Earthquake in China!

I haven't posted anything about this because I really don't know what to say. It is a very sad situation and my heart hurts for all the people effect by it. So many deaths that it is too much to even think about. I am sure that there are families here that are waiting to travel to these provinces to bring their children home that now will not be able to travel, there children are in these effected areas and there is nothing they can do to help.

I know there are many orphanages that had serious damage and are without power or food.

I decided to make a posting about this because we received an email from our agency today and they have started a donation fund for all effected by this disaster they are partnering with Americares. Bob and I plan on making a contribution and hope that some of you will consider it as well. If you are interested in doing this please email me at phooket@aol.com and I will give you the information.

China and it's people will always have a very special place in our hearts, when their people hurt we hurt if we can even make a small difference then Bob and I feel that we need to do that.

Thanks

1ST. WEIGH IN....

Well, it was a good week!! I managed to lose 5.8 pounds! I am very excited because it was Mother's Day Weekend and we did go out to eat and we spent the weekend with my parents, my mom's cooking is AWESOME! And she loves to bake. But I did it! And I am very happy of myself right now.

The new week begins and a new set of challenges begin. Saturday is my birthday and I will be in PA again with my family celebrating and Sunday is my nephew's birthday party. My mom always makes a big deal of birthdays, I have asked her to scale it down a bit and maybe make some "healthy choices" Wish me luck!

SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR

First, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all the mommy's out there!! My first official mothers day was wonderful! Bob, Owen and I spent the weekend in PA with my mom. As always Owen had a great time there and didn't want to leave! For mothers day Owen gave me (o.k. with the help of daddy) a keychain that is a digital photo album so I can hold all my great photos of our boy! Of course it will be very hard to pick just 50 photos that I love but I will do my best. LOL

I say it is my first offical mothers day because last year on May 9th we saw our littles boys face for the first time. It was the Wednesday before Mothers Day!

I can remember the phone call I received from our coordinator like it was yesterday! She called me at work on Tuesday May 8th at 2:30 p.m.! I remember when my co-worker came to find me and said you have a phone call from your coordinator I almost passed out. I couldn't imagine why she was calling, the first thing that came into my mind was that we were being questioned in the review room. Instead she said "I think I have your son" I didn't know what to say, she even asked if I was still there. She had three boys files available, all had cleft lip/cleft palate the only difference was their ages. There was a 12 month old, a 17 month old and a 24 month old. We could only review one file at a time and we needed to make a decision on which one we wanted to review. I immediatly called Bob at work and told him. I said what do you want to do? He of course said YES!!! We decided on the 17 month old, for no other reason then his age was exactly what we were looking for. I called our coordinator right back and told her that we would be in to review the file. We made an appointment for the next day at 5:30 p.m.! That was the longest 24 hours of my life.

We went through his medical file first before seeing any pictures, then she showed us his face!!! I could only cry. He was perfect, he was our son. I can't explain the feeling, it is every emotion you can ever feel and feeling them all at once. I just stared at him, I couldn't stop staring at his eyes. We knew that we would be bringing Fu Qiao home, but went through the motions of having doctors review his file.

There were some family members that didn't think we were doing the right thing and expressed concern over excepting a child with a special need, I am VERY THANKFUL that we didn't listen to them, that Bob and I went with our heart. Because I can not imagine my life without him, he is everything I had hoped for and everything that I didn't know I was missing. Anyone that is a part of his life see's what a wonderful child he is, how he has overcome every obstacle given to him, and has done it with so much love.

I have so much to be thankful for, a beautiful baby and a great husband! LIFE IS GOOD.

I've attached the first pictures we have!

SUPERMAN

That would be the word I would use to describe my daddy. I've always been a daddy's girl and in my eyes he can't do anything wrong, although I am sure my mother would disagree! LOL

A couple of months ago I saw a really nice kitchen table set, I really loved it. I hadn't mentioned it to Bob because I knew we really didn't have the extra money to spend on a dining room table that we really didn't need, ours was fine. I took my mom to the store and showed it to her and she of course told Bob about it and that I wanted this set. A couple of days later Bob suggested we go to look at it (dad is superman but Bob is a close 2nd and would work as many hours overtime necessary to buy it for me if I really wanted it) well, we got to the store and it was gone and they weren't getting another one like it. To say I was disappointed would be putting it lightly.

When I told my mom that they sold "my table set" and weren't getting another one she knew how upset I was about it. Of course she tells my dad and what does he do??? He builds me one that looks almost just like the one I saw, except better because Dad made it for me from scratch.

I know I take my daddy for granted, I know that I don't always say thanks for ALL the little things he does for me and for my husband and son. But I am sure he knows how much I love him and I am a better person because of him but just in case he doesn't I am letting him know now.....I LOVE YOU DADDY AND THINK YOU WALK ON WATER!!!

Here is a picture of what might be his best work ever!!!!!