Ok so I am a terrible blogger! I do have some great updates and pics coming soon...I just need to get through grading papers and giving final exams and then I promise to do better! I just wanted to say we are all alive and doing well. The boys change daily. They are adorable and loving and yet this has been one of the most difficult times our family has gone throught. We thought that with two adoptions nder our belt, we were prepared...but this time was different. We have all been exhausted trying to meet everyone's many needs. I have had to learn to reach out and accept help. I am so thankful for my mom and my church and pthers who have stopped by to visit ad offered to help out in so many ways. The past few days I had strep and Bo was traveling out of town and I am convinced that without friends and family some of us wold not have made it out alive! But the meds are kicking in now, three of the four are sound asleep and for this moment all seems right with the world and I feel blessed! That is when I want to write...so the blank spaces tell you just how tought the last few months have been.
I did want you all to know that the China Care fondation has a 10 yr anniversary video on youtube that features our son Brandon. He comes in three pics right after the words 10 Kangs (just after 10 Dangs comes 10 Kangs) China Care Foundation -- 2010 Celebrating Ten Years!
www.youtube.com
He is a tough one, but we all think he is gonna turn out really great once he realizes that we are really gonna be here for the long run. He had so many people love him for a year to 14 months and then had to say goodbye so we are still on probation with him. But give it another year and he will catch on that we are different!
Keep the prayers and encouragement coming!
Love to all,
Glenda
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
What a difference a few months make!
I wanted to share these two pictures. The first one was taken around the middle of June when we went out to dinner for my sister-in-law's birthday. The second was taken this weekend at the same place and I realized how much the boys are changing. Their hair is growing out. Their smiles are bigger. They feel like they have always been with us. We were able to manage them at dinner all by ourselves. The family seated with us actually commented on how well-behaved they are and said that we "make it look easy"-- anyone who ate dinner with us in China with just the two boys-- could you imagine that ever happening???
Everyday gets a little better. It was a huge adjustment and I don't think any of us realized how different it would be... but it is a good different and worth it all. Our little asian invasion is the invasion of 4 little ones into our life and family. They have captured our hearts and stolen our affections. Our lives will never be the same... and I can't wait to see their futures! They are amazing little blessings and we are so blessed to have them!
A few more differences:
1) I can blog because all the kids are asleep in their own beds! (We may have visitors throughout the night, but this is still a huge change!)
2) Brandon smiled most of the day. He asked to go to Chuck E Cheese and how can you say no when he can say it so well and smiles so big! (And no I did not think to bring a camera-- glad Chuck E Cheese does have a few pics for us!)
3) Brandon lost quite a few teeth due to infection and decay. He looks funny but he seems to be happier and not in pain!
4) Brayden is still the happy little guy, but he feels safe enough now to show us when he is angry too-- not very often- but every once in a while he is not smiling!
5) Lily and Brandon can have moments of being kind to one another.
6) Kylee is settling into the big sister role. She is such a big help and likes having special time- like staying up a little later than everyone else. Kylee is in big school by herself and loving it!
7) Lily did not cry this morning when she had to do her treatment. She does not like it but she is handling it so much better.
Everyone is growing up. Everyone is in preschool and loving the routine! Mom is back teaching a few classes and seeing a few clients and supervises. For the first time mom can drop off and pick up everyday! And when Dad is home it is even easier to care for everyone! We are really busy with baths and lunches to pack and all that--but it is doable and a few months ago I did not think it was possible.
A few more differences:
1) I can blog because all the kids are asleep in their own beds! (We may have visitors throughout the night, but this is still a huge change!)
2) Brandon smiled most of the day. He asked to go to Chuck E Cheese and how can you say no when he can say it so well and smiles so big! (And no I did not think to bring a camera-- glad Chuck E Cheese does have a few pics for us!)
3) Brandon lost quite a few teeth due to infection and decay. He looks funny but he seems to be happier and not in pain!
4) Brayden is still the happy little guy, but he feels safe enough now to show us when he is angry too-- not very often- but every once in a while he is not smiling!
5) Lily and Brandon can have moments of being kind to one another.
6) Kylee is settling into the big sister role. She is such a big help and likes having special time- like staying up a little later than everyone else. Kylee is in big school by herself and loving it!
7) Lily did not cry this morning when she had to do her treatment. She does not like it but she is handling it so much better.
Everyone is growing up. Everyone is in preschool and loving the routine! Mom is back teaching a few classes and seeing a few clients and supervises. For the first time mom can drop off and pick up everyday! And when Dad is home it is even easier to care for everyone! We are really busy with baths and lunches to pack and all that--but it is doable and a few months ago I did not think it was possible.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Birthday Party Pictures
We asked the girls to wait to have a birthday party together for their friends from preschool. A good friend offered her pool and the girls picked the "Tangled" theme. Lauryn helped with the cake and making 'rapunsel' hair for the front door (all the while telling me how I never did anything like that for her!). We had fun getting it all ready and we pulled off a fun day for the kids. I am just getting around to downloading the pics and thought I would share them.
Life is busy....
I only have a few minutes (that is my life these days) but I just had to give an update and say that things get better and better each week that goes by. I tried to be brutally honest when things were tough so I don't want to delay in letting everyone know that things do get better!
It is still overwhelming at times and physically exhausting, but the attachment is happening and we are all settling into our life together.
This week Daddy took Brandon to the pediatrician and she commented on how much he has changed in the past month since she saw him. The doctor asked him if he wanted to listen with her stethoscope and he looked to Dad as if to ask permission. She could not believe it and commented on how that is so great that he already gets that he needs to look to Dad. Overall he is becoming so much happier and settled. He is mostly compliant and obedient and very affectionate. He has come so far!
Brayden is still silly and busy and all smiles. He loves to swim and decided to go back into our friend's pool after we had taken off the swimmies while I was dressing Brandon and helping Lily with her bloody nose from Kylee accidently kicking her while swimming away. Kylee was still in the pool and saw him step off the step over his head and pulled him up as I ran over. He spit up water for a while. So things are better...but I still have to learn to watch four little ones all at the same time and keep them all alive! It is a challenge! Never a dull moment....here in our always crazy, sometimes amazing life!
It is still overwhelming at times and physically exhausting, but the attachment is happening and we are all settling into our life together.
This week Daddy took Brandon to the pediatrician and she commented on how much he has changed in the past month since she saw him. The doctor asked him if he wanted to listen with her stethoscope and he looked to Dad as if to ask permission. She could not believe it and commented on how that is so great that he already gets that he needs to look to Dad. Overall he is becoming so much happier and settled. He is mostly compliant and obedient and very affectionate. He has come so far!
Brayden is still silly and busy and all smiles. He loves to swim and decided to go back into our friend's pool after we had taken off the swimmies while I was dressing Brandon and helping Lily with her bloody nose from Kylee accidently kicking her while swimming away. Kylee was still in the pool and saw him step off the step over his head and pulled him up as I ran over. He spit up water for a while. So things are better...but I still have to learn to watch four little ones all at the same time and keep them all alive! It is a challenge! Never a dull moment....here in our always crazy, sometimes amazing life!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
My little men!
We had an affirmation service for our daughter Lindsay and her husband, David, since they did not get to have a wedding last year. I will post more pics when I get them. Lauryn posted this one so you cold see the boys. They did so well! It is amazing to think that they have been with us such a short time. Things are settling down and starting to feel doable! (Maybe that is just the perspective having Dad home all week and cousins around to tire the boys out and spending time at the lake...but whatever it is, it is nice to at least for the moment feel like we might be able to make this work!)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sleep is a powerfuul thing!
Sleep is important. At its best- sleep can make you feel better about life, give you amazing dreams and help you sort out the frustrations of life. Lack of sleep can lead to all kinds of mental issues. It can distort one's thinking and cause irritability and all sorts of other 'fun' things. If you want to torture someone, take away their sleep.
I was so fortunate with my biological children in that they were ALL great sleeepers. Bryan was the first and he spolied me by sleeping through the might right from the start-- I finally decided after a week that I did not need to wake him up. He was such a great baby. Then came Whit and even though he was high energy, he liked to sleep just as hard as he liked to play. My favorite story was when he was playing in our garage on a riding toy and I turned around and he was sound asleep on the concrete floor! Lindsay and Lauryn followed suit- although it did take Lauryn a little longer to sleep through the night but she was so darn cute that I did not mind getting up.
But when you adopt toddlers- it is like starting atthe baby stage but with a child who can walk and talk and cry and pitch fits! Kylee struggled with sleep for years. But she would go to sleep without a problem- with US in our bed. And now she is able to sleep in her own room and no longer has night terrors. It was a rough time with not a lot of sleep, but she did not have problems going to sleep so I just got used to going to bed earlier or taking a nap and we got through it. Lily is a lot like Whit and always seemed to sleep pretty well so it was an easy transition when they both went at the same time to their own room. And for the last about a year we have had it pretty good.,,,and then we started all over with TWO.
Brandon was hard to get to listen at first but now he is fairly c. ompliant with going to bed- on a mattress beside my bed. Bryaden has a mattress there too but he prefers/insists on being in our bed. That was fine when we were in China that first week with just hiim enjoying the last bit of the baby stage. I figured he needed to catch up on some mothering and all. But he really does not seem to need much sleep, does not like to go to sleep and doesn't ever seem to stop! He is sweet and charming so that helps but he is tiring.
Saturday we had gone to visit some great friends and the kids all had a blast swimming and seemed thoroughly worn out and full from dinner so I thought I was set. Sure enough the boys fell asleep on the ride home and I even drove around the neighborhood a bit to make sure they were good and out. I always prided myself on my ability to bring kids in and lay them down without waking them up so I was sure it would be a nice quiet evening... not so much! After carrying them up the stairs-- and they are not that light- but it is good exercise I suppose--they each in turn opended their eyes and wanted to get up and play. I firmly said "no" and went through my repetoire of bedtime routines until I was exhausted. They asked to watch their Chinese cartoon so I agreed and told them as long as they stayed in bed-- that worked for about 5 minutes. At the end of it all 3 hours had passed before the kids were actually asleep and I felt like I had been in a major battle! And then there was the interruptions through the night...
Then it was Sunday... To be perfectly honest the thought of getting 4 kids (5 if you count a sleepy teen) up and ready for church all by myself was overwhelming. But I decided to give it my best. I even planned to go early for the women'sclass-- good thing or I would have missed church entirely. So everything that could go wrong went wrong. I had so much poop to clean - even the dog pooped in the floor! So everyone had showers and managed to find clothes and we eventually got to church. By this time I was in tears everytime someone asked how we were doing. I was tired and emotional and seeing pictures posted from my husband's incredible Alaskan adventure with our son did not help me feel any better. (I am happy for them - really I am-- but the timing could not be worse!). So getting there was tough but God showed up as He so often does through our Pastor who walks so humbly before Him and works so hard to give Christ the freedom to work. I was so broken and so humbled by the people who offered to help. But I really do OK during the day-- it is just those few hours when my expectations are not met and I am more tired than the little ones that I just want someone to come in and put them to bed-- SuperNanny perhaps! No wait- i don;t want anyone to see my messy house on TV! Sunday afternoon I could not even get them to take a nap and I was exhausted,,, but I decided to try once again to give it to God and to ask Him to change me and give me the patience and desire to love His children even when they are not obedient and even when I am tired. I know that they need me. As much as we are adjusting- how much more for 2 little boys who missed ot on so much mothering, who may have so many scars about bedtime and be afraid that this will all disappear, who wonder where daddy is and what is going to happen next. I am ashamed of my impatience! But as I said before...lack of sleep is a powerful thing!
So we had a much better night last night...wish I could say that meant everyone was asleep by 8pm--I think it was still almost 11 by the time everyone was asleep. But something was different-- everyone was so much happier and compliant. Brandon took his blanket and laid down without incident- big change!-- and when I thought about it I think what changed was my attitude. Sleep is always tricky with new little ones and I just need to be patient and try to enjoy these new little blessings- even at bedtime. I am so thankful for my friends who are praying for me and for the encouragement of my church and for my Savior who never gives up on me and is patient with me and uses these little ones to show Me something about His Love for me.
I hope to get more and more sleep as the transition goes on...but even if I don't, I can be thankful for my Lord who will give me strength, my friends who give me suppport and help keep me sane, and my children who won't always be little and will be grown in the blink of an eye!
Love to all,
Glenda
I was so fortunate with my biological children in that they were ALL great sleeepers. Bryan was the first and he spolied me by sleeping through the might right from the start-- I finally decided after a week that I did not need to wake him up. He was such a great baby. Then came Whit and even though he was high energy, he liked to sleep just as hard as he liked to play. My favorite story was when he was playing in our garage on a riding toy and I turned around and he was sound asleep on the concrete floor! Lindsay and Lauryn followed suit- although it did take Lauryn a little longer to sleep through the night but she was so darn cute that I did not mind getting up.
But when you adopt toddlers- it is like starting atthe baby stage but with a child who can walk and talk and cry and pitch fits! Kylee struggled with sleep for years. But she would go to sleep without a problem- with US in our bed. And now she is able to sleep in her own room and no longer has night terrors. It was a rough time with not a lot of sleep, but she did not have problems going to sleep so I just got used to going to bed earlier or taking a nap and we got through it. Lily is a lot like Whit and always seemed to sleep pretty well so it was an easy transition when they both went at the same time to their own room. And for the last about a year we have had it pretty good.,,,and then we started all over with TWO.
Brandon was hard to get to listen at first but now he is fairly c. ompliant with going to bed- on a mattress beside my bed. Bryaden has a mattress there too but he prefers/insists on being in our bed. That was fine when we were in China that first week with just hiim enjoying the last bit of the baby stage. I figured he needed to catch up on some mothering and all. But he really does not seem to need much sleep, does not like to go to sleep and doesn't ever seem to stop! He is sweet and charming so that helps but he is tiring.
Saturday we had gone to visit some great friends and the kids all had a blast swimming and seemed thoroughly worn out and full from dinner so I thought I was set. Sure enough the boys fell asleep on the ride home and I even drove around the neighborhood a bit to make sure they were good and out. I always prided myself on my ability to bring kids in and lay them down without waking them up so I was sure it would be a nice quiet evening... not so much! After carrying them up the stairs-- and they are not that light- but it is good exercise I suppose--they each in turn opended their eyes and wanted to get up and play. I firmly said "no" and went through my repetoire of bedtime routines until I was exhausted. They asked to watch their Chinese cartoon so I agreed and told them as long as they stayed in bed-- that worked for about 5 minutes. At the end of it all 3 hours had passed before the kids were actually asleep and I felt like I had been in a major battle! And then there was the interruptions through the night...
Then it was Sunday... To be perfectly honest the thought of getting 4 kids (5 if you count a sleepy teen) up and ready for church all by myself was overwhelming. But I decided to give it my best. I even planned to go early for the women'sclass-- good thing or I would have missed church entirely. So everything that could go wrong went wrong. I had so much poop to clean - even the dog pooped in the floor! So everyone had showers and managed to find clothes and we eventually got to church. By this time I was in tears everytime someone asked how we were doing. I was tired and emotional and seeing pictures posted from my husband's incredible Alaskan adventure with our son did not help me feel any better. (I am happy for them - really I am-- but the timing could not be worse!). So getting there was tough but God showed up as He so often does through our Pastor who walks so humbly before Him and works so hard to give Christ the freedom to work. I was so broken and so humbled by the people who offered to help. But I really do OK during the day-- it is just those few hours when my expectations are not met and I am more tired than the little ones that I just want someone to come in and put them to bed-- SuperNanny perhaps! No wait- i don;t want anyone to see my messy house on TV! Sunday afternoon I could not even get them to take a nap and I was exhausted,,, but I decided to try once again to give it to God and to ask Him to change me and give me the patience and desire to love His children even when they are not obedient and even when I am tired. I know that they need me. As much as we are adjusting- how much more for 2 little boys who missed ot on so much mothering, who may have so many scars about bedtime and be afraid that this will all disappear, who wonder where daddy is and what is going to happen next. I am ashamed of my impatience! But as I said before...lack of sleep is a powerful thing!
So we had a much better night last night...wish I could say that meant everyone was asleep by 8pm--I think it was still almost 11 by the time everyone was asleep. But something was different-- everyone was so much happier and compliant. Brandon took his blanket and laid down without incident- big change!-- and when I thought about it I think what changed was my attitude. Sleep is always tricky with new little ones and I just need to be patient and try to enjoy these new little blessings- even at bedtime. I am so thankful for my friends who are praying for me and for the encouragement of my church and for my Savior who never gives up on me and is patient with me and uses these little ones to show Me something about His Love for me.
I hope to get more and more sleep as the transition goes on...but even if I don't, I can be thankful for my Lord who will give me strength, my friends who give me suppport and help keep me sane, and my children who won't always be little and will be grown in the blink of an eye!
Love to all,
Glenda
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Kylee and Lily Hula Hoop to Pitbull - Give me Everything
This is what happens when big brothers come for a visit... the little ones show off their skills. (disclaimer- not my choice of backgrond music.)This was taken a few weeks ago but I thought you all might enjoy it.
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