Christmas

Joy is having all you've ever wanted before you open a single gift.

What a joyous day we had! It wasn't the gifts, but the givers, who made the day so wonderful! Chloe, Gavin, and Nick slept in late (7:30 am). We finally had to wake Chloe and daddy up! The boys were thrilled that Santa had come. Chloe just wanted her breakfast. We spent hours that morning exchanging gifts and enjoying watching the boys give out presents and open some too. Ethan didn't care if they were his...he loved opening this year. In fact, I never got to my own stocking so Ethan opened it all for me this morning. Chloe didn't care much about any of the great toys she got, but loved being in the mix and playing with the boxes. Honestly, this Christmas was hard...there wasn't much sitting and relaxing or drinking egg nog (yuck...wine is more like it) by the fire. It been a crazy, stressful whirlwind of six months with China, adoption, busy child number three, surgeries, and constant supervision. I am tired! Really tired! But as I reflect back on this past year (and even years past) I am constantly reminded that this is right where I am supposed to be. Two years ago all I wanted for Christmas was for Nick to say yes to adoption. I LONGED for that Christmas Day and was hugely and tearfully disappointed when a yes never came (atleast not that Christmas). Last Christmas, I longed to know our daughter as we waited anxiously for a referral phone call. This Christmas, our precious daughter celebrated with us in the same place I ached for her. There really will never be a better gift of watching my three children love Jesus, love others, and love Christmas. I may be tired, but I sure am happy! 

Palate Day

Tomorrow is a big day. Chloe's palate will be repaired. From what I understand, this will be a more major surgery than the lip, gum, and nose. Basically, Chloe has a hole in the roof of her mouth from the front of her mouth through the gum(which is now repaired) all the way back to the soft palate.

 The palate is big for feeding and speech. So far she has managed to feed herself quite well with an open hole to her nasal cavity, but speech hasn't (and can't) come along much without the repair. I am not looking forward to putting our baby though any more surgeries, but feeling very good about having these behind us for awhile. It will be an intense month with 100 percent supervision (anything in the mouth could ruin the repair) and a liquid/soft diet (which she will despise), but we will go into the new year with out surgeries looming over us. I will post throughout the day tomorrow, but our immediate prayer needs are that she would stay well through tomorrow, for travel to St Pete today, the boys who will be spending time with Em,  and for Chloe as she won't be able to eat or drink and we have a fairly late surgery call tomorrow. 

As always, thanks for loving us...Chloe is my hero! I still often  just look at her and admire her strength and resilience! 

Adoption Announcement

Almost five months after her arrival I finally sent out adoption announcements. I adore them and when you compare to our Christmas card which also went out in the mailing it seems unbelievable that its the same little girl. She has grown and changed so much. We are frantically preparing for her last surgery of the year on the 16th...I have to have Christmas done before we leave:( It made me very happy to get our cards out in the mail and off my list. Now off to prepare for my staff Christmas brunch at my house...oh the things I get myself into:)

Happy Friday!

Five Months together

Five months ago today I was waking up at the Crowne Plaza in Zhengzhou, Henan, China for what would be the most memorable day of my life. It was a quiet morning filled with nerves until our bus pulled up at the Civil Affairs office! The nerves continued, but it was not calm or quiet. We watched as many families met their babies within seconds of arriving. There were lots of tears from the babies and even the parents. Our little Xue Jian was one of the last to arrive (almost 1.5 hours after we arrived at the office). I will never ever forget her SUV pulling up and the ladies from her orphanage walking her in. They walked right past me with her and I could barely catch my breath. This moment I had dreamed of for sooooo many years was happening and it was more magical than I could have ever imagined. Side note-I would pick Gotcha Day over giving birth any day! The orphanage director handed her over and we fell in love right then and there. I won't lie it hasn't been flowers and roses but one thing has been constant we LOVE our little Xue Jian now known as Chloe Rae to pieces. Each day, if its possible, our bond grows...we could not imagine our life without her! Happy Gotcha Day baby girl!