2026 Family Trip

Our 2026 family trip was a success. We flew into Denver and from there drove to Colorado Springs (Garden of the Gods and adjust to altitude), Taos (Taos Pueblo World Heritage Site, San Fransisco de Asis Mission Church, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge), Santa Fe (Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum), Bandelier National Monument, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and back to Denver for the flight home... over 1000 miles.

Craig and I checked off visiting our 40th state - New Mexico - and I have to say it's high up among my favorites.

We saw wildlife (elk, mule deer, rams, pronghorns, trout, and various birds), sunsets and sunrises, a complete rainbow across the sky and so many, many stars.

It's All In His Head

It’s official. Middle Kiddo has chronic migraines which means 15 or more headache days a month.

When you have a patient with communication challenges, it can be difficult to diagnose, so it took six months of close observation, data collection, and experimental treatment to reach this conclusion. AI was very helpful in interpreting information, predicting an onset range for the next migraine, and compiling a list of symptoms which for Middle Kiddo consistently includes the classic pain in the head, but also social withdrawal, SIB, agitation and irritability, resistance to typical/preferred activities, nausea, vomiting, changes in sleeping patterns, and decreased appetite.

Middle Kiddo’s quality of life has improved drastically since December when we began treating the suspected migraines and thus far, he has responded very well to OTC medication. However, now that the diagnosis is official, we are moving to trialing a preventative treatment to reduce the number of headache days per month. It may sound strange, but we’re full of hope about how figuring out this diagnosis and providing intervention will positively impact his future.

Going Out On A Limb

A year ago my mom told us to pick a gift for ourselves and we finally did so this spring. We bought a sour cherry tree and a European prune plum tree since these are two fruits that were staples in my childhood that I miss here. Both trees are self-pollinating and were finally delivered and planted today. Now I just need to channel my Opa to get these beauties to grow and produce for a long time.

MOJ Bulgaria Referrals IAC Sessions 664 to 669

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 664 held on March 8, 2026:

1) French dossier from February 2020 referred a female child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

2) US dossier from November 2021 referred a male child aged 1 year and 4 months with features in health status and a family history

3) French dossier from April 2022 referred a brother and sister aged 8 years and 2 months & 7 years and 1 month

4) Spanish dossier from May 2024 referred a brother and sister aged  9 years and 5 months & 6 years and 9 months with a family history

5) Canadian dossier from November 2025 referred a female child aged 10 years and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

6) US dossier from December 2025 referred a male child aged 1 year and 1 month with features in health status

7) US dossier from February 2026 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 665 held on March 26, 2026:

1) Canadian dossier from August 2024 referred a male child aged 2 years and 1 month with features in health and development status and a family history

2) US dossier from November 2024 referred an identified waiting child

3) US dossier from February 2025 referred a female child aged 6 years and 1 month with features in health and development status

4) Spanish dossier from October 2025 referred a male child aged 6 years and 7 months with features in health and development status

5) US dossier from February 2026 referred an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from March 2026 referred an identified waiting child

7) US dossier from March 2026 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 666 held on April 1, 2026:

1) Canadian dossier from March 2024 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health and development status

2) Italian dossier from July 2025 referred a male child aged 11 years and 3 months

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 667 held on April 6, 2026:

1) Spanish dossier from July 2015 referred a female child aged 3 years and 11 month with features in health and development status

2) Spanish dossier from March 2022 referred a male child aged 5 years and 7 months with features in health status

3) Canadian dossier from October 2024 referred a male child aged 3 years and 3 months with features in health and development status

4) US dossier from March 2025 referred a male child aged 5 years and 1 month with features in health and development status

5) Italian dossier from January 2026 referred a male child aged 9 years and 6 months with features in health and development status

6) US/Italian dossier from March 2026 referred two sisters and a brother aged 11 years and 7 months & 5 years and 8 months & 4 years and 5 months

7) Italian dossier from March 2026 referred a female child aged 13 years and 8 months

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 668 held on April 17, 2026:

1) Spanish dossier from February 2022 referred a female child aged 2 years and 1 month with features in health status and a family history

2) Italian dossier from April 2022 referred a brother and sister aged 10 years and 10 months and 8 years and 3 months

3) US dossier from March 2024 referred brothers aged 9 years and 6 months & 8 years and 2 months with features in development and a family history

4) Italian dossier from October 2024 referred a brother and two sisters aged 8 years and 4 months & 6 years and 8 months & 7 years and 4 months with features in health and development status

5) Italian dossier from February 2026 referred sisters aged 9 years and 6 months & 10 years and 6 months with features in development and a family history

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 669 held on April 27, 2026:

1) Greek dossier from January 2018 referred a make child aged 2 years ad 6 months with a family history

2) Italian dossier from June 2022 referred brothers aged 6 years and 10 years

3) Italian dossier from February 2023 referred a female child aged 12 years with features in development

4) French dossier from September 2023 referred a male child aged 1 year and 8 months with a family history

5) US dossier from July 2024 referred an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from July 2024 referred a female child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

7) US dossier from May 2025 referred a male child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health and development and a family history

8) US dossier from September 2025 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health and development

Arts and Crafts

We restocked Little One's arts and crafts area just in time for the first day of summer break and she's already spent hours flexing her imagination with the new supplies. Little One can get deeply immersed in her creative pursuits and we're so happy that she finds enjoyment and relaxation this way.

From ELL To ACT

It feels fitting that it's National Library Week and I am crying over here because our Big Girl just got her ACT scores back. She scored a 31 on the reading section.

This is the same student that was told at the end of second grade not to expect to pass the Third Grade Reading Guarantee the following year, which motivated us to remove her from public school and begin home schooling. In third grade, we went back to the basics. We started with picture books and worked our way to short chapter books. I read to Big Girl for hours that year and tried to create a fun and language-rich environment.

Alongside me, many in-home teachers also poured into her over the years and I want to thank those teachers. You’ve made such a difference.

Sometimes you have to take the road less traveled and it’s a harder path that works out regardless. Test scores are never the measure of a person, but I do want to give Big Girl credit for her perseverance and hard work from a 6 yo English Language Learner to a 96th percentile reader.

The Hard Stuff Of Adoption

I'll try to keep this post as general as possible for privacy, but I would be amiss not to chronicle some tough adoption stuff that is happening as all three of our children are rapidly approaching adulthood and starting new phases of their lives that can change perspectives and impact relationships.

One of our children is now directly in touch with their family of origin.  We have had contact with the family for many years and even met in person, but until recently I have served as a conduit, helping with some of the lost in translation situations and mitigating some cultural and personality differences.  However, a recent interest in a closer relationship with a slightly younger full biological sibling brought about the direct contact which now also includes first mom and dad.

With that, our child has been asking some hard questions, requiring honesty, transparency and vulnerability from the family of origin which appears to exceed the family's current capacity to share and engage.  Confusion and distrust are heightened by the fact that information from our child's original documents does not align with the first parents' stated narrative.  Both our child and their sibling are now struggling for answers that may never come or never be enough.

As this process unfolds, I stand by to offer support when it's requested.  I've been able to help with bouncing around thoughts and feelings, with reviewing documents, and with exploring potential scenarios based on what we do know and what might happen next.  I maintain respect and compassion for the family of origin without diminishing our child's complicated, confounding views and evolving emotions as they sort out their own early (hi)story.

And even though this is a difficult time of growth for our child, I know we're lucky to have as much information as we do and to have access to a first family that is interested in a relationship the specifics of which remain yet to be developed.