Are any of you singing Counting Crows now…just me?!?! It immediately popped into my head and now is spinning the tune. But I digress.
So everyone is still alive in the Kelley house and that is a giant plus 🙂 The end of school plus Everett’s health plus this need to be around people we love right now is filling our time plus I got strep for the 2nd time in two weeks. At the end of 2016 we knew this season would be a wild one so we decided to limit the kid’s activities. Hudson and Solomon are the only ones in something right now and it’s karate…down our street…that Josh takes them to. In hind sight this was the best decision for us. I cannot imagine running kids here and there and there and here right now. I would likely perish…especially with the current state of our van…ahhhhh!!! So while this season feels especially hard it also feels especially sweet getting to spend so much time together with the people we love.
Everett’s health is at the forefront right now. We’re at the doctor every week and are in close communication with our cardiologist. We also have two possibilities brewing with hospitals in Boston and Ann Arbor. We are of course anxiously waiting to hear the final decision. Shuai is doing so well adjusting and with bonding and attachment, but that dang heart is giving us all a run for our money. If I talk too long about him…his special heart & body…his sweet little self…I will burst into tears. This kid owns every single one of us. He has made us mush once again and we all feel like the luckiest.
Harper wraps up elementary school this week and will venture off to middle school in the fall. I love this girl. I love who she is and who she is becoming. I love her personality and her heart. I love her sense of humor and easy goingness. I just love her…period. She preformed in her end-of-the-year program last week…it was sooooo cute! Field day was today and tomorrow is awards day and picnic day. 4th graders live it up. She just makes me smile and is almost as tall as me. Seriously, I predict she’s going to pass me by next year.
And she’s getting contacts next week…per her request for summer. WHY WILL TIME NOT STOP?!?!?!
Amon graduated pre-school last week too and will be headed off the kindergarten in the fall. He’s nervous/soooooooooooo excited. He cannot wait to eat lunch at school and walk in with his big brothers and make new friends, but he’s nervous about homework and his colors. I could literally eat this kid alive. Too weird!?!?! I think not. He just melts me. He’s such a ball of wild joy and his excitement and love for life is enthralling. His pre-K teacher gave his the Friend Award and just gushed over his kind heart. I in turn sobbed in the crowd. Josh Kelley and myself all the time question how on earth we got to be these kiddos’ parents. It makes no sense, but we’re not ratting ourselves out yet.
We’re still sitting on counters like its our job. Every single morning you will find Everett perched here. Some mornings he is joined by other siblings. Mornings are his hardest and this is his comfort spot. He just needs this spot, some extra hugs, a yogurt cup and then he’s good to face the day.
Josh Kelley and I got in one last lunch date before summer commences. Everett joined us of course and we we’re a-okay with that. We’re soaking him in…every little second.
Amon also found a turtle and now stalks him. He has since re-loacted the turtle two other times. Apparently he lives in our backyard near our shed. You would have seriously thought Amon won the lottery or something. He is obsessed!!!!
In other news, I’ve never seen a turtle move so quickly while Amon, Everett and our littlest surrounded him. He was all, “Get me the heck out of here.” Seriously. He turtle ran. Quickly. It was amazing to watch.
And today was field day. I don’t know about you, but field day was my most favorite day of all in elementary school. I would be so nervous excited the night before I wouldn’t sleep. And my goal was to always win the 50/100 yard dash. I love our kid’s school so much and they always have the best time. This year Amon, Everett and our littlest all joined in and it was a blast!!!!!
I was reminded of how fragile Everett’s little heart was with how winded he got when he exerted himself too much. He also had some chest pain so we sat out the rest of the day. He knows his little body so well and was perfectly fine with riding around in our stroller the rest of the time. Oh my heart…this kid!!!!!
I’m really going to try and touch base more this week. I always miss this space and you guys when I’m away. Thank you for reading and following along. Thank you for the encouragement and kindness. Thank you for praying for Everett and our littlest and our whole little tribe. You guys are always the kindest…always!!!
Hope your week is off to a great start. Here’s to a grand week.
Happy Monday!
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Oh, I love reading your updates. So much fun all around. I would be so excited to stalk that turtle too if I found him in our yard! I will keep praying for Everett’s heart and for the doctors to come up with a sure plan on how best to help him. He is such a doll. That smile of his is too cute. Enjoy all the summer time fun with your amazing kiddos!
Hahahaha, well Amon is right there with you. And thank you so much for the prayers…we absolutely appreciate them.
Hi Darling Laura! Somehow I stopped getting emails for your blog awhile back, so I catch your updates on FB. Your Babes are all getting so big. They are beautiful! I wanted to mention the strep that seems to be hanging on in your home. I have heard so many Mama’s of little ones from Chin* having strep infections when they first come home. Apparently, little ones that lived in orphanages tend to having strep in their bodies and need to be treated with different antibiotics than are usually used. Maybe something to ask Everett’s Pediatrician about. I will keep his heart issues in my continued prayers. For healing. For answers. For Devine Intervention by just.the.right. medical team. HE’s Got This! Squeeze that precious boy for me. Love You! – Jo
Thanks so much Jo…you are always too kind. And I was actually the one who got strep twice. Boo! Minus his heart and his wonky insides, Everett is super healthy. Ha.
I didn’t explain it well… the child (Everett) has been exposed to strep many times with being around other children in a close living environment, Eventually, it doesn’t affect Him, as it is lying dormant in his body and his body is used to it. It is when he comes Home, then the rest of you will be the ones to keep getting it. E needs to be treated to kill the strep in His body and thus it will stop making everyone else sick. Does that make sense??
Love reading the update! Keeping positive thoughts for sweet Everett – good news is coming <3
Also, your IG story with the turtle was one of my favorite IG stories ever. That turtle WAS running! And then the kids throwing lettuce at him?! I couldn't stop laughing!
Enjoy the beginning of summer!
Thank you Carrie!!! And I’m so glad you enjoyed our turtle shenanigans. They would not leave that poor thing alone. It was quite hilarious how fast the turtle moved to get away from them. Hahahaha.