- Cute Ahniér & Loopy Dad -

well, here's some pics of dad & ahniér today at the hospital - we went up to see him this morning & ahniér's all smiles, but dad was sooooooooo 'out of it' - we were going up tonight, but mom called & said he was going to sleep & talking out of his head again, so we opted not to go up - we'll go tomorrow, but for now...enjoy the pics!

- Prayer please -

i'm asking anyone that will, to pray for my dad tomorrow - he's having knee replacement surgery on one of his knees at about 1:30pm - he'll stay in the hospital for 2-3 days [so i guess you can pray for the nurses as well!] - i told him today that i'll be up at the hospital as much as i can, with my camera in hand, but for him not to think it was for 'him', or for 'moral support' or anything nice like that, but instead, it'll be one for one reason & one reason only.....BLOG MATERIAL!!! - i said that i'll be there for all the embarrassment that i can muster [gowns that open in the back, him loaded on up meds, etc....oh this will be sooo good!] - check back here often over the next couple days & i'll post pics as they come in - oh yeah BTW, thanks for the prayers too!!!

- Lots to share -

first off, if anyone would like to mail dustin, he was moved last week to a processing facility & will be there until they ship him to whatever prison he'll be living at - the address where he's at now is:

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RDC Dustin Wayne Shepler #198634

737 Moon Road

Plainfield, IN 46168

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in other news...ahniér's doing fabulous on the potty training end of things - i kid you not, when she's sat up on the toilet, she'll produce something EVERYTIME & it's usually always within about 30 seconds of sitting down [you go girl!!]

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the highlight of this email's to say...I'M GOING TO HAITI IN 5 WEEKS!!! - some friends of ours, billy & rachel, are adopting 2 children from haiti & since billy doesn't like to fly & didn't really want rachel going alone, they said if i'd go with her, they'd pay my ticket - was that a 'god thing' or what??? - thanks so much to them for the opportunity to be able to go back to the country i love - mom, along with spike & brit will tag team while i'm gone & keep the house running smoothly - i overheard kiara say to karleigh today after they found out i'd be leaving & nana would be here with them, "karleigh, this means we'll get to do all kinds of stuff because nana lets us do whatever we want!!" - to that karleigh said, "well, let's think of all the things we want to do & then we'll tell her what she can do with us!" - nana, you better watch out!! - i'll be leaving on april 1 & returning home april 8 - i absolutely can't wait & will take tons of pics [those that know me are shocked, right?]

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on a sad note...we were informed yesterday in church that the main church board was firing our senior pastor due to 'sexual misconduct outside the marriage' - it's hit all of us pretty hard as we really liked him & he was a wonderful pastor - i keep hearing that, "god won't give you more than you can handle", but i'm sure thinking we've got to be at that 'more than you can handle part', right?

- Potty training...warning: 'poop' is mentioned -

well, i'm sure i'll get some 'nice' & maybe some 'not so nice' comments on what i'm about to say, but here goes - i didn't set out to start potty training ahniér at 5 months, but here's how it came to be...

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ahniér absolutely HATES to poop - from the moment her little body feels that poop's a comin', she gets attitude - i talked to the pediatrician about it a couple times & she said there are many children that don't like the whole 'feel' of pooping, so they either resist it all together until such time, that they physically can't resist it any longer - then others rush through the entire process & end up possibly doing some damage

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ahniér poops only about 1 time every 3 or 4 days & that's WITH prunes, juices, etc. - now you all have seen the pics i post regularly of this smiling baby girl & that's really how she is...all the time...EXCEPT when she starts to poop & then she gets stiff as a board & makes it known to everyone that she does NOT like it at all!

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what i've been doing was taking off her diaper, laying her down, pulling her knees up towards her chest & then letting her take her time to 'go' - after she'd finished, she'd be fine again for another 3 or 4 days

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well, 2 days ago, spike was holding her in the chair as i was in the kitchen & she started carrying on - spike said, "well, she's working on a dirty diaper" - without thinking, i just went & got her, stripped her down & noticed she'd not produced anything at that point in her diaper - i took her into the bathroom, sat her on the toilet & started talking really sweet to her & smiling at her...like this :)

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she looked at me as if to say, "mommy, have you done went off the edge?" [notice the above picture], but then after about 2 minutes SHE POOPED!!!!! - although i was thrilled, i knew she'd no clue what she'd done - the next day, there was a repeat performance, with no poop this time, but it was as if [i know she really didn't understand], but it was almost as if she knew what she was there for because as soon as i sat her up there, she grunted like there was no tomorrow - i ended up letting her try hard for about 2 minutes & then put her in her diaper because i really think she'd have sat there for hours, just 'trying'

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well, that was 2 days ago & since then this little girl's pee'd EVERYTIME i've sat her on there & i've been timing her & the most i've had to wait's been 1 minute/10 seconds - the past 3 times i've not even had to wait 15 seconds & now when she goes, she just beams from ear to ear - let's put it this way, she's just 5 months [last week] & from 6:30am this morning until midnight [now], she's only had to have 3 diaper changes & they weren't even soaked! :)

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call me silly, but i'm gonna continue what i'm doing & if it's nothing more than saving a few $$ on diapers, then that's good enough for me - i'll post again to let you all know how it's going, but for now, she's doing great!

- We've our first 'toofie'!!! -

we'd haitian camp this weekend [friday, satuday & sunday] & had a wonderful time [absolutely great!] - ahniér's had a tooth about ready to break through the skin for about a month or so & saturday night, it popped through!! - i didn't know if you could see it from the photo, but it's her lower right [in the circle] - you can rub on it & it'll even scratch you - just thought i'd share!! - BTW, she turned 5 months on the 8th

- I'll never... -

the poem below must have been written just for me with all we're going through - i know others are going through things to0, that to them's just as important, but i'm not them...i'm me - i'm seriously not trying to whine, but feel i'm loosing my mind

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i'm a mom to 6...dustin's 23/homegrown, brit's17/domestically adopted, kiara's 6/haitian adopted, ruby's 6/haitian adopted,karleigh's 5/haitian adopted & ahniér's 5m/haitian/domestically adopted & we live in indiana

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dustin was just sentenced a bit over 3 weeks ago, to 2 years in prison, 2 years work release & then 4 years probation for a crime he committed a year ago - he's never, EVER been in trouble & then boom, he does this! - to say we're all 'in shock' would be putting it mildly

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brit, for the most part is doing fine...for now *wink*

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kiara was diagnosed with ADHD/sensory integration several months ago - she's suffering majorly with not only changes [we adopted ahniér just before kiara's diagnosis, sold our home & moved into a rental for 4 months while our home was being build, then moved into our new home this past october & then a couple months later, dustin was taken away], but with just learning to cope day to day - she's in her 2nd year of kindergarten & we're seeing now that was the best thing for her - we've chosen at this time to go no meds, but are working on a gluten free diet for her & she's accepting it great

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ruby's profoundly deaf in both ears & so we're an ASL family now [american sign language] & need to work daily [literally] in increasing our sign language - she's by far the most stubborn in the family & tries to perfect it daily

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karleigh's right now struggling the most [out of the kids] with her brother being gone - trying to process it all & making sense of what she can - she has meltdowns at least 1 per day & this' a child that never hardly ever throws fits & is about as easy to raise as they come - she's sort of 'getting lost in the shuffle' & i hate that, but feel i'm a one handed octopus trainer & i can't keep everyone 'gathered in' - about the time i feel i've got my arms wrapped around everyone & all they're dealing with, someone starts 'slipping' out of the box i'm trying to keep them in

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ahniér right now's just a smilin' fool :)

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spike & i are working together nicely on making sure things get done, but i feel like it's a loosing battle right now & everyone's suffering - we've had some people make comments in the past in reference to kiara & her ADHD - they think we 'give in' to her too much, that we should 'lower the boom', so to speak & make her do things exactly as we do the other girls - we're not giving in, in our minds, but to keep peace & keep the large household running smoothly [not smoothly, but maybe a bit 'less bumpy'], we pick our battles - we've got so many obstacles in front of us, i'm just tired & tired's putting it mildly - i could go on & on from here [note: that's how i got my screen name], but i won't for your sake - i'm just saying all that [above] to say, this poem's for me if for no one else [thanks rebekah!]

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A PARENTS POEM

[taken from my friend rebekah's blog]

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Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray my sanity to keep.

For if some peace I do not find,

I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

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I pray I find a little quiet,

Far from the daily family riot.

May I lie back--not have to think,

about what they're stuffing down the sink.

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Or who they're with, or where they're at.

and what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself,

(did something just fall off a shelf?)

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To cuddle in my nice, soft bed,

(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)

Some silent moments for goodness sake,

(Did I just hear a window break?)

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And that I need not cook or clean,

(well heck, I've got the right to dream.)

Yes now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray my wits about me keep.

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But as I look around I know,

I must have lost them long ago!

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Author Unknown

- Thanks Kiara!! -

today, kiara came to me & as she was smiling, said, "mommy, i just started the dishwasher for you!" - i said, "the dishwasher??" - she said, "ummm, yeah?" - i asked, "what are you talking about?" - she then took me into the laundry room & showed me that the washer was going - i said, "YOU DID THAT?" - beaming, she said, "YES" - i then opened it to find a load of whites that were almost completely finished, but they were still dirty - i said, "did you put soap in?" [because they watch me every time i do laundry & always 'show' me where to put it] - she said, "ahhh man, i knew i forgot something!" [whew!!, i'd much rather have to run them all back through, than clean up a mess that a 6y old made with laundry soap...that gives me the chills just thinkin' about it!]

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above's the picture of our 2 laundry hampers [whites go on the left & colors go on the right] - as you can see, the colors are mounded & overflowing, where the whites are empty - i said, "kiara, since there wasn't very many whites in the hamper & you could see the colors were overflowing, what made you choose whites???" - she smiled HUGE & said, "because mom, i just wanted to help a little tiny bit...not a LOT!" - oh great, she's already starting the teens years!!!

- Padded cell...here I come! -

well, i messed up again!! - as some of you might remember, i blogged here about forgetting karleigh at school one day - well, last night ahniér wasn't sleeping well as she was all congested, so i was up with her until about 4am - i then slept for 2 hours & got up at 6 to get ruby ready for school - after that, i got kiara ready & then it was karleigh's turn

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spike said he'd take karleigh to school for me as he knew the night i'd had & he'd to run errands anyhow & to that i replied, "YEAH!" - he called later & said, "lori, i dropped karleigh off at school & now i'm out & about getting all my things done, but we've got a problem" - [i thought...a problem? - yeah, i'm handling those great these days, so bring it on] - i asked, "what problem?" [praying it'd be an easy fix] - he said, well, karleigh's school just called & i'm on my way back to pick her up" - i couldn't imagine why as she's pretty much over her sickness that we've all been dealing with, so i wasn't thinking that'd be the problem & then he told me what it was..... "TODAY'S THURSDAY & SHE DOESN'T GO ON THURSDAYS!!"

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ooops, sorry karleigh, i thought today was wednesday - man, i've gotta get this stuff straight or i'll be heading to a padded cell before long!

- Dustin's change of address -

i posted here the other day, asking people to please write to dustin for encouragement - i wanted to share that they did move him to another cell, so make note of the new address change - he's still at the same facility, but in cell 408 instead of 404 - thanks!

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Dustin Wayne Shepler #55798 D-block 408

c/o Hamilton County Jail

18102 Cumberland Road

Noblesville, IN 46060

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- Ahniér doing what she does best...SMILING! -

here's some recent pics i've taken, that are in my opinion...absolutely ADORABLE!! - enjoy!

[she'll be 5 months old this sunday the 8th...can you believe it!!]

- Happy Gotcha Day, Madisyn!! -

february 4, 2008 january 31, 2009gosh, i can't believe it's been 1 year today, since madisyn arrived home - her adoption took 10 months/19 days from the day her dossier arrived in haiti, until the day she left that country - here's a couple pictures of her - the first is the day she arrived here & the other was taken last weekend - she fits into our family perfectly as she's got 'sass', that's for sure - she's got a quick comeback for any 'slam' you might throw her & loves to joke around - she's big on jumping out to scare you when you're walking through a dark room, but takes it well, if you do the same to her - she's always teasing with me, but i've a hard time with that, as i'm not a joking person for the most part [hehe] - she's a great sister to have around & i'm able to see her about every other day [yeah] - anyhow, welcome home madisyn & hope you have a great 'gotcha day'!!

- I miss my best friend -

yes, there ya have it - i miss my best friend sooooo much! - with all that's going on around here with dustin [well, life in general], i've not been the friend that i should've been - i know her well enough to know that she's not offended or anything like that, but i just want her to know she's missed...A LOT - i miss the long chats we have on the phone - i miss the, "you'll never in a million years guess what my son did today" stories [thanks noah, you make my life fun!] - i miss the 'pep talks' she's given to me so many times in the past as they help so much - for now, i'll have to share with the world that i miss my best friend angela, so would some of you run over to her blog & let her know!! - you can find her HERE! - love ya ang & thanks for being my friend

- Listen to these girls sing!

- Phylis & 'ipod girl' -

here's the walmart scene today...

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i went alone to purchase groceries today & there were no less than 7000 people there & i'll bet 5000 of them brought screaming kids with them - [keep in mind i'd a migraine...yep, fun time for me!]

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i was motoring along & just as i turned to walk up the cereal isle, i stopped to grab a bag of cereal - there was a lady [phylis] in front of me with her teen daughter that had earbuds in listening to her ipod [aka 'ipod girl'] - as i was stopped, they also stopped & phylis must have forgotten something as she came all the way back, behind me...leaving ipod girl & the cart in front of me - i was in noooooooo hurry at all [keep in mind i was 'alone', thus...noooooooo hurry]

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i'd thought about passing ipod girl on the left, but a family was coming from that direction & being i was in no hurry, i thought i'd wait - it was at this time, ipod girl saw me & grabbed her cart & drug it over in to the other side of the isle, so i could pass easier - i thanked her, but was thinking, "girl, you didn't need to do that as i'm in noooooooo hurry" - she smiled & i went on, but then i hear someone screaming [yes, SCREAMING], "what the 'F' do you think you're doing lady??" - i turned around & phylis was talking to me!! - i said, "EXCUSE ME?" [with a jerkin' of my head...& yes ang, you'd have been proud!] - so she repeated it again, just as loud [thanks phylis!] - silence fell in the cereal isle & all eyes were on us

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she said, "YOU MADE MY DAUGHTER DRAG OUR FULL CART ALL THE WAY OVER HERE [pointing where the cart sat] & YOU'D PLENTY OF ROOM TO GO AROUND ON THIS SIDE!!" - i waited until after she was completely done, so i could be assured i'd be heard *wink*

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"well, for your information ma'am... your daughter was being very polite in even thinking of moving YOUR cart out of the way of where YOU left it - she saw that YOUR cart was blocking everyone else from getting through & she was being very helpful & moving YOUR cart & to that i say, 'thank you' [as i'm looking at ipod girl]

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furthermore, i didn't ASK her to move anything for me as i'm in NOOOOOOOO hurry & was doing just fine waiting on YOU to move YOUR OWN cart from in the middle of the isle - i could've gone around YOUR cart where YOU left it, but there were other people coming & i didn't want to get in their way since i was in NOOOOOOOO hurry, i was just standing there - it was at that time your daughter saw me & tried to help

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she didn't say anything, but instead got her cart & stormed off - grrr, i was so angry with her behavior & was thanking god i didn't have any of my little ones with me to hear her language - UGH...some people!