June 23, 2009
How do you spell pneunomia?
We spent 4 days in the hospital with Clara. Her fever was 105 and climbing. It is the most terrifying experience to see your child so week and not getting better. We are so glad that she is home and feeling better. It was such a scary time for our family. Thanks for all the love and support from all our family and friends.
June 14, 2009
17 amazing years
As we sat at dinner last night we both agreed that right now at this point in our marriage we are the happiest and most content. We are so in love and both have such a passion for this next stage in life. I am so lucky to have Jason in my life and I know that he feels the same way about me. We have had a great 17 years together (well 20 if you could the 3 years we dated). Seventeen more years will just be that much better.
Jason's fortune last night read: "Your love life will be happy and harmonious"
Jason's fortune last night read: "Your love life will be happy and harmonious"
June 6, 2009
Gotcha Day! 6/6/05
Can it really be 4 years since Gotcha Day? Wow! My heart is so full of emotion this morning as I think about Clara's little life and what big things she had brought to our family. All our kids have a great birth story. I love to re tell to each child about the day they came into this earth and changed our lives. Clara has the same story. Here is her story.
On May 20th 2004, the day after Clara was born, she was wrapped in a blanket and gently set on a park bench in the early morning hours at a Park in Rong Xain Cina. On her a single note was pinned. With a date May 19th 2004 (her birth date). She was found and brought to the local Orphanage. There she stayed until Jason and I could get all the paper work needed to bring her home. On June 6th 2005 We were given our priceless gift.
Here are a few photos of her:
This is the 1st photo that we received. Camila was quite disappointed and thought she "looked like a boy"
A few hours before we were given Clara we got this photo along with a stamp of her foot print.
We drove to the Lottery Hotel with our travel group of 8 other couples. To our GREAT surprise the babies we arriving at the same time. They were in the lobby with their nannies. They had come bus bus about 2-3 hours from the countryside to the city of Nanning.
We made our way up stairs to a small room where one by one the little girls we brought in. Clara was last.
Most of the little girls we crying, but Clara just sat in my arms looking around taking it all in.
On May 20th 2004, the day after Clara was born, she was wrapped in a blanket and gently set on a park bench in the early morning hours at a Park in Rong Xain Cina. On her a single note was pinned. With a date May 19th 2004 (her birth date). She was found and brought to the local Orphanage. There she stayed until Jason and I could get all the paper work needed to bring her home. On June 6th 2005 We were given our priceless gift.
Here are a few photos of her:
This is the 1st photo that we received. Camila was quite disappointed and thought she "looked like a boy"
A few hours before we were given Clara we got this photo along with a stamp of her foot print.
We drove to the Lottery Hotel with our travel group of 8 other couples. To our GREAT surprise the babies we arriving at the same time. They were in the lobby with their nannies. They had come bus bus about 2-3 hours from the countryside to the city of Nanning.
We made our way up stairs to a small room where one by one the little girls we brought in. Clara was last.
Most of the little girls we crying, but Clara just sat in my arms looking around taking it all in.
I was a magical moment.
Back at the hotel, this beautiful little Chinese girl was in quite a shock. As we put her on the bed to sit. She fell right over and started to suck on her shoe. She was 13 months old and could not even sit up. With a few pillows we propped her up and she just sat on the bed looking at us.
After a bath that she hated (she had never had a bath before, only wash clothes with water) she fell asleep.
We were greeted the next morning to the same face. Still no smile or any emotion.
The next day we had to go back and sign some more documents. We got our photo taken with the director of the orphanage. We were told that the directors wife had really taken to Clara. She had tears in her eyes as she gave her too me. She really wanted to hold her again, but I just could not let her go. She kept talking (and crying) to her in Chinese. It was heart breaking.
Over the next week we played at the hotel with all the other little girls. Clara was covered in bug bits. She had all these Chinese creams that I would put on her.
After a few days of playing games and tickling we FINALLY got our SMILE
She was blessed by a Buddhist Monk
One day when we woke up she had pulled herself to a stand in her crib. All this little girl needed was a little love, attention and some room to move around.
It is tradition at the White Swan Hotel to have your photo taken on the famous "red couch".
Here are all Clara's orphanage sister's. She was with these little girls for the 1st year of her life. We say in contact with all the families. We will always have a special place in our hearts for these families and the bond that we have with all the little girls. Nine beautiful little Chinese girls ready to go home to the USA!
Here we are back at home in Virginia. We arrived home around 11:30pm after flying for 18+ hours. The kids were up and so excited to meet their new sister.
Back at the hotel, this beautiful little Chinese girl was in quite a shock. As we put her on the bed to sit. She fell right over and started to suck on her shoe. She was 13 months old and could not even sit up. With a few pillows we propped her up and she just sat on the bed looking at us.
After a bath that she hated (she had never had a bath before, only wash clothes with water) she fell asleep.
We were greeted the next morning to the same face. Still no smile or any emotion.
The next day we had to go back and sign some more documents. We got our photo taken with the director of the orphanage. We were told that the directors wife had really taken to Clara. She had tears in her eyes as she gave her too me. She really wanted to hold her again, but I just could not let her go. She kept talking (and crying) to her in Chinese. It was heart breaking.
Over the next week we played at the hotel with all the other little girls. Clara was covered in bug bits. She had all these Chinese creams that I would put on her.
After a few days of playing games and tickling we FINALLY got our SMILE
She was blessed by a Buddhist Monk
One day when we woke up she had pulled herself to a stand in her crib. All this little girl needed was a little love, attention and some room to move around.
It is tradition at the White Swan Hotel to have your photo taken on the famous "red couch".
Here are all Clara's orphanage sister's. She was with these little girls for the 1st year of her life. We say in contact with all the families. We will always have a special place in our hearts for these families and the bond that we have with all the little girls. Nine beautiful little Chinese girls ready to go home to the USA!
Here we are back at home in Virginia. We arrived home around 11:30pm after flying for 18+ hours. The kids were up and so excited to meet their new sister.
June 4, 2009
Camilla's Awesome Violin Recital
Camilla did an amazing job at her very 1st Violin Recital. She has been working so hard on all her songs these last few months. She has a darling teacher who lives just down the street. Camilla takes such pride in what she does. She is such a doll and looked just beautiful playing her songs. We are so proud of our little violinist!
June 1, 2009
Isaac's Triathalon!
SWIM BIKE RUN!Isaac did his 1st TRIATHLON this weekend!
We were so proud of all his hard work and training. He took this very seriously. He practiced his
run, bike and swim.
He did so well and all of us were there to cheer him on. Zach, Camilla and Dylan were volunteers. Cheering the kids along the route. They were very supportive of there little brother. Isaac had to get up at 5:30am to be to the race on time for set up.
Isaac and Jason set up his transition area (because Jason is now a pro at it with all of the triathlons he has done). He had to set up his shoes and socks, helmet, t-shirt and bike! He then got painted with his number "85" on his arms and his age on the back of his calf. He kept asking "am I the only one in the family that has done a triathlon besides Dad?" What a kid. Boy do I just LOVE this 7 year old drive, determination and willingness to try something new.
Isaac got a "new" water bottle holder for his bike. Here is his transition area set up. Jason said that he needed to get there early to get an end spot so he would have easy access to his stuff and so he could hang his towel to dry off after the swim.
I just love this picture of him waiting to be let into the pool area. The woman was giving instructions for the race. He just wanted to hang out by his dad waiting to go with his team into the pool area.Here is "coach Dad" giving Isaac some last minute strategy moves.
Isaac signed up with a group of kids from his school to be apart of this
Kids Tri Too Triathlon. Here they are doing the pre-race cheer!
TRI
TRAIN
TRUST
Memorial Day Camping
We spent Memorial Day weekend at our annual cam pout at Shenandoah National Park. This was the 1st year that we had our camper with us. It made the trip even better. The kids had so much fun. Getting dirty, playing kick ball & of course burning things.We had our "best" dutch oven dinners so far in the trailer. We had pineapple upside down cake, peach cobbler, enchiladas, chili & this amazing chicken dish...yumm
So far we are just LOVING this trailer. The kids can't wait to go again.
We did a different hike each day. We had to do our annual waterfall hike, and rock slide. Dylan is absent in all the pictures because he broke his toe before we left playing dodge ball and had to stay back at the trailer. Poor Dylan.
Here are a few of the 50+ kids that we camped with on one of our beautiful hikes.
Another great camping trip!
Not too many photo's...our camera ran out of batteries and we had to rely on our friends photo's...Thanks Shauna and Eva!
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