E turns 10!

And we celebrated all weekend!

Weekend in San Antonio

I spent this past weekend in San Antonio. I had the opportunity to speak at Great Wall China Adoption's annual international adoption conference. At the reception honoring the foreign dignitaries, I had the honor to meet some of the civil affairs officials from O's home province of Hubei as well as have an important conversation with the new director of the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA). Mom and the girls came along. We had a great time mixing business with pleasure.
Took the girls to the Alamo, dinner on the riverwalk @ the Rainforest Cafe, and a trip to Market Square where we ate at Mi Tierras. Had lots of fun!

Sandy Hook, New Jersey

"Give me an undivided heart, O Lord..." Psalm 86:11

I took C for her yearly heart check up. She had a good work up last spring after we returned home from China. This was the one year follow up. The pediatric cardiologist reported that she is growing well, has no restrictions physically or medically, requires no medications before dental work, is to be treated like any other kid, and is expected to live a long, healthy life with no complications related to her heart likely. We return next year to repeat some of the tests that were done last year and not repeated this year like the color dopler. It will be compared to her initial test from last year. The thing they are watching is that one of repairs was right next to the aortic valve and there is a slight regurgitation in the valve. The repair was excellent and the slight leakage is common. It is small enough that it is inconsequential. She is being monitored to make sure it stays that way. If there is no change after next year, then our visits go to every 2 years. The doctor does not think it will ever become an issue. This is more out of precaution than anticipation. What a miracle God has given my sweet baby girl.

Faces of Field Day

C's self-induced haircut is finally just about grown out!

Today E and O had their field day. It was alot of fun. O had her time during the morning and E went in the afternoon which meant I spent the whole day out in the sun!

The circus

On Saturday, I took the girls to the Ringling Brother's Circus. We had a great time. E Hoola Hooped during the Circus Preview, O tried to flag down every vendor that walked by, and C slept through a big portion of the show!

Gotcha Day/Mother's Day

O and Mama May 2010. O still has the same smile she did 6 years ago. It is like a little burst of sunshine!



O and Mama in Wuhan, Hubei May 2004



Six years ago on Mother's Day I sat in a HOT, unair-conditioned civil affairs office in Wuhan, Hubei, China waiting for my second daughter to arrive. O joined our family on May 9, 2004. It was a very special Mother's Day that year. This is the first time since that hot, steamy afternoon that Mother's Day and O's Gotta Day have fallen together. Such a special day. I am so glad that O is my daughter. She has blossomed in these last 6 years and has grown in beauty and grace.


How blessed I am to be the mother of these three sweet girls!