Thanksgiving

We had a nice relaxing day at Grandma and Pap-Pap's.  Kelina wasn't too fond of the Turkey though she asked for the huge Turkey leg.  Just to add some Chinese flair, we all sat around eating with chopsticks.  The funny part was Kelina ate with a fork!




The girls are looking good in the Turkey dresses Mommy made!



See the cute Turkey bows too!







Grandma and Pap-Pap's Pride and Joy!  There faces are hilarious!

Kelina's Dedication

November 21st 2010

Kelina Faye You is dedicated to the Lord

It is such a blessing to be able to dedicate this beautiful child to the LORD.  We prayed 4 long years to bring our daughter home and now she is here!  God watched over her until she came to us and we are so grateful to God that he bless us with her!  May we all continue to pray and lead her to know Jesus as her personal savior and Lord.
Kelina received two beautiful necklaces, one from Nana and one from Grandma & Grandpap.  It was a wonderful day.  Kelina was given her first Bible and we made her a special cake (we had to sing Happy Birthday to her upon her request, so cute).  We were able to thank our Church family for supporting us through the wait and for all the prayers.

Girls are looking at each others dedication necklaces

Our Beautiful "Baby" Girl!

NOVEMBER

Happy Halloween!

We loved finding the perfect pumpkins!

Trick or Treat!! Kelina was so excited especially after the first house, she jogged to the next then the next. Everyone loved her Minnie outfit with the shiny red shoes. Once her bag was full, she said "I want to go home, I have enough candy!" So cute! Kelina wouldn't let me help carry her stash either.  She couldn't wait to get home and show Daddy all the candy she got. The beauty is, she started sharing it all with everyone.

Pure Joy!  Give me Candy!!

"Ready to go home, Mom.  I have enough candy!"

Mountain Trip!

Kelina loved our first trip to Cabin-jus-beyon in the mountains.  She enjoyed playing on the tire swing, getting wet in the creek, and seeing her first elk just yards away.

This next one crcks me up!  She started stepping in deeper water and was losing balance.  She was being so silly (also notice her pants falling down!)

Finally Home

We just got home at 8PM!!  What a long day.  We left for the hospital at 9 this morning for our 10:30 appt.  We were finally taken back at 11:30 but didn't see the surgeon until 1PM!  My little one hadn't ate since the night before!  She was patient with this though because she knew that she couldn't until after surgery.
Kelina was a trooper.  I was allowed back in the OR with her until she feel asleep with the gas mask.  The nurses had to sing the ABC's for her to make her laugh because she was refusing to breathe in, but she didn't panic or act out.  Mommy was very grateful because it was hard enough to keep my emotions in while she was awake. 
She took a long time to wake up (1 hr 30 min.).  She was not happy when she woke; she wanted to keep her eyes closed and she didn't want to look at Mommy for a little while.  I expected that she would wake up mad.  Soon she was sitting on my lap enjoying a slushy while watching cartoons.
We were finally released at 7PM.  When we got home she proudly showed off her new teeth to her siblings and Grandma and Pap.  Grandma surprised Kelina with a huge adorable stuffed elephant...Kelina's favorite animal has been an elephant since the day we meet her.  She loved it and said "Thank You Grandma!"  really loud and clear.  (The other stuffed animal in the picture is Coke, a little "Coca Cola" polar bear which she loves that actually belongs to Kellan, but he graciously shares with Kelina).  Since we've been home, Kelina hasn't stopped eating!  She can't seem to make up for all those lost hours of not being allowed to eat.

Dental Surgery :(

Today, my precious little girl goes to Children's Hospital to have dental surgery done on her teeth.  She has much decay of her teeth, but thankfully she still jsut has baby teeth.  With a few abscessed teeth, she will have some pulled today.  But she will also have a pulpectomy (root canal for baby teeth) and crown done on many of the other teeth (potential for 11!).  Also white crowns on the front teeth to give her a nice smile.  I think they are not leaving any tooth undone!   Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!
Last night when brushing her teeth, Kelina pointed at Mommy's teeth and then at her own.  She made a yuck kind of noise at the brown parts of her teeth, so I think she understands what we've explained to her, although I don't think she realizes how much it might hurt afterward especially when it comes to eating.   I'm assuming it will be a liquid diet for a few days; they'll let me know today.

Fall: like and don't like

Well, Kelina is experiencing her first Pennsylvania fall.  There are some things she likes about it.  Like jumping into leaves and collecting nuts on our walks.  But she isn't thrilled with the cold weather.  The other day it was 64 and she said, "Mommy, cold.  Don't like."  I told her "you haven't seen anything yet!  Wait until January when there's a foot of snow!"
Kelina also loves to wear beautiful summer dresses and ballerina dress up clothes.  These don't keep you warm on a fall day, so we are trying to get her use to wearing more clothes.  Wish us luck!

Where did September go?

I lost a whole blogging month.  I'm amaze how fast time is going by.  I am trying to enjoy these precious moments with Kelina and the days go so fast.  Kelina is learning English so fast.  She understands most of what we say to her and she says new sentences almost everyday.  This week we got to see some more of her humor come out.  Daddy and Mommy were cuddling with her on the couch while the school-age children were upstairs falling asleep.  Kelina really enjoys this time with us.  She gets us all to herself.  It usually involves us reading a book to her or you just cuddling with us under a blanket while we watch football or something else decent on tv (hard to find sometimes though).  Well, it was finally time for her to go to bed, so Daddy asked her for a kiss.  She responded with a "No Daddy.  That's yucky!"  It was so funny to hear her say "yucky" for the first time!  We lost it and were laughing so hard.  She of course kept saying it because it made us laugh.  The next day, as soon as Kelina woke up, she would say that everything was "yucky" so everyone would laugh.  So cute!

Wordless Wednesday

Reflection

It is hard to believe it has been a month since we brought Kelina home to our family.  In some respects it seems like it has been a year since we have come so far from those first days together.  It seems like it couldn't have been just Monday that we had the big meltdown at the museum, because now, in just a few short days, Kelina has changed again. 
When Kelina first came home, she was exploring everything and was very quiet.  Soon she became fustrated with the language barrier and had meltdown that were hard to deal with mainly because we weren't sure what we were to do.  Before long though, we learned what she needed at those times and also what would help to prevent them from even occurring.  During this time, I compared it to bringing home a newborn.  I just had that Mommy alert on all the time.  Do you know what I mean?  When you are staying prepared for something to happen, will she be hungry?  is a tantrum coming?  do we need to take a break...I just didn't know what the next 10 minutes would hold and it emotionally drains you.
Then one day about a week ago, Matt and I were talking and sharing how we noticed Kelina was just more relaxed than before.  This also was the time that Mommy was able to feel more relaxed.  And though Kelina was enjoying things more, I still wondered when we would see the huge smiles that were a part of her referral pictures.  Kelina received a fitting message in her fortune cookie at the Chinese restaurant we ate at, it said "Happiness will be yours when you let those around you into your life".  That is our prayer that she continues to trust us and let us into her world.
This week we have seen Kelina open up to Daddy much more.  She lets him help more and she just runs over to him on a whim to give him a hug.  Last night she even jumped out of bed, to give him a hug before he left the room.  This is big because she hasn't wanted Daddy to help tuck her in at night.  We know that God has heard your prayers for us.
And the smiles!  This week we have been blessed with huge smiles.  She is even posing for pictures for me!
I am in awe of this little girl.  She is so brave to run to us on Gotcha Day and just continue to embrace this family as her own.  It hasn't been easy, but she continues to move forward.  I am astonished at the strength she has shown in facing this difficult transition, leaving all she knew and stepping out in faith into a new family, new experiences, and a new world.  She continues to open up to us and show us more of who she is.  She has such compassion and a nurturing spirit.  "Are you okay?" being the first sentence she said as she wrapped her arms around Jie Jie who was crying.
A few days ago, I went to the basement in search of a gymnastics outfit for Kelina to wear to a birthday party.  I came across some really cute outfits that I had saved for my girl when I brought her home from China; unfortunately this box was for a younger girl.  It was hard to see those outfits knowing that they were too small for Kelina.  I cried for those lost years that I didn't get to experience with her.  I see her sleeping so soundly in bed at night and I wonder at her strength.  I thank my God for holding her and giving her a peaceful sleep.  How is she doing it?  I am in awe of her.  I was grieving the loss of years that I didn't know.  She is grieving the loss of people she did know.  But, it is through those people she knew that she is able to love, and grow, and be strong.  It is also through the prayers that all of you have prayed over the years and the ones most recently that have made this go smoothly and be blessed by God's peace.
We are so blessed by this little one.  Kelina's favorite bedtime song is a butterfly song Mommy made up.  She loves butterflies and I loved snapping pictures of her the other day when she put wings on and ran outside.  She is unfolding her wings and she is ready to fly...

Learning about Jesus

Kelina loves music, singing and dancing.  It's in her nature.  It's part of her minority culture.  And she loves putting on a dance show for Pap and Grandma when they come to visit.  So Kelina was fascinated when we went to church last week.  She loved twirling the ribbons to praise music with her sister.  She inquisitely would watch the band play and stare at Mommy and others as we sang. 

This week when she heard the music coming from the sanctuary she gave a little cry of exhiliaration and pulled at Mommy to go in.  Later when the congregation was praying, Kelina thought something was wrong with Daddy because he was bowing down with his eyes closed.  I whispered it was time to pray, that everyone was praying.  She looked around and smiled with a surprised look on her face.  It finally made sense, so she closed her hands together and bowed her head too.  I guess she realized we are not the only ones who pray at home.

Then after the service, Kyle made haste to teach her a new word, "Jesus".  Kyle showed Kelina a picture of Jesus in the kid's room then with the help of Kaylie and Kellan, they explained that Jesus loves her and he was breaking bread in the picture to represent his body that he gave up, dying for her (Kaylie did a "cut throat" sign to symbolize death, hey use what you know she'll understand, right?!).  WOW!  They didn't waste anytime!  I am so proud of them, taking Kelina by the hand and teaching her about Jesus.  She understood because she excitedly shared her new info with Baba (Daddy).

For this Child we prayed.

Day Out to Museum

This week, we took a trip to the Natural History Museum.  I don't think I'd have braved this so soon except our passes are about to expire.  Thankfully Aunt Ali and the boys were able to join us for added support and fun.  Everyone, including Kelina, were so excited to see the dinosaur bones. 
The only problem was Kelina didn't eat much for breakfast which turned into a slight problem with car sickness on the way to the museum.  So Kelina was hungry and ready to eat in the middle of the museum exhibit.  She wasn't having the "yes in a minute" and proceeded to try taking out the food.  As you can imagine a huge meltdown ensued.  I took Kelina down to the food court while my wonderful sister-in-law took the kids on to the next exhibit.  Kelina was so upset that I wouldn't let her eat in the exhibit; she could care less that she had the food now because just like any young 4 year old child, she wanted HER way and that was to enjoy looking at dinosaur bones WHILE nibbling on her favorite nutter butter snack.  Why not?  Dinner and a show, all while being pushed around in a stroller--can't get any better than that, right?  She eventually figured out that Momma was not giving in to her demands and she ate a nutter butter then requested to see the dinosaurs.  It was very hard to handle in a public place, but I think we both learned a lot about each other and our expectations. 

The rest of the visit went extremely well.  We were able to finish the dinosaur exhibit, see another, go have lunch in the food court, then see another exhibit before we left.  It was a rough start to the day but we were able to enjoy ourselves and we have grown through the experience.  I'm amazed at how much a look or a slight gesture by Kelina can be understood by me already.  She is my child and I am learning to read her, when she might be scared or hungry or shy, what will startle her or make her laugh.  It is amazing!