PURE CUTESS!

On Monday, we headed to Halifax and our first stop was to our friends the Tilfords.  We met this family in China just before we all flew out of Beijing to get our babies.  Scott and Marcy were pros in the adoption seen, since they had previously adopted 2 girls.  We instantly connected with this family and were very excited to see them again. 

Here are the cuties playing,

 

 Pure Cuteness!!
Then on Tuesday, we had to be at the IWK at 8:30 for Keely's CT Scan.  They told us at first that she would probably need to be sedated because children under 5 usually won't lay still enough to get a good image.  Just moving a cm sets the whole thing off.  Since the scan only takes 10 to 15 seconds they thought we could try it first without sedation, otherwise we would be there for 2hrs after for her to come around.  So with Chris and I at her head and a nurse at her feet we were able to hold her and encourage her to stay still enough that the CT Scan was successful without sedation. :) YaY!
Then it was off to the Orthopedic Clinic for Pre-Op stuff .  We were seen by 5 different people and she did not want to be very agreeable with any of them.  Obviously this kid knows that something is up and this probably isn't going to be the funnest place around! Despite their measures of trying to give her stuffed animals, dolls, etc.   She would take whatever they gave her and throw it at them and anything they asked her if she liked she basically said, "No!"  Fair enough, I wouldn't want to be that agreeable if I was 3 either.  A lady came in to introduce her to a walker in case she wants to use it once her cast is on.  I did get a pic of that; but not one of the CT Scan; she just thought it was fun to push it around.

Then came the dreaded Blood work!  This girl has been poked a few times, so when I had told her earlier that we were going to see the Dr. that was the first thing she said.  Thinking that she was going to be sedated for the CT Scan and that they were going to do the blood work while she was out, I thought we dodged that upset.  Nope, it was over pretty quick though, but the aftermath lasted a bit longer than the actual poke.  Let me tell you that this girl is DRAMATIC!  As we walked down the hall past on lookers towards an elevator, she wailed and wailed, holding her arm straight out looking at the bandage!  Tears and snot flying and there was no way we were changing her mind!  She was upset and that floor of the hospital was going to know it! LOL
Finally, we convinced her that the happy face on her bandage was telling her that her booboo was all better and meant she could be happy.  All was well again and we went and played at the outdoor park/garden at the IWK for a bit. :)
Now onto preparing for her surgery and all that comes with that!

IWK We Will See You Soon!

So next week we will be heading to Halifax for Miss K's CT Scan and Pre-Op at the IWK.  We thought this was supposed to take place in Saint John, but we find out 3 months later that we never could have had it done there anyway.  Apparently Keely will have to be sedated and they will not do that to children her age in Saint John. :(

Then Oct. 5th is the big SURGERY day! :(  I have tried not to stress to much over this because I know it has to be done to correct her knee.  Don't get me wrong I will do my fair share of stressing the days before, during and after when she is trying to adjust to a cast for six weeks!  

This will be the first surgery we have had to deal with as parents.  I imagine a blubbering mommy as they wheel her off to the OR with her panda and blanket.  She has become more and more stuck to me lately and pretty much doesn't want me to leave her side.  It is always "mon mommy" as she pulls my hand to wherever she has in her head she wants me to go.  Ugh, this will be hard!

A few of my stresses for after the surgery: the pain that she will be in and not understanding why she is in that pain.  Why she has a hard, heavy white thing on her leg and that she can't move it very well.  Sleeping at night.(Because this mama likes her uninterrupted sleep) I feel like this may be an issue for a bit.  This doesn't sound like someone who hasn't been thinking about it does it??  Regardless, what will be will be and we will deal with all it brings. 

Week 1 Down!

We've made it through our first week of school.  There were some tears (and not from the 3yr old), but that is a whole other story.  

We have a High Schooler 

A Middle Schooler

And a PlaySchooler

I can't really believe that my kids are this old and I am as young as ever!(insert laughter)

I feel like my best blogging days are behind me!  I just don't seem to have the words or desire to update my blog on a regular basis.  I guess I feel our everyday life is somewhat boring and who really wants to read (if anyone even checks in on us here anymore) how many times we run to the potty or anything else.  Plus, I have a needy toddler and just started babysitting a 2yr old, so who really has the time? 

 I do want to try to become more regular with blogging and somewhat more insightful, but I'm not promising anything.  :)

1st Day of Playschool!!!

Well I had started a post about how busy August was and all the many things that we did, but this is breaking news of today!  My baby started Playschool today!  This is completely her doing.  I told her last week that the boys would be going back to school in a few days and she said, "my school" in which I replied, "you want to go to school?"  She said yes and got very excited.  This momma wasn't quite sure, but thought I should encourage her excitement, since the boys have always had a love/hate relationship with school.(More like hate!)

So today was the day and............

 As you can see she is pretty pumped!

 Cooperating nicely for mommy

 Eating her Nutri Grain bar on the go!(She had oatmeal earlier, don't freak out)

 Off she goes! :(

 Standing by her hook with her name tag.

 1st thing she went to in the room.

 Keely and Molly

 Not even looking up while mommy was leaving.

This went much better than I had ever dealt with the boys, so I was very relieved.  On the other hand questioned, why she wasn't clinging to me?  Is she not attached enough to care or is she secure in our attachment that this separation is OK?  Any adoption experts out there that have this answer?  I am hoping it is Option Two!!
When it was pick up time, I could see her outside on the playground in a little playhouse with her little friend.  When she saw the car, I could see her pointing to it and talking.(If I could only hear what she was saying!) When I got out, she smiled, waved, and hollered "There's my mommy!"  Phew, she was actually glad to see me! :0)
The teachers said it took her a little bit to warm up and talk to them, but after awhile she was talking away. Yay!  We said Goodbye, went in and got her picture she painted and away we went to take Wowa for his haircut!  That was easy! Day 1 of Playschool a success, now we will see if we can get Noah and Isaiah off to Gr.9 and 6 as easy!

1st Gotcha Day Anniversary - Part 2

I had imagined this day many times over this last year and really can't believe it is here.  

I really wanted to plan a special get together with Family and Friends, watch the movies from our trip, BBQ, eat cake and just celebrate our Year Anniversary, but sometimes life is just too darn busy to pull those things off.  Chris had to be away for meetings and we had a baseball game at 6, so this meant none of my plan were going to work out.  So we made the best of it and I took the boys and little Miss out for lunch.

When we were in China, we bought little souvenirs that we could give her over the next few years on her Gotcha Day Anniversary.  This year I chose to give her the Panda Nesting Dolls and I think I made the right choice because this girl loves pandas. 

She didn't have a whole lot of time to play with them because we were headed to the boys last ball game of the season.  She took along her Princess ball and glove that Noah got her for her Birthday and lets just say was pretty popular with some of the little boys who also wanted to play.

After the game, we headed home and she had a little bit of time to play with her pandas before bed.

 She is showing me Dada, Mama, Woawa, Zaiah and Tt!

 We hadn't realized when we got them that there were 5 Pandas!  (What a coincidence!)

Mommy panda may of just happen to mention, well if there had of been 6, then that may have meant we were to start making plans to go to China again. :)  Daddy Panda quickly stated that there were only 5 for a reason and TT was the last baby panda for this family!  OK, fine! (For now!) ;)

Anyway, though the day wasn't what I imagined, it turned out to be a pretty great day.  We are so glad you are here and can't imagine our lives without your infectious giggles, your sweet little voice saying, "up pees" (continually!), the way you call your bathing suit your bb soup, your gentle kisses you give mommy when I say I have a headache and how you hold my head and kiss my forehead to make it all better.  I love how you say your prayers at night and how you repeat Bepe(Grampy) and Duke over and over until I make you aware that we pray for God to bless others too. lol

HAPPY 1ST GOTCHA DAY BABY GIRL!

1st Gotcha Day Anniversary - Part 1

Wow, where did this year go??  It feels like this little girl has always been here!

Looking at this picture, I see the sadness in your eyes, but thankfully it didn't take too long that we caught a glimpse of your beautiful smile.

Now that we are celebrating our 1st year as a forever family, I look back over the year in complete awe of you and sometimes can't believe that you are actually here.  

You have learned to trust and love your family, speak another language, how to be gentle with animals, you quickly learned that Grandparents let you do more than mommy, you learned to scream GOAL during a hockey game, and you grew to adore your daddy. 

Even though there were times in this journey that were tough for all of us, we have come through it all closer and more in love with you than we ever could have imagined. 

More BDay Photos

This was her invitation.

The Mermaids and Fish went swimming.

I'm not really sure if she even knew what it was yet, but I love her expression!

Adoption books friends gave her.  Very special.

She loved her Ariel cake.

Momma and her Birthday Girl!

She had a very wonderful, fun filled day.  Thanks to all who came and helped make her 1st Birthday home a Special one.

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Girl!

This day fills me with so many emotions:
  I am so overjoyed that you are home with us to celebrate your Birthday.
  I am thankful that you were chosen to be our daughter.
  I am heartbroken for the mom who obviously loved you so very much, but had no other choice but to give you up!  She took so much care and thought as to where to place you so that you would be found quickly. I pray that she has the God given peace to know that you are loved and taken care of.

 I am happy that you have two brothers who love you and will always be there for you.

So on this your 3rd Birthday I made you this little video that represents your First 3 years.  What a journey you have been on little one and I pray that you continue to find happiness amidst life's adventures!  We love you so very much!

HAPPY 1st CANADA DAY KEELY

OH MY! DOES THIS MEAN I AM GETTING OLD??

My first born, Noah just celebrated his 14th Birthday on June 23rd.  He also just passed Gr.8 which means he is headed into High School!!  Oh Dear God Help Me Now!!  I really don't think I am prepared for the changes that take place in High School, but so far we have been very blessed with a pretty easy going 13 now 14 year old who likes to be home, likes to still hang out and watch movies with us, enjoys having his dad coaching him and was really happy that his dad was able to go on his Gr.8 Ottawa trip.  So far so good!

Here's hoping the next 4 years go as well!  We love you Noah and are so thankful for you! 

HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY!

Noah at Parliament in Ottawa, May 23, 2012!



1st Dentist Appt.

Today Keely had her first dentist appt. and she did awesome.  I knew she was pretty excited when we went into Home Hardware and she was showing her teeth off as if it were the dentist.  I said, "No honey this isn't the dentist yet." lol

When my boys were little; anywhere we went, either if it were to the dentist or Dr.; there were always tears involved.  Not this girl!  She faces everything full force with much anticipation and interest.  She is so funny and nothing seems to faze her.  (I think this is a good thing, so far anyways!??)

So in we went and had to wait a bit and read some books.  She was a very good girl!

Then it was her turn and in we went.  She sat on mommy's lap while they checked her teeth and showed her how to brush.  She was very interested in all they had to say and then she was able to pick her toothbrush.  She picked an Ariel one.  I just can't get over how easy going this child is with these appointments and she does whatever they need her to do.  Such a good little girl! (Most of the time!)