The Year in Review: 2013

Jumping from a family of 4 to a family of 7 in a mere fifteen months is insane.

I question the sanity of any who attempt it.

Rosenvall 2013 Year in Review

(Hopefully pictures if I find the camera cable, which has walked away.)

Andrew has been working at Wencor, LLC. as a Quality Inspector. His company was impressed with his work and quickly promoted him to a full time Quality Engineer. The work he completes on aircraft is both fascinating and enjoyable. In his spare time he enjoys playing Star Craft and reading.

Amy is discovering her new niche as a stay at home mom. Her days are filled with taking kids to and from school, making lunches, providing snacks, changing diapers, teaching reading/letters/numbers/hygiene, and overall trying not to have her house in constant disaster mode. On Wednesdays she helps coach Science Olympiad after school and in the evening attends Iaido (Japanese Samurai Class--basically she plays with swords.)

Sarah (6) loves school especially reading, and writing. Math is not her favorite but she works hard at it. She constantly reminds us that she fully intends to be a nurse and adores all things medical. Going to the doctor in her opinion is a treat, and if she can watch the nurses giving a shot it's almost like Christmas for her. She enjoys playing with My Little Ponies.

Michael (5) likes his preschool. He graduated from Speech at the local elementary school but still needs elocution lessons. To help with his speech the therapist suggested that he take trumpet lessons- apparently it helps with tongue movement. Though he's not quite ready for lessons yet (needs to read) he can properly buzz on his trumpet mouthpiece. Rusty & Rosy (computer program) has greatly helped him with recognizing letters

James (1 almost 2) is still 90% percentile in height and weight. He is the largest child in nursery. He will attempt to repeat back any word you say. He likes reading books, calls all cars choochoo's, adores balloons (baloo!), and loves outside.

Peter (6 months) has acid reflux and prefers to not roll over if he can avoid it. He does love to talk and baubles, smiles and coos constantly unless it's time to eat or sleep.

Daniel (6 months) loves to roll over, has recently started scooting forward and uses his mobility to grasp everything so he can taste it. He prefers to grunt when he 'talks'.  His adoption should be finalized in February/March.

Pictures

Bring Him Home

Surprises happen often but miracles happen everyday.

Little Peter is very sweet. He is starting to sleep for longer stretches at night- most of the time. :)

Peter's 'twin' brother was born on June 17, 2013 at 6:52 a.m. weighing 6 lbs 14 oz and 18 inches long. He has dark hair and looks like Michael. He is also going through drug withdrawals. His birth mom has declared to court that she doesn't want reunification services.

He will be Sarah & Michael's last biological half sibling and we have been asked to adopt him.

It is difficult to think of our many dear friends who have no children when Andrew & I have been blessed with 4--almost 5.  After the years of dealing and struggling with infertility we still remember the heartache and pain that we went though.

We feel guilty & blessed & nervous. Guilty for adopting again when others have none--but I cannot in my heart willingly separate my kids from their sibling. Blessed that we have the chance. Nervous to care for twins.

We still have things that need to be finished in order to adopt him, books to read, home improvements and nothing is certain yet.

For now, I call him Oliver. But that may not be his final name.

*Sarah* Michael*James*Peter*Oliver*

Darling Little Ones

In 2011, my daughter Sarah-Ruby came to me one evening and said, "Mommy, get ready you are going to have a little brother that looks like Daddy and a sister that looks like me." I've shared this before-but I left out the last part, because of uncertainty.

I called our birth mom's family (from whom we adopted Sarah and Michael) and they didn't know where Birth Mom (BM) was. Two weeks later I found out I was pregnant. 4 months later the birth family called back, BM was in prison and pregnant.

BM invited us to visit her in prison and we did with the kids. I didn't share with her that I was expecting because it didn't seem right.

Sarah-Ruby remained adamant that she was getting a sister. BM was expecting a girl. I was expecting James.

We discovered that BM choose another family to adopt the little girl and in March 2012--Caitlin was placed into a loving couples arms whom we are not allowed to contact. We don't even truly know her birthday. Also, I have never seen a picture of Caitlin, but I know without a doubt that she looks like my daughter. And Sarah-Ruby still insists that her sister should be in our home.

I have heard people say, "If the Lord wishes it, then it will happen." But I disagree with this statement. The Lord allows people their agency and allows them to choose what they will do with their lives. He told Sarah-Ruby about her sister and told Andrew and I to get ready which we did. But the Lord did not interfere with BM's agency when she choose another couple.

I hope that someday, we will be able to meet this couple, so that my little Sarie will have a chance to meet her sister.

I am expecting and due in June-another boy! We received a text tonight that BM is pregnant too, due the same week (or maybe the week before) that I am.

Merry Christmas, Review of 2012

Merry Christmas to you!

Changes this year:

James joined the family  on February 27th a full month early. He is a big boy (99% percentile for height) and has mastered sitting up, crawling and holding his own bottle. He loves to sit at the table and laughs at his siblings.

Michael is in Preschool and speech therapy class. He loves trains and My Little Pony. His teacher told me to get him different whistles/horns to help his speech which he loves to play.

Sarah is lovely Kindergarten and can read most simple books. She loves to write letters and especially grocery lists for when she goes shopping with me. She is a girly-girly and loves to do her hair, paint her nails and wear dresses.

Andrew is enjoying work at Wencor, where he was recently promoted to a full engineer. He was working in the inspection department previously. He also has been wonderful at helping me around the house.

Amy. I am getting used to being at home. It's been a rough transition from working but I'm taking things one day at a time. I still volunteer to OHMS on Thursdays for Science Olympiad and have started tutoring some local teenagers with Science Fair. In other news---shocker-- I'm pregnant again. Due June 19th 2013 o.O Yikes!

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo has greatly changed since I was younger. The newest edition is called Rocky Shores and hosts a variety of eagles, otters, seals, sea lions, polar bears and other bears.

We bought a year pass which also allows 2 visitors in free. So if you're in the area and want to go to the Zoo, call me, I'll get 2 people in free! :)

Polar Bear Awesomeness.

My favorite animal - Snow Leopard.

A change of Pace

I really wish I owned a camera. Suggestions on good cameras to purchase? Hopefully not too expensive, but easy to use and transfer to a computer?

I never thought that I would teach. My plan was to go to college, earn a degree and be a stay at home mom. But, when I graduated without children that plan had to be tweaked, and then modified so on so on...

When my friend Kassi told me that she could see me teaching, I thought that idea was crazy. (sorry Kassi-you were right). Or when Sharon told me that I would never be away from teaching for long-again, she was right too. I didn't think that I actually had it in my personality.

On to what's happening this week...

Well, after landing myself in ER for respiratory problems, luckily no blood clots. It seems that I may have developed asthma. Dr. Lamoreaux checked my stitches, looks like they are healing well. They will be treating any subsequent pregnancies I may have as high risk-because I delivered pre term. Dr said if I ever wanted to be checked (while pregnant) that they will see me immediately.

I am cleared to go back to work April 25th. My students are extremely excited. I visited my classroom today-it is a complete wreck! Things are scattered everywhere, epp! But, that usually happens right before a Science Olympiad competition-so I'm not too worried. My long term sub apparently teaches just like I do. She is a theatre major with a minor in Science.

My kiddos will be watched by my friend Karena while I finish out the school year.

I've been receiving comments from parents such as: "My student will be horribly disappointed if you don't return next year." "My child is taking your class-so you better be teaching." "I'm signing Alex up for Science Olympiad-be here to teach it." (These are actual comments.)

Yikes. I am quitting.

Andrew found a job. He is working at Wencor Aerospace Engineering and so far is loving the work. He is a quality inspector engineer.

I've worked the last three years. The years that I didn't teach-when August hit and the schools started to get busy I cried and sobbed that I wasn't there. I'm planning on buying myself a box of freshly sharpened pencils in August. I received my level 2 license and intend to keep it up to date/renewed. I also will probably return to teaching when my youngest is in school. (Never thought I'd say that!)

I am going to be staying home with the kids. So far it's been fun and left me with the desire to home school my children. I haven't decided if I will yet, I'll see how the summer goes.

Miracles

I believe in miracles. Let me explain why?

Andrew and I were sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Temple on a bright sunny day, July 29, 2005. I couldn't have been happier seeing my fiancé bouncing down the stairs to greet me when I arrived at the temple. I waited excited and nervous for my turn to be sealed to my eternal companion for time and eternity. We were sealed, and I had to say yes twice, because the first time I was too quiet for anyone to hear besides Andrew. We stepped out of the doors of the temple a new fresh couple, happy and blissful with no clue as to what awaited our futures. We had been sealed maybe an hour when in a brief very quiet moment sitting with my husband the spirit very distinctly spoke into my ear and said,"you will adopt your children." At first I turned to my spouse and asked him if he said something. "No," he replied and stared at me quizzically. Again the prompting came, quiet but clear as if a voice speaking. "you will adopt." Andrew and I went about the day and the hectic night of receptions and greeting friends and family. Finally that night alone with my spouse I related to him what I had experienced. His response, "I heard the same thing."

We had no idea that anything was wrong, no idea prior to marriage that we would struggle having children. I quickly learned that fertility specialists will not see you until you have tried to have children for at least a year. 1 year after being married and I was at the doctor. They tested everything, I recorded everything. They sent for more tests, they told me to just calm down and quit. Eventually we went to a specialist-whom it took six months to even have an initial appointment. He told us, "Right now, under the current circumstances you cannot have children." I asked, "Do we have any chance at all, 5%? Anything?" His response, "No. I suggest that you adopt your children."

I was heartbroken. In my mind I decided that the doctor had to be wrong. I told most people that the doctor just gave us a 2% chance because saying 0% was too difficult for me to accept. Plus, I felt very strongly that I had at least one child to deliver-a son I was to name James. But the pain of 2.5 years was short lived. We had that same week we went the fertility specalist been offered the adoption of a little girl- we were told about this girl through my cousin Julie, whom we had told nothing about us seeing doctors. In fact, we had told no one about us going to doctors, not even my mother, who I would tell first.

We prayed about the little girl, and although nervous and terrified to adopt we did feel that we had a choice to adopt her or not. We decided to adopt her and Sarah-Ruby came into our home.

On the day she was adopted my husband and I were in California awaiting our flight back to Utah when my cellphone rang. Upon answering I was greeted with this question, "Mrs. Rosenvall, I understand that you are adopting a child. She has a half brother here in Utah, would you like to adopt him?" I answered yes, hung up the phone and informed Andrew that we were now the parents to 2 children. Michael would end up coming into our home 1 year later.

Due to circumstances surrounding Michael, he trusted Andrew at home better than I and so, I went to work and in the process supported Andrew as he finished his bachelors degree.

Our family was coming together, but we still felt the gap of missing children.

On July 18, 2011 Andrew and I with the kids were sitting at the table eating dinner. I noticed that Sarah was acting very sad. "Sarah darling, what's wrong?" I asked. "Mom, we forgot to pick up my brother and sister from the grocery store." I very gently explained that mom and dad needed to save up for adoption and that we would try to get a brother and sister as soon as we could.

She brought me her piggy bank. "Is this enough to buy my brother and sister?"

That night, I cried myself to sleep. July 19, 2012, Sarah woke up bouncing off the walls with excitement, "Get ready Mommy!" she shouted, "You are going to have a little brother that looks like daddy, and a little sister that looks like me!"

I found this statement very sweet and after excusing myself, I again cried over what she said.

I found out I was pregnant July, 26. I turned to Andrew and said, "Its a boy that looks like you, Sarah told us." and she was right.

I called our kiddos birth family to inquire if they knew where our kids birth mother was-they didn't know. One month later she was arrested and booked into prison-pregnant with a little girl.

I was due March 23. Birth mom was due April 4.

My little boy came 4 weeks early and I adore being able to cuddle and hold the little miracle doctors said I would never have. I also love hugging my two other older miracles who told me what was going to come.

The birth mother choose a different couple through LDS family services to adopt the little girl, my children's sister. I am happy for that other couple, I know how hard it is to go through infertility and being told you would never have a baby, I am happy for them. I also feel in a way that I was expecting twins, but my little girl didn't make it. I know that if the Lord wanted that baby girl with us then it would have happened. But for now I will hold my children close and mourn a little for my baby girl.

Andrew and I both know that there is one more baby we are supposed to adopt. When and where we find this missing little one only the Lord knows. Will I ever be able to deliver another? For now, I don't know-ask my daughter Sarah-Ruby or maybe my sons Michael or James.

Believe in miracles.