Ten Months Together

Ten months!  wow! 

Olivia is learning so many new things and growing so fast!  She loves dance class and gymnastics!  Her favorite passtime is dancing to the chicken dance while watching herself in the mirror.  Too funny!  A three year old has no problem figuring out an ipad and Youtube.  She also loves the TV show, Olivia. 

 She loves the beach almost as much as she loves the pool!

 Fun in the leaves.

 Happy Halloween!

7 months together

It seems I am few months behind with my posts!  Life is just busy.  I have a few cute pictures to share after my update.  I know most people only want the pictures but the post is for me! 

  These were taken today

July Fourth

 Her friends birthday party

With the kids home from school Olivia has enjoyed time with brothers and sister.  She loves playing outside but it is just too hot most days.  She loved swim lessons!  Future olympian maybe!  Olivia had surgery in June.  It was rough.  Poor little thing had many unhappy days.  Who can blame her.  Her next surgery will be before the end of the year.  We have been to the splash park, the zoo, the pool, Virgiana, the FTIA reunion at Holiday World, to our friends who live on a far~the girl is an animal lover! ~ and probably places I can't remember.   At the reunion she was able to see two friends from her orphanage.  I am not sure if she rcognized them but she sure loved playing with them.   She continues to be as happy as can be and charms everyone she meets!  She makes us laugh each and everyday!  What a wonderful addition she is to our family! 

4 months together

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Today marks 4 months since gotcha day.

This sweet girl has had many changes in her life in 4 months.  Olivia left the people she loved who took great care of her.  She left her little friends and the only home she knew and traveled to the other side of the world with two strangers that called themselves mama and dada.  She was so brave!  God had prepared her for this new life.  Olivia adores her big sister and brothers.  She thinks they are the best!  Well,  she does know how to pester one of those brothers and he is great at bugging her also!  True siblings!  She loves her mama  and doesn't like when mama leaves without her though she is adjusting to that seperation.  She so loves her dada.  Asks about him all day and is so excited to see him return home after work each day.

It is hard to believe it has been 4 months.  It feels like Olivia Kate have been part of our family forever.  She has adjusted to life here and is a happy happy girl! 

She is such a big girl!  She loves music and dancing.  Going outside is also a favorite.  She has no problem keeping up with the big kids.  She loves the swingset and riding bikes.  And she is growing!  I believe Olivia is about 1 1/2 inches taller than on gotcha day.  The doctor was a bit concerned about her height so we are hoping she sprouts a bit more before we go for another checkup.

Oh, and just  look at that sweet smile!  She knows how to steal your heart!  Quite a little charmer!


We are so thankful for you Olivia Kate.  We love you sweet girl!

Happy Easter

Connor was happy about his basket

Olivia, well, what can you say about that sweet girl!  Looks pleased as punch!

 We went to Purdue to celebrate the day together.  Love this pic of my kids! We went out for lunch and had an egg hunt on campus.  Connor loved it!

        Posing for a photo!

We are so very blessed! 
It is so good to get to share the love of Jesus together as a family of six!

3 months together

Three months together and doing well!  Surgery was 4 weeks ago and the smile is coming back! Sweet girl has bumped her nose more times than I know and that sure brings the tears.  Poor thing!  It does seem to be healing well. 

It is hard to believe Olivia Kate joined our family 3 months ago.  Where does time go?  Guess it flies when you are busy.  Olivia loves plalying outdoors with the neighbors. She is a bit sassy!  She can not say much but she knows what she wants and can get her point across!

Happy Spring!

                           It has been so warm here and someone is loving it!

a day at the beach

                     She loves it!  And yes,  you can wear a big bow to the beach!

Busy playing

The blog has been forgotten!

Busy playing with my little peanut!

She is doing great! 

Hope to have some new pictures up one of these days. 

We are heading out for a sunny adventure and hope to get some cute shots to share!

Check back soon!

surgery

I have attempted to post many times and it just hasn't worked for one reason or other.

Olivia Kate's surgery went very well!

The doctor worked his magic and she now has a little button nose and closed lip.  She looks great!
We had expected to be in the hospital overnight but Olivia came out of anesthesia crying for a drink.  The nurse looked at her and said, looks like your going home today!  I was not too surprised.  The child eats and drinks all day long and hadn't eaten since dinner the night before.  Surgery was at 8 and we were home at 1.   Olivia ate a bowl of lo main for lunch and slept for a few hours.  When she woke up she was ready to play.  Amazing!  She wasn't too sure of her new look at first but now she seems quite pleased.  She looks at herself in the mirror and points and it.  She chatters something to me about it but I am not sure what she is saying.  Then she comes and gives me a little pat on my cheek.  It is so sweet!  I would love to know what she is thinking.

                        
                                            Waiting for surgery.

                                                        30 hours after surgery
                                                        definately a bit swollen
                                                                God is good!

Celebrating Two Months Together

Olivia is quite a girly girl!
She loves her pretty dresses, bows, and shoes.
She can have a good conversation on the cell phone!   Apologies if she calls you accidently!
She loves freezer pops!  I won't even say how many she eats a day!
She loves to be outside!  It really needs to warm up!


Olivia has surgery tomorrow.  We will update you on how it goes.

playing

This girl loves playdoh!  And sitting on the table!  She is a happy girl today!  Love that smile!

Our little sunshine

What a difference a few weeks makes. 

When we were in China and would go out for a walk often everyone looked at us and it made Olivia very uncomfortable.  People would really stare.  Olivia is good at reading expressions and may have understood what people where saying about her cleft.  We obviously could not understand them and just prayed that God would protect her from hearing unkind things.  Because Olivia is perceptive she would shut down until we were back to our room and she would return to being happy.

Now that we are home I have only taken Olivia out a few times.  We don't need to pick up any more germs and I wasn't real sure how people here would react to her cleft.  I am happy to say that when we have been out Olivia walks with so much confidence that she catches everyones eye.  You can't miss the cute little thing bouncing along with a big smile!  She just seems to have a sparkle in her eye and gives everyone a big wave and a nod.  If they're lucky she will even throw them a kiss!  People are so tickled by her and just think she is beautiful!  She brightens peoples days! Several people stop and ask me all about her. '''' I am so glad that people can look past her cleft and see her for her personality for people are people not their disability.  God has truly blessed our family with a special girl.  He must have big plans for her!

4 weeks home

 Baking Cookies with Connor

 Fixing daddys hair!

 Loving to play outside!

 Hugging mommy

 Hanging out with big brother!

Getting into things!   (sorry I need to flip this one)


It has been a busy 4 weeks!  Olivia is so happy! 
She is now sleeping well through the night.  Wakes with a big smile!
We stay home for the most part.  Olivia absolutely loves to outside.
All of our doctor appointments have gone well and she is scheduled for surgery at the end of Feb. 
We continue to be amazed by how quickly she has adjusted to her new life.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!
2012 is the year of the Dragon.
Wishing you a prosperous new year!

New pictures