My Kid Circus

Last week, we were so excited to see another family that we traveled with to China.  Since the day that we landed back in the United States, I have looked forward to updates from the other families.  I tore open all of our Christmas cards from these special friends, eager to see the progress of the other babies.  I feel so connected to all of these families, who were forever changed in the same room that we were.

Evie’s family was driving through our city, and stopped to spend the night with us.  We were all thrilled!  It was incredible to see these two girls side by side who were both born with serious special needs around the world, and are now so deeply loved and cherished here with their families.

I know that Hannah can’t understand yet how special these connections are, but someday she will.

Thanks for the visit, Kuo family!  We all loved seeing you!!

We have spent a wonderful week together in the mountains for the kids’ spring break.  Unfortunately we have had to stay inside because my boys have had terrible allergies to the pollen.  This is what poor D looked like one day when he woke up:

Yikes!

Even being cooped up inside, it has been so nice to be together without the frantic running around that is our regular day to day life.

I’m sad that they go back to school on Monday.  Most of my friends look at me like I have 2 heads when I say things like that, but it is true.  I miss them when they are at school.  Especially Z who is in school all day for first grade.  It still feels strange to hand him over to his teachers who have him for more hours of the day than I do.  I don’t think I’m cut out for homeschooling, but I can definitely understand the appeal!

So glad that summer will be here soon and we can spend more time snuggling together on the couch, and less time frantically rushing to be in the next place we are supposed to be.  Looking forward to just being able to breathe!

March 17 was a happy day in this house as our dear Hannah turned 2.  A year ago, we already knew of Hannah.  We had her pictures, and we knew that she was our daughter.  We celebrated her birthday, but she was a half a world away.  My heart ached to have her in my arms as she ate her first bites of birthday cake.

This year, I got to wake her up with a big birthday hug.  We got to see her joy as we sang “Happy Birthday”, and she realized it was for her.  We got to see her excitement as she opened each present carefully, and sat down to play eagerly with each new treasure.  Words really can’t explain the peace and happiness in my heart as we celebrated the birth of this sweet girl.

Along with her birthday candles, we lit a candle in honor of her birth family.  I have to think that even as we are celebrating, they are around the world mourning.  We now have her in our arms, and they don’t know where in this world that she is, or even if she is alive.  I think they did the only thing that they could do to get Hannah the medical care that she needed, which was an amazing gift of love.  I always want Hannah to know that it is okay to love her China family.  I certainly feel love for them.  They brought our daughter into the world.  They didn’t know it, but they answered our prayers.  I pray that God will help them have peace about their daughter, and somehow know that she is okay, and dearly loved.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Hannah!  We love you!!

Oh, my sweet Hannah.  This girl loves to eat.  I mean she REALLY loves to eat.

It is just so fitting that her first real phrase was, “I want some”.  We now hear that phrase over and over and over.

And her second phrase was “push play”.  Oh goodness.  I think my other kids are rubbing off on her…

My kids’ grandmother got this text from my phone today:

Notice the time.  6:44 am.  Needless to say, she thought that there was an emergency and rushed over.

However these texts were not sent by me.  No, they were sent by my dear (and technologically advanced) first grader, Z.

We were all a little shocked.  He seemed surprised that we were upset.  He said, “Well, I wanted Grama to come over, and I couldn’t think of anything else to say.”

Sorry, Grama!!