Housewife of the POSH Cabot, AR

After 6 days of unpacking boxes and finding a home for the hoarding.....ummm, material possession a plenty....We took a field trip into "town",  Little Rock to be exact.  We had a very SLOWLY baked chicago style pizza.  I agree, maybe should have ordered "native" food.  BUT, the opportunity to people watch was almost too good to be true.  Best gem....A 40 something gal in a casual "cami" (t-shirt) type shirt with pearls and an up-do?  Hmmmmm, should have got a pic I know!

We found the name sake of the city.... 

"The" Little Rock (or so they say?)

And a very cool park near the Clinton Presidential Library (Yeah, he was Governor once here).

But really it's the playground in our backyard that's the BIGGEST hit.  An indicator that best states it's popularity and completely eliminates my ballot for mother of the year.  I just did laundry yesterday.

No,  NOT for the first time since arriving,

BUT close 8-).

Megan's pile of folded clothes, when all was completed:

4 Swimsuits

3 pair of PJ's

1 outfit

Not that I NEED to obsess over what my kids wear, BUT HMMMMM?

Did she wear that one outfit ALL week and I missed that lack of variety in wardrobe selection?

AND MUCH WORSE.... Ummmm, one word....shhhhh, clean panties????

Don't even want to think another thought about it!  Moving forward to pics of mandatory family fun we had today.  We have a teen boy, not exactly enthusiastic about the pool. CRAZY I know!  WARNING Please put sunglasses on NOW!  

We STILL lack pool toys, but at least that is not a sled anymore, but a bogey board!

Send Bryce a txt or email....."Hey Bryce, when is that stupid canoe getting moved OFF the pool deck?" Please send soon, I would appreciate it!

The first jump in!

In adoption news:  We had our Supplement 3 to our home study interview on Tuesday (long winded for address change for US Immigrations!).  Paperwork processing and getting some details fine tuned.  Hoping this DOES NOT slow our paperwork down a bit!  We are expecting an update on our cuties any day now.  We will share any pics we get at that time.

GINORMOUS SECRET!

We have been on a journey for six months.  A secret journey to do the MOST  we can with one trip!  With the excitement of adopting Timothy, we paused to think about the isolation he will feel initially. It got us researching about adding another....the cost, logistics and impact of on our family.  We decided it was very doable.

Megan insisted it be a girl please!!  So the search began for a girl with only more minor special needs since Tim will need lots of medical attention right away.  This journey was far more disappointment than success....then

FINALLY a lucky ladybug flew our way!

Today we received PA (provisional approval from China) for our little girl.

KATE MEI BRAKMAN

I'm sure you want the stat's and pic right?  She was born September 16, 2010 and was abandon just under a month later.  She was premature and has anemia. The anemia will be fixed when we get her to a decent hematologist here in the US.  She also has a very cute "outtie" or as China calls it an umbilical hernia.  Probably won't need to repair it... we'll let ya know later on that!  The best part....

Kate Mei is at the SAME orphanage as our Tim!  One trip, to one orphanage!  God truly knows my patience level... or lack there of!

I know, I know STOP typing and get the pic up!  But first, I need to warn you........

Baby Kate was NOT enjoying her photo shoot on the day this pic was taken.

YES, we have a diva coming our way!

AND our cutie bug isn't afraid to express herself.

Now, back to unloading box, after box, after box....well, you get the point!  More posts upcoming of our move to Arkansas.  The kids just HATE the pool by the way 8-)

Happy(?) Trails

I think the HAPPY in the title might be a stretch???

Actually, maybe Just Ok Trails should be the title.

It's been 2-3 years since coming to Scott AFB.  Which really means....it's time to go!  As are usual habit of come, stay for a little while, then cut and run is once again upon us.  We are, well, decidedly not going to fight what can't be changed!

Not that we LOVE it in the mid-west.  But rather we have grown weary of this

CARDBOARD

AND

CHAOS!

Don't get me wrong, the indoor playground is a plus.  BUT!!!  The smell of it.  The obstacle course made from it throughout the house.  The having the "camping spirit",  of trying to live normal life while 90% of said normal life is within the confines of

CARDBOARD :-(

Well, this being our 12th move in 20 years....The magic and fun are gone.  Moving has worn out it's welcome to say the least.  Or maybe it's the nonsense that comes with this vast amount of dead forrest in my soon to be former house?  We seems to be magnets for the perils and pitfalls of moving company woes.  This move is no exception.  

Well, here's to moving and being at the mercy of someone else's schedule, agenda and work ethic!!!!

OH

And least I forget???

MMMMM HMMMMM

SEE U IN LITTLE ROCK SOON!

WHEW!

We have dodged a big one!

A bending big problem....

An "S",  to be exact.

This is Beau's innerds, yes that is the "S" that has terrorized us for 18 months.  

As Beau grew, so did his spine, but in an unconventional way....ummm crooked to be exact.  Why??? Well that is a good question?  NO EYE DEER Y???  He has no limitations or pain with this luckily.  However, the GIANT worry was if it continued to grow, of course crooked, at the rate it currently is....he would have to wear a bulky large plastic brace that encircles him from his hips to his armpits....

Oh and wear it for 23 hours a day!  

Wow, that won't be restrictive for a very active young man or horribly embarrassing for a teen huh??

HENCE, why I have prayed and worried and grayed constantly since the doctors at Children's have began seeing him.

INSERT THE BIG RELIEF HERE!!!!

I really don't remember every word, but here is what I recall from today's appointment:

Whew, glad I found the bathroom(Cindy speaking...always an issue after a 35 minute car ride and a Diet Coke in the bladder)...

Awesome, they have free wifi, shoot my stocks went down a tiny bit (Bryce went with us today, him talking, me ignoring cuz Beau was in Xray.)

Beau returns, "ummm, can I have my phone Mom?" I missed him too, so glad he tells me nice things like that.  OK my paraphrase maybe, not what he meant?

Doc walks in....."Well, It's all good news"  Blah, blah 33%....waa, waa, blah hips are a 4 outta 5 now....spine done growing....blahby, blooo, blah, but arms and legs NOT done growing....bunches of questions and answers.  A referral to a doctor colleague friend at Little Rock Children's Hospital we should seek out when we get settled, for his next 6 month check-up!!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!

We will never fear the "S" again!  

Today's blog brought to you by the letter    S!

Mission Accomplished!

REALLY!  We are that exciting that I am blogging 2 days in a row!!!

OPERATION LADYBUG LUCK is

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!!!

As you will notice on the adoption dates side bar.....

There is an official LID date!  L@@K at the side bar!

Now the long push to letter of approval (LOA) is upon us.  It will be about 3 months until China gives us the thumbs up to adopt.  The US already said it was swell and yes!

If you have not already entered your email address in the side bar box, please do!  You will NOT want to miss anything in the upcoming months.  Much in store for us....

Our 113th move....Ok a slight exaggeration. 

What's it like to be an Arkansian for the second time?

How long it will take before we visit an ER in our new state....join the guessing pool my family has on it, you may win MEGA bucks!

And much more WAY TOO BIG to say right now.  I promise you won't want to miss that announcement coming soon!!!!!

But in the meantime we just praise God for the blessings he continues to give.

A Little Luck!

Well, I know this is getting a bit long.  I truly expected LID (log in date) from China by now.  Appears China is in a move slowly with every ones paperwork phase....and I mean everyone, to include us.  As sad as this makes me, I know to be patient.  This is HIS extreme patience lesson for me.  Despite praying for a swift end to this wait, I have been eagerly waiting for a sighting of one of these!  They are a Chinese symbol of good fortune coming your way.  Terrible picture, I agree!  I stepped outta the car as this lady bug flew right by my head and landed on the car next to us.  This was my hurried attempt to photo shoot it before it got away!  I was a tiny bit excited since I have looked at every bush and tree in the last 24 days while we wait.  So with God and this lady bug's luck I am so certain this will be the week for LID!

I have added a side bar of the adoption dates on the new look for the blog.  As you can see, not to many have a date next to it as of yet.  But we are really at the half way point once LID occurs.  The wait for the next major hurdle (LOA) will be long, about 3 months, so I have decided to fill with just ordinary life stuff.  Cuz we are really THAT exciting!  So what's going on with the Brakman's?

It was Beau's turn to visit St Elizabeth's ER this week.  He awoke with horrible chest pains at 5 am.  Not normal for a healthy 15 year old, so off we went to see about an EKG.  Turns out he continues to have issues with the acne meds and it has once again caused esophogitis.  This is Beau, after the GI cocktail that numbed him from tongue to belly....and after he passed his EKG and chest x-ray!  Back to the doctor some time soon to figure out what to do regarding his acne....sigh!

This is our mortgage!  YIKES, haven't spent this amount of money in a long, long time.  Its been quite the assignment (changed right in the midst of buying another home in another state) and real estate merry-go-round for what hopes to be our last military assignment!  Bryce will head back to flying at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas.  A return to Megan's birth place.  We had very few options for rentals and even buying, but settled on a nice home with a pool.  I'm getting over that last part as I just see money and maintenance when looking at the pics!  But it should be great for the HOT summer and the kids!

Megan and Wes ran their Read Right and Run Marathon on Thursday.  No idea why it's called a marathon?  It's really a 5K.  But I'm really proud of them for sticking it out during the cold winter months and inclement weather.

And Finally..... Someone turned a year older....A hint....

Ummm, no that's NOT gray in his hair...just highlights???  I really don't think Wes believes that...by the look on his face in the shot!  

In closing.  An adorable 4 year old woke and went to sleep already in China.  He has no idea what Mother's Day is or what a Mother is for that matter.  It breaks my heart.  But I have great hope that NEXT Mother's Day he too will know a Mommy's love....his Mommy's crazy, insane love for him.  Timothy Joshua....We love you from the depths of our heart!  I so hope next year you too, will be arguing with your brothers and sister as you all attempt to bake a cake for Mom!  Ahhhh yes, it is after all, a normal day in the bliss of motherhood....and I would only change one thing, having you already here!

DTC

                                                                   

Hmmmm what on earth? Is Cindy trying to get us to say this word, without any vowels in it, out loud?  Maybe?! But that would be no fun if I was not there to laugh at ya now.... because you know I would!  

No actually before I will reveal the definition of these three consonants, here is a picture of this strange thing.... 

   See!!!  That brings LOADS of clarity now doesn't it?!  Alright enough nonsense!  DTC is an acronym, since we LOVE those in this military business, that stands for dossier to China.  Yeah Cindy, super clear now, uh huh?  

Today our big packet of papers that got the blessing of the United States was sent forth to China.  In about 2 weeks China will have accepted our papers and given us another acronym....LID or Log In Date.  Not to get ahead of myself, cuz LID is for another blog post time, but DTC is a big hurdle in the adoption game.  

DTC is the first of three hurdles to get to LOA(Letter of Acceptance, the biggy that China says YES you can come get this youngin).  This simply means we are FINALLY cleared from the US side to adopt. 

Now our paperwork is in China's hands to make sure were meet their standards.  Nothing big you say.... tell me when it's over cuz we are getting weary of this process you say.... ok, I grant you that, but this keeps me going and going and going!!

                                                                                 

YUP... call me crazy, but that cute smile and goofy peace sign melts my heart.  Now back to reality and praying LID(log in date, just in case the letters are blurring together by now?) comes before 2 weeks!