It felt really good...

...to be back behind the camera again. I have been so busy the last couple of months, I don't think I have even reached for the camera. So today was beautiful and we headed for the park!

Could they be ANY cuter????? I don't think so!

The earthquake -

It is very sad. Last night, as I was putting my three little ones to bed, I thought about how lucky I was to be able to put them into bed.

I realized how lucky I was that we had blankets for all of our kids, beds for them, food for them, and a roof for them.

We have a car to take them to 4H, to pick them up from practice.

The biggest thing we have to worry about is who is going to get them and at what time.

I have read stories about people sleeping in tents with five other families. Living under a plastic canvas

Some people have just started walking, not really knowing where they are going, just walking.

I know that Noah is fine, the earthquake was not close to his province - Thank God. But I think about those other little ones who maybe weren't so lucky. There are many parents out there that are waiting and wanting some news about their children.

Here is a list of the orphanages that have been affected some how:

• Abazhou CWI: Unknown (52 children according to HTS)
• Baoji, Shaanxi: No injuries reported. Minor damage to the building but they are able to remain inside. (LWB)
• Chengdu: Safe, children are outside of the building during the day due to aftershocks. When it rains they go into the institution’s buses. At night they are on the first floor of the Children’s Building. There are cracks in some (but not all) buildings. (HTS and Agency). OCDF reports there is no electricity, water, or gas. They need diapers since they cannot wash. HTS reports they are having trouble finding supplies of milk and formula.
• Chongqing: Safe (HTS, OCDF, and an agency)
• *Deyang: Children are safe, minor damage to building (LWB OCDF)
• Dianjiang, Chongqing: Children are safe, no damage to building (Parent)
• *Dujiangyan: Children are safe. Children have been evacuated. Their temporary shelter has no tap water or electricity. They urgently need food, clean water, diapers, and powdered milk. (HTS)
• Fuling, Chongqing: Children are okay, no damage to current building. New building that is still under construction and not occupied sustained structural damage. (Parent and Agency) LWB and OCDF report damage to the building and are not clear if it is the new building or the one currently occupied. An agency reports cracks in the buildings currently occupied.
• Fungdu: Safe, no damage to building. (OCDF and Parent)
• *Guanghan: Unknown
• Guangyuan : Safe, staying in tents outdoors for now. (Parent)
• Ganzizhou: Unknown
• Hanzhong City SWI, Shaanxi Province: Children are safe, staying outside of building due to aftershocks. There are reports that the buildings sustained significant damage, and other reports the building sustained minor damage. There are tents set up for now. (Parent) Water pipes burst, water tower has cracks. Children have been evacuated and they need more tents, bedding, and clean water. (HTS)
• Liangping SWI : Children are Safe (OCDF, Parent, and agency). Reports of serious structural damage. (2 Agencies)
• Mama’s Wish: Teachers and students safe (LWB)
• *Mianyang CWI: Children are Safe. (Parent and HTS) Severely damaged walls, children have been moved to a military base. They have an urgent need for diapers, bedding, powdered milk, and clean water. (HTS)
• Mianzhu SWI: Unknown.
• Nanbu: Children are safe. Building has cracks. (Agency)
• Nanchong #1: Safe (Agency and OCDF).
• Nanchong #2: Children are safe (Agency, OCDF, HTS). Damage to buildings (OCDF and HTS) They need tents (HTS)
• Nanchuan, Chongqing: Safe, no damage reported. (LWB and Agency)
• Neijiang: Children are safe. Some structural damage to possibly several buildings. (HTS and Parent)
• Panzhihua: Unknown
• Rongxian: Unknown
• Santai County: Unknown
• Suining: Unknown
• Wanzhou: Children are safe. Building has cracks (Agency)
• Wenjiang County: Unknown
• Xiushan, Chongqing: Safe, no damage reported. (LWB and Agency)
• Yibin: Safe (HTS and OCDF)
• Yunyang, Chongqing: Safe. (LWB and Agency) LWB reports there is no damage to the building, but an agency reports there is some damage to the building.
• Zhaotong Foster Care program, Yunnan: Safe (LWB and Agency)
• Zigong CWI: Children are safe. They need bedding, powdered milk, crackers and disposable diapers (HTS)
• *Zitong County: Unknown

Two part post about mother's day...

Part 1:

I am a mom, through and through.

I am excited when my child goes potty on the potty, when they can write their names for the first time.

I am excited (and a little sad) when my oldest talks about graduation and going into the military in less then 3 years.

I have watched my two oldest become young men, while I wish my youngest would let us sleep in on Saturday mornings past 6:00.

We watch Dora and NiHo Kai-lan with our 2, 3, and 4 year olds and work on Algebra, US History and watch the X-Files with our 13 and 15 year olds.

However, on Friday, it struck me and it didn't feel very good. NBC with Teleflora decided to have a "mom contest." To make a really long story short, they had some definitions of different kinds of moms. Like military moms, etc. One of the categories was "non mom." Under this title, was the definition: adoptive moms.

HHmm, how sad that some people in society view motherhood only as giving birth. A mom can only be a "real" mom if she has gone through the physical act of bringing a child into this world. How incredible. Apparently, these people have never known anyone who has gone through everything it takes to adopt a child. Are their children "non children?"

I look at Kaycee, she is my daughter, through and through. We have a lot in common. We are the only ones in our family who like tomatoes. We are the only ones who like broccoli. She loves to have her back and feet rubbed, just like I do. (I am getting off topic here...)

It really made me mad and it was very offensive. I cannot imagine how moms felt who have built their families purely by adoption. I would be very upset...

At least though, after they were bombarded with emails and phone calls, the company changed the title to "adoptive mom." Which in its own way is still offensive. What about just "mom." Why do they have to be different and singled out?

Part 2:

Its Mother's Day today. And while yes, we have celebrated it here (I got to do some laundry this afternoon) I think about Kaycee and Noah's birth moms.

What are they doing today? There are 52 countries in the world that celebrate Mother's Day - I admit, I am not sure that China is one, however, it is a day when I must think about those two women.

When they are both a little older, maybe next year, I am going to start a tradition for their birth moms. Maybe we will plant flowers, or take some plants to a nursing home, plant a tree, go to the mountains, something, anything that will help both of them remember the sacrifices their moms went through.

But I do have to say to both of them, thank you. Thank you for giving me the gifts of your child. Thank you for letting me raise them, love them, and hold them. Thank you for giving birth to them. You will always be their first mom.

Kaycee and her language...

I have to keep reminding myself that Kaycee is only 2. She has been home almost 10 months, has only been aided since October and really just started talking.

When I say talking, I mean talking...up a storm...as in the girl won't stop...

She would be a great gossip!

Tonight, our dog peed by the front door. Out of Kaycee's mouth comes, Daddy, dat naughty.

Then she looked at Jacob - Dadob, dat naughty.

After a while, she says, mommy, I have coodie. (Cookie)

Then it is, Mommy, I potty.

I really would have to say the girl is on her way.

Now let's look at her sign language. We were reading a book, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." She is starting the sign the book. If I could figure out my video camera, I would video it and put it on here. It is so cute. Her favorite part is when the caterpillar isn't a little caterpillar anymore, he was great big, fat caterpillar.

She is a precious little gift in our family.

Updates and more updates...

I have a source...

I have a person that is watching our little guy in China and can fill me in on Noah. What a very precious gift....

Here is the latest...

Noah is a sweet and loving child. He seems to be very observant and likes to imitate others. He enjoys going outside playing ball, sliding down the slide at the park and likes to play with toys that move or with music.

At times he will cry if he does not get what he wants. Diverting his attention to something else seems to help.

He seems to be a healthy child. He does have dry skin. He likes to eat soup, meat porridge, bananas, apples and cake. He likes to drink milk. Currently he weighs 11kg, head size is 45.5 cm, chest 46 cm, foot 13.5 and height 86 cm.

In every day life if you talk to him face to face in a normal voice he can respond. Example: good-bye, turn of the TV and pick up the phone. While playing by himself he will notice voices and sounds and will look to see the source.

He can say Mama and Papa in a very low voice. He will point to what he wants or lead you somewhere to help him. He enjoys “helping” round the house. Example: likes to bring things and moving the stools.

If you are anything like me, I had to use a converter calculator to get his size. He is 24 pounds and about 2 ft 9 in. He is a skinny little thing. Kind of built like Kylie.