Valodymyr Aleksander, who was adopted a year ago from Romania, continues to make strides; we couldn't be happier.  While he may never walk or talk, he is learning to eat without the feeding tube!  Doctors removed that last month and he is eating like a little horse: he can't get enough!  This has been a huge answer to prayer!  (We still have to be careful though; we don't want him choking and/or ending back in the hospital again.  We are taking every possible precaution to ensure that this doesn't happen.)

Valodymyr is learning to recognize letters and numbers; doctors are optimistic that he may learn how to read!  This is another huge answer to prayer, as our pediatric neurologist is saying that Val's brain isn't nearly as damaged as first thought!  He will be able to learn!!

Isn't that wonderful??  We couldn't be happier than we are at this moment!

Kenzie and Rhea, our daughters (ages 9 and 11) are busy with school: both have made the cheerleading squad at their schools and have already started on the first homework assignments of the year.  They just started school last week; they are in grades four (Kenzie) and sixth (Rhea).

Our youngest child, Colin Ray (almost three), is all boy: he is active from the time the sun comes up until it sinks in the west in the evening.  He is a burst of kinetic energy; he wears me out at times!  I sometimes wish I had half of his energy level!  LOL  Doesn't help that I am anemic: I have to take Vitamin B-12 and iron pills to keep up with him.  Colin is a very smart, gregarious, and adventurous little boy; nothingi stops him!  

I have some big news: no, we're not adopting, but I AM expecting.  I am with child!  I am about two and a half months along!  It is too soon to tell what I am having, but my baby will be due April 2012!  So there will be another Johnson addition to our family!  I didn't expect this to happen, but it did!  Kenzie, Val, Colin, and Rhea will have a new brother or sister this time next year!!

There will soon be five children in our family!!

In addition to that, we have an American Curl cat we adopted from the shelter.  Her name is Bluebell.  She has big, vivid-blue eyes and funny looking ears that curl back; it is the strangest looking cat we have ever seen!  She has medium long fur; she is brown, black, and white (white on her chest, face, and all four paws).  Bluebell is really cute!  We just adore her, but I hvae to keep reminding Colin to "be nice to the kitty".

On Monday (one week from today, in fact) it will be Labor Day.  We plan on going to my sister Karla's place for a last summer family get together/picnic.  Karla is my baby sister; she and her husband, Ronald, have three kids, a boy named Keenan, and two younger daughters named Keeli and Karlee.  I have always been very close to Karla; I just love her to pieces!

That day the girls (and Val) will be off from school, as it is a holiday, so I am sure the kids will be looking forward to picnic food and playing with their cousins again!  (We last saw Karla and Ronald and the children on the Fourth of July, when we went to their house to see the fireworks; they live close to where they shot them off, so they had a good, unrestricted view of the fireworks.)

Well, it's time to feed the children their supper, so I'd best go.  They are all pretty hungry from playing outside.  It also has clouded up; it looks like we may get some rain.  I will write in here again soon; sorry it's been so long!  Until later, take care and God bless! Pray that Val continues to do well, and pray that my pregnancy goes without incident!  I would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks in advance!

~Emmalene.  :)