Monday, April 1, 2013

Riley has been a Handy for three weeks!!

 Where has the time gone!  We have been home for 10 days and have had Riley for 21 days!!  She has grown and developed so much over the past 21 days!!  It truly shows what a little TLC and some one-on-one love can do to an individual!!  I haven't blog in over a week (yes, I am very sorry) and so much has happened however I have had four kids keeping me busy and on my toes BUT I LOVE IT!!     Let me go back a little to catch you all up. 

Jet Lag- I thought it was just a word or an excuse some people used-- WRONG!!  Jet Lag is real and it really does mess with your body!!  Rheagan came home Thursday night and went to bed- she slept 21 straight hours!!  She woke once to used the bathroom but back to bed she went!! I didn't want to wake her as I know she needed it!  She finally came downstairs Friday evening at 6:53 pm--  She grabbed some doughnuts and thought the day was just beginning!!  I guess after being awake for 29 hours she needed her SLEEP!!  She did go back to bed that evening about 11 and wanted to make sure we would wake her Saturday morning.  Shawn, Riley and I weren't so lucky!  I still think we have some signs of jet lag but overall our bodies are figuring the day/night schedule out.  Riley's sleep patterns are becoming more consistent. Most nights, she sleeps 10-11 hours!! She takes a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.  Schedules are so nice!!            

While trying to rest up and sleep when we can, the kids activities are going strong and not stopping!  Between soccer practices, soccer games, baseball and softball practices for all three kids we are back to our normal hectic life!!   The boys have done so well since bringing Riley home.  They love, kiss, hug and want to carry her around and most of the time Riley loves them back!!  They are starting to figure out when she wants to be left alone and if they don't get the hint.. We have to step in and simply say-- SPACE, BOYS!!  She needs her space!! 

Riley has come so far in 21 days!!  From Day 1- she would barely support any weight on her legs to today where she is walking around, however still pretty wobbly but she is doing great!!  From Day 1 she would eat everything in sight and became very emotional when food/feeding time was over TODAY eating what a typically 19 month old would eat and lets us know she is all finished!!  :) From the day we first came home- she was scared to death of our dogs and TODAY she smiles at them from a distance and reaches for them however still is a little unsure of their next movements!  Her milestones go on and on!! We feel like we were given a newborn and now has aged to 19 months all in the three weeks we have had her!! 

Riley starts all of her appointments this week!  Not sure why but I am pretty excited!  Her bumps on her head are almost all gone.  She has had some hair loss where the largest one was!  She developed a little cough/runny nose at the end of last week but seems to be rebounding good!  Tomorrow,  Tuesday, we are meeting with the cleft palate team at Children's Mercy Hospital.  I am not sure what to expect from any of these appointments.  Wednesday, we are seeing an ENT to discuss the possibility of ear tubes and Friday, we are meeting with the International Adoption Clinic at CMH.  Again, Not sure what to expect but looking forward to all of them!!  We are waiting for Johnson County Infant /Toddler Services to call with our appointment for her full evaluation done here at home to see where she stands among her same aged peers.  While we know we have a lot of goals to achieve and steps to reach we are staying very positive that in 6 months we can look back and be in awe at how far she has come and developed!!  

We have taken lots of pictures and have truly enjoy being a family of 6!!  Rheagan is such an awesome big sister, not only to the boys but to Riley too!!  She is my helper and right hand girl for sure!!  I am blessed to have such a wonderful first born to be a second momma to all the kids!! 

God is so good and with Easter yesterday we were reminded that we do all for and through HIM!!  We are blessed and very thankful for that!!  No complaints on my end!! Enjoy the pictures!!!

Riley and all her signs and balloons we received at the airport:





 
Mima and Riley.  My grandmother, Mima, came up from Texas to stay here in KS and watched the boys while we were in China.  I can't thank her ENOUGH!!  Not sure how we would have done it without her!!  Riley makes the total of Great Grandkids to.........9!!
 
 
 
My brothers really LOVE ME!!!
 



 
I KNOW I AM SO CUTE!!! 

 
I LOVE READING BOOKS!!!


 
Happy Easter!!  He has risen, he has RISEN indeed!! 

 
Trying to get four kids to pose for a picture--is nearly impossible!!  We had many, many takes!!!


 
Moving outside....I was tired and out of breath just trying to get them to ALL look at me at the same time!!! Not sure it was ever or will be ever accomplished!!




 
Riley's FIRST EASTER!!  She loved her Easter basket!!


 
Especially.......when she get FOOD in her basket!! 


 
Cousins!!  It was a beautiful day outside!! 

 
Our FIRST family of 6 picture or attempt at a family picture of 6!!! 


 
Easter Egg Hunt.  Riley picked it up very quickly!! 






 


   

 

Friday, March 22, 2013

We are HOME!

We are finally HOME!!  We were welcomed at the airport last night by a HUGE crowd!!  They had signs, balloons and best part of you...little American flags for Riley!!  She is a US Citizen NOW!!  Immigration was very east in Chicago and didn't take long.   We went on 29 straight hours of being a wake and trying to function!!  I have been experiencing some major dizziness the last 2 days.  I believe it is my vertigo that I have had in the past.  I think lack of sleep, many planes rides and a boat ride are to blame!!  We slept about 7 hours last night!!  Jet Lag is going to stink...I can already tell!!  Riley did great overall!!  The first flight was almost 14 hours, she slept about 4!!  I will post more later.  Thanks friends for keeping us in our prayers.  The boys are just loving on Riley!!  Reece doesn't want her to cry AT ALL!!  Ryan told me several times, one at 4:30 AM this morning when he happened to wake up...Mommy, I am so glad our baby is finally here!!  Let me tell you we are ALL GLAD and very thankful Riley is here with us and to start this journey as a family of 6 is ONLY beginning!!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Oath Ceremony, Park and River Cruise

We have taken our final Oath here in China at the US Consulate in Guangzhou.  As soon as Riley crosses over the border and we present her papers to Immigration in Chicago she will be a US Citizen!!  Tomorrow we pick her the brown envelope that is sealed and must remain sealed until we present it to the Immigration!  We have ONLY one full day left in China.  We head to Hong Kong tomorrow night where we will stay and Thursday morning-- we are off to Chicago!!  We enjoyed the afternoon at the Park and the evening on the River Cruise.  They were all fun but I AM READY TO BE HOME!!  :)  We have enjoyed our time here and will always remember the friends we have met!  They will all hold a special place in my heart!! 

Riley is doing GREAT!!  She is smiling, laughing, attempting to walk/run.  She is crawling all over the room.  We are so proud of her!!  Her abscess (bump) on her head finally broke open this morning.  I will have to say-- it was pretty gross but has gone down tremendously in size!!  I am still doctoring it trying to avoid any infections. 

I will let the pictures tell the story today!!