Date Is Set...

We have set the date for Anna's first surgery. On Friday, March 28 we will be traveling to Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY for an alveolar bone graft and potentially tubes in her ears.

They will be getting the bone from Anna's rib. They will then try to "fill" in the cleft in her gum line. Her surgeon will also be "working" as much of the hard palate as possible behind her gum line. It will be a hard day for our little girl. Sore mouth and sore ribs.

The surgeon's office is trying to get 2 nights in the hospital due to the graft. But, we are still unsure if that is going to happen or not...if not then we will just be there 1 night. We are also going to have to coordinate with her ENT on whether or not the tubes can be done the same day. If not, I will be requesting to wait until her next surgery. I don't want her put under anesthesia 3 times in under 5 months time. I don't think the risk of putting her to sleep is worth it when we can just wait a few more months when we know she is going to be having another surgery.

Please keep us, especially Anna in your prayers that everything will go perfectly. I am a bit nervous about the whole ordeal and dreads the days following the surgery.

Sending thanks to all you who care so much for our little girl,
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna Mei

Babies & a Birthday...

Finally - we got clearance!!! After a month of my newest nephew Sam being home, I was finally able to see the little guy and he is real! As I have posted, he was born nearly 9 weeks premature and although I wouldn't have done anything to compromise his well-being....I really, really, really wanted to see him for myself. He is doing really well at home, no sickness, gaining weight, eating good and my sister asked if we could come over and visit....YES!

Thankfully our house has been well for over a week (yeah!) and we were comfortable visiting. I gave the kids the run down before we got there, "don't get in his face, no kisses, don't ask to hold him, don't run, don't scream, no fussing, don't ask Stephanie to fix you anything and Parker - no light sabers in the same room as Sam" you know, just the normal stuff when you have kids.

When we got there, Stephanie was fixing him a bottle and asked if I wanted to feed him, which of course I did. He is so tiny - so I can only imagine how tiny he was when he was first born. He was pretty lazy while eating, so I changed his diaper to "rouse" him up a little and it did. He was very bright eyed and appeared alert. Such a cutie too! He looks sort of like Jack, except Jack had black hair when he was a baby and Sam's is completely different. Sam's hair is blond, blond. Because Jack's hair was so dark and has been most of his life, I told my sister just a couple of weeks before she had Sam that it would be funny if she had a blond baby. I have 3 blond boys and a dark haired daughter, my brother has a blond son and a dark haired daughter and Stephanie has Jack with dark hair, so I thought she needed a blond. I don't think she or Rick thought he would ever blond - but he is!

He makes those little sweeting "grunting" noises when he sleeps...it's so cute!

So needless to say, I was a happy aunt. I got to see my sister's boyssssssss - as in plural, 2, more than one, multiple children and it made me very, very happy.

Can you tell I am happy?!?

On Tuesday, Feb 19th, Rodney has a birthday. He turned 40! Just to clarify any assumptions of my age....Rodney is 8 years older than me! Happy Birthday Rodney!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

When we got home from Anna's appointment, there was a sign on our front porch announcing to everyone that passed we had a birthday boy!

We spent his birthday in Louisville at a cleft clinic with Anna. We left the house about 6:00 am to make the 2 1/2 hour trip to Louisville for her appointment. We saw her surgeon, orthodontist, audiologist, clinic speech therapist, dietitian, and clinic dentist - whew! They were happy with Anna's progress over the last 3 months and started making the plans for her surgeries. Due to the severity of her cleft, they will have to repair her gum line first. Her surgeon said that because it is so wide, the scar tissue would literally collapse out her gum line if that was not repaired and stable at the time of her surgery. So, we will have her gum line fixed, wait about 3 - 5 weeks for the swelling to go down and then take her to the orthodontist for impressions. They will fit her for an obturator that she will wear until her palate surgery which will occur about 4 months after her initial surgery to repair the gum line.

I spoke with her surgeon's office today and tentative dates are March 28th or April 4th. Since she will have to stay overnight, I had rather have it on a Friday. That way whoever the boys stay with will not have to worry about getting them to school the next day. We are really excited about getting the surgery done - but dread, dread, dread the actual procedure and the days to follow. I am thrilled that we are able to get this done for her and know that it is the best thing to do - no doubt - but you hate to think about the pain that they will have to endure because of the surgery. We are praying that it all happens when it needs to and she just does beautifully through every procedure she has to face.

Anna had 2 little girls at Jacob's basketball game that came over with

Polly Pockets - Big Hit!

Anna really has progressed over the last few months. With the boys, it was no big deal for them to do some of the things that we are celebrating with Anna. Not that we didn't cherish their development but we didn't delight in the fact that they were playing in their spilled milk. Anna has had some issues regarding sensitivity and sensory with her hands. She has been almost obsessed with "flicking" textures. She flicks at almost everything...her cup, her toys, the fridge, clothes, shoes, furniture, etc., anything where there is a texture other than a smooth surface. She loves to feel things, but couldn't stand anything on her hands. Finger painting was seriously a traumatic experience for her. She got oatmeal creme pie "creme" on her hands and I was almost in tears before I got her hands cleaned. She was so incredibly upset. It was not just a "I don't want to do this" cry, it was more like she had crossed over to panic mode and couldn't gain composure until she was clean and being held.

We have since worked on getting her to stop flicking so much (still flicks, but not as much) and trying to "force" her to get a little "dirty" on her hands. She wouldn't feed herself, because she didn't want the crumbs of food on her hands. No crackers, chips, bread, cereal, nothing that could potentially leave anything on her hands. We really started to see progress when I had her in her high chair waiting for her dinner to cool. She had her sippy cup (which doesn't have the valve in due to her not being able to suck through the valve) and I ran upstairs to check on the boys. When I came back down, she had poured her milk out of her cup, onto the high chair tray and had it smeared everywhere, including her hair. Carter, Jacob and Parker...I would have not been so delighted, but I was thrilled that her hands were "messy".

"Are you proud Momma?"

Little does she know that the milk in the hair will result in having to wash her hair -

not her favorite pass time

Over the next couple of weeks, she began eating dry cereal, muffins, bread, and even sticky sliced bananas. I am really proud of her progress. However, now I don't snap pictures of her when she pours her milk out...she gets the typical "no, no" :-)

Just 3 months ago, she was still taking a bottle with formula and only eating mashed or pureed foods or jarred baby foods - NOW....anything we put in front of her. As long as it is bite sized, she will attempt it. She still can't 'bite' things off well, but if she can get it in her mouth, it is as good as gone. The sizes need to be small enough to keep her from gagging. She still does that pretty bad, but not as bad as a couple months ago. She eats beans, potatoes, carrots, rice, meats, cookies, biscuits, eggs, pancakes, pop-tarts, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, pizza...seriously ANYTHING! We are proud of our little pig.

Parker plays GameBoy - Anna plays GameBoy

"Monkey see, Monkey do"

I know that some of you have been reading the blog for a while and remember a friend of mine that was going to adopt a little boy from Anna's orphanage. If you remember China pulled his file and she couldn't continue with the adoption of K.C. She was heartbroken because she loved this little boy and his future was unknown. She continues to ask parents traveling to Anna's orphanage to get an update on K.C. for her and hopes that he will one day be eligible for adoption again.

Thankfully, she continued to pursue adoption and is leaving for China in just 12 days to adopt another little boy she will name John. I am so happy for her. I know this journey has not been easy for her or her family. I don't know why things happened the way that they did, but because of a series of very painful events a totally innocent, very deserving little boy will soon come to know her as his mother. I know John will not replace the K.C., nor do I think she is trying to, but John needed a mother too. I am so proud of her and just wish her the all the best!

Sending love and best wishes to Julie!
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna Mei

Be Mine...

Today is not only Valentine's Day, but it is also the anniversary of the day that my husband proposed. There are lots of funny and original proposals, but I seriously doubt there are many that share a similar proposal.

Twelve years ago tonight, our date started with flowers and candy before Rodney took me to dinner. We went to a small restaurant in downtown Bowling Green (the city I was living in while going to college at Western Kentucky University). The food was good, the "atmosphere" was romantic and there was a pianist playing love songs in the main dining area. We had a nice dinner and were going to see a movie, but instead decided to go to the mall to look around...we are in disagreement on whose idea this was to go to the mall to "look" at rings. We had been talking about getting married, but there had been no proposal, just talk.

We had looked at rings before, but no real serious looking. That night we went to a few stores and found a ring that we both liked. They asked me to try it on, it fit. Rodney asked if I like it...I said yes and he said "I'll take it." So now, we are in the mall, him carrying a small bag, with a ring inside - me knowing, but acting like the purchase had never happened....very awkward moments. We were leaving the mall, exiting through a Sears to go back to his truck. As we were approaching the outside exit door, Rodney said, "I don't know what I am waiting for." He pulled me off the main isle between two racks of bras in the women's underwear section, dropped to one knee and proposed. I of course said yes, and we both busted out laughing as the lovely background of the proposal was a nice wall of hanging "granny panties". That was just the beginning of many crazy things to come in our lives together.

Just 1 month and 2 days later, we were married! Oh yeah, and add the fact that we had just met 2 months prior. Looking back, I am surprised that my parents didn't lock me up in their basement. I have to believe that God planned us being together. The circumstances surrounding our meeting, marriage and the life that has been given to us couldn't be coincidence, but I believe divinely planned.

My husband is honest, hard working, loving and compassionate. He loves his children. He provides for our family and for whatever reason, after nearly 12 years of marriage he still loves me. I couldn't imagine sharing my life, my children and my dreams with anyone else. Happy Valentine's Day...I am glad you are mine!

Sending love to my husband and to my little Valentines,
Marcy

Xin Nian Kuai Le!!!

I'm a day late, but that's better than my average...Happy Chinese New Year! This is the Year of the Rat...I know, a rat. But in Asian cultures, the rat is a symbol of luck. I would consider it a curse personally :-) They admire the rat for their quick response, ability to maneuver out of situations and a rat is "witty". Since the 7th of February started the Chinese New Year, we decided to have a little party.

We started with the kids making Chinese lanterns, I made Chinese Moon Cakes, and then we had a Chinese themed dinner. We had shrimp and broccoli, teriyaki chicken, fried rice and egg rolls - yum! I made everyone "attempt" to eat with chopsticks. Carter and Jacob, not my most adventurous eaters, didn't enjoy the meal. They did have fun playing trying to pick up food with the chopsticks, but ended up eating sandwiches and chips...go figure! My kitchen was a mess with vegetables, pots, pans, etc. trying to make a Chinese meal and my kids are begging for anything not on the table. Rodney, Anna, my sister-in-law and myself made pigs of ourselves...it was really good even if I did make it.

The Chinese New Year is one of, if not, the most important holiday in China. It is the time of year that really focuses on family. Business close, migrant workers travel home and a huge celebration erupts in every city and village across China. I thought it would be a good time to try to do something for Anna to remember her birth country's culture. I know that she doesn't remember much about China, but I think it is important for her to know and be comfortable with who she is and where she is from.

Anna is my daughter and is an American, but she is from China and we are proud of the fact. Just as we are proud of our biological children and every little detail about them is special and important to us, Anna's birth heritage is important to us as well. There are things that I cannot offer her in regards to her past...knowledge of her birth family, the circumstances surrounding her birth, the reason she was placed for adoption, these are things that we will never know. They are facts in her life that can bring uncertainty and if not handled appropriately they could bring insecurities and damage to her confidence of her self-worth. Anna's confidence in her value and our love for her is something I never want her to question. Anything that we can do to show her how proud we are of her and how blessed we feel that she is in our lives - I want to do it. It may just be a dinner, crafts and a cute little outfit, but I hope it shows her how important every aspect of her makeup is to our family.

Gong Xi Fa Chai!
Sending love from Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna Mei

Crazy Weather...

The weather in China is getting better. The forecast for various regions in south central China is sunny with increasing temperatures over the next few days. That is great news. Half the Sky is still helping orphanages in need. They update their site regularly with the current needs. There are still orphanages that are in desperate need, but things are looking better.

On a local level, Tuesday night brought horrible storms through this area. Tornadoes brought much destruction and fatalities. Only about 10 miles from where we live, there was a path cut by a tornado that flattened homes and took the lives of 13 people. There were 4 people killed in our county. The winds, rain and lightening were pretty scary when we were watching reports of tornados touching down so close to our home. We were very blessed that we were not "physically" affected by these storms. It is heartbreaking to know that people so close have had their lives totally shaken. Losing a home would be so hard, but those that lost family members, I cannot imagine. Our prayers are with those that are suffering.

When our county came under a Tornado Warning, I woke Carter and Jacob up and told them to go downstairs. As we went into the living room, I could see out the front windows and the sky was orange. I knew that either half of the community down the road was on fire or something crazy was about to happen. I couldn't tell at my first glance if it was flickering or not, it was just an orange glow. I told Rodney, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law to come and look. Rodney said it was a fire, he could see the flickering. After about 30 minutes, we found out that about 25 miles away, a natural gas transmission station was on fire.

The blaze and/or glow from the fire could be seen in about 6 counties. Fortunately, no one was working Tuesday night at the station and no houses around the station were damaged due to the fire. There were houses destroyed around the station by the tornado that also damaged the station.

2008 has started a little odd. Hopefully, the bad things are over and good things are to come. Spring is just around the corner which will bring green grass, leaves on the trees, flowers and "outside" weather!!!

Praying for those trying to piece their lives back together & all those in China,

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker, and Anna Mei

Half the Sky update...

There is another update on Half the Sky's website. Thankfully, there has been a great response in their ask for help. Some of the orphanages have already received some help...others they still cannot reach due to the weather and the lack of available transportation. They are reporting an expected break in the weather on Monday and hope to be able to get much needed supplies to areas then. However, another storm is expected on Tuesday, so they only have a small window. Conditions have worsened in some orphanages. Supplies needed are hard to come by in the areas hardest hit.

Please continue to remember these children and those that are there trying to get help to these orphans.

http://www.halfthesky.org/journal/?p=77

Praying for China,
Marcy

Another Plea...

Love Without Boundaries won the challenge...fabulous news! They get all the contributions made over the last few weeks along with the $50,000 first place prize. The total money contributed to LWB will easily exceed $100,000! They will be able to do tons of great work with this money.

There is another plea for the children in China. As you may know, the weather in China over the last couple of weeks has been the worst it has been in over 5 decades. Extreme temperatures, snow, ice, the transportation system has been at a stand still. Migrant workers trying to get home for the Chinese New Year holiday are stranded at airports and train stations throughout China. In Guangzhou along, over 500,000 people have been stranded at the train station...just in Guangzhou! Food supplies, clean water and heating has become a real issue for these people.

Unfortunately, the news hasn't been covering the conditions that the orphanages throughout China are now suffering. Half the Sky is an organization that sponsors orphanages throughout China in many ways like Love Without Boundaries. They offer the necessities to these orphanages that they otherwise would do without. I got an e-mail containing information regarding several orphanages that Half the Sky sponsors. There are some really scary situations right now. Places without food, water, diapers, electricity, etc. It is heart breaking.

Right now, Half the Sky is trying to get space heaters, coal, blankets, coats, food, water, medicine, etc. to these orphanages. They have created a Little Mouse Emergency Fund in order to help deal with this very urgent crisis specifically. Please go take a look at some of the needs and if you can, contribute. There are babies in these orphanages that I know of specifically. Please pray that the weather in China clears soon and the needed supplies can get to these children and all those stranded in China as soon as possible.

I don't like asking people for help, but this is really important to me...

http://www.halfthesky.org/work/littlemouse.php

Praying for these children & all the people in China,
Marcy