12 Years

2000

Today is our anniversary!!  Twelve years and so many changes-  Jobs, addresses, hair-do's, children, family life and a few more wrinkles.  

Some things never change... I love you honey!

2012

2012

December 30, 2000

Post-Christmas sickies

We had a wonderful Christmas with family... despite the stomach flu, respiratory colds and reactive airways.  More pictures to come (once we unpack).

Jack Nathan is sick and getting breathing treatments every 4 hours and steroids twice a day.  Poor guy.  Lots of coughing and wheezing.

Missing Papa this year.  It was very different celebrating Christmas morning without him.  It was good sharing memories of him together.

Family

New Film Premiere - I Like Adoption. from ILikeGiving.com on Vimeo.


In these crazy, busy, chaotic days it's encouraging to see God's love and purpose in the FAMILY.

I came across this video today and thought it was a great pre-Christmas encouragement for Families... of all kinds.

a micropreemie story

Since bringing Abby home from the NICU at just a breath over 5 pounds, I've hounded the internet and books for any information pertaining to my preemie miracle.  Yesterday I got an email from one of the groups I've been reading.  A mom shared the story of her 23 week micropreemie.  She's a writer for the Tampa Bay Times.  She captures her journey with a micropreemie more accurately than any I've read before... parts of it were like reading my own story.

You can read all 3 parts of her story, Never Let Go.


Although this topic is a heavy one for many families faced with the decisions of care for their medically fragile children, we are so thankful that our Hope is the Lord.  It was clear to us from the beginning that He loves Abby and He has a plan for her.

She has some very hard days, but she is one of the most Loved children I know... by family, friends, nurses, doctors and folks we've never met all over the world!

Click HERE to see statistics for a 23 week preemie

Click HERE to check out the delicate science of caring for preemies.

one month HOME

Jack Nathan- 22 months

These 4 weeks have skipped right on by, with out much mention of how we are surviving.  Let's just say there are more smiles, more teeth to brush, more sippy cups to rinse, more diapers to change, more holding, more cuddles, more squabbles, and more reasons to get up in the morning... whether I FEEL like it or not!

More laundry, more eating, more sweeping and more lost shoes...

Precious, new, little eyes.  New expressions.  New cries.  New sounds from the crib. New toes to tickle.  

Folding baby clothes again.  

There is some searching of my emotions to find a "box" to put this new feeling in.  Exhaustion is part of our days too.  Less sleep, less time to sit... less time to finish anything.

Joy.

Tears.

Thankfulness.

It's all a gift.

Adoption Doula!

Doula: "a non-medical person supporting a mother in childbirth, providing information, physical assistance and emotional support."

My sister went with us to China to help our family during the transition of adopting Jack Nathan.  Her role in our family turned out to be SO much more...

She was a servant of servants!  With incredible grace, patience and abounding love she cared for ALL of us.  On the plane, she helped feed, entertain, potty, hold etc.  

Finally arrived in Xiamen, after 30 plus hours of travel

We grew up in China together, so going back was a sort of "going home" experience in many ways for us.  The first few days of our trip were great, seeing the island we remember as kids, reuniting with friends who were really more like family.  We even walked by the Chinese school we attended together!

Heading to Gulangyu- with memories of childhood in the back ground!

Reuniting with our precious sister- Fuji!!

Reuniting with our landlady- a good friend!

Having coffee with our landlady, and seeing our old house

Our old gate!!  So many memories of our comings and goings from that squeaky gate.

When Josiah got so sick, she was a mother to my newly adopted son and my sweet Levi.  She cleaned up vomit and other sickness results!!  (that's true love)  She took our boys out of the hotel for walks, by herself!  She sat with me and Josiah in the hospital, waiting...  She wept with me, and we pleaded with God together for my child.



Words just can't describe how much she means to us, and how very much we love her!

Thank you Christy!  You are an amazing sister and fabulous friend.

(We HIGHLY recommend all adopting families, traveling with children, to have an Adoption Doula!)