Memphis, TN

Here I am, playing catch-up again.

September 24-26 saw us flying to Memphis, TN to visit with Kassy's birth family. It was a lot of fun to watch her birthmom, Latrice, see her in person for the first time in 9 months. Three of her five brothers, D'Tarius, Antavius, and Marquez, and her sister, Apria, were able to meet her for the first time. Each one held her and kissed her-it was evident that their mom had told them about Kassy. The first question one of the boys asked me was, "Are you going to let us see our baby sister?" Kassy also got to meet one of her cousins, Darnisha.

We arrived at the hotel on Friday night and Saturday morning took a drive past Latrice's house. It's culture shock when we visit with Latrice-her life has been and currently is so different from ours! She moved this past May from a very unsafe neighborhood to a better one. Two taxi vans picked Allen and me up at our hotel and we went  to get Latrice and kids. Jim and Sylvia stayed at the hotel with David and Kassy. Latrice and family came back with us to the hotel. For the past couple of months, Kassy would cry when someone she didn't know well tried to hold her or feed her. She was wonderful with her birthfamily though--she never cried even though they all held, hugged, and kissed her--almost like she knew them even though she hadn't spent time with Latrice since she was born and had never met her siblings. The older kids jumped right into the pool. Allen got into the pool with David and the only thing he would do was cry. I guess the water must have been too cold for David--he loved being in the hot tub!  It was a little hard to visit in the pool area because the happy shouts of the kids really echoed, but it was fun to watch them enjoy themselves.



Kassy and her birthmom, Latrice

Kassy, her birthmom Latrice, and her brother Marquez (one day older than David)

We ate pizza with Latrice and kids and then they took a taxi home again. Marquez had been sick, so Latrice ended up taking him to the emergency room. He had double ear infection and wasn't breathing very well. He's doing better now, but managed to share his cold with Latrice. We pray that they feel better soon and that the other kids stay healthy!

We planned to visit with Jim's brother and his wife in Morristown, TN but due to bad weather in that area we decided to head for home. Always seems like there's something on the burner at home that needs attention. We stopped in Kirksville, MO on the way home to refuel and stretch our legs-and arms, for Kassy.

Kassy began doing "So Big!" on her own on September 23rd. Anytime she wants my attention, she puts her hands over her head. That catches my attention just as fast as crying! When we call her "Pretty Girl" she tips her head to the side in a kind of flirty way--very cute!