February 26, 2008
9:17 PM | 
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
well i finally broke down and let the kids have a pet besides the two easygoing beta fish we have. sellers and his friend mathew found a lizard in the back yard and caught it. this lizard now has a 10 gallon glass home that my children have filled with everything from dead grass , to plastic frogs to a toy bridge. he is named drazil (lizard backwards-sellers idea) and he is been such a source of amusement for all four boys. i love this kind of pet, well as long as he doesn't get loose in the house, he is pretty easy to take care of. we just threw a cricket in there from the last fishing trip and drazil just gobbled it up..and to think....i was about to give into the whole cat thing...
funny things wyatt said or did:
"momma can i push the egg out" (he wanted to crack an egg to cook)
whenever mason walks around going mama, mama (which is often and non person specific) wyatt will say "NO that's my mamma, not yours!"
he was drawing on his magna doodle before bed and i asked him what he was drawing, he said it's a smiley face, i looked closely and sure enough he had drawn his very first smiley face for me and i was so happy. we made such a big deal out of it he kept doing it over and over.
funny things wyatt said or did:
"momma can i push the egg out" (he wanted to crack an egg to cook)
whenever mason walks around going mama, mama (which is often and non person specific) wyatt will say "NO that's my mamma, not yours!"
he was drawing on his magna doodle before bed and i asked him what he was drawing, he said it's a smiley face, i looked closely and sure enough he had drawn his very first smiley face for me and i was so happy. we made such a big deal out of it he kept doing it over and over.
February 22, 2008
10:14 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
This picture was taken just after I celebrated Valentine's Day with the 5 men in my life!This has been another busy week. I guess realistically they all are. This week, John commented, has been the week of unending laundry. It feels like there is no end to it and it doesn't help that we have the slowest dryer in the world. I am not kidding when I say that, sometimes it takes one load 2 hours to dry! Another issue is folding the clothes up and putting them away. I have actually considered allowing each boy only one color for everything so we know who's is who's. It is especially hard since Noah and Sellers are in the same size on some things. And I won't even touch the sock issue, I think when we move I am going to do like a friend of mine. No more sorting socks, she just had a sock basket all socks go into, when you want a pair that's where you'll find them. That is of course if one didn't get eaten by the washer or dryer.
I had another one of those moments this week when I get down about the slow down in the China Adoption program. One night John and I were talking about whether we should switch programs and looked into other countries but we still feel the pull to China. We decided we would kind've wait and see and give it a year or so to see what is happening then. I went to bed feeling blue that night, I can't really explain what this feels like, maybe like wanting to get pregnant really bad but you keep trying and nothing happens. You just don't really know when it is going to happen. So when I woke up the next morning I was getting ready to go to clinical at 6 am and as I bent down to get my hair straightner I saw this keychain on the vanity. I had never seen this key chain before and it caught my attention because I saw a Bible verse and the word wait so I looked at it closely and read "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..." Isiah 40:31. As I continued to get ready I thought about that verse and realized how God had placed that verse in my path and I smiled because it is what I have known all along. I have to trust God. I put my faith in him that everything with this adoption will happen according to his plan. I must trust and wait on him. I couldn't stop thinking about that verse and even thanked God on the way to the hospital for it, I have a feeling I will be thinking about that verse alot in the upcoming years as we wait for Ellery. And as for the keychain, it is my father in laws for his truck John had borrowed and I had never noticed it before.
I had another one of those moments this week when I get down about the slow down in the China Adoption program. One night John and I were talking about whether we should switch programs and looked into other countries but we still feel the pull to China. We decided we would kind've wait and see and give it a year or so to see what is happening then. I went to bed feeling blue that night, I can't really explain what this feels like, maybe like wanting to get pregnant really bad but you keep trying and nothing happens. You just don't really know when it is going to happen. So when I woke up the next morning I was getting ready to go to clinical at 6 am and as I bent down to get my hair straightner I saw this keychain on the vanity. I had never seen this key chain before and it caught my attention because I saw a Bible verse and the word wait so I looked at it closely and read "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..." Isiah 40:31. As I continued to get ready I thought about that verse and realized how God had placed that verse in my path and I smiled because it is what I have known all along. I have to trust God. I put my faith in him that everything with this adoption will happen according to his plan. I must trust and wait on him. I couldn't stop thinking about that verse and even thanked God on the way to the hospital for it, I have a feeling I will be thinking about that verse alot in the upcoming years as we wait for Ellery. And as for the keychain, it is my father in laws for his truck John had borrowed and I had never noticed it before.
February 8, 2008
9:27 AM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
This past week has been so busy. Between dental appointments, late start days, early release, preschool registration, my first theory test, a quiz , a change from trumpet to snare drum for Noah, and house decisions it has been non stop. Everything we had to do is done. The boys got into the preschool classes we wanted, I made a 90 on my first test (which is great bc 80% of my class failed), Noah is so thrilled with the drum that he completed a weeks worth of practice in 2 days and the house decisions were made ( with a little help).
The whole change with Noah's instrument choice was a hard decision. As a parent I wanted him to keep up with the trumpet and see it through to the end of the year but his band teacher suggested a change. Even though he did not test well to play the drums it seems that the desire to play the drums may compensate for the lack of natural talent. I hope he continues to love it and practice.
I had my first weekend of clinical and it went ok. I was the med nurse and had to give all meds (except IV ) to four patients. I never sleep well the night before clinical so I was exhausted. I think things went pretty well I am adjusting to my new clinical group and instructor. My instructor is very laid back, probally too much and I just wish I had a little more guidance, I am after all giving medications that could kill someone if I made a bad mistake. I am really impressed with LMC's medication system, it is much better than other systems I have used. Next week I am the team leader and will be assigning patients to my team and will have to be "in charge" of my team for the weekend.
The whole change with Noah's instrument choice was a hard decision. As a parent I wanted him to keep up with the trumpet and see it through to the end of the year but his band teacher suggested a change. Even though he did not test well to play the drums it seems that the desire to play the drums may compensate for the lack of natural talent. I hope he continues to love it and practice.
I had my first weekend of clinical and it went ok. I was the med nurse and had to give all meds (except IV ) to four patients. I never sleep well the night before clinical so I was exhausted. I think things went pretty well I am adjusting to my new clinical group and instructor. My instructor is very laid back, probally too much and I just wish I had a little more guidance, I am after all giving medications that could kill someone if I made a bad mistake. I am really impressed with LMC's medication system, it is much better than other systems I have used. Next week I am the team leader and will be assigning patients to my team and will have to be "in charge" of my team for the weekend.
February 2, 2008
8:41 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
Lucky for us Mason now insists on feeding himself, I couldn't resist taking this after he ate some yogurt.
Wyatt is actually tickling his own feet. He is sooooo funny. We were sitting in the car for a long time waiting for John and this is how he entertained himself!
I love this picture of Noah playing the trumpet. I was so proud of him at this concert. He is really growing up!
He still has those cute little cheeks!
8:18 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
Through this process of adopting Ellery I have been in touch on a regular basis with several websites that are all about adopting from China and organizations that were formed to help the orphanages in China(and around the world). This week two requests were made on these websites and the stories broke my heart. In our warm, comfortable world it is hard to remember that so many people are without the most basic care and love. As you may be aware China is experiencing a horrible weather system that is dumping tons of snow and bad weather. Many families that were in China had trouble completing their adoptions but more importantly many orphans who remain in these orphanges are in a desperate situation. China never experiences this kind of weather so they are unprepared. These poor babies are in orphanges with no heat, and they are running out of food, diapers and other necessities because many of the area businesses are closed. There is a great organization called Half The Sky that has declared this an emergency, The director of the organization is in CHina right now trying to do what she can to help. It is so sad to think of those poor babies in that situation without a mommy or daddy to hold them and keep them warm. Thank God for people like Half The Sky. The other situation this week was with a donation drive with Love Without Boundaries. This is another organization that reaches out to orphans around the world. They were having a contest with other charities on Facebook. Whoever got the most donations won the contest and got $50,000. Well LWB won and 10 little orphans in China will recieve lifesaving surgeries. These stories really touched me and made me yearn for Ellery, even though I know she has probally not even been concieved yet it makes me sad to think of all the days she will have to spend in an orphange without the love of her forever family. If you think you would like to help these organizations check out their websites, they do wonderful things!
January 27, 2008
6:48 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
This picture was taken on Saturday.
This is a picture of the house taken today. It was hard to get a picture of the house with sun shining so bright but who's complaining we're just so happy to see sunshine!
WARNING!!!!!!!!!!Do not build your own house unless you love to make decisions everyday. John and I both have trouble making decisions, we did not realize how that could come into play when we started building this house. It took us about 6 months to pick the outside of the house, 2 months to pick out the brick and now we are at a point where we have to make so many decisions and sometimes several in one day. It is hard, you are afraid of making the wrong choice and regretting it later, some of these choices cost thousands of dollars and you just want to get it right. My brain is tired of decisions and we still have many more to go. So far I am happy with everything we have selected we just have many more to go. I am just thankful we are in a position to be able to build this house so I guess I should be grateful that there are decisions to be made.
January 23, 2008
7:28 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
Well as you can see I have not had alot of time to post. I started school a week ago and I forgot how much busier I get when I am in school. I think this semester will be ok. I had a tour of the floor I will be on for clinical and I am not real thrilled. It is a general medical floor so I am a little worried about not getting experience with some skills that I really want to learn. The floor is also muggy and smells. I guess I will survive 12 days there. I just glad I will be with my school buddies! Like you Jenn and Melissa!
The house is moving along fast. I will try to take another picture and post it tomorrow. I am so happy with how it is turning out. All the hours of driving around and looking at brick, siding colors etc. had paid off bc I love how it is coming together. I still can't believe it is our house.
I am keeping this short and will try to post a picture tomorrow.
The house is moving along fast. I will try to take another picture and post it tomorrow. I am so happy with how it is turning out. All the hours of driving around and looking at brick, siding colors etc. had paid off bc I love how it is coming together. I still can't believe it is our house.
I am keeping this short and will try to post a picture tomorrow.
January 15, 2008
6:41 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
Well I started back to school last night. It was great to go back and see all my friends at school though I was sad that 3 people did not pass our last class and weren't there. Our group of 27 have been together in class since Jan 2007 so it is sad when we lose someone. I got my schedule and I don't think it will be too bad. I'm real glad I am not taking any other classes. I will have clinical for 7 weekends (sat and sun) but only six will be at Lexington Medical Center. I will get to take on some more important roles this semester like team leader ( i will basically be in charge of 4 of my classmates), med nurse ( i will give out all the meds for the patients) and the other times I will be a "worker Bee" as my instructor calls it (i will do all patient care i'm allowed to do for my two patients). I think it will be good experience and I am ready to get back into it. I just pray that we can deal with all the extra stress me being in school adds to our life.
January 14, 2008
2:04 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
My devotional for today speaks of the story when Jesus met the 10 lepers, he healed them but only one returned to Jesus to give him thanks. Though the other men were surely excited about their healing they didn't bother to thank Jesus for their blessing. How easy it is to take God's Blessings for granted. I do it everyday. I remember to be thankful at times but it is hard to be thankful of everything all the time, living just gets in the way. We are distracted.
I am thankful for so much. I would hate to get started because surely I would leave something out but I am thankful for everthing in my life. I am even thankful for the wait in our adoption because it teaches me patience, for school because it teaches me to be thankful for mine and my families good health and for a messy house because it means I have healthy,happy, and active children. These are things I often complain about or worry about but I am going to try harder to express my thanksgiving to God so that I too can be like the one leper who took the time to give his Thanks to God.
I am thankful for so much. I would hate to get started because surely I would leave something out but I am thankful for everthing in my life. I am even thankful for the wait in our adoption because it teaches me patience, for school because it teaches me to be thankful for mine and my families good health and for a messy house because it means I have healthy,happy, and active children. These are things I often complain about or worry about but I am going to try harder to express my thanksgiving to God so that I too can be like the one leper who took the time to give his Thanks to God.
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January 13, 2008
5:03 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
Well I really enjoyed my break but yes it has come to an end. Monday I start back to school and John once again has to step in and do things by himself a little more often. Part of me is ready to go back, see my friends and get back to doing the things I really like. (interact with patients...) and part of me so dreads having to study, do data tools (a lot of work!) and take tests (especially that all important drug calculations quiz I have to take every semester). Unfortunately I did not get all my cleaning out and organizing I was going to do, so now I will have to do it while I'm in school. I work better under a lot of pressure anyway so I guess I'll be ok.
Last night Wyatt was doing his nightly singing to me. It's something that I have really started to treasure. Not only is it so stinking cute, his voice is just at such a sweet point. The little mispronunciations and cute little southern accent just melts my heart but last night I just noticed that he is starting to sound older and yes he is finally pronouncing more words correctly. I guess when he finally recites the actual ABC's in order and can spell B-I-B-L-E correctly then I will know he is surely growing up. I will miss those nights of singing but if I'm lucky I will have one or two more little ones to look forward to listening to.
One last thought...I recently have been trying real hard to look at our little men and really think about how they look, sound, etc. I don't know if everyone fills this way but I have the hardest time remembering how my children were at a younger age. (thank goodness for video cameras). I look at Wyatt and think how stinking cute he is at this age. And then I remember thinking the exact same thing about Noah and Sellers but I can't really remember it, especially Noah. Why? It hasn't been that long ago and I spent a lot of time with them but for some reason I just can't really remember it. I think that's sad but like I said at least I have videos. Without them I would be so sad to never see them little again.
Last night Wyatt was doing his nightly singing to me. It's something that I have really started to treasure. Not only is it so stinking cute, his voice is just at such a sweet point. The little mispronunciations and cute little southern accent just melts my heart but last night I just noticed that he is starting to sound older and yes he is finally pronouncing more words correctly. I guess when he finally recites the actual ABC's in order and can spell B-I-B-L-E correctly then I will know he is surely growing up. I will miss those nights of singing but if I'm lucky I will have one or two more little ones to look forward to listening to.
One last thought...I recently have been trying real hard to look at our little men and really think about how they look, sound, etc. I don't know if everyone fills this way but I have the hardest time remembering how my children were at a younger age. (thank goodness for video cameras). I look at Wyatt and think how stinking cute he is at this age. And then I remember thinking the exact same thing about Noah and Sellers but I can't really remember it, especially Noah. Why? It hasn't been that long ago and I spent a lot of time with them but for some reason I just can't really remember it. I think that's sad but like I said at least I have videos. Without them I would be so sad to never see them little again.
January 8, 2008
8:28 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
On Tuesday we get the weekly letter from our adoption agency. It's just a way for them to keep in touch with us, give us support and keep us posted on any new news. Lately all the messages have been referring alot to the parents who are becoming inpatient for their daughter. Couples now getting refferals had a LID of December 2005 and at that time they thought their wait would be a year, tops. So it is becoming quite stressful for families who feel they were unprepared to wait so long. We on the other hand know what we are getting into and know that the wait may get even longer. I pray that it doesn't because I can't really imagine waiting more than two years for Ellery. I think about her everyday and she isn't even born yet. It will be unreal when we lay eyes on her for the first time. John and I are prepared for the wait but it's hard because you have no control over the timeline. I am going to trust God and know that since he has lead us on the journey he will get us through it. I once was reading someones blog. They were actually in China while I was reading it and something they wrote stuck out to me and I have been holding on to that thought. She wrote that she now knew why she had, had to wait so long for her daughter, it was because her daughter wasn't ready yet. She felt so strongly that God had chosen that one child for her and that she now understood why the wait. The way she wrote it made more sense but I can't remember exactly what she said. Basically I just hold on to the thought that this is in Gods hands and in his timing, I will really need to depend on that to get through this wait. John is hoping it doesn't take so long because by then I may have enough clothes to outfit a dozen little girls!
1:39 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
This is the lastest picture of the house (not that I have actually posted any before) this was taken a few days ago. As you can see it's coming along great!
I took this picture of John right before he smashed his thumb real good and of course blamed it on me!
Mason getting his first haircut. He was so good and didn't cry at all, maybe he will be the one child we have that we don't have to restrain to get a haircut when they are little.January 6, 2008
9:58 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
The boys with their O'Cain cousins at Poppy's church for Evan and Sellers Baptism.Wow Christmas and the New Year really flew by. We had a wonderful time being with our family and enjoying time off from school. But time flew and the kids are back in school and I have just one week left before I start back to class and to get my whole house organized (yea right). I am going to make a real effort to get some things cleaned out since we will have to put the house on the market soon. We are building a new house. It coming along nicely and hopefully we will be in it in May. The kids are all so excited about it especially when we go visit the "lot" and they get to walk around and see their rooms. Noah is so excited to be getting his own room and own bathroom. Sellers would be just fine sharing a room with someone forever, I hope he will stay in his room when we move. He never really has had his own room. He is so used to sleeping with someone in the room with him. I also let them all pick out a theme for their room and we have settled on something for Noah and Sellers. Noah is going to have the real cool camouflage room like his cousin Evan. He is really excited about it and now wants everything in camo. Sellers settled on a Robot/Space room which is so perfect for him. I am going to let him make some robots out of trash (he has done this before and they are really cool) to decorate his room. I think I will do Mason and Wyatt's room in a farm theme but I am still not sure. I pray that we will all make it through the next few months it is going to be a little crazy with school and all the house stuff. I will have clinicals on Saturday and Sunday this semester for seven weeks and I am really dreading it. I am looking forward to the fact that I will be at Lexington Medical Center and will be in a new clinical group with some of my buddies! -God Bless and I'll try not to wait so long to post again.
December 17, 2007
1:13 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
The O'Cain Crew @ Christmas
We took about 50 pictures like this before we got one good enough to put on our Christmas card. It is not easy to get 4 boys still for a picture as you can imagine.
We took about 50 pictures like this before we got one good enough to put on our Christmas card. It is not easy to get 4 boys still for a picture as you can imagine.
We are getting excited about Christmas around here. Wyatt looks for the baby Jesus in the manger evertime we drive through the neighborhood, it's a big deal for him. He is beginning to understand Christmas more and he is really excited. The older boys are excited but haven't been able to come up with much of a list which is fine but it does make it harder to get them something. I am out of school for a month and we are going to spend this time together doing much of nothing. Next semester will be hard so I just want to enjoy this time with our family. We hope you all will have a Wonderful Christmas and New Year!
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