stuck indoors and Christmas...

one week before Christmas c started running a low grade fever...the first time he has been over 100 degrees F. his grouchy attitude alerted us to how poorly he was feeling. the only positive part of his not feeling well was all the time i could spend snuggling with him -- where he wasn't squirming around or jumping on and off my lap every few minutes. as you may have guessed, e.b. was soon under the weather too. her fever did not reach as high, but she held on to it for about 4 days. at first she seemed to be her normal little self but soon she was feeling the effects of the constant coughing and runny nose and let it be known often and loudly. thankfully they were both doing much better by the morning of the 24th and have been doing well since. during the time when they were not feeling well we stayed pretty close to home even as Christmas approached. marshall did all the last minute grocery shopping for me as well as handling a trip to sams. phew! on Christmas eve we prepared and enjoyed a yummy (if we do say so ourselves) dinner of korean dishes. we also managed to set off our fire alarm while grilling the bulgogi! thankfully it smelled wonderful and added a slight bit of excitement to our celebration. Christmas day the kids slept past 7am! i think that was their gift to us as it was so nice for us to be able to stay in bed that late into the morning. finally around 8am we headed downstairs with the kids and enjoyed watching them see the tree surrounded by gifts while Christmas music played in the background. c remembered exactly what to do and opened his few gifts with lightening speed. miss e.b. figured it out pretty quickly too but seemed to savor each gift. we had several gifts for them to share and while c wanted to open these before e.b. was finished with her gifts, he did wait and they opened them together. i do not believe though that they understand the idea of a shared gift. e.b. thinks they are hers and c thinks they are his. we spent the day eating, playing, laughing, singing, preparing our Christmas dinner and being thankful...for the reason we celebrate and for the blessing of being together as a family of four this Christmas.

e.b. a couple hours before the fever started...

a day stuck at home inside calls for creativity...

here the kids have dumped all the "garbage" they collected from their play room 

out of the "garbage truck" (chair) and onto the floor!

fun times...

more hours of enjoying the polar express train

Christmas eve...

a surprise package from e.b.'s foster family

(they even included a couple things for c)

 tayo the little bus puzzles and mazes

a new pororo book

but then it all comes down to the bubble wrap!

e.b. figuring it out too!

surprise belated birthday gifts from j, r & n in california
what fun timing!

Christmas!!!

under the tree...

opening a shared gift

c on his scooter!

(e.b. is not quite ready to use hers yet but enjoys sporting her helmet.)

giving mommy & daddy a concert

they soon moved up to their "stage!"

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."  Isaiah 26:3

the days before Christmas...

last Christmas was such a wonderful time for our family (only lacking miss e.b.!) earlier this year we were reviewing some old videos and watched  one  of c on Christmas morning. it was amazing to us how little he was talking and how long it took him to put two words together. a lot has changed since then...for any of you who have had the pleasure of seeing c in action recently, he is talking up a storm. it seems like there's nothing he can't (or won't) say. he can even write some letters of the alphabet and spell several words. it appears to us he's reading a lot of words but it's probably just his memory recalling what we have told him. below are some recent quotes from c that cracked us (or me) up!


quotes from c:

"mommy, i need my privacy!"  or "mommy, e.b. won't give me my privacy!"

c: "mommy, you look pretty."
me: "thank you, cameron."
c: "mommy, you look pretty."
me: "thank you, cameron."
c: "mommy, you look pretty."
me: "thank you, cameron."  (not as patiently as the first three times - he was clearly stalling before bed.)
c: "mommy, you look awesome!"  (at that we both burst into laughter. i asked him where he learned about looking awesome and he said "daddy!")

c likes me to make trucks and cars talk and asks me often what a car or truck may have said based upon their circumstances. one day we were driving down the highway so we were seeing lots of big trucks...semi trucks, dump trucks, an ambulance, etc. he'd ask me what the truck would say and i'd make a response. then he said:  "mommy, what does the tow truck say?" i responded "i can tow you to get help." to which c responded quickly:  "mommy, trucks don't talk!"

"mommy. mommy. mommy! mommy! it's a snuggle emergency!!!" (this is my favorite!)

"mommy, i think maybe mice go to the potty." "where do they go potty, cameron?"  "in the privacy room." (maybe this is related to the first quote above?)

..............................................................................................................................................

so now we are preparing for Christmas again. e.b. and c are both excited to see the tree lit in the evening and then again in the morning when they get up. they helped decorate the bottom 1/2 of the tree (non breakable ornaments!) we've been reading Christmas books and setting up decorations around the home. below are some moments as we've been prepping the home!

decorating the tree

posing for a quick pic

the extremes of being a toddler

the love of a brother can be overwhelming!

an actual photo of e.b. smiling

now on to c's favorite part of the Christmas decorations... his polar express train given to him by dear friends last Christmas. he adores this train and has spent many many many hours playing with the polar express this year. he can connect the tender to the engine and turn the train as well as the remote off and on! 

getting ready to put it together

e.b. reading the instructions

c being a tunnel!

a couple random pics too...

c & daddy at a church event for kids

(this was the stamping room)

e.b. is now the proud owner of some spiffy pink orthotics. 

they are peeking out the top of her tennies and wrap up around her ankles.

she loves to wear them as they align her ankles to the correct position. 

she is now able to do things she couldn't do before...plus she likes that these are special for her!

we had to go up 3 shoe sizes though just to get them to fit into her shoes. 

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."  2 Corinthians 9:8

forgotten photos...

i "found" some pics that are share-worthy. these were taken at a park after the kids' dentist appointments. they both did so well that we visited the park to celebrate! my favorite part though was c's conversation with a little boy. the little boy was about a year or two older than c. he was riding a bike (no training wheels.) c was enthralled. the little boy (not too kindly) said to c "you can't ride a bike like this - you are too little!" c did not hesitate and responded "i have a bike at home!" the little boy said "you do?" c responded "yes!" then the little boy asked "does she (e.b.) have a bike?" c said "yes!" and then just went on playing. i was cheering inside - never mind the fact that they share a bike with training wheels. c was so confident and articulate for only being 3 years old. love our kiddos!

then there was the haircut! c had not had his hair cut since late spring...he was over due! we love our hair place. the man who runs it is a Christian and has Bible verses all over his shop. the shop is mostly a huge play room with a small corner devoted to cutting hair. c and e.b. had a blast playing.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."  I Peter 2:9

with thanksgiving...

we are blessed! below are the "school" pics of our two most incredible blessings from God...

c age 3

e.b. age 2

last year as we celebrated thanksgiving we did not know if e.b. would be home with us in 2012. the past year was difficult in so many ways. we experienced some "firsts" that most do not want to experience but yet almost all of us do or will at some point in our lives. i also had so many days of doubt about e.b. coming home  -- until the day she arrived on u.s. soil with us! now she's home and we are experiencing more "firsts," but they are welcome.

first brother/sister photo on thanksgiving

first pic with poppy, uncle mark, aunt buff and cousin p!

first time trying on poppy's glasses

first time bopping poppy on the head with her feet

first time poppy heard e.b. belly laugh

first time for both kiddos to "hang" with cousin p

(each had to have his/her pillow just like cousin p!)

first time as an exercise weight

first time using cousin p as a jungle gym

the "firsts" continue...

e.b. with lyla and uncle nathan

first time trying to get our family of 12

in one photo

(notice the kiddos equal the number of adults!)

first time playing connect four

first time using the ipad with susanna!

our trip home was wonderful and e.b. was a star traveler once again! c has always been super in the car but we didn't know how e.b. would do for 6+ hours. we like the answer! once in st. louis they played hard and enjoyed all the new yummy foods that the holidays bring.

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"   2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

just some pics...

we've been busy (i think i mention that in every post!) i'm tired and a bit under the weather but have been asked to "please update the blog!" so for those who have asked and even to those who have not...here are some updated photos since our last post.

our sweet friend, lisa, took this photo after dinner one night

(sorry it's so small...for some reason it doesn't want to enlarge for me)

dance till you...

drop!

ohnie & pahjie came for a visit!!!

e.b. with ohnie

c gathering leaves...

to drop on ohnie's head!

"sharing" leaves!

how did i only snap one pic of e.b. with pahjie?

(e.b.'s sores on her face came from a tumble at nursery school 

the day before but by Sunday her boo boos were healed!)

a surprise package from aunt amy and cousin t!!!

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!"  Isaiah 30:18   (NIV)