He is okay!

Thank You Lord! Harry's CAT scan did not show any bleeding. He just has a big dent in his head.  They are releasing him. He needs to take it easy but he can come home.  I cannot tell you how much every single prayer and thought has meant over the last few hours.  I have been praying and putting my trust in God....but I know HIS plans are not always ours...so I was scared. To see how many of you were lifting our family in prayer made it so much easier.  I knew God was being bombarded with prayer for my sweet Harry.

I struggle with this blog thing a lot...never sure if I should keep doing it...never sure about the privacy issues and the time.  But I feel so incredibly blessed by the prayer and support y'all have shown our family and I thank you for that.  Blessings to each of you,

Kim

P.S.  One more prayer request...please pray Harry and Dave don't bring any unwanted swine flu germs home with them. Kate's resistance is very low from the mono and she had a psychotic reaction to Tamiflu last year. If you know me at all you know I am the BIGGEST germophobe and the LAST place I would want anyone to be right now is Texas Children's Hospital.  I am praying for the many area families that have been affected.

Urgent Prayers!!!

I am a nervous wreck.  Harry fell at school today and hit his head.  The pediatrician sent him and Dave to the ER and he is having a CAT scan as I type.  PLEASE pray for my little Harry. I am home with Kate and Will praying my little heart out.

Small Update~  Harry had the CAT scan and they are waiting for results.  Apparently 9,000 kids are in the ER at Texas Children's Hospital thinking they have swine flu.  I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE PRAYERS.  They are helping me stay a little sane.

The end of an era

It is the end of an era.

Someone has completely hijacked my blogging time...um I mean given up her nap!

During Miss Kate's nap, I used to eat lunch, read blogs, post to my blog, edit photos (and clean, do laundry, and scrub toilets too honey-if you are reading this).  But now between the not napping and the lovely late afternoon tantrums (from not napping), I have no time!  So, I apologize for being the blog slacker that I have become.  Please forgive me while I figure out this new normal.  I miss reading about y'all.

Home-run Harry

Harry hit his first home-run today!  Of course it was during the only 10 minutes of the season we were not there.  Dave and Kate arrived just moments after the big play.  I came shortly after that as I was running Will to a sleepover.  There were two "men" on base too.  So three runs were scored.  We might start arriving late to all his games:)

First and foremost, I am proud of what a good sportsman and team player Harry is.  But since this is our scrapbook, I want to record this momentous occasion too.

P.S.  In just an hour he is off to another first~his first Confession!

Happy Birthday Dear Sweet Friend!

Almost 3 years ago, I joined a Yahoo group for people adopting from China.  I also joined the Rumor Queen site.  At the same time, Diana was joining these groups and calling herself "Northern Girl."  Every time I read her posts, I immediately felt a connection.  We knew NOTHING about one another.  We had no idea where each other lived, what we looked like, etc.  but a friendship was formed.  Over time this friendship has deepened and today Di is one of my closest friends. We talk every couple of days.  We have laughed together and cried together, we have prayed together. Diana invited my family to visit her family last summer even though we had never met. We went and we had the time of our lives!  

I am blessed to call her my friend. We always say how lucky we are that this adoption journey brought us not only our daughters but our friendship as well (and so many other blessings). Today is her birthday.  Go here to wish her a very happy one!  I get to celebrate with Diana in person as she is coming to visit in just a few weeks. YEAH!

Happy Birthday Di!

Luv ya!

Diana and Will

Di and me on the jet ski!

I love her pigtails.  She looks like a teenager!

Friends.

The Bubble Gum Guru {Harry}

The next three posts will be about the individual peanuts.  I have had so many moments with the kids lately that I want to freeze and remember.  I have these realizations about my children but life gets so crazy and hectic that I fear I will forget some of my insights.

Harry....he is my determined and hard working one...He gives 110% to his endeavors and is determined to succeed.

He hangs signs like this all over the place...

He has put on magic shows and cleaned the baseboards to earn money.  He has made clay pots and homemade jam for fun and has been a GREAT issue solver. Currently, he is a Guru (not sure where he got this?)  You go to him and he gives very sage advice.  I went to him a few weeks ago and he told me to put my camera down, get off the computer and pray more (his delivery was very kind).  I followed his advice.

The other day we went to the Children's Museum and they have a little town called Kidtropolis. In Kidtroplis you have a debit card, earn money through various jobs, vote, etc.  Harry LOVED it.  He went to each place, chose a job and was very hard at work. After collecting his paycheck at each location, he immediately deposited it into his account. He is such a saver (in real life too).

Next, we went to a part of the museum where you invented things.  Harry was really only interested on the paper airplane/rocket station.  He spent the entire time building paper airplanes and rockets and launching them.  Through trial and error and sheer determination, he perfected his paper models.  Where Will is a planner, Harry is a do-er!  Both are very important but I saw these differences very clearly this week.  They attacked the same situation in completely different yet equally impressive ways. They would make great partners.  Will is the idea guy, the planner.  Harry is a man of action.  He gets things done.

Harry does not really let me take his photo often but he let me take some this weekend...

He was concentrating on blowing a bubble....

I love him so.

TV and Computer free day!

Friday night as I was going to bed, I decided to make Saturday a "TV free" day. The boys did a pretty shabby job of cleaning up the playroom as I had asked them to do before bed.  So, Dave wrote a note and posted it on the playroom door. It said...

No TV this morning.  Read a book, go back to bed, play quietly or pray and meditate.  If you wake Kate, Mom or me before 8:30 (underlined).  YOU WILL BE IN TROUBLE.

When I got out of the shower, this is the scene I happened upon in the playroom...puzzles, board games, family time:)

We actually did not hear many grumbles or moans.  But the boys did challenge me to a computer free day too.  I took the challenge and we declared it TV, computer free day for all.  I took the boys to our newly renovated children's museum. It was incredible!!!!  They spent 35 million dollars updating and it is world class. My boys never wanted to leave.  I don't have any photos because I did not even take my camera (can you believe that?)  And there would have been some GREAT photo ops.

I did choose a bad day for us to opt out of TV and computers because it was really stormy all day so we could not partake in any outdoor activities. It was one of those days that would have been perfect to curl up and watch a family movie. Instead, I cooked this delicious soup (recipe here).  

Dave made a yummy (and very healthy) banana blueberry oat bread that was gluten free no less.  I will post his recipe soon.  The boys played card games and Kate read books.  We even played Yahtzee (I won!).  I did find myself wanting to go turn on my computer a few times  (to check weather, find a recipe, order something on-line) but I resisted.  I think we need to do this more often.  It was a really nice family day.

I hope y'all had a great weekend too!

Quick Update

~Kate is doing better her renal scan and ultrasounds are next Friday!

~Harry about passed out when they took 

12 vials 

of blood out of his tiny (42 lb.) body yesterday. Seriously.  His eyes rolled back in his head. He turned white as a ghost and it took a while to get him back. It was too much for him. He handled the x-ray and other tests like a champ though.  It will be a while before we have results....they are running some very specific tests that have several components.  I sure appreciate all the kind thoughts and prayers though.

~My sweet husband took a vacation day yesterday (and took care of Kate all day) to give me time to catch up on everything.  I am SO grateful.  It meant the world to me.  More on this later!

~I am slowly figuring out my new camera.  Thank you for the help.  Here are some recent shots...

Will~ he was accepted to all the schools we applied to for next year (even with the essay on weapons:)!

A lil guy at the park

My friend's daughter

A few people asked me some questions recently...

Brooke asked where I get Kate's clothes?

I get them everywhere (boutiques, Nordstrom, Janie and Jack, Gap, Old Navy, Matilda Jane, Target, Etsy etc) The outfit she had on in the post you were referring to is from Etsy.  The vendor is Icandie (formerly Pish Posh Girls).

A few people asked what I was doing with my old camera...I am keeping it.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my D-80. And it will be my back-up camera.  It is much lighter and easier to put in my purse for little things.

Someone asked if I still recommend the D-40X.  Ummm..probably not.  One thing I did not know then that I know now is that you cannot use some really great lenses on that camera.  So if you have an interest in photography and want a DSLR, the D-90 is a good place to start. If you want a DSLR that you will keep in auto and point and shoot the D-40 is still a great camera!  I am certainly not an expert but I do a lot of homework on the equipment.

Someone else asked why I chose Nikon over Cannon. 

 

When I first became interested in photography all the photographers I admired were shooting with Nikon.  I did consider switching to Cannon recently BUT every camera shop expert I spoke to said that right now the D-700 is the best camera on the market in its class. Also I had a bit of money sunk into my Nikon lenses. I personally see some GREAT photographers using Cannons and Olympus too. They are all good.

As a thanks for all the sweet thought and prayers...I leave you with a nice Spring salad recipe...

The salad is baby spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta and either toasted pine nuts, candied pecans or cashews (any nut of your choice). (loads of vitamin C, A, K and zinc in this salad)

For the vinaigrette...

2/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup Raspberry vinegar

1 tablespoon of honey (or agave nectar)

dash of salt and pepper

Add grilled chicken or shrimp and you have a meal.  

Can't keep up

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter and a wonderful weekend.

We had a GREAT time with our friends who were visiting from Calgary.  We have been really close friends with them since Will was a newborn (almost 12 years). Our boys are best buds and we parents have SO much fun....

Their boys are about the same age as ours (in fact, Will is the oldest)...they just grow theirs VERY big and ours well, let's just say they are a little petite:)

We had a lovely Easter too.  Our friends left on Saturday but we had Uncle Joe and his family over for a delicious Easter dinner on Sunday. Our egg hunt was inside due to an early afternoon storm...but later in the afternoon the kids spent a lot of time playing outside.

This was taken in a rush as we were leaving for Mass. The white balance is completely off here. I have tried to fix it but this is the best I have gotten. I am experiencing quite the learning curve with my new camera. Therefore, I do not have many shots of Easter that are even worth keeping.  Makes me sad.

Our niece got a new puppy named Archie that she brought to Easter dinner...he is SO cute....I am in LOVE with this lil guy.  He is so sweet and I am not really a dog person.  I think he would make a great friend for Scout.  I told my niece I would take him when she goes to college next year!

Kate's antibiotic shots are horrible.  She screams for a half hour before the shot and about an hour after but today is her last one and we have seen HUGE improvements.  I hate having to get these shots for her.

I am completely behind in life (laundry, grocery shopping, keeping up with friends, returning phone calls and e-mails, paperwork).  I cannot catch up! Harry has a bunch of medical tests this week and next (x-rays, blood work and the like) for his stomach. He will also be getting ready for his First Reconciliation and Holy Communion.  Kate also has a few medical tests (renal ultrasound/scan).  She was on the melamine formula in China and has had protein in her urine the last few times they have checked.  We have been waiting for the scans because she has been so sick lately.  All this to say, my blogging might be sporadic for a while.  

(taken with the old camera~no time for the new one because I am holding Kate)

I should have never said Kate was feeling better....all I can say is this...went to Dr. this morning...

HORRIBLE .RAGING. DOUBLE. EAR INFECTION!

She seems to be resistant to oral antibiotics...so we are in for 3 days of antibiotic shots!

Hope y'all have a wonderful and blessed Easter or Passover.

So thankful this week

I have so many reasons to be thankful this week...

~My new camera arrived today! I have been wanting the D-700 for months and months.  I have researched this camera to death but kind of thought it was too much camera for me.  I finally bit the bullet and bought it.  Here she is....

(Added for those who have asked...my top is Lily Pulitzer and I found it at Marshall's a few weeks ago;)

I have a lot to learn about this camera!!!

~Some of our best friends are visiting from Canada this week.  They are Harry's Godparents and we have so much fun with them.  

~I have had some really nice time with Kate.  She has some cold/sinus thing going on again but she is SO much better than she has been for the last several weeks.  Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. (Right after I posted this Kate woke up with 103 fever...we are back to the doctor tomorrow:(

~One of my very good friends is flying in for a visit in a few weeks:) I love Di and I cannot wait for her visit!!!

~Two blog buddies who I have followed for a very, very long time received their referrals this week!  It is so exciting!!!!

"T "has such a beautiful and FUN family.  This is one blog my hubby even enjoys.  He wants to be friends with them because they laugh so much.  They are always having FUN! Please congratulate them on their daughter, Emerson Grace...she is going to fit right in with them:)

I love Emerson Grace's little smile!

Another blog buddy, Debbie recieved her referral for beautiful Miss Darci. Debbie has been a long time reader of this blog and I have prayed for Darci for a long time! I am so happy for them. Please stop by and congratulate them too.

Isn't Darci darling?!

And Steffie B is in China with her new son!  Oh my goodness~ his smile melts my heart.  I am so thrilled for you, Steffie!  This little boy makes me want to adopt again!  If my hubby reads this~he will shoot me.  I know we are done.

It really is wonderful watching families you have come to "know" brought together with their children.  There is nothing like it!  

I think if we look around we can always find reasons to be thankful. Thank you Lord.

A morning to remember

Added: Kate's clippie is form here.

Dear Kate,

I want to remember this day forever. It started off so simple. A bag of stale hoagie rolls prompted me to take you to the park to feed the ducks.  It was a perfect Spring day...blue skies, gorgeous sunshine and a breeze that was a little crisp.  We sat in the sunshine feeding the ducks.  You were so excited when they ate your bread.  I loved watching the joy on your face. A bride was being photographed at the park.  When you saw her, you said she was a princess:)

Then, we strolled over to the garden center and walked around smelling the roses. There were roses of every color and we soaked up all the beauty around us.  You decided that instead of the snack I packed, you wanted to munch on the stale duck bread:)

While we were in the rose garden, you spied the train. Immediately, you asked for a ride. It was nearing lunch and nap time so Mom told you that maybe the choo choo had to go eat lunch and take its nap. Your quick response was that "the choo choo isn't hungry."  So, we hunted down the train station and rode the train through the park.  This was my favorite part of the day.  You snuggled up to me and held both of my hands for the whole 20 minute ride.  I looked down at our entwined hands and wanted to imprint that image in my mind forever.  I know that no matter how badly I want to hold on to that memory... it may fade.  I have ridden that train dozens of times with Will and Harry and I know the memories all blur into one another over the years.  That is why I am writing this down.  I know that life is all about these special little moments.  And today was full of them with you.

When the train went over some water, you jumped into my lap and squeezed my neck.  You told me you were scared.  I whispered in your ear that I will always be there to keep you safe.  And I mean it.  

On the way home, you asked for "chicka fila."  We do not really eat fast food (boys allergies) but you have had chic-fil-a a few times and you love it.  So, Mommy indulged you on this perfect Spring Day.  Kate, you warm my heart and I am so glad we had this sweet and special morning. 

I love you as high as the sky and as deep as the ocean,

Mommy.

P.S.  This is not my adoption anniversary letter to Kate.  I have a lot going on this week (some of our best friends are visiting from out of the country, hosting book club at my house, baseball, etc).  So, I have not had a chance to post that and go through the photos.  Sorry. I am also sorry that I have not had time to check in on many blogs.  Life has just gotten too busy.  I will check in with y'all soon. I wanted to write and post this before the warm memories of today fade into the daily grind.

I hope I remember it forever.

Meeting Kate

(Turn off the music at the bottom of the page before you watch.  Sorry the quality is poor Y*utube stripped the music).

Today is the day I met my daughter two years ago.   Words will never be adequate enough describe the magic of that moment. You see, my whole life, I knew God had planned for her. I always knew. Always.

Probably as a mode of self-protection, I set my expectations low for the beginning.  I had read a lot about adoption and attachment and how it is all a process. I knew that I might not feel the immediate bond.  She was a stranger.  I was a stranger. She had never seen a woman with blonde hair.  She had just traveled for 25 hours with an ear infection. I knew that many adoptive Moms feel like a babysitter for a while. I thought I might feel that way too.  It is normal.  However, I was fortunate.  The moment Kate and I looked at each other....there was a spark.  We both knew. We knew that we were meant to be Mom and daughter.  Luckily, that moment was recorded on video and film (well DSLR).

This was the moment.  I swear there was electricity in the air as she looked right into my eyes. I knew I was her Mom and she knew she was my daughter.  She did not shed one tear.  She did not pull away from me.  She was completely comfortable in my arms.

I must be honest here.  I know many people who read this are embarking on adoption. Kate Emerson is a little "high maintenance."  She is sweet and happy and smart and funny.  But she arrived with some baggage (they all do). Any child who is cared for by one person for their infancy and then suddenly given to another person will have some issues (even if they have little or no memory, even if they are only 10 months old as Kate was). It was not all happiness and light. She does not trust easily. We can rarely use babysitters with her. She has pushed my buttons more than Will and Harry ever did as toddlers. She has had more illnesses, more attachment issues, more sleep issues and she is quite opinionated. 

But as I have said before, I had to earn her love, earn her trust.  And because of that our bond runs incredibly deep.  Kate has taught me more about myself and more about life than any other person.  God knew that would happen too.  She is a great blessing and I love her to the very depths of my soul.

Tonight we will celebrate our forever family day.  We will sing and have a treat with 2 candles for the 2 years Kate Emerson has been in our family.  Later tonight, I will write her a letter as I did last year.

As a note to myself....this is our third April 4th with Kate and she has been very sick for all of them. I noticed in looking back at last year's Forever Family posts, I wrote that Kate was sick. She is sick now again. She had two good days this week and now is relapsing.  And she came home from China two years ago with a fever and bad ear infection.  I wonder what it is about this time of year for her.

I will post photos and my letter tomorrow or Monday:)