Thursday, March 22, 2007
Flu test: Positive
We have the flu. We are all so sick with fever, chills, cough. Ugh. Travis had it first this past weekend and then Holly got a fever on Tuesday. I took her to the doctor for a flu test and it was positive. I started a fever too and went to my doctor. We are all on Tamiflu.
I never posted the pics of Bethany's homecoming. It was such a neat experience for all of us. The kids and I made signs and held them up at the airport where we met the family as they arrived. Aunt S had the fabulous idea to get the girl cousins matching dresses so Bethany could immediately join in the fun and fit right in. They were so cute all lined up looking alike. Gigi got all the kids matching PJs so those girls could match at night too. They had a big slumber party and all slept on the floor except Holly because I made her sleep with me. I am really a sleep nazi.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Mister Cookies - Absolutely Fabulous
I still miss Tabor boy. I know he is in the capable hands of his aunt now, and I know he is getting a lot of love, but I miss him. He misses me too. Anyway, cookies will keep me going for now. He he. Bake some and try them yourself. Yummmmm.
These cookies are incredible. You should make a batch today.
Mister's Cookies
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips (or a smidge more)
Preheat oven to 350. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well. (You want even distribution of the salt and baking soda). In a seperate bowl, beat together butter, peanut butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Hand mix in the dry ingredients. (I like to use half white flour and half whole wheat flour so I add 2 tbsp of milk at this time as well since whole wheat flour usually yeilds a drier cookie). Add chocolate chips. Spoon onto cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake. Let cookies stand for 2-5 minutes on the cookies sheet to allow time to set. They will fall apart if you don't. Move to cooling rack and eat a few
samples.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Bye, Bye
Monday, March 05, 2007
Bathtime
Tabor loves the saucer. He simply must have one of these. He looks so grown up sitting there looking at things.
Looking like momma here.
Uh, what in the world is on my head? I don't need a do-rag, lady.
Kung foo fighting. Look at that pose.
Uh, what in the world is on my head? I don't need a do-rag, lady.
Kung foo fighting. Look at that pose.Little bitty hernia poking out. Fat rolls everywhere. Do not feed this kid french fries.
More Tabor pics for your viewing enjoyment. If there is a pose you would like to see, please leave a comment. He is a very photogenic baby and my camera loves him.
More Tabor pics for your viewing enjoyment. If there is a pose you would like to see, please leave a comment. He is a very photogenic baby and my camera loves him.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Some of this will be repeat news for some of you, but I have a little more time now and wanted to get a message out to more people as well as a few pics if they will attach. We enjoyed our short time in Beijing but it was very cold there. The morning we left it was snowing blankets of beautiful white snow, and it was sticking so there was several inches accumulated. We arrived in Nanchang, the city of our little girl's orphanage, and thought we'd be waiting a day to get her. However, when we got picked up at the airport, our guide informed us that we'd be getting her in just a few hours. What a wonderful surprise. So, we got Bethany yesterday afternoon. She is perfect. After so much apprehension and concern about her transition, she is doing wonderful. We just love her and are very attached to her already and she seems to have the same feelings for us. She is very cute, playful, obedient, a little mischievious, and is already starting to parrot what we say in English. I believe she'll pick up the language quickly. She's so cooperative and easy to care for. It's easy to get her to smile. She eats well and slept well last night, her first night with us. We feel so very blessed to have this precious, adorable child as our daughter. We finished the Chinese side of the adoption procedures today and will wait 5 days for her passport and documents from the notary. Bethany and Jordan are playing well together and she seems to be comfortable with both D and I. I was a bit overwhelmed yesterday evening and wondering what on Earth have we gotten ourselves into. I really had thoughts we were in over our heads. Bethany has made this so easy. She has adapted better than we ever could have imagined. We praise God for this blesssing and answered prayer. I just couldn't have felt any prouder when D prayed over our children last night and Bethany lay there looking up at him not knowing what he was doing or what he was saying but closed her eyes when he was done and was peacefully asleep for the night within minutes. We are enjoying trying to teach Bethany and watching her be amazed at the newness of things. She was told when she was 3 years old that one day she would be adopted. She did not know it would be an American family and she'd get to go to America. She is excited about flying on an airplane and through the Chinese guide has told us that she'd really like to ride a train as well. So, you guessed it, her daddy who really likes trains has promised to take her on a train trip. Bethany is average sized for an almost 6 year old and not small like we expected. She does walk with a limp that gets more profound as the day goes on and she is tired. Other than that she seems very healthy. She really seems to be enjoying herself with us and we pray that when this fairytale she is presently living in becomes reality to her that she will be able to handle it all just as well as she is doing now. She is quick to smile and her smile is very beautiful and infectious. She laughs a lot and is very inquisitive and playful. We are so looking forward to having her at home and teaching her. We are so blessed to have her. I could just go on and on but need desparately to get a nap or at least some down time. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. We hope you all will be able to meet this special little girl soon. Much love, E
More Sunshine!!
Looking very mature and thoughtful
Holly tickles his chin trying to get a smile.
You can't see Kemper talking to Tabor but it was cute.
Kisses from the cousins.
I can't get enough of this sweet boy.
Uncle T has some bonding time too.
Kemper thinks the baby chair is pretty cool.
Holly finally decides it is her turn to feed the baby.
I cannot believe we only have one more full day with Tabor. I will miss him when he is gone. He has really become part of the family around here. I love his quiet wakeful times when he looks around and studies things. He sure loves to be held which is a good thing because I don't want to put him down. He is so kissable. His hair is so sweet and soft.
Holly tickles his chin trying to get a smile.
You can't see Kemper talking to Tabor but it was cute.
Kisses from the cousins.
I can't get enough of this sweet boy.
Uncle T has some bonding time too.
Kemper thinks the baby chair is pretty cool.
Holly finally decides it is her turn to feed the baby.
I cannot believe we only have one more full day with Tabor. I will miss him when he is gone. He has really become part of the family around here. I love his quiet wakeful times when he looks around and studies things. He sure loves to be held which is a good thing because I don't want to put him down. He is so kissable. His hair is so sweet and soft.We took Tabor to Sunday School with us today. Everyone said he was a remarkably beautiful baby. It was fun to have him there until he made a loud noise in his pants and I had to take him down the hall for a change. What a deal. Other than that, he was very good and we tried to fill his ears with the message of hope and Christ's love. You can't hear enough of that.
Holly and Kemper had a lot of fun with Tabor today. Kemper can say his name great and Holly finally decided to take part in his care. She was very cute and talked to him sweetly. I had to get a nap today because I am not use to getting up every few hours. Tabor eats and goes right back down, but I still have to clean his pants and get the next bottle ready.
I will follow up with more pics later.
Blessings to everyone!!
Congratulations, Bethany
and welcome to the family.
She is precious and doing well. E says she is talkative, inquisitive and delightful. Please pray for her transition to her new home and life. Her formal adoption is tomorrow so pray that things go well.
We are so excited to finally see her. E, give her lots of hugs and kisses.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Tabor James
Here is the fussy face
This is the angel we are blessed to have for the next few days. This is one of his finest moments , asleep in his carseat nicely lined with a soft blanket.
Tabor is a fine baby. I am enjoying his increasing interest in socializing and interacting. He smiles daily and looks at me as if I am the most beautiful woman in the world. I think he likens me to his mom. He certainly misses her. I know that for sure when I hold him because he roots and even sucks my arm whether he is hungry or not. He is taking his bottle well. I have started to give him some Enfamil Gentlease instead of breastmilk because I can tell that we are going to run out eventually even with the extra EBM from Aunt Sarah's generous donation. He is tolerating all the milk just fine. He spits up with every burp anyway. He did have a large spit up after some formula last night, but he fell asleep after that and slept 4 hours. He is good at night waking only twice, drinking his milk and going back to sleep with grunting and wriggling just as his momma said. I think he does better in his carseat, but he is down for a nap right now in the bassinet.
We are having fun with the baby. Kemper got a chance to give him a bottle and I took some pictures. Holly refuses to feed the baby but asks a lot of questions about his care or tells me specifically what I should be doing for him. We bathed him yesterday and he loved it. I poured water on his head since his mom said he liked it and he sure did. I got lots of cooing and smiling during bathtime. We may have to bathe him everyday for more fun.
My friend, Julie, brought me an exersaucer and Tabor really liked being upright propped in it. He did some cooing and looking around, but he grew tired quickly.
He seems to want 100-120cc per feed. I burp him frequently and he spits most of the time, but not a lot. He is pooping and peeing great. He eats every 2-5 hours depending on how long he sleeps. I think he is working his way into a nice schedule. He won't let me put him in the snuggly like he does with mom. He just fusses and fights so I quit trying. Maybe it is because the nice supportive cushiony chest he is use to is not there. LOL.
I love this precious child and will post more pics as they become available.
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