Drew's Video, finally.

   With an awful lot of help from Ron, and using the photos that he and mostly Jamie, took while in China and at home, I've finally put together a video of our trip to China.  It includes meeting Drew, our visit to her orphanage, the rest of our time in China and the first few weeks home.  
   Many of the photos will only have real meaning to our family, and the video is  long (9+ minutes), but I think I captured our experience (or MY experience) as much as I could, seeing as I'm hopelessly computer challenged. And while Jamie and Ron did a great job on the photos, nothing can really show the reality of the "gotcha" experience or adoption trip.  This is a taste of it for others. and a good reminder for our family.
   When you hit "play" you should take the time to pause it, and then click on the little gear icon at the bottom... This adjusts the quality of the picture.  Change it from "360p" to "480p" and the photos will be much nicer.  Crank the volume (only cause I love the music) and enjoy, I know I did making it.  
  Here's to you DrewZ. 

Easter!

                                                        Humpdee Dumpdee

I love the eggs....they say so much:  the "minion" is Cory's; the modern, graphic ones are Jamie's; the Humpdee Dumpdee is Kelly's, and the crushed one is Drew's....too funny!

It was a wonderful day with the whole family together.

Not what you were expecting

This post is a little different.
For the past 6 years, Cory and Jamie have been involved with an amazing group called "Invisible Children".  The group has been wonderfully sucessful in changing the lives of many many children in Uganda and this year they hope to bring an end to the suffering.  An actual end.  Please view this video, it's 30 min.s long, so plan to sit, but it's worth it.   Just click the link.

http://vimeo.com/37119711

Sunday on the Sand

  Sunday at Crystal Cove with Grandma and Grandpa for breakfast and fun.  Drew and Kelly had a great time getting sandy, picking up shells, poking sea creatures, and chasing birds.  It was a beautiful day and wonderful to just enjoy a slow morning.
   Drew will be starting a group "global therapy" group of small kids this week, thanks to Regional Center.  We are now working on getting a Speech Therapy referral too, so life will be even busier with more appointments.  Drew has finished up with some major medical tests (MRI, CAT, bloodwork for each) and we'll be getting more results back soon.  So far so good.

 

Quick update

Our days are still looonnnggg sometimes, but Drew is still on fast forward with her progress. 
One of her happiest parts of the day is feeding the dogs, who she intently watches while they eat, right down next to their faces.  Food is still a REALLY big deal for her, and woe unto me if I am late making dinner, or forget to carry baggies of goldfish or Cheerios in my purse while out.  Speech is still so delayed, but we have a little imitation going on, and Dada and "Mama".  Well, not really "Mama" but ear splitting, full lunged: "MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMMAMAMA".  Jamie thinks it's funny, I do not.  But it is forward movement.  Putting her down to sleep has improved dramaticly too these days, freeing up precious time for me, so that is a huge bonus.  She has been seeing some Dr.s and had a Regional Services eval, so we should be starting Speech Therapy soon.  She and I also are doing Mommy and Me swim lessons, which go great, as long as the instructor (any instructor) doesn't try to touch her.  Poor teacher and class thought I was kidding when I tried to explain that Drew wouldn't be happy about being touched, let alone HELD, by a stranger...she set them straight on how serious she was about that "rule" of hers!  The girl has lungs, and while it's a good thing for swimming, not so good in an echo-y enclosed swim area.
She and Kelly continue to act more and more like regular siblings...squabling one minute, kissing the next.  They are pretty different, and will be very good for each other, if they live so long!  Drew is pretty aggressive and only knows taking and hitting as means of getting things, while Kelly has spent the last 2 1/2 years getting pretty much whatever she wants by just asking, so I expect a "showdown" any day for them, to decide who really is the big sister, and who should be the little sis.
Life is good, exhausting, but good.
  

   Thought I'd add a few pictures of our weekend.  Or at least Jamie's weekend.  Winter Formal.  She was beautiful, the boyfriend handsome and the little sisters were in awe.  And I didn't hear of any broken ankles due to jaw-droppingly high heels.  I am impressed at these girls ability to walk in those darn shoes, but still think they are crazy for attempting it.
   Life is settling down and a routine is starting to surface... a crazed mom trying to get two little, slowwww, kids out of the house 3 days a week to Kelly's Speech and school.  Drew tagging along and mostly happy except for when I try to leave the Pre-school.  I'm not sure if it's because we are leaving Kelly, or the school or both, but she pitches a fit when we go and that is a good thing!  Great to know she wants her sister and the school.  We are filling our days getting Kelly's events in, Drew's Dr. appointments in, and have even started Mom and Me swim.  Drew must be part fish, as she immediately put her face in, blows bubbles and enjoys being on her back in the water, all very surprising for me to see.
  Jamie and Cory are busy at their schools, Kelly's month long cough/sinus infection is clearing, Ron hasn't left for China yet for work (soon) and the dogs are getting kisses from Drew on a regular basis...life is good.

Life just got a whole lot easier

Drew can touch, and as you can see, even ride on the the dogs now!  Of course, she still screams blood curdling screams when you least expect it at the mere sight of one of the poor beasts....but when the mood is right, she tolerates them.  Thank goodness, as the whole "are the dogs in? -Please grab the child with I feed the dogs. -Dogs, stop tearing up the door to get in" -thing was getting really old and very tiring.  And the dogs were depressed from being banished.  Whew...it is the day to day stuff that wears you out! 

  Drew can now say: "Hi", "Byebye", "Ni-ni" "Up" and as of today, "uh oh" and "mo" for more...  And she makes noise all the time now, a far (very far) cry from the silent child we first met.  Ron introduced her to the joys of belly razzberries, which she has taken to with glee.  Eating is still her first activity of choice.  Her meltdowns are far shorter (mostly) and far fewer, thank goodness.  Her joy in the little things like sitting in the swing, feeling the rain come down, or hearing Kelly roar like a lion is wonderful to see, and surprising to hear the deep belly laugh that comes out of her..who would've guessed?  Between she and the dogs, I'm not sure who's happier these days!