LOVE my Boys~

Here they are making sure Calla is okay while Evie drs her~

AND just look at those beautiful smiles~

Reppin' their dad's building adventure: Millstone Homes!

Will @ Awana~

Will had his turn presenting colors this week~

So proud of him for being so brave and helpful!!!

Another Sickie~

We had to take WP to the dr too, and he had pneumonia. NOT good!
It has a been a week of sickness. Hoping for a better weekend!!!

A Sweet Sunday~

Josh invited Scott to the Falcons game on Sunday so we went out to their house for the day~

We painted a bed, went shopping, and ate lunch out.

While shopping Nan needed to stop in ToysRUs and since WP's bd is this weekend~

I let him pick out his own gifts... everything dinosaurs

and we brought them home to wrap.

I say that's a win win~ he picked and he loves!

LOVED our day with Nan, BC, and Amelia.

My Pool Guys~

None cuter!!!

Sickies~

Two sweet ones went to the doctor today~

And weren't happy about it one little bit.
Both came home with strep diagnosis and meds...
SO time for spring to come and free us from sickness!!!

Guest Blogger @ La Dolce Vita: "The Sweet Life"

In 2011 while in China adopting SJ, I met a sweet kindred spirit Rebecca Radicchi and we have remained connected since that time. She has four gorgeous children and blogs so beautifully at La Dolce Vita: "The Sweet Life". I am constantly blown away by the amazing way words just flow out of her so eloquently. 

I am blessed to know her and call her friend.

This is what Rebecca shares about her Medical Momma Toolkit Series...  "Parenting a medical needs child changes everything.  It is refining, refocusing, hard and hilarious.  In our first year of medical needs parenting, we've learned lots of lessons, most of them by trial and error (heavy on the error if we are putting all our cards on the table).  This year has stretched and blessed us, and also given us a big connection with other medical families.  My circle of solidarity with medical mommas has widened, and my heart longs to serve and encourage them.  

So, I give you a new series, the "Medical Momma Toolkit: Tips, Tricks and Encouragement".  

I am humbled to be a guest blogger on her blog series today sharing my heart during Will's Day Surgery visit this past Friday. You can begin reading my post here and continue at Rebecca's blog. I  hope you will follow this journey with her and our prayer is someone will be encouraged as they love their child with medical needs.

3 DOs for Day Surgery~

Today our son was scheduled for day surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids. He has suffered many rounds of tonsillitis and strep requiring lots trips to the doctor and medications. He also suffers from asthma and snores like a beast. Payne his twin brother who shares a room says- 'I not can even turn him over when him wakes me up with snoring'. So he needs this surgery just as much as Will. Ha!

1.  DO Listen to Your Instincts ~

He wasn't a cut and dry case. We had visited our pediatrician many times with same symptoms, but would always fall right below criteria for further inquiry. I was always understanding and acknowledged their expertise for documentation and timing. 

One day, Will came down with a very high fever, and I mean like 105.7 (Most of my kids run super high fevers, so I didn't freak.), but all the same, he needed to be seen. I called and they brought us in. Diagnosis was tonsillitis and ear infection, and this time I Pressed.

Pediatrician once again reminded me we were under the requirements for an ENT visit, but I wasn't going home without a referral. Sometimes it takes persistence of the momma bear to get the attention needed. Reluctantly, we were given go ahead for ENT, and I made the appointment.

Fast forward to this appointment and when the doctor looked in his mouth... you should have seen his eyes! 

Yep! I KNEW it!

On a scale from 1-4, with 4 being huge tonsils, his was a 4+!!! I remembered back being told this doctor was extremely conservative so not to be surprised if he agreed with them. Okay, I went with an open mind, but I just knew in my gut what the outcome would be. Surgery was scheduled and my boy would get a chance for better health and sleep!

Here we are at the hospital. We were to be here @ 9:30 with surgery at 11:30. That is never a given. Back to a room in plenty of time, but are told surgery is not until 12:30, and we continue to wait. That time passed and finally he was taken back at 1:30. Two hours late, but all is well. 

Please continue reading at La Dolce Vita: "The Sweet Life".

Day Surgery for Will Perry~

Will has struggled so long with enlarged tonsils and he snores like a beast.

After one appointment with an ENT, surgery was scheduled 

and he was off for Day Surgery~

 To make this outing a little less overwhelming and stressful,

he woke up to a Ninja Turtle Shellraiser to take with him!

On the way we were amazed at the beautiful sunrise God made~

We arrived at the hospital in plenty of time with check in @ 9:45

and surgery @ 11:45~

 We were taken back to a room with plenty of time to spare

only to find out surgery would now be 12:45... queue the clowns~

 These boys didn't know what to think at first... first time for them.

They were able to let their guard down and know it was pretend!

Finally it was time to get WP ready for the ride and he was super brave

{Shellraiser right by his side!}~

 He was wheeled out about 1:30 and time stood still... waiting for GOOD news!~

 And good news we received!

He did great during surgery and had Monster tonsils. :)

He was surprised with a sweet gift bag from The Thomas family~

{thank you Lyn and family!!!}

 Recovery was pretty short with popsicles, slushies, apple juice and TV~

 The first night and day home was brutal but WP is amazing

and has super sweet siblings to help in any way~

We are thankful for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

and our very healthy Ninja Turtle boy Will!!!

Weekend Catch Ups~

Saturday was just a day of hanging out doing whatever~

LOVED seeing SJ pick up the book we read a couple of times this week

and read it to WP... makes a mom's heart happy!

Sunday was church and the girls did even better this week.

They went in with Ms Ally and didn't even cry when they shut the door.

There was tears when I picked up because Evie didn't get to meet the pirate

in the video... she cheered up when we watched it again on my phone.

Just never know what to expect in these little trusting hearts.

Learning to expect anything and everything then just go with it~

AND I found all these awesome Leap Frog items in the $1 aisle at Target!!!

They have really come in handy this week during learning time!

Another Tooth Gone~

WP pulled another tooth {well dad pulled it}~

SJ noticed many things she and WP have in common...

~2 pulled teeth

~glasses

~wear patches

~heart surgery

~Fujian babies

Love that their similarities make them closer and God made them siblings!

Adoption is more amazing with each passing day!!!

Life in our Yard~

This time of year we pretty much live in our yard.

EK and SJ can't wait to check their garden every single day~

 And the others just love playing out in the drive~

Evie ran to get her baby and told me she was mom and WP was dad. LOVE!

Healthy Hearts~

Today SJ and WP {our heart babies} had their yearly cardiologist appointments with Dr. Lindsey~

 and got a perfect report... Healthy Hearts!

We took the whole crew and everyone did great...

as a matter of fact two were quite worn out from the whole ordeal~

We are SO thankful for good reports and no surgeries in the near future.

Thank You Jesus!!!

Boys, Boys, Boys~

The boys have a little bit of a hard time lately with boo boos~

Tough and brave!

AND tomorrow is the big day to see THIS baby BOY~

We CAN NOT wait!!!

BOYS... not a dull moment!!!

Explode the Code~

I have used Expolde the Code with both EK and SJ and began Get Ready for the Code with 3 littles~

They worked so hard and recognize the letter F everywhere now~ 

SO fun doing school in our sun room where we feel we're right outside in the snow. Evie keeps me I stitches ALL DAY LONG! She's wearing my reading glasses.  

What You See?

The big question to each as they play with their viewfinders~

 Or~

MOM! Look what I see!

 

Family Birthday Party~

We have three birthdays in the month of October... WP, Daddy, and Jessica.

Last night we were able to celebrate two and will see Jessica on Wed!

The house was FULL of love~

 and we enjoyed a delicious Italian meal of caesar salad, baked ravioli, lasagna, and garlic bread~

 Enjoyed yummy cupcakes and ice cream~

Happy birthday WP and Pop!!!

The most exciting part was going out for a little pinata fun~

 and opening presents!

We are set with new things to play with for sure!!

Only thing that would have made this day perfect was having Mimi home. {See you Wed too, Mimi!} 

What's happening Wed for everyone to be together again???

Josh and Savannah are hosting a baby reveal dinner for family 

and to say I can't wait is an understatement!!!

Boy or girl???

WP's Family Party~

A great party~ more tomorrow. 

Happy Birthday WP~

Today was a big day for WP.

Seriously he has been waiting to turn five since Payne's 5th birthday.

First thing he said this morning~ I'm 5 now!

He started his day off with a nutritious:) breakfast of Froot Loops~

 and was excited to open his first gift.

He is ALL about Jake and the Neverland Pirates, wants to be a pirate for Halloween, 

and was so ecstatic with his Jolly Roger!

As happy as WP was, Evie was the opposite {sad}.

This was her first breakdown of it not being her birthday {poor baby}~

{She turned 3 about 8 days after coming home so she doesn't remember anything about her special day}

After everyone was dressed for the day, WP opened a Jake Memory Game for school~

 {Poor little Evie... MINE! WP was such a trooper}

We went on with school and SJ enjoyed being calendar teacher to celebrate WP's birthday~

{A little video}~

WP also opened a Fire fighter duplo set from Memommy and Pop!

Once Scott finished work and Rosie came home from school/cheerleading, we went out for dinner to Olive Garden~

 and came home for a mini cupcake party.

For some reason EK has always said you aren't your new age until you have blown out the candles so finally WP was 5!

Happy birthday WP... you are a precious sweet son.

Can't imagine life without you!!!

Burning up the Road~

WP had another recheck today and was a smidge better.

Will be giving him breathing treatments every 4 hours around the clock for a couple of days.

Does he look sick to you?~

 I only took him and Evie today... they had a ball together

and the other three had their own fun with Memommy and Max!!!

Thankful we won't be Burning up the Road tomorrow...

Instead it will be our First Day of School for 2013/2014!

Better get to bed!!!

A Sweet Reunion~

Once upon a time two boys lived @ Shepherd's Field in China together... foster brothers sharing a house, room, and spending pretty much all their life together.

Parts of their story can be found here and here.

A month or so ago, Greyson's mom Kim sent me a text to ask if we lived near Anderson, SC as they were coming to a football Jamboree... YES~ only 30 minutes away. We both squealed that we might be able to see each other during the trip. As time grew near, we decided she and the little kids would stay the night here while Greg and big boys would go to Jamboree. I think our greatest anticipation was to see how the boys reacted to each other... after all, it had been 18 months since we had left with WP. Last night as they came face to face it was as if they were meeting each other for the first time~

But in no time it was like they were right back where they had left off... kind of like subconsciously they still knew each other. It was the sweetest thing to watch and witness!

Today was a day full of playing and more playing~

  Our kids just clicked and got along so well~

 And the friendship between me and Kim is nothing short of God planned. How do you get past losing a child in the adoption process? 

Celebrate the miracle of God's 'BETTER' plan for His orphaned babies and in the midst He blesses us with an amazing friendship.

Today as we were saying our goodbyes, I scooped Greyson into my arms and tears slipped from my eyes... happy tears that he has his forever~

A Forever family and a forever brother!

A sweet reunion!!  

Already looking forward to our next time!