Merry Christmas from the V. Crew!Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
A Visit from Grandma & Grandpa
Shortly after returning home from Mia's re-adoption proceedings, our doorbell rang with some very special visitors! Grandma and Grandpa V. had arrived from New Jersey. Mia was excited to meet them after seeing pictures of them for the last four months. And they were excited to meet her too.
Our first night, we had a great time at our favorite pizza place in town. The next night we were able to have a nice dinner out for just the adults while the kids were at One Way Club. We filled our days with books and games and visiting while enjoying our Christmas cookies, butter letter and bagels from NJ! Our last day together, Steve took some vacation so that he could be home by noon. It allowed us more time to play and be together. We celebrated Christmas, opened presents and enjoyed an amazing meal at home with filet grilled to perfection. Mmm.
It was a wonderful time together and we appreciated their efforts to come. We were thankful that they were able to fly home safely Friday just before the 18 inches of snow arrived on Saturday! Thank you for the special visit Mom & Dad.
Enjoy the photos!
Grandma & Mia
Grandpa & Mia
Mia opening her first Christmas gift EVER!
Pretty dress-up slippers!
Chloe & her new doll with matching scarves.
Caleb & Luke with their pocket knives.
Steve & his girls.
Grandma, Grandpa & The V. CrewWednesday, December 8, 2010
Re-Adoption Day
December 7, 2010 was a very big day for this little girl and for our whole family! Exactly 4 months since arriving home from China, we completed Mia's re-adoption on U.S. soil. The entire proceedings took no more than 15 minutes, but it was a meaningful time for our family. All six of us were there and we were joined by our precious friends Christy and Jess and their girls, Layla & Alaina. Steve and I were asked a few basic questions and then I was asked to give testimony. I raised my right hand, was sworn in and took the stand. It was all very official and formal (and a little intimidating actually). The last question the judge asked me was, "Do you believe it is in Mia's best interest to be adopted into your family?" I responded with a resounding yes. Afterward, I was dismissed and the judge shared some very kind words about adoption and our family.
And then she ruled...
I see it fit for Mia Jane Hui ... to be adopted into this family.
And our little group of 10 erupted into cheers and clapping!
Thank you Jesus.
All 4 waiting to go in...
Steve and his little girl.
The V. Crew with Judge Falstad
Christy, Me & Jess(love you girls!)
It's official!The day continued with more excitement when we welcomed some special visitors bearing gifts and bagels from NJ...another post to come!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Christmas Cards
Steve and I have been sending out Christmas cards and letters since 1997. I have kept one from every year since we began. It is such a blessing to look back on them and see all that the Lord has done in our lives.
I generally wait until after Thanksgiving to figure all of it out, but I recently learned that Shutterfly was offering 50 FREE cards to bloggers! And I am all about a deal. Check out this link and take advantage of the offer
http://bit.ly/sfly2010
When I am looking for a card, I search the ones that say Merry Christmas.
Because Christmas is not just a happy holiday.
It is a HOLY day.
On Christmas, we celebrate the greatest gift ever given.
The birth of Christ.
But it is not just about a baby in a manager.
It is about the Son of God leaving the splendors of Heaven
to live, perfectly.
to love, perfectly.
and to die, perfectly.
Have you ever thought about that?
The whole purpose of His birth was to DIE.
He came to die.
At the hands of His creation.
For me and YOU.
Because He LOVES us.
He was willing to pay the price of my sin and yours. DEATH.
So that anyone who believes in Him will LIVE.
Forever.
FOREVER.
That, my friends, should have us joyfully declaring MERRY CHRISTMAS to anyone we see.
And I am really grateful that Shutterfly has so many options.
For Christmas cards.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
I love this one.
You can even make Christmas gift tags there.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-gift-tags
How cute is that?
They have some fun gift ideas too.
http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
Seriously, you should check it out.
We have yet to take our family photo...I am hoping to accomplish that this weekend. So much to do.
Stay tuned.
I generally wait until after Thanksgiving to figure all of it out, but I recently learned that Shutterfly was offering 50 FREE cards to bloggers! And I am all about a deal. Check out this link and take advantage of the offer
http://bit.ly/sfly2010
When I am looking for a card, I search the ones that say Merry Christmas.
Because Christmas is not just a happy holiday.
It is a HOLY day.
On Christmas, we celebrate the greatest gift ever given.
The birth of Christ.
But it is not just about a baby in a manager.
It is about the Son of God leaving the splendors of Heaven
to live, perfectly.
to love, perfectly.
and to die, perfectly.
Have you ever thought about that?
The whole purpose of His birth was to DIE.
He came to die.
At the hands of His creation.
For me and YOU.
Because He LOVES us.
He was willing to pay the price of my sin and yours. DEATH.
So that anyone who believes in Him will LIVE.
Forever.
FOREVER.
That, my friends, should have us joyfully declaring MERRY CHRISTMAS to anyone we see.
And I am really grateful that Shutterfly has so many options.
For Christmas cards.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
I love this one.
You can even make Christmas gift tags there.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-gift-tags
How cute is that?
They have some fun gift ideas too.
http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
Seriously, you should check it out.
We have yet to take our family photo...I am hoping to accomplish that this weekend. So much to do.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A New Role & Title for me...Court Petitioner
Well, today we completed one more step in this long journey called adoption. I officially "petitioned the court" this morning for a re-adoption hearing. It sounds so official doesn't it? It really was much easier than I thought it would be...
Basically we had to fill out some additional paperwork, gather some additional documentation from our adoption agency, notarize one document and make an appointment with the probate office in our county courthouse. I was there for about 10 minutes. Everyone was pleasant and I left having successfully obtained a scheduled hearing date and time for December 7, 2010 at 8:15am. It all went unbelievably smoothly and I was quite pleased to not have to use an attorney for any of the process. {To all of the other adoptive parents out there, you are FULLY capable to handle this part without spending big dollars on an attorney...it is nothing compared to the work that was required of you to get you this far.} =)
So, why re-adoption? Re-adopting Mia in the U.S. is not a requirement. She is already fully our daughter and legally adopted. And Mia is a U.S. Citizen. She has a Certificate of Citizenship and a social security card. Re-adoption is recommended, however, because in doing so, she will be issued a U.S. Certificate of Foreign Birth which looks almost identical to a U.S. Birth Certificate. Right now she has a Chinese birth certificate (3 originals), but it is in Mandarin and requires us to also carry a translation. We will also be unable to obtain (without incredible difficulty) any additional originals. Thus having a U.S. Certificate of Foreign Birth will make life a little easier when she would need to present a birth certificate (ie. schooling, marriage, sports, etc.) And it will be relatively easy to obtain additional originals. There are additional benefits to re-adoption including the ability to change Mia's name or date of birth if necessary, but the above reasons were the ones that most resonated with us.
So, we will be moving forward with Mia's re-adoption. And our big day is December 7! We plan to have the whole family there. And hopefully we will take some pictures. Anyone else who wants to join us is welcome. =) I was told it should take 10-15 minutes and then... I think this mound of paperwork is mostly done...
except for the post-adoption reports, but those are easy. =)
Off to tackle the house with a new level of authority...
because I petitioned the court this morning. =)
Basically we had to fill out some additional paperwork, gather some additional documentation from our adoption agency, notarize one document and make an appointment with the probate office in our county courthouse. I was there for about 10 minutes. Everyone was pleasant and I left having successfully obtained a scheduled hearing date and time for December 7, 2010 at 8:15am. It all went unbelievably smoothly and I was quite pleased to not have to use an attorney for any of the process. {To all of the other adoptive parents out there, you are FULLY capable to handle this part without spending big dollars on an attorney...it is nothing compared to the work that was required of you to get you this far.} =)
So, why re-adoption? Re-adopting Mia in the U.S. is not a requirement. She is already fully our daughter and legally adopted. And Mia is a U.S. Citizen. She has a Certificate of Citizenship and a social security card. Re-adoption is recommended, however, because in doing so, she will be issued a U.S. Certificate of Foreign Birth which looks almost identical to a U.S. Birth Certificate. Right now she has a Chinese birth certificate (3 originals), but it is in Mandarin and requires us to also carry a translation. We will also be unable to obtain (without incredible difficulty) any additional originals. Thus having a U.S. Certificate of Foreign Birth will make life a little easier when she would need to present a birth certificate (ie. schooling, marriage, sports, etc.) And it will be relatively easy to obtain additional originals. There are additional benefits to re-adoption including the ability to change Mia's name or date of birth if necessary, but the above reasons were the ones that most resonated with us.
So, we will be moving forward with Mia's re-adoption. And our big day is December 7! We plan to have the whole family there. And hopefully we will take some pictures. Anyone else who wants to join us is welcome. =) I was told it should take 10-15 minutes and then... I think this mound of paperwork is mostly done...
except for the post-adoption reports, but those are easy. =)
Off to tackle the house with a new level of authority...
because I petitioned the court this morning. =)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
And now its November
Where in the world does time go? I think about updating the blog often, but somehow I never make it here to do so.
October was busy and fun. As I celebrated my birthday, Mia had her first experience watching presents being opened and candles being blown out. She seemed to take it all in. My parents surprised me (not Steve) and walked into the birthday lunch that Steve had planned for me and the girls. It was super fun and I was REALLY surprised. They also donated their babysitting services so that Steve could take me out for dinner - another great blessing. Thanks Mom & Dad!
This past weekend was quite an adventure. I headed solo to Door County with the kids - a first for Mia. My parents were there to help with and add to the great adventures. The boys enjoyed long hikes along the Eagle Trail with Grandma & Boppa. And the girls enjoyed countless books and many, many games with them too.
While there, Mia spent A LOT of time in the pool. She was incredibly nervous- terrified actually - but she did remarkably well. She definitely does not like to feel out of control (which makes a whole lot of sense for a girl who has had her world pulled out from under her so many times in her short life). She warmed up as the days went on...especially in the kiddie pool.
The crew also got to go to a costume parade and trick-or-treat throughout the shops of Fish Creek. Mia loved dressing up and practiced over and over her "ick or reat" and "thank yous." She was not at all a fan of anyone with a mask on. The scary decorations and costumes were rough on her as well. I think it actually stressed her out pretty badly. That made for a lot of carrying by the Boppa and the momma, but in the end, she was quite pleased to watch candy get dropped into her bucket. =)
Saturday, will be 3 months since we have been home from China. It is hard to believe. Mia is now talking CONSTANTLY. Her vocabulary is growing quickly, but often times we still struggle to understand her. She is much like a chattering two year old - it requires some effort to figure out the words she is using, but she definitely has a lot to say. Her very first full sentence was "no more monkeys jumping on the bed." (Chloe LOVES reading that book out loud to her.) Needless to say, it took a while for me to figure that one out. =)
We are beginning to consider and pray about school options for Mia come January. We are not sure what she is ready for nor are we sure of all our options. It may start with a few hours per week depending on how Mia responds. Please pray that it is a clear decision and a smooth transition.
We are busy.
Sometimes it is really hard.
Somedays it seems like I was absolutely made for this.
Other days I wonder who ever thought that I could be the mother of 4 children.
This fall has been very different for me. I have had to give up some things that mean a lot to me. The most difficult has been giving up teaching (or even attending) women's Bible study on Wednesday mornings. I miss it terribly. I miss the hours and hours of time in The Word. I miss the ladies. I miss the fellowship.
More than anything, I miss the intimacy with the Lord.
He has not left me.
Not. Even. Close.
But the season has changed for a time.
I am doing my best to embrace this season, but it has been harder than I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I want this. I'd rather it be easy (just being honest), but I absolutely do want to be the mother of these 4 precious children. I want to use this time to pour into Mia while she is still at home. I want desperately to walk in obedience. It is where the Lord has called me. It was clear to me that the Lord asked me to give these things up for a time and so I have. In return I have gained sweet time with my newest little girl.
And through it all, He is pruning me. It hurts. And sometimes it seems like the prettiest branches are the ones that He cuts off.
To make room for new growth.
Richer, more fruitful, beautiful growth.
That declares the work of The Master Gardener.
I am fully confident that,
even in the midst of the difficulty,
it is right,
and ultimately,
it is for my good and for His Glory.
And for that I am grateful.
Below are some pictures from October...
the one with Grandma & Boppa & the kids did not go so well as I asked them to stare into the sun - oops!
October was busy and fun. As I celebrated my birthday, Mia had her first experience watching presents being opened and candles being blown out. She seemed to take it all in. My parents surprised me (not Steve) and walked into the birthday lunch that Steve had planned for me and the girls. It was super fun and I was REALLY surprised. They also donated their babysitting services so that Steve could take me out for dinner - another great blessing. Thanks Mom & Dad!
This past weekend was quite an adventure. I headed solo to Door County with the kids - a first for Mia. My parents were there to help with and add to the great adventures. The boys enjoyed long hikes along the Eagle Trail with Grandma & Boppa. And the girls enjoyed countless books and many, many games with them too.
While there, Mia spent A LOT of time in the pool. She was incredibly nervous- terrified actually - but she did remarkably well. She definitely does not like to feel out of control (which makes a whole lot of sense for a girl who has had her world pulled out from under her so many times in her short life). She warmed up as the days went on...especially in the kiddie pool.
The crew also got to go to a costume parade and trick-or-treat throughout the shops of Fish Creek. Mia loved dressing up and practiced over and over her "ick or reat" and "thank yous." She was not at all a fan of anyone with a mask on. The scary decorations and costumes were rough on her as well. I think it actually stressed her out pretty badly. That made for a lot of carrying by the Boppa and the momma, but in the end, she was quite pleased to watch candy get dropped into her bucket. =)
Saturday, will be 3 months since we have been home from China. It is hard to believe. Mia is now talking CONSTANTLY. Her vocabulary is growing quickly, but often times we still struggle to understand her. She is much like a chattering two year old - it requires some effort to figure out the words she is using, but she definitely has a lot to say. Her very first full sentence was "no more monkeys jumping on the bed." (Chloe LOVES reading that book out loud to her.) Needless to say, it took a while for me to figure that one out. =)
We are beginning to consider and pray about school options for Mia come January. We are not sure what she is ready for nor are we sure of all our options. It may start with a few hours per week depending on how Mia responds. Please pray that it is a clear decision and a smooth transition.
We are busy.
Sometimes it is really hard.
Somedays it seems like I was absolutely made for this.
Other days I wonder who ever thought that I could be the mother of 4 children.
This fall has been very different for me. I have had to give up some things that mean a lot to me. The most difficult has been giving up teaching (or even attending) women's Bible study on Wednesday mornings. I miss it terribly. I miss the hours and hours of time in The Word. I miss the ladies. I miss the fellowship.
More than anything, I miss the intimacy with the Lord.
He has not left me.
Not. Even. Close.
But the season has changed for a time.
I am doing my best to embrace this season, but it has been harder than I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I want this. I'd rather it be easy (just being honest), but I absolutely do want to be the mother of these 4 precious children. I want to use this time to pour into Mia while she is still at home. I want desperately to walk in obedience. It is where the Lord has called me. It was clear to me that the Lord asked me to give these things up for a time and so I have. In return I have gained sweet time with my newest little girl.
And through it all, He is pruning me. It hurts. And sometimes it seems like the prettiest branches are the ones that He cuts off.
To make room for new growth.
Richer, more fruitful, beautiful growth.
That declares the work of The Master Gardener.
I am fully confident that,
even in the midst of the difficulty,
it is right,
and ultimately,
it is for my good and for His Glory.
And for that I am grateful.
Below are some pictures from October...
the one with Grandma & Boppa & the kids did not go so well as I asked them to stare into the sun - oops!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
More paperwork.
Two weeks ago we received Mia's Certificate of Citizenship (COC) in the mail. She now has a document testifying to her US citizenship! It is quite official looking and this is the document that we needed in order to file for Mia's social security card. So, I printed off some forms on-line, filled out some more paperwork, gathered up several documents from China, including our adoption decree and Mia's Chinese birth certificate, passport and her COC and headed down to the US Social Security Administration office last week.
And guess who received her social security card in the mail today!?
That's right...Mia Jane Hui
...almost done with the paperwork.
And guess who received her social security card in the mail today!?
That's right...Mia Jane Hui
...almost done with the paperwork.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
It's been a while
It has been quite a long time since I have posted. It is not intentional, I have really just gotten busy doing the dailys of life as a wife and momma of four.
This past weekend, Steve had all four kiddos by himself while he allowed me to get away on a weekend women's retreat through church. It was a time of renewal for me. And it was good. It was good to have extended quiet time with the Lord. It was good to be able to sit long enough to hear from Him without responsiblities calling my name. It was good to have precious fellowship with sisters and uninterrupted conversations. It was good to have nothing to do with meal preparation and clean-up. It was good to dress and bathe only myself for 2 full days. It was good to take in His creation in such a beautiful and quiet setting. Just before I left, a friend encouraged me to have no mommy-guilt for taking this time. I did my best not to, but that does not come naturally for me.
Steve did AMAZING. He not only handled everything as a single parent of 4 while I was away, he also went to 2 grocery stores with all of them, stocked our fridge (buying only on-sale items), got them to Sunday School and church on time with everyone dressed appropriately AND he & the kids cleaned up the whole house before I got home.
I am not kidding.
When I walked into the house, I found
a clean sink,
an empty dishwasher,
all the beds made,
every toy put away,
the counters cleared,
clothes in the laundry baskets and
the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets filled.
It was such a sweet gift. It was also incredibly wonderful to receive HUGE embraces from my five most favorite people in the world. Steve did so well that I had to make sure he still needs me. He said he does. ☺
Steve is such a great daddy and it was clear that the kids all had a fabulous time with him. I made sure to send him out for some mountain biking later that afternoon so that he could refresh too...and it was the last weekend of the season at Nine Mile.
So what's new here?
Mia continues to do overwhelmingly well. We have very few battles for which I am grateful. She has absolutely no medical needs - a miracle I need to continue to remind myself of on a daily basis. She sleeps well (although sometimes naps can be very hard with lots of tears). Her teeth no longer bother her at all and she can eat all kinds of food without difficulty or pain. Mia eats normally and has a very healthy, balanced diet. She actually has lost 3 or 4 pounds since being here (probably because she finally has a healthy diet that is not filled with candy & junk food). Her receptive language continues to grow, however, Mia continues to speak very little in English.
This is one of my greatest struggles - I want to be able to have conversations with her and right now we cannot. I am the only one talking. And I am certain that cannot be much fun for her. ☺ We have no problem communicating the daily needs & activities...food, dressing, bathing, toileting, coming & going, clean-up, etc. And she is even playing UNO quite well which is shocking to me. The hard things are when I want to talk to her about the truths of life...
First and foremost I want to tell her about Jesus. I want her to know her Savior. I want her to understand His love. I want to talk with her about obedience and blessing and sin and consequences. I want to talk with her about fear and learn about her past. I want to teach her about love and trust and honesty. I want to have a conversation about manipulation and kindness and goodness. Right now talking with Mia is like talking to a 12-15 month old. She is almost 4 and a half. I know that she will pick it up quickly and that she is learning so much. Her receptive language is outstanding, but obviously the conversations you need to have with a 4 year old are much different than those you would have with a 12 month old. We'll get there, by God's grace.
Please pray that I will be patient.
Enjoy some of the photos below...
Mia continues to LOVE to dress up especially while Chloe teaches her ballet. Chloe has only been taking lessons for four weeks herself, but she has become quite the ballerina and she loves to practice. All. The. Time. And teach everyone her new moves.
This past weekend, Steve had all four kiddos by himself while he allowed me to get away on a weekend women's retreat through church. It was a time of renewal for me. And it was good. It was good to have extended quiet time with the Lord. It was good to be able to sit long enough to hear from Him without responsiblities calling my name. It was good to have precious fellowship with sisters and uninterrupted conversations. It was good to have nothing to do with meal preparation and clean-up. It was good to dress and bathe only myself for 2 full days. It was good to take in His creation in such a beautiful and quiet setting. Just before I left, a friend encouraged me to have no mommy-guilt for taking this time. I did my best not to, but that does not come naturally for me.
Steve did AMAZING. He not only handled everything as a single parent of 4 while I was away, he also went to 2 grocery stores with all of them, stocked our fridge (buying only on-sale items), got them to Sunday School and church on time with everyone dressed appropriately AND he & the kids cleaned up the whole house before I got home.
I am not kidding.
When I walked into the house, I found
a clean sink,
an empty dishwasher,
all the beds made,
every toy put away,
the counters cleared,
clothes in the laundry baskets and
the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets filled.
It was such a sweet gift. It was also incredibly wonderful to receive HUGE embraces from my five most favorite people in the world. Steve did so well that I had to make sure he still needs me. He said he does. ☺
Steve is such a great daddy and it was clear that the kids all had a fabulous time with him. I made sure to send him out for some mountain biking later that afternoon so that he could refresh too...and it was the last weekend of the season at Nine Mile.
So what's new here?
Mia continues to do overwhelmingly well. We have very few battles for which I am grateful. She has absolutely no medical needs - a miracle I need to continue to remind myself of on a daily basis. She sleeps well (although sometimes naps can be very hard with lots of tears). Her teeth no longer bother her at all and she can eat all kinds of food without difficulty or pain. Mia eats normally and has a very healthy, balanced diet. She actually has lost 3 or 4 pounds since being here (probably because she finally has a healthy diet that is not filled with candy & junk food). Her receptive language continues to grow, however, Mia continues to speak very little in English.
This is one of my greatest struggles - I want to be able to have conversations with her and right now we cannot. I am the only one talking. And I am certain that cannot be much fun for her. ☺ We have no problem communicating the daily needs & activities...food, dressing, bathing, toileting, coming & going, clean-up, etc. And she is even playing UNO quite well which is shocking to me. The hard things are when I want to talk to her about the truths of life...
First and foremost I want to tell her about Jesus. I want her to know her Savior. I want her to understand His love. I want to talk with her about obedience and blessing and sin and consequences. I want to talk with her about fear and learn about her past. I want to teach her about love and trust and honesty. I want to have a conversation about manipulation and kindness and goodness. Right now talking with Mia is like talking to a 12-15 month old. She is almost 4 and a half. I know that she will pick it up quickly and that she is learning so much. Her receptive language is outstanding, but obviously the conversations you need to have with a 4 year old are much different than those you would have with a 12 month old. We'll get there, by God's grace.
Please pray that I will be patient.
Enjoy some of the photos below...
Mia continues to LOVE to dress up especially while Chloe teaches her ballet. Chloe has only been taking lessons for four weeks herself, but she has become quite the ballerina and she loves to practice. All. The. Time. And teach everyone her new moves.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Something to Smile About
An overview of Surgery Day:
We arrived at the hospital at 7:45am after dropping Chloe off with Courtney to get to school (THANK YOU!!) and the boys with Christy. (THANK YOU!!) And Jess, for Chloe's school pick up (THANK YOU!!). Thank the Lord for my sweet pals. They were a HUGE help to me. As we headed back to the pre-surgical area, I handed Mia her little backpack which I had filled with a few things to pass the time (almost 2 hours). She dug right in while I signed paperwork and answered questions from the nurse.
After I was finished, I noticed that Mia was pulling out several things that I had not packed in her bag. I quickly realized that each of her siblings had put in a few treasures of their own for her. I had no idea that they had done that, but when surveying the lot it was pretty clear who had chosen which item. =) I packed Mia a doll baby, a small lovey blanket, crayons, a coloring book, and a sticker book. I will let you guess who chose the other treasures we found inside: lip gloss, leggos, a pop-bead necklace, a cross medal (from One Way Club), and silly bands. (Answer key at bottom.) It brought such a smile to my face to see the tender care my other children had for their little sister and to see each of their little personalities shining through the gifts that they had chosen.
Mia did a great job waiting patiently for surgery. About 20 minutes before she was to leave, Mia was given some medicine to make her loopy so that she would not have trouble heading into surgery without me. For each one of my other children (and me for that matter), this medicine made us totally goofy within 3 minutes. Not for Mia. She seemed totally unaffected. Not ideal. So I walked back with her as far as they would let me. She looked concerned, but as always was very brave. No tears.
After about 15 minutes the dentist came out with the xrays and discussed the details of our options. He told me it would be another hour of surgery. I waited quietly and busied myself with my Bible study. During that time, Pastor Dan stopped by to talk and pray with me. Then my neighbor (and dear family friend from church), who is a nurse anesthetist, came out. He reassured me that he had checked in on Mia and she was doing great. (Thank you Curt.) Both of those visits were so sweet. Have I mentioned how much I love our church family? I got a couple calls, more prayers with friends and updated Steve.
And then very shortly afterward, it was all finished. I got the summary from the dentist and about 5 minutes later I was brought back to Mia in recovery. She had a VERY difficult time coming out of the anesthesia. She cried and kicked and sobbed and fought for over 45 minutes in my arms. It was really rough (and definitely the toughest part for me). She was very scared and disoriented. She would not drink anything or even eat a popsicle (SHOCK) for a full hour. I finally got her to eat most of a popsicle and they removed her IV so that we could go home. Mia was still very upset. More than anything, she seemed really angry at me. It broke my heart. I know that for right now, she does not understand.
We made it home and within a few hours she was doing much better. We managed her pain with Ibuprofen for a few days. Now she just needs it occasssionally when she complains of her pain.
Here are the details of all that was done:
She had 2 root canals on 2 of her front teeth.
All 4 of the front teeth were "saved" and capped (with resin colored crowns).
She had a large abcessed molar extracted.
She had 3 sets of decayed roots extracted (from her 3 missing teeth).
She had countless cavities in the remaining molars and got 6 stainless crowns on those in order to give her a functional ability to chew.
So she now has 16 (out of 20) functional teeth (10 have crowns) that will hopefully be painfree and HEALTHY.
My mouth hurts just thinking about all of it.
So that's the scoop...
We are praising the Lord for His hand of protection. And for all of your prayers.
Happy 2 months since Mia Day!
ANSWER KEY:
lip gloss - Chloe (a girl always needs a little shine!)
pop-bead necklace - Chloe (and some bling)
cross medal - Caleb (my preacher in the making)
leggos - Luke (doesn't everyone love leggos?)
and
silly bands - Luke (my always-has-an-opinion-about-fashion guy)
And now here are the long awaited photos of her new smile...
We arrived at the hospital at 7:45am after dropping Chloe off with Courtney to get to school (THANK YOU!!) and the boys with Christy. (THANK YOU!!) And Jess, for Chloe's school pick up (THANK YOU!!). Thank the Lord for my sweet pals. They were a HUGE help to me. As we headed back to the pre-surgical area, I handed Mia her little backpack which I had filled with a few things to pass the time (almost 2 hours). She dug right in while I signed paperwork and answered questions from the nurse.
After I was finished, I noticed that Mia was pulling out several things that I had not packed in her bag. I quickly realized that each of her siblings had put in a few treasures of their own for her. I had no idea that they had done that, but when surveying the lot it was pretty clear who had chosen which item. =) I packed Mia a doll baby, a small lovey blanket, crayons, a coloring book, and a sticker book. I will let you guess who chose the other treasures we found inside: lip gloss, leggos, a pop-bead necklace, a cross medal (from One Way Club), and silly bands. (Answer key at bottom.) It brought such a smile to my face to see the tender care my other children had for their little sister and to see each of their little personalities shining through the gifts that they had chosen.
Mia did a great job waiting patiently for surgery. About 20 minutes before she was to leave, Mia was given some medicine to make her loopy so that she would not have trouble heading into surgery without me. For each one of my other children (and me for that matter), this medicine made us totally goofy within 3 minutes. Not for Mia. She seemed totally unaffected. Not ideal. So I walked back with her as far as they would let me. She looked concerned, but as always was very brave. No tears.
After about 15 minutes the dentist came out with the xrays and discussed the details of our options. He told me it would be another hour of surgery. I waited quietly and busied myself with my Bible study. During that time, Pastor Dan stopped by to talk and pray with me. Then my neighbor (and dear family friend from church), who is a nurse anesthetist, came out. He reassured me that he had checked in on Mia and she was doing great. (Thank you Curt.) Both of those visits were so sweet. Have I mentioned how much I love our church family? I got a couple calls, more prayers with friends and updated Steve.
And then very shortly afterward, it was all finished. I got the summary from the dentist and about 5 minutes later I was brought back to Mia in recovery. She had a VERY difficult time coming out of the anesthesia. She cried and kicked and sobbed and fought for over 45 minutes in my arms. It was really rough (and definitely the toughest part for me). She was very scared and disoriented. She would not drink anything or even eat a popsicle (SHOCK) for a full hour. I finally got her to eat most of a popsicle and they removed her IV so that we could go home. Mia was still very upset. More than anything, she seemed really angry at me. It broke my heart. I know that for right now, she does not understand.
We made it home and within a few hours she was doing much better. We managed her pain with Ibuprofen for a few days. Now she just needs it occasssionally when she complains of her pain.
Here are the details of all that was done:
She had 2 root canals on 2 of her front teeth.
All 4 of the front teeth were "saved" and capped (with resin colored crowns).
She had a large abcessed molar extracted.
She had 3 sets of decayed roots extracted (from her 3 missing teeth).
She had countless cavities in the remaining molars and got 6 stainless crowns on those in order to give her a functional ability to chew.
So she now has 16 (out of 20) functional teeth (10 have crowns) that will hopefully be painfree and HEALTHY.
My mouth hurts just thinking about all of it.
So that's the scoop...
We are praising the Lord for His hand of protection. And for all of your prayers.
Happy 2 months since Mia Day!
ANSWER KEY:
lip gloss - Chloe (a girl always needs a little shine!)
pop-bead necklace - Chloe (and some bling)
cross medal - Caleb (my preacher in the making)
leggos - Luke (doesn't everyone love leggos?)
and
silly bands - Luke (my always-has-an-opinion-about-fashion guy)
And now here are the long awaited photos of her new smile...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Surgery Tomorrow
This little girl has a very big day tomorrow. She will be headed in for oral surgery at 9:30 AM. Our hospital arrival time is 7:45 AM. Steve, unfortunately, starts work at 7:00 tomorrow. Thankfully, we have had many people offer to help with getting the other 3 off to school. We really have no idea what she will have done until the dentist gets in there and completes all of the x-rays. He has told us that he will be cleaning up the major infection and decay. He will save the teeth that can be saved and pull those that he cannot. She will likely come out with many crowns. Though they will not be anything like the sparkly pink ones that she so enjoys on top of her head.
Tonight we will be headed over to our friends' house, Wenkai and Melanie, so that Mia can play for a little while and they can further explain (in Mandarin) to Mia what will be happening tomorrow. They have been such a gift from the Lord to our family. Thank you guys!! We need to spend more time together when you don't have to tell Mia about some upcoming major medical intervention. =)
As we prepare for this surgery, I am feeling unbelievably grateful. Mia's dental needs appear to have become her only "special" need. Praise the Lord. We had anticipated a very different future for her and for our family. She continues to be without even a hint of a seizure and has been off of her meds for nearly 5 weeks. These dental needs, in light of all that we had prepared for, seem so minor. That does not mean watching my little girl be taken off to surgery will be easy.
Please pray that Mia will not be fearful tomorrow morning. Please pray for all of the medical details to be handled perfectly. Please pray for a smooth recovery. And pray for peace for this mama who will be waiting alone. Not really alone, but you know what I mean (and that will stretch me). It will be a good opportunity to have some quiet time with the Lord.
I'm guessing her smile may look very different after tomorrow...and more importantly, Lord willing, there will be
NO MORE PAIN.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
To My Sister
Happy 40th Birthday Kathy! I can hardly believe my sister is 40 years old today. How can that be?? Kathy has always been (and always will be) my older sister. =) By 3 years and one month to be exact. We have shared so much over the years. And obviously sharing parents and a home for almost 2 decades has given us many memories in common. We laugh at the same things. We often say the same things. And we are told over and over again how similar our mannerisms are and how much we look alike. That's a compliment to me...especially because somehow I seemed to get all the DNA for wrinkles.
I am so thankful to the Lord for the sister that He chose for me. Kathy is thoughtful and kind. She is so generous. She is endlessly giving and sacrificing herself for others. She has dropped everything on many occassions to stand in the gap for me. Kathy is quick to problem solve and see the silver lining in tough situations. She is the kind of girl you want with you when all of your plans fall apart. Kathy always has a Plan B and C that turns out to be amazing. She can find a bargain or coupon for any item on the face of the planet. And there have been more times than I can count that she has come home with bags of grocery items that the store paid HER to bring home. She has taught me so much. She has always been someone that I could look up to and be proud to call my sister. Even when I know she didn't want me around. =)
The Lord made her my sister so we'll be connected for life.
She has known me forever.
The good, the bad and the ugly.
She has always been my biggest cheerleader.
She was my first friend and she'll be my last.
I am so grateful for her in my life.
I thank my God every time I remember you. (Phil. 1:3)
And because she is my most faithful Blog follower, I know she will see this! =)
Happy Birthday Kathy!
Love you!
xo
I am so thankful to the Lord for the sister that He chose for me. Kathy is thoughtful and kind. She is so generous. She is endlessly giving and sacrificing herself for others. She has dropped everything on many occassions to stand in the gap for me. Kathy is quick to problem solve and see the silver lining in tough situations. She is the kind of girl you want with you when all of your plans fall apart. Kathy always has a Plan B and C that turns out to be amazing. She can find a bargain or coupon for any item on the face of the planet. And there have been more times than I can count that she has come home with bags of grocery items that the store paid HER to bring home. She has taught me so much. She has always been someone that I could look up to and be proud to call my sister. Even when I know she didn't want me around. =)
The Lord made her my sister so we'll be connected for life.
She has known me forever.
The good, the bad and the ugly.
She has always been my biggest cheerleader.
She was my first friend and she'll be my last.
I am so grateful for her in my life.
I thank my God every time I remember you. (Phil. 1:3)
And because she is my most faithful Blog follower, I know she will see this! =)
Happy Birthday Kathy!
Love you!
xo
Monday, September 13, 2010
A Visit from Grandma & Boppa
We had such a wonderful time this past weekend. It was highlighted by an amazing and long-anticipated visit from Grandma and Boppa! EVERYONE was so thrilled to see them. It was a short visit, but we squeezed a lot of fun into their 24 hour stay.
Prior to their time here, we had decided (at the recommendation of a pediatric neuropsychologist and family friend - thank you Dr. Bob!) that we would add a new layer to our attachment approach. Up until now, Steve and I (and Caleb, Luke & Chloe) were the only ones meeting Mia's needs, holding her, feeding her, comforting her and showing her affection. We knew that when Grandma & Boppa arrived Mia would see them be very affectionate with the other 3 kids and we were concerned that if they avoided showing affection to Mia that she would internalize this in a negative way. (ie. What's wrong with me? Why am I different?) Dr. Newby suggested that we add a 3rd layer... so rather than our current approach of 2 layers:
1. Mom, Dad, & siblings
2. Everyone else.
We now planned to add another layer:
1. Mom, Dad & siblings
2. Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, Close Family Friends
3. Everyone else.
This new "circle" would allow the people close to us who normally demonstrate affection and some caregiving to our children to now include Mia as well. We, as her parents, planned to continue to be the sole provider of comfort, bathing, and bedtime, etc.
So how did it go?
SO WELL!!!
We all had a special time during their visit and Mia adored her Grandma & Boppa. She was calling for Grandma all day long and really connected with my mom. It was sweet to see. My parents surprised us with a treat to go out for dinner for a couple hours and have our first date night since July 22 (Mia Day)! What a gift. Date nights are a big deal for us around here and we appreciated it beyond measure. We fed the kids, left and then made sure that we were home before bedtime. Mia did FANTASTIC. She was cautious as we left, but we had explained that we would be back before it was time for bed and gave lots of hugs & kisses. I am certain having her siblings with her made all the difference. She had no tears and she did really well while we were away. We were also glad that she ran to greet us with hugs as we got home. We could not be more thrilled with her response to her very first "babysitting" experience. And Grandma & Boppa reported having a wonderful time with all FOUR of the V.Crew!
Very impressive. =)
We also filled our 24 hours with a big neighborhood baseball game with Boppa & Steve and makeshift bases(bringing back sweet memories of my childhood with my dad), wagon rides, a walk to the park, putting on a "show" in the backyard, bike rides, playing with the doll house, reading books, games of Zingo (and Hearts after the kids were asleep), snuggling into the guest bed in the early morning hours with Grandma & Boppa, a big breakfast and worship at church.
Thank you Mom & Dad for your love for ALL of our children (and US)! Thank you for coming for a visit, we had such a great time together. Thank you, also, for giving us a date night so that we could have some treasured time as a couple.
Enjoy the pictures from our special times.
Prior to their time here, we had decided (at the recommendation of a pediatric neuropsychologist and family friend - thank you Dr. Bob!) that we would add a new layer to our attachment approach. Up until now, Steve and I (and Caleb, Luke & Chloe) were the only ones meeting Mia's needs, holding her, feeding her, comforting her and showing her affection. We knew that when Grandma & Boppa arrived Mia would see them be very affectionate with the other 3 kids and we were concerned that if they avoided showing affection to Mia that she would internalize this in a negative way. (ie. What's wrong with me? Why am I different?) Dr. Newby suggested that we add a 3rd layer... so rather than our current approach of 2 layers:
1. Mom, Dad, & siblings
2. Everyone else.
We now planned to add another layer:
1. Mom, Dad & siblings
2. Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, Close Family Friends
3. Everyone else.
This new "circle" would allow the people close to us who normally demonstrate affection and some caregiving to our children to now include Mia as well. We, as her parents, planned to continue to be the sole provider of comfort, bathing, and bedtime, etc.
So how did it go?
SO WELL!!!
We all had a special time during their visit and Mia adored her Grandma & Boppa. She was calling for Grandma all day long and really connected with my mom. It was sweet to see. My parents surprised us with a treat to go out for dinner for a couple hours and have our first date night since July 22 (Mia Day)! What a gift. Date nights are a big deal for us around here and we appreciated it beyond measure. We fed the kids, left and then made sure that we were home before bedtime. Mia did FANTASTIC. She was cautious as we left, but we had explained that we would be back before it was time for bed and gave lots of hugs & kisses. I am certain having her siblings with her made all the difference. She had no tears and she did really well while we were away. We were also glad that she ran to greet us with hugs as we got home. We could not be more thrilled with her response to her very first "babysitting" experience. And Grandma & Boppa reported having a wonderful time with all FOUR of the V.Crew!
Very impressive. =)
We also filled our 24 hours with a big neighborhood baseball game with Boppa & Steve and makeshift bases(bringing back sweet memories of my childhood with my dad), wagon rides, a walk to the park, putting on a "show" in the backyard, bike rides, playing with the doll house, reading books, games of Zingo (and Hearts after the kids were asleep), snuggling into the guest bed in the early morning hours with Grandma & Boppa, a big breakfast and worship at church.
Thank you Mom & Dad for your love for ALL of our children (and US)! Thank you for coming for a visit, we had such a great time together. Thank you, also, for giving us a date night so that we could have some treasured time as a couple.
Enjoy the pictures from our special times.
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