Yep, that's the family Christmas photo...Gabby, Steve, Duncan & me....and Kenai, if you look closely between me & the tree!!! As Steve said, "What a picture hog!" Ah...we all look pretty good.

Gabby's done with preschool till January 3rd. This weekend is a busy one--yesterday I was at church till just after midnight. I've volunteered to help run video cameras again. I've missed a few years, but I've done most Christmas services since 1991! This year Kensington has 22 services at their THREE campuses! Amazing! When I first started attending, Kensington only had about 100 people...of course, that was 16 years ago. (http://www.kensingtonchurch.org if you're interested.)

Duncan is talking lots more...and has opinions! Steve gave him the "wrong" truck to sleep with last night and Duncan "told" me all about it this morning!!! He was sitting in bed, clutching the little red car & (wrong) truck--telling me about "dis wong van, mama. Dis not gween twuck. Dis BWACK VAN." He got out to the family room, found the green truck, gave it a hug & kiss and told me, "DIS the gween twuck!" He is mesmerized by the movie, "CARS". I also discovered if you want Duncan to sit still for a story, read one about trucks! He fidgets all over the place during our "regular" bedtime stories--usually Bible stories...but for the Stuck Truck book, he was a statue!

Saturday--tomorrow--we're going to Kensington's 1 p.m. Christmas eve service with Steve's parents, Jeff, Diane & the girls. The kids are pretty GEEKED to see Alex & Shelby again. Gabby's been asking & asking to see them. Sunday, I'm on camera all day--call is 6:30 a.m. First service is 9--last service is 7...till about 8:45...should be home by about 9:15 or so. Steve's bringing Gabby to sit in the auditorium for the first service...hope she does well!! On Christmas, we'll open presents here, then my mom will come over & all 5 of us will drive to Steve's parents' house--we'll have lunch there & open gifts. At 3:45, we'll drive to my cousin, Pam's house. It's only about a 15 minute drive. Presents & dinner there and then home! I hope I last...and the kids too! Add to all this the fact that I have to bring gluten free food for Gabby...makes for some busy times!

Merry Christmas--celebrate JESUS!!! Gabby & Duncan will be singing Happy Birthday to Jesus! Hope you will too!

These pictures go with the October posting...both are from the wedding we went to in Rochester, NY. Gabby & Duncan with my cousin's ex-husband's sister's 3 adopted girls--from Korea, Veitnam and Russia.
And the 4 of us--looking pretty spiffy when we get all cleaned up!

As we gear up for Thanksgiving, we've had some "fun" in our lives...Gabby was hospitalized on the 13th with severe dehydration! Only actually IN the hospital for about 14 hours. That does not include the 6+ hours in emergency!

Duncan was SUCH a trooper that day! Steve took Duncan out to Grandma's & Grandpa's house to play while he helped Grandpa set up his new computer. Duncan ended up only having about a 1/2 hour nap on the way up & 20 minutes on the way home. THEN, without even taking Duncnan out of his carseat, we popped Gabby into hers & rushed to emergency! Got there at 6:55 p.m. Duncan & I left to come home at 1:25 a.m. Monday morning. That whole time, Duncan just quietly played with his truck & school bus on the floor. Never a peep...except when they brought a gurney for him to sleep on! He thought he would be poked like Gabby was & screamed, then whimpered when he was on it! We left Steve & Gabby waiting for an ambulance to transport them to St John's Detroit pediatric unit!!! Gabby rather enjoyed the ambulance ride--they put her in her carseat & strapped that to the gurney. She got to watch out the windows.

At the hospital, Gabby didn't get to sleep till about 5 a.m. She & Steve got to sleep for about 2-2.5 hours. Breakfast was "clear" liquids. She had not vomited since about 10:30 Sunday night but after eating about 7-8 ounces of chicken broth and Gatorade, it all reappeared in about 45 minutes! OOPS! too much! Tried again with 2 sips of Gatorade at about 10:50, it reappeared at 10:54! Gabby went back to sleep and Steve took Duncan back home for more rest. I stayed with Gabby. Gave her ice chips starting at 1--they stayed in. YIPEE! Then more & more...at 2 we were allowed to start applesauce. By 4 she was done with the cup & it all stayed in. We were discharged at about 4:20.

One of the fun parts of the hospital stay was that Gabby got a gift bag & craft stuff from "Queen for a Day" volunteers! They said she might be posted on their website: http://www.detroitqfad.com . It would be under "events" on November 13th if she gets posted! Gabby got her first Barbie doll from them--she smells like coconut sunscreen!! She went to sleep Monday night clutching her around her neck! Very cute! Also got a tiara, nail polish, lip gloss and a couple projects to do. It helped Gabby feel much better.

We don't plan to return to preschool till after Thanksgiving. Last week there were only 2 days and this week there's only 1--so not a BIG loss! Had Gabby's first parent/teacher conference last Friday & got her report card. She's doing well--especially considering her "bullying" start! She is now good friends with the boy who bit her! She hangs out with Kamisha, Alana, Miriam and Alberto. She is also starting to tell me about stuff that goes on--Like, "Mama, Savio no stay in line. Savio dance!" The good dirt! We are seeing if the school system will get a full-ring toilet seat for Gabby's room. Her little bottom goes right between the openings on the open ring seat and it scares her! (Probably pretty cold too!) We've talked to 2 secretaries, a janitor and the principal as well as Gabby's teacher. Maybe this will help!

Duncan's "classic" phrases continue to come out--on a recent shopping trip for veggies, "Broccoli do green" was quite a crack-up! As well as "Duncan do happy" and "Duncan do sad" during Gabby's hospital stays. He skips everywhere now--I'm thinking of giving him the nickname of Skippy...I'm not sure how good "Skippy Smith" would be when he gets older tho!

Thanksgiving dinner will be here--on the NEW table & chairs! Amish built & delivered...OK, delivered by friends of the Amish! The table is great--with 2 self-storing leaves. We got 4 chairs and a bench. Gabby's comandeered the bench, Duncan has a chair. The kids don't need their boosters--so they are quite happy! Turkey-Day dinner will be brined turkey (16.44 pounds), garlic mashed potatoes, wild rice stuffing, Salmon dip and a strawberry pavolva--all provided by us. And butternut squash, cran-apple-pear relish provided by Steve's parents and rolls, cut up veggies and pumpkin pie provided by my mom! Think it will feed 7 people???! I hope so!

Happy Turkey Day everyone! Blessings.....

Well, we've survived another trip across southern Canada to Rochester, NY, endured the beginnings of preschool and celebrated Gabby's 4th birthday! Oh, and lost the apple tree!

We drove to New York the Thursday after Labor Day to celebrate my grandma's 100th birthday. Grandma was pretty "perky" for being 100! She is incredible...even picked Gabby up to put her on her lap!! Granted, Gabby's only 22 pounds--but we're talking a 100 year old who doesn't do much "heavy" lifting!!! Gabby was fascinated with Great-grandma and all the old people---they had a party in the nursing home's community room. Duncan just ran around with a balloon & had a great time! The following day we went to my cousin's son's wedding. While we were there, we met up with another adoptive family--3 girls. One from Korea, one from Vietnam and one from Russia! All are in their late teens & were quite taken with Gabby and Duncan.

Preschool is FINALLY going OK! It took the other kids about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks to believe Gabby actually IS old enough to be in their class--they all thought she was a baby who somehow got "let in"! Until then, Gabby was the class bully--hitting someone every day--usually a boy! One boy bit her on the arm one day. Nice.... Gabby finally has a couple little friends, Kamisha and Lana. The first few days, when we left Gabby, Duncan would cry. Now he's fine--we come home & he goes right in for his very short nap! ("No thumb, Mama?"--we still put socks on his hands to stop the relentless thumb sucking!)

Duncan is VERY proud of himself these days--not only can he say more things, offer opinions and ask questions but he can put on & take off his new pair of shoes!!! They are slip-ons, but he's SOOOO happy to do it "all by self"! His newest word "contortion" is "Baboon" for Balloon! Yesterday he kept talking about the pink & orange "baboons" that he & Gabby got! I'm sorry, I just kept laughing as I pictured 2 monkeys bouncing around....especially one pink & one orange!

Gabby figured out what a birthday was about 2 weeks before her birthday...And she MILKED it! I wish I had a video of us singing Happy Birthday to her--she just GLOWED!!! It was so very sweet! She got more Dora dolls, a doll bed--for Dora, a Dora van, curious George monkey, some clothes and a hop-on ball. Between the Dora's and the hop-on ball, she's been quite happy! The van has caused so many arguments that I've put it away for a week!!!! It's due to come out tomorrow--we'll see how long it lasts!

The apple tree "lost its life" in late September. Between the yellow jackets comandeering the backyard and having to pick up all the rotting apples, I was just sick of the thing. 2 guys cut it down in less than 45 minutes! We had them cut a couple slabs of the trunk...maybe we'll make them into tables! They came back 3 weeks later-last Monday--& buzzed the stump into nothingness. Now we have a TON of mulch to spread on the garden. Actually, Steve has done a fantastic job of spreading it--I've wrenched my back & have not been able to move much since yesterday morning.

Oh, and YEA TIGERS!!!! Win the World Series!!!

Gabby is definately growing up & becoming more independent! But, she's still a sweet, helpful girl. I added a new chore today--helping me dust. Both kids thought it was a riot! I put an old sock on 1 hand of each kid. Then we moved all the stuff off their little play table, I sprayed & we all wiped it off. SUCH FUN!!! We moved on to the shelves under the big TV... moved everything out--I sprayed and, OH THE FUN, we got to get down on our tummies & reach to the back of the shelf to clean it all up! I've never had so much fun dusting in my entire life!

Gabby also helps put silverware away, set the table and feeds the cats their dinner. If, for some reason, I don't let her do one of these things, Gabby's rather upset. Duncan sometimes helps but most often doesn't--hey, he's only 2.5 years old! Gabby also gets paid 5 cents per bucket of apples she picks up & dumps in the yard recycle bins. Her highest has been 5 FULL buckets--we're talking sand pails here! I usually only do 10-12 per day. We have only 1 apple tree but it's MASSIVE--more than 6 feet around the trunk & has been trying to die since we bought this house 13 years ago! I'll miss the shade when it finally dies, but NOT the apples! They ARE yummy eating and cooking apples tho...no chemicals on these guys--we're too cheap and the tree is MUCH too tall!

This is the only picture I can find of the apple tree--taken just after pruning a year & a half ago. Steve said it looked like a bonsai apple tree on steroids!

It's 4th of July--at the in-law's house for the holiday--Gabby got daddy into the hammock and then got Duncan in with her too! I think she had more fun with Daddy!




















Gabby & I found a cicada (I THINK that's what it is!) crawling out of its old skin. I know, "Oh, YUCK!" but watching the bug expand and the wings expand held Gabby captive for about 40 minutes! That's Gabby with the bug--and the bug alone with fully unfurled wings!

Life after adoption

Almost the end of our 2nd summer with the kids. In some ways, I'm astonished at how quickly the time has gone by. In others, I'm surprised by how long things take!

Take Gabby's language--it's come a LONG way from last summer but she's still not anywhere NEAR speaking like an almost 4 year old! She sounds more like a 2 year old...which is what she looks like...so I guess that's not all bad! She sometimes gets QUITE a little attitude too! I PRAY she finds some nice friends at preschool this fall! She really needs someone her age to play with--not just me or Duncan. She's done very well in her gymnastics class--I'm amazed at how strong she is! She's definately stronger in her arms than MOST 3 or 4 year old girls!

Then there's Duncan--he is STILL car/truck-crazy! He's still not saying much either--but he IS putting thoughts and words together into short sentences. We are supposed to have him re-evaluated by Early-On this fall--see if he qualifies for any early intervention stuff. I think he'll be like Gabby and just "place out" of getting early help. He's starting to have "tantrums"--tho his are SO VERY MILD most people don't realize they are tantrums! He stamps his feet and whines. No great fits of yelling, screaming, hitting or kicking--just foot stamps and whining! I know what it is tho...and it means he gets a time-out or doesn't get whatever he was hoping for! Oh well...he's 2 and a half...being a normal kid...throwing a tantrum! He will learn soon enough to use his words.

Gabby did great with sticking to potty training while we were on our trip to Charlotte and Shipshewana. Only a couple accidents. Overall, the kids did well. Missing nearly EVERY nap made both cranky and whiny by the time we got home. A few days of good napping and good over-nights REALLY helped! Duncan found a hat that he loves--finally! Well, it's really a visor--but it keeps the sweat from his eyes and he WEARS it! Duncan also got some cool toys from Grandma and Grandpa--a remote control truck--that we've already disabled cuz it wasn't working anyway!, a wooden helicopter and a school bus. Of course Gabby got nice things too--but she finds Duncan's stuff SOOOO much more appealing! Especially if she can GRAB it from him & hold it so high that he can't reach it.....Oh brother...sibling rivalry!

I sure wish gas & energy prices would go DOWN...I know, NOT a realistic wish! I still wish it anyway! It's SO disheartening to put $25 worth of gas into the car & only have the tank read 1/2 full! I wouldn't mind walking places...if I could! But most of my shopping is more than a mile away--much of it is more than 10 miles. Church is 12 miles each way, good friends live from 6 to 35 miles away!! I hate to miss seeing friends, but we just can't afford the drives much of the time....UGH!

Grandma's 100th birthday is one month from tomorrow! We will be driving over to Rochester, NY on September 7th. Hope the kids do well on this little trip too! I cannot even begin to fathom all the changes grandma has seen in her lifetime! Amazing!

Just a start-up comment....God richly blessed us with Gabby & Duncan....now if I can either tone-down Gabby's "people person" needs or UP my need to be around others.....!!! Gabby is SUCH a little PEOPLE PERSON! She says HI to EVERYONE! Doesn't matter where we are, what we are doing, if others DON'T want to be noticed....Gabby's "HI!"-ing EVERY stinkin' person we see! Luckliy, even the grumpy old men seem to like her. :o)

Duncan is trying desperately to keep up with Gabby. She may be smaller but she's definately older & more coordinated! Gabby does flips on the rings...Duncan has to try! (And flop off!) Oh well, he's learning.

At adoption, Gabby was 25 months, 15.5 pounds and 28" tall. Now, Gabby is 3 years, 8.5 months, 22 pounds and 35". She has celiac disease and is being treated for inactive TB. Duncan, at adoption, was 8.5 months, 18 pounds and 25" tall. Now, he is 28 months, 28 pounds and 34.5" tall. Duncan seems to have developed allergies which have caused 2 ear infections since February. He also had to have asthma breathing treatments for a week. We are PRAYING he doesn't get Asthma!

All for now...I'll post more now that I remembered what I named this blog! Laurel