I would have posted sooner but I had to wait and tackle the whole memory issue on my computer which I finally did today. John and I celebrated our 15th Wedding Anniversary July 8. Since I was working this year I decided to surprise John and secretly plan a cruise. I booked the cruise all by myself and didn't breath a word of it. After keeping it a secret for several months I blew it. We were standing in the closet one day and I showed John a dress I had just bought and then said "won't this look cute on our cruise". His eyes grew big and he said "we're going on a cruise?". Yes dear we are. So my hint about the view from my treadmill changing was about the cruise only I never made it to the treadmill because we were too busy doing other things. But if I had made it, it would have looked something like this:One of the best parts of a trip like this is how John truly loosens up and becomes that person I remember long before we had the responsibilities of our life today. I really enjoyed spending time with that side of John. Our ship looked a little something like this.

Has this ever happened to you?

You remember you need to get something out of your car so you grab your keys and head to the door.

As you walk through the Laundry room you remember that a load of laundry needs to be moved from the washer to the dryer so you do it.

Then you see a wet bathing suit that you child left out so you hang it up.

Next you see that someone got the battery box out and opened up a new pack of batteries leaving the trash everywhere so you pick up the trash and walk to the kitchen to throw it away.

When you get to the kitchen to throw it away you see the rest of your lunch you forgot you hadn't eaten so you stand up in the kitchen and try to finish it.

Then your child yells from upstairs "can somebody come wipe me?". You run upstairs and take care of that.

Once upstairs you see that the bathroom is a mess with toothpaste all over so you decide to clean the bathroom. Once satisfied you head back downstairs throw away the rest of your lunch you really don't want anymore.

The phone rings and you talk to such and such for a while.

When you get off the phone you have a sense that there was something you forgot to do.

Oh yeah, I was heading to the car to get my calendar (45 min. ago!).

On the way to the car through the laundry room you notice the dryer is done.........


This is why I feel like I never actually accomplish anything.

I have coined this problem I have as MIADD: Mommy Induced Attention Deficient Disorder.
It's what happens when you are in charge of not only your stuff but the house, your husband and your kids and for me that is a lot. Unfortunately there is only one cure and it just won't work for me. I'd like to keep all the little reasons this happens around, at least for 2o or so more years....

June 15th Wyatt will celebrate his 5th Birthday. Wyatt was the third boy in our family and God made him with such a special personality. Wyatt is also affectionately called Bobo by friends and family though the nickname is gradually falling away. Lately I have tried to call him Bobo more, I never want to forget how everyone would call him Bobo all the time. I can still see vivid memories of him running at church with his hair flapping up and down and his little friends calling his name. Not Wyatt but Bobo. Here are some of my favorite pictures of Wyatt that helps to tell his story.

She invited her family that could be here to join in the party.

And wanted a cake with her picture on it. The picture she chose is my favorite of her in China. It is one of the photos taken of her on the red couch.

To make the day really special family members were asked to write a letter to Lily and we would place it in her memory box. The letters were very touching and will be special to her forever. Right now she sleeps with them under her pillow.

It was a wonderful day to remember how one little girl has changed so many lives.

Seriously sorry for not posting for sooooo long. I have wanted to but am having issues with my computer memory and can't download pictures and what I want to post just needs pictures! I am not very good with technology so even though I bought an external hard drive and supposedly saved all my pictures to it I am scared to death to delete them! I am someone who is known to just buy new memory cards instead of deleting pictures because I am so scared of losing my pictures, silly isn't it?

but quickly....

John started his new job, reluctantly. He still tried to convince me he didn't need to work as I was dropping him off at the airport for his first day. Turns out he really likes the company and is grateful for the steady income of a good job. He feels that he is representing a good product and can really make a difference!

School is wrapping up, we have 3 days left. Two are just half days full of fun so really they have nothing left. This year has gone well, next year some of the O'Cain Crew may just stay home and be homeschooled, stay tuned on that one!

My last full time night at work is Jun 11th. I am grateful to be going part time after that working just a few nights on each schedule. I am excited about spending the summer with the kids. Even though we aren't going on a family vacation this year we have a lot of ideas to make the summer fun. John and I are celebrating our 15th Anniversary this year and I have a little secret trip planned for John and I. I cannot wait for that! It has been three years since we have had a vacation with just the two of us!

and soon I will have pictures, when I have the time or guts to deal with it!

One year ago today I nervously stood in a Chinese Government building and met my daughter for the first time. This past year has been an incredible experience. Lily is such a blessing to everyone who knows her and she has changed our lives.

Here is a little montage to celebrate our 1 year anniversary.

i know many adoptive families follow a blog called The Journey. I have mentioned it before and honestly it is an amazing young woman and an amazing story she tells. i just checked her blog and you must read her current post and you must go to 147millionorphans and buy one of the Ugandan necklaces. I am and you just must. if you can read that post and not feel like you should buy a necklace (even if you never wear it) i would be surprised. they would even make a special Mother's day gift.please go check it out.

Kickball is a favorite with kids around here. One child of mine takes it very seriously. He even got in a fight at school over kickball and a classmate threw him to the ground. Lately we've been having some good fun playing kickball at home. The only problem...that same child forgets he's playing with preschoolers and has a not so athletic little sister. But we are still having fun. Here are some pictures from a recent game.





Mason running to base, something he forgets and has to be reminded to do or he'll just stand there.



Does this child look like he is serious about playing some kickball?

Tonight the kids and I were sitting around the sun room and Mason asks me, "mom, how do you spell Jesus?". Lily speaks up and says, "I know, I know, G-O-D". I couldn't help but chuckle and I didn't bother to correct her. I thought it was a cool answer.

Well you could probably tell I just haven't had time or felt too much like blogging lately. I have been busy and a lot has happened so I'll play catch up and then try to blog a little more often ? (notice the question mark)


First and most importantly John has a new job! I am thrilled but he is sort of sad to see his freedom taken away. He did try to convince me he didn't need a job and could just retire but I say, not yet honey maybe in 5 or 10 years! It is a great job and he will be doing the same thing he did before in the same territory so that makes things easier!

I have been working so hard to get Lily's scrapbook done for her One Year Gotcha Anniversary. I cannot believe I put if off so much that I have had to spend time almost everyday for the last week or so to get it done. In the past I have always done paper scrapbooks but this will be a digital one. It is pretty easy but I just keep messing with it trying to get it just right. I think I will be ready to order it tomorrow. We are going to have a little celebration on May 8th for the one year anniversary. Just a little family, Chinese food, cake and a scrapbook. Making the scrapbook has been so fun. I have loved reliving the trip to China, I would love to do it again.It has been a wonderful journey.

The pool opens May 1st and if my kids ask me one more time if they can go swimming on May 1st I am gonna SCREAM! I am going to let them and I don't care if the water is 55 degrees, which is probably what it is with such cool temps we've been having. I'm not complaining though because in the South we usually skip Spring and just hop right on to Summer so I am actually enjoying the fact that I can still wear jeans and a light jacket and not sweat.

That's all for now...

these words are very powerful.

I have gained 47 pounds in the last 11 months.



It comes in the form of a little 4 ft Chinese girl named Lily.



She needs to be with me always. Helping, asking questions, trying to understand this new world she is a part of.

Nearly always she is within arms reach and often she gets an elbow or a toe stepped 0n by accident, she stays so close.

She is extremely affectionate with me; hugs and kisses and love notes everyday.

It sometimes drives her daddy crazy that she needs me so much (and a little jealous). But I explain, we have a lot of making up to do. We missed the first 7 years together. This is what I tell myself when I am growing tired of all the attention she gives me.

I am trying to lose weight .........

but not this 47 pounds, these pounds I'm keeping!

Unless you are new to my blog or have your head stuck under a rock then you know I care a lot about orphans. The process of adopting Lily made me more aware of their plight and made me want to do something to make a difference (since John said to me once, Jennifer, you can't adopt them all you have to find something to do to help). Well a few months ago Stefanie at Ni Hao Ya'll sent out a plea for volunteers to help with An Orphans Wish. I jumped at the chance to do something, even if it is small. I am going to be volunteering by helping to write reports on the children who have sponsors...

and while I'm talking about Sponsors, won't you sponsor a child? You can help provide life changing care to some of China's most vulnerable children. You see the children of An Orphans Wish are not just orphans they have special needs that require some type of special care, maybe surgery or just special equipment or therapy.

Recently I had a unused membership run out. I thought I didn't have the money to sponsor a child but then remembered this was running out and jumped at the chance to sponsor Lilly over at An Orphans Wish. She is just precious and has clubfeet. An Orphans Wish will make sure she gets the care she needs. And for just $1 a day I can help make the difference in the life of a child.

Hop on over there to see how you can help, you can even make just a one time donation.

No need to take the time to post about our trip to our friends pond for the day...

just check out their blog here to see.

Highlights of the day.

*Noah caught 4 fish in the first 45 min. and then no more. Nobody else caught any.
*Sharon can grill some mean hot dogs, they were delicious!
*We saw a camper that had three bunk beds, really cool. We had never seen that before.
*Lily is dangerous with a fish hook. She made me nervous all day with it. I finally took it away when she got it stuck in Mason's shoe.
*Thanks to Marty for getting the fishing lines out of the trees a thousand times!

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.

I don't know why I haven't thought of this before now but I took Lily to an Asian Market today. Last night at the New Year Party they had some shredded dried squid (sounds yummy doesn't it?) and Lily loved it. I found out it came from a little market not too far from our house so I told Lily I would take her soon. She bugged me all day today so I took her when I had to pick up Noah from church. She was so excited. She laughed and ran around the store picking stuff up saying " in China I had that" and "it's yummy". I let her get most of what she wanted and ended up with some pretty interesting stuff. On the way home she had a few jelly sticks, some cookies you dip in icing, some corn snacks and a sesame candy. As soon as we got in the door she started in on the dried sardines, shredded squid, spicy crunchy radish and topped it off with a green bean Popsicle (I am not kidding). Next she started fixing her school lunch. Filling it with all her goodies including some chrysanthemum tea, strawberry panda cookies and some more squid and radish. I have not seen her this excited in a long time. I don't know why I waited so long to take her there but I sure am glad I did.