~~Ladybug Lane and Family~~

WInter Blues

2011-01-10T12:48:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to pop in and say a quick Hello. I'm online from time to time, but always in a rush rush. That we never just take time to sit and relax a bit anymore :(
You would think with winter and all the grey skys we would be inside getting rest,,lol NOPE
Oh well, hope to chatch up with everyone later on.
Poor Joe is stuck out in GA today with 8 inches of snow,,,lol yes you read that right!
Me and the girls will just have to make do.
Maybe I'll get a snow day this week and can actually get on here and post updates.
(ok so I just don't want cold toes from driving the school bus! LOL)
A girl can dream of Spring right???
Hugs

New News on the way

2010-11-21T20:04:00.000-05:00

Today at Church our Pastor really spoke to our hearts.

He was finishing up a series on Audious Faith.
As you all know, adoption is always on my mind and in my heart.
I couldn't help but to think the whole time, that this is exactly what I need to have. What we both need to have! What our Family needs to be doing! Praying in FAITH for another Child!
We keep going over and over it. Do we? Do we wait? Do we try? How will we afford it, especially now with the economy the way it is? How will we afford another child with Lexie's medical bills? on and on. Excuse after excuse!
In prayer, I cry, I beg, I ask, I want, I dream,, but am I standing on faith?
I have a Mom's Heart. I ache for another child. I Will ALWAYS! Its a feeling that will not go away. Trust me, I've even prayed that God would take this feeling from my heart. Make me only want Lexie, not desire to have more children. But instead of fading the feelings are stronger now than ever.

So lets be honest here,,,,

Here is our heart,,,, we want another child! We want our family to grow! We can do this! With God's help All things are possible!

Everyone say a big Prayer, Joe and I are seriously talking about and starting a adopting again!!!!!!!!!! This adoption will have to be 100% fundraised!
We both want to add a blessing to our home!
It will take us a long time. Lexie's adoption took us 2 years to fundraise for. The wait time seems so long this time, I will admit I'm scared! It seems impossible to meet the financial goals for another adoption and deal with bills, medical expenses and just living in this economy.We have nothing to start this adoption with other than, Faith, Faith, FAITH! Its all we have and need. I ask in FAITH. Audacious Faith!
More news to come!
If you like, check out our facebook link. I created this to post things that we may be selling or auctioning.
I'll update soon!
Hugs to you all!!!

Lost tooth

2010-11-21T19:48:00.000-05:00

Well, its offocial, Lexie's getting to be such a big girl! (pout!!!!!!!!!!!) LOL
Here's a little pic :)

School starts tomorrow

2010-08-10T09:45:00.000-04:00

Am I ready for all this??? OK, yeah I think so. But its sure sad to think that Doodle is starting Kindergarten! Where is my little baby?? And who is this TALL little girl with ATTITUDE! :)
She is so excited! And Dad and I will be taking her together to school tomorrow. I'm so tickled that he gets to go with me. Poor Daddy has to miss out on a lot being the responsible Dad he is. Its hard on all of us that he has to work away from home so much!

Angela got her class schedule yesterday and I think she will do just fine. She seemed a little bit overwhelmed, but that is to be expected. She has US history, English, Calculus (I hope she don't ask for my help,,lol) Art (YEAH!) and a computer Animation class that I think she will absolutely love.
She is a computer graphic artist and her characters are so beautiful!
We are having a great time and she is so sweet! Lexie is already attached herself to Angela and is with her almost all the time. (poor Angela!) LOL

Not much else going on here other than dealing with the puppy still and crocheting scarves and other items...lol
Hugs to you all!

Back to school and a new family member!

2010-08-02T15:14:00.000-04:00

Hello Family and Friends!
Well its August again! Are you ready??? I have to say this is my favorite time of year! I love it when the kids start school, school supplies, buses, house to myself! (oops did I just put in that last one?? LOL) OK, so I'm in need of some "Me" time... what Mom isnt'! Right?
Just a shame it has to come by way of the public school system! HA HA!
So many things have been going on here,, you'd think I have 10 kids instead of 2 (yes you read that right! I'm including our soon to be here Exchange student from Beijing!)
First Lexie:
We have gone back to CCH to see Dr Choo and had our apt with the audiologist (which Lexie was kinda sweet on,,,,lordy we are going to have a problem with her and boys! she can't make up her mind if she is shy or will flirt!)
On our 21'st wedding anniversary (July 21!) She had her new Cochlear Baha programed and is now wearing it WITHOUT the headband!!!!!!!! WOW what a difference!!! She HATED the headband!!! Its not so much of a fight to get her to wear it and. with it on you almost can't even tell she has it!

and her favorite part is she can wear her hair down now!

Which will be good for school, since her friends are so curious as to why she has no ear and what that little box is. We've been telling her to say. Please don't touch my Baha and to tell the teacher. It was a problem last year, and they kept turning it up and causing her a headache! you will notice NO buttons on this one!
BTW she has Ms Johnson this year,, I haven't met her but will on the 6th! (anyone met her before? I think she is new)
Kindergarten!!!! Where has the time gone????? This will be our 4th year as a family!
On the Ear front,,, still in a insurance battle. :( Anyone got about $7000 laying around??? I need a rich Uncle! LOL
We go to Shriners this week to check on the Chiari Malformation and get x-rays for the Hemi Vertebra. Her Pediatrician thinks that she is twisting to the left when she runs or jumps. that her left side is weak. I'm alittle bit worried that this might be a sign of turning and scoliosis.
Lexie will also have testing soon for the comprehension problems. I am thinking that she will have to have a MRI to see if the Goldenhar is causing any learning issues, you all know how the MRI turned out last time...ventilators and ICU is no fun place!!! Lordy I hope she don't have to have it again!
ON A GOOD NOTE,,, I think she is the healthiest she has ever been! We are so very proud of her and we tell her daily that she is such a smart, good girl and that there is NOTHING she can't do. She proves us right too! LOL Did I mention before that she is reading?? She loves to read! I can't wait to see what new doors open for her in Kindergarten this year!

Angela:
Angela will be arriving to our home late Thursday night and will be with us for 10 months. She will be a Junior this year at East and is a artist (yes you know I jumped for joy!) And she is 16. Actually she shares a birthday with Josh and Jacob. :) (can you believe they are 8 and going into the 3rd grade!)
We can't wait to meet her and Lexie is very proudly telling everyone that her "sister" will be here soon! She even goes and lays down in Angela's bed now and tells me that she is "waiting,,,,MAN when will she get here??" LOL
She is from Beijing, and has no brothers or sisters,,, wonder if Lexie will drive her nuts the first 6 months? lol
We love hosting! It was such a learning experience for us when we hosted Milky and we miss her lots!
Momma and Daddy: Well, not much to report on us,, we just celebrated our 21'st anniversary. YEAH! And both of us are doing well,,, thank goodness,, who has time to be sick! LOL

Hope your all doing well!

lot going on again.....

2010-05-18T17:34:00.000-04:00

Hello all!
Just wanted to update you a bit on our crazy life,,,lol
Lexie goes back in June to see Dr Choo for the post placement/switch out,,,,, lol what ever its called.
We are still waiting on Shriners to call us back on about 3 apts for her spine and the Charri Malformation. I still do not know what "grade" it is or how large the hole is.
And tonight we had a meeting with Lexie's PreK teacher from the Villiage. She is so smart and has learned how to read, do math and is advanced in almost all but one MAJOR area... reading comprehension. And just comprehension in general.... ok I'm at a loss here. I had no idea you could just memorize things and have this large hole..... GRRRRR Ok so now I'm doing the big research in how to help her with this.
Its so strange, she can count over 100, do simple math, knows by sight, sound and can write her upper and lower case letters. Can sound out words, is reading level 1 books, most with no help knows her colors, shapes and can do things like tie her shoes, work 100 pc puzzles and the list goes on and on,,,but if you read a story to her and ask her what it was about,,, she searches her mind for the right words and cant tell you or will give you 1 or 2 word answers. like "princess and knight" or "horse and fight" but can't retell the story in her own words. She is also having trouble expressing things she does daily. she can't retell you what happend in the past. Not that she isn't aware or doesn't know. I think she just can't express it or doesn't know how to link her words to tell you. Ok my Golden-Har families, is this normal for our kids???

2010-05-11T09:41:00.001-04:00

It's such a long day already and I just want to get doodle and go home and work in my art book!

2010-05-05T09:13:00.001-04:00

We had one if the best nights lastnight!! Not much housework and Lexie and I did a lot of art work!! She's so cute with her little art journal :) I'll post pics if I can later today. Hugs!

2010-05-04T09:43:00.001-04:00

Doodle has pre-school graduation pictures today :)

Getting ready to change Doodle's room once again,,,,,,

2010-04-26T17:08:00.000-04:00

just a pic of the painting I did for Doodle's new room. We will start painting in there soon so we can get her all moved in before Angela comes to stay with us. Here is a quick pic of the painting.

Art Debut

2010-04-24T20:30:00.001-04:00

Well, my art class came to an end today. It was kinda sad. I have really learned alot and have enjoyed it very much!!! I'm especially proud of Lexie's portrait that I did. I'll post a pic of it when I get it all framed and ready for the showing. (next weekend,, yes I know that's Derby weekend,,, I didn't pick the date and I actually forgot about the Derby this year,,oops!)
I heard from Angela today. For those of you who don't know she is our newest exchange student for the next school year. She is from Beijing Chnia.
We love having these young ladies in our home and part of our family for 10 months.
Its been a great growing experience for all of us to be able to experience different cultures right here in our home.
We sure miss Milky and hope to one day see her again, either in Thailand or back here. :) I wish we could have done more with her. And gotten to take her places like we wanted to,, but I guess she did get to experience the "typical middle class American famiy" ,,, broke,,,lol

Here is a quick pic of little miss "make-up" sometimes she acts so grown up that I get all sad and miss my "little baby" She has grown so much!!!

Back online! and updates!

2010-04-21T20:18:00.002-04:00

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! I'm back!!! here is the pic's from her surgery like I promised. they might be alittle fuzzy cause its from my Iphone.

Before Surgery, March 3rd

The first one is from where Dr Choo did the canal surgery before. The purple is where he signed the spot where he was doing surgery.

trying to see if she can drive on the DSI high,,lol

Surgery day in Cincinnatti Children's Hospital, March 3rd

Ok I know tht looks aweful, but its going to be beautiful! The top one is for the Cochlear Baha and the 3 others are for the prosthetic ear :)

And Dr Choo gave me the NEW BAHA!!!!!!!!!! Made this Momma Cry like a big baby! I can remember fighting insurance for one to help her talk and understand us when we first got home in 2006.And how we got one from 36 for the "Reason for the Season" (somewhere on here there is a video,,Nov 07?) Shew that was like 5 surgeries ago.

I know I'm not proud for her at all,,lol

Ok and just a few home shots before next apt.

2 week follow up.

And today 4-22 (1 month out) is it just me or has her looks changed in 1 month?!? where is my baby girl?

Doodle and Dr Choo Doodle reading Biscuits books

we still have a couple of apts left before she gets to wear the new Baha and her new ear. Still fighting insurance on the ear,,,,,, long story there, but short end of it is they believe its cosmetic because its not used for sound. (rolls eyes) And ear is really for more than that isn't it?? especially for little girls who have a speech issue from being partially deaf and want to look like her friends,,, and lets not forget the SUNGLASSES!!!!!! LOL What little girl don't want to wear sun glasses????

HUGS TO YOU ALL AND THANKS FOR KEEPING HER IN YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!

2010-03-18T11:53:00.001-04:00

We are back to school/work this week. Yeah!! Just had an appointment with Dr Choo on Tuesday and he took the caps off all the posts! And she doesn't have to wear the pressure bandage anymore unless she just wants too (funny part is she likes it now) so another apt with him in a month to change posts. We are getting excited!

2010-03-11T06:42:00.001-05:00

Doodle has had a pretty good week so far. I can't believe our little vacation is almost over :( I think we are going up to her preschool tomorrow to see her friends and talk to the teacher about the pressure dressing. Not sure they will let her back in or not till it's healed a little more. Will update when I can

2010-03-11T01:19:00.001-05:00

Our Internet is down so just testing to see If I can send this way. If so I'll update blogger

still in Surgery

2010-03-03T16:55:00.000-05:00

Hey all! Well, its been 2 hours and still no word. I'm sure all is well, but you know how us Mom's can be. I'll be happy when she is out and its all over with. Have a funny to tell on her, Dr Choo had me sign today for a little "tummy tuck" for her,,lol he is taking a little bit of fat from her belly (which we had not planned) and putting it the
open hole where the ear canal was. I joked with him and told him that "I WAS NEXT!!" LOL He is so funny! We just love him! He patted Doodle on the head and said,, "little Sister,, now they can call you "Fat head"! she pulled away and said "Me no Fat head! Silly goose!"
Well, I'll run for now. I may not get to update again till after we get back home. Look for me on FB Cause, that is where I post updates. But Thanks for all your prayers!!!

Tomorrow is the day.

2010-03-02T21:19:00.000-05:00

Hey Kids!
Well tomorrow is the day that we go to Cincinnati Ohio for Lexie's ear surgery. She will have the ear canal and drum removed, and at the same time will have her Baha Implant and posts placed for the Prosthetic ear.
It will be a turning point for her. We are so excited and worried all at the same time! (the last time she was under anesthetic she ended up in the ICU because she had quit breathing on them) To say this Momma isn't a bit on edge tonight is a major understatement! She has had so many changes and it just amazes me how beautiful she gets every day!
Tonight she was so excited to just sit and read books with me (she is learning how to read and we are quite proud of her!) Give her a book or a crayon and coloring book and she is in Heaven :) LOL Guess she has picked up Momma's Love for Color and ART!
Anyway, surgery isn't till 1:30 pm (Dr Choo time) so we will have to be at the hospital around 11:30-12 to get her prepped and a physical.
As you lay your heads down tonight, please say a little prayer for her to have a easy surgery and to Bless Dr Choo as he works on our baby. She has been thru so much already and She is due a rest from these surgeries and pain.
She wants so much to be like the other kids in her class and this is just a step closer. Its so funny how 2 little ears can be taken for granted, especially when all she wants is that very thing. "Just 2 Mommy, Not 1, 2 like you and my Friends"(and names them telling me that they ALL have 2 ears and she doesn't have any "1" ear friends) she tells me this over and over when I do her hair. OH, And to be able to wear cute sun glasses in the summer or have "BOTH" ears pierced like her friends.... Little girls. :) They all want to be a princess :) We tell her all the time that she is PERFECT! That God chose her to be special for a reason. And that she is not only Daddy's Sugar Booger, And Mommy's Little Angel, but yes she is also our little Princess and we Love her so much!

Please Pray!

Cincy appointment :)

2010-01-06T19:32:00.000-05:00

Hey Gang! Well we are home from the apt with Dr Choo. Actually got home this afternoon, but Momma and Doodle needed a nap! LOL

Here is what we found out today and what we are looking at soon
First the ear canal didn't heal. It keeps getting infections. And no matter what Dr Choo gives me to use for her, or what I do to prevent it, it keeps coming back. Not to mention that she is digging in that ear from the hair that is growing inside (he had to use part of her hair line to create the opening and it just keeps on itching her.) Also due to the infections she has lost the use of that canal and drum. He feels and I have to agree, that she is deaf on that side (its staying too clogged for her to be able to hear out of, and she has ALOT of scar tissue already) She had only gained (he felt) 20% hearing out of that ear which was a lot more than before. Its just that cyst that she had for 2 years in China kept that area from healing. And now that this also isn't healing, it puts her at a high risk. Also it doesn't help that her last CT scan landed her in the ICU and on a vent!
SOOOOO
Here is what we are shooting for. (no apt yet btw)
When she has surgery, he will go in there clean out the ear canal REAL GOOD and sew it together. Close it up and allow her body to heal from inside out. She is deaf on the left and to hope for any hearing or to put her thru that again is not in her best interest.
Also he will do the BAHA implant!!! I talked to the Audiologist today and Lexie will get the new Baha BP 100! http://products.cochlearamericas.com/baha I'm real excited about that!
And the 3rd part of the surgery is that he is putting in the posts for her prosthetic ear!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!! She really wants this ear! Other Children have been noticing and she has come home lately saying she is "different" gain. This time we turned it around and she went back and told them Yeah but I'm Chinese! LOL That's my girl! Stopped that "no ear" business cold..lol Now I think her teacher said they are arguing about who IS and ISN'T Chinese! LOL
Anyway, this will be all done in 1 surgery instead of the 4-5 for reconstruction. A lot less time down and A lot less pain for her! She will be out of School for maybe 2 weeks, tops!
Also I got a call from Shriner's Hospital, Doodle has to go back to see Dr Ioensky (sorry SP) about her spine and also to discuss the Chiari Malformation and seeing a Neuro specialist. Not that he is worried about it. They just want her started with him to monitor it and to get a Neuro on her file for later on.
Shew,, ok time to take a breath here. A lot going on again and a few more minor apts that don't really need mentioning here still yet to do... I have to say,, Hats off to full time single working Mom's. I don't know how you do it! Joe tries to help out as much as possible but you know that "Mom's" know all the info...lol
Its going to be a challenge to get it all done and work full time as well.
Hugs to you all!

Thanks so much for all your Prayers!!!

2009 recap.. 2010 expectations (LONG!!!)

2010-01-03T21:41:00.000-05:00

Ok so yes I'm on facebook,,, and its taken over everything I do online! Anyone else have this problem? I can't seem to get on blogger and post anymore :( Today I was sitting here reflecting on 2009 and all the,,, ok stressful things that have happened, and a lot more blessings that took place and realized that I haven't posted in so long that I probably don't have anymore friends looking at this anyway so why bother,,,lol Ok pity party over,, let recap shall we??

Hold on to your seats,,, here it goes!
Jan 09 we had a major ice storm and friends of ours the Vincent's were snowed in with us for almost 9 days. Carlow their latest adopted Kido had hand surgery at Shriners. Then,1 week after his and in the middle of this storm Lexie had her hand surgery at Shriners as well.. 2 kids in casts with pins, 5 children total counting our exchange student Milky and 3 to 4 adults (when Joe made it home) were all stuck in the house trying to not only keep warm but deal with the lack of food, and boredom,, Memories,,,,,
Feb 09, I went back to work part time and kept home schooling Lexie part time in the mornings. She had her cast off at the end of the month.
March 09 Joe's job is starting to suffer. They don't seem to want him to be home or keep him busy while he is out. GRRRRRRR
April 09 Was actually quiet although we were struggling and trying not to let our kids (Lexie and Milky) see how bad things were getting at that point with Joe's job.
May- June 09 Lexie has a number of Dr apts with Shriners and at Children's Cincinnati . We find out that she has a hole at the base of her skull called (OMG I can't think tonight,,, will edit when I figure it out) see why you should update your blogger,,,,,, anyway Milky's Mom and her BF Eric come to pick her up from Thailand and we have a great week with them here :) I also had to go full time at the daycare.
July 09 Lexie had a MRI for Shriners because they noticed the "hole" at the base of her skull. (first calm down she's ok) anyway. She had the MRI at UK Children's and ended up in the ICU due to the fact that she stopped breathing when they tried to wake her up! Talk about a "Mom scared shitless moment! Try calling your Hubby who is on his way to Florida and saying,,, Ok I am on my way to ICU, Lexie is on a ventilator and isn't breathing on her own,, I don't know what happened!!! At this point I didn't even know my own name, where I worked or who to call! They keep telling me its not a "medication" issue but its funny that when she gets Versed she has problems breathing (plus EVERY time we go to UK for these sedatitation she has a complication.,,ok the 3 times) "IF" we go there for any tests again they WILL have a team waiting on her! (so they say,,and so this Momma will insist!) Its funny that at Cincy they don't seem to have any problems with Lexie.
Aug 09 we started a new church :) and Joe's job is really getting nasty!
Sept 09 I joined a Bible School at church called Ecclesia! :) We hit a breaking point with Joe's job and he calls his old company JB Hunt who he was with for almost 12 years and quits his job to go back to work for them to be home more. And to have steady work. I'm stressing out! And my own speech and memory are showing signs..not to mention the PAIN I've been in for about 2 months now. Fibro sucks!
Oct we go on a much needed and Free Vacation :) with Joe's family. see pic's bellow I wish I was still on that beach! I also had to put Lexie back in public school :( I hate it but I can't homeschool and work fulltime.
Nov- our furnace dies (the week of Thanksgiving when we are having about 45 family members in for a "pot luck meal") and they told us we needed to replace it. After much talking with them they agree to fix it one more time if they can. They do but its doubtful it will make it thru the winter (Lord we are holding our for a miracle here!) Also we have no insurance for Lexie and she get a bad infection in the surgery side.
Dec- Ready for all this,,,,,, Blessings first, Lexie's Gotcha Day 12-12-06 and her Birthday 12-16-04,
And the rest,,,,,,we find out we need a new roof! The repairs are not holding and there are a lot more leaks now! GRRR
the washing machine has a stripped gear, we burned up the microwave Christmas morning, Lexie's DVD player died and her TV is acting like its next. And drum roll please,,,,,,, the van has a leak and we now need a radiator..... Lexie gets another infection (or same one???) I'm having to baby this ear canal and clean it out myself. We HAVE Insurance now! She is set up on next available apt with Dr Choo! In JANUARY! Oh and did I mention CHRISTMAS??????????? I wont even go into the tears I spilled over that holiday!
At this point Depression sounds about right,,,,lol But Hey I can still laugh,, so maybe not,,,lol

2010!!!!!!!!! New Year New Possibilities here!!!!!!
Ok so I'm staying positive.
Thru all this I've not given up totally on adopting again. I know everything is stacking against me, but I wont give up just yet. Call me Crazy!!!!
This is our year to REPLACE!!! And FIX!
Also this Wed 1/6 we will be traveling back to cincy to see Dr Choo. He's not happy with me that I didn't bring her up sooner, but honestly I didn't' have the money and we had no insurance! Every time we go its over $100 after gas, lunch and co pays (with insurance!)
Here is what I expect will happen and what we will be working toward for the beginning of 2010 with Lexie
Dr Choo will have to do a micro-cleaning (out patient surgery), She will also need to have her hearing rechecked to help qualify for the baha implant. Then we will talk about reconstruction surgery. I am going to be working the next few days on some questions I need answered from him. I'll probably have to get letters from school about her speech problems. And she needs her Baha serviced. She also needs a follow up from Shriners for her Hemi Vertebrae (checking for scoliosis) And she needs to see a dentist (Bad!)
Yeah,,, not too stressful yet,,lol
Hugs all!
This Momma is worn out just thinking about it all!

Art and other fun things

2009-10-28T19:43:00.000-04:00

Ok,, its not that my little Doodle hasn't kept me busy,, cause let me tell you this little one can sure keep Momma on her toes! But I've dusted off the paint brushes and paints. Got out my art journals and started having some fun again. I've even got the kids busy with art! I love being creative!!! I'll post Pic's soon :)

Myrtle Beach and an apology

2009-10-07T09:01:00.007-04:00

First the apology,,,, I'm sorry dear friends that I haven't posted in forever! Its not that I haven't been online,,,you all know me better than that. I guess I'm going thru a "phase" where I just don't chat much online. I have had a season of just "being here" I guess. I will try to update more.

Ok the whole family is in Myrtle Beach this week and its been WONDERFUL!!!!!!! I nice change of pace and with 11 people 3 of which are little kids,,, I wont say total peaceful,,,lol but It has been as close as I've had in forever.

Lexie's medical has improved lately and we haven't had any flair ups from the ear. She is back in school at the Village (yes I know I said we were homeschooling,,,, but hey who know the economy would tank and Momma would have to get a dang job! Which I do love by the way)

She is talking so much and every day she comes up with the craziest things! She is getting very brave and independent!!!! My worst nightmare! LOL Sometimes I kid her that she is way too much of a "tom-boy" to be princess!

Today we are going to be on the beach alot,, I'll probably bake!!! Come on SUN!! :)

Hope your all doing well!
Hugs!

a DUH moment

2009-03-09T21:51:00.002-04:00

Ok,, so its been a while since I've just wanted to reach across a counter and just SMACK a sales clerk,,lol I will admit there was a time when I would feel like doing that daily.. Hum wonder if I'm mellowing or if I've just grown a little bit? LOL Maybe I'm so use to the attention that a Mom or Dad gets when they see an (obviously) adopted Asian child. Ok,, so I don't get it,, why does this make us saints? Special people? Nice?
These same didn't hear me rant and rave after my hysterectomy when my hormones bottomed out hot flashes set in, and Joe threatened to go over the road and NOT come home till I was over whatever demon that had crawled in me in the Operating room. lol
Ok,, so enough of all that,, this is what happened today,,
I should have known the moment I walked up and Lexie was in her "cute" mode. telling me that she had just "tooted!" and asking me if I could "smell" it,, and turned to point her bottom for me to do just that! (yes thank you God for Daddy's who think this is SOOO funny to teach their little girls to say in public and Church! You know what Paybacks are right Joe??) After I got her to stop and glared and rolled my eyes at the man behind me who was laughing so hard he was in tears... as if to say,, "your not helping!"
She then decided to tell EVERYONE within 1/2 a mile that she is from CHINA but "Ivs in Kentucky" (with a country accent? I have no idea where that came from,, a hick Asian?)
Anyway, the sales clerk smiled at Lexie and over her head asked me
"is she yours?" "how much did it cost to get her"
I just looked at her. I guess I hadn't heard it in a while and it sorta threw me,, cause didn't this lady just hear this very loud giggle box say "MOMMY Smell my Toot!" about 1000 times???
hello,,,,,,,,
SO politely I said , Yes she is my daughter, and I'd be glad to share some information with you about adoption agencies who can answer that question for you.
Then she just made a face that she didn't want to be bothered.
So I kept on stacking groceries on the belt and we went on like nothing had been said. Lexie had moved on to the "Mommy can I have,,," voice and I was trying to load groceries and explain to her that no she couldn't have M&M's that we had just bought her a book for her Tag pen.
When the lady just stops dead and says, with a disgusted look on her face. "What is that on her head!"
I thought some huge bug or a big booger or something else had landed on her hair so I start pulling her hair around looking for what ever has grossed out the clerk,, when she says, "no that black thing, the box and strap"
At this point I'm about to smack her (the clerk) I just realized she is talking about her baha hearing aid!!!!!!!!!!!! and instantly I think "OH NO YOU DIDN'T!"
So I smile sweetly and say.. oh this? its her hearing aid. Why?
and the idiot then says,, Oh, I'm sorry. Did you know before?
I look at her , as the proud Momma I am and said, Yes we did, its the reason we Chose her! And by the way,, don't feel sorry that she has a hearing aid,, we think its a blessing that she is able to hear with it. And we thank God everyday for the way she can educate people who are small minded.
And we left!
Lexie waved and said Bye.
I'm kinda proud of myself,,,lol cause I sure wanted to say more!!!!! LOL
Hugs!

one wall done one to go, back to work

2009-02-23T05:29:00.002-05:00

Hey Gang! Well got one wall done, and 1 more to go. Its about 90% done. I also start back at the daycare part time today. :) I love my hours! They will be real early but the trade off is that I'll be home by noon and Doodle can go with me. This also allows me to home School her. :) Hugs!

very tired!

2009-02-19T17:40:00.003-05:00

All this week I've been painting in our church's nursery. We are almost into the new building and I'm painting a mural in there. I'm SOOOO TIRED!!! Today about 3 hours in everything started to go double on me and I was having a hard time seeing,,lol Oh its ok,, don't worry. I've done this before. My eyes just needed a break! Here is just a preview :)

I know, hard to see. I took that with my camera phone. I'll get a better pic once I get more done. Hugs to all!!!

Just a quick Update.

2009-02-18T16:34:00.003-05:00

Hey Gang,, I know,, here we go again of me not posting. OOPS,, see what happens when you get addicted to Facebook!

OK,, where to begin?

We got hit by the ice storm 3 weeks back and it was right when our very dear friends the Vincent's were down for Carlow to have his hand surgery. We were real lucky that we didn't lose power, but we did lose alot of the front trees.

Bekah, Brad and the kids hunkered down here for 9 days waiting on power to be restored to their home and town.

Here is a few pic's.

It was a beautiful snow,, but boy as you can see it sure messed up our yard!

Ok,, so Carlow had his surgery on Jan 27th (the day of the Ice Storm) and one week later on Feb 3rd Lexie had her hand surgery. (also at Shriner's Hospital) So we ended up with 2 little ones in the house with casts on,,Talk about fun! 3 (4-when Joe was home) adults and 5 children, LOL Poor Milky hid in her room most of the week!

So that was 2 weeks ago, Lexie is doing fine. (The Vincents will be back this next week to remove Carlow's cast, We are ALL Praying for NO SNOW OR ICE!!!! ) LOL And Lexie will go back in 2 weeks for hers to be removed.

I'll be glad when they do! She has been in no pain , its just an inconvenience cause they had to place a pin in her thumb and the cast had to go to her arm pit to keep her from removing it! Looks alot worse than it actually is.

OHHH and we have decided to Home School :) There are alot of reasons. But top of the list we feel that she needs that one on one to learn.

It wont be easy, I'll be teaching her in the afternoons for the next year till I can be a full time stay at home Mom again. I am starting back at the old daycare. (yes you read that right) very part time till we can get back on our feet. Or things pick back up with Joe's job,, sigh,, or the economy picks up ,, what ever comes first,, Lord please rain down blessings on us all!

Anyhoo,, Lexie will get to go with me and have chapel time, workbooks and lots of interaction with other children till noon, then its home for a quick nap and up for our school. She can only go to the daycare till she turns 6 so we have a year and a half there then I'll be home again.

So I'll be starting her in Kindergarten this fall. :) She is already doing so well!!! I haven't gotten all the details worked out yet,, so all my home school mom, friends might as well expect a call from me this summer!

Milky is doing so well with us. She just got her report card and has 2 A's and 3 B's!!! WOOO HOOO WAY TO GO!

We are so proud of her!

She also is starting Taekwon Do, a kind of refresher-get ready to get back in it,, thing for when she goes home. She is excited!! I'll try to post some picks later on this week.. She is a black belt level 1.

I've been working on a Mural in our church's new nursery. They have just built on to the building and we are doing a "Jesus Loves all the little Children" theme. I'll get pic's of that this week too.

I guess I better run. I've got dinner in the oven.

Hope your all doing well

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T22:23:00.002-05:00

Hi all! Just wanted to stop in and wish you all a very happy New Year!
Last night we went to Church to ring in the new year. The girls had so much fun playing Wii games and Lexie running around the church with her friends and cousins. We all got to snack on some real yummy food that everyone brought and at midnight we all gathered around and prayed the new year in. It was so special to share that with the girls. And with our Church Family.
The girls and I went today with Mamaw, Granny, Aunt Sonya, Uncle Tony, Abe, and Hannah to the Movies. We went to see High School Musical 3. My first one..lol it was pretty good, of course I missed about 10 min of it at least running back and forth to the potty with little Ms I gotta pee when the movie starts and 10 min before it ends. But she is loving movies. I think this is the 5th one she's been to.
Monday the girls go back to school (don't think Milky is looking forward to it.) But I think they both miss their friends.
I was hoping to start painting at church then. But they still don't have occupancy in the new wing. I can't wait. Its going to be hard to do while the kids are in school. ( I'll only have about 3 hours a day to work on it. ) I'm painting a mural in the nursery walls.
But I'm excited to be out of the house some and doing some work again. Lately I haven't felt up to painting much. Maybe now that the holidays are over and I'm back on Weight Watchers I'll get motivated to get busy.
On a good note (THANK YOU SWEET JESUS!) Joe's work is picking back up. Its been rough. But Iam hoping that this is good news for everyone and that the economy is picking back up. Being a Trucker, you can sure tell that everyone is having a hard time. If no one buys,, he doesn't get to work either. Still saying prayers for our friends and family. Keep your chins up. Things will improve. God CAN move mountains!
I've been thinking alot about China lately (yes I know, bad timing,, but my heart doesn't know how to tell time ) LOL
Its so hard to want what you can't have right now. Not that I've given up..lol NO WAY! I'm still saving our pennies,,( and lately that is about all we get to save.)
Its just that my dream of another child is getting farther and farther away. Sigh,,,,
We are so blessed with Lexie. And now with having Milky for the School year. She has been such a help to me. Even if she doesn't know it. We will miss her so much when she has to return home.
(I wont miss her homework,,lol US History hasn't been fun for either of us! LOL) Anyway, just wanted to say Hi. Hope you all had a great New Year, and I wish you all a healthy, happy, and safe 2009!

This is my year to Shine!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back from being MIA!

2008-12-22T16:41:00.002-05:00

Ok,,so I got all your emails, and phone calls.. I'm back to blogging again. (not sure that is a good thing or not!) LOL. Here is the scoop,,, I've been real sick. Sicker than I've really let on to the family and yes you my friends.(sorry,, don't beat me with a wet noodle please!) But figure why complain. I am trying to stay out of the Dr's office, and spending time while the girls are in school in bed trying to sleep and failing at it with just 15 min cat naps. I'm still not sleeping to well.(average about 1 to 3 hours a night) I spend my nights tossing and turning. And I'll admit,, when I just can't sleep I get on Face book.
November was the worst of it, and Lexie and I both were down with a cold, stomach bug and migraines for me almost all month over and over. I think I used 4 cans of Lysol on the house that month!
But, I'm finally on the mend. Maybe its that I got Christmas Spirit now, or maybe I'm just feeling better. Who knows. :)
But the headaches are easing up some, my stomach problems are less and less and my energy is returning.
Poor Milky has spent alot of time in her room. I think she just didn't want to catch what we had. She also suffers from Migraines and has had a few in the last couple of months. Maybe its just the weather. But they are out of school for the next 2 weeks and since I'm up and moving again. I'm going to try to take them a few places to have some fun.
Ok,, so what else has been going on???
On Dec 12th we celebrated Lexie's 2nd Gotcha Day Anniversary! Can you believe it!!! I wish we could have gone out, but ended up spending the day just playing in her room and spending time together. That is the important thing anyway.
Also that Sunday the 14th, we had a little (very little) party at CiCi's pizza for Lexie's 4th birthday (12-16-04) And she, her very best friend Deshaynia, Her cousins Abe and Hannah, Aunt Sherry , Granny and Mamaw went to see Madagascar 2! It was alot of fun and she really enjoyed it! On her birthday we had a snow day and Grandma came over with gifts.
Milky's Birthday was also the 16th! Yep the very same day, and odd enough the same Chinese year, the year of the Monkey :)
Milky got to open presents on the 16th, and got to stay home from school cause of the snow day (probably the best gift she got,,lol she was so tickled) then on this past Friday she had a slumber party and 3 of her friends came over, ate the cake I made her and pizza, spend the evening giggling in her room and the next day at the Mall.
Can you believe Christmas is in 2 days??? lol
Hope your all doing well. Keeping you all in our prayers.
Hugs!!

Happy Gotcha Day!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-11T08:43:00.004-05:00

2 Years ago we walked into the Jiangsu Civil Affairs office and I saw the cutest little girl with an even cuter Elvis smile! :)

Its been the best 2 years of our lives for sure!

We Love you Baby!!!!

http://www.dropshots.com/dreamn2#date/2006-12-11/09:34:42

CIEE Halloween Party

2008-10-14T00:51:00.004-04:00

Hi all! This past weekend we went to a Halloween party for CIEE (it was hosted by our coordinator) We all had a great time! Since they do not celebrate Halloween in Thailand, its fun to see how excited Milky is to fine a costume, and actually get to wear it more than once.

Milky started to carve a pumpkin, She thought the insides were nasty! LOL ,her very first, but didn't get to finish. We will carve the ones here at home in a week I think.

Here are a few pic's of the party. The girls took a nap on the way, It was about an hour drive down to Gravel Switch, KY from our home. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I got to talking and forgot all about the camera! LOL

Hugs!

Pamper me Party

2008-10-11T08:52:00.004-04:00

Last night Milky and I got to go to church for a fun "Girl's" Night. They had a pamper me party for all the young ladies. They got to do a full pedicure, a wax dip for hands, satin hands treatment, makeup, color analysis for clothes, manicure and then nail polished. They LOVED it!! Milky had so much fun. She doesn't wear makeup and had never had her nails or toes painted before. After the party they all the girls some nail polish and gifts. Milky put all her polish in with mine so we could do this at home from time to time. I think she is afraid to paint her nails she keeps saying it looks so easy. They also gave her some makeup. She is into wild funky hip hop styles and they really did her up cute last night. I did the cake for them, it was alot of fun!!

Ready for Fall!

2008-10-09T10:18:00.004-04:00

I just love Fall! I think its all the colors! The girls and I decorated alittle bit the other day. Here's a few pictures. :) OHHH also ,,Milky got pink hair!!!!!LOL Well extensions. But she looks real cute with them in! I'll try to get a picture and post soon!

Hugs!!

semi quiet again

2008-10-01T21:48:00.002-04:00

Hi all! Well, they construction in front of the house has slowly stopped, but not for long. It will be back. They just did the trenching and will be back to lay pipes. OHHH I wish this was done! LOL
OH well.
The girls are doing great. Lexie's speech has improved so much that tomorrow we are having her first ISP meeting since school started. I can't wait to hear what they think. :)
I've been real busy lately doing cakes and an art journal. I think I told you guys about the art journal before, but anyway, its alot of fun and real nice to do something for me for a change. The spoons will be available for order again real soon. So if you are interested in a Santa spoon ornament just let me know. They will be $3.50 each plus $1 for packaging and shipping. Get your orders in soon. Christmas is right around the corner! LOL I'll post a pic of them soon.
Hope your all doing well!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

2008-09-25T22:24:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

I know we celebrated early but I just wanted to say it anyway!

Have a wonderful Birthday even if your out on the road.
We Love you so very much and can't wait till your home again.

Here is a pic of Daddy's Birthday Cake :) We also got to celebrate my Dad's Birthday and his Grandmother

Happy Late Birthday Papaw and Ma!!!

finger in my ears!!

2008-09-24T11:51:00.003-04:00

AHHHHH!!! Its been 2 weeks full of dust and noise around here! The city is putting in sewer here in our neighborhood which will be a huge improvement,,but LORDY is it noisy and EVERYTHING we own is full of dust!!! I'm so sick of dust its not funny! We are all getting a cold which I'm half convinced is from all the dust in the air and its just allergies! Here is a few pic's and a quick video,,lol Silly me has been parking the van in front of the house cause they are giving us some gravel and I need the driveway clear for them to put it at the end of the day. What a mess!!! I just moved it back in spot. Hopefully that wont knock us out of getting it. (the early perk for getting the sewer, a load of rocks! lol)

been a while

2008-09-16T14:14:00.005-04:00

Hi Gang! Sorry its been a while since I've written. To say that we have been busy would be both a lie and the truth,,lol The girls have been busy with school, Joe's been way too busy with work and even that seems slow right now. I've been busy on weekends with cakes and working on some mixed media art things, and ATC's. I guess that's busy work.. lol But it seems that I haven't been getting alot accomplished. I feel lazy and really just want to go take a nap when the girls aren't here! LOL I think its mostly the change of weather. When the seasons change I seem to slow down. I haven't been feeling too well lately, and surly haven't felt like myself. I'm hoping that art will bring me back around. It is so therapeutic for me. Or maybe an escape,,lol I think we all need one of those and this works better than any hot soak in the tub does. Ok,, enough about me,, Lexie loves school. Tells me so every day! Last year she cried all the time when she had to get on the bus, now she never cries! Just gives me a kiss and a hug and says "Bye Mom" and runs off to get on the bus. She has grown up so much over the past 21 months. Yes that long! Can you believe it?!?!?! Its so hard to believe we will be celebrating our 2 year Gotcha Day soon. Milky is also doing great. We love having her here with us. And I don't think she knows it, but she is sure a big help to me. I try to tell her all the time. But I think she just thinks I'm being nice. I try not to ask a lot out of her. I know it must be hard being so far from home. I doubt I could to it by myself for this long, but she does have chores and so far, she is right on them, and No trouble to have here at all. Well, just finished my little art journal page for today, guess I'll go get some housework done before the girls get here. Hugs to you all!!!

Nurse Lexie

2008-08-21T23:24:00.004-04:00

Ok,, so not sure if she was going for Lexie Home Maker or Nurse Lexie? lol Cause she switched back and forth,,lol we had fun today playing dress up. She goes back to school tomorrow! :) Wed was her first day (pic of her in front of school) She loved it!!! And all day today she wanted to know why Milky got to go to School and not her! LOL I hope she continues to love school. Milky is fitting right in with our family. She is such a joy to have and always polite. I think Lexie has started to get jealous but we are working thru it. She gets upset if I help Milky with homework. Shew,, speaking of homework,,,, I better get my fanny back in to some of this math,,lol when your out of school (we wont say how many years,, just trust me its been a while!) you forget how to do Algebra! US History terms,, and a lot more! LOL Anyway, here's just a few of the latest pic's of dress up! LOL you can't see it but she doesn't have on matching dress up shoes. This child can run in high heals better than I can walk in them! LOL

Daddy Home again.

2008-08-20T07:59:00.004-04:00

Joe came home over the weekend. We sure miss him when he is gone. As you can see Milky and Daddy hit it right off. Even Lexie had to get in on the fun and be a little monkey and climb on Daddy's truck. :) It was a great weekend! I think we are going to try to go to the aquarium the next time he is home.

Rock your baby to sleep??

2008-08-13T15:03:00.004-04:00

Ok, so picture this,, I want Lexie to take a nap. She refuses! (you all know you have to pick your battles with a 3 year olds! LOL) So I told her ok, but you have to rest! She explains to me that her baby is hungry and of course she needs to rock her baby first! Looks like that baby went to bed hungry! LOL Cause as soon as her head hit the pillow she turned baby around and covered her up and that was it! LOL

CAKES!

2008-08-12T14:08:00.005-04:00

Hi all!
Well, I've started a cake business out of my home. Figured I've got everything here,,and Just finished up my classes,, might as well! :)
To check out a few that I've done go to: http://ladybuglanecrafts.blogspot.com/ Or our cuppycake adoption fundraiser site at
You'll also find some of my other craft adventures there :)
Hugs to all!!!

Fun at Jacobson Park

2008-08-11T22:38:00.006-04:00

Today was school registration day. Milky and I went first to EJHS and registered her for classes. It was hard for her to pick out classes since there was so much she wanted to take. She is taking English, US history, Science, Algebra, and the last class is one semester gym one Chinese 3. She wanted to take some band/percussion class.

After we looked around and found all her classes, figured out how to do her locker. We came home picked up Lexie at Grams and came home for a nap for her before we went to the park. Then we went to Jacobson Park for a little over an hour ate dinner and played on the HUGE castle playground they have. The girls loved it!!! We will be going back to that soon!! I had forgotten all about it! Lexie wasn't ready to go! LOL

After that we went to Lexie's school and got her all set for class. She went right to her cubby and wanted to put her backpack in there and stay,,lol I told her no we are just visiting. We went in to see Ms Reese and her other teachers and she went right to the toys to play. Told me Bye Mommy! After I got done, again she didn't want to leave. We went on a ride on a school bus (just the 3 of us, cause it was getting late) She was so excited and kept telling me that she is a big girl, she goes to school and No cry on Bus Mommy! I go school now! I know I've told her that about 100 times last year,,lol but it was so sweet to hear her say it to me. She must know mommy will cry when she starts school again! LOL

On the way home I was so proud of both girls (and it was HOT! LOL) that we stopped at McDonald's and got Ice cream! YUM YUM! (bad mommy,,, ohh the sugar in those,,lol)

Anyway,,here are a few pic's :)

Now a family of 4

2008-08-11T05:29:00.004-04:00

Hi all! On Thursday we went to the airport to pick up Milky. She is so sweet :)

And Lexie is like a little lost puppy around her,,lol She follows her around and is making her play with her,,lol its so funny. I told them both, that they will need to learn what its like to be sisters, Lexie will have to learn to give Milky some privacy and not be so demanding, and Milky needs to learn that little sisters can be a pest! I'm sure in a month or so I'll be hearing,, "MOM Lexie is bothering me! Make her get out of my room!" And Lexie saying "NO I'M NOT!" LOL

I love it!

Today we got to school to register her. Classes start on Wednesday.

Hope your all having a great day!

Milky

2008-08-04T21:19:00.002-04:00

Hi all, Haven't gotten to talk to Milky this past weekend, but she is scheduled to arrive at our airport at 4:50 pm on Thrusday!!!! We're getting so excited!!! Joe wanted to be here, but it just didn't work out that way. I'll post more when I find out. Hugs!!

Josh's Wedding

2008-08-04T08:23:00.003-04:00

Hello all! Well it sure was a long weekend here. I was so pleased with the cake I did for Josh and Audrey's wedding. I know I did Gram proud and I know she would have wanted to be there to do it for him. She was on my mind all day Saturday. I'm sure she was smileing down on Josh and Audrey! Everything turned out beautifully! Their wedding was so sweet and they had everyone in tears as they said their vowels to each other, and presented Lazarus a gift as a token of thier new family.
The reception was great and we all had a wonderful time! :) Here is just a few pictures.

Web Cam with Milky

2008-07-24T10:09:00.002-04:00

Hey gang! This morning I got a great surprise! I got to get on the web cam with Milky, our exchange student from Thailand!!!! How cool is that! She will be here in 2 weeks!!! I can't wait! She's such a cutie! Hope your all having a great day today! Hugs!!!

Pic's of today

2008-07-23T22:57:00.006-04:00

April and May 2007

Today!!! Boy has she changed!

Hi gang,
Just getting in from Cake class (to see pic of this weeks cake go to my craft blog , link on right) and I thought I'd upload the pic's I took of Lexie today. I wanted to catch her playing in the pool, but she changed her mind at the last minute and decided she didn't want to get in. LOL But kept asking me " Me picture again Mommy!" Over and over..lol I finally had to say OK,, enough. cause she would go stand and pose then come running back to see how she looked. LOL

She has changed so much! She is so Beautiful!!!!!!
Hope your all having a great evening!

Anita Renfroe

2008-07-22T02:44:00.001-04:00

If you haven't checked out Anita's video at the bottom, do it! lol And there is a real funny one for dad's below the slide show. She is so funny! I wish she was coming to our town! lol
Hugs!
Night

19th Anniversary!

2008-07-21T12:13:00.007-04:00

Hello all! Today is our 19th Wedding Anniversary! I can hardly believe we have been together that long!
Joe and I met while working at our local K-mart department store while in our senior year of high school. He and I didn't go to the same school, actually we lived in different towns. But I drove across his town to work at this store cause my father had once worked there when he was in college. One day this very handsome (nerd!) walked up to me and he had his hands all dirty from setting up a display of some kind and he asked me if he could use the bottom of my dress as a rag to wipe his hands. From that day on he picked on me all the time. Always with a smile on his face. It was love at first site. (honey can you remember me paging you all the time to call my station. I can remember getting in trouble for it! LOL) We had a mutual friend who went to school with me, but attend a vocational school with Joe in the afternoons and during English my senior year I would write him Love letters and send with Donny. Joe was doing the same thing at his school. lol When I got out of school (I went half a day cause I had enough credits to graduate) I'd drive across town (about 30 miles) and pick him up from school and hang out at his house till we had to go to work. Young love! LOL Anyway 9 months after he tried to use me as a paper towel we were married. Our parents thought we were nuts and I can remember some people asking if I was pregnant. Nope, just in love! I didn't actually get pregnant for 6 months after we were married! And lost that baby 3 months later.
Anyway, 19 years filled with joy,lots of travel, some sadness, a few arguments, one trip of a lifetime and Many blessings!! And lets not forget lots of LOVE!
I love you Honey!

Been a while

2008-07-19T15:30:00.003-04:00

Well, I know its been quite a while since I've updated so guess now is a good a time as any,,lol
We are doing fine. Lexie has had a few appointments lately and just yesterday she had to go back in for a micro cleaning. Her new ear canal had been bleeding and he wanted to check it to see what was going on. It turns out that at night its been bothering her and she's digging in it. (maybe the hair growing in there is itching it ,,which is normal at this stage)She has a pretty good hole inside that is almost to the bone. We have to put a band aid on it at night now to try to keep the little piggies out..lol If that doesn't work or she makes it worse they will have to do a small graph to cover it again. And he's talking electrolysis to remove the hair inside and around the opening,,, wonder if I can get him to do my legs while he is in OR,,lol
Say a prayer that it heals. He said that some kids are hard to heal. And since she has had the infection for so long,, she will be one of them.
She has grown so much! We have been home for 19 months now and as of Wednesday she has grown 8 inches and gained 9.2 pounds! To say its hard to keep her in clothes,,is an understatement! lol She grows out of things so fast,, Thank goodness her feet are growing slow,,lol She is now in a 5T top and a 4T bottom! LOL Dr Taylor has put her in a booster already cause she is too big for her car seat.
Ok,, why has she grown so much???
Well, we went to the Genetics Doctor at UK hospital on Thursday (Dr Bay) and she couldn't get over how good Lexie looks, how filled out and how healthy! Not to mention how tall she is for a 3 year old! We talked about what Lexie is doing mentally and educationally and she also felt that possibly Lexie was older than what was told to us and that she would like to send her for a bone density test. Along with a DNA test to rule out a few other things.
She also told us that Lexie Does NOT have Golden-har! Praise God! And that what she has is not a disease, it is hereditary. Somewhere down her family line someone had this very same thing. And now we just test to see what Gene it was so she will know what chance her own children have of developing the same way. She confirmed what we already knew,, there is nothing wrong with Lexie mentally. (when we came home they were worried about golden-har and her not progressing past a certain age or having mild retardation from the golden-har) And that if anything, she was above average on somethings and that with her speech improving she will only catch up and advance in the rest.
Friday we got the results on the bone density.
According to her birth record Lexie is 3 1/2 and will turn 4 on December 16th.
The bone density shows that she is ,,,,, 4 years and 2 months old! Which would put her birthday this past May. Now this may still be off a bit but not younger than that.
Oh well, its not like we are going to change it, we had decided unless it came up that she was like 6 or something, we would leave it alone. There is another test we could do,,but we aren't going to test unless something else comes up. Its just nice to know and nice for us to inform the school so they can make sure she doesn't get bored. It would allow them to place her a year early for kindergarten, but I'm going to try to home school so it wont matter anyway. LOL She is going to continue public pre-k for speech services for the next 2 years and we will work at home too.
We start in October back at Shriner's to evaluate her spine for scoliosis, she has 2 vertebra in her spine that are open and look like butterflies. And they will do full body x-rays on her till she is 18. Hopefully that is all they will need to do and her spine will be fine.
That's about it our way. Hope your all having a great summer!
Hugs!!!

2008-07-09T22:21:00.002-04:00

Hello all, Today I received a phone call from Bekah asking for prayer for these two little boys and their family. I've been reading their blog for a couple of days myself and I hope that you will lift them up in your hearts and prayers.
(stolen from Bekah's blog,,lol)
Hi everyone I have become acquainted with a family who are going to bring two sons home at the same time! Yes you read that right! Please visit their blog lift them up in prayer! Anyone who has left over Yuan please consider sending it to them. Anyone who feels led please donate there are links on their blog. Please help bring these boys home! Please remember this family in your prayers and thoughts.
http://harmonboys.blogspot.com/

Sign for our church

2008-07-01T18:05:00.000-04:00

Mom and I went last Sunday (6-22) and painted a sign for our church. It took us 7 hours to paint it together. They are adding on to the church and building starts real soon. Here is just a few pictures of the sign. It was a labor of Love for the Lord!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T07:18:00.003-04:00

Well its our 2nd Father's Day and Daddy got to come in to be with his girls. :) We are so glad to have him home! We sure miss him when he is out working! Today we are going to church, and a cookout. YUM YUM!! not much else going on, but just a few updates,,, lol Lexie goes back in July for a micro cleaning of her ear canal. Our AC is back on,, wont even mention how much that cost,,sigh. And We finally heard from Jenny, we're having some Internet issues but hopefully that will be resolved soon. The important thing is she has responded, and sounds excited to be coming. I worked in her room a bit yesterday (ignored the mess of the rest of the house,,,lol guess what I get to do today?? LOL) That's about it in a nut shell. Hope your all having a wonderful day! Hugs!

Just wanted to stop in and say Hi

2008-06-08T21:24:00.002-04:00

Hi gang,
Not much going on here today. Just trying to brave the heat. Our AC is out and wont be fixed till Tuesday ,,,yuck!!! I made Lexie a little Monkey (she calls her Patty Cake) She's gotten into "Mom key's" lately,,lol And wants a comforter set for her bedroom,,lol we will see.
Hope to write more later. Ice road trucker is on,,lol
Hugs

Yo Gabba Gabba!

2008-06-04T21:45:00.004-04:00

Muno!

One of Lexie's Fav's,, I know I know WHAT IS IT??? Who knows,,lol but you can check out this little video,,lol, Turn off the sounds at the bottom to watch it. http://

Strawberry Pickin and back to CCH

2008-06-01T22:31:00.003-04:00

Well as you can see we had a great time today picking strawberries at Boyd Orchard Farm with our local FCC group. I can't wait to go to the next get together!

Lexie ate a BUNCH of strawberries and by the time we got home from visiting with Grandma and Grandpa we were all real full from the berries! LOL Good thing I got some Mc Donald's in her before she really got to eating them! LOL Now to deal with them tomorrow , they are tucked nicely in our fridge! And ohhh are they soo sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so I have written about the infection in Lexie's left ear canal. but what I left out is that Joe and I believe that her Skull is visible! That the skin graph has pulled away from it. I hope I'm wrong. Maybe this is something else altogether. I don't know. Please keep her in your prayers. We go back on Wed to find out if the infection is healing/ healed, and if in fact this is her skull we see in the inside of her ear canal and if the skin graph has come unattached. I have no idea what that will mean if it has. I'm packing for a hospital stay just in case. You just never know right.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Hugs!!!

Strawberry Pickin!

2008-05-30T18:11:00.001-04:00

This Sunday is Strawberry Pickin with our local FCC group. I'm so excited and can't wait to post pic's! Feeling a little bit better tonight. Meds must be working. Hope I can keep this migraine away and we get to go.
Hugs to you all!!!!!!!!

Been a while

2008-05-30T05:12:00.002-04:00

HI Gang! Been a while since I've posted. sorry about that. Work and Life in general have gotten in the way of bloggin,,lol
Lexie's left ear has gotten infected (I guess, i don't know what its supposed to look like as it heals, maybe I'm being a over protective mommy) it has been draining alot and is pretty nasty down in the hole. Dr Choo has called her in some antibiotics and she is back on the cyprodex again till we go back in to see him on Wed.
I'm afraid with all the apts she still has to do, plus my dr apts and alot of migraines lately (stress & not eating right), work may let me go. Its not that they've said anything to me or anything, just a little attitude I'm picking up. I went home early yesterday with a migraine (first time I've done that at this job), it took them all day to let me go and finally 2 1/2 hours till time for me to leave she said just go. That was right after she caught me complaining..lol And told me to go lay down in one of the classroom floors or on the couch(which is open to all the parents to see my fat butt laying around!, no thank you!)
Oh well,, guess we will see.
Hope your all doing well.
Hugs!

Prayers go out to the Stephen Curtis Chapman family

2008-05-22T19:13:00.002-04:00

Please pray for the Steven Curtis Chapman family who have just lost their sweet 5 year old daughter, Maria, to a tragic accident. Maria was adopted from China and was the Chapman's 6th child and the 3rd to be adopted from China. As most of you know Steven Curtis Chapman and his family are champions for adoption from everywhere. He advocates for children to be adopted from foster care, China, Ethiopia, Haiti, and everywhere else. Tragically, their teenage son accidentally ran over Maria with a vehicle in the family driveway as she was playing. Maria turned 5 just 10 days ago.

The whole family will need all our prayers.
This is a picture of Maria and Daddy

Exchange Student to be part of our next year!

2008-05-01T20:47:00.003-04:00

Hello all! I'm sure your sitting there with your mouth open reading the title of this post and saying to yourself,,, WHAT!!!!!!!! ..lol Yes you read that right. Joe and I are opening up our home and hearts for a 16 year old girl from China ,who is an exchange student. She will be living in our home for 10 months while she attends our local public high school. We have a few more steps to go, but we are so excited to get the opportunity to share this year with her, her birthday, a "western" Christmas, Thanksgiving,, all our American holidays, and very excited for her to teach us some holidays and traditions from China (humm lets see if I'm doing them right after all,,,lol) It will be interesting to hear her talk about her town and China in general thru the eyes of a 16 year old. Yes I know ,, we have lost our minds. A 3 year old and a 16 year old in our home at the same time,, But those of you who know us personally, know this is about normal for us. I will tell you that we have already been Assigned a student, but our file is "pending" the outcome of our interview next weekend and our background checks. Which you know will come back just fine. We have been asked if we are still perusing another adoption... YES we sure are! Having this young lady in our home has nothing to do with our future adoption plans. We are still fundraising, saving and planning for another child to join our family . Having her live with us for 10 months will be a blessing for us to learn more, give Lexie a good role model who looks like her and is also from China and who is over 6, but not an adult. And a chance for her to spend a little time with a "sister". Plus the added bonus to this young woman to gain experience with English, learn more about America and an American families, adoption, and anything else that she may learn along the way. I can't wait to share more with you when the time is right. So,,, look for me to post more soon.

Tubes, Cleaning of the new Ear Canal

2008-04-26T10:12:00.004-04:00

HI Gang! Yesterday Lexie and I made the trip back to CCH for her to have the new Ear canal cleaned out. For some reason her body wasn't breaking down the dissolving packing at all. So Dr Choo had to put her under a bit and remove it. It is real red and has been bleeding a bit cause removing the foam it pulled the scabs. Boy is this a big hole!! lol Dr Choo also put in a tube in her right ear. She has allergies and its causing fluid behind the drum, on BOTH sides! He said don't be surprised if we are back to tube the new drum. We both agree that if she can, we need to wait till this heals more before putting a hole in it. She is such a funny kid. I don't know if its normal for children with new hearing (well, she has been getting sounds through with the Baha,,so this is odd to me) to be so off balance. I know the fluid might play into that, but her legs look like she has been in war! She is all bruised up and scraped up where she just wont watch where she is going and seems like she is off balance some. Part of it I think is she demands to be "FIRST" and can't stand it if you get to the front door or the van before her,, before you know it ,, she's on her face! She will about knock you down to get there first!! And she has become the little athlete. Her Teacher Ms. Reese says that she is great in Gym and loves to run and throw the balls around. (hummm soccer??) She has learned how to climb the OUTSIDE of her slide here at home and refuses to go up the ladder,,lol You almost have to threaten to make her come inside to get her to slide the right way or not to climb out on the very top of it! lordy I hope she's not going to be a mountain climber,,lol She's getting way to brave for my comfort level! LOL And now she wants a bike. (she got to ride bikes with her cousins this week and now has told me Thursday, she's "too big" for her Dora 3 wheeler, wants a Ike!) Sigh,,, where has my baby gone??? And who is this little girl she has become?? lol She has picked up Mommy's attitude (sorry Joe,,lol) so that can't be good,, we but heads a lot. But she has also become the most loving little tot that I've ever seen. Our favorite times are when we are done for the day, here at home in my bed all snuggling and reading books. She is so smart and has decided to repeat every word I say and you have to point out each word. She also is asking for her China story now. She is so proud to hear it and will point to herself and say I'm from China Mommy! I'm working on a pickaboo book for her that has her story in it along with pictures of our China trip so we can read this together at night and she can see pictures. Actually I'm working on 2 different ones. One for her level of understanding about adoption and how she became part of our forever family and a keep sake for when she is older with the "whole" story in it. The second will be a private book that we will only share with her when she is ready. I will be honest, I'm not ready for the 1000 questions I know she will have, but writing this book so far is helping me to prepare for them and talking with other adoptive parents is my most valuable resource I can have. I hope you all have a wonderful day today. Its raining a bit here, tonight we have a Missions Banquet at church. I can't wait to go try foods from other countries and to see what they have prepared to represent China.

may be away from the computer for a bit.

2008-04-17T23:11:00.002-04:00

Hi gang, I might be away from the computer for a bit. so if you check in regularly and I've not posted in over a week,, you know why. I will try to get back on next weekend to let you know how surgery went and how the cleaning went on her left ear canal.
There's nothing major going on. I'm just having to use dial up and it stinks. Takes me forever to post and the sites aren't loading all the way.
Hope your all having a great weekend!!!
Hugs!

New Daycare/New Job

2008-04-16T19:28:00.002-04:00

Lexie and I have started a new adventure at a Christian Daycare. I'm in the baby room (WOOHOOO!!! although holding little ones all day, just makes me want one that much more!)
Every day we get up early, get out the door at 7:30 and I drive her to the Jessamine Early Learning Village where she stays till around 11 or so and then they bring her to the daycare where I work. She gets lunch, and a nap (yeah right) and then gets up to play and have art till time for me to get off work. Its only about 5 miles from the house so its not too bad for the drive home. Although having to take her to school the 17 miles every morning and then driving half way home,,lol lets just say I'll be glad when summer gets here! LOL It's a real nice place and I think we will fit in wonderfully there. Its in a beautiful church.
We go on the 25th for her cleaning and for tubes (maybe) on the right. hopefully everything will be fine.
I'll try to post more later. When we get home there is only about 2 to 3 hours left in the day before we have to start getting ready for bed. That leaves little time for me to get online or do any crafts,,, seems like the dishes and the laundry wins every day! LOL
Hugs to you all!!!!!!!!!

Post Canal Surgery update/ possible new surgery

2008-04-09T19:22:00.004-04:00

Hi Gang! We went today to CCH to see Dr Choo again. Today he was to clean the ear canal out. He started with just cleaning and pulling the packing a little, dug out a little hole and realized that the drops weren't making it all the way down to her ear drum. sigh,,,, so he made the hole in the packing a little bit bigger and we are to come back in 2 weeks for a MAJOR cleaning. She did real well till the end. Lexie goes down for her hearing test next. We get in the room, and they do a pressure test on the right. (the tech doesn't look like it went well?) then they start the testing. SHE CAN HEAR!!!!!!!!!!! yep that is right she has Some hearing on that side. Its still real packed good so the test is not 100% accurate yet and I don't know what % she gained cause this is the very first test she has ever had on the left where her ear drum is exposed. THANK YOU GOD SHE CAN HEAR!!!!!! I don't care that we don't know how much,, all that will come,,lol I just am tickled pink that she can. The tech did say that from what she can see right now, she has hearing below a normal voice level. So with out the Baha, you would really have to talk loud to get her to hear you, but she is getting sound down in there.
We finished the test and she told me that her right ear tested poorly. (WHAT???) I asked her what it meant and she sent us back over to Dr Choo for him to take a look. Now this little one has MAJOR wax problem,, so keeping positive I was hoping that this is what they find. Back to the waiting room we go,, another 45 min passes (we got the Baha readjusted while we were there, and waiting. HI Amy!! Thank You!!!!!!) Back in the room, Dr Choo takes a quick peek and not only is she full of wax but she also has fluid behind the drum (his intern had looked but couldn't get past the wax) He also said that he thinks that she may have gotten more hearing than he expected!!!!
Hum,,,,,Ok, so she hasn't acted like she was sick. Today she is living up to his nickname for her "monkey" and is EVERYWHERE! But she has fluid on her drum? This kid is so hard to read! She never acts like she is in pain! She hasn't' had anything for pain for her ear since 2 days after surgery!!!
So here is the plan. On the 25th we are back to CCH for outpatient same day "surgery"/procedure. He is going to put her under with gas, clean out the left ear canal real well then take a look at the right ear. Dig out all the wax and If she still has fluid he will put tubes in that side and drain it. I told him,, if she needed it or he thought that she would start getting infections on that side that would require tubes in a few months,, to go on and do it! I'd rather he get it over with then to have to go back in 3-6 months for another surgery for tubes. Anyway,,, that's it in a nut shell! LOL
Hugs to you all!!!!

~*~Tracye~*~

Wed we go back to Ciciy

2008-04-07T20:31:00.002-04:00

Hi Gang! Well, Lexie's ear seems to be doing a lot better. She's on antibiotics 2 times a day and back to the old drops. We go back on Wed morning and have a cleaning done on the ear canal. I'm not looking forward to that, but if its anything like last time, she will be just fine and I'll be the one in the corner going... OUCH! that hast to hurt!!!!!!! LOL I don't know how it got infected. We've been so careful not to get water in there. Now I wont say that its been dry 100% of the time. She is 3 and loves the water, but when I wash her hair I take great care to make sure it doesn't get wet... poor baby has had a 1/2 washed head for weeks now! LOL OH,,, also on Wed she is to have a hearing test. I'm so anxious to find out if she has gained any hearing out of this new ear drum. On Monday I start a new job at a Christian Daycare I'm so excited that I got the job and that Lexie will be able to attend in the afternoons. Its not an option for her to go full time to the christian school cause she wont get speech there. And if we chose to take her out of public school it would be for the hearing and speech center's school program where she would get 100% speech therapy the whole time she is there. I'd love for her to go! maybe next year. I don't know. We love the Village! They have helped her so much! I really hate to take her out. I have to go in the morning and talk to the principal at her school to try to get him to allow her to go to the morning class instead of afternoon. They don't have transport to the school in the afternoons, just the mornings. Anyway, I'll have the babies.. you all know what that will cause,,,, the baby blues!!!!!!!! I think Joe's tired of hearing me say,, I want a baby!!!!!!!!!!! lol But I do. sigh,,, if its Gods will... Hope your all having a great week! Hugs!!

Ear Canal

2008-04-01T21:35:00.004-04:00

I've emailed Dr Choo. Lexie is having (I think) a reaction to some of the ear drops that they gave us (samples) I'm going tomorrow to get the bottle of what he had her on before (its $30 for 7.5ml!) Its all red and crusty! Yuck!!! I hope its not getting infected! He has her on Ciprodex OTIC. We are finally , I hope over this cold/ flu/ what ever, that has had us all sick. Hope your all doing well! Have a great night all!!!

craft blog

2008-04-01T21:33:00.002-04:00

You might (although there's so much on the side,, I wouldn't blame you if you missed it) notice a new craft blog on the right. I've been busy in the work room on ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) If you get a chance, take a peek. http://ladybuglanecrafts.blogspot.com/

oops

2008-03-31T13:59:00.003-04:00

While out grocery shopping at our local Kroger we noticed this sign,,,lol something looked way off!!!!!!!!!! The cashier at kroger told us that they had goofed on the sign (only the sign, the pump had the right price) and had the premium gas $2 higher than it was supposed to be...talk about sticker shock!!!!

Hugs!!!!!!

Happy Easter

2008-03-22T21:39:00.004-04:00

Hi Gang! Just wanted to wish every one a very Happy Easter!!! Today Lexie went Easter egg hunting at Church. :) They have a hunt , crafts and games every year. Its a lot of fun for the kids! :)
Hope your all happy and healthy!!!!!!!!!!
Sending Hugs!!!

Not much going on today

2008-03-20T17:00:00.004-04:00

Hi Gang!!! Hope your having a great day! Not much going on here today. Just been crafting, cleaning house and Lexie has been at School. I think she finally has the hang of riding the bus without going to sleep! lol When she gets off the bus after a 5 or 10 min nap she is NASTY! lol Notice those are capital letters there,,lol She isn't one to mess with, when she doesn't get her naps out. Tonight is our Movie night. Where we get the house picked up after dinner and pop popcorn and snuggle up in Mommy and Daddy's bed and watch a "Big movie" :) Tonight is Curious George. Her fav! Have a great night!!!

Two Tigers In Chinese and Jesus Loves me

2008-03-17T19:35:00.004-04:00

ABC's

2008-03-15T13:50:00.006-04:00

Just playing around with the camera today :) There might be a few video's before the day is over,,lol ABC's

Lexie's first music progam

2008-03-13T22:12:00.003-04:00

Lexie did real well tonight, especially since she has only been back to school 2 weeks. I figured she would cry and want to come over to where I was, but she didn't want anything to do with me till after the program. LOL Told me on the way in that she was going to "ting" and NO Mommy do it! And she was right,,lol

hope your all having a wonderful day!

Atresia/Microtia

2008-03-13T00:36:00.001-04:00

This little saying was on one of the sites to the right,,lol I thought it was so funny.. and soooo true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Relax!! In the end, giving your child the keys to the car will be far more stressful than anything pertaining to their atresia or microtia (even though it doesn’t seem like it now)."

home from post opt apt

2008-03-12T16:56:00.003-04:00

Hi Gang, Lexie had a post operative appointment today and all went well. This is one tired mom here tonight. You know after all this research and talking to people I am finding myself a bit under prepared (or feel this way anyway,, I'm sure I'm not) But for all those who are going thru this, or about to go thru. Welcome to feeling overwhelmed! lol I have listed a few more web sites for you to the right that may help you to understand all that your child is going thru and what it will look like after. I know these pictures are a bit graphic, but you know what,, I have looked and looked tonight (even had Bekah helping me) to try to find a 3 week out picture to see if this is the norm and there's just none out there! maybe if by posting this picture a parent can see how this looks and not be worried that the "hole" is too big or whatever will help. I know I could use someone to say,, oh its OK, that's normal. (which Dr Choo did today) lol the short end of how I felt when I first saw it after he removed the sponge is,,, OMG! Look at the size of that hole in her head! And your not going to cover it??? She's supposed to go to school with a open hole??? (I did say short end of it didn't I??? LOL) OK,, big breath here.. Yes I felt like freaking out. I knew what to expect. I knew there would be a sponge. I knew that there was going to be an open hole, packing, stitches, blood,, the whole works,,, and that when its healed all will be fine. Here is how today went. We got there almost 20 minutes late (wont go into why ,,lol lets just say that today has been a emotional day from the moment I got up!) and we played peak a boo around the door looking for Dr "Choo Choo" and after he got there,, called her his monkey (which he always does) and making a comment on how much she has GROWN and he hopes when he sees her in 3 weeks she doesn't look 8! LOL) He took us into the treatment room and we talked her into laying down on the table,, which she didn't want to do. She knew what was coming, we had been talking about it all morning. He added drops again to loosen it. (the sponge had become crusty, again, normal) he cut away the stitches holding it in and started to work the sponge lose. Once it was removed he cleaned out some of the packing. (there is still a lot in there that looks nasty) We are to put antibiotic drops in there (fill the hole he says) 2 times a day and come back in 3 weeks. (did I mention after insurance its $30 for one bottle that is 7.5 ml!) She still can't take a full bath, and she is a fish and loves to put her head and face in the water. (boy is she missing that!) That was it,, we left and headed back home (90 miles) stopping half way for lunch at Waffle House (another yuck) and she got in a good nap. I'm not sure about sending her to school tomorrow. she has a school musical tomorrow night and she is so excited to get back and see her friends. I hate to keep her out. She is enjoying it so much. Maybe I'll call the school nurse tomorrow and see what they say about her "hole" being open like this. I will leave her hair down so none of the kids can see it. its not bothering her,, she is so full of energy she can't sit still..lol And hasn't had anything for pain since we left the hospital 3 weeks ago. Anyway,, that's it in a nut shell. Hope your all having a great night. Toddles!

Playing in the Snow

2008-03-08T19:23:00.007-05:00

not my first snow,, but the first time I got to get out in it! :) Had alot of fun throwing snowballs (okkk so snow dust) at Mommy!

Thinking of China and Laminator

2008-03-08T09:51:00.007-05:00

Hi all,, ok, I know the title sounds a bit nuts,,lol but I've had China on my mind a lot lately. Just thinking all about our journey and how blessed we are to have this beautiful little girl. It is my hope we are worthy parents, and that we can provide everything she needs. She have brought such love, laughter, and Joy into our little Family. I know that she has come so far since we first held her in our arms. I've posted pic's before, but I just wanted to post again and show you how much she has grown. Its still snowing here and we are going to go out and play a bit. She keeps asking if we are going outside to pay in snow??? lol I love to hear her talk!!!! Ok,, so what's with the Laminator?? lol Bekah brought hers when they came down for Carlow's apt, and I've gone nuts over it!!! LOL She said It was neat and I'd want one,,but I just thought,,, its just a laminator,,,what's so neat about that,,lol OK, so now I've gone thru about 45 sheets of the laminate! LOL I'm making flash cards, games and write and wipe pages for her to practice her name, numbers and letters. She is having a ball!!! LOL Anyway,,lol Here are a few pic's for ya. Enjoy! And btw, when we got Lexie, she was in a 24 month/2T clothes,, now she is in 4T/5T and has grown 5 shoe sizes!!!! (Hey Aunt Bekah,, notice the clothes??? And I was able to get enough hair in the ponies on the left and still leave some down to hide the surgical site! LOL)

Back to School

2008-03-06T12:00:00.004-05:00

Hi Gang! Well Tuesday Lexie went back to school. Boy was she excited! I think she has about drove us nuts this 3 weeks that she has been off. lol Of course she cried when I left but it was real short and off she was to play! LOL She came home on the bus just fine and yesterday had no problems getting back to normal. Our good friends the Vincents came yesterday for Carlow's apt today. The kids sure had a lot of fun lastnight playing! Lexie showed off her Leapster that Uncle Jay and Mamaw got her before surgery. The girls all loved it! She is at school right now Katie and Cordie are playing with the kitchen things while Momma and Carlow go to the Dr. I didn't think they would stay with me, but I'm so happy they did! We are going to paint and go outside and play in a bit. :)
There is a snow storm heading our way sou they will have to cut their visit short (POUT!) But we are so happy to have them here and will miss them when they go home!

Hope all is well with everyone! Lexie is having school pictures on the 14th! Her very first school pictures,,,sigh,,lol

And they are selling cookie dough (if anyone local wants any,, just contact me)

Hugs to all!!!!!!!!!

Home

2008-02-26T23:22:00.003-05:00

Hi Gang! We are home!!! We actually got here Monday afternoon, but we have been so tired, I haven't taken the time to post. Lexie seems to be doing great. Just her happy little self (maybe alittle bit MORE spoiled than before,,if that's possible) She is ready to go back to school and we've had to explain to her that she must wait till at least next week. That she is on Vacation with Daddy this week..lol doesn't help much to tell her that..lol Joe and I worked lasnight on finishing putting carpet in the living room. And I went back to work today. I'm soooo tired!!!!!!!! lol Maybe I should have taken a "vacation" too,,lol
Hope your all well.
~Tracye~

2008-02-25T23:27:00.003-05:00

Day 6 and already ready to go HOME!!!

2008-02-24T11:18:00.004-05:00

just a few pic's of today at Child Life

I love my Papaw!!!

2008-02-23T21:33:00.001-05:00

ready to run the halls!!!!!

2008-02-23T18:22:00.008-05:00

Thank you Aunt Sherry, Uncle Mike and DeShay'nia, for the white Bear and balloons
Feeding Daddy M&M's

Nurse Lexie giving Baby Meds

Daddy and Lexie play pool

We've had a hard time today keeping Lexie in her room and calm. She is so ready to get out of here and "PLAY!!" I'm so glad that the hospital has so many things she can do to stay busy. We are going to try to go back and paint again tomorrow. She's having so much fun up there painting and working on arts and crafts. here's just a few pic's. Some are a little bit graphic ,,I'm sorry. But the big pink is a sponge where the new ear cannel is and the other is where the fistula is. You will notice that baby has a bandaid on her ear,,lol she also has a bandage on her "IV" hand,,lol Hugs to you all!!!

She is out of surgery and we are in the room

2008-02-22T19:50:00.004-05:00

Hi all! Well I have such a good report to tell you! Not only did she come out with flying colors but the surgery was a huge success! He was able to remove the fistula and trail in one piece, she shouldn't have this ever again!!! And the ear cannel surgery went great without a problem at all. They had to do a skin graph and she will probably be real sore from that (maybe more so than the ear if you can believe that! lol here is the best news,,,,,he was able to reconstruct a new ear drum and attached it to one of the hearing bones, she may be able to get some hearing out of that side after all!!! She is up and wanting food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they keep telling me to take it slow with her,,she is taking it slow,, but how do you tell her she can't have it,,lol she's eating jello, and broth now but wanting the grilled cheese and M&M's! LOL going to hold the grilled cheese and give her just a taste now and then, if she keeps the broth down. Hug to all and THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!! They protected her and guided Dr Choo's hand.

may be longer than expected but its ok.

2008-02-22T16:50:00.001-05:00

They just called to say that she may be in longer than expected, but that all is ok. Will update more when I know more. Thanks so much for the prayers and e-cards.
Hugs!!!
Tracye & Joe

Still in Surgery

2008-02-22T16:42:00.002-05:00

Hi Gang, just wanted to update you all as to what is going on. Lexie went into surgery around 12:30 and they have called us back 2 times to update us. She went under anesthesia fine and they are in surgery with her now. All is going normal and she is breathing just fine. I should hear something back in another 15 more min or so and she should be out of surgery around 5:30 or 6. I expect to be real busy when she comes out so I probably wont be back online till later on tonight. But I'll try to get Joe to post for us. They just called will post in a bit

Painting and Daddy

2008-02-21T22:38:00.007-05:00

Just a few more pic's of the play room and one of Lexie and Daddy reading her fav book,, 5 Little Monkeys. She spent over 1/2 her time painting,,lol more like her Momma every day!! LOL

Child Life Room

2008-02-21T22:18:00.006-05:00

Surgery is on

2008-02-21T20:08:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone
Joe here, I made it in this morning and had to wait for Tracye to come down to Florence and pick me up at the truck stop while doodle took a nap, when she woke up she was glad to see me and was clinging to me all day, Dr Choo came in late this afternoon and looked at her, and said that he is going to go ahead and proceed with the surgery and is going to keep her here a couple of days longer to pump antibiotics in her and keep an eye on her. Lexie had a busy day, they went to the child life center, where she played and painted and made her very own first aid kit, Tracye will be on later to post some pics, hope all is well and shall chat with ya later. Bye for now

Joe

CT Scan, surgery still may happen

2008-02-20T17:31:00.002-05:00

Just an update. Lexie had her CT scan today and it has been a real rough day! She didn't respond to the meds like she was supposed to and got PISSED and they ended up having to give her more after it took 5 of us to hold her down. when she got up it was just as bad. They ended up letting us go to the room early cause she was wakeing the patients that were just coming out of surgery. I mean,, kicking and screaming, hitting and fighting for her life here,,, from now on they will be making her high before they give her the meds. (which is what they did in the past, made her comfy then gave it to her) once I got her to the room and it was quiet and just us one on one it took me about 15 min to calm her and she slept another 4 hours.
Dr Choo came in this afternoon and said that, the infection was just starting . I caught it just in time and she may still be able to have surgery. Dr Choo has her on antibiotics till Friday at least. Tomorrow he will decide if he is doing surgery or not. It will depend if this reacts to the meds or not. if its canceled she will have it in about 3 weeks. He will send her home Friday or Monday with 2 weeks oral antibiotics and then back in
He really seemed like he wanted to do the surgery Friday, but we will see.
Either way, we are here for a while. Room 321 building A ,if anyone wants to send her an ecard. here is the site.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Hope everyone is doing ok.
Hugs!
~Tracye~

CT scan

2008-02-20T09:04:00.004-05:00

just wanted to update, they are doing the CT scan early. YEAH!!!!!!!!!! will let you know what we find out. Hugs!

long night

2008-02-20T07:20:00.006-05:00

fistula, the little bump in front of it is all that she has of an ear, its the part that is in front of your ear cannel, she has what looks like the beginning of a ear cannel, but it doesn't go anywhere.

We made it to the hospital about 9:30 lastnight and finally got her hooked up to IV and in a room. We are in room A321. They have scheduled a CT today around noon, unless they can get her in earlier (I sure hope so, she can't eat this morning at all) They were talking lastnight that since the infection hasn't come to the surface yet, that they may lance it to relieve pressure. She is still in alot of pain. Right now she is sittin here watching Noggin and Blue's Clues. Dr Choo should be here in a bit. I'll post more later on. Hugs to all! OHHH BTW Ms Reese,, Lexie was upset today cause she can't go to school. She asked her nurse for her backpack for school, and we spent about 5 min explaining that she can't go this week, but maybe next week. LOL She loves school so much!

Lexie in hospital tonight

2008-02-19T18:52:00.002-05:00

well what we had feared has happened, the fistula is back, I'm on my way to Cinci here in a bit. I've got my Bea's laptop and I'll update everyone when I get there.
Not sure if she will have surgery now or not. , but we will be in the hospital for the rest of the week getting IV antibiotics. They already have a room ready for us and she will have a CT tonight.
Hugs!

Shriners yesterday

2008-02-19T08:20:00.002-05:00

Sorry to be posting a day late, but we went lastnight and got carpet for our living room! WOO HOO!!! No more bare floor!!!!!!! Should make a huge difference in our Elect bill (which was $419 last month!) cause our feet will now be warm! LOL
Yesterday Lexie had an apt back at Shriner's to check on the brace she wears at night. For those who don't know or can't remember why she wears it, she was born with and extra thumb (polydactally) This past fall she had surgery at Shriner's to remove it. It was such a beautiful little thummie! :) (mommy misses kissing it) Anyway, she has been having pain out of her hand when we remove the brace each morning. I thought maybe it was getting too small or something. I knew it wasn't too tight cause I can put a finger between it and her hand when its on. Well, its fine. She is just experiencing pain cause the tenens and nerves are healing. The OT showed me yesterday some exercises to do when we remove it. And she is now to wear it some during the day to help build strength in that hand. (play dough works wonders strengthen her hand) Anyway, just wanted to update you all. I talked to a lady yesterday and I'm going to start working on some things to donate to them for the babies. (quilted balls???) something with lots of color and fun to hold in their little hands.
Got to work today,, so I'll run for now. Hugs to everyone!!! And prayers for a safe happy day!

Ear Cannel Surgery

2008-02-17T22:56:00.003-05:00

Hi all,
Friday, Lexie will be going to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for the fistula and ear cannel construction surgery. We will be leaving real early that morning and meeting Vivian and Miss Sarah and family at the hospital for a little Reunion :) The girls were at the Kunshan SWI (Jiangsu) together for the first 2 years of their lives. I'm so excited to see them together once again and to FINALLY meet with Vivian and the rest of the family.
Lexie's surgery will be 5 1/2 hours long. And we were told she will be in the hospital for at least 24 hours. I expect us to be in a little bit longer, but if they do release her, we will be staying in Cincy and close to the hospital thru Sunday or Monday. I'm working on borrowing a laptop for the weekend, hopefully we will be able to update everyone during and after surgery. Anyway, please keep her in your prayers. As some of you know, she isn't supposed to have this surgery yet. They don't normally do surgery of this type till 5 years old. But Dr Choo is worried (as we are too) that the fistula could cause infection to go to her brain and cause encephalitis. He feels that her skull is strong enough at the site to go ahead with the surgery and he is not going for any hearing at all. This is just to give any future ear infection a place to go and so we can see, prevent and get treatment. Its going to be a real touchy, tricky surgery cause her facial nerve is small and runs right thru where he will be drilling into. Please also pray that he can prevent any further facial paralysis. She has just now started to be able to wink her left eye. This we thought was impossible and it seems that her left side of her face has started to waken up. We have worked daily with this playing with mirrors and making faces,, lol also using pixie sticks and a chewing tube (from therapy) and school has been working with her too. Most of her speech problems are from this and as her speech improves and she uses her mouth and face more it seems to be working muscles that have been laying dormant for who knows how long. It is our hope and prayer that this surgery will also take all the pressure off this nerve and when she wakes up we will see a change in her speech. (it has her pallet pulled at an odd angle and also the insides of her mouth and tongue are numb)
There is a link on the CCH site if anyone wants to send e-cards to her while she is in the hospital. I'll let you all know what room she is in on Friday.
Family Resource Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/alpha/f/family-resource/

Hugs to you all!!!!!!!!

~*~Tracye~*~

Music

2008-02-09T20:28:00.001-05:00

Hi Gang, you will notice I've figured out how to put music on my blog,,lol I hope you like what I have. There is a way to turn it off if you don't like a song. And please if you have a fav song that you think I will like, let me know. I'll see if I can add it too.
When I went to do this I was at a loss as to what songs to add,,and they didn't have a few that were my fav's. Lexie's watching Blue's Clues (she's becoming a TV junkie i'm afraid :(
And I'm doing some things to the blog,,, check back,, never know what I'll put on here next. lol
Hugs!

Jazzercise

2008-02-08T18:58:00.001-05:00

Tired, Sore already and ready for bed,,,, ok,, so its only 7pm,,lol We had a wonderful day today at Jazzercise. Lexie didn't want to stay in the beginning but after a few other kids got there she was ready to play. Mommy was ready too. I was so excited when I got there. Boy did that change once the music started,,lol I was LOST! And directionally Challenged! LOL But I was able to keep up with them about 98% of the time and boy did they make you sweat! LOL I love it though and ready to go back on Tuesday. (wish it was sooner but no child care on weekends) Tonight I've moved the living room around a bit so Lexie's play area is now in there. Its going to make the living room look so messy ,,but I don't care. My house isn't a show place anyway,,,we just live there..lol! Hope everyone is having a great evening. Hugs

just pic's

2008-02-08T01:43:00.001-05:00

Lexie having an eye exam for school

but Mom,,, I want to play with the fun chair!!! humm you say no,,but,,,,,,,,
Ok,, now lets see if you can come get me???

But Daddy lets me play with the pennies!!!! What do you mean I'm not supposed to be emptying the piggy
bank???

2008-02-08T01:24:00.001-05:00

Computer has been down, 2 1/2 weeks from surgery

2008-02-08T00:39:00.000-05:00

Hi all!
Sorry I haven't posted to the blog in a while, our computer has been down for a few weeks now, and I'm just now back up and running again. Lexie loves School. Actually its a fight to get her to go to Anne Louise's house to wait on the bus. She don't understand why we have to go there when she can catch it right here at the house. lol She just wants to skip that little detail. lol Joe and I are doing fine. He is still working way to hard, and gone way too much. But that is the life of a Trucker. Lexie has grown so attached to him and has to talk to him almost every day on the phone. She now crys for Daddy alot,, (especially when she is in trouble,,lol like he will save her! which I know he would,,PUSH OVER! LOL) I'm still doing weight watchers. And am actually under the 40 bmi now!!! WOOO HOOO!!! If you haven't checked out the other blog, That is where everything is about my weight loss now. Tomorrow I start Jazzercise! I can't wait.. lol I'll probably fall flat on my butt.. lol I love it cause its a great way for me to exercise, plus Lexie gets to go to the play area and play while I workout for only $1! Yep that's right,,just $1! Can't beat that at all!!!! Well its 1am and I can't sleep,,lol better try to rest,, I think I'm just excited,,lol Hugs to all!!

Home from School

2008-01-04T16:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, she is home from School now. :) Had a great day!!!! here are a few pic's.

first day of school

2008-01-04T14:31:00.000-05:00

Well, Little Ms Lexie is at school right now. Mom is sitting here bored and missing my little turkey. She didn't even miss me. Just went on playing like she's been doing this all this time. I did pretty good, only cried once I got home..lol Here are a few pic's and I'll get more when she gets home.

~*~Ladybug Lane and Family~*~

WInter Blues

New News on the way

Lost tooth

School starts tomorrow

Back to school and a new family member!

lot going on again.....

Getting ready to change Doodle's room once again,,,,,,

Art Debut

Back online! and updates!

still in Surgery

Tomorrow is the day.

Cincy appointment :)

2009 recap.. 2010 expectations (LONG!!!)

Art and other fun things

Myrtle Beach and an apology

a DUH moment

one wall done one to go, back to work

very tired!

Just a quick Update.

Happy New Year

Back from being MIA!

Happy Gotcha Day!!!!!!!!!

CIEE Halloween Party

Pamper me Party

Ready for Fall!

semi quiet again

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

finger in my ears!!

been a while

Nurse Lexie

Daddy Home again.

Rock your baby to sleep??

CAKES!

Fun at Jacobson Park

Now a family of 4

Milky

Josh's Wedding

Web Cam with Milky

Pic's of today

Anita Renfroe

19th Anniversary!

Been a while

Sign for our church

Happy Father's Day!

Just wanted to stop in and say Hi

Yo Gabba Gabba!

Strawberry Pickin and back to CCH

Strawberry Pickin!

Been a while

Prayers go out to the Stephen Curtis Chapman family

Exchange Student to be part of our next year!

Tubes, Cleaning of the new Ear Canal

may be away from the computer for a bit.

New Daycare/New Job

Post Canal Surgery update/ possible new surgery

Wed we go back to Ciciy

Ear Canal

craft blog

oops

Happy Easter

Not much going on today

Two Tigers In Chinese and Jesus Loves me

ABC's

Lexie's first music progam

Atresia/Microtia

home from post opt apt

Playing in the Snow

Thinking of China and Laminator

Back to School

Home

Day 6 and already ready to go HOME!!!

I love my Papaw!!!

ready to run the halls!!!!!

She is out of surgery and we are in the room

may be longer than expected but its ok.

Still in Surgery

Painting and Daddy

Child Life Room

Surgery is on

~~Ladybug Lane and Family~~