Last week we went for Hannah’s 6 month visit to the cardiologist.  I was pretty nervous leading up to this appointment.  At our last appointment we were told that at any point her heart could start to enlarge due to her leaky pulmonary valve, and at that point we will have to do surgery.

The good news is that that time is not here yet!  Her EKG was basically unchanged from 6 months ago, and she is doing great!  In fact, we don’t even have to go back for a check-up for a year!!  Woo-hoo!

Several people have asked me what the valve will eventually be replaced with.  I didn’t know the answer to this, so I asked while we were there.  Apparently it will be replaced with either a bovine valve or a donated human valve.  So there you go.  So glad that our sweet girl will be able to do a little more growing before she has to have another surgery.

Last week, we were so excited to see another family that we traveled with to China.  Since the day that we landed back in the United States, I have looked forward to updates from the other families.  I tore open all of our Christmas cards from these special friends, eager to see the progress of the other babies.  I feel so connected to all of these families, who were forever changed in the same room that we were.

Evie’s family was driving through our city, and stopped to spend the night with us.  We were all thrilled!  It was incredible to see these two girls side by side who were both born with serious special needs around the world, and are now so deeply loved and cherished here with their families.

I know that Hannah can’t understand yet how special these connections are, but someday she will.

Thanks for the visit, Kuo family!  We all loved seeing you!!

We have spent a wonderful week together in the mountains for the kids’ spring break.  Unfortunately we have had to stay inside because my boys have had terrible allergies to the pollen.  This is what poor D looked like one day when he woke up:

Yikes!

Even being cooped up inside, it has been so nice to be together without the frantic running around that is our regular day to day life.

I’m sad that they go back to school on Monday.  Most of my friends look at me like I have 2 heads when I say things like that, but it is true.  I miss them when they are at school.  Especially Z who is in school all day for first grade.  It still feels strange to hand him over to his teachers who have him for more hours of the day than I do.  I don’t think I’m cut out for homeschooling, but I can definitely understand the appeal!

So glad that summer will be here soon and we can spend more time snuggling together on the couch, and less time frantically rushing to be in the next place we are supposed to be.  Looking forward to just being able to breathe!

March 17 was a happy day in this house as our dear Hannah turned 2.  A year ago, we already knew of Hannah.  We had her pictures, and we knew that she was our daughter.  We celebrated her birthday, but she was a half a world away.  My heart ached to have her in my arms as she ate her first bites of birthday cake.

This year, I got to wake her up with a big birthday hug.  We got to see her joy as we sang “Happy Birthday”, and she realized it was for her.  We got to see her excitement as she opened each present carefully, and sat down to play eagerly with each new treasure.  Words really can’t explain the peace and happiness in my heart as we celebrated the birth of this sweet girl.

Along with her birthday candles, we lit a candle in honor of her birth family.  I have to think that even as we are celebrating, they are around the world mourning.  We now have her in our arms, and they don’t know where in this world that she is, or even if she is alive.  I think they did the only thing that they could do to get Hannah the medical care that she needed, which was an amazing gift of love.  I always want Hannah to know that it is okay to love her China family.  I certainly feel love for them.  They brought our daughter into the world.  They didn’t know it, but they answered our prayers.  I pray that God will help them have peace about their daughter, and somehow know that she is okay, and dearly loved.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Hannah!  We love you!!

Oh, my sweet Hannah.  This girl loves to eat.  I mean she REALLY loves to eat.

It is just so fitting that her first real phrase was, “I want some”.  We now hear that phrase over and over and over.

And her second phrase was “push play”.  Oh goodness.  I think my other kids are rubbing off on her…

My kids’ grandmother got this text from my phone today:

Notice the time.  6:44 am.  Needless to say, she thought that there was an emergency and rushed over.

However these texts were not sent by me.  No, they were sent by my dear (and technologically advanced) first grader, Z.

We were all a little shocked.  He seemed surprised that we were upset.  He said, “Well, I wanted Grama to come over, and I couldn’t think of anything else to say.”

Sorry, Grama!!

Since we started the process to adopt from China, I have read everything that I can get my hands on about orphans in China.  I have been so happy to learn about several organizations that are doing wonderful things to help provide formula, medical care, etc., for these dear babies.  One organization that I have been particularly drawn to is Love Without Boundaries. After leaving China, there was definitely a feeling of needing to do more.  Through Love Without Boundaries, we have helped sponsor two sweet girls.

This is Eileen. She is currently living in a foster home in China, and she was born with cleft lip/ cleft palate.  We get a detailed monthly update on Eileen, as well as pictures. We pray that her family is out there, and will come soon to take her to her forever home.

Love Without Boundaries is doing an easy fundraiser during Lent.  Our family will be participating.  I hope yours will too!

Love Without Boundaries Foundation

For those who observe the season of Lent and would like to help orphaned children, we are raising funds for formula in our four healing homes. We had several groups ask us to put together a campaign for Lent to collect spare change this season to help feed babies in need.

You can visit this link for more information, including a label to print out and affix to a jar or can for coin collection. Thank you! http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/programs/healing-homes/lenten-campaign/

Today we had a small tragedy for the males in my household.  D broke the iPad.  There is really no defending him; the iPad froze, so he punched it.  Surprise, surprise the glass shattered.  Sigh.  Oh this guy.

I told him that he was going to have to tell his dad. The tears started.  And kept on going.  And going.  He finally fell asleep on the couch after saying several times, “I don’t want Daddy to make me go live in a different house!”.  I assured him that this wouldn’t happen, but he couldn’t believe me.  Finally I made him call his dad, to try to put an end to his misery.  I have to give my husband credit here. He handled the situation well, and responded to poor D’s feelings rather than his action.  I love him a little more for that.

D was relieved for a little while.  Then I reminded him that he still had to tell Z.  Oh the anguish this poor guy was going through.  He knows how much Z enjoys playing games on the iPad, and with as much as he adores his big brother, he couldn’t bear the thought of upsetting him.  He sobbed in the car on the way to carpool, and couldn’t even speak when Z got into the car.  Luckily Z has a kind heart, and he also responded to D’s feelings with understanding and forgiveness.  It was a wonderful thing to see.

When we got home and Z saw it for himself though, he simply squeaked out, “My baby!”.  Like father like son.

It's a good thing he is cute! Who can be mad at this guy?

Today the boys had their annual check up.  I had a conversation in the lobby with a woman that went something like this,

Random woman in lobby- “Are those your boys?  Are they twins?”

Me-  ”No, they are actually 2 years apart, they just happen to be the same size.”

Woman, looking skeptical- “Oh.  I wondered. You have more kids?”

Me: ” Yes.  We actually have 2 girls at home too.”

Woman, looking at me in disgust-  ”YOU birthed FOUR kids?!”

Me:  ”Well, actually our last one is adopted.  We just brought her home from China last October.”

Woman, now looking at me like I am insane:  ”You CRAZY!”

Me:  Laugh

Woman, continuing looks of disgust, “I am serious.  You are CRAZY.  You had three little kids, and then you CHOSE to make your life harder.  You know that song, ‘I’m no Superman’?  You need to let your husband listen to that”.

At that, I broke myself away.  I wish that I had been quick enough to come up with a good reply, but later I thought that I should have told her something that I heard from another adoptive mom, “If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart”.  That about covers it.

We have never really minded our kids getting in bed with us.  We have always kind of liked the extra snuggle time.  However, that was when it was one child climbing in in the middle of the night.  Recently we have had 3 children in the bed very consistently.  5 in the bed is just too many!

Yesterday I said to the kids, “I think maybe it is time for us to come up with a schedule and take turn sleeping in Mommy and Daddy’s bed”.  D said, “That is a great idea!  One night you can sleep on the couch and we will sleep with Daddy, and the next night Daddy can sleep on the couch and we will sleep with YOU!” .  Um, not exactly what I had in mind …