First night home and no his eyes are not yellow.
Madelyn with our sleeping Tinkerbelle.Friday, October 29, 2010
Our new family member.
Oh how I wish I was announcing another baby but I'm not (yet). It's shaggy and cute and his name is Buster. Oh the things we do for our kids...Right?!?! So here's the deal. My Rachel is no doubt a dog LOVER! We have an overweight teacup yorkie named Tinkerbelle and as much as she is a family dog, she prefers Rachel over anyone (except me...lOL) So when Madelyn came home we discovered she had a dog with her China mama and Baba and she told us his name was bay bay and she missed him very much. (insert heartstrings tugging). CJ and I both looked at each other like we were saying with out words...Oh crap! Everyday she would ask if she could get a baby doggy for her birthday (like a year from now) but there is no way I could have her wait that long. CJ and I both agreed it would have to be another yorkie because they are hypoallergenic and since we had to find our lab Russell a home in July due to allergies we decided it was best to stay with the breed we knew. So I started looking online for a teacup yorkie but the cost was as much as the application fee for an adoption and I would rather pay an application fee over the cost of purchasing a puppy, so we decided to look for a standard yorkie cause they're a lot cheaper! I found a breeder not too far from us so I gave them a call, set an appointment and off we went with our Tinkerbelle to see if she could find a friend. I need to add this. Tinkerbelle is not a barker, she only barks if someone is at the door and then she stops. She is ultra friendly and sweet so finding a dog that wasn't high strung was our highest priority. Oh my we walked in and it was total bark city and I was nervous! I sitting down among all the barking puppies and little did I know there was a little boy dog sitting next to me not making a peep. Yep, I thought, he's the one...! Madelyn however wanted the runt of the liter that was skiddish and stand-offish and I knew in my gut that dog was going to be a nipper and a barker so it was up to me to change her mind...Not an easy task mind you. Needless to say, we got the little boy dog that was friendly and quiet and he is now our Buster. So far he is doing wonderful! Potty training is going good, we have a dog run attached to our school room door so it's e.a.s.y! Rachel Catherine is such a help with potty training! The minute she wakes up, she brings him out and it's been cold in the morning, bless her heart! Tinker is a puppy pad dog which I regret so this puppy is an out door pooper and pee-pee-er. So far so good. He is bigger and shaggy and he's sweet as can be. Welcome to crazy-ville Buster!!!
First night home and no his eyes are not yellow.
Madelyn with our sleeping Tinkerbelle.
First night home and no his eyes are not yellow.
Madelyn with our sleeping Tinkerbelle.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
This and That.
Oh my blog, my poor poor blog...I have been a bad blogger this month, time is just not on my side, we are busy busy!! Here are a few updates on our family.
* Madelyn is doing wonderful! We have a few crying moments but lately I've noticed it's set off by not getting her way (all the time). Madelyn is a little on the stubborn side and holds her ground which I totally get and admire but at times it gets her in a little hot water. I love how she expresses herself, she is very much getting her English down so she is much more chatty with us and LOVES to talk about China and her past life and of course, we gobble every word up. We've been talking about her China mama and China baba a lot! I think she felt she couldn't and now that she knows we encourage her to talk about them and that we welcome it, she brings them up all the time. They are now apart of our family, we pray for them and hope one day when we go on the homeland tour we can visit them. We always pray at dinner as a family and take turns doing it, I have asked Madelyn if she would like to say prayer and she always said no. Well, on October 20th (3 month adoption day), she eagerly asked to say grace...Oh what a joy to hear her praise Jesus and thank him for her family and meal. It truly blessed our hearts. She's our angel and brings so much to our family. Friday we attended our church's fall festival (pics below). Last year at the fall festival, CJ was in China on the mission trip smuggling bibles across the China/Hong Kong border and two days prior we got our denial letter from USCIS. I could barely get through an hour without tears but had to get it together to take my babies to the festival alone, without CJ. As we were there I remember praying/begging the Lord to move mountains so we can get our daughter home and I specifically remember being in church at the festival imagining Madelyn there the next year and this year she was. I got very teary as we were driving to church this year for the festival because as I glanced in the backseat there she was holding her Belle baby doll looking out the window not knowing how her mama and dadda's hearts were full of gratitude for those mountains being moved for her to become on less orphan. I am grateful for the spiritual battle we faced with the enemy to get her in our arms, I learned and hold firm to trusting ONLY in him. HE is bigger than any government, nation, person. He is King!
Now moving on to another blessing, Linzhi Rose. Linzhi's brain and spinal scan came back clear, no signs of any trauma which Dr. S thought she had so the mystery continues. It's kind of exciting because now that we know she doesn't have Arthrogryposis we have more hope that her little hands and wrists can be helped even more. We have an appointment on November 11th with Dr. S's partner Dr. M. Dr.M is a hand specialist and Dr. S. seems to think Linzhi needs her hands rewired and a tendon release and he is very confident Dr. M can get her some help. We are over the moon excited it's been three years that she's been home so it's time to get moving! All the girls are doing very well in home school, gymnastics and dance. Linzhi Rose out of the three stands out as being the most athletic, I see a future gymnast in our future!?!??
Rachel Catherine will be 7 in a few short weeks. Oh I love this child, she is growing up and expressing herself all over the place...fashion, drawing, decorating and re-decorating her room. I love when she comes into the class room with her leopard print clogs, a scarf, purse and make-up, I love it because I get it! I was/am the same way. We love so much of the same things. This weekend I had a bridal shower so I was going through my closet putting together an outfit/accessories and she was right there the entire time helping me and telling me how she wants to be a "fashion girl" when she grows up. I loved having her help me and today when I left she had to look me over and to my delight she said "mama, you look awesome!" Ahh, that kid of mine!
Trevor is doing great! His school work is excellent and he's been working now for a few months. CJ took him to open a checking account and now he has a debit card. He takes it very seriously and is being very frugal with his money (thank you God). He has also helped me with Madelyn and her math studies. It's nice because all three girls are in three different grades so I work one on one with each of them for math and reading so to have the extra help is awesome, plus it helps them bond even more. Trevor will be 18 on January 12th. I am very emotional about this big birthday. I am so proud of the young man he has turned out to be but I miss that little boy too. Motherhood is HARD! LOL... Sometimes you want to run out the door and sometimes you never want your babies to age. Praise God he's starting at junior college so he'll be home for 2 more years.
Below are some pics...Enjoy and have a blessed Sunday!
Finally a family picture!
Linzhi at the fall festival getting her face painted. (it's a dolphin-kinda)
Rachel the kitty cat.
Madelyn at the fall festival. A prayer answered! And of course, miss Linz too!
my pictures are not in order but this is Rachel becoming a kitty!
My girls love craft day, here's Madelyn painting her "Love" plaque. It went along with our bible study. See my chalk board behind her. It's chalkboard paint and works beautifully!
Lu Belle painting her plaque too.
And Rachel Cate.
Hanging with dadda.
Trevor was asked to homecoming by his friend Katlyn. He's of course said yes!
* Madelyn is doing wonderful! We have a few crying moments but lately I've noticed it's set off by not getting her way (all the time). Madelyn is a little on the stubborn side and holds her ground which I totally get and admire but at times it gets her in a little hot water. I love how she expresses herself, she is very much getting her English down so she is much more chatty with us and LOVES to talk about China and her past life and of course, we gobble every word up. We've been talking about her China mama and China baba a lot! I think she felt she couldn't and now that she knows we encourage her to talk about them and that we welcome it, she brings them up all the time. They are now apart of our family, we pray for them and hope one day when we go on the homeland tour we can visit them. We always pray at dinner as a family and take turns doing it, I have asked Madelyn if she would like to say prayer and she always said no. Well, on October 20th (3 month adoption day), she eagerly asked to say grace...Oh what a joy to hear her praise Jesus and thank him for her family and meal. It truly blessed our hearts. She's our angel and brings so much to our family. Friday we attended our church's fall festival (pics below). Last year at the fall festival, CJ was in China on the mission trip smuggling bibles across the China/Hong Kong border and two days prior we got our denial letter from USCIS. I could barely get through an hour without tears but had to get it together to take my babies to the festival alone, without CJ. As we were there I remember praying/begging the Lord to move mountains so we can get our daughter home and I specifically remember being in church at the festival imagining Madelyn there the next year and this year she was. I got very teary as we were driving to church this year for the festival because as I glanced in the backseat there she was holding her Belle baby doll looking out the window not knowing how her mama and dadda's hearts were full of gratitude for those mountains being moved for her to become on less orphan. I am grateful for the spiritual battle we faced with the enemy to get her in our arms, I learned and hold firm to trusting ONLY in him. HE is bigger than any government, nation, person. He is King!
Now moving on to another blessing, Linzhi Rose. Linzhi's brain and spinal scan came back clear, no signs of any trauma which Dr. S thought she had so the mystery continues. It's kind of exciting because now that we know she doesn't have Arthrogryposis we have more hope that her little hands and wrists can be helped even more. We have an appointment on November 11th with Dr. S's partner Dr. M. Dr.M is a hand specialist and Dr. S. seems to think Linzhi needs her hands rewired and a tendon release and he is very confident Dr. M can get her some help. We are over the moon excited it's been three years that she's been home so it's time to get moving! All the girls are doing very well in home school, gymnastics and dance. Linzhi Rose out of the three stands out as being the most athletic, I see a future gymnast in our future!?!??
Rachel Catherine will be 7 in a few short weeks. Oh I love this child, she is growing up and expressing herself all over the place...fashion, drawing, decorating and re-decorating her room. I love when she comes into the class room with her leopard print clogs, a scarf, purse and make-up, I love it because I get it! I was/am the same way. We love so much of the same things. This weekend I had a bridal shower so I was going through my closet putting together an outfit/accessories and she was right there the entire time helping me and telling me how she wants to be a "fashion girl" when she grows up. I loved having her help me and today when I left she had to look me over and to my delight she said "mama, you look awesome!" Ahh, that kid of mine!
Trevor is doing great! His school work is excellent and he's been working now for a few months. CJ took him to open a checking account and now he has a debit card. He takes it very seriously and is being very frugal with his money (thank you God). He has also helped me with Madelyn and her math studies. It's nice because all three girls are in three different grades so I work one on one with each of them for math and reading so to have the extra help is awesome, plus it helps them bond even more. Trevor will be 18 on January 12th. I am very emotional about this big birthday. I am so proud of the young man he has turned out to be but I miss that little boy too. Motherhood is HARD! LOL... Sometimes you want to run out the door and sometimes you never want your babies to age. Praise God he's starting at junior college so he'll be home for 2 more years.
Below are some pics...Enjoy and have a blessed Sunday!
Finally a family picture!
Linzhi at the fall festival getting her face painted. (it's a dolphin-kinda)
Rachel the kitty cat.
Madelyn at the fall festival. A prayer answered! And of course, miss Linz too!
my pictures are not in order but this is Rachel becoming a kitty!
My girls love craft day, here's Madelyn painting her "Love" plaque. It went along with our bible study. See my chalk board behind her. It's chalkboard paint and works beautifully!
Lu Belle painting her plaque too.
And Rachel Cate.
Hanging with dadda.
Trevor was asked to homecoming by his friend Katlyn. He's of course said yes!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
ahhh...Fall!
This by far is my favorite time of the year! I just love the Midwest especially during fall. On Friday we took a field trip to a pumpkin patch and apple orchard and we all made sweet memories. Watching sweet Madelyn get her first taste of fall in America brings so much joy to my heart, she is always up to try new things and she takes it all in with sheer excitement! Rachel, Linzhi and big bro Trev love to show her how to pick the right pumpkin but Miss Madelyn has a mind of her own (thank you very much) and she will smile with gratitude but then walk right over to inspect the pumpkins she likes. All the girls are getting along for the most part, there are tears from someone everyday but we're praising the Lord Madelyn's grieving has become less and less, she will get emotional and want to be isolated but I have shown a little more tough love and insist once she's had a few minutes to get it out, it's time to regroup and get moving again. It's hard for me to do it but I believe it helps her more than anything. She is also giving out lots of "I love you's" to everyone and of course we all say it back. She is very intersted in Jesus and God and loves to read her bilingual bible grandma Sharon and grandpa Willie bought her birthday. It's so precious to watch and listen to the girls during bible, they have their own interpretations of bible stories. I listen and nod and correct them if they are completely wrong because I do not want to misguide them in anyway however, if they're a little off, I leave them be because I feel they are trying to express how they understand it...Miss Linzhi is the most fun to listen to because she's all over the place but she has it so right when she said to me today... "Jesus lamb of God, worthy is your name" Big tears for mama. Rachel Cate is my little teacher in the making, she is patient and loves to help with Linzhi if I'm working one on one with Madelyn. Actually Madelyn is a great helper with Linzhi too especially in math, in fact she tried to tell me HOW to teach Linzhi her math so I let her do it and when Linzhi looked completely confused Madelyn said to me "Ok, mommy you got it" LOL... I LOVE LOVE LOVE home school. It's just such a precious time, I feel like I'm getting to know them on a different level. Please don't get me wrong some days I could get in my vehicle and never come back but good days out weigh the not so good days and we're having a good time and it's nice to have big brother in the next room. He pops his head in every once in awhile to see what we're doing. God has blessed us so abundantly. I am never worthy of His Grace but He just floods me with it.
Have a wonderful God-filled Wednesday!!
All my babies... My heart is full. I know the sun kind of ruined the shot but I love it anyway.
With Daddy.
With Mama. (yes, we're in a HUGE rocking chair)
Linzhi running to her pumpkin. Oh goodness I love this kid!! (new post coming on Linzhi medical update)
My youngest little birdy.
Rachel and Madelyn running to find pumpkins. Madelyn may have difficulty running but it NEVER stops her!
Yes, the sun was in their eyes but aren't they cute!?!?!
Big bro giving a push.
Linzhi feeding the goats...Rachel thinking about it. =)
And Madelyn thinking about it. It always cracks me up that the "little" sister is the one that is NOT afraid like the "big" Gi gi's
These two are very close.
They loved this school bus!
Have a wonderful God-filled Wednesday!!
All my babies... My heart is full. I know the sun kind of ruined the shot but I love it anyway.
With Daddy.
With Mama. (yes, we're in a HUGE rocking chair)
Linzhi running to her pumpkin. Oh goodness I love this kid!! (new post coming on Linzhi medical update)
My youngest little birdy.
Rachel and Madelyn running to find pumpkins. Madelyn may have difficulty running but it NEVER stops her!
Yes, the sun was in their eyes but aren't they cute!?!?!
Big bro giving a push.
Linzhi feeding the goats...Rachel thinking about it. =)
And Madelyn thinking about it. It always cracks me up that the "little" sister is the one that is NOT afraid like the "big" Gi gi's
These two are very close. 
They loved this school bus! Monday, October 4, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Finally pictures!
Ok, Madelyn has been 9 years for almost a week and I am just getting to post her pictures!!! Sorry for the delay! BTW, she has had a great week! Not one episode of grief. I truly believe her birthday was triggering her grief which breaks my heart. She is gaining more and more English which helps in so many ways AND she's maintaining her Mandarin as well. We're encouraging her to read her Mandarin books and practice her Characters as much as possible and she's more than happy to oblige. All my kiddos are doing great with school and just life. God is good. Today we took our second field trip to the pumpkin patch, I should have those pictures to post closer to Christmas...LOL... Have a wonderful weekend and God bless you all. ~Amy
These pics are not in order and I have to upload the pics from CJ's computer...Anyway, we started the morning with donuts and presents from mama and daddy and her sibs then we headed to Nana's Cakery for her party with friends. They were able to make 2 dozen cookies to take home and we had a little cake party in the back room. Then in the evening we had a family party with lots and lots of gifts. Those pics are on CJ's camera but I was able to get a few. Enjoy!
sisters!
At the Bakery with friends.
Having cake in the backroom of the bakery with her friends.
Linzhi and cut Madelyn and Yes, my husband accidently cut my face 0ff in the pic... =)
All ready to roll dough!
Madelyn's new friends and her sisters!
A quick snap with mama before heading to the bakery.
Madelyn and Tinerbelle.
In the livingroom opening gifts!
With her Fur-real pet dog she named "little Madelyn"
So excited for her princess house from her GuGu Trevor.
Excitement!
These pics are not in order and I have to upload the pics from CJ's computer...Anyway, we started the morning with donuts and presents from mama and daddy and her sibs then we headed to Nana's Cakery for her party with friends. They were able to make 2 dozen cookies to take home and we had a little cake party in the back room. Then in the evening we had a family party with lots and lots of gifts. Those pics are on CJ's camera but I was able to get a few. Enjoy!
sisters!
At the Bakery with friends.
Having cake in the backroom of the bakery with her friends.
Linzhi and cut Madelyn and Yes, my husband accidently cut my face 0ff in the pic... =)
All ready to roll dough!
Madelyn's new friends and her sisters!
A quick snap with mama before heading to the bakery.
Madelyn and Tinerbelle.
In the livingroom opening gifts!
With her Fur-real pet dog she named "little Madelyn"
So excited for her princess house from her GuGu Trevor.
Excitement!
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