Smile for Elli....

Rodney holding our baby nephew Sam (my sister's baby), Me holding Anna, our sole niece Caroline (my brother's daughter), standing our nephew Jack (my sister's son), Parker, Carter, Jacob and our nephew Harris wearing the tie (my brother's son). Harris LOVES to dress up - ties, suits, the whole bit...cute!

As we were gathering pictures for our dossier, I wanted to include a picture of Rodney and I with our niece and nephews. So, Sunday after church, we gathered the wild bunch...which was a task within itself, for a photo. Just think in a few months, there will be 2 more kids in the photo! Rodney's sister is expecting (due in March) and of course Elli. Can you imagine a sleep over at my house!?!

They really are all good kids...very smart, funny and yes, spoiled rotten! I was very fortunate to grow up close to my cousins which was a rarity when I was young...now my kids are getting to grow up with their cousins and I am soooo thankful. They love to play and argue over everything! But the do love each other.

We love all our babies ;-)

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna

Freedom....

We took Anna to her 2 week post-op visit on Wednesday. Her surgeon said that he was pleased with her healing. The sutures are dissolving and the tissue is "holding". The areas along her gum line are filling back in and he said we could lose the "no nos"!!! Freedom!!!!

Anna is still getting used to actually being able to bend her elbows. She will bring me her sippy cup for a drink and I tell her to do it herself. She gets a sheepish grin, remembering that she can. Anna is now able to eat normally and is she ever. The first evening, she was eating chips, crackers, cookies, pop-tarts...her favorite snacks. Anna is just like her momma; she loves her carbs!

We won't know exactly if and when Anna will need additional palate surgery. When Anna is about 5, we will be able to "hear" if Anna will need more surgery. For the next 2 years we will be working feverishly on her speech therapy and praying that she will require no more palate reconstruction.

Now for an Elli update, or at least Elli's papers update, the courier took our dossier to the US State Dept. and picked it back up on Wednesday. She then carried to the Chinese Embassy and is suppose to pick it up today! She is mailing Fed-Ex and it should be delivered to me on Monday. Good news ;-)

Sending love & hugs to Elli,

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna