Straws & Briefs...

You might be asking yourself how those two items are related or could even be said in the same breath. Well, they are related. They are the two latest milestones for Anna.

If you have a cleft child, then you will share in our delight of Anna being able to use a straw!!! Quite an accomplishment for her. She started having some lip seal while we were playing with straws, suckers, and teaching her how to lick her fingers. That is something that she never did...so when she would get food on her fingers, I actually encouraged her to lick it off vs. using a napkin. It helped with her sensory issues of the mouth as well as forming a seal with her lips. Of course, after mastering this, we began trying to teach her to form some suction...and encouraging the use of a napkin ;-). Rodney takes full credit, and rightfully so, for the straw thing. He worked with her one day and she was "interested" that morning. Finally she was able to get the juice up the straw. I think it frightened her at first, but then she knew she was doing something "new" and she was hooked. It has been very nice to not have to carry a sippy cup that she could use everywhere we went. It may just be a straw to some, but for us HUGE milestone.

Now, I know that she is 3, but we were going no where fast on the whole potty training issue. (One day she will likely hate me for these types of posts) She wasn't interested at all. Even though she loved her Dora and Cinderella undies, she didn't mind one bit just wearing a diaper or pull up and packing her underwear around. But, thank goodness, finally we had a break through and we are all but naps and nighttime potty trained!!!

Carter and Jacob were in diapers together for a little while. Purchasing diapers lasted about 4 1/2 years the first time. When we brought Anna home, Parker was still in diapers/pull-ups for a few months and with Anna in diapers, we have been buying diapers this go round for about 4 1/2 years...that's 9 years of diapers!!! Why didn't we buy stock in those things????

Glad to be finished with diapers..at least we think so ;-)
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna Mei

On the Positive Side...

Today we mark the positive side of time with Anna. Our "time" with Anna has been positive from day one, but today is the day that she has been with us longer than she was without us. The day that she has been our daughter longer than she was an orphan. Today is the day that living with a family makes up the majority of her life and without a family in an orphanage is not.

We had to love her from afar...

We have been her family since before she was born, no doubt. She was in my heart long before her birth, before her conception, however, she didn't know anything about me. Today, she has known me longer than she was without me and today feels good.

...and now, she loves us up close & personal

Happy to be Anna's family & sending love to Elli,
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna

Pictures of Elli!!!!

I woke up this morning to EIGHT beautiful pictures of Elli at her BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!!!! If you want to see one of the sweetest faces ever, you need to go check them out!

Sending love to our Elli,
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna Mei

Merry Christmas...

It is so hard to believe that Christmas is really here! The tree is up, presents wrapped and Santa has been seen. The kids are pumped and we are already exhausted...'tis the season!

Standing in line at the mall, waiting to see Santa, you can't help be feel the excitement in the little ones as they try to peek through the crowd to get a glimpse of the man in red. Anna would point and say, "ho, ho! ho, ho!" Parker started getting quiet and a little nervous knowing he was about to meet the one who "knows if you been bad or good." Carter is totally in his own world as he is reciting lines from "Elf" saying he was going to tell Santa he smelled like beef and cheese!!! And Jacob, poor Jacob...he was terrified that someone was going to see him in line to see Santa! I don't know how many more years I will be able to drag them to sit on Santa's lap with their little siblings...boo hoo...where did my babies go?!?

When it was finally our turn to see Santa himself, Anna ran right up to him and got in his lap. She immediately started playing with his beard and again, "ho, ho! ho, ho!" Parker is hiding behind my legs, refusing to sit on the "Ol' Man's" knee. When "he" heard me tell Parker to go sit on his lap, Santa said, "come here Parker and stand beside me." Parker went over and ended up on Carter's lap. They all recited their wish lists....Transformers....and we went on our way.

Later that night at home, Parker was playing on the computer, he turned around, very serious and asked, "How did Santa know my name?" His sweet face was in wonder and you could tell in his eyes his little mind was running a hundred miles and hour. I bet he had been thinking about Santa saying his name all night. I could have just ate him up! He is too sweet.

Those are the little moments that I want to remember as I get older. The innocent fascination, excitement and wonder of Christmas. The funny memories of Carter and Jacob shouldn't be forgot either. I remember having to sit on Santa's knee with my little brother when I really didn't want to, so it makes Jacob's reaction a little bit funnier to me I guess. Of course, Carter wanting to play "Buddy" is just funny period. I know I am partial, but seriously, are my kids not the best?!?

As we have fun and begin the traditional Christmas gatherings, there is a sense of someone is missing. The holidays seem harder. As Anna ran up to Santa, I could just imagine Anna holding Elli's hand and them running together. She is already a part of us and we just wish she were here. But for whatever reason, she isn't and although very difficult at times, I must enjoy my children this year that I do have with me. There are times that I feel a bit guilty enjoying myself, but I guess that is the internal pull between two places...here and China.

Sending love & hugs to our Elli,

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

The Winner Is.....

Julie Young!!! Congrats Julie on winning the necklace and thank you for your support. Thanks to everyone that participated. Every dollar is appreciated.

Sending love & hugs to Elli,
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna

Fundraiser Experiment...

We are having a fundraiser/giveaway on Elli's blog. If you would like to check it out - please do ;-)

Thanks,
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna

Birthday & Pre-School...

Yesterday we celebrated Anna's 3rd birthday with a small party with her brothers and cousins. Since we are soooooo cramped in the rent house, we had it at my mom and dad's....8 kids and 10 adults - there is no way we could pull that off in our house! Thanks Momma ;-) Anyway, the kids had a good time. The gift of the night...a Cinderella light up stick...go figure? My guess is that it has Cinderella's picture on it and it looks like a mini-light saber - what could be better? Oh yeah and she loved the incredibly gaudy Cinderella pink streamer ponytail holder from my sister. Sorry if any of you have these, or like them....just not my personal taste and my sister is well aware of that. We are very basic bows, barrettes type ladies...but Anna sported it very well and yes, I will let her wear it...to the mailbox!

See what I mean?

Today was Anna's first pre-school speech session. Since she is 3, she no longer qualifies for the "in-home" therapy and is transitioning into the school system. Thankfully, the school system is working with us and allowing us to only come for speech right now. Eventually, I will let her go more but not yet...still holding this little bird in the nest.

I know that it will be beneficial for Anna to go and I WILL put her best interest ahead of mine, but she is sooo tiny and the fact that she isn't verbal yet, I am just not comfortable with it just yet. I do want her to be transitioned to go more before Elli gets home because I think it will be very good for Elli to have some time with me alone without having to compete with Anna 24/7. Then we will start transitioning Elli into Anna's class. I know that Anna has a lot of ground to cover before she starts Kindergarten and I want her to be as prepared as possible. We want her to excel to her abilities whatever that may be. We know that she is sharp, she just hasn't been able to convey what's in that cute little head of hers just yet.

Anna and I went to the school this morning for her first day. She will only be going on Tuesdays for now. She was very excited to be going solo with Momma. I don't think she understood where we were going, but she just knew she had her new backpack and Parker was at home with Daddy. We got to the school, put on her jacket, backpack and I had to snap a couple of pictures for you guys ;-) She was so excited as she was taking it all in.

Seriously, how adorable is she? This is 'one' of the moments I wanted to put her back in the car and come home...simultaneously excited for her because I knew she was excited.

No, she isn't pointing at the "Welcome to Pre-School" sign, but rather saying "light!!" She loves lights.

We walked into her class and she squealed as she remembered the room and the teacher from our IEP meeting. All the other kids were seated on a rug in the center of the room ready for a story. Anna went straight to the middle of the carpet, right in the middle of all the kids and started hopping around. The teacher introduced Anna to the other kids, who were too cute, and they all said, "Hi Anna!!!" She then started walking around the circle waving and saying, "hi" to each kid...yeah, I was swallowing pretty hard at this point. She didn't want to sit on the carpet with the other kids and the teacher let her do her own thing. She walked back to me where I was bent down on the floor and sat in my lap. "Oh no, I missed my 'slip out' moment," I thought. She started whining, laying her head on my chest. I got up on my knees where she had to lean against me, but couldn't sit in my lap. After a minute or so, she walked away and sat in a chair. They divided up into small groups and when she got her paper and crayon, it was time for me to leave my little baby all alone in a room full of strangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my heart was ripping out of my chest...the torment!!!!!

"Hi, Hi, Hi" (wave, wave, wave).

Paper, crayons...good to go.

Okay, a little dramatic I know, but it was painful...painful. I do not like not having "supervisory control" over my kids, especially when they are tiny...did I mention how tiny she is? She wore a sweater size 24 months people...jeans - 24 months...and a diaper!!! She is a baby! I know, a 3 year old baby, but still a baby to me. But, no tears from either of us and I left.

I drove to the library and tried to get interested in a book...not thinking about her or the strong desire to constantly check my cell phone. The time passed and I was ready to go back and pick her up...hopefully finding her very happy and no evidence of tears!

I walked to the office door and there she was looking out the glass waiting for her momma! She yelled, "mama!" when I opened the door and wanted me to pick her up. Of course I obliged and the speech therapist told me she did really well...good girl! We told everyone good bye and we will do it again next week.

Growing pains are hard...on all of us!

Yeah for Anna being a big girl & for momma not making her mascara run!

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna