Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25
9.09.2009
9.02.2009
Busy August
August was quite busy around here.Doctor's appointments for everybody, Alexis surgery, John started school. Now we have a high school student in the house and a toddler; and it's working just fine. It is a challenge for my son to play the piano but I'm getting a four hands concert everyday.
Alexis got her Citizenship Certificate,social security and we are waiting for her passport to arrive. The first post placement visit went very well and the next one will be in six months.
Our dog Gwacy is realizing that Alexis is not leaving the house and that she has to get use to sharing us with the baby. The pool and the park have been a hit with Alexis. The park is just across the street so it is an
everyday thing.
Alexis stopped drinking from the bottle and went to a sippy cup and now after the palate surgery, she likes drinking with a straw. My fear was for her to stop drinking milk the moment she stopped drinking from the bottle but she still enjoys her milk. She also stopped sucking her thumb. Her vocabulary is coming along and she basically understands everything we tell her. She will start speech therapy soon. We met with the SP and we think it is going to workout.
We also visited a Montessori school we would like Alexis to go in the near future. Our son was in Montessori school for two years and he really enjoyed it. The other option is to enroll her at the family center at the
University. It would be convenient for us because our son is in High School at NSU and we know the system and the people.
Next on the list is to have her nose and lip revision. We already met with the surgeon and scheduled surgery. Birthday and baptism are coming up but we will have two different gatherings. Baptism will be strictly family and we have to plan a weekend where everybody is around and her birthday will be at our house. A small celebration but nice. It will be with close friends and a couple of kids. I don't think she would care how many kids are in the party. As long as there is food, she will be OK.
Well, this is what we have been doing. I will post pictures soon.
Alexis got her Citizenship Certificate,social security and we are waiting for her passport to arrive. The first post placement visit went very well and the next one will be in six months.
Our dog Gwacy is realizing that Alexis is not leaving the house and that she has to get use to sharing us with the baby. The pool and the park have been a hit with Alexis. The park is just across the street so it is an
everyday thing.
Alexis stopped drinking from the bottle and went to a sippy cup and now after the palate surgery, she likes drinking with a straw. My fear was for her to stop drinking milk the moment she stopped drinking from the bottle but she still enjoys her milk. She also stopped sucking her thumb. Her vocabulary is coming along and she basically understands everything we tell her. She will start speech therapy soon. We met with the SP and we think it is going to workout.
We also visited a Montessori school we would like Alexis to go in the near future. Our son was in Montessori school for two years and he really enjoyed it. The other option is to enroll her at the family center at the
University. It would be convenient for us because our son is in High School at NSU and we know the system and the people.
Next on the list is to have her nose and lip revision. We already met with the surgeon and scheduled surgery. Birthday and baptism are coming up but we will have two different gatherings. Baptism will be strictly family and we have to plan a weekend where everybody is around and her birthday will be at our house. A small celebration but nice. It will be with close friends and a couple of kids. I don't think she would care how many kids are in the party. As long as there is food, she will be OK.
Well, this is what we have been doing. I will post pictures soon.
8.28.2009
Two Months with Alexis Nicole
Labor Of My Heart
I would have given anything
to be the one to know
the pain of bringing
you into this world
but it couldn't be...
Though I did not bring
you here still
I labored in my tears
through the long nights
I prayed
you would come to me...
You are the labor of
my heart with all
my strength I prayed
till they laid you in
my arms Child,
you are the labor
of my heart....
Blessed be the maker
of bone of other bone.
He made flesh of my desire
and today
I take you home...
You are the labor
of my heart Child,
you are the labor
of my heart with all
my strength I prayed
till they laid you in
my arms Child,
you are the labor
of my heart Child,
you are the labor
of my heart...
Author - Steve & Annie Chapman
8.18.2009
Palate Surgery
Alexis had her Palate repair and everything went really well. We are very happy with the surgeon, anestesiologist, and also with the Pediatric ICU at DiMaggio.
She is doing really well with the arm restraints. They are placed before leaving the operating room so it is heartbreaking to see her bleeding from her mouth and nose and having so many cables and on top of all that, to see her with them on knowing that she has to have them on for two weeks.
The first day was rough because of the pain but by the second day she was feeling better. The first day, she didn't want to drink anything but by the following day, she was hungry and wanting to eat. At home, she stayed in her crib all night but she would move and cry from the discomfort she felt and also trying to find the best position to sleep with the arm restraints.
My son went to the hospital the first night and he was so happy to see her but he felt so bad to see her in such pain but he needed to be there to really understand her moods and why she would be cranky during the following weeks . It was such a touching moment when he was trying to comfort her. I'm in LOVE with my kids. I love them so much that it hurts at times. After moments like these all those years of waiting for Alexis Nicole just melted away.
Here are some pictures.
THE MOUNTAINS WILL MELT LIKE WAX
She is doing really well with the arm restraints. They are placed before leaving the operating room so it is heartbreaking to see her bleeding from her mouth and nose and having so many cables and on top of all that, to see her with them on knowing that she has to have them on for two weeks.
The first day was rough because of the pain but by the second day she was feeling better. The first day, she didn't want to drink anything but by the following day, she was hungry and wanting to eat. At home, she stayed in her crib all night but she would move and cry from the discomfort she felt and also trying to find the best position to sleep with the arm restraints.
My son went to the hospital the first night and he was so happy to see her but he felt so bad to see her in such pain but he needed to be there to really understand her moods and why she would be cranky during the following weeks . It was such a touching moment when he was trying to comfort her. I'm in LOVE with my kids. I love them so much that it hurts at times. After moments like these all those years of waiting for Alexis Nicole just melted away.
Here are some pictures.
THE MOUNTAINS WILL MELT LIKE WAX
BEFORE THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH.
8.06.2009
Our Daughter
“An invisible red thread connects
those destined to meet,
regardless of time, place, or circumstance.
The thread may stretch or tangle,
but never break.”
~Ancient Chinese Proverb
Alexis Nicole has just been the most joyous blessing to this family and it is truly amazing how much love we have for this precious child.Enjoy the pictures.
those destined to meet,
regardless of time, place, or circumstance.
The thread may stretch or tangle,
but never break.”
~Ancient Chinese Proverb
Alexis Nicole has just been the most joyous blessing to this family and it is truly amazing how much love we have for this precious child.Enjoy the pictures.
8.01.2009
One Month With Alexis Nicole
Wow! We have been with Alexis for one month now. We can’t believe Alexis is here! At times this still seems surreal that she is part of the family; but at times it feels that she's been with us forever.
We are doing well and loving the new normal in the house. We are getting into the new routine. We already started our post placement reports, sent the info. our agency needed, had an assessment at Joe DiMaggio (I will talk more about it in a future post)and it went amazing. We are very pleased with their services. We also scheduled Alexis' palate surgery. It will take place in a couple of days and we will let you all know how it went.
Alexis Nicole is a sweet loving silly little girl. She is busy, busy all the time. She is very strong but a princess. She LOVES shoes and accesories.
Because we knew our wait was going to be long and we didn't know our daughter's age before referral, we did not buy anything. I know it is hard to believe but by the time of referral we just had a blanket and a swimsuit for her. We painted the room 6 months before referral and got the crib 4 days before leaving to China. My mom sent me a dozen outfits and half didn't fit her. Now we are enjoying taking her to get clothing and toys. We don't want to overwhelm her with toys so if a toy comes in to the house then a toy has to come out.
She LOVES her brother and gets so exited when her dad comes home. It is a beautiful sight to watch. She is very comfortable at the house and things are getting better with our Maltese little dog. Now they are best friends and the dog realizes that Alexis Nicole is the best chance she has to get some snacks. As soon as Alexis goes to the high chair, the dog goes for some droppings. She is still eating like there is no end and sleeping her 12 hrs straight and we love it.
Every time we go out we forget the camera so all the pictures are in the house. We may go to Orlando for a weekend before school starts and we will take lots and lots of pictures, I'm sure. Here are some pictures.
We are doing well and loving the new normal in the house. We are getting into the new routine. We already started our post placement reports, sent the info. our agency needed, had an assessment at Joe DiMaggio (I will talk more about it in a future post)and it went amazing. We are very pleased with their services. We also scheduled Alexis' palate surgery. It will take place in a couple of days and we will let you all know how it went.
Alexis Nicole is a sweet loving silly little girl. She is busy, busy all the time. She is very strong but a princess. She LOVES shoes and accesories.
Because we knew our wait was going to be long and we didn't know our daughter's age before referral, we did not buy anything. I know it is hard to believe but by the time of referral we just had a blanket and a swimsuit for her. We painted the room 6 months before referral and got the crib 4 days before leaving to China. My mom sent me a dozen outfits and half didn't fit her. Now we are enjoying taking her to get clothing and toys. We don't want to overwhelm her with toys so if a toy comes in to the house then a toy has to come out.
She LOVES her brother and gets so exited when her dad comes home. It is a beautiful sight to watch. She is very comfortable at the house and things are getting better with our Maltese little dog. Now they are best friends and the dog realizes that Alexis Nicole is the best chance she has to get some snacks. As soon as Alexis goes to the high chair, the dog goes for some droppings. She is still eating like there is no end and sleeping her 12 hrs straight and we love it.
Every time we go out we forget the camera so all the pictures are in the house. We may go to Orlando for a weekend before school starts and we will take lots and lots of pictures, I'm sure. Here are some pictures.
7.16.2009
Blessed
Today Alexis meet her pediatrician. She is my son's pediatrician and she is great Her office is 10 minutes from the house :-).Everything went well and no vaccines for the moment. The Dr.said that she was very healthy and on target for her age. I gave her the medical report and the vaccines history. She said there is just one vaccine missing. She change the milk to whole milk and order a hearing test and speech evaluation. She wants us to have the results ready for our visit to the Joe DiMaggio Hospital for her assessment. The appointment at Joe DiMaggio will be the 28th. Alexis will be examined by a plastic Surgeon,ENT, psychologist,physical therapist and a pediatrician. The appointment will take four hrs. I will let everybody know how it went.
Things are getting organized around the house and sleeping schedules are getting better. Alexis always sleep for 10 to 12 hrs. but when we came home she would sleep for 14 hrs. Yesterday she woke up at 1pm and today she woke up at noon. Much better.
Things are getting organized around the house and sleeping schedules are getting better. Alexis always sleep for 10 to 12 hrs. but when we came home she would sleep for 14 hrs. Yesterday she woke up at 1pm and today she woke up at noon. Much better.
7.11.2009
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