Surgeries, surgeries, surgeries!

And so it begins this part of adopting a child with special needs that every mama dreads! Surgery:(!!! In Chloe's case it will be 4 (possibly 5). Over the next six weeks we are scheduled almost weekly to be at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL. Some are "easier" procedures and some "major", but all require anesthesia. So that makes them all "major" for a mama! Our first surgical procedure will take place next Friday!!!  

I feel guilty to ask for more prayers, but I have learned the importance of prayer during this journey. So I ask again will you pray for our family as we begin our medical road to helping Chloe:)

A BiG, HUGE Thank You!!

I am a personal thank you note kind of girl! My mom taught me to always write thank you notes! I have always been good at this! I get a gift or someone does something nice for me I must get a thank you in the mail quickly!!!

Well, since we brought Chloe home we have been blessed with so much and I just can't find time to sit down and write...well, atleast when I can hold my eye balls open. This is what my life is like every minute of Chloe's awake time!! Then I have 2 other baby boys who need me too!!

So all this to say I cannot let thank you notes hang over my head any longer which is why I am writing this one generic post!! Don't hate me!! And please know from the very bottom of my heart I am just so thankful for everything kind that you all have done for us!!! Meals!!!!!!!! Organizers of meals!!! I haven't cooked for a month:) Packages containing lovies, crafts for my boys, cute clothes for Chloe!! Calls, visits, pictures, prayers!!!!!! I remember each person who has reached out to us during this crazy adjustment period..I would list you all, but will refrain for the sake of you all reading!!! There are just sooooo many of you!!! 

This last month of meals, desserts, breakfasts has given me more time with my family and less time focusing on food!!!! Thank you for making it possible for me to focus on these 3 loves!!! 

And so I end and allow the thank you cards hanging over my head to end as well!!

Much love and many thanks!!!!

Two more weeks at home

It's been almost seven weeks since we laid on the most amazing, silly, busy, curious little girl. Chloe Rae is a love and will be 15 months old tomorrow!! 

We have been super busy these last two weeks preparing for back to school and fitting in some fun! 

Yesterday we visited the cleft team at All Children's in Tampa. We really liked the team. The plastic surgeon spent almost an hour with us talking about his plan, answering our questions, and showing us patient photos. We plan to use his team of drs. And hope to schedule Chloe's first procedure ASAP. The plan will be for Chloe to first have an impression made for a Latham device which will begin to close the palate prior to surgery. Once the device is made she will have the Latham put in under anesthesia and will stay in the hospital a night. Once she is drinking successfully we will bring her home for 2-3 weeks. During this time Nick and I will tighten the device ourselves (tears:() to prevent daily trips to Tampa. Once the device has done its job, Chloe will have her third procedure/surgery to fix her lip and nose. There is a small possibility the surgeon may repair the palate at the same time. However, it is unlikely due to possible inflammation/infection associated with removal of the device. If the palate isn't repaired with the lip, we will have her palate repaired 3-4 months later. In addition, with one of the surgeries she will have PE tubes inserted. All of the procedures/surgeries will take place at All Children's in St. Pete. It's going to be a tough 6 months, but we feel pretty confident she may not need further surgeries. Although there is a possibility she will still require a bone graft later before her adult teeth come in. 

I have to admit, I am a little sad at the thought of changing her smile, nose, mouth...we love her sooo much just the way she is!! The before and after photos we have seen of children show such a difference in appearance. I love Chloe's clefty smile!! Going to miss it very much!

We had our family photos taken this week by a super sweet and talented friend. I am so thankful we have such awesome images of our beautiful girl now. I will forever cherish these photos...our first as a family and our last with our clefty beauty!

So five weeks at home, hard to believe!? Feels like we have had Chloe forever and at the same time everything is new! The next few weeks are sure to be busy as my first baby boy starts kindergarten and my second baby boy starts a new school year in 3's class. And Miss Chloe will begin her treatment plan...so much to do. Lord, please help me to do it all with little stress and lots of love:) xoxo

Teething and walking

Big events this weekend developmentally for our Chloe girl!! Yesterday she discovered how to stand up (and take one wobbly step). She must have tried the downward dog yoga pose 100 times! Soooo cute and we were all cheering her on! Then this morning, after church, we discovered little sister had a tooth break through:) I know it's sounds crazy to document her fourth tooth, but it was her first with us! Never again will any milestone go unnoticed...they will be celebrated! It is sooo unbelievable to see how much she has changed in the 5 short weeks since we laid eyes on her. Adoption rocks:) 

Ethan took some pictures after church:)

Go Chloe, go!

Nothing better than this!!!

Week three at home=FUN!

Last weekend, we celebrated two weeks home (one month with Chloe) with my parents! My friend Bridget made us dinner and we enjoyed a yummy cake by Kyle Rivera!! Kyle is so sweet...I met her when she made the cake for the boys party and told me then when Chloe came home she wanted to make a cake for her! Well, all these months later she remembered and made us a yummy PINK cake!! I have been so touched by the kindness people have shown us!! 

Here's Papa holding Chloe for the first time!! 

I think this may be our only picture as a family of five:( Fancy, right?! Lol

The yummy cake Kyle made

On Sunday our normal bi-monthly food truck bazaar was rained out so the kids enjoyed some time destroying the karate school! 

Staying home a lot more than we are used to has been the toughest on the boys (hence the outings), but to occupy their time at home we have at least one craft time a day! Gavin LOVES crafting! He doesn't take after his mom!

Yesterday, my friend Alison invited us over to swim! It was Chloe's first time swimming in America! She loves the water!!! I can't wait to start her in lessons (next year of course).

Today we set up our water slide and got Chloe a baby pool and swing so that we could enjoy our backyard! Chloe and the boys enjoyed our afternoon! Can't wait till it gets a little cooler so the parents enjoy the backyard more too!!

This week we also praised God for the Orthopedic dr. Assuring us that Chloe doesn't have hip dysplasia or any other hip condition for that matter!!! Chloe continues to grow, change, and love us more each day! She is sleeping in her own crib mostly through the night (with occasional night terrors). She now will put her head on my shoulder to let me sing to her before bed as opposed to laying beside her without touching her. She is super, super busy!!! My little tornado! My friend Erica had us over yesterday and couldn't believe how appropriately active she was! Love her sweet little soul so much!! Even though, if I am being honest, some days are tough, but counting each day with our daughter (and boys) as an amazing gift!