocacy program) gave Cody 7 really nice Christmas gifts last year. So, we are probably looking at a living room FULL of just toys. We are thinking about buying them 2 big gifts and then stockings (with little things) from Santa since they will get presents from the agency and from family. Cody's birthday is less than a month after Christmas so I don't want to overload him with so many presents. We are thinking about purchasing a Radio Flyer with wooden trim wagon for his second birthday. Over the summer while I was working at school, I took him for a ride in one of the wagons we had at school and he LOVED it! Christmas and birthdays are sooo wonderful when you have small children! I love being a Mommy!