Choosing Cleft

I belong to a Cleft Adoption Yahoo group.  While I have not ever jumped in on any of the conversations, it is insightful to read them all.  So many individual and varying experiences and a wealth of knowledge.  I do find myself strategically avoiding the “hard” conversations.  However, there has recently been a conversation that began with a family that is working on their adoption paperwork posing some “simple” questions.  This particular family is at the point of considering cleft as a “minor correctable special need” (quoted from adoption checklists) that they are open to.  This opened up so much candid conversation, conversation that has been both encouraging and terrifying (families broken apart, some cleft kiddos with an unimaginable number of surgeries, years (YEARS) of therapies, etc.).  But, over and over the theme was common – despite the challenges, these children have blessed the families they have become a part of in so many ways.  So often we hear “Nora is so lucky” … at the end of the day, it is clear to see that we are the “lucky” (or, as I prefer to say, blessed) ones. 

So, where are we at?  Or, more importantly, where is Nora at?  Nora is 20 months old now and has been with us five months (how can that be?).  Developmentally, we are seeing a ton of growth in just common everyday things (she is a busy toddler – she has picked up quite quickly on the “explore” every cupboard / drawer and empty them – what a fun game ... for her!).  Nora is a fantastic eater!  If I had to guess I would say that she has probably just surpassed the 20 pound mark (to be confirmed in April at a visit to the doctor).  

Speech continues to be an area we are focusing on ~ at this point, Nora can audibly say “hi”, and she sometimes (if she feels like cooperating) will try to repeat sounds.  Despite these delays, she has no issues communicating as it is typically pretty clear to understand what she wants and needs.  We are doing some simple sign language with her as well (and a speech therapist comes to our house once every two weeks).  

Our biggest challenge continues to be sleep … which does not have one single thing to do with her “minor correctable special need”!  Nora was having some tummy issues which we seem to have resolved which has improved sleep (we are in a much better place than we were months ago).  Now, it seems the sleep struggle has been related to pure adoption issues.  Some would advise that we should start sleep training her, but parenting her is so different than parenting the other kiddos.  Adoption is a complex and amazing thing.

Relating to Nora's cleft, we do not see the cleft team and her surgeon again until this summer.  She will likely need a couple of follow-up surgeries but nothing more within the year.  For now, we continue to love on and further learn how to parent this sweet little thang, and she continues to absorb and learn!  She is even learning how to drive her Mama crazy with her funny faces ... courtesy of her big sister!

Shootin' Hoops

Jack is my sports guy ~ he loves to play and watch! Today were Jack's last games of the season.  Jack and his friends / classmates are good athletes, BUT basketball is not their strongest sport so we are all kind of relieved to see the season come to end.  And, this week baseball starts up!  Jack and his friends are quite excited about this as this IS one of their favorites (and something that many of them excel at).

Because today's games were the last of the season, we bribed the other kids with candy everyone was excited to go and cheer on their brother.

More funny faces with Lydia ... getting ready for candy the game.

Lydia specifically requested this sweatshirt so she could store her Skittles in her pocket, the whole game she kept saying "I really LOVE candy a whole lot."

Not as good as Skittles, but Little Miss doesn't care ~ she just loves herself a snack!

 

Nice job setting up the play, Jack!

Awe, don't hang your head!  Baseball season is right around the corner!

Proud of you, Jack! Despite your team's record this season, you continued to learn and increase your skills!  And, you kept your aggressive ball playing in check (while still managing to have many of the Dads (and the Middle School football coach) talk you into playing football in the Fall) ... sigh, you're growing up too fast!

Mei Mei {Little Sister}

Funny Faces with Lydia

It seems that I cannot get a good photo of Lydia with her natural smile.  Rather, most of the recent photos include her making some sort of a funny face.  The comments I got on the photo of Lydia in front of my parents tree on this Sisters post made me smile.  Lydia was so full of enthusiasm on Christmas Eve, it is easy to say she was the life of the party at my parents house.  I, of course, wasn't able to get a natural photo of her.  Instead I got the photo in the Sisters post and these (the kids were absolutely loving fleece pullovers they got from my Aunt and Uncle who live out of state, her and Samuel needed to model them).

And, yes, that is Nora at Lydia's feet.  She had tipped over during all of the excitement of modeling the fleeces.  You can see that she resorted to finding her thumb and hanging out patiently waiting to be rescued and likely hoping that she didn't get stepped on (for the record, she didn't).

Not only does Lydia put on funny faces, she often is "striking a pose."  

And, just when I think I am getting close to getting a cute little posed photo, this happens.

And, this makes me laugh because this is when she was supposed to be making a funny face!

Lydia also has a game she likes to play where she will demand, "Mama, do this" while she makes a face that I need to imitate.  I (usually) happily oblige to entertain her.

Oh, little blue-eyed, snow-eating girl smiling with your eyes, we love you!  You make us laugh with your silly faces and crazy antics!

Milestone {Walking}

Look who is completely mobile on her little legs!  For the past couple of weeks, Nora has been gaining her momentum on her feet.  She is now fully and primarily walking.  When she does crawl she is super quick and loud, when she walks she is light on her feet and quiet.  There have been many times where I have turned around and been startled to see Little Miss just standing there with her little grin (and yes, her tongue hanging out - her tongue now always seems to be out!).

She is quite proud of herself and so are we!

A Weekend Away

Since Nora's surgery at the beginning of the year we have spent a lot of time at home, really only going out as a family to church.  While we have had commitments, we have found ourselves splitting up to go to basketball games, etc.  We all had been going a little stir crazy so when we got an invite to go spend part of the weekend in northern Wisconsin with sweet friends, I would be exaggerating if I didn't say that we were all a little giddy!  

My sweet friend had a "significant" birthday this weekend (Girl, you handled the weekend and being the center of attention with such grace!) so her husband coordinated getting a few families together at a hotel.  It was definitely a little winter retreat for us and our first getaway as family of 6!  So fun!  Lots of pool time for the kids and lots of reminiscing and laughs for all of us!  So thankful for these friendships and how God so purposefully brought our families together.  Who knew years ago how many commonalities we would all have?  It was just such a treat to be away and just "be" with our sweet friends (they now live about 6 hours away so we only hang out a few times a year ... despite the distance as soon as we are together it feels like we haven't been apart).

Happy Birthday, Sweet Friend!  Thank you for the privilege of being able to celebrate with you!  Love you guys!

And, because I cannot post without photos ... wish I would have gotten more pictures, but here are just a few of pool time.  Apparently I was too busy chatting, indulging, disciplining, chasing, laughing, etc. to get more photos. A sign of a wonderful weekend!

Nice smile, Lydia!

And, back to the silly faces!

 Thanks for standing still long enough for me to get a photo, Boys!

Awe, aren't you so sweet in your swim suit!  First time ever!

Lydia, do you never tire of jumping into Daddy's arms?

We are blessed!

Sisters

(Warning, this post is full of lots of photos of two sweet little girls ...)

It has been fun to watch the relationship between these two little girls change over the past three plus months.  

There are definitely good days, days where Lydia adores her little sister.  

And, there are challenging days, days where Lydia tests her little sister (and us!).  I suspect (and pray) that this is pretty typical for two little girls who are precisely 18 months and 20 days apart in age (and likely pretty typical of many sibling relationships).  

We have never had two children this close in age so there are some dynamics of this relationship which are new for us (it is definitely worth noting here that Lydia and Owen would have been 18 months and 18 days apart ... coincidence?  Nah, just a God-thing and a reminder of His sweet love for us).  

Nora is truly intrigued by her big sister and watches her so intently.  

Often, Lydia will refer to Nora as "Sister" rather than by name.  Warms my heart!  S

 So thankful for the bond that is growing between these two.

Often when I ask to take their photo together Lydia will embrace Nora or hold her hand.  Pure sweetness.  

So fun to look back at these last few months and think about how these sisters will continue to grow up together.  Every day I pray that they have a special bond and friendship that strengthens daily.  

Preserving Her Culture

It is important to us that to we preserve Nora's culture as we raise her here as a Chinese-American.  One of the most festive and rich cultural holidays is the Chinese (or Lunar) New Year, a fifteen day celebration in China.  Today begins the year of the snake so this weekend we tried to do a few things to celebrate the holiday.  As Nora gets older, we will try to incorporate more tradition into this holiday.

2013 - Year of the Snake

Jack is a Snake!!!

The children all wore red today for "good luck".

We gave chocolate coins to friends and family in red envelopes.  It is traditional for parents and grandparents to give children money in red envelopes on the eve of the New Year.  The boys will also be taking candy filled "firecrackers" to their friends at school tomorrow.

Okay, I had really good intentions of putting together a traditional Chinese meal, but that didn't happen.  What did happen was dipping fortune cookies (totally American culture and not traditional Chinese) in sparkly red sprinkles (added a little orange extract as there is a small orange-type citrus fruit tree that is very customary decoration during the New Year).

We made Chinese lanterns (and will try to actually release a lantern sometime this week or next weekend).

We have been reading some fun books about the New Year.

And, the reason we celebrate - our little Chinese firecracker!

Sleigh Ride

Yes, that's our 80+ pound dog pulling Nora in the sled!

And, yes, she did this without any prompting ... Jason was trying to clean up the driveway and had Nora "safely" sitting in the sled when Lydia started yelling at Maizey to stop.  

Jason turned and this is what he saw!

"Um, why are you taking my picture?"

Someone is not happy that the ride is over ...

Or, maybe that her sister is showing a little too much sisterly love!

Milestone {The Sippy Cup}

Nothing much to say 'cept hallelujah,

the girl has conquered the sippy cup!