Year End

The end of 2009 is approaching fast. I just love the end of the year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, but man am I tired. The end of each year also makes me a bit nervous and anxious for the following year.

This year has been pretty good. We celebrated Faith's 1st year home as well as her 2nd Birthday. My oldest son became a baseball fanatic, a dream come true for my husband. My 3 year old has decided to skip terrible 2's and save it all for terrible 3's, and my eldest daughter is just growing up. She is becoming a beautiful, smart, independent young girl. I am so very proud of her. My husband is working on expanding his business, while making time for all of us at home. Me, well I am just going through the motions and enjoying every moment of it.

This upcoming year is already looking real busy and it hasn't even started yet. New business ventures, new Nanny, thoughts more therapy and big changes for Fay, adoptions, etc.. Speaking of Fay, she is a rockstar. Since August she has been moving full speed ahead. In August she started sitting up on her own, in October she starting military crawling and along with all that her fine motor skills are improving as well as her speech.

My hubby and I have also decided to adopt again. Yes people I know I'm crazy. That would mean 5 kids, yes you heard me 5 kids at the Riggio Ranch. However the adoption process is not one to take lightly too. We have some big decisions to make about what route to go, Domestic, International or Foster/Adopt, what age as well as what nationality. Please pray that we find the right answers.

None-the-less we are moving full speed ahead and looking for a little down time over the holiday season before the new year starts.

Trying to take a family Picture

I wish I could state what it means to be a mother, especially an adoptive mother, in terms that could truley express how I feel. I wish you could all understand what adoption means to me. But those words don't often come easy. Shari at Encountering Ella has said it so perfectly. Please check out her post at Encountering Ella

ADOPTION

I want to adopt again. Most who know me are not surprised by this. Believe it or not my husband is entertaining the idea. I would love to adopt a sibling group between the ages of 3 and 8. If it was solely up to me we'd be bring our children home in just under two years from now. With that being said, where do I begin. I've tossed around the idea of doing a domestic adoption, but international adoption keeps tugging on my heart. When we adopted from Guatemala the decision to go there was so easy, but now that Guatemala is closed, what country is best for us.

I would love everyone input.

I'm still here, are you still reading?

Life at the Riggio home is busy and totally amazing.

First I'll start by telling you about my Guatemalan Princess. Fay will be 2 1/2 yrs old this month. Boy does time fly bye. I have to admit that her first year home was difficult and not at all what I expected. Her needs are more that just her being a little delayed. Fay may have to live with us forever. Although her progress is astounding, she is far from a "typical" children. I am not sure where she will plateau with her progress, but right now she is moving full speed ahead.

Fay just completed another 3 week Neurosuit therapy program and Tomatis program. She progressed more in the last six months than she has in the last year and a half. Fay can now get into a sitting position on her own, military crawl and bear more wight on her legs. Cognitively she has come leaps and bonds. She signs MORE in sign language, has tantrums as a 2 yr old would and is the happiest, most loving child ever. That doesn't even begin to explain all she can do and understand now. Every inch of progress is celebrated. I am sooo proud of her.

Right before Fay turns 3 we will have to get her a diagnosis in order to continue our services and to get more services. Because we don't know her families history or circumstances at birth I will take the meaning behind whatever label they give her very lightly. But you should know that they are leaning towards a few different things, such as cerebral palsy and mental retardation. It's kinda bizarre how the system works, but the more and worst off the label, then the more services she will qualify for. I know that a diagnosis will not change who she is. Just know that my mind is at peace with all this and everyday I feel more and more blessed.

GOD has given me 4 beautiful, loving children. THANK YOU

Now don't think I'm done with 4 kids. My heart has always wanted more. I've been thinking a lot about it lately, trying to figure out what would be the best option for our family. I've been nervous about adopting again. Faith's condition was unexpected. But I do know that adoption is the right option for us and whomever God chooses for us will be a perfect fit for our family. If I had my choice, I would adopt a sibling group from Ethiopia, but that may take a lot of convincing the hubby.

However, we have added a new member to the family. His name is Dodger and he is a 12 week old English Bulldog. That makes 4 kids and 4 dogs.

Meanwhile we have all been busy around here. Halloween is my favorite holiday, ok, one of my favorite holidays, partially because it's my birthday. This year we had a bash. An adult only Halloween bash that took place the weekend before Halloween. It was so much fun and such a success that I can't wait to do it again next year. Turning 22 again and again has been a lot of fun.

I've also been on a little tattoo kick for the last two years. My new addition is the "Star of David and a Cross" on my wrist. Growing up I was raised Jewish, however, in the last 6 years I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. So this tattoo means a lot.

Well enough rambling...check out my pics..

Fay learning to walk
and crawl

Dodger
my tattoo

Long Overdue

As time goes by my energy to keep blogging is decreasing. As a family of 6 we are constantly busy. Between school, baseball, dance, therapy and just trying to keep up with the household can be exhausting.

Faith is doing great. She is currently doing an intensive therapy program at the Napa Center. She has 3 hours of Neurosuit therapy and an hour and a half of Tomatis therapy. Her physical and mental strength has improved ten fold. However, it definitely takes a toll on me. We leave at 9:00am and don't get home until 5:00pm. It's like a full time job except I don't get paid. But well worth the results. As Faith is quickly approaching 3 I am now contending with so many decision. Fay is going to need a diagnosis when she is 3 in order to get further assistant from the state. I am researching all I can in order to make the right decisions for her.

The rest of the kiddos are doing good. We spent a few days at the lake after Labor Day and had a great time. School is in full swing and the kids are averaging straight A's in all their classes. My am so proud of them and so blessed that we get to enjoy some good quality family time together.

So here is what everyone has been waiting for the pics.

Therapy is a tough job but someone has to do it.

Fay and I love her therapist Jessica...Check out Jessicas face.

Chillin at the Lake

Holding on for dear life.. Paris and Roc

News Flash

So I am sitting on my couch making a guest list for our annual Halloween party. Faith is chillin on the floor. She was laying on her tummy looking out the sliding glass door. I was completely enthralled with my guest list when I hear her giggle. So I look over and she is SITTING UP. This is the first time she has EVER gotten into a sitting position by herself. I am completely shocked.

You want progress..Well there you go..

The World We Live In

I stole this poem from my sisters blog, you should really stop by and check it out-Fighting Joey My sister and I both have children with special needs

The World We Live In

The world we live in, not your world, but my world. The world I am talking about where special needs kids and disabled people are normal.

The world where no one is looked at with a crooked smile or squinted eyes or with a look on there face of sympathy.

A world where you are not explaining to everyone the difficulties of your life or trying to make other people understand and feel better about your situation.

The world where only we can make jokes about our lives and it be funny to only us, were you might take offense.

The world where feeding tubes, drooling, falling, slumping over, changing diapers, special diets, wheelchairs and walkers, are normal and not even looked at twice.

Where helping another is just second nature. Where the smallest physical or cognitive improvement is like winning the lottery. Where you take nothing for granted. Where you appreciate your abilities more and more each day.

A world where your disability is not a bad thing.

In this world you don't compare what one can do and the other can't. You celebrate what everyone is capable of doing all the time.

It is not a bad world or a world of unhappiness.

Our world is not worse than your world.

Our world is just different then your world and unless you have lived in both worlds you would NEVER understand. You can only imagine.

The world where I pray you would NEVER have to be a part of. The World I Live In.