Pine Cove Base Camp 2011

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:24:26 -0500

This was Daniel’s second year at Base Camp and Caroline’s first. Caroline was SO excited about Camp all summer, but when it came right down to it she was pretty nervous about all the commotion. She ended up making through most drop off’s with no tears, and ended up having a blast. Daniel LOVED all the activity and being around his buddies. He wants to try overnight camp next summer...we’ll see!

Sprinklers and Kool Aid

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:52:53 -0500

On a hot summer day, what could be better?

Daniel’s Last Day of School

Fri, 27 May 2011 14:14:23 -0500

Daniel had such a fun 2nd grade year. His sweet teacher, Mrs. Thongsavanh, was super patient with him as he learned to keep up with the responsibilities of 2nd grade. He had several of his close buddies in his class which was really special...and fun! My boy is growing up...way too quickly.

First day of 2nd Grade Last Day of 2nd Grade

Caroline’s End of School Party

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:45:39 -0500

What a sweet year Caroline had as an Explorer (Kindergarten). She enjoyed lots of fun, crafts, centers, friendships, and maybe most of all...her teacher, Mrs. Mountjoy. What a blessing and support Mrs. Mountjoy has been to our family over the years. Caroline has really “grown up” this year, and I can’t even believe my second born is now a 1st grader! Where has the time gone?

First Day of School Last Day of School

Joshua’s 4th Birthday

Sun, 15 May 2011 23:57:19 -0500

What a sweet day we had celebrating Joshua’s 4th Birthday! It’s hard to believe he’s only been home 6 months. What a blessing and complete joy he is! Thank you Lord for the sweet privilege of being this little boy’s mommy!

Our China Trip in 4 min - VIDEO!!!

Thu, 12 May 2011 09:26:34 -0500

So hard to believe we are coming up on 6 months home with Joshua! The time has flown by! He is doing AMAZING, and the transition has been so smooth. As we approach this milestone, David sat down to reflect on our China trip and put together an amazing little video.

Check it out...

Spring Fling

Fri, 6 May 2011 15:24:25 -0500

Every year the kids are surprised with a fun Spring Fling Event at school. The date is a complete surprise to the kids, so they leave for school thinking it’s a normal ol day and their day is interrupted by parents making all kinds of racket! From there the kids head over to a local park and enjoy “field day” type games. It’s always a lot of fun.

Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:45:28 -0500

Okay, so it wasn’t cookies, and it wasn’t a cookie jar...but the evidence is quite clear!!!! There is only one person in our family committed to that little pink paci!

Joshua's Palate Surgery

Fri, 4 Mar 2011 12:17:14 -0600

What a trooper! Joshua’s palate surgery went well, and he responded to everything so much better than I expected!

The day before surgery we spent some time walking the halls, playing in the hospital playroom, watching movies, looking at books in the library, playing video games, and just hanging out. And while I thought it was crazy to have a 3 year old required to spend the entire day in the hospital the day BEFORE surgery I think that it really did him some good. It made him comfortable with his surroundings and all the medical stuff in the rooms without being threatened by it all. So, while it was uneventful and a little boring, I think it was helpful...and it gave me the opportunity to connect with my friend (and former coach) Kristi, who now lives in the Houston area! It was such a blessing to get to spend the evening with her!

The morning of surgery Josh was a bit grumpy. The boy does not like to be woken up! But it wasn’t long before they came in with the silly juice and it did the trick. Poor boy kept trying to play a game on my phone, but it was just not working out for him! When we went back into the holding room the nurse asked him if he was ready to go and he said NO! I was a little shocked that he had the wherewithal to even know what was going on. But a few minutes later they were able to distract him and he willingly went to the nurse who carried him back to the OR. I must say the nurses were AMAZING! When surgery was finally done and they paged me he was not fully awake. They said that normally they would have gotten him cleaned up a little better and waited for him to wake up more before calling him back, but that they knew I had been through this before and they knew I was anxious to see him. They said he had been a stinker coming out of anastasia, and that they were going to be moving us to a room right across from the nurses station (which was really just two rooms over from where we were originally!) So I hurried back to get all of our stuff packed up and moved while they prepared to roll him to the room. Once he was in the room, and a little more awake, he got very agitated. He was still hooked up to everything but he wanted out and he wanted in his mama’s arms. I’m so thankful that I took one last trip to the bathroom before they brought him in because the boy would not leave my arms for the rest of the night! He woke up here and there, was restless and groggy, but mostly he slept. Around 3 the nurses realized that I had not made it out of the room for lunch so they brought me a sandwich, some yogurt and chips from the nurses station. I was so thankful! The biggest obstacle was getting regular Tylenol prescribed for him because he would have NOTHING to do with the oral pain meds originally prescribed...and I mean nothing! The boy would start freaking out if you tried to get the medicine cup anywhere near him! A doctor had to call it in, but ours had already left for the evening and because the other pain meds were already in the system it would not clear him for the Tylenol. After a few hours they got it worked out and he joyfully downed the Tylenol. What a difference that made!

The next morning I had the opportunity to connect with a old high school friend of mine that I had not seen in years! It was a real treat to hang out with Kristin for a few hours! By that time we were discharged with a strict soft food diet order. Poor Josh was asking for chicken nuggets not an hour into the ride home! He was not impressed by the mashed potatoes I handed him instead! :)

Enjoy the pics!

TWU Tradition...and a walk down memory lane

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:34:37 -0600

Legacy. Tradition. Pride. Friendship. Family. When I think back about my time spent at Texas Woman’s University, particularly my time spent on the gymnastics team at TWU, I think about these things. The legacy of TWU gymnastics is built upon many years of tradition and pride. The girls I competed with are some of my dearest friends...we are family. Many of them I do not see often, if at all anymore. We rarely talk on the phone, although many of us do keep up on facebook. But get us back in a room together and it’s like no time has passed at all.

I had an opportunity to get away and spend some time with these dear women this past weekend, and let me tell you...it was so refreshing! ...And a bit sad and surreal, as we witnessed the end of an era. Our coach, Frank Kuklac is retiring at the end of this season. He started the program 33 years ago has poured his heart and soul into making it what it is today...a USAG Powerhouse, with 9 USAG Collegiate National Championship Titles, two conference championships, numerous all american titles, and a slew of other accolades. Coach Kudlac did not just teach his team about gymnastics, he taught us principles for life. Hard work, perseverance, unity, belief in a system - in your teammates - and in yourself, the pursuit of excellence, poise, integrity...

I am so thankful that in 1995 Coach Kudlac saw potential in me, an inconsistent and unexperienced barely level 10 gymnast, and offered me a spot on the team. I am so so thankful. At that point I had only been competing for 3 years. Most of my experience had been in cheerleading and tumbling with a year or so taking gymnastics when I was little. I had always loved it. It really was what I was passionate about. I wanted to be Mary Lou. I still remember turning cartwheels down the hallway of a hotel after watching the olympics and telling my mom THAT is what I want to do!!! But with the cost of classes, our moving to a small town, and my love for school sports, gymnastics was not a realistic option. I spent 7th-9th grade fully immersed in as many school sports as I could possibly be involved in. Volleyball, basketball, track, cross-country, one season of softball, cheerleading...I loved every minute of it. But my freshmen year, while taking a tumbling class, my heart was drawn back into my love for all-around gymnastics. I was willing to give up everything else and pursue gymnastics full time. When I told my school coaches that I would not be returning to the team my sophomore year they told me I was crazy....”to be good at gymnastics you have to start when you’re little bitty” they would say. “What do you plan to do with gymnastics? And why would you give up a chance at a college scholarship running track for this?” I couldn’t explain it. They were right. It was crazy. I had loved my time playing those sports, but gymnastics was IN me and always had been. I just had to take the chance. I just had to.

Looking back now, I realize just how crazy it was. I had no guarantees I’d be any good, and even if I was decent, there were no guarantees I’d get into college doing gymnastics. I was 15 and couldn’t do a kip on bars...in-fact I scratched bars nearly my entire first season because I could’t do the skills necessary in the routine...and once I could do enough of them to compete it was...let’s just say....entertaining! Beam was another tough one. I was so inconsistent (at least that’s the way it felt!). Because I was learning skills so quickly to “catch up” with my age group I didn’t have the time to perfect them like you need to do to be a solid beam worker. But I had floor and vault, and that was enough to keep me going. I was a 16 year old level 6 gymnasts competing with a bunch of 8 and 9 year olds. I meddled a lot that year, simply because there were not many girls competing in my age group! My teammates in high school were great too. There were two other girls that were just a year or two younger than me, and then a slew of little girls that I loved! They were all so supportive and encouraging. My coaches Mary Jane Ousley and Kristi Walters were great too. They kept pushing me ahead towards my goal, expecting great things from me, but helped me be realistic when my experience level didn’t measure up to my expectations. They really laid a quick, solid foundation for my collegiate years.

Okay, I’m not sure how I ended up hijacking this post with my walk down memory lane, but let me just say, that I am so thankful for my years in gymnastics. The friendships, the memories, the life lessons, the character building...it’s all priceless! So THANK YOU to all of you out there who were a part of my gymnastics journey. What amazing memories I have of that time in my life! And thank you Lord for giving me the talent, the desire and passion, and the courage to take the risk!

And now, here are a few shots from my weekend with the girls! And just for grins...a video of a video of my vault and floor routine from Nationals my senior year! (still makes my heart race and my palms sweaty to watch)

Surgery Date is Set

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:10:20 -0600

Assuming Joshua stays healthy, he will be having his palate surgery Thursday March 3rd. Just 9 days from today. I must admit when we received the letter and I saw the date, I did get a bit nervous. I mean, I knew this day was coming. This is a good thing. But still, something about seeing it in writing...the reality...made my stomach turn. There are so many unknowns with how Joshua will respond. He’s so much older than Abigail was for her surgery, so I know his understanding and fears about what all is going on will be completely different than hers.

If all goes as planned we will head out early, early on the 2nd and arrive at Shriners for our 10 a.m. checkin time. THey will make sure he’s healthy and then send us on to our room. We will spend the rest of the day hanging out in the hospital. (Ugh...does not sound fun to me at all...but then again I am a bit hospital adverse!) He will be the first one in for surgery on the 3rd, so it will be another early morning. They said he will be completely loopy before being taken back and nothing will be attached to him until he is in the OR. This should help a lot!

Please start praying for us. He has had a very tiny runny nose. Pray that that clears. Pray for my ability to comfort him and for his ability to accept comfort from me. This has not been an issue to date, but the stress could cause him to withdraw. David will be staying home with the other kids. Pray for their hearts as I know they will be a little anxious about their bother and mommy being gone for three days. My grandmother will be making the trip with us! Pray for her safety as well and for great opportunities to connect with her. I’m so thankful for her heart to be a part of our lives!

I’ll keep you posted in the days to come!

What do you do when.....

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:34:50 -0600

...you’re given a SURPRISE “DAY OFF”!?!

This morning was normal. David got up early, got the kids up for school, and then came and woke me up. I went and made lunches and started pouring cereal. He took them to school and then...that’s when the day changed. When he returned from dropping D and C off at school, he said “I know what you should do today!” I must admit my first thought was “Oh no...” Then the heavens opened and the angels started to sing as he said “pack up your backpack and get out of the house for the day...I’ll take care of the kids!” I can hear the heavens rejoicing even as I recount the moment! :) Thanks Honey! YOU. ARE. THE. BEST!!!

So what did I do! I quickly packed up my backpack with two books, my bible, my journal, two notebooks, my computer, and computer cord. Of course I knew I’d never get to all of it , but I wasn’t quite sure what I was in the mood for so I figured better to bring it all and get out quick before he changed his mind!!! :)

So, I’ve spent the day catching up on blogs and I got to enjoy a nice long lunch with a sweet friend!!! So Refreshing!

I think I’ve already posted up 5 or 6 blogs. So sorry for the overload, but that’s just my blogging reality these days. Of course they are all post dated so if you miss this blog you will never know they were all written on the same day! That’s just the way I roll. Anyway, just wanted to give a shout out to the most amazing husband in the whole world and let the whole blogging world know how much I love him!

There...now you know what I would do!

What’s for Dinner?

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:11:19 -0600

Yesterday I had the privilege of going grocery shopping and stocking up on some much needed supplies. An added bonus was that I got to do this alone, with no kids in tow. Now, I fully understand the value of taking a kid or two with me...all the teachable moments along the way, the rare one on one time with mom, etc., but it sure is nice to complete this task alone from time to time!

So I prepared my meal list, separated my shopping list between Sam’s Club and Walmart, and headed out for the 3 hour cruise...I mean 4 hour shopping adventure.

Here are the meals I’ll be making and hopefully we’ll all be eating and enjoying over the next 30 or so days. I don’t have a “meal” for everyday, as there are always opportunities to eat out, have left overs, etc.

- Pigs in a blanket with scrambled eggs or tomato soup
- Spaghetti and Meat Sauce (or meat balls)
- Orange Chicken with rice and broccoli
- Spicy Shredded Pork (this is a new one...hope it’s yummy!)
- Tacos (family favorite!)
- Red Beans and Rice
- Foil Wrapped Shrimp Linguini
- Chicken Parmesan
- Homemade Tomato Soup with grilled cheese
- Homemade Pizza (trying my hand at homemade dough this month too!)
- Fajitas
- Taco Soup (yummy and oh so easy!)
- Mini Meatball Sandwiches
- Hot Dogs and Mac and Cheese
- Shrimp Quesadillas
- Beef and Bean Burritos
- Breakfast Burritos
- Homemade Lasagna (new recipe for this one too)
- Pancakes and Bacon
- Biscuits with Jelly and Scrambled Eggs

What are you making for dinner tonight?...this week?...this month?

Buzz Lightyear...and a Princess Too!

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:27:18 -0600

I think I’ve mentioned before that my kids (I) love Buzz Light year! When Daniel was 3 he had a Buzz Lightyear room, was Buzz Lightyear for Halloween, had a Buzz Lightyear birthday party, Toy Story was/is our family’s favorite movie, you get the idea. We love Buzz Lightyear around here. So when I came across pictures of each one of the kids in our Buzz Lightyear costume I just had to laugh...and it was totally worth a random post! Of course I didn’t find one of Abigail wearing it. I know she has, but she’s more of a princess kind of girl!

See if you can correctly identify all the Buzz Lightyear’s below. If you do, you will win one night of babysitting our kids while watching Toy Story 1, 2, and 3 while David and I go out on a date! Sounds like a pretty good deal to me! :) Just kidding...take a stab at it and see if you can get them all correct!

Friends

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:47:43 -0600

More evidence that these two are TWO PEAS IN A POD! It’s really funny to watch the two of them together. And the latest is Lilly saying “Hey Josh, you hit Abigail...okay??? You hit her!” She knows good and well that she will get in big trouble for hitting so she puts him up to the task! We’ve come down just as hard on her encouraging others to do wrong as we would her doing wrong. It seems to be working...a little! :)

Snow Storm 2011

Sat, 5 Feb 2011 13:09:12 -0600

As predicted, the Snow Has Come...right on top of our two inches of ice. And not just a little snow, but 5 to 6 inches. This is an all out snow storm for Texas! After being cooped up for the past three days the kids were itching to get outside and explore the snow. They each got somewhat bundled up...I say somewhat because by this point several jackets were missing, and mittens and gloves were hard to come by. We managed to layer enough to keep us warm for a little bit. The kids...well the bigger four, really did enjoy their time in the snow. Lilly and I lasted long enough to take a few pictures and then we headed back in for another cup of cocoa! Here are the pictures from our day.

More Ice + No School = What to Do?

Thu, 3 Feb 2011 10:42:19 -0600

February 1st brought more ice, sleet and snow to the area, so by Nov. 3rd we were going on our 3rd day with No School and forecasts of MORE SNOW in the days to come. We’ve spent the days snuggled up, drinking hot chocolate and trying to get creative with this ice storm we were not expecting! All the kids have enjoyed some time outside. The big two have especially enjoyed the fact that our driveway is literally a ice skating rink. Daniel worked hard to try and break up some of the ice around our doorway so we didn’t slip stepping out of the house. He’s also enjoyed football with our neighbor - they said it was perfect weather for their own super bowl! Slippery, sliding football!

Caroline passed the time working on a class project. She was to decorate a long strip of cloth any way she wanted. The strips would then be woven together with other students strips to make a giant tapestry. After gluing on puff balls and emptying a few bottles of glitter paint she decided use of the sewing machine was in order! She LOVED trying out different stitches and once I got her going she was determined to do it all by herself. It was so fun to watch her use my grandmother’s old machine.

While I love the days with no schedule and no expectations to go out and about, I will be thankful when the skies clear and the grass dries out! I’m ready for summer!

Enjoying A Nice Afternoon!

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:31:06 -0600

With the warmer temperatures we enjoyed some family time out in the yard. So blessed to be their Mommy!

Hair Cuts and Doctors

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:50:38 -0600

I know...kind of a weird combination, but this week was a week of haircuts and doctors appointments for Joshua. As with the other kids we tackled the haircut at home. He did great and seemed very comfortable with the electric clippers. In fact, when I showed them to him he kind of nodded and pointed to his hair like “oh yea, of course, it’s time to cut my hair!” One thing I’ve noticed is that his hair grows very fast and I love the tight almost buzz cut on him. This summer we’ll probably even go a little shorter.

The next task for the week was his first visit to our pediatrician. He did great, seemed quite confident and recovered quickly from the shots. Caroline came along for moral support. She even packed a little bag for him that included stickers, colors, goldfish, and a few of his favorite small toys. She was so sweet and tender with him.

A couple of days later Caroline, Joshua and I headed down to Houston for Josh’s consultation at Shriners Hospital. We had a great experience with the staff (particularly the family life specialist!) and I left feeling very comfortable with continuing Joshua’s care there. The only down side was the long wait we had (due to some complications with patience ahead of us) that carried us over lunch. So by the time the doctor actually came in Josh was emotionally spent, hungry and tired. Not a good place to be when you can’t understand what’s about to go on and you’re are about to have your mouth wedged open (think dentist plastic thingies that pull your lips away from your teeth and gums and hold your mouth wide open) and poked at! Poor little guy. I felt so bad for him knowing that he was just tired and hungry. He was down right mad when the doctor got through with him. He just sat there and whimpered. Shortly after that we were in the car headed to find some lunch and he was asleep before we even got out of the parking garage! He was so wiped out! But all in all a very successful appointment and a very good experience for all of us.

Here are a few pics of the haircut before and after and of C and J with the fun toys they were given by the family life specialist. Did I already mention...she was amazing!!!

Chinese Yo-Yo

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:50:25 -0600

It’s clear Josh has played with one of these before! I love moments like this when I am given a small glimpse into his past. There are not many details provided, no conversations about how he learned to yo-yo, no remarks about how we’re “yo-yoing” ALL WRONG!, just a simple act of playing...with such knowledge, form and focus! Love it!

Special Time with These Two

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:00:18 -0600

It’s not often that the big two and I get to break away from the littles, but when we do I cherish the time. At age 6 and 8 we are able to have “real” conversations. I get a glimpse into their hearts...their dreams, their fears, and their joys. It’s such a different dynamic just hanging with the two of them. I loved just sitting back and listening to them talk. But as we sat at Starbucks enjoying our cup of hot chocolate, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that the last time it was just the two of them in the house they were 2 and 4 years old! So much has happened over the past 4 years. So much life change. So much transition. So much growth. So much challenge. So much joy. These two are awesome kids. They share a such sweet friendship with one another (filled with laughter and annoyances). As I look at them now...at 6 and 8, I wonder what the next 4 years will hold and I can’t even imagine sharing this moment with them at 10 and 12...is 10 and 12 REALLY just FOUR years away!?! I am so blessed to be their mommy and look forward to the next special time I have with them!

SNOW...okay, really ICE....

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:59:37 -0600

...but in Texas you can’t be picky about these types of things! Not much to say here...the kids had fun and it was cold! By day two we did get a little bit of snow and Daniel and Caroline went to town scraping together every bit of snow they could find to build a snowman. It’s kind of a dirty, creepy, skinny looking snowman, but it’s a snowman, none the less! And they had a BLAST doing it COMPLETELY BY THEMSELVES!

My Rockin’ Birthday Cake

Fri, 7 Jan 2011 22:12:43 -0600

This year my husband planned a fabulous day for my birthday!...one that will be hard to top in years to come unless perfectly replicated! :) It started with a leisurely morning of sleeping in, coffee and bagels. Then a scheduled hour long massage. Followed by the day wide open just for me! I enjoyed lunch at pei-wei, then headed to the mall to spend a couple of gift certificates I’d received for Christmas, then to Starbucks to meet up with a friend - uninterrupted conversation is amazing, then home for dinner and cake prepared by the family! David made a rockin cake! I love my family dearly. They are such an amazing gift. I love the blessing of staying home with my kids and being so involved in every aspect of their lives, but I have to admit the “day off” was so refreshing. I’m definitely thankful for my husband who looks out for me, is fearless when it comes to taking on the kids for the day, and takes the effort to give me this type of alone time. I am truly blessed!

The last picture is of Caroline with the cute little Lego somethinganother she built for my birthday present! Sweet girl...I could kiss her up!

Park Playtime

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 23:28:11 -0600

I’ve had a big bag of dinner rolls sitting on the kitchen counter for about two weeks now. They were starting to mold, so rather than toss them I grabbed the bag on the way out the door to pick Daniel up from school. Then we headed to the park to feed the ducks. It’s okay to feed ducks slightly molding bread, right? I promise there wasn’t much...just enough to keep me from trying to feed it to my kids! :)

It was a chilly but beautiful day, so we stayed an played for a while. What a refreshing break from the norm. Enjoy the pics. They are from my iphone so may not be the best quality, but they sure are cute.

Party Time!

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 20:56:25 -0600

Enjoy the picks from Daniel’s football birthday party! The boys had a great time eating pizza, drinking gatorade, and playing LOTS of football. And I mean LOTS! Instead of gifts Daniel collected personal hygiene items and winter clothing for a ministry his teacher is involved in which loves on and cares for refugees that have relocated here in the city. He was amazed to see all he was able to collect!

It was a super fun day and a great way to finish out the Christmas break!

Eight!?!

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:35:07 -0600

I know, I know...I am very late in posting this event, and so I’m going to post date this blog...because I just can’t stand for my posts to be out of order. I’ve come to discover that I often think about blogs I want to post. Many I even “write” in my head. But few ever actually make it to the WWW. So much to do and so little time...and quite honestly, by the time I have a moment to sit at the computer uninterrupted, my brain simply stops working. Seriously. I suddenly can’t think of one single thing I had “written” in my head all day! All my deep thoughts, ramblings, and processing are gone. Simply gone. But anyway...all of that is for another blog...that quite frankly will never get written! :)

This post is about my BOY! My first born. My EIGHT year old son. I simply can’t believe he’s eight. I very clearly remember preparing for his arrival. I very clearly remember the 18 or so hours of labor...unmedicated labor...yes, my choice.
I remember:
- rocking him to sleep.
- wondering if he’d ever fall asleep for a nap.
- his sweet little hand patting my back as he rested on my shoulder.
- watching him fearlessly explore and discover at the park.
- helping him process his frustration when the golf ball he was trying to hit wouldn’t go as far as he wanted it to...he was 2 1/2!
- him becoming a big brother and generously giving to his sister. He could make her smile and laugh like no other.
- watching him stack all his toys on the couch so he could “vacuum” with the pretend vacuum cleaner. The boy knew how to clean!
- his first year of pre-school.
- watching him fall in love with the idea of adoption and his second sister, though we didn’t even know who she was.
- watching him play organized sports for the first time. He almost cried when the first practice was over because he didn’t want it to end!
- him loving all things Buzz Lightyear!
- the excitement he experienced as we traveled to China to meet Abigail for the first time! (He’s a great world traveler!)
- him making breakfast for the girls while I was so sick with my third pregnancy. He was 4! The milk puddles and spilled cereal didn’t bother me one bit! I was so thankful for his help!
- him being thankful that Lilly was a girl so he could still do his special “boy” things with Dad without a baby boy tagging along.
- teaching him to ride his bike without training wheels.
- his first day of Kindergarten! Oh how I missed him!
- his generous and loving heart continuing to be revealed in so many ways...sweet notes/pictures, thoughtful gifts or actions, putting others before himself, the sweet, sweet prayers he prayed...
- 1st grade flying by.
- his first spelling list and how I couldn’t believe he was old enough to take a spelling test!!!
- 2nd grade coming even quicker.
- him welcoming Joshua home with open arms and willingly sharing his space and his toys with his new little brother.

I mean really...where does the time go? My sweet little cuddly baby boy has developed in to an energetic, passionate, silly, often disorganized and messy, Dallas Cowboy/football loving, super compassionate and giving boy...and did I mention he’s energetic! The boy is like an energizer bunny that never wears out!...although sometimes he wears me out!

I do love my Daniel! I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses his energy and passion coupled with his tender and generous heart. What a gift he is....I’m so very grateful to be his mommy!

Christmas in the Country

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:29:33 -0600

We always love spending time in Cut N Shoot. It’s a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the big city, and it’s pretty much the only place I get to spend time with my brothers and dad, and the kids get to spend time with the cousins on my side. When the weather is nice we get to enjoy exploring outside, feeding the goats, riding the 4 wheeler and little tykes jeep, fishing, canoeing, and on and on. Again...this is when the weather’s nice! Christmas day the weather was not so nice. So we spent our time playing our cousin’s new wii, lots of color wonder books (my dad should buy stock with all the color wonder products he buys each year!...the kids love it!), enjoying movies and hanging with family, taking naps, etc. Although we had a good time, we were excited when we woke the next morning to clear skies and a little bit warmer temperatures. Yes, good times in the country! I always love the pics taken out at my dad’s place. Such freedom to explore and discover...Enjoy!

My Beautiful Snaggletooth!

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 22:40:17 -0600

My sweet Caroline! She’s growing up so fast! Look at that beautiful little girl...I just want to kiss her up! In the weeks leading up to Christmas her first loose tooth was getting oh so wiggly. We asked repeatedly if she wanted us to try to pull it, but she wanted nothing to do with it. (I don’t blame her!) But on Christmas night it was obviously beginning to drive her crazy. She kept moving it around, was nervous to eat, kept grabbing paper towels to try to muster up enough courage to give it one good pull, etc. David finally took her back and tried to convince her to pull it, but she still wan’t up for it. After whining again at the dinner table, I took her back to our room and convinced her to let me wiggle it a little. I gave it a little tug, but slipped...shoot! I knew I really only had one good chance at it because if it started to hurt at all she’d be done! About two seconds later it was out!!! Yea! She was so relieved! So proud. I was so shocked that I actually pulled it...my stomach is not near as strong as it used to be and even seeing her wiggle it had been turning my tummy. Her second tooth won’t be far behind.

Christmas Eve - Family Time

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:54:33 -0600

I thoroughly enjoyed the family traditions we started last year, our first Christmas at home since having kids. So this year I was looking forward to continuing them. Because we were headed to my dad’s for Christmas day, we decided to have our own family Christmas time on Christmas eve.

Our morning started out with an empty manger and the story of Christ’s birth. The kids enjoyed moving the figurines around as the story unfolded: Mary and Joseph traveling a long distance on their donkey, Christ’s birth, the angels and shepherds rejoicing, the wise men seeing the Christmas star and traveling to see the Christ child, etc. I have had this manger scene since college. My mom got it for me my freshman year. Most pieces are chipped and many have a layer of gorilla glue holding limbs and heads in place. I’ve considered swapping it out for a little people nativity set, but there’s something about the delicacy of the pieces that adds excitement to the fact that the kids actually get to touch the pieces and “play” with them. I think I will hold onto it until the pieces are unrecognizable! :)

After the Christmas story, the kids looked in their stockings to find many treats and trinkets that we acquired on our China trip. And then we headed to the front room for presents. I think my favorite part was seeing Caroline pass around presents that she had picked out and wrapped for each person...and when I say picked out, I really mean picked out from around the house! Some of the gifts technically already belonged to that person, but she still took such joy in figuring out what each person would enjoy and then taking care to package them up just right! And for my girl who is not naturally bent towards “giving”, it was a great joy to see her doing that...all on her own!

Later that afternoon we loaded up and headed to Cut N Shoot, TX to enjoy time with extended family.

Class Parties - Rejoice!

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:32:32 -0600

The big kids wrapped up their school semester with a fun class celebration. I was thankful for the opportunity to join both of them for the fun crafts, yummy snacks and lots of fun with their sweet, sweet friends. And an added bonus was that David watched the other kids, so I didn’t have them in tow. (Except for Joshua who joined me at Daniel’s party.) It was nice to be able to focus on the older kids individually and not have the distractions of the little kids. Something that doesn’t happen very often. I took advantage of the time and joined Caroline and her class on the sport court while the classroom was being set up for the party. I think she enjoyed dragging me around from one activity to the next! I know I did! During Daniel’s party Joshua was quiet and reserved. He stayed close by me and didn’t interact with others much...okay, probably not at all. But he did enjoy seeing a picture of Daniel that had been framed, he loved the cupcake once he gave it a try, and he was very impressed with the shinny star balloon that he was given. It was interesting to see Joshua’s mood change once he was out of the classroom. He headed out the door with Daniel and didn’t have one bit of concern as to where I was. At one point I watched him even venture away from Daniel. And in the parking lot he was being a total ham, bouncing around without a care in the world. So we’ll take it all in stride and continue slowly exposing him to different group settings. The kids’ school is definitely a good place to start!

Two Peas in a Pod

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:25:49 -0600

These two....what a mess! They are trouble with a capital T and super duper sweetness all rolled into one! One second belly laughs. The next second yelling and tears. I’ve really enjoyed watching their relationship blossom. It’s been fun to watch Lilly really come along side her brother and help him understand things. I’ve enjoyed watching Joshua force Lilly to learn the concept of “sharing”. It’s funny...she knows the sign for “share” quite well, but the act itself is quite hard for her. Then again, she is two.

When we first started talking about adopting again the question came up...younger than Lilly or older? My immediate response was OLDER. She was my baby...16 months old at the time...and I could not imagine her as anything but my baby. There was a 28 1/2 month gap between Lilly and Abigail. Plenty of space for another child, and if spaced just right they would all (based on their birthdays) be in separate school grades, one right after the other. When I first saw Joshua’s profile I couldn’t believe it when his birthday was EXACTLY...TO THE DAY...between my two little girls! As we started moving forward in the process I was reminded that children from orphanage settings are often delayed emotionally and developmentally therefore we were essentially adopting a virtual TWIN for Lilly! Uhhhh...! What? Say that again! A what??? Twin...really...are you sure? Twin TWO YEAR OLDS at that!?! Oh my! What have we gotten ourselves into!!!

I don’t know that Josh is delayed a full year, but regardless he and Lilly are a piece of work! They definitely give each other a run for their money...and at the same time they have so much fun together. Joshua loves to tattle on Lilly, which I’m thankful for because it keeps her in check. And Lilly loves to push Joshua to the edge and then give in the moment he cries for help...with the sweetest possible voice in the whole world. i.e. “Here ya go buddy! Here sweet boy...you want this!?! Here, I share with you honey!” No joke, she’s a riot!

Some of the things they’ve done together:
- played babies (both carrying a baby and purse)
- emptied every single book from the book basket, laughing all the while
- emptied every mitten, glove, scarf and hat from that bucket...again full belly laughs
- fought over puzzles, blocks, balls, baby dolls you name it
- escaped to Daniel’s room to play legos together
- chased each other countless times around the house
- Lilly has guided Joshua to find certain toys, find certain snacks, complete tasks, etc.
- Lilly has bossed Joshua to share toys, share snacks, go to the potty, clean up, etc.

If there’s a mess to be made...they will make it together!
If there’s fun to be had...they will do it together!
They truly are two peas in a pod! I love it!

Christmas Preparations

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:50:17 -0600

The day after we arrived home I began putting up Christmas decorations. I knew if I did not take the opportunity to do it now, while my body was full of adjustment adrenaline, it would not get done! So the tree, although small, is up and decorated. The stockings are hung (I love our mantle!) And the manger scenes are displayed...my favorite part! We did not hang lights on the house this year, but wreaths decorate the windows, and that’s good enough. I do love the sights and smells of Christmas...and the constant reminders of Christ’s birth. His love so Amazing....so Divine. I love the chill in the air, although I can do without the intense cold...not that we experience much of that in Texas, thankfully!

Another thing I love during this time of year is Christmas Chapel held at the kids’ school. This year I was a bit distracted, trying to manage three little ones and keep them quiet and entertained, but usually the school Christmas Chapel is a GREAT way to start gearing up for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Caroline and the rest of the kindergartners sang “The Friendly Beasts”. Caroline was a dove and stood on the back row. Daniel, and the rest of the 2nd grade class recited Matthew 2: 1-12. The lights were so bright that he looks angry, but I promise, he’s not! At the end the entire school came together to pray and sing Silent Night. I do love this time of year, and this year is extra special as we celebrate with a family of SEVEN!

Marry Christmas to you and your family. I pray that each of you have the opportunity to slow down and remember the TRUE reason why we CELEBRATE!

Family Fun

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:44:55 -0600

Ah yes...the blog has been quite neglected since being home. Partly due to computer problems, partly due to jet lag, partly due to a stomach bug that invaded our house, partly due to life with 5 kids and minimal “alone time” at the computer. So I guess you could say things are working their way back to “normal”! Slowly but surly...and in some ways way too quickly!

Joshua has done so well in all regards. He’s trying new foods and liking most of them. He finally ate cereal for breakfast this morning -- YEAH! He is making himself at home and enjoys exploring the house and discovering new toys. His favorites seem to be cars, blocks and a building set that was given to us by Cousin Matt several years ago. He’s tried his hand at dress up, kitchen set, and baby dolls as well.

I’ve loved watching him interact with the other kids and seeing how their personalities mesh. Each child seems to bring out a different quality in him and he brings out qualities in them too. He and Lilly laugh so much together...in fact he can make her laugh like no other. It is so much fun to watch. Of course as the days have gone by she has gotten quite a bit more bossy with him and I don’t think he cares for that much....who would! I love watching Abigail step up as the big sister with him and really watch out for him...checking on him to make sure he is okay and has what he needs, coming to get Mommy if he needs help, etc. Daniel has enjoyed having a brother to rough house with and has already instructed Joshua in the game of football. Surprised? Caroline has been less involved than I expected. Probably due in part to the fact that she has not felt well. As always she is very helpful and loving and has probably helped mostly with the practical stuff (getting him a drink, helping with PJ’s etc.)

I think we are finally overcoming the jet lag and getting back into a normal sleep routine. Of course, as soon as the two jet lag girls started sleeping through the night, Daniel and Caroline started waking up with their stomach bug. No fun at all. I’d take jet lag over vomit any day! Thankfully David has taken care of most of it! So very thankful for that! Joshua continues to wake up 2-3 times a night, usually calling for Mama...probably not meaning me, but he does calm down when I comfort him, so for that I’m thankful. We are going to start putting him down on a palate in our room as opposed to the boys room. We’ll see if that helps any. It’s hard to see him so sad...and a little wearing on the nerves at 12, 2 and 4. He usually goes back to sleep rather quickly once he realizes I’m there with him, but I know we’d all benefit from a few good nights of sleep!

I can’t believe how quickly he is picking up on English and sign language (Signing Time - love those videos!). His vocabulary improves daily and he tries to mimic nearly everything we say. Of course, much of what he says is very hard to understand due to his palate still being open. But he’s trying, so that’s good! The sign language has really come in handy and helped keep him from getting too frustrated with the communication.

We are so thankful to have him home. So thankful to have everyone together. So thankful to be discovering the new normal. And so thankful for the many blessings the Lord has placed in our lives. We are indeed blessed!!!

Enjoy the pictures from our first warm day outside since being home! Yes, we really did let them play in the water sprinkler. It didn’t last long, but it sure was fun to watch! I can’t wait for spring!

Home Sweet Home!

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 20:50:11 -0600

All 5 kids finally slept through the night last night, so I’m ready to stay up past 9 pm and get this blog posted! Yipee! (Thanks for hanging in there with me...the past 5 days have been great, but the nights have been a bit rough!)

The flight home was uneventful and the kids did great. We arrived at DFW ahead of schedule and were greeted by sweet friends and family. Friends continued to trickle in as we waited for luggage. It was so, so good to see familiar faces, so good to hear a familiar language, so good to see my sweet Daniel and Caroline, so good to see all my kiddos together, so very, very good to be HOME! As I watched my kids together, and watched our friends and family gathered around, it was hard to believe we were actually home...WITH OUR SON! As I talked with Caroline she agreed that the trip went by a lot quicker than expected! I was thankful for that since she had been my wild card the weeks leading up to the trip.

The first 4 nights were full of musical beds, relay wake ups by the three little kids, and the highlight was Joshua at 11 pm shaking his head no every time I nudged him towards bed followed by Lilly puking all over our clean sheets. Good times! But like I said, last night was better, so I’m hoping for more of the same tonight! We’ll see!

The days have been great. I took some homeopathic “No Jet Lag” medicine on the plane...who knows if it really works or if it’s all mental, but either way I don’t feel like I’ve been too affected by the jet lag. Affected by the sleepless nights, yes! But if it weren’t for my kiddos I would have no trouble sleeping during the night! Joshua is doing so well. The first day he was a little timid around the house, but by the second full day home he was exploring the house and making himself at home...and at HOME he IS!!! He loved interacting with Mamaw Abbott and Grammy while they were here and he really seemed to love the attention from them. By the time they headed home Joshua could clearly say “Maaamawww!” It was so cute!

Daniel and Caroline have been as sweet as I expected. They have always been very nurturing, and this experience is no different. You can see in the pictures that they are so sweet with him. And he absolutely LOVES them! Today Daniel came home after a long day at school and as soon as Joshua saw him he went over and kept saying “Aniel!!!....Aniel!!!!” (He can’t quite pronounce the “D” sound) and started hugging Daniel and trying to tackle him! Yes, he’s already picked up on that!

He’s already experienced so much. Already learned so much. Already made so much progress. But rather than go into detail I must go to bed while I have the opportunity! I’m hoping to get another blog posted tomorrow, but we’ll see. Lots to get caught up on! Until then enjoy the pictures in the album below:

Headed HOME!!!

Thu, 2 Dec 2010 10:20:18 -0600

Well, the day has come! We are HEADING HOME!!!! Just typing that brings tears to my eyes! Daniel and Caroline I am so home sick for you...in other words I miss you both very, very, very much and I can’t wait to give you big hugs and kisses!!!! I must admit the days have passed quicker than I expected, but I’m oh so ready to be home.

In 6 short hours we will be loading our bus and heading for the airport! Just about the time you all are starting to enjoy your dinner we will be getting on the plane. And as you sleep we will be inching closer and closer to home! I think the next 31 hours are going to be the LONGEST of the entire trip!

Our last day in Guangzhou was extra special. We had the opportunity to meet up with Barb and Mike and their newest addition Nora. We first met them back in 2007 on our trips to pick up Abigail and Nina. Barb has been a great encouragement to me, especially in the early years as I really struggled with some attachment issues. It was so refreshing to see her face to face, share struggles and joys, and remind each other why we are on the path we are on...because it’s the heartbeat of our Lord! Barb and Mike, thank you so much for taking the time to come visit us today! It was such a blessing! And how awesome that the Lord would give us the opportunity to meet up again in China!

So, I spent the morning packing up our belongings, and the afternoon enjoying sweet friends! We ate lunch at Lucy’s...this time I went with the old faithful grilled cheese with french fries, and was not disappointed. We let the kids play for a while at the park. And then we strolled the island for a bit before they headed back to their hotel. We enjoyed our last dinner with some take away from “The Cow and the Bridge” Thai Restaurant . Definitely our favorite dinner location this trip. Then finished up packing while watching TV.

Bags are packed, backpacks are stocked, we are ready to go!!! We can’t wait to introduce you all to our newest addition!

Click on the picture below to see more from the day. The first few are from yesterday, not sure why they just now downloaded!

Red Couch Photos

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 07:59:05 -0600

In China red symbolizes good luck. It’s a long standing adoption tradition to take pictures on the red couches at the White Swan hotel after a child’s adoption is finalized. Today our travel group gathered to take pictures. You can tell by the picture above that Joshua is not a big fan of people standing in front of him with a camera trying to make him smile! The boy just won’t do it. But just wait until you see other pictures from the day...absolutely PRECIOUS! I mean SERIOUSLY, he is so stinking cute!

Today was such a great day. Lilly is finally starting to feel better although she still has a little cough and snot. Her appetite is finally coming back, along with her personality. Joshua has given me so many kisses and hugs today, and has even asked to be picked up quite a few times! The first week we had him he would moan every time we tried to pick him up...now he’s requesting it! We’re making progress! After the red couch photos, David headed to a group meeting for information about departing Guangzhou. So the kids and I hung around the White Swan and enjoyed the pond, waterfall, view of the Pearl River, huge bird cage, and other sights of the hotel. At one point we were playing “hide and seek” although the only place we had to hide was behind a couch and behind a table! The kids still loved it, and after a few rounds Joshua just came over an attacked me with kisses. I had the camera in my hand so I flipped the viewfinder and started snapping pictures. He was cracking me up...and cracking himself up. It was so sweet.

I’ve noticed on several occasions he’s picked flowers from the many flower beds around. He always gives the picked flower to Abigail! Sweet boy! And tonight my heart was filled with joy as I watched he and Lilly bob down the sidewalk enjoying their ice cream cones. They were so cute together. As I watched them I couldn’t help but think about Daniel and Caroline and how I can’t WAIT to have ALL my kiddos together. D and C it may take Joshua a little time to warm up to you, but once he does, you are going to have so much fun together! He is so eager to learn and laugh!

Just two more sleeps and we’ll be HOME!!!

Enjoy the many great pictures from today! Isn’t Joshua so handsome in his traditional Chinese clothing!?!

The US Approves!!!

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:54:20 -0600

Well...it’s official! Today the US Consulate approved our adoption of Wu Chang Shun and will be issuing his US visa by 4 pm on Thursday! After that we are free to leave China and head home with our SON!!! Wow! I can’t even believe it. This process seems to have flown by. On November 21, 2009 we first saw his picture and fell in love with his stern look and furrowed brow and on November 22, 2010 we were holding him in our arms! On December 4, 2009 we were asked if we would consider adopting him and on December 3, 2010 we will be boarding a plane headed for HOME. I am amazed that this little blessing was chosen for our family. What a gift! Joshua fits right in! Several families have commented on how comfortable he seems with us and how they thought he had been with us for years. He has learned so much so quickly, and while his speech is very hard to understand, he has learned several signs (eat, all done, more, please, etc.) which help so much with communication.

Tonight he showed some signs of grief as he had a hard time falling asleep. David snuggled with him until he seemed asleep and shortly after David left his side he started quietly crying again. David snuggled with him some more and then he settled into a deep sleep. Sweet little boy. These moments are sure to continue from time to time, and we know they are healthy for him as he processes all that has gone on in the past couple of weeks, but our prayer is that the Lord would comfort him in the way only a loving Heavenly Father could do.

As for the rest of our day...we had our normal breakfast in the hotel, then returned to our room as our agent was delivering our paperwork to the consulate. We had to wait in the room in case he needed to call us with any questions about our paperwork. About an hour later we received a call that all was well! Praise the Lord!!! Then we headed to Starbucks and while we were out enjoying our coffee as the children played, David was approached by Guangzhou Television to answer a few questions about the Asian Para Games! It was quite humorous to watch! So cheesy! I can’t imagine what the actual broadcast was like!! We were surrounded by the normal crew of locals wanting pictures with the kids (or rather, Lilly). You can see in a few of the pictures the onlookers just standing and watching the kids play. They are not even casual about it. They just stand there and stare. And I didn’t even get a picture of the larger groups that stopped to watch us! From there we did a little shopping, returned to the hotel for Papa Johns Pizza and then headed out to our consulate appointment. We loaded a big touring bus with quite a few families from all different agencies. There were 33 families in all with consulate appointments today. We arrived at the consulate building about 45 minutes later and after going through security we went to the big room where all the families wait to repeat the oath. We sat for quite a wile, chatting with other CCAI families while the kids played, and then the “ceremony” began. We repeated the short oath and were called a few minutes later to sign off on our paperwork. Just a few minutes later we were out the door and back on the bus headed for the hotel. There was a ton of traffic so it took us a while. We got back to the hotel in time for dinner: peanut butter, ramen noodles, and mac and cheese for the kids, and yummy thai for me and David. We are officially out of all the snacks and “meals” I brought with us, so it’s definitely time to head home!

Just THREE more sleeps!!!

Click on the picture below to see more pictures from our day. Oh, and the pictures of the school children in the building next to the hotel...those were taken at 8:30 PM! Yes, it was 8:30 and the kids were STILL at school! Yikes!

Pearl River at Night

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:04:16 -0600

Today was a pretty lazy day on the island. (And by the way, Island is a very loose term here. There is just a small stream of water separating one side of Shamain Island from mainland.)

We started the morning with breakfast at the hotel. Just okay, nothing spectacular. Then we walked to Starbucks taking in the morning sights. Lots of activity going on. This morning there was even some type of movie or commercial shoot going on. It was quite entertaining to watch. More people circled around to take pictures of Lilly. She’s being a good sport about it, but she really doesn’t like it. From there we walked through a few shops. David left me with all the money he had in his pockets and headed out to take Joshua back to the medical building to have his TB test checked. All good there. The girls and I did some shopping and then met up with Dad and Joshua as they were headed to lunch. We went back to Lucy’s for another okay meal. Lilly was having a rough afternoon. I think she’s just ready to be home! David decided to take the big two down to the play room while Lilly and I laid down for a nap. Within a few minutes she was fast asleep. After a while I woke up to the sweet sound of children playing outside. Our hotel room looks out on a school building. I had no idea it was a school. I figured it was more of the hotel, but today school was in full swing and we had a good view of several of the classrooms. Watching the kids as they did their studies really made me miss my big kids. Daniel and Caroline, you are probably headed off to school right about now. I hope you have a great day! Know that Mommy and Daddy love you so much! We can’t wait to see you! Just a few more days!

For dinner we decided to head down to a restaurant that sits right on the Pearl River. We went to this same restaurant back in 2007 and really enjoyed it. In fact the kids REALLY enjoyed it because of a laser light show that began from the buildings surrounding the area. Check out the pics below from the kids in 2007! Abigail was so small!!! This year we didn’t see a laser light show (and the food wasn’t near as good as we remembered it), but rather a light boat show! There were numerous boats passing by, all colorfully decorated. I’m guessing they are from the Asian Games that just finished the other day.

Tomorrow is our Consulate appointment. Our agency rep will deliver our paperwork to have Joshua’s visa approved. From what we’ve heard, our updated home study with our new address has been approved and forwarded on to Guangzhou, but we’d appreciate prayers that our paperwork will pass through with no issues! After that we may do a little more shopping at the Pearl Street shopping center and then head up to the Consulate to take our oath! Yeah!

Click on the picture of Lucy’s Bar and Cafe to see more pictures of our day!

Trip to Joshua - Day 10 2

Another Day in Guangzhou

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 06:33:08 -0600

One more day down...5 more sleeps to go! Yes, I’m already counting down. Ready to be home, with my 5 kiddos, figuring out the new normal!

This morning Abigail and I headed out with a few other families from our agency to do a touring/shopping trip. I was more interested in the shopping side of it! Our first stop was a Buddhist temple. Like all thing in China built long ago, the detail is amazing and beautiful. I got some really great pictures. From there we were supposed to head to a museum, but it was really crowded and the line to get in was very long, so we headed straight for the shopping area. This was a government run shop, so no negotiating on the prices, but you are “guaranteed” the quality. (I hope, because I paid for it!) I was able to find a few gifts and a beautiful vase for our family.

While Abigail and I were out doing our thing, David took the little two around the island. They dropped off our laundry...no more hand washing this trip! They ate Subway for lunch. And just strolled along the beautiful streets of Shamain Island.

Back at the hotel, I took a little nap! Yea! And then we went back out to get some fresh air. Dinner was at a very yummy Thai food place. My dish was very spicy, but oh so yummy! Joshua again, out ate both the girls put together. Then we headed to 7-11 to grab some ice cream cones, back for bath and pj’s and everyone was off to bed!

Tomorrow there are no real plans. David has to take Joshua to get his TB spot looked at, but other than that there is nothing scheduled for the day. I’m hoping to get a little shopping done here on the island...need to pick up gifts for Daniel and Caroline!!!! I’ve already spotted a few things I want to buy. Okay, off to bed! Just 5 more sleeps and we’re headed home! Can’t wait to see you Daniel and Caroline! Hope you are having a great Sunday with Mamaw, Papaw, and Grammie. One full week of school and then Mommy, Daddy, Abigail, Lillian, and JOSHUA will be HOME!!!! (Oh yea, and Mamaw, I just remembered...Caroline is signed up to take Fur, the class hamster, home for the weekend. So be looking for her to have him on Thursday in car pool line! And, Thursday and Friday are casual dress for both the kids!) Love you guys!

Click the picture below to see more photos from our day!

Medical Exam and Lunch at Lucy’s

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 06:09:32 -0600

This morning was Joshua’s medical exam. When we were here in 2007 it was a “no big deal” physical. Once Hague requirements were in place children being adopted internationally were required to get a list of immunizations prior to entering the US. For some kids, the orphanage provided routine vaccinations so a minimal number were needed as they prepared to leave for the US. Others however, needed quite a few. 10 is the most I’ve heard one child needing. Many people have been fighting this requirement since it was put in place since so many of these children are underweight, sick, and going through a slew of stresses as they adjust to their new family. The last thing their little bodies need is the stress of fighting off these viruses being injected into their bodies as they build immunity. I’m all for vaccinations, but now’s not the time. I found out just the other day that the vaccination requirement had indeed been dropped in mid-November under the agreement that parents would have their children vaccinated once home! This is great news, but it didn’t help us. A new “procedure” has to be put in place, and until that is done, things will continue as usual.

So, little Joshua received 5 vaccinations today plus a TB skin test. Poor little guy! Only one parent had to go to the appointment so I stayed in the room with the girls (Lilly was not feeling good at all and ended up sleeping the entire time they were gone!) and David took Joshua. David said he was a real trooper. As they waited Joshua sat patiently in David’s lap. He ate a few snacks, but he didn’t even want to do the activities I had packed for him...stickers, coloring, matchbox cars, etc. He cried during the shots, I’d be surprised if he didn’t, but David said he recovered quickly. By the time they got back to the room Joshua was all smiles and bravely showed me his battle wounds!

He is such a sweet little guy, and we are so blessed to have him in our family!

After the boys returned we went to Lucy’s to eat “American” food. The kids seemed to enjoy their grilled cheese. My club sandwich was just okay. After lunch we strolled the island and then went over to the White Swan play room for a little down time. By bed time Lilly and Joshua were exhausted and asleep by 7:00.

Click on the picture below to see pictures from today!

Give me AC, Give me Pizza, Give me Bed!

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 07:43:59 -0600

All is well in Guangzhou! We had a fairly uneventful flight, other than the fact that Lilly pooped in her pull ups three times thanks to the antibiotics I started giving her yesterday evening. This happened while we were at the airport waiting for our delayed flight. Bad thing is I only packed two extra pull ups because she “never” goes through them that quickly! So I had to get creative, and I won’t even tell you what I did. Let’s just say it was gross, but it worked and got us through our flight and to our hotel where we throw her in the bathtub.

We have AC in our room...praise the Lord! We had a very tasty Papa John’s Pizza for dinner...yum, yum! We’re mostly unpacked, and now I’m ready for bed!!!

AC is huge. You don’t know what a difference it makes until you don’t have it! In Wuhan they had already switched the heating and cooling system over to heat, so there was no way to cool off our room. Joshua came to us in 4 layers of clothing and we were walking around in short sleeves, and occasionally wore a sweater. The only way to give us some relief in our room was to prop open the window to let the smoggy, not so cool air come in. And we had a fan to help circulate said smoggy air! We were very thankful for that fan because it did make a difference in the temperature in the room, and it allowed me to dry our hand washed clothes a little quicker! :) But having cool air blowing down on me as I type this blog is a little piece of heaven! Not to mention the fact that my belly is full from a very yummy pizza and the COLD Coke I just had for dinner! I feel refreshed already!

It’s very nice to be back in the “familiar” area of Shamin Island. And we are loving the extra space in the suite we have at the Victory Hotel. The finish out is not as nice as in the previous hotels, but there is a filtered water spout at the sink, so we can brush our teeth without using bottled water, and the extra “living area” is so nice to have, and we have a KING SIZE BED! Not the “bigger than a twin, but not as big as a full” beds that we had in Beijing and Wuhan...and I know that’s what’s at the White Swan as well (at least it was in 2007). The other families in our group are at the White Swan. It’s where many adoptive families stay and there are indeed many perks to staying there, but I’m glad we chose the Victory. It will be a nice little home for us for the next few nights.

Below are two different albums. One from bath time a few nights ago, and the other from our fun “free” day playing outside the hotel. We never ventured far. The kids were just too unpredictable, and it was less stressful to be able to retreat to our room at a moments notice! Click on the pictures below and it will take you to the album. Enjoy!

Headed to Guangzhou!!!

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:06:07 -0600

This morning David is out with Abigail picking up our paperwork while I am in the room with the two little ones trying to figure out how all this stuff is going to fit in our three check on bags! We haven’t done much shopping, other than a few starbucks mugs, but it seems as though our stuff has multiplied! It all just needs to get in a bag, right...who cares which one!

So in just a few hours we will be leaving Wuhan and headed south to our final stop, Guangzhou. This is where the US side of the adoption will be finalized. While it is weird to be leaving Joshua’s birth city, I am so glad to be on our way. I miss my big kids something awful, and I’m ready to be home! Being back in Guangzhou will be a step in the right direction. We stayed there a week back in 2007 with Abigail’s adoption, so it is somewhat familiar, and the families we met in Beijing will also be there. ALSO, a sweet family we met on our trip to Abigail will be there!!!! I can not wait to see Barb and Mike and their sweet daughter. It will be so refreshing to get some time with them!

Joshua update: He is doing AMAZING! He is referring to us as Mama and Daddy and he loves his Mei Mei Lilly!!! He has learned to “stay close” and to “shhhh” when we are in the hallway or at dinner. He responds to Joshua, as I think we do a better job pronouncing that then we do Chang Shun! Two days ago he was calling me Aiya (sp?) which means “nanny”, but the corrected himself and said mama! Today I’ve only been mommy! His smile is infectious and he loves making us laugh. He copies practically everything we say, but my guess is that he’s going to need some extensive help with speech due to his palate still being open. He loves to wrestle with David and has pulled out his little finger guns and his karate chop from time to time! He will LOVE his brother Daniel!!!

Okay, I MUST get packing! I must! Next stop, Guangzhou. Daniel and Caroline I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with family! We sure missed being with you but it was so fun to skype again! We love seeing your sweet smiles and joyful hearts! Mommy and Daddy will be home soon!!!

Finding Spot

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:51:13 -0600

After completing paperwork at the Civil Affairs office on Tuesday, we had the opportunity to see Joshua’s finding spot. (something we had not had the opportunity to do with Abigail’s adoption.) It was only about 5 min from the Civil Affairs building...if even that. It was very surreal to be standing in the spot where 3 1/2 years ago someone set down my son and walked away. While I don’t know this for sure, my thought is that their hope was that he would be found and taken to a place where he could be better cared for. A place where he could get the medical care he needed. A place where he could have a better future than they thought they could provide for him. Of course, these are all assumptions. Things we will never know for sure. But the fact that he was left with a piece of paper indicating his birthdate, leads me to believe someone wanted him found. Someone wanted people to know. Someone was concerned about his future. Someone loved him enough to entrust him to the care of others.

I don’t know how to process this. I don’t know how to process the fact that I stood in the spot where someone who loved him also stood, or sat, and walked away. Empty handed. My mothering heart breaks at the thought.

And yet in the midst of this I know the Lord had the day planned all along.

Psalm 139:13-18
13 For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

I know the Lord was with him every moment along the way.

Psalm 68:5
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
   is God in his holy dwelling.

And I know the Lord has called us to be a part of his story.

Isaiah 1:17
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
   Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
   plead the case of the widow.

I don’t know the details or the reasons why, but I know the Lord does and in that I can find rest.

Psalm 139:1-5
1 You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

Nursemaid’s Elbow

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 04:30:45 -0600

Ever heard of it??? We hadn’t...until today! Thanks to our sweet friend Jackie who replied to an email I sent out this morning asking for prayers for Joshua in hopes to avoid a trip to the hospital. Google it if you’ve never heard of it. There is a slew of information out there about it and how to treat it.

Wikipedia defines Nursemaid’s Elbow as:
Nursemaid’s elbow, Babysitter’s elbow or Pulled elbow is a dislocation of the elbow joint caused by a sudden pull on the extended pronated arm, such as by an adult tugging on an uncooperative child. The technical term for the injury is radial head subluxation.
We did some additional research and it definitely sounded like what Joshua had. After watching some YouTube videos that show how to fix it we decided that, since we were in China & didn’t really want to go to a Chinese hospital, we would give it a shot. If we were in Dallas we would have called our pediatrician…but desperate times call for desperate measures.
So…with a bit of trepidation we followed the procedure and wouldn’t you know that his elbow “clicked” right back into place, just as the web sites had said it would. Josh cried for about 5 minutes and within 15 minutes he was back to using both his arms to karate chop David. Whew! Big, big relief!! Thank you Lord!!!
Thank you to all those who prayed & special thanks to our dear friend who turned us on to nursemaid’s elbow.

The Perfect Storm

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 05:24:06 -0600

We had a great morning. Ate a good breakfast, did “crafts” in the car on the way to our appointment, finalized paperwork at the Civil Affairs office... everyone was all smiles. Even Lilly who was running a low grade fever and not feeling her best. We returned to the hotel around 12:15 pm from our appointment. David laid down on the bed and quickly fell asleep, the kids were playing nicely, and I wanted to get the blog posted up. I figured I’d post real quick and then wake up David and head out for lunch.

At 1:30 or so we were finally heading downstairs. And then it hit. The Perfect Storm. Joshua is definitely starting to feel more comfortable with us because as soon as we stepped into the hallway he was off...around the corner and headed for the elevators. I chased after him while David wrangled the little girls in the double stroller (really two umbrella strollers with connectors so not super sturdy). We made our way downstairs and David headed over to exchange some money. Meanwhile I took the kids over to look at the huge Christmas tree they were putting up in the lobby. It didn’t take long before Joshua was headed over to the little decretive water area. I let he and Lilly check it out and just as I was expecting little hands started reaching in. That didn’t bother me until one set of little hands started all out flinging water. I went over, said “no” firmly and tried to redirect. He scooted down, looked at the water for a second again, and then went for another splash. I again moved towards him, said “no” and held his hands back for a minute. The third time this happened I tried to hold him back close to me as he fought to get away, jabbering away (quite loudly) in Chinese. Did I mention the lobby was crowded with pretty much every seating area filled and several lines up at the counter? Did I mention Joshua was loud? I glanced up to see where David was in line and I saw a gazillion eyes...maybe two gazillion!...starring right at us. I could feel my face getting hot. I moved Joshua towards the stroller and motioned for him to get in - no luck. His jabbering and attempts to go back to the water continued, so I picked him up and put him in the stroller. He fought me the whole way so I decided to buckle him. He did NOT like that. He started to cry, which caused Lilly to start crying. A gazillion eyes still starring. So I scooped Lilly up, and tried to maneuver the double stroller filled with one frustrated little boy closer to David. The eyes followed me.

For a week now we have been starred at everywhere we go. Mostly friendly stares, just trying to check us out or figure out what we are doing here and why we have two babies who “look Chinese”. That’s what I’ve been asked. “They yours? All three?...But they look Chinese!” Ugh...yes, they are! In Beijing it wasn’t quite so bad because our guide was with us everywhere we went, as well as a few other adoptive families, and Beijing is a tourist spot, so American’s are more typical. In Wuhan, however, I don’t know that I’ve seen another non-asian person yet. Oh, yes I did. At the civil affairs office I saw three. A mom, a sister, and a grandmother. They are the only ones I’ve seen. We are a blinking neon light anytime we go out. Not to mention the fact that we are toting around THREE children, which is unheard of here. (I’m sure their observation of this mama trying to juggle all three is confirmation to a few of them that the one child policy is indeed a good thing!) And the stares are not in passing. Well, some are. But many are full on stopping, looking, following stares. Our agency rep told us the Chinese do no know their manners when it comes to starring! We even had two women follow us into McDonald’s today, sit across from us an just watch us....but I’m getting ahead of myself...back to my story...

So, we finally made our way over to David who was at the far end of the counter. Joshua was squirming, trying to escape the stroller, trying to unbuckle, kind of crying, talking away. The people behind the counter were having issues exchanging the money, so they hadn’t even started the process by the time I got over to him. UGH! I looked at David, wide eyed, and said “this is going to set us back a bit!” We finally got the money, and made a bee line for the door. We contemplated going back to the room, but we needed to eat, and I was really wanting something BESIDES McDonald’s! I figured once we got outside and moving Joshua would settle down. David scooped him up out of the stroller and he wiggled, trying to get down. David let him down, he was happy, and then he took off. The streets here are FAR TOO BUSY to have an unpredictable little guy down and running around. So David grabbed his shirt to reign him in, and then held onto his hand. He did not want to hold hands. There are probably several things we could have done differently at this moment, but we didn’t. We just kept pressing on...food would make all this better. So we crossed the first little crossing area which is for bikes and motor scooters, and waited on the little concrete island to cross the main street. People began filling in around us, and Joshua was again trying to break free of David’s grip. So David, being the fun dad that he is, held both of Joshua’s hands and began lifting him up and down trying to be silly. Joshua began crying...and not a frustrated cry, but a hurt cry. We were cleared to cross the street, so David again scooped him up and we crossed among the myriad of bikes, scooters and other pedestrians. We turned to head towards the restaurant that had been suggested to us. Lilly was now crying again too. At this point we were right in front of the McDonald’s as the “do do do do do...I’m loving it!” jingle played in Chinese. We decided another round of chicken nuggets, double cheeseburgers and french fries would have to do. As we waited for our order, which got messed up and took an act of congress to fix, I realized that Joshua’s arm was indeed hurt. We finally got our food and sat down to eat. He didn’t use his left arm at all, but the food did seam to help with his mood. That’s when we noticed the two older women, each at a different table, just sitting there starring at us. They were not there to eat. They did not have things they were working on. They just sat at the empty table, alone, and watched us as we ate. Our rep told us later that the people starring are probably more intrigued by Lilly than the fact we have two Chinese children with us. And sure enough, one of the women came over and touched Lilly on the cheek before continuing on her way.

Our trip back to the hotel was a lot less adventurous, thankfully. We kept an eye on Joshua, and he was still not using his left arm at all, so we called our rep to come over. We watched him for a while, she asked him about it, and we decided to give him Tylenol, keep and eye on it and decide in the morning if we should take him to the hospital. Ugh!

If you’re still reading at this point, PLEASE, Pray like crazy that it miraculously heals as he sleeps! We are pretty sure that it’s his wrist that is bothering him. Pray also that Lilly’s fever, cough and congestion would clear up quickly. Pray for David and I was we are pretty wiped out right now.

I will say, even with all of that, our evening went well. Joshua willingly took a bath, played well, and laid down on his little palate with no problems at all. He even curled up in David’s lap during a bed time story! He does love his Baba, and lights up when he enters the room!

Hoping tomorrows post is NOT about a trip to the hospital!

It's Official - Wu Chang Shun is a Leventhal!

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:37:20 -0600

Everyone had a great nights sleep, finally waking at 7:15. Joshua woke up totally unfazed that we had changed his clothes. He was eager to get dressed in the new clothes and shoes I laid out for him and especially loved the lights on his shoes! After breakfast we headed back to the Civil Affairs office which is about 45 min. away. I was curious to see how he responded to being back in that building and how he responded to seeing the Orphanage Director again. He didn’t seem the least bit worried about being there. In fact he and Abigail jumped out of the van and started heading in without us! We played in the playroom for a few minutes before heading into the office for the official adoption interview and paperwork. The kids did great during this process. After signing all the papers and placing our red fingerprint over our signature, and after Joshua placing his red hand print on the paper it is official! He’s a Leventhal!!! Yeah!

We did learn that Joshua has been with the same foster family during his time in the SWI. His foster mother is in her 50’s and he also had a foster brother who was younger than him. The foster brother is not yet available for adoption. I’m curious to see if we have any pictures of him on the 4 cameras they returned to us!!! I’m so thankful we have this treasure for Joshua!

After the official business the kids and I went back in the playroom while David went with our agency rep to the bank to get a receipt. It was interesting to me that it seemed Joshua knew exactly what had just happened. It’s like he knew he was safe and with us forever because he immediately became a bit more aggressive with the girls and a little “naughty” in the playroom. He would sit on the seesaw and make Abigail go up, but then he wouldn’t let her back down. He knew exactly what he was doing and he thought it was quite funny!

Got Josh? ....WE DO!!!!!

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 09:01:33 -0600

I really want to post all about today, but I am wiped out! The girls were up at 5:15 this morning and we were on our way at 8:30. It’s been a long day and we have to be back up and ready to head out at 8:30 tomorrow morning, so I really need to get to bed. David has posted a blog at www.davidleventhal.org and pointed to me to provide more detail, but I just can’t tonight. I promise I will though. I know all you are really more interested in the pictures than you are in what I have to say anyway! So here are pictures...AND a video, thanks to the genius of my husband!

I will say that Joshua has been amazing. He has done so well with all the changes today. The only time he has put up any resistance has been when we tried to take off his jacket or shoes. He finally let me unzip his jacket and see just how many layers of clothes he has on, but he zipped it right back up and would not hear of taking it off. Poor guy was sweating most of the day because our room is so warm. The hotel has already switched it heating and cooling system to heat and we can’t get our room below 25°C. We had decided that we were not going to make a fuss about his clothes and hopefully eventually he’d want to change! It came time for baths and he wanted no part, so we skipped it. It came to time for PJ’s and, nope...not interested. It came time for bed and he was still trying to find stuff around the room to keep himself busy. I finally got him to sit in my lap while I sang a few songs and we flipped through one of the photo books we had sent. I could tell his eyes were getting heavy so I just kept on singing and tried to lean back enough so he’d have to lean back against me. My trick worked and before long he was fast asleep! I continued singing for a few more minutes and then moved him to the bed and began taking off his many layers of clothes. Poor boy had on one pair to thick pj type clothes, a woven sweater and woven split pants, a thick vest, a pair of pants and a jacket that was lined. I couldn’t believe I actually got all of it off of him without waking him! I put him in a pair of dinosaur pj’s...the pair he had seemed the most interested in when I pulled them out to show him, and snuggled him into bed. He’s been out like a light ever since. We’ll see how he responds to the pj’s when he wakes up in the morning! Hopefully I haven’t set him up to have a rough start to the day!

Okay, I’m off to bed myself. Enjoy the pics and videos! Love to you all!

Click on the picture above to see more pictures from the day!

We’ve Got Our Boy!!!!

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 22:51:00 -0600

More to come later, but just wanted you all to know that this morning has been AMAZING!!!! Better than we could have EVER expected. I am completely and utterly amazed at God’s graces and love on this day! Joshua is doing GREAT and even said “okay” when our guide told him she was leaving now. Amazed. Laughter. Smiles. Exploration. LOVE!!!

I will post details and tons of pictures later, but now we need to go to lunch and get these kiddos, all three of them, a little rest!

Love to you all!

Arrived in Wuhan!!!

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 07:52:08 -0600

This morning we said our goodbyes to our guide, George, and boarded a plane for a 2 hour flight to Wuhan, Hubei!

Upon landing I quickly realized “we’re NOT in Kansas anymore, Toto!”...or Dallas, or even Beijing! Wuhan has a completely different feel. The poverty is much more noticeable than that in Beijing, and yet the city is covered with major construction projects. Really...there is construction going on everywhere you look. We made our way to our hotel, the Wuhan Jinjiang International Hotel. It is very nice and there is activity going on all around it.

We dropped our bags off in our room, sat down to rest for about 20 minutes, and then met our guide, Sophia, in the lobby. She took us across the incredibly busy street - it had street lights as well as police directing/enforcing traffic! She showed us where we can drop off our laundry...it’s way to expensive to have it done in the hotel. $8.33 per t-shirt!!! Crazy!

Then we walked back towards the hotel and turned along the other side of the street in front of the hotel. There were quite a few shops, a McDonald’s that delivers, a department store with a grocery store downstairs, and what she said was a very good restaurant serving american and local dishes. Then we turned the corner again, now walking on the back side of the hotel, and there was a Starbucks Coffee tucked between some other shops. David was extremely pleased that it is within walking distance of our hotel!!!

Behind the hotel is also a huge paved area that was bustling with activity: bike rentals, roller blade rentals, some big inflatable slides, a huge pond with paddle boats, a little garden with a walking path through it, etc. Our hotel room looks out over this area! Lilly was very excited about the inflatables and said they were for her!

After our little tour around the hotel we came back up to the room and started unpacking...nesting, if you will! I finally have everything unpacked and organized for the next 6 days. Even Joshua’s clothes are in a drawer! So crazy! I’ve got a little backpack stuffed full of fun toys and treats ready for tomorrow! Yep...TOMORROW! Just one more sleep for us! At 8:30 am (6:30 pm in Dallas) we will meet up with our agency rep and head to the Social Affairs Office where we will meet Joshua face to face! AHHHHH!!!!! So crazy! Have I said that before??? I can’t even believe we’re in China, much less about to actually meet our son! So, if we come to mind throughout the day, please pray for a good nights sleep and for the transition ahead. Pray also for Joshua’s foster parents, as I can not even imagine what this day must be like for them! Such a mixture of emotions.

We ended our day in the sweetest way possible...a skype call with Daniel and Caroline and Mamaw. It was WONDERFUL to see their cute little faces and hear their sweet little voices! D and C, I hope you have a great day today! As you think about us pray for your brother! We’ll get on another skype call with you as soon as we can so that you, too, can talk with him! I can’t wait!!!! Love to you both! - Mommy

Problems Posting Comments?

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 07:42:19 -0600

Several of you have emailed and mentioned that you were having problems posting comments on the blog. This has happened before and I’m not exactly sure what causes it. I just tested it and when I was viewing the blog on Firefox it would not let me post, but when I switched to Safari it worked with no problems. So I guess give that a try and hopefully it will work! We do appreciate your prayers, comments and emails!!!