Monday, September 8, 2008

Feeling Reflective...the "Then" versus the "Now"



Cafe next to the White Swan Hotel....


Maybe it's because we recently passed our 2nd anniversary of our referral (August 24th--which is also Ed's birthday!!). Or maybe it's because they seem to be at the sheer pinnacle of what I think "thriving" is all about. Whatever the reason, I've been feeling unusually reflective lately so I dug-up some old China and Early-Days thereafter pictures.....just to kind of "compare" and jog my memory of the "Then" and the "Now".....

Forbidden City, of course.....



Um...guess what...I'm thinking this is Nicki 'cause I'm more sure the next pic is Sammi but....I think I may always be unsure on these two shots which is completely unusual for me!!


Wonderful Welcoming Committee at the airport when we returned from China...


Ooofff....we were so beyond-belief tired after 45-50 hours non-stop travel from White Swan to RDU...


Here is Colleen and me on our first evening home....Colleen and all our friends were just wonderful...Ed and I were so exhausted and our friends all rallied around us and helped us out for quite some time.....


Ah, I'll never ever forget what our team of pediatricians (who specialize in Chinese adoption ) said to us those throughout their first two months home: "Your daughters have quite a lot of issues going on right now." Whew, and were they ever right. They came home with double ear infections (both), exotic skin fungus problems (Sammi), severe bronchitis (both)...and oh yay, RSV (Nicki). On one of our practically daily doctor's visits (which happened to be Christmas Eve), Dr. Foster took one look at Nicki, slammed-on a pulse ox monitor and immediately called the EMS as Nicki's reading was right at 89-90%. Poor little thing and poor us. As the EMTs were whisking Nicki away, I overheard one of the nurses say to another nurse that RSV can absolutely be fatal. Oh my....there we are below in the ER waiting on her room as she had to be admitted for a few days. And, I'll never forget what Jeannette and the Ks did for us.....I called Jeannette crying and in need of immediate help to take care of Sammi and Jeannette dropped everything she was doing (on Christmas Eve!!) to swoop in and take care of Sammi while Ed and I stayed at the hospital with Nicki....wow, pretty awesome, huh! Ah, our dear friends are indeed our "family".....


A few weeks later, things started to get better....here we are at the Mall...


Oh, so tiny....they weighed 13 pounds when we came home....and gained just a whopping 8 pounds over the year. Now, at 3 yrs old, they still just weigh 26 pounds...Tee-nine-eey....



And....here they are now.....simply awesome, happy, fun, funny, capable, mostly pretty sweet, they play so very well together....and they are both just our bundles of joy....Wow, Then vs Now. What a journey.....


Hugs,
Cindy

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Of Birthdays, Bikes, and Bits of Bliss

Oh my.....Sammi and Nicki turned 3yrs old last week on August 27th. The days and weeks and months...and oh my goodness, the years....are flying past. I know, I know...everyone always told me this would happen....that time just flies by as you watch your children grow-up...but I never expected it to fly by at warp-speed!
I have to say that for my situation, I'm glad and really content to be an older Mom. I'm glad to have a good bit of the "What's "it" all about?" and "What am I seeking?" behind me. I'm glad we are financially stable...we sure have worked hard for it. I'm glad (and quite grateful) to have 20+ years of a solid marriage to my best friend as my foundation for...well, pretty-much for everything. I'm glad Ed and I have played so hard (still lots of 'playing' left but a different kind) and have had so many adventures and..well, have had the chance to "sow-our-oats" because I am so content being right where I am today...an older 'in my late gulp 40s" Mom with two little ones....Jeez, life has changed a lot in less than 2 years!


Sammi and Nicki are doing great...talking up a storm....telling stories, talking non-oh-my-goodness-stop, and they are simply thriving. How lucky-lucky Ed and I are to have these 2 little elves in our family. Sure doesn't mean it's not hard sometimes and that I don't love my breaks away....but, good-grief times are good right now.

Party at da preschool....


They are finally beginning to figure out how to pedal...



Ok...here's where the WORM pictures start...yuckky....I'm such a nature outdoors kinda girl....in a big-way...minus worms and snakes and things that slither along....but the girls LOVE them....

For cyring-out-loud, they are running all over the yard with these worms!!
Screen-porch picnic with Alice's neice, Althea


Dollhouse present from Cathy and Robbie!



And last but not least, a great picture of Buddy-Dog....


Hugs,
Cindy