Busy, busy, busy

Warming up

J.D. jumping for the ball

J.D. in the middle with the ball

Boy have we been busy! Lacrosse, soccer, dance, school projects and Dave's band have taken up every free minute over the last few weeks. Our dinners have consisted of scarfed down canned raviolis, hotdogs, and turkey sandwiches. I must admit that I am ready for a sports break where we can all eat a dinner together, at the table, made up of meat and vegetables.

On a different note, Kai has not had one temper tantrum all week - honestly - not even one! I think I won the war this time. I must say that I am strict. Crying really doesn't sway me and I don't back down easily. Sometimes I think I'm too hard on my kiddos, but other times (like when the temper tantrums stop in 2 weeks) I know I'm doing the right thing.

The addition to our house is almost finished. All that is left is one more coat of paint and staining the new deck. J.D. has moved into his new room thanks to the help of Terry and Linda. Everything looks beautiful and we truly love it! Kai and I have been eating lunch on the new covered deck most days and I am in Heaven.

There are only four more weeks of school left and I can't wait to have J.D. and Piper at home all day. I have such a good feeling about this summer. What an adventure we'll have.

The Mother of All Temper Tantrums

My sweet, lovable, angelic little boy had the temper tantrum to end all temper tantrums this morning. It started at 7am as I entered Kai's room to wake him up. I began singing my usual "Good Morning Mr. Zip, Zip, Zip" (which by the way, I learned from my step-father and have never heard another person sing.) Kai just rolled over and moaned. Unfortunately, this is my week to drive morning carpool so Kai had to wake up. We had places to go and people to see - right then. Well, Kai did not appreciate our need to keep a schedule and he decided to let the world know. He began sobbing and did not stop for 40 minutes! All the while I am getting J.D. and Piper ready for school, picking up neighborhood kids, and driving around town to get them all where they need to be. It was awful and hilarious at the same time. The other carpool kids (not J.D. and Piper) were amazed and frightened at how long Kai cried. One hesitantly asked, "Is he going to throw up?"

At 7:40 we pulled back into our driveway and I took Kai (who was still sobbing uncontrollably) immediately back to his room. I closed the curtains and sat down in the rocking chair with Kai. HE STOPPED CRYING! I rocked him for about 10 minutes and then put him back in bed. He fell asleep and another , much sweeter child, awoke a little later in the morning. He is playing beside me now, the perfect picture of innocence and joy. What a difference an extra hour of sleep makes!

We've Got the Cold Water Blues

Kai is playing quietly in the playroom (with dominos of all toys) and we are waiting for the plumbers who have taken 8 days to replace our hot water heater. Yes, we have gone 8 entire days with no hot water. It stinks (and that is not the first word that came to my mind to describe our situation.) In case you're worried, we have bathed thanks to my wonderful mother who has opened her home more times than I can count this past week! She'll probably have a heart attack when she gets her water bill next month. Sorry mom...

Kai has been home for a little over 4 months and his English is really getting better. He now says "I want juice, milk, help, toy, hug, etc.." He also understands the concepts of soon and more. He loves to ask "Baba home soon?" and wait for my answer. It's really cute. His English used to consist of single words like "shoe, puppy, car." Now he uses entire sentences to communicate most of the time. I must admit, however, that I often feel like his interpreter. I can understand him 90% of the time but many of his words are unintelligible to other people.

I read several other adoptive mom's blogs on a regular basis. Many of these moms have had bonding difficulties with their children. This is an issue that many adoptive parents have as their children spent many months or years in an orphanage. David and I were prepared for Kai to have attachment difficulties (our motto was "hope for the best, prepare for the worst".) Unfortunately, he did spend his first 2.5 years in the Lanzhou CWI. To our amazement, Kai has bonded to us amazingly well. He hugs us, kisses us, cuddles with us, and runs to us when we have been gone. He makes eye contact with us when we rock him (something he would not initally do.) I guess what I'm trying to say is that we have been so blessed to have this angel in our family.

I'm going to include several pictures from a recent outing to the park. The weather has been wonderful here and we have been taking advantage of every minute of it!

You Know You're An Adoptive Parent When...

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.
2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.
3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.
4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.
5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.
6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's 'real' parents.
7. You have ever been 'pregnant' with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth. (2 years!)
8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.
9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.
10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.
11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.
12. You know what the word 'Dossier' means, and you can actually pronounce it!
13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.
14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

-Author unknown
Copied from Chinese Starfish

Birthday & Easter Pictures

In their Easter best

Kai & Piper


Kai blowing out candles on his Mickey Mouse cake


Opening Presents


A new baseball glove


Birthday dinner at Mandarin House

One Big Week

This week marked four important dates for our family - my official resignation from the police department, Spring Break, Easter and Kai's 3rd Birthday. They were all wonderful in their own special ways.

Wednesday I turned in my letter of resignation. It was a terribly difficult decision to make, but in the end, I really wanted more time to stay home with Kai and the "big kids". Over the years, I have noticed that my personality is changing (for the good or the bad is not for me to say.) I can say that I am becoming much more settled, motherly, patient. I like our time at home. I like realizing that I have spent three hours doing nothing particular but talking with the kids. I haven't always been like this. Just a few years ago, I would have been clawing at the walls staying home everyday. I am much more relaxed now and have the peace of knowing that most things turn out ok if we just give them a chance to.

I will miss being a cop. I know I will. When someone cuts me off in traffic and has the gall to follow me to Chick-fil-A (happened this week), I will miss jumping out of my car with my badge. I will miss knowing what is really going on in our city. And although I should never admit it, I will miss hearing, "Well, you sure are the prettiest cop I've ever seen. You can arrest me anytime."

Friday we went to Chattanooga for Spring Break. We didn't have any big plans for the kid's holiday so we decided to take a quick (and cheap) day trip there. We had fun wandering around Rock City and Ruby Falls and took a ride on the Incline Railroad (the steepest railroad in the world.) David's parents met us for part of the day and we enjoyed the wonderful Spring weather and some beautiful scenery. Kai walked the entire day - at least 1or 2 miles at Rock City and then another mile at Ruby Falls. He is such a trooper. We saw other toddlers who were whiny, throwing tantrums, or just plain fussy. Kai, on the other hand, smiled and giggled almost all day long. He is truly amazing!

We celebrated Kai's 3rd birthday on Saturday. He started the day with a candle in his bannana and ended the day with candles in his Mickey Mouse birthday cake. Dave and I bought him a big train table complete with Thomas the Train figures and lots of track. It was a huge hit and Kai went to bed last night saying "I want train!" Kai's party included most of our family (except for Uncle David and Aunt Sheila who were pretty ill.) The only child in attendance was Jackson, Kai's beloved cousin. Kai loves Jackson! I mean love, love, love. Several times each and every day, Kai mentions where he thinks Jackson is. It usually goes something like this:

Kai: Kai at home.

Me: Yes Kai, you are at home.

Kai: Jackson at school.

Me: Yes Kai, Jackson is probably at school right now.

Kai: Jackson go to Granny house? (Kai believes he has a 100% chance of seeing Jackson at Granny's house.)

Me: I don't know if Jackson is going to Granny's. Maybe we can see if Jackson is going to Granny's house soon.

Kai: Good. Kai go to Granny house. See Jackson. (Big Smile)

We finished Kai's birthday with a dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. It was fun, low-key, and enjoyed by all.

Sunday was Easter and it was a wonderful day at church with our whole family. Of course, the kids dressed up a little more than usual and we got at least one good picture of all three kids (which is a huge undertaking!) Later on at Granny's house, J.D. and Piper hid eggs for Kai and Jackson - if you call scattering the lawn with eggs, "hiding". Dave and Aunt KK really hid the eggs for J.D. and Piper. They made it a true challenge. Eggs were two feet into bushes and even in the mailbox.

All in all, it was wonderful week. J.D. and Piper went back to school today and I truly felt a little sad. I can't wait until summer - only 2 months away!

Pictures I Promised