More on Summer...

Summertime is seriously the most wonderful time in my life. I mean, I could have a major surgery and still love summertime more than anything! Oh, I did!

Yep, it's done and over...I had the big hysterectomy last week! On my birthday no less! "Happy Birthday To Me!" Actually, I'm hoping that it will provide me with some beautiful gifts in the long run...better health in many areas! My surgery was done robotically and laparoscopically. So, no big abdominal incision for me, just three 'puncture wounds' on my abdomen with one larger than the rest. The worst is the 'burn spots' where the ablations were done internally and this is normal pain. I'm on a nice regimen of drugs (which I tried to stop but paid the price) so I'm resting comfortably! Should be back and in the groove in 2-3 weeks! Thanks to one GREAT HUSBAND, an excellent babysitter and empathetic girls!

So, back to summertime! Did I mention that I love summer...warmth, sun and everything that goes with this season?!?!? LOVE IT! So much that last night on the news one of the anchors said something about September's cool nights are around the corner and I went into a mild depression! I've been trying to convince Josh that Michigan is simply NOT the place where we need to live...he's so practical! But I've found several homes and jobs for both of us in sunny locations! (See what you do while you lay in bed recovering all day!?!?!)

The Sunset We Know and Love

Before surgery we did get to have a brief family vacation at the lake. The weather, of course, wasn't 'beach weather' every day but it was great family time and lots of fun! The girls met some friends while at the cottage and got some social time in. We also got to do some boating, fishing, tubing (beach-side), swimming, play at the park, and lots of princess dress-up! I packed an outfit per day and nine princess dresses...they wore three outfits in 10 days...total! Get the picture? Enjoy the pics!

Logan and Mom Bond...

Yesterday was another super day in the Knight house! We had Mema and Papa over for a day of summer fun...homemade guacamole, swinging, swimming in the little pool, grilling and chasing girls!!! It was fun!!!! And Logan brought up a "Big Girl" topic...being born in Guatemala!!! It's so awesome to hear her talk about her birth country and have that knowledge, "I was born in 'Glatamlala', and now I live in Michigan!" We're proud of this and so is she!!!

So last night I pulled out her Life Book, something I made just weeks after we brought them home on their Gotcha Days. I read this to her and she was intrigued with her baby pictures from Guatemala, more details of her birth story and information on her birth mother! Yesterday was the first time that we talked about her birth mother! We've always talked about Mama Karla and Papa Isai, their foster parents, but their birth mother was not appropriate to talk about yet! But last night Logan and Mommy really talked about her birth story! It was an emotional moment for me...but Logan was elated!!!! I will now teach her and talk to her, and Leah when she's ready, more and more!!!

***I posted this so all of you adoptive moms and dads know that it was a 'moment'!!! Haha!!!

Just Being an Advocate...

You know me...when it comes to my kids and to other kiddos with special needs...you can't really quiet me down!!! I will fight until the end and do what I believe is right! (Just ask our local special education administrators...UGH!...but that story can be saved for another day!)



I wanted to share with all of you that the State of Michigan is approaching passing its Autism Insurance Bill. It recently passed the House and now the Bill is in committee within the Senate. I am asking that each of you, within the State, to call your Senator and ask them to support the Autism Insurance Bill.



If you don't know, this kind of bill (if passed into law) would allow families with children with autism to seek Applied Behavior Analysis intervention for their child and have the service covered up to $50,000 annually up to age 26. Yes, folks...it's all out of pocket right now! But it's so worth it! But imagine what our life could be if the insurance company stepped up to the plate and covered Autism...and actually stopped discriminating against individuals with the diagnosis. That's all it is folks...discrimination! Just because Leah (and others) has that diagnosis...no speech, no OT, no ABA, nothing! If she were deaf, with CP, with DS...covered!!



Okay...off my soap box! Here's a new PSA that has been put out by Autism Speaks...just FYI!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rVX_nSLFtg&feature=player_embedded