SNOW!!!

So, I'm going to be a real blogger today....and actually post on the day an event occurs! We finally got snow in the DC area. My big girls were upset last week when NC got snow and we didn't. Well, we got ours today. So far we've gotten 2-3 inches and more is expected tonight with freezing rain tomorrow. Shawn got home early today so we took the girls sledding. We weren't sure how Lauren would like it because 2 years ago it really wasn't her thing! Well, I am soooooooooooooo glad we took her over there. She loved it!! She would giggle all the way down the hill and then stand up with the biggest smile on her face. We then let her try to climb the hill as independently as possible...therapy, you know...(see previous post!) She surprised me with how far she got up the hill before Daddy needed to help. Emily and Sarah had a fabulous time as well! They raced many times to see who could reach the bottom first. A good time was had by all today. Enjoy the pictures!

Daddy and Lauren going down together!

SARAH

EMILY

LAUREN


As for travel approval...we haven't heard from China yet. This week they are on holiday for Spring Festival so we don't expect to receive TA until next Friday at the earliest. This will definitely push travel into early March. I know its only a week or two different but that is another week or two that our baby lives in an orphanage. We are ready to bring her home! Thank you for your prayers for her.

Emily and Sarah with Ethan

You know you parent a special needs child when...

You compare ER's instead of grocery stores.

You compare your child's oxygen saturations.

You view toys as "therapy."

You don't take a new day for granted.

You teach your child HOW to pull things out of the cupboard, off the bookcases, and that feeding the dog from the table is fun.

Everything is an educational opportunity instead of just having plain old fun.

You cheer instead of scold when they blow bubbles in their juice while sitting at the dinner table (that's speech therapy), smear ketchup all over their high chair (that's OT), or throw their toys (that's PT). You also don't mind if your child goes through the house tooting a tinwhistle.

You fired at least 3 pediatricians and can teach your family doctor a thing or two.

You can name at least 3 genes on chromosome 21.

You have been told you are "in denial" by at least 3 medical or therapy professionals. This makes you laugh!

You have that incredible sinking feeling that you've forgotten SOMETHING on those few days that you don't have some sort of appointment somewhere!

Your vocabulary consists of all the letters OT, PT, SP, ASD, VSD, IFSP, etc.

You keep your appointment at the specialist even though a winter blizzard is raging because you just want to get this one over with.....you waited 8 months to get it.....and besides, no one else will be there!

Fighting and wrestling with siblings is PT. Speech therapy occurs in the tub with a sibling.

When potty training is complete, you take out a full-page public notice in the Washington Post.

When the Doctors/Specialist/Hospitals etc. all know you by your name without referring to your chart.

You keep a daily growth chart.

You calculate monthly statistics for the number of times your child vomits, and did this for more then one year.

You phone all your friends when your child sits up for the first time, at age two.

With a big smile on your face you tell a stranger that your four-year-old just started walking last week.

Her medical file is 25 inches and growing.

You have a new belief...that angels live with us on earth.

How blessed we are to have Lauren in our life.

**You other special needs moms know how true these are. And for those of you who don't have a special needs kiddo, these are completely for real...I had to laugh as I read them because I could have written this list! Kiss your children. They are all gifts from God.

Still waiting on our Travel Approval (TA). Pray with us that it comes next week! We are ready to hold our girl. One more picture for your viewing pleasure. Anna is the 2nd from the left...the cutest one!! : )

A couple more pics...

Okay, so I have to share a few more of my favorites.

Anna eating dinner...yes, we do want to know more about this little boy. We've had LOTS of people ask about him.


This is one of my favorite...look at this sweet face!!


Pray for our travel approval(TA) to come soon! That is the last thing!!

New Pictures!!!!

This is Anna with the care package we sent her.

Getting a little love...

This one made me cry! I can't wait to hold her!

WOO HOO! We got new pictures and an update from my friend, Gayly! She is currently in Xian getting her son, Nate. We are so very, very thankful that Gayly and Shawn took the time to get these pictures developed. As far as her size...she is 21 lbs., 27" tall, and has 12 teeth. She is growing up! And I can't wait to get her!!!
Enjoy the pictures. I'll post more later.

LOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep~ you read that right.....we got LOA today! We are going to China, baby!!! We waited only 67 days! Amazing!!!! We hope to travel at the end of February or beginning of March! Oh my goodness! More later....we head back to Virginia tomorrow!
Thanks for your prayers. Keep praying for Anna!

And pray for Lauren and Sarah...they have the Wilmington funk....nasty cough! Lauren also has a fever. Nothing too serious and we'd like to keep it that way!

First snow of the year!

It snowed today! Not a lot, but enough for my girls to get really excited! We had friends over watching the big game...GO NAVY! Beat Army!...and so they had a friend to add to the excitement. They first went out on the deck in sweatshirts and crocs, came in to get coats and real shoes, came in again for snow gloves, and finally for snow boots! They were outside for over 2 hours in the snow. They made as many snowballs as they could on the deck and made the first snowman of the year, or maybe I should say snow-baby(see picture below). Hopefully this winter will bring more snow than last year. It seems all we got last year was a lot of freezing rain and that really stinks! If it is that cold we prefer snow! A fun day was had by all. Tomorrow is our 12th anniversary. It seems crazy that we've been married 12 years...but then I think of all we've done and it seems like it should be even longer. I am so thankful for the husband that God gave me. He is the perfect husband for me. I have known it since 1996 when we were married but I have grown to appreciate him even more in the last 2 1/2 years. Thank you, Lord, for that wonderful provision in my life. Enjoy the snow pictures!

Sarah and Ethan


The first snowman of the year!


Whew...2 hours later...Yes, Sarah refused to smile just because...well, because she is Shawn's daughter! No need to say anything else.

Homeschool science

Okay, so don't tell my girls but I really don't like science. I love history and English....science?? not so much! So today we have an issue on our street with the water. The water company is out and they are digging up the street with jackhammers and making lots of noise. The girls are so interested in what they are doing. They are sitting in the front yard, finishing math under a blanket while watching the local water company work. That's science....isn't it? Can't we find some scientific category to put this in? Surely we can!! I love homeschooling...ya wanna know why? As I type this, my 8 and 11 year old are snuggled under a blanket together watching a jackhammer and talking a mile a minute. You just can't get this time back and I am so glad they are spending it together and with me.



We had a great Thanksgiving with my mom and dad. We packed as much as we could into one weekend to make the most of Mimi and Grandy being here. So on Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving, Friday we decorated for Christmas, and Saturday we had a piano/harp recital and Emily's birthday party. Pretty good for a 3 day period, huh? But Mimi and Grandy were here for all of it and that was the important thing!



We haven't heard anything new with Anna. Please keep praying that we can travel in a timely manner. I just hate the thought of her spending a cold winter in an orphanage when we have a warm bed we would love to be sharing. Specifically, pray that our letter of approval comes by the end of the year. That is what we are hoping for. As of today we have waited 36 days...and that is not long compared to the wait that many experience. But still, for a mama, its a long time.
Enjoy your Tuesday! I'll update later about our "science lesson" for today! : )