Six Months Ago

Six months ago today was Thanksgiving Day 2006 and it was the day we brought Nathan home. Looking at the picture of us at the airport I am struck by how tiny Nathan was and how red his cheeks were from rubbing them on our shirts during the long flights.




When I think about all the changes that Nathan has gone through in the past six months, I am amazed at the resilience that babies have. It has been such a time of transition for all of us while we got used to each other and to the dramatic changes in our lives. Ron says that it seems like he has always been here.

I cringe when I think of all the mistakes I've made as a new mother. The first six months was not what I expected and yet Nathan greets me with big smiles and squeals and I know that I'm not required to be perfect. We are getting better at this family thing all the time and I am loving being Nathan's Mommy.

Six months ago Nathan completed the long journey from China. I can only wonder what was going through his mind. Today it's easy for me to know what he is thinking. I hope he can tell that I am thinking how very blessed I am when I look at him. We love him so much. We look forward so much to what the next six months hold.

Update on Nathan

Nathan is doing so much better! Yesterday he got the okay from the doctor to have solid foods again. He is very happy about being able to eat. Thank you so much for all your prayers!


This year is my first Mother's Day! Ron and Nathan took me out to my favorite tea room earlier this week since we will be working this Sunday.


I enjoyed going out with my guys. It's so much nicer to be out and about now that the weather is warmer. Nathan is still getting used to going outside. He hasn't loved it so far but more tolerates it. I'm sure by the end of summer he'll be begging to go out.

The Surgeries Are Over!!

We are so pleased that the dreaded surgeries are finally over! They all went very well. We had just a couple of glitches as one of the surgeons didn't get scheduled but he came over anyway. The Children's Hospital was so wonderful to Nathan and to us!

Nathan and I got to the hospital at around 7:30am and Ron joined us as soon as he got off work. Nathan was so glad to see him.



We spent a while in the pre-op playroom. Nathan really enjoyed that part.





He is really into little matchbox cars right now.




We tried to be upbeat for him but eventually he began to suspect something was amuck especially when we started dressing oddly.



After his surgery we held him as much as possible. The braces on his arms are called no-nos and they keep him from putting his hands in his mouth.



Nana came to the hospital to see Nathan and he was pleased to snuggle with her. Here we are trying to get some fluids into him.

The surgeon who repaired Nathan's palate said it looked very, very good so he likely will not need more corrective surgery on it, We are so happy to hear this.

We didn't get released until 2:00pm today and we are glad to finally be home. Nathan is happy to be home. I can't help but wonder how the horrible experience translates to a baby's mind because we can't explain it to him. He will be on a liquid diet for a week.

Thank you to everyone who remembered Nathan in your prayers!

Surgery Today

Nathan is having surgery later this morning. Please pray that everything will go perfectly and that he will heal quickly.

My Mommy Wears Army Boots!

I was away in Tulsa at a Leader's Conference this past week and I missed my guys so much! They came up to visit me on my last day and I was so glad to see them. Nathan was pretty happy too. He had on camouflage to match his Mommy's uniform.





We went to The Aquarium in Tulsa. Nathan was a little freaked out at first because it was dark and he didn't understand it. He finally noticed the fish on the other side of the glass and became very interested.


He tried to grab the fish as they swam by. He enjoyed this big tank of colorful fish.


Mommy tried to get Nathan to look at the stingrays but he was afraid it was a giant bathtub.


Daddy was more successful. We didn't take him to the place where you could pet the stingrays since we thought that would be too much for him.



This little gator snapped at Nathan and scared him.


These beavers were so cute! Nathan thought they were dogs.


Inside the shark tunnel.


Touching a starfish.



Some of the fish were curious about Nathan.


After one night away he was very happy to be home.

Happy Easter Everyone!!!

Easter Brunch!

We had a brunch at our house on Saturday the day before Easter with the ladies from the Police Records. Nathan was estatic to be the center of attention. (Push the little speaker button to hear the sound).

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A visit with the surgeon

The above picture is Nathan on the way home from church last Sunday. He has a very good time in the nursery there. It's fun to snuggle with him when he is sleepy.



This afternoon we went to see the surgeon who will repair Nathan's cleft palate. It looks like everything is good to go. His surgery is scheduled for May 1st pending the availability of the surgeon who will be putting the tubes in Nathan's ears during the same surgery. It looks like the procedures will take several hours. He will have an overnight stay at the hospital before we can take him home. It sounds as if the first two weeks will be the roughest but after that he should be pretty much back to his usual self. We might have some smaller surgeries in the future but this is the major one that needs to be done.

Nathan flirted with all of the nurses and medical assistants and begged for the doctor to pick him up. I can see now why Nathan's file from China read that all of the doctors and nurses loved him when he had his lip repaired. He loves being the center of attention and turns on the charm.

Families With Chinese Children

This is Clara with Nathan. If you remember Clara and her family met us at the airport when we brought Nathan home. She is growing so beautiful. Joy, Clara's Mom invited me to go to the FCC playgroup. We went and met some other families with Chinese children and I'm sure we will go back regularly. It was so much fun to see all the little faces and hear what part of China they were from. Nathan was a little shy around so many kids but I'm sure he will fit right in before too long. Below is Nathan in his stroller waiting for us to finish signing our tax forms. We are so glad he likes his stroller now. He just loves being out and about.

Blech!

I'm so proud of Ron! He actually got out the camera when I wasn't at home and took pictures of Nathan. I'm sort of glad I missed this one although Nathan seems to be enjoying his first experience with spagetti. He's such a good eater.

Weight Update!

We were at the vet's office today and put Nathan on the doggy scales. According to them he weighs 18.8 pounds! That's fully clothed of course. It means that he has gained two pounds since January!




I think crying baby photos are cute so here are some of Nathan. He was upset because I sat him in the papasan chair and tried to take his picture. He has gotten quite a few teeth in the past couple of months.



Nathan became fascinated with the patch of sunlight made by the oval window. We are used to seeing cats laying in it so I wonder if Nathan was remembering that when he decided to lay down in the spot. Liberty who is never far away became concerned and licked him until he got up.

Let The Sunshine In

Nathan in our sunroom which is almost finished.

Maybe I shouldn't cut Nathan's hair when I first get back from a military weekend. He looks ready for inspection! His hair was getting really long and it has a tendency to clump together then stick up horribly when he wakes up. His hair was kind of sparse when we first brought him home but the good nutrition is making it come in thicker.



Those cheeks are starting to get a little chubby and I love them! We haven't had him weighed at the doctor's office lately but we think he is up to around 18 pounds now. He burns off all of his calories and he eats huge amounts of food! He is getting too tall for his nine month clothes. I can put outfits like this that are 12 month on him because of the elastic waist. He is still skinny but not boney like he was before so the clothes are baggy but they work.


Ron finished the floor in the sunroom this weekend and today Nathan got to explore it for a while. He is walking and running everywhere now.