Ellie-Kate, Bobcat, and Emmy
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Quick stop at COSI-- October 5, 2013
Ellie-Kate in the new playground area at COSI
Ellie-Kate on the new climbing wall at COSI
Ellie-Kate
Time for a full size cello... October 5, 2013
After seven years, Emmy has grown into a tall young lady, ready for her very own full-size cello!
Ellie-Kate begged for her very own baby cello. We told her that we would think about letting her take lessons. On the one hand, it would be wonderful for her to follow in Emmy's shoes; on the other hand, we don't want to add more pressure... We'll see :)
October 4-5, 2013-- Ohio Communication Association conference in Marietta (at the Lafollette Hotel)
Room with a view :)
Britti joined me to check out her wedding hotel!
Christie with OU alumni and colleagues at the OCA conference
Throwback Thursday... Halloween, 2009
Emmy and Ellie-Kate-- Halloween, 2009-- Ellie-Kate's first Halloween!!!
Chelsea, Roger, Ellie-Kate, and Emmy-- Halloween, 2009
Emmy, Brittany, Ellie-Kate, and Chelsea-- Halloween, 2009
Halloween, 2013...
Hi everyone--
As you've possibly noticed, I've been behind on the blog, but I made some progress in catching up last week-end... I don't like to post out of order, but I wanted to pay tribute to memories about some very important moments in our journey with Ellie-Kate...
In 2008, we trick or treated with our friends, Dan and Jen and their children Ryley and Caden. Afterward, we visited in our living room while Ryley and Emmy embraced a chance to play. As Jen and I were chatting, I mentioned this beautiful baby on the special needs list-- with the most adorable brown eyes. I could close my eyes and see her face, especially those eyes. However, her needs went far beyond what we had agreed that we could handle. I had mentioned "Kristin" (her agency name) to Roger in passing but not really pushed anything. He was the practical one; I was being unrealistic. We already had three busy girls. Clearly, we had limits on our time, boundaries on what we could give, what we could address in the frenzy of our lives. Quietly, I had clicked on her face more times than I could count between the first week of September and that day of trick or treating. How could I already love this baby when I would possibly never meet her?
Jen responded in a way that I will never forget. She noted that, when the doctor put Ryley in her arms, he indicated that she was a healthy baby. Yet, Ryley has endured many health challenges in her life. The point? We never know. Why not find out more?
After our friends left, I talked to Roger and showed "Kristin" (or "An Yu Fan," her Chinese name) to him on the computer. She was so beautiful, and I was so drawn to her. Blessedly, the International Adoption Clinic at Nationwide Children's Hospital offers consultations for a modest fee. We could find out about her heart defect, spinal biffida occulta, and hip displacia-- wow, even typing those conditions now, they sound so scary, so difficult, so overwhelming. When I looked at her picture on the website, my eyes always jumped from those words up to her face. If I could make those conditions go away... yet, if those conditions didn't exist, we wouldn't have this opportunity. She wouldn't even be on the special needs list, and her picture wouldn't greet me every time that I turned on the computer...
I truly praise God for our friends and for Jen's words of wisdom. I praise God for Roger allowing us to even entertain the idea of adopting this little girl that he agreed to take the meeting at the hospital. I praise God for putting Ellie-Kate on that list and for placing her in my heart from the start. He ordained her to be part of our family, and I am so grateful for His work in our lives that enabled us all to become a family.
Now, five years since that critical conversation, we trick or treated together. She laughed up our street as she ran from house to house with her friend, Jack. Outsiders would never have any reason to guess that she was once on a special needs list with medical conditions that sounded ominous. Most can never imagine Ellie-Kate anywhere but right where she is-- with her very own mommy and daddy and sisters.
Truly, thank you, Lord! Praising you for our precious baby girl!!
Christie
As you've possibly noticed, I've been behind on the blog, but I made some progress in catching up last week-end... I don't like to post out of order, but I wanted to pay tribute to memories about some very important moments in our journey with Ellie-Kate...
In 2008, we trick or treated with our friends, Dan and Jen and their children Ryley and Caden. Afterward, we visited in our living room while Ryley and Emmy embraced a chance to play. As Jen and I were chatting, I mentioned this beautiful baby on the special needs list-- with the most adorable brown eyes. I could close my eyes and see her face, especially those eyes. However, her needs went far beyond what we had agreed that we could handle. I had mentioned "Kristin" (her agency name) to Roger in passing but not really pushed anything. He was the practical one; I was being unrealistic. We already had three busy girls. Clearly, we had limits on our time, boundaries on what we could give, what we could address in the frenzy of our lives. Quietly, I had clicked on her face more times than I could count between the first week of September and that day of trick or treating. How could I already love this baby when I would possibly never meet her?
Jen responded in a way that I will never forget. She noted that, when the doctor put Ryley in her arms, he indicated that she was a healthy baby. Yet, Ryley has endured many health challenges in her life. The point? We never know. Why not find out more?
After our friends left, I talked to Roger and showed "Kristin" (or "An Yu Fan," her Chinese name) to him on the computer. She was so beautiful, and I was so drawn to her. Blessedly, the International Adoption Clinic at Nationwide Children's Hospital offers consultations for a modest fee. We could find out about her heart defect, spinal biffida occulta, and hip displacia-- wow, even typing those conditions now, they sound so scary, so difficult, so overwhelming. When I looked at her picture on the website, my eyes always jumped from those words up to her face. If I could make those conditions go away... yet, if those conditions didn't exist, we wouldn't have this opportunity. She wouldn't even be on the special needs list, and her picture wouldn't greet me every time that I turned on the computer...
I truly praise God for our friends and for Jen's words of wisdom. I praise God for Roger allowing us to even entertain the idea of adopting this little girl that he agreed to take the meeting at the hospital. I praise God for putting Ellie-Kate on that list and for placing her in my heart from the start. He ordained her to be part of our family, and I am so grateful for His work in our lives that enabled us all to become a family.
Now, five years since that critical conversation, we trick or treated together. She laughed up our street as she ran from house to house with her friend, Jack. Outsiders would never have any reason to guess that she was once on a special needs list with medical conditions that sounded ominous. Most can never imagine Ellie-Kate anywhere but right where she is-- with her very own mommy and daddy and sisters.
Truly, thank you, Lord! Praising you for our precious baby girl!!
Christie
Saturday, October 26, 2013
GS Troop 1150 kick-off event-- 9/29/13
From soccer to Girl Scouts, we had a blur of a Sunday. Fortunately, the girls really enjoyed a peaceful, pleasant time with mini-golf :)
Elizabeth, Patricia, and Emmy
Elizabeth, Patricia, Kali, and Emmy
Ellie-Kate's soccer game-- 9/29/13
Emmy leads drills with David, Silas, Macie, Nick, and Jack
Ellie-Kate-- kindergarten and age 5
Roger, Ellie-Kate, and Christie
Lance, David, Macie, Carter, Ellie-Kate, Nick, and Roger
Max, Landis, Silas, Jack, and Brystal
Ellie-Kate had been diagnosed with a sinus infection only the day before, and she was wiped out. She rested with Britti for the first quarter and then came in and refused to go back out :)
Christie coaches the herd :)
Silas and Ellie-Kate
Ellie-Kate dribbles the ball along side Macie.
AMS soccer at Circleville-- 9/28/13
AMS soccer players smile in spite of their loss to Circleville. Fortunately, I flew home from DC that morning and drove right to Circleville for the game, making it there just in time for kick-off :)
Very first NCA Executive Committee meeting-- September 27, 2013
Pretty much just after getting back from Baylor Family Week-end, I got back on a plane on Thursday, September 26, to head to DC. Originally, I thought about driving, but I realized that I could fly into Baltimore on a direct, one hour flight (and for a pretty inexpensive rate) so I chose that route instead. On Friday, I attended my very first NCA Executive Committee meeting, as a guest, to learn more before I officially take office in January, 2014. What an opportunity!! I loved learning more about NCA, visiting the NCA National Office, and realizing that we were, literally, only about six blocks from the White House. After we finished meetings, I heard that we were close to the White House, and I decided to stretch my legs and walk over before our dinner reservations. Wow! I've been to DC before, but it's been awhile. I truly enjoyed the chance to pause in front of this facility and to get to know others who are involved in the work of the association.
September 22, 2013
What an awesome time in Texas!! We got up early on Sunday, September 22, and drove up to Dallas, dropped off the rental car, and arrived at the airport for our multi-stage flight. We stopped in Kansas City and then Chicago and then, finally, Columbus. Although the girls got cranky on the flights, they had a wonderful time in Waco, with Chelsea, at Baylor. Ellie-Kate, in particular, can't wait to go back!
Friday, October 25, 2013
Texas trip-- Day 3 (continued)-- Baylor game and Logan's-- 9/21/13
Chelsea and her sorority "big sis," Katie
Christie and Chelsea
Ellie-Kate and Emmy learn the "sic 'em, Bears" cheer at the game-- we literally started on the next to the top row of the stadium, but, by the end of the third quarter, we were all down on the first row-- right next to the action :) Chelsea and Ellie-Kate went down to the student section, and Emmy and I went to the other side and worked our way down to the front!
Emmy and Christie at Floyd Casey Stadium
Emmy, Ellie-Kate, and Chelsea
Christie, Ellie-Kate, Emmy, and Chelsea, waiting for our table at Logan's
Ellie-Kate, Chelsea, and Emmy in the front lobby of the Hampton Inn.
Texas Trip-- Day 3-- IHop and Baylor football-- 9/21/13
Emmy and her red velvet pancakes at IHop :)
Emmy, Ellie-Kate, and Chelsea at the museum-- We went back to look at the special wooly mammoth exhibit at the museum-- very cool :)
Emmy and Ellie-Kate had a great time in the kids area outside of the stadium. We were so blessed-- we got to park right beside the tailgate area, thanks to a very kind parking attendance!
Emmy, Ellie-Kate, and Chelsea-- 9/21/13
Emmy, Ellie-Kate, and Chelsea at the ADPi tailgate tent
Texas Trip-- First Day at Baylor-- 9/20/13
Emmy and Ellie-Kate at the Baylor Basketball arena
Emmy's not quite as big as Brittney Griner :)
Ellie-Kate enjoyed playing in the pioneer area...
Emmy in the pioneer area
Emmy and Ellie-Kate at their very first Dr. Pepper Float event
Emmy, Ellie-Kate, and Chelsea at Olive Garden
Emmy, Christie, Ellie-Kate, and Chelsea at the Baylor Family Week-end Dessert social
Chelsea and Ellie-Kate in front of Chelsea's workplace
After saying good-bye to Corinne, I woke up the girls and got ready to head out. We drove in the drenching rain down to Waco. The little girls were very cranky and increasingly getting on each others' nerves, and my idea of going to the zoo upon arrival in Waco was slipping away with each drop of rain. We stopped along the way at a Kroger to get croissants and some drinks for our room and then arrived in Waco around noon. We tried to check into our hotel room, but it wasn't ready yet. Desperate to find a place where Ellie-Kate could just be irritable or distracted, I asked the hotel clerk for a recommendation. She suggested the museum near campus. I had heard of it, but, from the outside, it looks stony and dignified. I was thrilled to learn about the children's portion of the museum, and we drove back to Baylor. WOW!! The museum was an awesome combination of COSI and the Chicago Field Museum. The girls got to do some cool, hands-on science-type stuff, play in the pioneer area, and see the tusks of a wooly mammoth. After we finished up at the museum, we drove to the student center to meet Chelsea and stop in the bookstore. We had to park a few blocks away, and we were amazed at how many students were walking barefoot through the standing water. Ellie-Kate fell in love with Baylor from the start, even though she was bummed that the bears had been moved due to the flood risk. After picking up our family week-end shirts, going to the Dr. Pepper Float social, and seeing Chelsea's apartment, we ate at Olive Garden, attended the Baylor Family Week-end dessert social, and Chelsea and Emmy went to the After Dark performance. What an awesome first day at Baylor, in spite of the rainy start!
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