Summer is in full swing around here!

Well it has been a busy start to summer around here! I took the kids to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. We had an awsome time and since it was a free admission day it didn't matter how long we stayed. The museum was incredible! About 4 or 5 times the size of OMSI. They have an entire WWII German submarine in just one wing of the building! I actually managed to drive there and back myself which is pretty amazing considering that I refuse to drive in downtown Portland! We have also been invaded by the Cicada's. This particular "breed" only appear every 17 years and only in this small area. Fortunately there aren't many near our house but in some areas there are literally millions per sq. mile!!! They are really loud too - thank goodness they only live about 3-4 weeks!

Trace is thrilled to be out of school and loving all the time he gets on the Playstation! Caden is happy, for the most part, to have him around all day. They are both hoping we can make it to Vancouver in the next couple of weeks! With flying standby I don't want to give anyone a date, but we are going to give it a shot. So don't be surprised if you get a call that we are in town!

Miss Paige is keeping us on our toes! Last week she climbed up the stool in the kitchen and spent about 15 minutes sticking her spoons into bottles and putting everything from the drawer on the counter. All was well and good until she forgot she was on a stool and took a step backward! Today, after an evening walk, she had her first whole popcicle and loved it. We had a very kind gentleman tell us thank you for having big hearts and helping one of his "cousins". (He was Filipino) I understood his sentiment but inside I was thinking how we never once thought we were "saving" her. We needed and longed for a daughter and we knew without a doubt this was how God wanted her to join our family. It was never a rescue mission or an act of pity - she was meant to be here and there was never any other plan. I often look at her sleeping and think, "God, she is so precious!". Tonight it dawned on me - He knows that! That's why she is here!

The cutest cowgirl in the (mid) West!

Aunt Karen and Grandma, I bought this just for you guys! It reminded me of the outfit you got Trace when he was born and I just couldn't resist. I don't think there will be many other swimsuits like it around the pool this summer!

And, yes, she is definately getting another tooth! Despite my best efforts I couldn't get a picture with out her hands in her mouth!

A Couple of Days in the Sun!

I've added two new slides from last weekend. We flew down to Arizona to spend the weekend with Kim and getting to know Doug and Carter. The boys were completely water logged by the time we left on Monday! We all had a great time and totally enjoyed ourselves. I had a much longer post but the computer ate it and it's getting late! I'll post more later...

How to cross the rocks - according to Paige

Check out my Slide Show!

Finally an update!

Ok, I finally have a couple of minutes! Miss Paige has been sick with one thing or another it seems like for weeks. She is on antibiotics again for a probable sinus infection and possible double ear infections. Last night she pretty much didn't sleep and therefore neither did I! Isn't motherhood grand?!
School is almost out around here and we are looking forward to a looser schedule for a while. The boys would just like to spend the entire summer in a swimming pool! We have some plans but nothing set yet. Our plans to make it to Washington are sort of on hold because we can't afford the airfare and I refuse to fly standbye alone with all three kids! Go figure huh? I am hoping we will make it out to New Jersey to visit friends we met in China and go to our agency's annual picnic in early August. We also plan to get some camping trips in - just close to home considering gas prices!
Other than that, things are about the same out here! We may make it to Phoenix this weekend so I'll add new pictures after that!

Check out my Slide Show!

We're still here!

I promise to get some pictures up this week! I have been busy trying to finish our China photo album on Snapfish and get Paige's adoption video done. I've been working on both projects forever and finally got motivated to get them DONE! There isn't really much happening around here anyway. We had Paige's six month post placement visit and "passed" - not that they were going to take her away! The boys are keeping busy with soccer and finishing up the school year. I'll post more this week.

A Different Mother's Day

Mother's Day will be very different this year. Obviously because I now have three children instead of two! But also because I know my family is complete. I now have a daughter. A little girl to paint fingernails with, and hair to braid (eventually), to hopefully buy a dollhouse for and pass on my special dolls (and her Nana's and great grandma's). Yes, this mother's day will be different. Also because I have a two new mothers to honor this year. Women I've never met but dream that someday I might. One woman with love so deep for her child that she would risk her own life to give that child life. Another willing to take that child and love her for eight months only to have her heart broken. Two women I respect and admire tremendously. I may never know if Paige has her first mother's eyes or smile, and she may never know how loved "our" daughter is but I pray that deep in her soul God will give her peace. Paige and I will honor her mothers in China on Mother's Day in a personal way between the two of us. And each year I hope she will develop a stronger respect for what they did for her.

Twelve Years!

It is pretty amazing, but as of today we have been officially married for twelve years! We started dating four years before that though so we have been together for 16 years!!! I do not feel old enough to have been married that long. As our friends and family know we have certainly had our ups and downs. But with a lot of determination, counseling, support and just plain growing up we have succeded where so many don't. We are proud of ourselves but also very happy to finally be at this point in our marriage!
Now, I'd better get to bed tomorrow will be a busy day again!

Check out my Slide Show!

Maiden voyage ...

The boys had a blast camping this weekend. The camp ground certainly left something to be desired as far as the adults were concerned, but the boys found a little gully/canyon and decided they would be quite happy if we moved there permanently! They seriously spent every minute we would allow down there and came back muddy, exhausted and happy! Paige adapted very well to the great outdoors. She quickly discovered the joys of wandering off, both to get Mommy to chase her as well as to explore! Apparently the rocks tasted quite nice and the dirt wasn't so bad either. She managed to wear herself out though and slept beautifully. Well enough that I'm willing to discuss the next trip!

We got home early afternoon on Sunday and decided to wash the six inches of mud off the Suburban. Caden and Paige laughed and shreiked away while Daddy squirted them with the hose. Trace was apparently too 'mature' for that so he sat on the sidewalk getting his baseball cards organized. We are all exhausted from our "vacation" and heading to bed early now!

Summer is comming!

We had a nice warm day last Saturday so I put this outfit on to try and get at least one use out of it. Nana bought it a long time ago and we thought it wouldn't fit Paige because it is only a 6-9 month! It fit though but thank goodness it only cost $1.47 because she got berry stains on it that I can't seem to get out now! Sorry Nana!

I don't have time for a long update because Caden is sitting on the couch telling me to get my buns moving. He is anxious to get the trailer loaded for our maiden camping voyage with Paige this weekend. We are only going a 1/2 hour away so if it is a miserable failure then oh-well! I think we'll be fine though. The weather is supposed to cooperate thank goodness.

New's on the home front...

Let's see. Caden is officially finished with speech therapy! I think he is as happy as I am about it - one less thing to do every week. Trace scored the only goal for his team last Saturday! He was SO excited and grinned from ear to ear. He was also exhausted because there were no subs for the game! Caden almost got a goal but the ref blew the whistle just before he got there, oh-well, maybe next time! Paige has finally moved up to a size three shoe! I have spent the last two days hunting for shoes for her. Let me tell you, they don't think anyone with size three feet should be walking because there are very few hard sole shoes in that size. And apparently they feel that if a little girl that size is walking then she should only be dressed up and certainly not near any dirt! Everything is dressy or all pink or white!! I almost bought her some little boy ones but finally caved and got some pink and white that seemed to fit her better. If she ever decides that being outside is ok then they will be filthy!

Well, got to get my "buns moving" as Caden put it!

Dinner time...

The following slide show is an example of what a desperate mother does when the baby is hungry and dinner won't be ready for another 1/2 hour! Paige had about three helpings and loved every bite. Afterward I picked her up straight out of the high chair and carried her directly to the bathtub to hose her down!

UH-OH Spaghetti-O's!

Why do some kidds have to be SO hard?

With Trace I can usually just talk to him and work with him to get cooperation. He is pretty moldable and wants to please us. Caden, on the other hand, I can't figure out! He wants our approval and love but doesn't seem to know (or care) how to get it. The past three days have been tough but this morning I finally lost it. He demands that I fix him an eggo without saying please or even asking me to do it. He pinches his brother for not answering him immediately then proceeds to call him names and mutter at him. All the while I'm in the front of the car telling him to STOP IT NOW. Doesn't care, just keeps at it. When I asked him to get ready for preschool he came back down with sweat pants. He knows we don't allow sweat pants to be worn to school and when I remind him his answer is, "well I want to be comfortable!" (Very disrespectfully) I told him to go upstairs and get a pair of pants that are appropriate for school. So he went upstairs and screamed at me that he doesn't have any pants that don't have holes in them - several times. When I got in the shower he sat at the bottom of the stairs the entire time screaming at the top of his lungs because he didn't know where I had put his sandwhich! (it was on the kitchen table).
I'll admit I finally lost it and gave him a little swat on the buns through his jeans. It didn't hurt him physically at all but I know it hurt his ego (which is apparently a little too big anyway!). So then I take him to preschool and on the way I told him that he was not going to watch any more Sponge Bob for a while. (his favorite show). I told him it is too disrespectful and until he can watch those shows and still be respectful then we wern't going to watch them. Well by the time I dropped him off it was obvious he had been crying and he was telling me he didn't feel good and didn't want to go. I felt terrible but I told him he had to anyway. I talked with him, gave him a hug and tried to get a laugh out of him with a tickle but he still walked away looking like the world was on his shoulders! I just don't know what to do with him any more. To ignore his behavior or try to talk to him only seems to make it worse. To spank or otherwise discipline seems to completely devestate him emotionally! Something has to be done though. Aaaaggghhh! Why oh why do some kids have to make life so hard!!???? I know this too shall pass, but I just really needed to get it off my shoulders!

Some pics from this week

Soccer Season Again!

Caden and Trace had their first soccer games today. Neither team won but both kids had fun (and that's all that matters). Caden sat out most of the second half because he was sweating and his legs were hurting. So much for our hope of an athlete! Trace ran like crazy and wore himself out. Rick and Paige and I nearly froze to death in the sub zero temperatures! We are spending the rest of the day trying to get warm. I didn't get any pictures of Trace's game today because we already have a lot of him. Caden is #1 and has the blue stocking cap on.

Spring Break Fun

Trace got to introduce Daddy and Caden to the fun of Lazer Tag this week! They had so much fun they did two rounds. Paige and I sat and visited with strangers in the snack bar. We owe them a trip back for bowling now!

Other than that Spring Break has been pretty much a bust around here. It is too cold to be outside so the boys have played far too much Play Station. Soccer practice started and I've sat out and frozen to death while watching. Paige wound up with an ear infection, Caden has a nasty cough and is running a fever periodically and Trace got up this morning complaining of a head ache! School starts back on Monday and I know at least one person who can't wait!

Check out my Slide Show!

Easter Best.

I guess I should be a little dissapointed in myself. My first year with a little girl and I didn't even get her a new Easter/spring dress. I guess I'm just too darned practical for my own good though. I had planned to put her in her birthday dress since she only wore it once but I've since washed it and it shrunk too much. So I found this cute sundress in her closet from Robin (Madison and Collette). With a shirt underneath and a sweater on top it was almost warm enough for the below freezing temperatures on Easter morning! The little sandals were also a donation from Robin and they were at least a size too big. But she looked awfully cute! I thought about getting the boys new shirts too, but being boys I knew they didn't care and these had hardly ever been worn. So, here is my clan on Easter morning as we were rushing out the door to church! I literally threw them down, said smile (!) and then said ok, now get in the car we're going to be late! I'd post a couple of pictures of the baskets but they are really not so great and there are not many. I guess my whole point to this post is not, poor me, but more Wow have I ever changed! There was a time when I thought dressing my kids up all cute and making sure everything was always perfect was really important. I guess I'm learning what really is important though. That is the memories we are creating and the love they are getting. There is a little girl adopted from China only a couple months before Paige who in her short time home has suffered a massive heart infection and a subsaquent heart transplant. As I've followed this baby's story I've been reminded daily how important people are and not things. So, who cares if none of them had new clothes on Easter morning, and who cares if Paige's Easter basket held a hand-me-down bunny and goldfish crackers, we were happy and relaxed and together! Now, go give your kids a hug and an extra piece of chocolate because they are only little once!

Tank tops to turtlenecks.

Chicago weather is so much fun isn't it? One year we celebrate Easter in the warm sunshine and the next we are awaiting snow flurries! Of course we also went from a family of four to a family of five! Happy Easter to everyone!

This is Paige's baby, and I don't just mean any baby she has lots of those, but this is THE baby. Just as another example of murphy's law of course this baby has been discontinued! I paid $9 for this one which I thought was a bit much little did I know I'd be paying $15 each for two more! This one seems to always need washing since she chews on the knots on the hat and drags it everywhere. Yesterday morning as we were getting ready to take Trace to school I looked over and saw her "feeding" baby. Of course she was "feeding" herself too! Then when she was done she just picked everything up and marched off like it was perfectly normal. What a funny girl!

As for the rest of us, we are all still about the same. Rick spent last week in Milwaukee getting the new base off the ground. Wednesday was his first day back in Chicago and wouldn't you know it there was a huge semi accident on the freeway and it took him over three hours to get to work! We still haven't taken the house off the market. I'm kind of leaving that up to Rick and he still needs to work out details with Jason. As far as school goes we are still in limbo. I've been told that the amount of aid we might get from the school isn't any where near where we would need it to be. So, while I wait on an answer from above I will be looking into the local public school as well. I haven't heard anything bad about it which is comforting!

My mom was out for a visit last week. We had a whirlwind week of running around, shopping and juggling three kids. It was great having her here and the kids loved every minute of it! Well I need to get moving today because apparently Easter is just two days away (Caden reminds me hourly) and I've done practically nothing! So it is off to Walmart with three kids for me!

Teeth, teeth and more teeth!

" Not gonna show you my teeth! Wellll, ok. How's this?"

Now this is more like it! Paige does not like showing off her teeth but has just recently started opening her mouth if you ask to see them. The problem is the way she opens her mouth you still can't see any of the teeth. I wanted to preserve her goofy grin. I've never seen a baby get two bottom teeth and only one top one. Usually the two top ones come in pretty close. Paige's second top tooth did just finally pop through yesterday though.

Amature golfer...

Watch out Tiger, Caden's practicing! He couldn't wait to get outside to try out his new clubs even though the wind was blowing hard enough to carry the ball! Nana bought him the set at the Doller General and according to Caden, "they are real metal!"

Ok, I'm afraid to post this but....

It looks like we'll be staying in Illinois for the time being. Rick was running into some major personality conflicts in Wisconsin. We talked a lot and decided that since this was not a career improvement there was no reason to put him into that kind of stressful situation. There was obviously more to it than just personality but it's too complicated to type it all out! It helped to know that his boss really wanted him to stay at O'Hare. A few changes are happening at O'Hare which will make it a nicer place to work too. We will still have the issue of the commute to deal with though. I suggested a couch, small fridge, microwave and t.v. in his office for nights he just doesn't have it in him to battle the traffic!
Now that that decision has been mostly settled we will have some other major decisions to make. We are considering taking the house off the market for a while. Rick has a friend who is willing to "rent" our guest room (or section of the basement) for four nights a week which might be just enough to get us by. If we don't have to disrupt the kids then we would rather not. The school issue is another big one. Caden is more than likely going to the local public school. We would really like to switch Trace there too but that would make three schools in four years! What happens if we end up leaving Illinois in another year? Having them both at the same school would be nice and not having to run back and forth to the school everyday would be a relief! I also would have to start working at Trace's school if we kept him there which doesn't make a very nice life for the younger two during the week. Oh, decisions, decisions, decisions! Don't worry, I'll keep everyone posted!

A family weekend....

Paige and Tegan got along just fine for their second visit. He is getting so big and has so much hair now! I'm so glad we are getting the opportunity to see him grow. Paige was mostly oblivious to him but really liked his toys! Unfortunately for Tegan his toys were left behind and Paige thinks that's just great. We all had a great weekend and Caden was in tears when he realized they were heading home. I suspect we'll meet up again soon since we have Tegan's toys! :)
(Jennifer, when you read this, send me your e-mail and I'll send off all the pictures from the weekend!)

A little family update...

Trace is doing really well in school and loves it! He lives for the weekends though when he gets to play the Playstation 2. Right now he is excited about moving because, he says, it is close to the Dells (a resort town with the largest indoor and outdoor water parks in the country), and Daddy has all but promised motorcycles - way to go Dad! Trace is a neat kid and has been a lot of fun as he gets older. He is loving and sensitive but true to his age is also mastering the arts of talking back, muttering and eye rolling!
Caden enjoys preschool and comes home almost weekly announcing he has a new friend. He is shy and very self conscious and has a hard time making friends sometimes. We still make a weekly trip to Occupational Therapy. It is an hour drive each way so we usually pack our lunches and make a day of it - picking Trace up on our way back. They have been working a lot on upper body strengthening since he seems to have some low muscle tone. Recently they have also been concentrating a lot on learning his letters too. He is trying so hard but it is a real struggle for him. So far, after several months, he knows A,B,C,F and X! He is looking forward to our move also and pretty much just because of the motorcycle talk! He is nervous and excited about starting kindergarten next year.
Rick is in the process of transitioning from O'Hare to Milwaukee. This week he was up there a couple of days and each week it will gradually become more and more. I expect him to be up there during the week and home weekends by next month. It is only a two hour drive from our house so it isn't like he is out of reach! He is really looking forward to a more relaxed environment with a little less responsibility. Most importantly though he can't wait to only have a 10-20 minute drive to work instead of an hour and a half!
I'm about the same. Not really looking forward to uprooting everyone again and really dreading the nightmare of switching all our bills, carriers and doctors. By the time we have our last post-placement visit for Paige we will have had 5 different social workers! I am however looking forward to it for some other reasons. It is truly pretty up there with more rolling hills and TREES!! We will be putting ourselves in a much better financial position and since I pay all the bills that will be a huge stress relief. We are thinking of putting both boys into public school too. With Caden struggling like he is we are thinking public may have better resources to help him and since we are changing Trace again it is a good opportunity to transition him. That too will be a big help for our financial situation as well as taking some pressure off me!
Tigger and Lucy (the cats) are fine too. I thought for sure they would abandon Paige's room once she was in it. It seems, however, that they have set up housekeeping under the crib and are right there ready to jump in if I should forget and leave the side down! Lucy is almost protective of Paige which is pretty funny.
Well that's all from aound here for now!

Rubber Duckie You're the One...

Caden is always asking if Paige can play in the tub with him. So one night I just dropped her in while he was floating around by himself. They had so much fun! He had her giggling and splashing right away.

Dinner Time

We had rice for dinner the other night and since Paige insists on feeding herself I just sat the whole bowl in front of her. When I turned back this is what she had decided the bowl was for! What a nut! A couple of days later we had spaghetti. I already knew she liked spaghetti sauce but now I know she also LOVES spaghetti! Amazingly though very little made it to the floor.

I'm trying!

Well Blogger has had "old" and "new" blogger for a while now. I resisted changing from the old to the new because, well, I just don't like change. I finally caved last week and made the switch. Looking at the blog you can't tell anything (except that I lost my music). Now, I have spent the better part of today (between laundry, kids, and school runs) trying to upload some pictures with no luck!!! I am so irritated right now and kicking myself for making the change - I knew better. Anyway, I'm going to keep trying but in the meantime I may look into a new hosting site!

My favorites.

I'm debating whether I need to have professional pictures for her first birthday. I hate to waste the money if she won't smile - which she probably won't. But I also don't want her to feel slighted since the boys have their one year pictures. Either way, I think these are awfully darn cute! 

Amature Photographer

I hate to admit it, but Paige just isn't the most photogenic baby. I took 32 pictures in less than a 1/2 hour and these are the BEST of what I got! The ones on top are my favorites because they are the many different smiles she has. Then I really wanted one in the rocking chair because she loves it, but apparently that wasn't to be. I do think the third one might make some good blackmail one day. The final ones were an attempt to replicate a picture of me in the same doll cradle. She pretty much refused to look at me and in the end got her way by standing up! Just click on the image and it will enlarge to be able to see it better. 

Happy, happy birthday baby!

Our little girl is a year old! She didn't have the best day since she didn't sleep all night then had today's nap cut short! It wasn't until after 3:00 that I discovered a new tooth about to break through, no wonder she was a bit irritable! After some tylenol, anbesol, and a bottle she was a new person. Our neighbors (the Newton's) stopped by for a piece of cake and helped it to feel a little more festive around here. It was anawfully quiet birthday though.
It is hard to explain, but there is a cetain connection between her birth mother and I that is impossible to ignore on this important day. I felt like I needed to do something and yet I really wanted it to remain personal (between me and her other mother - figuratively). So this morning I lit a candle and let it burn all day until it burnt itself out. I pray that where ever she is tonight that God will give her peace in her heart. That she will know her baby girl is safe and loved!

"Hhmmmm...

wonder what's up here."