Ethan Kindergarten registration

On Saturday we got Ethan all registered for kindergarten at Avalon Elem. He got to take a tour and also go through the lunch line for milk and cookies. He is so excited even wanting to wear his "kindergarten" shirt each day since!

Chloe's birthday festivies

Dear Chloe...on your third birthday

Dear Chloe,

Today you turn three which means you have celebrated more birthdays with us than without. You have waited for this day to arrive for weeks stating each day "Rae Rae's birthday...not you Gavin...not you Ethan!" 

Your year on the road to three has been filled with many milestones. You have developed quite the little personality. Though I worried, you have fully mastered the art of expression. All day, every day you talk to us in sentences that contain many, many words. You tell us what you like and what you don't like...you bargain and plead to get your way...you have even added stomping your foot in with your protests. I am so proud of all the progress (minus the foot stomps) you have made and how you, most days, willingly go to another therapy. Communication is a gift...one that you have now mastered.

You love to swim and this year you have definitely been able to conquer the pool. Ms. Heidi, your swim instructor, says you will never do your swim by the book, because that's just you...definitely not by the book. You swim your own way and then float at the very last second just when I am about to jump in to save you. You aren't afraid of the water at all and manage to keep up with your brothers in the pool.

 

You are strong, yet sensitive. You love animals and pretend you are a baby turtle each morning when you wake up. The blanket "aka lettuce" as you call it in your mouth as you slowly crawl to the table for breakfast always makes me laugh. Your imagination and ability to pretend has blossomed so much this past year. It excites me so much to see you pretend and play. This is something that hasn't come naturally to you.

                                 

You know you are from China and point it out anytime you see the shape of the country. You always say "me lived there" and I say and who came to get you and you say "mommy did."

 

If there is only one thing I am able to teach you it is to Love God. Love Him above all else. Your daddy and I cling to John 6:27 in which Jesus tells us "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that ensures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you." "This is the work of God, that you will believe in Him whom He has sent." 

I am always amazed at your courage and resilience. You have been through so much in your short little life. Most days, as I rock you, I try to imagine your first year of life...the year you spent without us. I try to imagine those first days...your birth mother, what she looked like, her circumstances, her choices. I imagine your days in your first home and then in the orphanage. I don't know the answers to any of my questions...but I know this...your birth mother was brave. And I know she loved you....you have her eyes, her hair, and your resilience and courage comes from her. I know today, your third birthday, is so very hard for her. I know as we celebrate today her heart aches. I know she wonders where you are and if you are loved...just as I imagine her...she imagines you. Two mothers, who both celebrate your birth on opposite ends of the earth. 

People sometimes say you are lucky. I am the lucky one. You have taught me more in the short two years I have been your mommy than in all of my life. You have taught me that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.You have taught me biology is the least about what makes a mother. You have showed me life isn't about your circumstances...it's how you chose to overcome.

 

I love you my beautiful daughter. Thankful doesn't seem adequate to describe my feelings on this day...the day of your birth. I cannot imagine our life without you in it.Happy, happy third birthday precious one! 

Chloe Updates

A couple weeks ago we traveled to Tampa for Chloe's craniofacial team appt. My mom went with us...thank God. It is so hard to be solo with the Crazy Girl when dr. after dr. come in to assess and discuss goals with you. This team we didnt' get the all clear see you in a year farewell we always hope for. Though nothing huge we left having a lot to follow up on. Chloe's hearing has only been within normal limits one time that we tested her since coming home almost two years ago. This time at team she didn't pass the audiological again which meant we had to follow up with an ENT. I didn't want to make the drive to St. Pete to her current ENT so we switched over to someone here at Nemours. After some appts. we scheduled PE tube surgery for her THIS Friday. This surgery will be nothing compared to the other five she has been through, but it's still a surgery and I always get nervous. Say some prayers for us please:) We also were informed that Chloe's developed a fistula which is a whole in her palate. This is common with cleft palate repairs, but still NEVER what a cleft mama wants to hear. Especially when the mama happens to be an SLP! Chloe has had some speech regression (hypernasality/nasal emission) which we also need to follow up on here in Orlando. Finally, we were told that a tooth growing in her palate is concerning and they really need to X-ray again to follow up. So we are headed back to Tampa soon to get the X-ray and meet with the pediatric team dentist again.

I have been feeling a tad bit (ok, a lot ) overwhelmed with adding all this into the mix of my already chaotic life with work and the trio, but reminding myself how far we have come and this will be no different. I love being able to talk to prospective adoptive parents who are thinking about cleft as their special need and encouraging them...some of the words I say I need to remind myself. Though not a minor special need, its managable, and most of all extremely rewarding. I love looking at pictures before Chloe had her repairs and then now. It is truly amazing the transformation that takes place! So though its a lot...it worth every single appointment...every single therapy session...every single bit of work!!!!!

Ft. Wilderness/Disney Birthday Celebrations

 

This year we decided instead of spending so much money and time with multiple birthday parties that we would take a trip for all of our birthdays! I did some research and with some great recs we decided to stay at Ft. Wilderness Cabins and spend a day at the Magic Kingdom. My parents joined us too and a great time was had by all! Ft. Wilderness is so fun for kids. We enjoyed the Hoop De Doo Revue while we were there...it was so fun and the food was delish. My favorite was the Trails End breakfast buffet. I am still craving it to this day. We enjoyed having a golf cart to get around too...it is definitely a must have at the cabins! I love making memories with our crew...these our the times we will remember most...time spent together!

 

Ethan's 5th birthday Cupcake Party

 

 

We celebrated all the kids birthdays with a fun weekend away at Ft. Wilderness, but I couldn't resist having a little something for each kid on their actual birthdays. So, I gathered up a few of Ethan's closest friends and we celebrated with cupcakes in the park. Most of you that know me well know I love to throw parties and I am theme obsessed! These casual parties are not usually my cup of tea, but it was so nice to have a low stress and low maintenance celebration. You know what I discovered...my kids could careless if I have 1,000 items to go with the theme. They just loved running around with their friends and having a cupcakes and the singing of happy birthday! Thank you to my amazing friend Jaime for capturing these shots for me!