Missed Week

Deciding where in the park to go first

She loved this slide so much she said NO to food in order to keep sliding ... can you believe she said no to food... I should have had that on video... there is always next time.

I like to swing now, I used to hate it but I do Love the other swing better.

I love when mommy comes down the slide with me... Hey is that a smile and laughing with Mommy????

My favorite swing... can you tell???

I can swing here all day....ahhhh!!!

I cant forget my boys... see how much they hate each other... both about the same weight and size now...it wont be long before Jake towers over Louie. (Louie is almost 2 years and Jake is just 7 months)

Playing in the kitchen while waiting for the boys to finish eatting... more smiles and laughs with mommy

I see you!!!!

My Raggedy Ann look

Bet you did not know those veggies came with a chef hat, did you?????

I missed last week but things were pretty slow here and I posted late the week before so I thought maybe no one would catch it. Of course, I was found out and questioned, thanks for noticing. In the days that have passed we have gone to the park played around the house and have just been trying to have some fun. Just when I thought the weather was getting better the rain came back. So far today, the rain is gone but the ground remains wet. By the time the ground drys I believe we are in for rain again come Tuesday or Wednesday if not it will be Sunday unless they changed the weather again and we all know they never do that. One day, maybe, I will become a weather person so I can get paid the big bucks to be wrong day in and day out. St Patrick's Day is on the way and G and I are going to go out and eat at our usual St Patty's Day place for some good Ole' Corn Beef and Cabbage. This also means a day of fun for Ms. Mikayla as she gets to play with Aunt Ellen while we are gone I know they will have fun. I will also leave camera available so I am sure we will have some kind of photos to share of the fun. It might only be an hour or so of fun but fun I am sure it will be. Well I guess that is all I have for now. Enjoy the pics and dont forget about the video :) I will catch you next week.

Just Enjoying The Nice Weather!

Louie: Jake is such a couch hog...

Louie: Jake is such a pain in my neck...

Mikayla and one of her bodyguards hanging out

I own this place!!!

Getting ready to drive off road...

I think they thought it was a Soccer Ball not a Basketball...

Some of the puppets in the show... the puppets seemed to get bigger and bigger as the show went on...

I am sorry the pics are not real bright or clear as they did not allow flash and these were the best I could get...

Another large puppet from the show

The giant rat that was once small but grew hugh with the magic cloak on his back... (see the video at the end of the post)

Mikayla and me... she never smiles in pictures with me cause I always make her pose where Daddy always is playing... (that's my excuse any way and I am sticking to it)

Ta-Da... I threw the hat and caught it on my own head... Ta Da

Dad: I am going to make you a TomBoy yet...

I love my Daddy!!!

That's right I have neglected the blog due to nice weather. It has been so nice out I just wanted to get everyone outside and enjoying some of the beautiful sun and warmer (high 40's and 50) weather. Its been so cold and we have all been so couped up in the house we needed some fresh air. Mikayla and the boys really enjoyed every minute. We did go to the Chinese New Year Party which was fun for all of us. They had some really good all you can eat Chinese food of course with a Puppet Show, craft room for the kids, crafts made by kids for sale and silent auction for a charity group and a play room. There were over 300 in attendance and Mikayla played with several of the older girls (around 7 years old). There were several teen girls wanting to take pictures with their phones with Mikayla, as they put it "cause she is so cute". Everyone thought Mikayla was such a doll. She was, I think, the youngest one there other than some 4 year old kids and then on up to teens. Other than the party Mikayla has played outside and been to the Doctors. She drove her car up and down the driveway hill and we walked all the way around the block. At the doctors she had a normal check up since we had a new doc and she also had two vials of blood taken for Lead testing and to check her Blood Counts along with a TB shot. She was a trooper she cry just for a minute for the vials and not much at all for the TB and that nurse was not even a good one. The docs for the vials could not find a vein and all she had was a little red mark but the TB nurse left her black and blue. She passed the TB test no problem and we have not heard about the blood test which is good as no news is good news they tell us. Then she also had some fun inside getting dizzy with dad it did not take much for dad of course since he is that way most of the time anyway :) I have attached 3 videos one that started the puppet show with Marco Polo, the next is the end of one of the stories and last but not least a video of Mikayla and Daddy spinning and spinning. I hope they work for everyone...

Marco Polo


The magic cloak

Forever Spinning

Another Trying Week

I am still taking care of my baby boy, Jake. He has had his stitches out and bandages off but has had to keep his wonderful lamp shade on for another week while we put peroxide on his feet every night and keep him from licking and chewing on them. Now he has tummy issues and I have been having to cook him rice and hamburger every day until Friday. I was supposed to pick up a script for him today but did not make it in time before the doctor closed so I will have to go tomorrow. We hope by Friday he will be back to normal and not have to visit the doctor again. In the meantime, Mikayla had her first visit with Parents as Teachers which went really well. Mikayla was not shy at all she took to Charlene like she had known her for years. I am sure her baggy of goodies had nothing to do with it. Charlene let us know she was extremely impressed with her as she is not just on track but doing things that are usually achieved the 3 and 4 year age and Mikayla is not even 2. Needless to say mommy and daddy are very proud of our growing little girl. Mikayla liked Charlene so much she wanted Charlene to stay and tried to keep a hold of her goody bag. With a hug and kiss Charlene was able to escape but will be back to visit again in April. Our next venture will be Sunday when we celebrate the Chinese New Year with the FCC (Families with Children from China is a network of parent support groups in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom) so come back soon to check those pics out as I am sure there will be plenty.

So Sorry!!!

What are you looking at???

I can not wait to get this thing off my head!

I must apologize for not posting last week and not having much for you this week. We did have our second post placement visit that went well. We discussed #2 but that is still in the talking stage. Not sure where we will go or can go. We hope to start something soon if we are going to do anything at all and if we can do anything with all the stipulations all the agencies have. We did have to reschedule Mikayla's doctor appointment along with an appointment of mine due to snow. Jake did have his surgery and I have to say that has kept me more occupied then I expected especially with the snow. It has been a big challenge keeping up with Mikayla along with the boys. I have had to keep an extremely close eye on Jake and his sutures. We have been pretty much home bound since his surgery. Jake is a very challenging boy. He has ripped open his bandages at least 5 times and that is all while wearing his most stylish lamp shade and being on Ace which should come close to knocking him out if not doing so. I have had to put booties on him to go out every time to make sure he does not get his feet wet. With the snow so deep the boots did not work too well so I also had to carry his over 40 lbs to an area with snow low enough for him to walk so he can relieve himself. Needless to say we are all looking forward to the peace and calm we hope will come when his bandages come off, his stitches are out and he is completely healed and the weather will no longer matter. Mikayla has been a big help in keeping an eye on Jake letting me know he is messing with his bandages when I am too busy to notice but I know she will love to have more attention back on her. Hopefully next week I will have more for you as we will have our first meeting with Parents as Teachers to evaluate Mikayla's progress and her doctors appointment. Until then take care, be safe and stay warm.

Now I Am So Far Behind--Yet Caught Up

Just one of those good pics

I can play and laugh all day here

I love my family

I am not too keen on sitting here

Wanting to be held by this uncle after just meeting this him for a few minutes in Diary Queen

Did I tell you I love my family??

This is my Grandma, I love when she holds me!

Relaxing Mommy after a long day

The Cookie Bribe give me more and I continue to sit here

My best bud, Lila and me. We aren't smiling as she is getting ready to go home, :(

Fun at Applebee's

I will do anything for Apple Sauce

Bathing Beauties

Lila's Mommy reads me my new book

We like this toy and love it in the pool

Louie: Can you tell me where Jake is????

Staying Toasty

Our Friend Bill's which would have won 1st prize hands down but the guy he had helping lift, etc put the blue gel in the ball which is not allowed so Bill was disqualified.... it was a sad, upsetting time for Bill and friends.

I think this one speaks for itself although you can't see the pig detail well in the pic

Ride the Dragon

Bar not sure of the actual name

Winged Victory

Tractor Tipping

Spartan Warrior

Spectators where animals look like owners :)

Avatar

Sea Creature

8 Seconds

Blockhead Football

I forgot the name of this one

Last week we visited the in-laws. Mikayla got to meet lots of family. She even got to meet one of her China travel buds, Lila. I think Mikayla had a blast all week with everyone. I know she slept well every night except the first night which I did not do well with either which was expected. Then of course there was the end of the week, finishing off with the Ice Sculpture Competition with our Bud, Bill and the rest of the Master Carvers. With family, there were the ones she loved, the ones she was unsure of and the ones she just could not get enough of. With her friend Lila they were like two peas in a pod. They were like old/new best friends. They always had to be holding hands and playing together. I am not sure about Lila but I know Mikayla was sad to see Lila go. They were so good together that we are so seriously thinking of visiting for Lila and Grace's Birthday Bash in May and getting together more often. There was so much going on I tried to post some of the really good pics but there were so many it was so hard to choose. I am going to try to also attach a video or two. Last time it did not work so well. We will see how it goes this time if it does not work no worries there are tons of pics to view. Enjoy everyone!!! This week we will be having another doctors appointment for Mikayla and our 2nd post placement visit along with an up coming appointment with Parents as Teachers (just to see what they have to say). I will let you know how that all goes. Coming soon she will have her friends birthday party and New Years to celebrate on the 14th. There will also be Jake's surgery (neutering) and other appointments that Mommy and Daddy need to attend to. I know we will be busy but not sure how much will be blog worthy or if there will be pics to share. No worries I am here and will keep you up to date no matter how the ball rolls. Take Care. PS I think I got the videos to work this time .

Sharing is Always Good

Penquin Toss with Grandma with did this over and over with big Belly laughs