STRETCH!

This girl continues to amaze me at how flexible she is!! Finally caught in on film with a great big smile laughing at her daddy!

Caleigh is learning to crawl! It's a slow process, but she really thinks about it & every now & then makes the leap of faith to move all four limbs in sequence!!! It's really fun to watch. I had wondered if she might skip crawling and go straight to walking once she gets her braces off....it looks as though she may crawl after all. We'll see.....Oh, and she doesn't like to crawl on the carpet, that is why she's always on a quilt or sheet, etc. Something about the feel of the carpet on her knees & feet...I think they were very sensitive when her casts came off & now she is starting to venture off onto the carpet!

A Post without Pictures? I know, you're schocked!

I know, you're shocked! A post with no cute pictures...maybe next week! I think I'll just ramble today! First of all, I just got home from lunch with my DH. Do you know how long it's been since I've eaten lunch during the week with my DH??? WAY TOO LONG!!! It was fun & C had a good time too! Then, C & I went shopping for Fall decorations at Michael's & I bought a hair bow maker & ribbon...I know, not too "fally", but maybe I can save some $$$ & learn to be crafty. We'll see. Upon returning home, it appears as though my hunter Boxer has found yet another snake as one has surely bitten her on/above her eye & it's swollen up like a tennis ball. Called the vet, no time to take her as the boys are out of school in 20 min., so I popped 3 Benadryl down her & if not better when I get home, a trip to the vet may be in order. This is the 3rd snake she's found...she also likes to kill rats, baby birds, moles, you name it! So, on another ramble, Blake had a dentist appt. this week & it seems that we have to start seeing a Pediatric Orthodontist (AKA Money Taker) ASAP as his teeth are coming in all wrong & with no room, etc. So...that starts next week. He just turned 8 people!!! OMG! C has completely adjusted to life with the annoying shoes & bars on her feet...she can turn over, sit up & sleep well now. It took a couple of weeks, but she's back to her normal schedule...we have a check-up on Oct. 7th. When her braces are off, she is trying to crawl, but gives up easily & is content to sit & play...need to think of a good motivator to get her accross the room! Her upper body is so strong now. Our 2nd post-placement visit with our SW is next Tuesday. It seems in TX we have to have 6 before we can begin the re-adoption/name change process. 6! Geez! The boys are doing well in 2nd grade; this year seems to be the best thus far with spelling coming easier as well as math. We are still struggling with reading, but the comprehension is there....need to work on word recognition & speed. Our afternoons are full of homework, but no complaining this year as we had last. Well, enough rambling....Need to go wake up C who's only been asleep for 30 min. so I can get the boys; she should be really happy...not...And last, but not least...we've been Caleigh's parents for exactly 3 months today! Woo Hoo!

Family & My 'Country Friends' Welcome Home Party

Sunday afternoon my In-laws & country friends threw Caleigh a big Welcome Home Party. It was at my sister-in-law's home & everyone was there...so fun! We lived just a mile down the road in a little farm house on 65 acres for 4 years after we were married (years 2-5 of our marriage in fact!) Just a mile from both my husband's sister & all of her family & about 1 1/2 miles from his mom. It was country living to the max & I miss it so!!! We lived in a 100 year old farm-house and had a garden, cows, chickens, a barn, cats (to kill the rats of course!) & woke up every morning to the sound of crickets. It was Heaven & it's too bad that I realize it now after moving nearly 10 years ago. My Dad was happy because we were moving into a modern home with central heat & air; he was always afraid we were going to burn the house down with the Dearborne stove in the living room that we used for heat. (I'll have to dig up some pictures!) Anyway, long story...but that's why they are my 'country friends'! Here are a few pictures from the party....Caleigh received so many things...I think her Fall Wardrobe was made on Sunday! She's wearing her little dress that I bought in Vietnam especially for this party. Just a side note...I'm glad we waited 2 months after coming home for this....it was a LOT of people & they all wanted to see/hold/play with her. She is so comfortable & secure now that she had a great time & was not clingy or worried at all...I'm glad we waited & everyone got to meet her! On the invitation, it was a "Sip and See"! My friend hand-painted the little chair for her...too cute!

Caleigh weighs 17 pounds now! I found out last night that she loves spaghetti & garlic bread!

Fun Yesterday at the Fair

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Snot, Slobber, Wet clothes, OH MY!

I forgot how 'wet' little ones are! Wet diapers is the easiest part...it's the slippery wet noses that come with colds or allergies...or is it the teething? I don't know. Oh, and she is teething at the same time & did I mention she drools constantly! It's so cute in one way, but her clothes get WET! I change her clothes at least 3 times a day. Not that I'm complaining, I love to dress her up, but the poor thing has a wet shirt all of the time. I guess I'll have to go to having her wear a bib some, although I really don't want to....I don't know why...I just don't. Maybe that tooth will come on through soon! I can see it right under the gum. Lest you think that I live in a perfect world, right now it's full of snot, slobber & wetness! I'll take it over stinky, runny diapers any day though!!! I tried to catch a pic of it all...you know, for when she's 15 & I can remind her how many times I've wiped her nose! :)

The Clean-Up after Hurricane IKE

The boys cleaning up....and our dog Duke helped too!
Caleigh watching the fire...You should still be able to click on most of our pictures to enlarge them...

First of all, I am grateful that our area did not see much of Hurricane Ike. We did have a ton of wind & some rain on Saturday & lost our power for the afternoon. Lots of tree limbs down in the back & the boys cleaned up on Sunday. Here are a few pictures. The devastation to the Galveston/Houston area is tremendous...please keep those families in your prayers.

Also, just down the street from our neighborhood, there are homes who may not have their electricity restored for 7-10 days! Not a generator to be found; they have all gone to Houston, so pray for them as well....the boys' school is closed today because they do not have electricity either, so a free day for the kids!

Happy 11 Months Caleigh!

Today my baby is 11 months old! I thank God every day that He gave us hearts for adoption! Thank You for entrusting us with this precious little girl. We are forever grateful that we have been chosen by You to be her parents!!! I love her more than words can say. She is such the little trooper! I am so happy that we get to see her little knees & legs again! She was up & rocking trying to crawl last night during her "free from braces" time....she'll be moving in no time. Happy 11 Month Birthday day Caleigh! We're off to the Book Fair at school with her big brothers & then we'll wait & see what Hurricane Ike is going to bring us.....

Casts On...Casts Off...Braces On...Here we go!

Trying to crawl with my casts on.Waiting to see the doctor.

Casts off! Straight little feet!
Hey! I can feel my leg (her foot was red & swollen yesterday, but it had gone away by this morning. )
Look Mom! No Casts!Smiling at the cute girl in the mirror! My new braces.

From casts on yesterday morning to casts off by 10:30 am. Fitted for braces at 11:00...on the road home by noon. Straight little feet! Hooray! The doctors are pleased with the outcome of Caleigh's surgery & everything looks good to go, so we're onto the braces now. (which are really just shoes, laced up pretty tight, with a bar connecting them so her feet stay in a corrective position). She can have them off 3 times per day for 30 min. each time to stretch & so that we can check for any pressure points/blisters/skin irritations. This will be for about 3 months & then they will be off all day & on for 12 hours each night until she is 3 or 4 years old. The nature of club feet is to revert back to their original position, so correction is necessary for quite some time to avoid that. Anywho, the castings seemed to fly by so I hope that this period of bracing does as well. For now, she's not a happy camper; last night was 'fitful', but no hysterical crying as she did with the castings when we first got them on, so I am hopeful for her as far as her comfort level. Here are some pictures from the past 2 days....

1st photo session

Caleigh had her first photo session a couple of weeks ago...we get to pick up our pictures on Friday. They all turned out too cute & it was so hard to choose! It just bugs me that I didn't get her pigtails straight, but that's the OCD coming out in me! Here are just a few of my favorites...I wanted to have her pictures made in her casts. They come off on Wednesday....

Home 2 Months

We have been home 2 months today with Caleigh! I took these photos today...finally got one of her tooth! She's cutting the 2nd, thus the drool on her t-shirt!

My Favorites from the CanTho Kiddos Reunion

5 of the 8 kiddos....
Our boys...
The yearly "swing" photo...the whole weekend crew of kids....

We had our gathering of travel-families last weekend. All of us plus 3 more families traveled to Vietnam together in 2002 to bring our children home after a 1 1/2 year wait. We are very close & I think it is because we endured the long wait together, chatting on the phone each week, conference calls, re-doing paperwork 3 or 4 times & just enduring the stress together! All of our kids are now 8 years old! All of the children are from CanTho...Red Cross Orphanage....

Age 10 1/2 Months

Caleigh is 10 1/2 months old! It is hard to imagine that we have been home almost 2 months. Next month will mark the 2 year anniversary that we started our adoption process through Dillon. Caleigh is growing & changing with every day that passes...something new is accomplished and we are so proud of her! Just this weekend she started sitting up on her own from a lying down position. I thought maybe it was a fluke, but I went in to get her from her nap yesterday & she was sitting straight up in her crib! I know most babies reach this milestone months earlier, but with her casts still on, I think it's a great accomplishment! She now can feed herself by picking up small 'treats' off of her high chair tray. She actually gets them in her mouth more times than not. She is cutting her 2nd tooth right on the bottom next to the one she has. She is pushing up & would be crawling I'm sure, but the casts are too slippery on the floor & carpet, so she pulls herself along & around in the direction she wants to go...We go next Wednesday & the casts come off. We will be fitted for the braces & onto the next part of the healing process. The braces will be on 22 hours a day for a couple of months...She will be most excited to take a real bath again! This little girl is just so precious; it is amazing to me how easily she has bonded with our entire family; she looks for the boys each morning for her 'morning kiss'. It's super sweet. Peace to all & more pictures to come of our VN Kiddos reunion this weekend....

Heading Out...

We're heading out to Lake Livingston in the morning for our CanTho 2002 Travel Group Reunion! I'm excited even though there are only going to be 3 families there this year. Two families are in the middle of a move up north & the other lives in New York & well, it's just really far to travel for 2 nights! :) I hope you all have a great Labor Day Weekend full of fun & relaxation! The kids are excited that they don't have school on Monday!

1st Day of 2nd Grade Pictures

Blake & Bryce

Best Friends & Our 2nd Grade BackPacks!

WOW! It has been a busy week! Here are the 1st day of 2nd Grade pictures finally. We are on to day 4 tomorrow & so far so good! :)

Birthdays, Swings & Sorrow...

We've had big birthdays each year for Blake & Bryce. This year, we did a small family affair & it was so nice. They didn't seem to mind a bit & enjoyed themselves just as well! Here are a couple of "Cake Pictures"...I still cannot believe I have 8 year olds!

We went to the park this past weekend & Caleigh had her "First Swing". She wasn't quite sure at first, but she decided it was O.K.! She really preferred swinging with her Daddy or me the best. Fine by me!

Sorrow... for my blogger/Dillon friend Meredith & her husband who were waiting to bring their daughter home. You can read her story on her blog if you wish. It is in my favorite blogs list. I just ask for all of your prayers to surround them & the little girl they will never meet. It is a very sad situation indeed...

Happy Birthday Blake & Bryce

Bryce is on the left & Blake is on the right....taken yesterday...











Me & my graham cracker just Chillin' in the grass watching my brothers play!

Happy 8th Birthday Blake & Bryce! I love you & I am so proud of you. You are both wonderful children & great big brothers! Tomorrow you will be big 2nd Graders!

Bryce, you have always been a thoughtful little boy, but I'm not sure where you learned meditation from! Blake, you are still a climber & as funny as ever! I love you both for your individual personalities! You are so different even though you are twins! I hope you will always be the best of friends~

Have a great day! Love, Mom

Mom's Visit & Meet the Teacher Night

Tonight we meet the boys' teachers. Yes, teachers...I decided a couple of weeks ago that they need their own class & a little individuality still for 2nd Grade. I had really hoped that the summer would bring a little maturity, but the truth is, they are just turning 8 this weekend & they are still attached at the hip! I just do not think they can handle being in the same class yet without always looking over their shoulders to see what the other is doing, etc.....I think their teacher would have hated me! LOL! Anywho, we go at 5:00 to meet their teachers! They are next-door to one another again this year, so that is good. School starts Monday.

My mom has been here since Tuesday to help out with Caleigh post-surgery. It has been wonderful! I think she is leaving on Friday...may try to talk her into staying until Saturday, but I know my Dad misses her when she's gone. You can see her 3rd set of casts that are on now. They really put her feet way out...and flat. It's unbelievable that little feet can turn that much. It looks really awkward, but the doctors swear by the technique & it's been proven to work over many years....I get lots of questions when we go out!

Glad to see referrals from Dillon are still being made for waiting families. Sept. 1st is the cutoff...as many children who can be placed into loving families before then the better! Praying to see a few more :)