Slumber Party

Will any of us get any sleep? We talked Andrea into letting us keep Zack tonight. I think getting up every three hours for feedings might be fun for just one night, don't you?

All the kids love the new baby. I'm afraid he'll never lack for attention, and lots of it. Isn't he precious?

Weilong Update

Weilong is doing much better. He has resumed normal activities! He does still have headaches, and we are still praying that they cease completely. They are not as severe as before and tylenol or ibuprofen help a lot. His vomiting is very infrequent now, still gets nauseous about once a week, but laying down and taking a rest helps. His endurance and stamina are almost up to pre-surgery levels in my opinion. I struggle not to "baby" him. But he's so sweet that I just can't help myself sometimes.

He is continuing physical therapy and doing well. Another endocrine problem has crept up, but his recent blood tests were fine so we're not too concerned. His next MRI and neurosurgeon appointment is August. It's so good not to be visiting a doctors office every day.

It's hot here and the children are swimming every day. They are keeping me busy, but it's much easier than I anticipated. They are all being very good for me this summer. Not too much fighting, just an occasional disagreement. I think they're growing up on me!

The boys are forgetting their Mandarin. I took them for Chinese food recently and they had a blank look on their faces when the people there spoke Mandarin to them. One older man urged (demanded?) that I put them back into Mandarin classes and Weilong was loud in his disagreement with this gentleman's opinion. The man insisted it would be in the boys' best interest, but both boys told me that they really really did not want to go. I don't think I'll force them, after all I cannot help them with their homework and make sure they do well in class. Such a hard decision for me. I want them to be able to retain their Mandarin language skills, but I don't think I can force them. That older man told me the boys would regret it when they get college age, and I know he is right. But I can't force them to learn something if I don't know it myself.

So, we're just going to take it easy and enjoy the rest of our summer. We'll try to take the kids on a little trip when things cool down a bit. Too hot right now to think about it!

I'll try to post pictures tomorrow. I let the battery run down in my camera, so I have to get it charged up.

Zach

Hannah's New Brother

We just got home from another exiting adoption journey! Not to China, but just as emotional and exciting. This time we traveled with Hannah and her Mom and Dad to adopt Hannah's new baby brother, Zach. He's such a beautiful sweet little boy and we love him like crazy cakes already. Prepare to see many more pictures of him because he is small and will be still for pictures, unlike the other kids around here.

I feel privileged to be invited along for this trip. I loved seeing the new family being formed. Such sweet memories that will last a lifetime. So, life is so exciting around here, never a dull moment. We're blessed with all these precious little lives to invest ourselves into. It's so rewarding. Like someone has already said "This is the hardest job I'll ever love".

Through the Years

These are the girls from Yongxiu, adopted in Dec 1998. Sometimes one would miss a meeting, or another of the group would slip into the picture, but for the most part these pictures are of the Yongxiu four. My sweet Julia lived with these sweet sisters for the first two years of her life. I'm so glad she has them and their families in her life.

Snowflakes in June

We had a wonderful time this weekend with our fellow Snowflakes. These girls and their families have been like a part of our family for nearly 10 years now. We're so thankful for them.

The picture of four girls are the ones from Julia's orphanage. They spent their first two years together in Yongxiu, Jiangxi, PRC.