May 10, 2012
11:04 PM | 
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
Two moms, two hearts breaking, for one little girl.
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Meet Mei Mei
I met my friend Jan several years ago. Jan has a big HUGE
heart for orphans, something we are both passionate about.
Jan and her husband brought home, Leiney Grace, their 8th child this past February, their 4th adoption from China.
Jan learned of their new daughters best friend who desperately needs a family and medical attention but she is still waiting.
Waiting on a special needs list WAY.TOO.LONG!! Waiting for over a year.
While Jan and I would bring precious Mei Mei home in a heartbeat our DH's are RH's.
So one day while talking, Jan and I decided to start raising money NOW for Mei Mei's adoption so that whenever a family steps up and says YES, we will have a grant to offer.
Mei Mei has a pretty significant need, skip on over to Jan's blog to learn more about her need and to hear more of her story.
We believe that the main obstacle often keeping families from adopting is finances. We will having many fundraisers for Mei Mei, please support us if you can. She is worth it.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation towards Mei's Mei's adoption please go to
in the paypal comments section designate your donation for Mei's Mei's adoption.
And please share her story with everyone.
"Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such
sacrifices are very pleasing to God." Hebrews
13:16
May 7, 2012
1:21 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
I took this picture on the morning of Ellery's birthday.
I was so excited and wanted to capture the day in pictures.
Ellery had other ideas.
On any given day her spunk, joy and personality are hard to
capture in a picture but on a day she doesn't want
her picture taken it is almost impossible.
Luckily once and a while I luck up and get a great picture of her.
This was not to be the day.
I took dozens and dozens of shots and did not come up with one
good picture.
I did come up with a picture that was fun to edit and captures one side of my daughters personality.
She probably wasn't fussed over too much in China but here she is being fussed over
constantly. Everyone that meets her is captivated by her sweetness and cute personality.
She takes it all in stride but honestly there are times that she just doesn't understand, or want the attention or know how to handle it.
This morning was one of those days.
I shoot with a Canon, used a 50mm 1:1.8 lens. Edited in lightroom but not really sure what I did.
I am a total beginner!
April 27, 2012
8:27 AM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
One year ago today our Dossier was logged in to China.
As happy as we were to be logged in we had no idea that the little girl we would be matched with exactly one month later was also celebrating her 2nd Birthday on that day.
Today we celebrate the beautiful blessing we met in China 5 months ago.
Happy Birthday Ellery!
You are so loved.
April 22, 2012
3:26 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
The O'Cain Crew is going private so if you want to keep following along just send your email address to theocaincrew@aol.com and I will add you when I go private. I know there are still a few people out there that read our blog and many people rely on it to keep up with our family in between visits. Don't be shy just put in the subject header blog privacy and I will know what to do. I have regretted over the years not requesting to follow blogs going private and honestly sometimes I hate when they do but like them we all have our reasons and for now this is what we are doing. I will probably do it pretty soon so don't procrastinate.
In the meantime we are preparing for a very special event in our house this week, stay tuned.....
In the meantime we are preparing for a very special event in our house this week, stay tuned.....
March 28, 2012
2:05 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
Ellery has settled in very nicely into her family. She is changing by leaps and bounds everyday and we are loving her stinkin' cute personality!!
She has learned so much English that we are amazed. Unfortunately we still cannot understand a lot
of what she says because she mixes English, Chinese and things we just cannot understand.
Her singing voice is so precious and she has learned several songs.
Recently I started singing Jesus Loves Me to her at bedtime.
Previously we had been singing Twinkle Little Star, her favorite.
Within a few nights I heard her singing parts of it around the house. She has started tapping my chin when we are rocking to communicate to me to stop or start singing or even to change songs.
This is her singing her rendition of Happy Birthday. You can recognize the tune but not the words so much. We haven't really sung this so I am guessing she became familiar with it in China.
Maybe that is where she picked up the cheek motions?
Anyway it is good practice since we will be celebrating her 3RD Birthday on her 5 Month Gotcha Anniversary! I cannot wait to celebrate her special day with her!
She has also become the Blessing police around here.
She never lets us forget to bless our food. Even today we were eating something in the car and she clasped her little hands together and asked me to say the blessing. Be.still.my.heart! How precious is she? And she would may never have known about how Jesus Loves Her, God or prayer had she stayed in China.
So grateful we again answered the call to adopt.
Ellery is very strong willed and independent. No doubt this may be as a result of spending time in an orphanage. Not only learning to do things on her own because she had no choice but also being taught to do things on her own out of necessity by those caring for her. This translates into many wonderful things for her and us but it also translates into stubbornness, disobedience, fighting (among siblings), tantrums and confusion. Confusion possibly from learning it was OK in China but not OK here. Overall, we just handle things the best we can and try to kindly teach her a different way to do things and that it is OK for people to do things for you.
I must be in charge of the hose.
I must be in charge of Wyatt's water gun.
And if I'm not....
Of course I have been a mom long enough to know. Much of this is just normal 2 yr old stuff.
And there are many more times of this...
and this...Eating Jelly right out of the jar. Silly girl.
(it was the bottom of the jar and I allowed her this little pleasure)
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and this...Painting at the Children's Museum.
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and this...Relaxing outside.
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and this...My first catch!
March 25, 2012
10:17 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
I guess it's pretty apparent time for blogging is not something I have much of these days! I stay quite busy and haven't felt much like posting. It doesn't help when your DH is gone a week, it does make life interesting. Many nights I hit the sack completely worn out. I am sleeping a little better than I have in a while so I guess there is a bonus.
The kids are doing great and we all have a little spring fever!
Our temps have steadily been in the 80's which is awesome, flowers are all blooming and most importantly the dead grass they have been tracking through the house for months is being replaced with beautiful green grass. We haven't had Spring Break yet and that is what is keeping us going at this point. We are heading out for our first camping trip as a family of 8 and to make it even more fun we are camping with another family from church. They have all girls and their youngest is just one day older (or younger?) than Ellery. I know we are going to have a great time I just hope I can talk some of the boys into sleeping in a tent so we can spread out in the camper. Maybe investing in some good cots will help (crazy because the two oldest are Boy Scouts!)
Here are a few pics...we are due for a 4 month update in just 2 days...seriously??? Where does the time go? I'll save some of my favorites for that and hopefully I can get around to it on time.
The kids are doing great and we all have a little spring fever!
Our temps have steadily been in the 80's which is awesome, flowers are all blooming and most importantly the dead grass they have been tracking through the house for months is being replaced with beautiful green grass. We haven't had Spring Break yet and that is what is keeping us going at this point. We are heading out for our first camping trip as a family of 8 and to make it even more fun we are camping with another family from church. They have all girls and their youngest is just one day older (or younger?) than Ellery. I know we are going to have a great time I just hope I can talk some of the boys into sleeping in a tent so we can spread out in the camper. Maybe investing in some good cots will help (crazy because the two oldest are Boy Scouts!)
Here are a few pics...we are due for a 4 month update in just 2 days...seriously??? Where does the time go? I'll save some of my favorites for that and hopefully I can get around to it on time.
This girl is most willing subject, she loves to have her picture taken
Cookie Time. Ellery will often put on clothes or PJ's on top of her clothes probably due to her being used to the practice in China, it makes for some interesting outfits.
SISTERS!!
Not a day doesn't go by that I don't say to myself, "I cannot believe this precious
child is mine". So incredibly grateful for her.
And for every picture I take of her she made me take one of this dog. Silly girl.
After I took the picture she would say, "I won see, I won see" and looks at the screen.
I just ordered a awesome chore board from Etsy and went ahead and added Ellery's name.
This week she is setting the table and clearing it. Isn't she doing a grand job?
Hitching a ride around the yard with Mason.
And lastly our Hobo fort in the woods next to our house. Just another reason I am happy for spring.
Foliage will finally cover this eyesore again. This is just a small part of the compound.
March 1, 2012
9:57 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
Time is just flying by and our three months with Ellery slipped up on me. She is doing so great and we are loving her so much!
This is what three months of bonding, extra nutrients, no haircut's and unconditional love looks like.
Wow, what a difference three months has made.
Ellery is still a mommy's girl but daddy is ok too. When I am at work sometimes she gets to spend special time with daddy and when I am not around she gives him hugs and sugar and is his little pal.
When I am around not so much. It is so special though when once and a while she surprises him and searches him out for something or surprises him with a hug or kiss.
Ellery is all about babies. She loves her babies and I am actually having so much fun playing with them too. Lily never really went through a doll stage too much so this is my first. She is just so cute with them. She loves to push them in their strollers, they go pee pee on the potty, and she kisses each one nite nite and puts them to bed before she goes to bed. She sleep with one special baby that was Lily's and is her very favorite one.
Her language has blossomed so much I have lost track of everything she can say. She is putting several words together and her comprehension is great. Her sweet little voice is one of my favorite things about her. It just melts my heart. Of course unless she is whining which she can do a lot of, especially if I am trying to run errands.
and lastly 10 random things about our girl
1. She prefers to wear a diaper even though she is potty trained. She will get mad at me sometimes if I try to put underwear on her. She just likes diapers.
2.She can count to 3!
3.She has discovered the shower and now prefers it to the bath. I cannot even remember the last time she took a bath.
4. She loves to eat mushrooms.
5. She loves cereal with milk.
6. She likes to help with chores like emptying the dishwasher or sweeping.
7. She loves to sing.
8. She loves to play on the see saw in our backyard and will laugh and laugh when the big kids get on it with her.
9. Anytime any part of her gets hurt mommy must kiss it to make it better. Sometimes one spot will have to get many kisses before it is better.
10. She doesn't like any Chinese Food that we have tried except spring rolls.
Playing in her kitchen.
She wanted to climb the pole at the airport.
Meeting her new friend John at the airport, home from China February 9th.
Helping big sister with her homework.
9:33 PM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
The kids recently had a long weekend and we spent one day at the zoo with my sister in law and her 3 kiddos. As always we have fun anytime we are together. The battery died in my camera so not too many pictures. We are so fortunate to live near one of the top zoo's in the country. There are so many fun extra things to do at our zoo by the time we got around to seeing animals it was so packed we gave up and left. Fortunately we are members and can go back anytime.
Noah is on the new ropes course. I could never do it because of my fear of heights (well maybe the first level). But Noah, Sellers and Evan went all the way to the top. Very Brave!!
Today the boys dug there old Roller Coaster out from under the house. We knew Ellery would love it because she is a bit of a thrill seeker. It took no time for her to fall in Love and did it over and over and over again. They even got creative and added two bike ramps to it for a longer ride.
It provided plenty of laughter and thrills for this crew today.
February 14, 2012
1:00 AM |
Posted by
Jennifer O'Cain
My Valentine's
Noah: Lover of drums. Drums on everything.
I find that really annoying.
Already dreaming about his first car truck.
Recently saw Courageous and said, "mom we have to
buy that movie, it is the best movie I have ever seen".
Recently quoted our preacher on his FB status by
saying: Live your life so your preacher doesn't have to
lie about you at your funeral. Sermon was on integrity and I
am glad to know he was listening.
Mason: Homebody, cartoon watcher, milk drinker.
Mason is famous around here for saying, " Can somebody
get me some milk and turn on cartoons?"
Luckily he has about 5 more months before he starts
Kindergarten because this boy is not all about school and
getting him to preschool a few days a week is hard.
He prefers sleeping in and lounging around all day.
Wyatt: I chose this picture because it fits him perfectly.
He nearly always has a football in his hand.
Loves football and pretty much any sport.
Writer, my pen-pal and our BoBo.
A tough kid on the outside and a tenderhearted
sweet child on the inside.
My newest Valentine, Ellery: Full of personality, she makes everyone laugh.
Loves her babies and loves, loves, loves taking a bath.
Picky eater, pediasure lover, Nite nite kisser and good morning hugger.
She is a doll and we are over the moon for her.
Sellers: Star Wars and Harry Potter freak. Class clown, math hater and social studies whiz.
Loves to play and learning to love sports.
Will eat anything and compliments my cooking.
Beats to his own drum that we sometimes do not understand.
He sums it up as he just doesn't think like other people.
Hope one day that thinking will do great things!!
Lily: Attached to my hip. Crafter, Knitter and card maker.
She has to be surrounded by people and loves to talk and laugh.
Kind, sweet and the most thoughtful child I know.
Loves to try new things and loves her family.
and of course my Valentine for the last 19 years.
Wow, typing 19 seems really long, honey we are getting old.
Happy Valentine's Day to my Loves!!
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Our Daughter Lily
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