How do you say LOA??

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO- LOA, Letter of Acceptance for our Chloe girl! She is ours, our girl, China says so, it's official!!

Can't rain on my parade today but to update all, next is Travel Approval (about 3-5 weeks to wait for that) then we GO! Off to China, to get our girl, yep, going to China, off we go, to China, to bring our Chloe home!

Blessings abound, we are so incredibly thankful!

2009 the Year of CHLOE:) I can't wait to hug you, my precious, precious daughter...

Mom

In Honor of Tristan

A Tribute to our son, Tristan
12-26-07 to 10-08-08

Our Precious boy should be turning one today,
But instead you have gone away.

Up to heaven you went,
Only 9 months and 12 days on this earth you spent.

Oh, but the many precious memories we have,
It heals our wounded hearts like a salve.

Your smiles, your coos, your love we felt,
The amazing fight you had with the hand you were dealt.

We loved you so much it was hard to let go,
But our love for you helped us to grow.

To love one another and not take for granted,
The many, many seeds that your life planted.

Seeds to grow and spread the joy of your short time here,
A tribute to your life and not to live in fear.

To love openly and much, to enjoy our lives, to share,
For we never know how long we have to care.

In honor of you we will celebrate your day with cake and fun,
Balloons and a candle to celebrate you turning ONE.

You will forever be our angel baby boy,
And when we see you again it will be with joy.

We’ll NEVER forget you baby,
Daddy and Momma

Merry Christmas!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Here it is, the big day. It started at 6 am, yes, before dark, Cam woke up S knowing once he is up, everyone is up. Rotten boy. (ours, not S) So it was not even light out and we hauled our tired selves downstairs for them to go nuts.


S took one look and back up he went. He was talked into coming back for one gift opening then he went off again. He opened most in his room:) Too much excitement for him. Everyone else went hog wild and in 21 minutes had it done.

We told Mal her savings had to be transferred and was able to surprise her with a laptop, that was what she was saving for:) A nice one, a great deal. Very happy we could pull that off. Donovan got a guitar, he was very happy with that. All in all a good year, fun for all and huge blessings for us to say "Yeah, remember that year that Camden nearly took out the tree with Kat's pogo stick?"

Merry Christmas, enjoy the pictures of our day.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Guess who stopped in our house early? Yes, the big man, Ho Ho himself, sent to us by our little man, Tristan, or should I say his "elves?" Knowing it is hard to face this Christmas, never having gotten to see a Christmas and his birthday is December 26th. So we are thinking of him and missing him deeply.

We were surprised and honored when we were told we had been chosen for this special surprise and it meant so much being able to tell the kids that it was from Tristan, they haven't forgotten him and they are now assured HE loves them and he will never forget them, that he is safe in the arms of God and he is happy. So they can take this gift and know he is so happy he shared his joy with them :)

They are in AWE of the strings he was able to pull to send the REAL deal, big guy in red, to OUR house a day early and bring gifts!

All I can say is "thanks ELVES" it was very appreciated. I am in tears, happy tears, good memories tears. Another blessing from one very special angel baby boy- his life touched so many and it keeps on:)

A true Christmas miracle. We love you Tristan, forever.

Pre- Christmas Drama

Today was pajama day for Cam and S. That was fun trying to convince S that he really could wear jammies to school :) Wish I could get away with that. They got to watch a movie and come home early. Oh, fun. There goes my last day of freedom for 2 weeks. JOY.

So far the school called about Donovan, his talking out in class, a certain class. HMM, do they think I will take away his Christmas toys if they call me now?? REALLY?? Go home already. It's 6:30 pm, I am NOT impressed with your "dedication" to the learning and social issues of my kid today. And Merry Christmas to you too.

Guess you can tell I'm a bit unhappy, no LOA for us. News that it "will be mailed this week" from China, meaning our agency will not get it till next week at the soonest. Then the wait for Travel approval will begin. JOY. ANother wait time. just what I wanted- NOT. Guess it will be a nice getaway trip in the cold after Christmas blah days. Going to China. See ya.

Kat gave me some nice drama tonight, girls are DRAMA queens. I have decided this. Boys get up, shake it off and off they go. Miss Kitty got a piece of candy we were given today in this tower of Santa boxes, too cute, each box filled with a treat. So she wanted a hard candy. I said "no, not before supper," so as soon as supper was over she HAD to have one. I told her- as any GOOD mother does, "you shouldn't have that at all, you could choke on it." Don't those things always come back to haunt you???

Just like the "you'll shoot your eye out" she got the candy and she apparently choked. All I see is her gagging. Thinking, GREAT she has a stomach flu NOW!!!! But come to realize she is choking on the blasted piece of candy. She threw up- what does Cam say as I am trying to figure out what she is vomiting over- "Did you touch your uvula?" Where do these kids get this stuff? As he tells me it will make you barf if you do that.

So anyway, after determining there was no uvula touching causing her vomiting and she was saying she felt like the candy was still stuck in her throat, she is now in bed and sad since her throat is sore and is going to be. Thank GOD she did not choke and go hide, as she is prone to do if she thinks she will be in trouble and probably me saying "you could choke on that" would be enough for Miss Sensitive to THINK she might get in trouble.

Enough drama already. Just a quiet peaceful Christmas please. Oh and LOA asap would be nice. Too lazy to post a picture, can't make me, so I'm not gonna do it. Call me grinch I do not care, so there.

All I want for Christmas is....

LOA please. I said please. Day 106 and no word. Other than someone else logged in on the SAME day as us got theirs. Pouting here, not fair. I want LOA. All I want.

What have I been up to? Well, I wrapped gifts next door at Derrik's so I had some peace and quiet- wow. Weird. I have almost everything ready. We have schedule worked out for visits for parents of the boys to allow us a break over the 13 days off these wonderful, joyful, children have off in a row. Actually I threatened to be hauled off to a rubber room if someone didn't give me some time away from the 4 of them with 13 days off. A saint I am not. No way. Not going there.

Big Bro Jay was kind enough to take Cam and Kat off for a much needed break for them, playing video games and pizza, they are thrilled. They too, must tolerate the behaviors of the boys and I know they needed and deserved a break tonight, they are very tolerant and helpful, which can be hard, sharing your mom, dad, house, toys, rooms.

I gave Kat a little snip of a HAIRCUT this week, she had her head shaved right before she came to us 2 years ago. Terrified of haircuts. I have trimmed bangs as her uneven hair grew in, then we had the unfortunate "poster putty" incident. Needless to say, her hair has grown amazingly long, but the ends were scraggly looking and her bangs too long. I considered leaving the bangs grow out but she is too young for that, she constantly has hair in her eyes. I can't stand that.

So I trimmed her bangs and the back. She was very happy, but wanted to keep the 1 1/2 inches of hair to "pet it" that I cut. Strange girl.

H has a bummed up head, guess Cam paid him back for the "jump off the bed and dive bomb Cam incident." I think it was more of an accident, H thought it would be super for Cam to carry him on his back and when Cam tried it, fully expecting him to be like little 30 pound Kat, he was overwhelmed with 56 pound H and dropped him. He got rug burn on his forehead, mainly since Cam tried to keep a hold of him and didn't dump him, he slipped to the floor. So they both sport some bruises now. I told them to take it easy on the boo boo's, I can't keep them in band aids and I hate the ER:)

We went to the Christmas program for S. I had a terrible time getting him in a dress shirt, tie and vest, he hated it. He was so mad at me he went to Kat's room, since I was in his and he couldn't pout in there and when I went to get him from Kat's room he was on the fuzzy pink play phone telling the police " Bickie BAD" and firing me. WOW. He is so funny. He was not very well behaved for the program, but if he had to misbehave, at least he looked great doing it.

It was worth him being mad and calling the "police" on me. I did get one answer to a puzzle of him. he would tell me he was telling Mr. Wilson on me. Well, I had no idea this was his gym teacher and I have always just said " okay, you tell him!" Wow, I'll bet Mr. Wilson knows more about "Bickie" than he EVER wanted to know :)

Anyone else's kids playing with the empty wrapping paper roll for HOURS and making you wonder what they NEED toys for?

A Poem for Chloe

A 7 year old child stood on the street alone,
left there confused, no place to call home.

She said not a thing when the police came that day,
only her first name as she was taken away.

To a home for many children, all with no family of their own.
A sad little girl, would now call this orphanage home.

Years past by, little ones came and went,
adoption the girl was told, a big huge event.

So many little ones, even ones with special needs,
so cute and sweet, off they went to new families.

As the girl sat and watched with a sad little smile,
happy for the little ones, all the while.

Wondering when and why, would it ever be her turn?
oh but how she did yearn.

For someone to want HER, a girl of near 14,
would anyone chance to want a teen?

Her days numbered and she knew this to be,
one day a letter came from this "family".

It said "we want you, we wish to adopt YOU,"
it was then that this teen finally knew.

She was WANTED and was cared for,
she couldn't have asked for more.

This family called her daughter and loved her,
they wanted an older child, of this they were sure.

As they sent pictures -they were pale and had red hair,
they had a little girl that looked like her, but she did not care.

For she could see this was a family with love to give,
and they wanted to bring her home with them to live.

As she left all she knew, she gathered her things her family had sent.
She was being adopted, a big huge event.

Would they show up, would they leave her standing alone?
Or would they really want to take her home?

They arrived with a flurry and her mom squealed with delight,
there were kisses and hugs and her mom held her so tight.

Off they went hand in hand, her mom didn't want to let go.
This teenaged girl knew then that it was really so.

It was HER that was wanted, it was no mistake,
they HAD came for her, not a baby to take.

A family for her, a mom, a dad, and siblings for sure.
to be loved and cherished as their daughter forever more.

In honor of our daughter, Lu Yun, waiting in China
Vickie & Ron

Century Club

100 Days waiting for Chloe. WOW> never dreamed we would be sitting here. With Kat we got Travel approval ( there was no Letter Of Acceptance (LOA) to wait on with her) at 72 days they said come and get and and we got her. That was that. Now you sit and wait and wait and then get LOA which is good, but a tease also, a 3-4 week follows to get TA. Just to add to your anxiety level.

It used to be that a 100 day wait from logged was the exception, you looked at people who were waiting that long and pitied them. Now it's the norm, you are happy to get there 'cause you know you are getting close. Sad. But for whatever reason we are hanging in there and will see an end soon, we hope.

What happened in my life today, you ask. Okay no one asked but I am telling you 'cause I was so darn mad this morning it took all I could to stay patient. I was up before the kids, they were up shortly thereafter. They had food, first on the agenda, of course. The little guy said and I quote " today is another day and I can try again, huh mom?" Yeah, yesterday was pretty rough with him. He was not listening to much of anything and went to bed early for hitting Kat in the head with a toy on purpose.

So what does he decide to do today????? Mind you this is a FIVE year old. Kat is 5! She wouldn't DREAM of doing this. He was supposed to be sitting and watching cartoons, the Christmas tree was obstructing my view of him and within 2 minutes of me telling him to sit and watch TV, he took off up stairs, climbed on the top bunk bed and jumped off onto Camden, knocking him into a dresser and cutting his leg, bruising his arm bad enough that I was not immediately sure it wasn't broken. And then he tells me he did it "ON PURPOSE." "Why?" I asked, no reason, just "on purpose."

He was not being snotty or mad or malicious when he answered just quietly said "on purpose." Boy Oh Boy. So I informed him he was sitting on the couch and would be in my sight at all times so that he could not hurt anyone else. He sure doesn't make himself like able doing things like that. I was surprised he didn't LIE, hey, we are making progress, huh? Not sure what direction that progress is going but he didn't lie. I worry, not that he is normally violent, he is just impulsive which can lead to reckless but the other kids don't care to be hurt and they will not want to play with him at all which will not be good. This child must understand how to behave with children, it is very important he get this NOW, while he is little.

Again, fostering special needs is not for the weak at heart. The rewards can be wonderful, Hearing "Bickie, Camden made a castle, come on" when no else gets full sentences out of the bigger boy, and when he did not feel good and he laid his head on my fluff and just cried, I felt so bad he asked for "medicine" thinking it would make him better, but he had a bug and was over it very fast with no medicine at all. We have seen probably 75% better behaviors with both boys so that is amazing in 5 weeks. But the 2 steps back after 1 step forward is still hard to take. I pray a lot for them both.

Everyone is still snotting around and sharing some stomach/nausea crap, hoping they get it all out for the holiday to be a good one:) I took Derrik and helped him Christmas shop last night, so he is done. I am almost all done but for a few small things and then there's all that wrapping- I am trying to figure out just when to do it! That's always the hardest thing, finding the time for it.

Donovan is in the kitchen trying to learn to cook, I think he removed the smoke detector before he started, always a bad sign:( Better go check up on him before he burns the house down............ mom's worse fear..fire., children, cooking...fire.. fire.

Missing my baby

I missed my baby today. Why? Well, mainly 'cause it rained today and was dark and dreary. On a day like this, I could count on him being comfy. Something to do with the barometer readings or something fancy some folks would say, but I say it's a good NAP day. And nap I did. Some days when Kat would take her short nap time, which usually does not happen except on these types of days, I would curl up next to my baby, I could feel him breathe and I could really rest. Ahhh, I loved that boy. Do you feel the love we shared in the picture? He was so amazing.

Going to bed each night even with his wonderful nurses taking care of him I slept "on alert" if they needed me. Until about 7 or 8 nights would go by and I would crash and sleep sound. The best sleep I got in the 8 months he was here were those little sweet snuggle naps. He even slept better, feeling my breath on his back, as lying on his side was most comfy for him and we fit just perfect on the couch on his special pad if my head was at his back. So today I laid my head on his wedge pillow that still smells of his baby sweetness and I napped, just like old times.

Ahh my precious angel son. I will love you and carry you in my heart always. Your blessing in our life carries on and on:) I felt you today, lying there on your pillow, telling me "mumumum" in my ear as I slept so I woke with a smile. Or was that due to S pulling up my eyelid saying "Bickie" are you in there? Wake UP!"

Yes, Jay came over to get S off the bus so I could rest, and there he comes making me wake with a smile. How could you NOT smile at that? Miss Kitty was full of smiles today too, playing in her room.

We got word today that the rumor of the orphanage increase fee is true, but also that the grant that was applied to Chloe's adoption is covering the difference. PHEW! What a blessing!! How do you say "sorry can't afford you?" Thank God we won't have to worry about saying those words:) We also heard that we should be getting our Letter of Acceptance "soon." I will get excited when I see it, not till then, and our travel is still unknown based on when we get this. Obviously, the longer it takes, the later we go. Chinese New Year factors in there too, it's Jan 26th. How do you say "God's timing?" Very often in my world:)

I am going to share a little about our boys and how they are doing. S is settled in well, he is the more typical autistic one, if you must label him. He has some really fun quirks, he will not wear long sleeves without a fight, he doesn't mind a muscle undershirt and jacket so we have paired those with his short sleeved shirts with good success so far. He won't wear black either. Hates sock, they come off as quick as possible and only will wear spiderman pj's, we have 4 pairs now- so we are good to go:)

He is bright but will try to let on like he doesn't hear you/doesn't understand to try to get his way:) Ha ha, that's been tried on me before many times, so I caught on to that quick. When mad he tells me I am "fired" (I thanked him- what can I say, it was a rough morning) and when he hates my food he calls it crabby patties. He says "aye aye sir" when he is willing to do something and "NEVER" when he isn't likely to comply. He loves popcorn. He is a good hugger, he is fascinated by my fluffiness and jiggles my belly so I have another good reason to have it, to entertain him:)

H is younger. He has some issues no one seems to be able to pinpoint. He is a cute kiddo, he has the biggest eyes:) He is very good listening to the rules, he says "we don't do that here, right mom, right?" but his retention is an issue, he need redirected often, I am working on lying with him, he seems to understand not to lie, but he will admit to doing something he didn't do too???

Him and Kat are quite the pair, being the same age. In some way she is WAYYY ahead of him, but she is a girl and they are more mature at this stage. Some of his issues are normal 5 year old stuff. He has also settled in well and his behavior is tremendously better. He has responded very well to routine and I think both boys are able to follow along with Cam and Kat and watch what they do, see how it's done here and it is more like a school setting here with the 4 of them and they all follow along.

I told all the kids as they coughed and sniffled all night long, they won't share toys but they sure shared a cold with one another. I had an appointment yesterday and when I came home Kat had tissue plugging up her nostrils. I asked if her nose was bleeding (she gets nose bleeds in the winter fairly often) and she said "no it was running and I stopped it." Okay then, who needs to blow, just plug it on up. She looked hilarious.

That's about it for today, many loads of laundry, kiddos in bed and a tired momma. Off to bed, oh wait, I think there's a cougher already claiming space in MY bed ahhhhh........... night night.......

Pancake Sunday

We had a fun time on Friday evening with the foster care party, although the boys traded toys to be happy, all worked out well:) We had a nice dinner then Santa arrived and was able to see each one of the kids and give them an "early gift."

Kat and I went and got our hair done for the party, not a luxury we have ever done. She was so tickled with her curls, it was so funny. She kept asking everyone "you like my hair" when we went to the store afterwards. The hairdresser loaded her hair with gel and spray for it to hold, and hold it did, she woke up with it still curled and refused to wash it so she got another day of curls:)

Everyone at the party said how gorgeous she was, even Santa said he loved her curls. She was pretty proud of that. How do you spell D-I-V-A?

Yesterday I spent many hours cleaning, not my favorite thing to do, but the boys room had gotten totally out of control and before the Christmas holiday came and they were home to destroy it I cleaned. Now they have their car rug back in sight and can play with that.

Today we started our day with pancakes, just something fun to do on a Sunday morning when we realize there is no milk to be had in the house (we use about a gallon PER DAY) and pancakes are a good option all will eat. Kat has just recently been willing to eat them, and no butter please. She still dislikes dairy, any dairy but some yogurt.

We got PICTURES of our girl, Chloe!!!! She is so incredibly pretty too, WOW, I am going to be monitoring phone calls, computers, doorbells, how will I keep the boys at bay?? OH, that's right, the 4 older and BIG brothers are pretty scary.

Chloe is wearing the clothes I sent her, I wondered if they fit, she seems so tiny, she wears the same size as an 8 year old here! She is wearing 10-12 clothes, so small. But they fit and she looks quite happy to have them. I am glad she is feeling cared about.

I am just waiting on the Christmas party pictures to send her Christmas box, I am so sad to be sending ANOTHER box and no word on WHEN we go. But it's got many things for her to enjoy.

It will be such a blessing to have her home and we are curling all the girls' hair to go to a party and I can watch our Chloe girl light up with the joy of belonging, of being wanted and loved, a part of us, right where she belongs. Blossoming in our love, just as her name means- blossoming.

I know our time will come and we will go get her, our road from there may or may not be an easy one, it will not matter, our love and commitment to her will be forever. As we feel about all of our children. Our big worry right now we hope is "just a rumor" that the orphanage fees are increasing all over China, up $2,000! We don't have it so I hope they are WRONG- please, not another BIG bump to worry about:(

I'm off to work on cleaning Kat's room, thank goodness she isn't quite as messy as the boys were with their room:)

Funny boy

Mini Male Me is my nickname for my little male clone. He looks so much like me as a child it's scary sometimes. Same hair color exactly ( thank you Miss Cla*rol I owe you BIG time), my eyes, my face shape, my nose. He also has my raised eyebrow ( just one) down pat. That's the " you are in BIG trouble look" and he thinks he is funny he can do it right back to me.

We took S out to the bus this morning, reminding the boy he BETTER behave- he threw a MAJOR fit yesterday after school was over and he wanted to stay longer since he missed so much from the holiday. He spit, cried, yelled, it was UGLY. He fell asleep then on the couch. Phew. Things like too many days off school can really throw him off. I was praying for some patience, that is not my favorite behavior to cope with.

Anyway, Camden was reminding me of the year we had decided it was time to do some yard remodeling, about 4 years ago. We put in a lovely pond- 90 gallon with the flowing water coming off the fake fountain at the top with a frog spitting. Fish in it, plants all around it, it has been a source of much pleasure for us and the background for many pictures, such as Kat's:)

But the first year it went in, I was on the swing on the phone when he tipped a rock at the edge and IN HE WENT. Not even thinking he could STAND as he flipped around I freaked out. Of course. I threw the phone and ran to him. He was more scared than hurt, he was 4 and tall so it's doubtful he would have DROWNED but I KNOW he took years off my life.

So today as we walk past to go to the bus, he mentions it. I said "yeah, you took at least 6 YEARS off my life that day" and what does he say????? " Oh, does that mean you are like 32 or 34 or something?" Talk about FUNNY!!!! I had to explain to him then that I meant he made it sooner I was going to DIE, he was not impressed with that, so I went on to tell him it was just a saying, it didn't mean anything, like driving me up a wall was not me taking the car and going up the wall :)

It proves 3 things,

1. My kids really do think I am under 40 still, even after I told them different, they are subtracting years instead of adding since I turned 40- they have real issues with my age that I don't have:)

2. My kids take everything I say literally. You have to watch everything you say. They are baby elephants, they have HUGE ears and they hear everything and repeat it at the worse times possible.

3. Kids are the most fantastic little comedians, they are so sweet and fun, no wonder I like them so much. Even with their fits and troubles, children are such a fantastic gift from God, He wants us to cherish and ENJOY them.

We enjoy ours, all of them, that's for sure. Even that one in China, 91 days and still waiting for her. I'll wait as long as I have to. She will be totally worth the wait, of this, we are very SURE!

Got room for one more girl to snuggle there Baba?