Liam's PreK Christmas Party

I offered to help come up with the activities and games for Liam's Christmas party.  Lilly and I joined Liam for his pajama Christmas party.  We started the morning with story time.  I read Little Star by Anthony DeStafano.  It is about the star of Bethlehem.  Then, the kids had to find baby Jesus hidden in the classroom.  Once he was found, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.  After story time we did our art project, which were paper stockings.  They turned out really well. 

After our art project we had Christmas themed centers.  The groups of students switched centers every 5 minutes.  The centers included - play dough with Christmas cookie cutters, fishing with candy canes for ornaments, pin the nose on Olaf, dress up "photo booth" (Christmas dress-up clothes & pictures taken on the iPad), and ball toss.

pin the nose on Olaf

ornament fishing

ball toss

play dough

photo booth

After centers, the kids watched The Polar Express and had a snack and hot chocolate.

Liam was so excited to have Mom and Lilly with him for the day.  He looked out for Lilly and made sure she knew where to go and what to do.  Lilly enjoyed her day at Preschool too.  What a great way to kick-off Christmas break!

Liam's PreK Christmas Program

Today was Liam's PreK Christmas program, Christ the Savior is Born.  Liam did such a great job of singing and doing all the hand motions.  Liam's favorite song was Hear the Bells because they got to ring jingle bells through the song.  Grandma & Grandpa Herman came to watch too.  There was a cookie reception afterwards, which Lilly liked best.

Date Night with Liam

Liam and I had a date night last night.  Liam was excited to get dressed up in his 'business suit' and spend an evening together.  We went to the CLHS Embassy Christmas concert.  Liam loved listening to the band best.  We got hot chocolate on the way home.  It was a great night.  I think it will have to be a new tradition.

Hart Christmas

Hart Christmas was fun chaos.  We hosted dinner at our house and then opened gifts and enjoyed having 4 kids running around, playing with their new toys.  We ended the festivities by watching Frozen, a family favorite.

Liam spent all evening playing with his new toys in the garage.  He got an airplane that flies and a hot wheel track.

Nana made the girls hand-made tea sets and teddy bears out of cloth.  Lilly was so excited!

We got Hudson a bath instrument set, which was a big hit.

Liam trying out his straw glasses.

Cleft Clinic 2014

Lilly and I spent the morning at Parkview Hospital for a cleft clinic.  Lilly has been seen by a couple of the doctors on the team already for individual things, but this is the first time the collective team has reviewed her for a plan. Here is the breakdown of what they found -

Pastic Surgeon/Physician Assistant/RN
Lilly's palate is healing very well.  We will have to keep an eye on it as she grows.  As of right now, it does not look like she will need additional surgeries, but we can't rule it out completely.  She sees her plastic surgeon once a year to monitor how things are going.

Dietitian
Lilly is such a great eater.  I mentioned that she eats all day, but the dietitian didn't seem concerned that she would over-eat, since she is still so skinny and active.  Lilly is eating all types of textures now.  She has no problem swallowing food.  I think Lilly just really loves eating and having food available to her.  She's starting to recognize when she feels full, because there are times when she doesn't clean her plate.  We've notice how muscular she seems now.

Pediatric Dentist/Orthodontists
The dentist will see Lilly in February for a cleaning and will look more closely at her teeth, but mentioned that all of her teeth are growing in well and look good. The orthodontist said her mouth does not show any typical cleft palate signs.  Her cleft palate was far enough back in her mouth that it didn't cause problems in her teeth.  She will probably need orthodontics for her over-bite, but that is not a cleft palate issue.  He thinks her two front teeth are wavy (they look chipped) because she clenched her teeth while she slept at the orphanage and wore them down.  He does not think it's from malnutrition or a fall.

Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist
Since we were just in last week to have Lilly's wax removed and we're going in next week to have tubes put in, Dr. Reddy just popped in and said hi.  Lilly's ear appointments are about every 3 months.  We have to go in regularly to check for wax, fluid, and see how her hearing aids are working.  Lilly's hearing loss will warrant frequent appointments.

Speech Language Pathologist
The speech therapist suggested that in addition to speech services through the school system, Lilly should see a speech/language therapist through the hospital.  She thinks Lilly would benefit from having a speech teacher who knows the anatomy of a cleft palate mouth and can work on the physical aspect of her speech and not just hearing and repeating sounds.  Our insurance should cover this, but we will probably have to be put on a waiting list.  She also gave me ideas of what to do at home.

Everyone thought Lilly was, of course, so sweet and stylish.  She makes an impression on everyone she meets.  She has come a long way!  I'm thankful for all these professionals and their willingness to help.

Dear Adoptive Mom

Since this month is adoption month, I have been thinking about the adoptions of my kids and what I would tell myself about this journey.  Adoptions, like children, are different, but some things are constant in all of them.  If I could go back in time, this is what I would tell myself.  Maybe other adoptive Moms can relate.

Dear Adoptive Mom,
You are embarking on a journey that will change you forever.  There will be times when you will feel unequipped.  You will ask God if He's sure you are the right woman for this job.  You will look at all the obstacles and wonder how you will scale this mountain of challenges.  You will have to write checks for large amounts of money and wonder how it is even possible to do so.  You will see God provide for you in amazing ways, which will confirm that you are making the right choice.  You will have to wait.  In the waiting times, you will grow.  You will feel your child taking up a place in your heart, before even knowing if they exist, or seeing their face.  You will feel a closeness to a woman you've never met and feel unbelievably grateful for her precious gift to you.  You will find yourself praying for her safety and for her future.  Once you see/meet your child you will be overcome with love you never knew possible.  You will believe in miracles!  You will understand God's love and grace like never before. You will fill out more paperwork, get more fingerprints, more physicals, and background checks than the president.  Your finances and other personal information will be an open book.  You will fill out piles and piles of paperwork, which sadly does't end once you bring your child home.  You will have questions about your child and their family history that will never be answered.  Your eyes and heart will be opened to all the children who need and want families.  You will wish there was a way for you to adopt 100 of them.  You will have to become an expert on the conditions of your child.  You will constantly wonder if you are making the right decisions for your children.  You will have to rely on the other Moms who have taken this path before you, and the professionals you've met.  Once again you'll be reminded that all children are different.  One day your child will ask about their birthparents and their adoption story and will try to create their identity.  There will be times your heart will break for them, when life isn't easy, and they feel different and alone.  You will ask yourself, "How do I deal with this?"  Through all of it you will love your child fiercely.  You will rely on God's strength and forgiveness.  You will have sleepless nights.  Adoption is not easy, but is worth it.  Given the opportunity you would do it all again.  Hang in there adoptive Mom!  Remember that God has a plan for you and your child - Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to give you hope and a future." 

November 2014

This month we tried to get outside as much as possible before the weather got cold.  We took a trip to Chuck-E-Cheese on one of the cold rainy evenings.  We ate supper at home and then let the kids play some games.  Liam also visited Skyzone (indoor trampolines) for the first time and loved it.  The kids had a great time playing with their cousins at Thanksgiving.  

It is so great to see Lilly run, since she wanted to so badly when she came home and couldn't 

making a nest out of leaves

Liam helping Dad with the Christmas decorations