Hi everyone--
We celebrated Family Day with all four of the girls, for the first time since we held Ellie-Kate for the first time in China! We traveled to COSI in Columbus, and the little girls had a great time with all of the standard features-- rat basketball, playtime in the gadget area, and adventures in the nostalgia area. After lunch, the older girls went through an Indiana Jones-like display while we took Ellie-Kate to the very cool toddler playground. We finished up our time at COSI by enjoying the Gadget Cafe, doing fun science experiments.
After COSI, we played games and ate pizza at Chuckie Cheese and then drove home to cheer on the Bobcats from our living room as they played the school's first Sweet 16 game since 1964. What a wonderful, relaxing day!!
It was a tremendous time of remembering, celebrating, and pausing to share time as a family, especially in light of Ellie-Kate's health issues over the past week. We are so blessed to have her in our lives... for her to be generally healthy given what we thought that we faced at the outset... for her to be such an amazing little girl... and for her to completely light up our world!!
We love you, Ellie-Kate!!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Our family's first surgery-- 3/20/12
Just as Ellie-Kate prompted our first international adventure as a family, she also necessitated our first family surgery in which the patient had to be under anesthesia on March 20, 2012. After 25 years as a parent, I had a first time experience as a parent in the out-patient surgery center at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Blessedly, the procedures were relatively minor-- ear tubes in both ears (to drain fluid that kept building), coderization of both nostrils (to reduce the all-too-frequent nose bleeds), and remove andoids (an unexpected procedure but a necessary one b/c they were enlarged and hindering her ability to breathe). We had expected the first two procedures, but we got a call from Dr. Elmaraghy (Dr. "Ragi," according to Ellie-Kate) during surgery that he really recommended adding the adnoids to the list. We agreed.
Everything went smoothly, except for the anesthesia. The pre-anesthesia, designed to relax her before surgery, caused hallucinations. Post-anesthesia, Ellie-Kate freaked out for 30-40 minutes in the recovery room. Very emotionally draining but otherwise successful! She'll be able to hear and breathe much better now!
Very glad to have this hurdle out of the way so that we can relax and enjoy Family Day tomorrow :)
Christie
Everything went smoothly, except for the anesthesia. The pre-anesthesia, designed to relax her before surgery, caused hallucinations. Post-anesthesia, Ellie-Kate freaked out for 30-40 minutes in the recovery room. Very emotionally draining but otherwise successful! She'll be able to hear and breathe much better now!
Very glad to have this hurdle out of the way so that we can relax and enjoy Family Day tomorrow :)
Christie
Remembering...
Three years ago today, we were getting settled in our hotel room in Kumning's Grand Park Hotel. In the previous few days, we had traveled to China, toured the Forbidden Palace, eated at a Beijing Pizza Hut, visited an orphanage, and climbed the Great Wall of China-- wow! However, our greatest adventure awaited-- meeting our precious Ellie-Kate. In the meantime, we went to the Walmart in Kunming-- what an experience!!-- and ate our first of many meals at Rocco's. After the chaos, smell, and congestion of Beijing, arriving in Kunming was like stepping foot in Oz :) Almost instantly, we all fell in love with this beautiful and peaceful city, with lush green grass, lovely trees, and a spectacular park, right across from our hotel.
We went to bed on the evening of March 22, anticipating what it would be like to hold our beautiful baby daughter with the big brown eyes. It's hard to remember that anticipation because it truly seems now as though we've just always known Ellie-Kate... that we've always enjoyed her quick wit, eager smile, and instant connection with all of us. As I've written many times before on this blog, she was quite simply born to be the little sister of "old soul" Britti, "diva" Chelsea, and "athletic" Emmy. We were born to be her parents, and we are so honored that God entrusted this special and amazing little girl to us.
Happy Family Day Eve, Ellie-Kate!!
Love,
Mommy
We went to bed on the evening of March 22, anticipating what it would be like to hold our beautiful baby daughter with the big brown eyes. It's hard to remember that anticipation because it truly seems now as though we've just always known Ellie-Kate... that we've always enjoyed her quick wit, eager smile, and instant connection with all of us. As I've written many times before on this blog, she was quite simply born to be the little sister of "old soul" Britti, "diva" Chelsea, and "athletic" Emmy. We were born to be her parents, and we are so honored that God entrusted this special and amazing little girl to us.
Happy Family Day Eve, Ellie-Kate!!
Love,
Mommy
Celebrating Gold Awards at the Greenbrier-- 3/17/12
Chelsea and Elena
Elena and Chelsea
Barbara, Elena, Chelsea, and Christie
Susan Thompson and Chelsea do the GS handshake :)
Elena, Susan Thompson, and Chelsea
Gold Award ceremony at Greenbrier-- 3/17/12
Chelsea with Susan Thompson, Executive Director of BDGSC
Gold Award ceremony at Greenbrier-- 3/17/12
Christie and Chelsea Meagan
Elena and Chelsea
Chelsea with Susan Thompson, Executive Director of BDGSC
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Cool Ellie-Kate quotes-- 3/20/12
Ellie-Kate was in Roger's arms, saying good-night to her sisters. For some reason, she refused to hug them for real, opting instead for air hugs. However, she turned to me, hugged me, and commented that "I'm going to hug her because she loves me so much and takes care of me when I'm sick." Wow!
Ellie-Kate was "reading" a story to Britti. She noted that "Fozzie's parents took good care of him b/c he is very special to them!"
Very neat what such a little girl can pick up from our comments to her :)
Ellie-Kate was "reading" a story to Britti. She noted that "Fozzie's parents took good care of him b/c he is very special to them!"
Very neat what such a little girl can pick up from our comments to her :)
Gold Award at the Greenbrier-- 3/17/12
Posing in one of the luxurious rooms at the Greenbrier-- 3/17/12
Prince Charkes visited the Greenbrier too-- 3/17/12
March 16, 2012: Gold Award Celebration at the Greenbrier
Elena and Chelsea by a portrait of Princess Grace.
Elena and Chelsea with other girls from our service unit-- 3/16/12
Elena and Chelsea in front of the fireplace at the resort-- 3/16/12
Elena and Chelsea with other girls from BDGSC-- 3/16/12
Elena and Chelsea practice their Girl Scout handshake-- 3/16/12
Saturday, March 17, 2012
March 17, 2012
Three years ago tonight, I was tossing and turning in the Hampton Inn by the Columbus airport, nervous that we would miss our early morning flight to D.C. and then to Beijing. After a blur of preparations, both personally and professionally, I was more than ready to meet our precious Ellie-Kate but relying solely on the strength of God to get me through the long flight, far, far from home, as well as a different culture, different language, and different customs. I knew that I would be pushed far beyond my comfort zone in terms of the travel and the people, but I also knew that Ellie-Kate was destined to be in our family so I wasn't apprehensive about our new addition, just the physical and bureaucratic hoops to adding her. As I tossed and turned in that bed, three years ago, I had no idea about how this little girl would thrive physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. However, I focused on the assurance that God would sustain us and enable us to hold that precious little baby who was already part of our hearts, minds, and family.
Thank you, Father, for this amazing gift to our family and for everything that you did on our journey to China. During the next few weeks, I'm going to pause and remember and celebrate because I never want to forget (or take for granted) the gifts of safety, patience, and love that you provide to us-- both in China and before and after that trip.
Christie
Thank you, Father, for this amazing gift to our family and for everything that you did on our journey to China. During the next few weeks, I'm going to pause and remember and celebrate because I never want to forget (or take for granted) the gifts of safety, patience, and love that you provide to us-- both in China and before and after that trip.
Christie
Cello recital-- 3/13/12
Emmy smiles after her cello recital on March 13, 2012.
Emmy and her teacher, Mary, pose after Emmy's excellent recital!
Emmy plays her cello in the recital hall of the Ohio University School of Music on March 13, 2012.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Cute prayer...
Ellie-Kate was so cute tonight at bedtime. Yes, she really needed to go to bed, but she is such a funny kid. Her eyes just twinkle when she's making us laugh. I asked her if she had a good day at school: "Yes, Jack was there." (Let's just say that Jack is one of her very special friends. She always has to hang her backpack by his "Jackpack.)
We said night prayers, and she thanked God for "Mommy, Jasmine, Mommy, Daddy, Ellie-Kate, Emmy, Britti, Jack, Chelsea, my stuffed aminals (animals), Izzy, Coco, my whole room full of princesses, Ellie-Kate, Emmy, amen."
I love my adorable little princess!! Three years ago today, she was just a dream. We knew her only through her pictures, and we were hurriedly preparing for a life-changing trip (and I was working night and day to finish preparations for CY and CSCA before that journey). Britti was helping me to ready this blog so that we could communicate during our adventure. She is so much a part of our lives that it is impossible to imagine life without her. She's the centerpiece of our family-- so much revolves around her, with her quick laugh, amazing sense of humor, intelligence, wit, good nature.
Thank you, God, for Ellie-Kate!
Mommy
We said night prayers, and she thanked God for "Mommy, Jasmine, Mommy, Daddy, Ellie-Kate, Emmy, Britti, Jack, Chelsea, my stuffed aminals (animals), Izzy, Coco, my whole room full of princesses, Ellie-Kate, Emmy, amen."
I love my adorable little princess!! Three years ago today, she was just a dream. We knew her only through her pictures, and we were hurriedly preparing for a life-changing trip (and I was working night and day to finish preparations for CY and CSCA before that journey). Britti was helping me to ready this blog so that we could communicate during our adventure. She is so much a part of our lives that it is impossible to imagine life without her. She's the centerpiece of our family-- so much revolves around her, with her quick laugh, amazing sense of humor, intelligence, wit, good nature.
Thank you, God, for Ellie-Kate!
Mommy
Sunday, March 11, 2012
District Science Fair-- March 10, 2012
Emmy did an amazing job at the District Science Fair. In this photo, she poses with the nine other people nominated for the national MASTERS award. Only 10 individuals could be nominated from our district, and Emmy was one of them!
Emmy smiles after learning that she earned a Superior rating and that she was selected to represent the district at the state science fair-- 3/10/12.
Emmy won first place in chemistry in the elementary division (and earned $75), and her friend, Meredith, won first place in chemistry in the middle school division.
Emmy smiles before the competition with her poster on "Juicy Fruit." She tested the acidity of lemons, oranges, and watermelons, and the effect of those juices on preserving apple slices. The district science fair was held at Clippinger Hall on the OU campus. She was one of the last ones excused from competition so we knew that things had gone well, but we were really super pleased with all of her awards during the award ceremony!
Christie and Emmy pose before Christie heads off to run special events for the district spelling bee and Emmy presents at the district science fair. Fortunately, the two competitions were only about a block apart!
March 3-4, 2012
Britti, our 4-H program assistant, hosts the first annual 4-H Kick-off on March 4, 2012. As the reigning Athens County Junior Fair Queen, Chelsea interacted with guests as well :)
Wes and Chelsea smile during their appearance at the 4-H Kick-off on March 4, 2012.
Emmy answered questions about dog projects during the 4-H Kick-off :)
Chelsea and Ellie-Kate posed by the Pops concert schedule after the show on March 3, 2012.
March 2-3, 2012
Chelsea sings a solo during the AHS Symphonic Choir Pops Concert-- 3/3/12
Pops Concert-- 3/3/12
Christie, Emmy, Kali, Mackenzie, Divya, and Elana sell cookies at Kroger on 3/3/12. We sold out in an hour and a half!
Chelsea and Sierra during their last Girl Scout cookie sale-- 3/3/12
Ellie-Kate takes Emmy's "order" during snack-- 3/2/12
Friday, March 2, 2012
More senior pictures
Chelsea had a fun photo shoot up on The Ridges and in Richland Avenue park on September 27, 2011, with a local photographer named Ariel from Ariel Views Photography.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
