The Wilkens Family

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Please Pray For The Orphans In Guatemala...

Oh how the ups and downs of the adoption process remain fresh in my mind. I would literally be totally excited one day and crying the next. It seemed the news we received changed almost daily. Unfortunately, the most recent news on Guatemalan adoptions is NOT good.
Guatemala has suspended ALL adoptions, including those grandfathered in and all current inprocess cases, for at least 30 days. Although Mason is safely home (Thank you, Lord) the orphans of Guatemala are in my thoughts and prayers daily (especially those at the Eagle's Nest). I feel absolutely sick for the waiting parents. Please keep the waiting children and families in your prayers.

Life at our house is good. Mason turned 10 months old on May 5th and has been home for 2 months today. I would almost bet that he will be walking by his 1st birthday. He isn't "pulling" himself up, rather "pushing" himself up to a standing position. Speaking of his 1st birthday, we have been thinking ahead to exactly what we plan to do to celebrate this day. I am trying to come up with some cute ideas for a birthday cake or cupcakes. Bloggers...if you have any ideas that you would like to share, please do so!

Mason and Papa

He has the cutest belly laugh!

Mason and Big D

Hangin' out with Big D

Somebody had a visit from the hair fairy!

Our Announcement...after 2 months!

Mason's first softball game...Daddy's team won!

"O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of distress" Jeremiah 16:19

Lord, please uplift and give strength to the families who are waiting to bring home their babies from Guatemala.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Back To Reality...

I went back to work this last Monday. I honestly bawled my eyes out Sunday night after putting Mason to bed, I did fine on Monday though. Fortunately I am "easing" back into work, so I am only working 2 days a week through the month of May. I will step it up to 3 days a week in June and then will be back f/t by mid-July. Even when I am back f/t, my plan is to only work 4 days a week. We are actually very blessed at this point as I am working on Daddy's days off, so Mason gets "Daddy Day" twice a week. Once I am back f/t, Mason's week will consist of staying with Daddy 2 days, Mommy 1 day and then a friend of mine will keep him the other 2 days.

Mason continues to learn and grow daily. He is finally feeling a little better...we ended up on 5 days of Prednisolone last week. He has pretty much had a runny nose since the day we met him...I am beginning to think "allergies"?? His rash came back this week too....I don't know what to make of that, it's on his chest, tummy, neck and upper back. He has a check up later this month, so I am hoping we can hold out on anymore Dr visits or calls until then.

More Mason Updates:
*His second tooth is almost completely in.
*He is now crawling at lightening speed!
*He has a new bruise on his forehead...because he is know trying to pull himself up!
*He continues to love being outside...stroller rides and his new tree swing.

*He experienced his first good ol' Midwest Tornado Warning! The sirens went off at 1am, so we got to head to the basement in the middle of the night. Luckily we didn't have any of the severe stuff in our area. Mason was a trooper, he barely even woke up and went right back to bed when it was over.

Family Fun:
*Mason has a new cousin....Brileigh Jo who was born on April 25th (also my baby brother's 30th birthday)! Brileigh is the daughter of Matt's brother, Lee, and his wife Ande. Brileigh is adorable and so, so tiny!
*My cousin had a little girl on April 24th! Look out Addison Lynn...you've got 4 big brothers to keep track of!

Eagle's Nest News:
*2 more babies are coming home to their forever families! Gabriel and Nathan's cases were approved by PGN. (See "Trusting For Seven" and "The Schommers")

Picture Time...

You can thank Aunt Darl for this someday!

Snack-Time!

Uncle Lee, Cousin Brileigh, Mason & Daddy

Bedtime

Bubble Beard

Aren't the sunglasses hilarious!?

Mason and Mommy

"But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called today." Hewbrews 3:13

Monday, April 21, 2008

Mr. Big Stuff

Mason has been super busy since our last post. He made a road trip to western KS to see Papa and Granny, so Mason has now been to Daddy's home town. While we were there a few ladies from the community threw us a welcome home shower. Mason was of course the center of attention and he received LOTS of neat gifts! A few days later we made another road trip to see Papa and Nana. Nana had surgery last Wednesday :( but is now home. A 9 month old + a hospital room all day = a bored baby! :)

Mason has made some advances over the past week...
*We officially have a crawler (time to get the baby gates up Daddy)!
*He is feeding himself Gerber Puffs (aka baby crack) like a Pro!
*We introduced the "sippy cup". He thinks it's pretty funny, but isn't taking much from it yet.
*He started a new phase on Thursday...he cries every time we walk out of the room.
*Mason has also experienced his first bout of being sick since coming home...started with a cough on Friday, then a fever and rash Saturday night, lots of fussiness, fever off and on Sunday, still coughing this am w/ light rash. So we had an appointment with the Pediatrician this am, turns out Mason has Croup! The Dr said since he was a "vent baby", Croup may be something he gets each time he has a cold or virus..no fun. (I know Aunt Holly reads this...so thanks for letting us call you Saturday night for advice!)
*Today's weight...19# 5oz.

Here are some pictures from the last week!

"The Farm"- Papa & Granny's in western KS

Papa & Daddy working on a project...A new windstock for the top of the pole!

Yes, that is Daddy in the tractor bucket...

Ta-Da! Project completed!

Mason and Daddy driving the Mule

Granny, Mason and Papa

Our view for 300 miles...

An occassional cow or oil well along the way...

Yes, that is a dog bone toy. Don't worry, it's new, never been in a dog's mouth. Daddy bought this as a teething toy for Mason (no, I am NOT kidding). Oddly enough, Mason loves it!

Still loving the tub...he alternates splashing then lounging!

When Daddy does my hair...doesn't he look like the next American Idol?

Wearing a ball cap for the first time...

If you look really close, you can see a tooth...

Crawling...

Out!

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." James 5:13

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Snowing In April?!

That's right! Gotta love this crazy Midwest weather. This morning it was snowing here, no accumulation, but big ol' snowflakes! I am sure Mason is wondering what is up with this sunny one day, snow the next day weather. It's a far cry from the beautiful weather in Guatemala. The weather is so beautiful in Guatemala that it's known as "The Eternal Spring".

I will give a quick review of this weeks happenings and share some new pictures!
*This past Thursday (April 10th) marked 4 weeks that Mason has been home!
*Mason received his first "ouchie"...a slight bump below his right eye in the bath tub!
*Tooth #2 is slowly but surely making it's way in!
*Mason wants to crawl SO BADLY...he is getting close, but oh so frustrated!
*Filed the first (of many more) papers to register Mason's adoption in our state. Now we wait on his state issued birth certificate (then we can file a name change, get an amended BC, file for a COC and apply for a SS card).
*Another EN baby is coming home soon! This family lives about 1 1/2 hrs from us. They are adopting 2 children from the EN, Adelia and Antonio. Adelia's case was approved by PGN just this week. Thank you, Lord, for another answered prayer.
*ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK...GO KU! 2008 National Champions!

Mason enjoying one of his favorite snacks...Baby Mum Mum's!

This face cracks me up! Cute outfit: FRONT Cute outfit: BACK
Bath Time = Free Entertainment for our cat, Lilly

Precious Boy (notice the red mark under his right eye)

Another post tub injury shot. He looks so sweet!

Baby's Got His Blue Jeans On!

Cutest Lil' Piggies

Mason, meet Sophie & Vinny. 2 boxers = too much slobber!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Rock Chalk Jayhawk...Go KU!!

Today is a great day for several reasons...1) Mason is 9 months old 2) Tonight the final four games will be played 3) the weather here is wonderful!! I am a bit torn for the KU vs UNC game...I "guess" I am a KU fan since I am a midwest girl and went to graduate school at KU. However, I picked UNC as the winner in my bracket! Anyway, as you can see, Mason is dressed and ready to cheer KU on tonight.

This week's highlights-
*Trip to CG (Mommy's hometown). While we were there, a group of old friend/coworkers surprised us with a shower! THANKS AGAIN MCH GIRLS!
*More visitors, some playtime with little friends.
*First trip to the mall...all of approximately 10 minutes! Mason does NOT like shopping. Daddy is excited about this, because he hates shopping with Mommy too. Daddy said now Mason can be his "little scapegoat" to get out of shopping or to at least get Mommy out of the store faster! :)

I have to share a funny story before you move on to the pictures. Today, I went to a car seat safety check. As soon as I opened up the door to the backseat and the inspector looked in, she said (and I quote) "Oh no, this is bad". To make a LONG story very short...It took her and another worker almost an hour to get our seat in properly. It even involved me sitting in the car seat so they could get the seat belt as tight as it needed to be (oh yes, picture to prove it). The woman helping us was super helpful and she told me about 95% of the car seats they inspect are installed incorrectly.

So my advice to those of you with children/babies in a car seat...
*Take the time to go get it inspected!
*All of the cute, extra fun stuff for your car and car seat....DON'T BUY IT!

I had the cute little Eddie Bauer mirror and seat protector and the cute little strap covers. If it isn't part of the car seat it's not safety approved! She said technically car seats are only "safe" when they are installed and used the exact way they are tested. So all the extra stuff, isn't part of the way the seat is supposed to be used. Now, she did say they can't "force" someone not to use the extra stuff, but it's not recommended. If it's not a part of the car seat, it may not be safe. They way the car seats are tested in crash tests, is they way they are when you buy them. Not with all the mirrors, toys, etc, etc. So, I learned something new. I promptly went home, got my husband's truck and went down there to have that seat checked as well.

Car Seat Safey (sorry, I can't figure out how to rotate the picture)