Never seen so many diapers

Kenzie drew this picture for me, and it's a perfect reminder of the grace that has sustained me this week! Kambry and Kaeleb have had a gastrointestinal problem that should make Huggies and Pampers very happy. We've been through two sets of clothes each day, changed sheets and given Kaeleb's high chair two HAZMAT showers :) Fortunately, I think we're almost normal again.

We took Kaeleb for his first doctor's visit on Tuesday, and it was a long day but he was a trooper. He's in the 50th percentile in both height and weight on the American charts! He has learned two more Baby Signs this week and has eaten real mac and cheese and long grain rice! My virtual twins are definitely testing their boundaries and feeding off each other's naughtiness :)

Playing at the doctor's office

Chillaxin' as we wait on the doctor

This week the dealership took our suburban and swapped our middle bucket seats for a bench so we can all fit. This meant we had three stray carseats to play with.

Two handsome guys!

Shine on!

You Know You're an Adoptive Parent If ...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT IF ...

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love & family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who've experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You've been "pregnant" with your adopted child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you'd afford to adopt, but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing He'd provide. (& He does!)

9. You've taken an airplane half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart's for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart & family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word "Dossier" means & you can actually pronounce it correctly!

13. You've welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child's so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you're the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

Kayden Faith, DOR August 5, 2004, In our arms forever September 22, 2004

Kambry Hope, DOR February 1, 2007, In our arms forever April 2, 2007

Kaeleb Jon, DOR August 6, 2007, In our arms forever March 3, 2008

OU Day, Part II

Kiddie Kaddie for the littlest "K"s
Ummm, routine maintenance on the Kaddie
Yo, dude, whazzup
Just where he belongs, in a tree :)
The Great Room in the beautiful library (not a place for 2 toddlers looking for Mom)

Gotta eat, right? Boomerang was delish!
Four "K"s in the round thingy
Boomer ... Sooner!
Feeding the squirrels
Sunday after church. Ya' think we overdid it?!?Saturday was tiring but a great day. All my kids love being outdoors (maybe this summer I'll get a tan - ha!). We routinely spend late afternoons and early evenings on the front porch or patio with the doors wide open. The kids play while I attempt to clear my once beautiful flower beds. As several friends have reminded me, I'm growing children right now, not flowers! But I'd rather not look as if I'm intentionally growing weeds (not the children, in the flowerbeds :) The three youngest "K"s went to the sitter (yes, it's April's house ~ how awesome is that!) yesterday so I could produce my first transcript. I'm not really ready to go back to work, but it's necessary, so I shall go to work. I'll probably only work 3 days a week as long as I can, so it will be a good transition. Anyway, Kaeleb did awesome! I think it helped that April spent three weeks in China with us and he sees her at least three times a week at church or to visit. I gave April their "together" schedule, and she did awesome! They even napped at the same time. We're even down to nearly synchronized diaper changes :) I think Kaeleb may have an issue with the milk based formula so it's not a pretty thing right now ... I made my third batch of congee last night, and I'm perfecting it as I go. We're trying new foods every day but keeping a steady supply of baby foods, rice cereal and congee on hand in case he can't chew or swallow what we're eating.

Tracking back to Saturday's visit (random thought process), as God would have it, we met another Dillon family taking pictures at the tulip garden! We had a great visit and look forward to seeing what God has in store for their family.

Many of you have commented on how blessed I am ... and you are so right! I marvel at God's perfect plans and how He allows me to be Mommy to six amazing children . I don't deserve such blessings, and I am so grateful for His favor! And thank you, God, for my amazing, Godly husband who seeks you and follows you!

Thought for the day

How many monkeys jumping on the bed?!?
Beautiful redbuds
Clear the way, the K Klan is coming through ...
Ahhhh
Ahhhhhhhhh
This weekend will require two posts, more pictures and more thought! It was a beautiful day to tour the campus, and I can't wait to share. But for now I am reminded that each day really does hold 24 hours, and I need every one of them. Here is my profound thought for the day: I keep a perpetual shopping list of a few items I've discovered we can never have too much or too many of ~
paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, wipes, trash bags, dish soap, laundry soap, fabric softener, vacuum bags, liquid hand soap and scrap paper. I've graduated to the 'best value' size, you know, the one you can't lift! Thank goodness for triple concentrated.
Have a blessed day!
"...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matt 5:16

Goodbye, jetlag!

Always the fashion statement
Old McDonald had a farm
Mealtime ... or snack time
Again???
We are officially and finally over jet lag! Two weeks home from a three week trip ~ not bad! So, what's new? Kaeleb is now baby signing "please." Every moment is a teaching moment - whew! He definitely knows what "booyow no-no" means, but it doesn't mean he won't try the same thing five minutes from now. He has successfully slept two full nights in a pallet beside our bed rather than in it. Kambry is having a few nighttime sleep issues, but frankly I'm not sure I could function on a full night's sleep after four years without it (doesn't mean I wouldn't like to try!).
We had a surprising email from Shaohannah's Hope today that they are planning to use a portion of our adoption testimony in their Spring 2008 newsletter! I'll add the link when it is published. We were disappointed this year when they declined us for another assistance grant, but maybe we were taking them for granted after two prior assistance awards, or maybe God just has a more creative means for providing the thousands we still need to cover our adoption debt :) We love all the things SH is doing to unite Forever Families and provide aid to orphans worldwide!
And speaking of finances, Daddy had a huge day of "bonding" while Mommy went to work today! As I walked in the door, he bolted out, saying something like, "I can't get anything done; they're like puppies at my feet":) :)
And finally, since Kuyler's almost wrapped up his freshman year, we thought we'd tour the campus this weekend. Hey, if these weary Okies can get to China and back, we can surely get through OU! Blessings!

One Year Ago Today... Gotcha!

April 2, 2007, a day I will never forget!

Waiting not-so-patiently was 1 family in the northern Jilin province and 4 families in Chongqing. Over 2 years of paperwork and waiting all were forgotten as our children were placed in our arms. Happy Forever Family Day, my friends. Kambry Hope, you bring joy to every day!

Clowning with Daddy minutes after Gotcha.


March 2008, taking in the sweet fragrance of life! For the rest of the story, please go here.

Just the Pictures, Please :)

Saddle up!
Some things are inherent ... like boys driving cars


Look, they started the day fully clothed :)
Daddy and his boy

Ride 'em, cowgirl

A room full of fun
Is it really bedtime?

Playing catch-up

I am seriously lacking pictures so I'll make up for it this week :) It seems we've been doing a lot, yet nothing at all. Here's the week in review:

After a much-anticipated visit from our friends, the Ls, on Saturday, Kayden was wore out! This occurred as we were waving goodbye. Can you believe I didn't take any pictures of the kids while they were here?!? I'm still claiming jet lag (3 weeks for 3 weeks)! More about the visit below.

Kaeleb has the most beautiful hair, and even though we trimmed over his ears while in China, he was in need of a real cut. Ummm, this should have been my sign.

The straight jacket for a 1 year old's head! He was not happy, and we were both covered in hair.
Finally, free and cute as a button! Look, even Mom's still smiling. (Where, oh where is Daddy???)
All this work calls for lunch at Chick Fila. And if you think I'm unleashing these two in the mall, think again :)
Not sure what the point of this picture was, but apparently these three missed it as well.Aaahhh, peaceful slumber.
And just for kicks ~ the Ugli Snugli ...

... is officially retired! Part of me wants to save it in Kaeleb's treasure box, and part of me wants to send it back to China with the next traveling family. After all, it has served us well, and maybe some other family can be blessed by it.

I'm happy to report Kaeleb's progress. He gladly sits in his high chair, apparently understanding it will result in good things! He loves to eat. We're trying new things every day, encouraging him to chew and swallow. He has graduated from straight congee to congee with chicken, stage 3 baby food (but only the good-tasting stuff), mashed pasta and baked potato. He still takes 4 bottles each day, and knows when it's time! He and Kambry copy each other, good and bad. He's learned to drink from a sippy cup. Even though he will go to most people, he still prefers Mommy. He can baby sign "eat" and "more."

I'm such a home body it's ridiculous, but it's a good thing right now because we are all back on track, sleeping normal hours, and sticking to as much routine as possible. We've even been on time for church since coming home! Structure is our friend right now.

Last week was awesome. On Monday Clayton took Kaeleb to school for the obligatory "Show and Share" in Kolton, Kenzie and Kayden's classrooms. Then Tuesday Ladena picked Kayden up from Pre-K (withdrawals from three weeks of it???) and brought lunch out! Then April joined us for a visit. Some of my awesome friends arranged to have my house cleaned on Thursday, and what a huge blessing that was! Tracy, you did an amazing job, thank you. That day Clayton, Kayden, Kambry, Kaeleb and I made the two hour drive to visit my parents. My dad is mostly confined to the bed now, except for short outings in the wheelchair. He was very clear, and we had a good visit. He enjoyed meeting Kaeleb and talked about how many grand kids he has ~ 15! I am sorry to say he is still as stubborn as ever and refuses to accept Christ "today." For those of you who have been praying for him, we truly appreciate your continued prayers, and please remember my mom as well. Her life has changed drastically.

We've made two diaper and formula runs. Clayton is already telling the kids when we have grand kids he's not changing any diapers ~ 20 years is enough :) Maybe a year from now there will be no more diapers!

Today Clayton's brother Tim, his wife Lisa, and their son Carson met us at church and then we went to lunch. My poor SIL will never want to join this crew for lunch again :)

As I said, we had a wonderful visit from our friends up north on Saturday. We've known them for about 4 years and followed their journeys to bring their two China-born daughters home. Imagine our surprise last August when I called to tell them God had revealed our waiting son in China, only to find out they had been praying for this very same child! I suspect they have been planning this visit for several months so they could meet the precious child God would allow us to call our own! In the evening we invited another family out who will travel in May to bring their precious daughter home. They've been waiting over 2 years, and we are so excited for them!

It's always so encouraging to visit with families who "get it" when it comes to adoption. In the last week I've been asked, "weren't your 3 enough?" and my answer to that is, read James 1:27 and see what God has to say about it! As for the stranger sitting across the room in the doctor's office, who yelled, "Howdja get a boy?" ... well, that may require application of "taming the tongue" or maybe no response is necessary.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind questions ~ in fact, I love questions and see them as open doors to brag on God! But people who are genuinely interested don't blurt out stupid questions in front of 5 of my children. And I expect the "Are they twins?" It's a reasonable question, and an open door. But maybe when I'm feeling ornery I'll just say, "YES, they're 21 and 22 months old!"

It's obvious my brain is running on limited capacity now so I'll end with that :) Blessings to you all!