After 6 Doctors (Pediatrician, Orthopedist, 2 Radiologists, Endocrinologist and a Geneticist)...





full body x-rays, body scan, bone density study and $2000.00 worth of lab work...

I've thought about posting but I've just been busy enjoying some time off of work. I have eight days off, 6 out of 7 on (YUCK!) and then 13 off (yeah!). I still struggle constantly with whether or not my job is a right fit for me. I have looked recently just to see what is out there and there's not much. Ideally I would like a day job that required me to work < 5 days a wk and only while the kids were in school and make as much money as I do know. Does that job exist? I hope so.

John is still looking for a job. He has been working for a friend and thankfully making enough money that it still feels like he is working his old job. We are facing some decisions soon about insurance, and living expenses to cut. We will do what we have too and probably learn that we can live without those things anyway.

Weeks ago I mentioned I was doing the Great Weight Loss Challenge at work. It is going pretty well. I have found a combo that is working for me, Weight Watchers online and Couch to 5K. I have lost 10 pounds so far and want to lose at least 30 more. I don't think I will win the contest at work but it has motivated me to lose and that is most important, to be healthy.

Last night Lily woke me up at 1:30 am. The is the first time she has EVER woken us up at night so I knew something was up. She had a tummy ache. I tried numerous things and it was still hurting. After being up for an hour I felt helpless then she looked at me and asked if she could get on the floor. At this point I would have let her sleep about anywhere so I said yes. I fixed her a little spot on the floor and she laid on it. A few minutes later she said her tummy was a little bit better, bed too soft, floor is better. Within minutes she was a sleep again. I would never have thought the floor would be the trick. It made me think about how she didn't like her bed when we brought her home. It was too soft (and it really isn't that soft by our standards) and she would sleep on the floor. She did this for a while then would spend just part of the night in her bed and then move to the floor. Gradually she stayed in the bed all night and she seemed to be used to it. I was surprised last night but so relieved it gave her some comfort she needed.

Yesterday I was cleaning and throwing some of the kids school work out. I was about to throw Lily's assignment away, proud that she made a 100 on it. When I happened to turn it around I saw she had written on the back of her test ; my mom is great and sweet me daddy is funny and great. She is always thinking about us, she is so sweet and great!

Noah started soccer this past weekend so we will be out at the soccer field on Saturdays for the next few months. I just love soccer and watching him play. He took a few years off to do other things so we are glad to be back at soccer, especially in this great spring weather. I'll post pictures soon.

Soon unbelievably we will celebrate our 1 year Gotcha Anniversary with Lily. As this time approaches I want to share some from our journey for those that have joined us after Lily was home and add some more of the stuff I didn't have time to talk about or didn't want to on our memory blog at My Adoption Website. At this time last year we were desperately waiting on our TA still, we waited a long time and then were delayed for the big fair in Guangzhou and I was so scared the swine flu would delay us. It had just started and had not been found in China yet as we were to travel so I was worried China would stop families from coming to adopt for a while. Thankfully they didn't!

I missed last months update but a new one is up over at Lily's site. Just click on her picture to the left and it will take you there...

Lily and Wyatt have found a way to melt my heart and put there new found love of writing to good use...notes to mom.



Wyatt's usually go something like this..



mom you r supr and great and wow and awesome and cool ( he'll have no trouble learning txting will he?)



Some days I may get 5 or more in a day from him.



Lily doesn't want to be shown up so she has upped the ante a bit but because she doesn't know enough words she copies things she thinks would be appropriate for a note to me. Some things make sense and some are down right funny. Either way these notes are so special and I have saved everyone (almost). One recently I rec'd went like this...

I love you mommy
Vermont and Texas and Indiana and Nevada
and Idaho and Pennsylvania and Nebraska and Florida
and Ohio and Delaware Georgia California Kansas Utah
Sweet

Yep, she copied names of states in my love note. It gave me such a great laugh (not in front of her of course)

More often though she will use things she copies that make sense like a shirt she has that says; My Mom Rocks, she knows what that means.

This is my favorite part of kids learning to read and write. Precious and Priceless.

I have to write this now before I forget....

Lily came home today from school with a letter. At her school they have a in-school post office. You can write letters to kids from other classes and they receive them in the 'mail'. Lily's letter was from a little boy who lives in our neighborhood. It said, You are my best frind, I love you. I couldn't resist teasing her and saying, "Lily has a boyfriend" to which she abruptly replied, "NOOOOO"! This apparently has sparked a little curiosity. A conversation we had later proves that...

L- Mommy have a boyfriend?
M- No, Mommy has a husband.
L-No.
M- Yes, I do. Your daddy is my husband.
L- No.
M-Do you know what a husband is?
L-No.
M-( I then explain how mommy met daddy and we feel in love and got married and now we are husband and wife)
L-Fall in Love? (to which she acts out falling to the floor)
M- Laughing I say not really falling. We just loved each other.
L-You and daddy kissing?
M-yeah, momma and daddy kiss
She ponders that thought for a minute and then we regress...
L-Mommy have a boyfriend?

Maybe she means have I ever had a boyfriend other than daddy, who knows? She is not the least bit interested in boys, yet. I am thankful for that.

I have thought about posting many times since the 15th but I have just not really felt like it. It usually starts off with working and that gets me behind. Right now I am towards the end of 7 days off and it has been so nice. I figured if I just had about 21 more I would be caught up completely!

John has had several more job interviews and we are hoping at least one will end in a job soon. It is not just the not having a job thing that is growing tiresome. It is the constant search and John having to put together these overly complex interview packets. I am so glad I do not have to do all that just to get a job. For one job he even had to write an essay, oh boy, that was stressful for him. We are just so ready for this part to be over.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about this time last year when we were anxiously awaiting our Travel Approval to go to China. I thought it would never come, we had just one set back after another. Now here we are celebrating 10 months home. Lily recently had her first illness since coming home. She had strep throat recently but quickly recovered. She is so strong. I have a few posts in my mind about her that I will hopefully share soon.

Winter is still holding strong here in the South, we even saw a few snowflakes this morning. I am excited though because I saw that it should be sunny and 70 on Sunday, yeah! We may have to celebrate with a picnic. I can't wait for warm Spring days, can't you?

What can else can I say my daughter is sitting here with her head on my shoulder staring up at me and says, "you pretty mama". Life is Good.