Visit to Shriners in Chicago....

In the hotel room the 3 pre-schoolers found great ways to entertain themselves. Jackie and Luke came to hang out and help with Sofi.

They thought it was funny it was snowing outside and they were swimming.

We got to visit Ikea. It is such a cool place. They have everything and the kids had fun too...

Shriners has been a great experience. They have treated us so well. Lize's care has been amazing! When we got there, I thought it was going to be a quick visit. That was until I mentioned I didn't think Lize was hearing well. At that point they did a hearing test, took x-rays of her ears. When that came not so favorable...they had her see the ENT, Speech therapist and another Audiologist. They spent awhile going over the findings. They have decided to try pressure tubes one more time. If that doesn't work .... then she will be fitted for hearing aides. That is totally not what I expected to hear. I'm so thankfull they caught it.

wordless wednesday.....

Fabulous 40!!

Thanks to you for making this birthday special and not letting me "hide". Your wonderful and I appreciate you bunches. Luv dawn

Wordless Wednesday.....

Lots of fun.....

We have been pretty busy. The girls were sick with ear & sinus infections. We got a snow day. James got "stuck" in Florida on bussiness 6 days (2 extra than we expected). Zach had his worse asthma attack yet but everybody was well enough to have friends over Friday. We had a blast. I LOVE the kaos of having a house full of kids. I was blessed to have my 4, 4 of a dear friend & an extra for good measure. Baby Lauren is cute as a button. Her sisters & brother watch every move she makes.

We decorated cupcakes. Lily did very well.

Sofi and Nora.

Nora

Ring around the toddler.

Pizza anyone?

Snow day.....Will was out all afternoon.

My best friend Trish sent the kids valentines and these adorable outfits. Of couse she made them. She is the most talented person I know.

Lize called to tell "Mst Twis" "ank ooo"

Wordless Wednesday.....

Wordless Wednesday..........

Life is Good...........

Life is good...........

Wordless Wednesday..........

14 and counting.....

I know people say teens are awful and I'm sure it's going to happen sooner or later....but so far it's been a hoot. I'm blessed to have lots of teens in/out all the time. So far I really enjoy them. For Zach's birthday we had a household. They played gestures boys v/s girls. Although the boys didn't care if they lost, they ate up winning. They ate a ton of food and watched movies and best of all, had a huge nerf gun fight. It was great!! None of them ever complain about the younger kids being around.

When I cried after everyone left, being in shock my baby was 14, James reminded me so nicely "YOU KNEW THIS GOING IN" That was also what I got on Wed after freshman orientation....go figure

Everyday fun........

The girls loving playing outside in the "nowe".

1st "bid dirl birtday pawty" with Nora, Lily and baby Lauren. Their friends are waiting for their new brother waiting in China.

We shoulda named Lize "JOY". We are so blessed to have someone in our lives whose this happy and joyful all the time.

The girls got to make build- a- bear for the 1st time ever. They had so much fun thanks to Lindsay and Bill. Sylvia and Vivian showed them the ropes.

Wordless Wednesday............

Blessed

Today I had the pleasure of attending a birthday party with the ladies. At one point I was totally overcome with emotion. The birthday girl Lily who turned 4 is from China, one of her sisters, a friend and my 2 girls are from China. As I'm looking at these 5 ladies today, I realized the miracle I was part of. They are all beautiful, spirited, happy alive girls. These 5 little girls who started out in different women's wombs, in a country they could not remain with their birth mothers were brought more than 15,000 miles to us. They were all playing at a Mc Donalds in WI together. No clue of how much they have changed many lives. Loved by many and right where GOD intended them to be. I thank GOD for the gift of their lives in our hand's.

Wordless Wednesday.......

Christmas break happenings....

This Christmas break was awesome. It's the first time we've been in WI at this time for many a year. We packed as much as we could in this time. We visited as many people, friends & family that would let us. The girls kept saying " Who we get to see next?" It truely was a magical time.

Will did not want to leave his cousin Dewights house.

Sofi loves her Mamaw.

Lize still is the most joyful little thing. I keep waiting for her to change. I thank GOD everyday for her and her personality.

James got to take Dewight to his first KY Wildcat game!

Yes, it's bandaids! It's what she wanted!!

The kids had an awesome time opening presents. The girls totally got the opening present thing and the anticipation of waiting.

A rare picture of all 4 of my sweetie pie's. What a blessing it is to be called their MOMMY!

Sofi wants to be a "Hewt Dr(heart Dr) whend she gows up".......

This picture says it all....we wore them out.

Winter & Christmas fun......

A rare picture of my soon to be 14 yr old.

The ladies before we went to see our friend Faiths Christmas program. Of course Trish made the bows.

I was nervous having 2 close in age but GOD knew exactly what HE was doing. Most days they are inseperable best friends.

After months in the Florida heat, the kids are loving the snow!

When it rains, it pours..

Well Saturday night through Thursday our entire family has had the flu and all the ugly other stuff that comes with it. A trip to the ER and Dr to find out Zach has Asthma. He has been masking the symptoms for months and didn't know that he was. He's quite irritated with the whole thing. He loves gym and working out and at almost 14 he doesn't want anything that might give him attention. We also got to put $650 into the van. Thank God we own it but it still sucks.

Honest Sofia....

Adoptive parents know that going anywhere is probably going to result in a look or question from someone. I don't mind 99.9% of the time. I pray my answer to their question will lead anyone to adopt a child. Sofia on the other hand is not so nice about it. The first was by an older lady who said "Your so cute, where are you from?" Sofi says "Misconsin" Lady says " you look Chinese, and so does your sister" Sofi , with her hand on her hip and an irritated look says " if you must know, I was a baby in the Gondong (Guangdong) Providence" She then asked if that was in China. Sofia's response was "DAAA it's not Misconsin"

The second was with Santa. He asked if Lize was her sister? Sofi says "yes". Then Santa asks if that's her "REAL" sister. Sofi's response was " We'll she's NOT a doll"

What a year...........

This has been a VERY interesting year. Filled with many life lessons, challenges, heart aches but most of all blessings. From the stroke James had in Jan, week in the hospital, 4 months of intense therapy. Lize having pallate surgery and her Speech therapy. The challenges with James job and his company in bankruptcy. Moving to Florida and all that brought. One of things we learned is "things are just things". Pastor always says " it's ok to have things if things don't have you". We have mastered that one. We learned how important your health is. That home is not within 4 walls. It is where your entire family is literally together. The importance of friendship. A price can never be put on true friendship. Here are a few things I am thankful for in no particular order Thank You God for.........
-My husband and children
-Our many friends we are blessed to do life with
-My sister-in-law Barb who is amazing
-Trish who changed how I see motherhood and helped me get through one of the most diff times in my life. If there is a soul mate for friendship it was her
-The people who love the good, bad and ugly parts of who I am
-The people of Life Church Germantown
-James job
-The health of our entire family
-WI
-James full recovery from the stroke
-Friends, friends, friends
-Visitors to Florida
-Brady, the blessing who was worth the wait
-The house we were able to rent from my parents in FL
-The extended family who supported us during this diff time
-Those wonderful people who took care of James while we were in FL
Sooo many other things. These are just a few that remind me of what "true wealth is"