A Giveaway!

No not mine...but jump over to HERE and take a look at Connie's blog. She is giving away a nice camera...
just add to their adoption fund with the Chip-in button...
and take a few minutes to read about their family
They have been working hard to raise the funds for this next adoption.

Making Memories

Earlier this week Youngest Brother told me that he "no zoo" "friend zoo,
Sister zoo" "me- no zoo" He indicated his legs as the reason he did not
get to go to the zoo. We had understood that he had gone to the zoo ,
but he told me it was only on TV.
So even thought the season is practically over we decided to hope that
the weather forecast was correct and go to the ZOO!
The temps were a little cool, the elephants had gone to stay at another
zoo, and the Big Cat's were mostly "closed for renovations" BUT
the Lego display was still present, the otters were active, the
penguins did their strut, the baby giraffe was delightful, and the
monkeys were swinging. Oh and the snakes were active late in the day.
We hiked around the zoo until his legs were tired.
The best animals were the tigers and the snakes
The McD's $$ menu did the job on the way home.
Today he was asked for a list of 10 toys he would like and he could only
come up with one!
And he said something about liking his mama more than a lot of toys.
More Memories to come!

It's Not Fair!

My mom used to tell me "well life just isn't fair"
Yes, mom you are right.
But does it have to be so hard?
Today youngest son found the He*s trucks that big brother has
accumulated in his 19 years, I couldn't let him play with them...big
brother didn't even play with them...he wanted to keep them nice.

We had tears again today..."me no car"
me: " but you have cars under your bed"
YS: "they no go (they're matchbox)

All the while I'm thinking inside...just how do I tell him that I want
to buy him the newest Hes* truck that should come out this year...but at
Thanksgiving. I want to buy him a whole store full of cars, trucks,
etc. but is it good? is it the right thing to do?

Today I bought 3 yo-yo's, he chose the best one for himself but they did
not live up to expectations.
I bought 2 new basketballs, one for big brother and a youth size for the
two younger boys...but that's sharing.

It was not right that a boy could live somewhere for 10 years and not
own ANYTHING!

He told me today he did have a ball, but "friend" grabbed it away.

I tried to explain that the other boys got their toys slowly over the
years and he will too,but our language is just too limited.

Or should we just have a huge party and give him his heart's desire? But
will that live up to his expectations?...his yo-yo's don't quite measure
up because he can't do the same tricks the hero's on the Chinese TV
shows performed.

I know not that many people read this... but does anyone have any ideas?

Ten Year Old Tycoon

The new fun game at this house is Mon*poly. At first I just hated when they pulled out this game...the language barrier...the arguments...the competition....

I am guilty of hiding the game a few times. Not very well I'm afraid.

The last few days there is hardly any language barrier when it comes to playing. He can read most of the cards well enough to know if he is getting $100 or needs to pay $100. If he is suspicious that it is a bad card and no one is looking he will slip to the bottom of the pile and pull a new one. But all in all he understands the rules pretty well.
I figure it is helping his math, reading, and English. We have added "yes sir!" "double" "jail" and others

Last night big sister and youngest brother started a game and left it lay until this morning. After I dropped the big ones off at school. He decided that the game must go on.
Little sister, came to me and asked "why is brother talking to sister and she isn't there?"

Anyway needless to say his number of properties increased very quickly and his pile of $$ did the same....
I came in to take the picture...he said "wait mama" and quickly lined up all the money and property deeds and then posed for the next picture.

Meet the American Dream....it also involves 10 yo-yo's and a  blue bike helmet with matching knee pads, a car that climbs walls, a watch and a whole list written in Mandarin.

Learning to Know You

You have good memories of popcorn...translated means "exploding corn flower" makes sense.
You told me to add salt...let it pop a little more then add sugar.  "Very Good!"
       we need to try that
You told me "in China, much with one money"   (can buy a lot of popcorn with little money)
No microwave popcorn....smart people...it's much better in a kettle.
   
You left me pull a tooth last night, you got a quarter for it. (sorry we aren't rich)
    But what happened tonite? Mama and daddy will not pull a tooth unless you ask us to. I thought you understood that.
You drew me a picture of your China house...there were two...one for cold days and one for hot days.
The one for cold days seemed big, but you said "just downstairs, no up"
The house has scallops (wooden?) along the roof line, the roof was red and there were blue lotus type flowers painted just below the scallops.

I am taking the Social Workers advice and am backing off on "lessons" and concentrating more on drawing...explaining feelings (gotta work on that)

Today was a good day...at least I thought so until tonite...I'm still confused.
If anyone knows of superstitions about loose teeth or pulling teeth, please let me know....he has 6 loose baby teeth that he is alternately protecting and complaining about.

More Firsts

Today we found a nice hefty package in the mail. The Chinese English
Bible we had ordered. Youngest Brother had been complaining that
everyone else has a Bible, but he does not. We quite honestly did not
know which version to order...anyway after some research we ordered a
NIV English and Chinese New Union (I think that is the proper term) on
Sat night.
He was very delighted when he opened the package...I did have some
misgivings on the way in the drive...what if he is disappointed that it
is only a "book". He was delighted that his is the biggest Bible in the
house...I didn't have the heart to show him Big Brother's or the Family
Bible....we'll let that go.

After lunch he got busy catching up his Sunday School lessons...and
wouldn't you know the story of Joseph is scheduled for Nov 7 so I had
him read ahead...that is what he is reading in the picture. He likes
this translation better "Joseph is a fruitful vine..."

Also tonite was haircutting night...I left him watch the others....he
wanted me to cut an X in his hair...I told him it is a Z...then he
wanted a J. Humph! there are no letters in his hair!
The only picture that turned out half-decent is this one. The others
look as if he is crying...he is actually laughing
hysterically/nervously. He is very ticklish. He told me "in China rrrr"
and made quick cutting motions.

Lest it sounds as if everything is going along very smoothly....we have
our times....
He does not like a challenge...math is fine if it is
easy enough to get all of them right.

He tests to see if I really mean "get in the van, we
are going" He moves faster now. I went out to the van and had it running
before he managed to get out the door.

Yanking the cart rudely when mom doesn't buy
something he wants...I have been ignoring that one for now.

The competition between him and little sister is
tiresome....she tattles and is bratty (my words) and he is irritated
that someone half his age is learning the same things as he....they are
about at the same level in reading right now....well he can sound out
simple words, but she knows what they mean.

The thing I thought I was prepared for....slurping any
food....is getting on my nerves...petty I know, but I am too human.

Research

We are waiting out appointment at Shreiner's Hospital and I am anxious to see what they have to say about Youngest Brother's feet and hand.
Last night my husband was looking for some before and after pictures online so we could show in pictures what we are trying to explain in Chinglish.
I haven't wanted to start explaining until the doctors have actually taken x-rays and have a slight idea what they will be attempting.
Anyway we searched and all the "articles" that we found were in some medical journal that charges $31.50 to view a single article...
But we did find this about a little girl in Nepal
I read through the other doctor's advice and did not feel too great, but read to the bottom and load the video, plus this was 2004  hopefully in the last 6 years they have come up with something.
I did find another printout for missionary doctors, but that was not for anyone with a weak stomach.

Life

Sorry about the photos first and then the text, but sending an e-mail
is just faster for this old brain.

We needed a family picture for the SW on Friday, it is hard to have 8
people dressed and combed and feeling smiley all at the same time. So we
picked 10 PM on a Sunday night. Out of 4 pictures taken by my son's
obliging girlfriend we have at least one that is half-decent. ( It
wasn't your fault Glenda) Joseph for some reason needed to be a ham on
every picture, at least this one only looks like "deer in the headlights"

The other day our good friends Jen, Olivia and Natalie came to visit and
Joseph took a liking to Nat. She did live in the same SWI, but I doubt
they knew each other.

Little sister decided to do her homework at supper time the other night.
I need to talk to the K teacher about the assignments (reading pages of
the dictionary?) Really now, Miss B.

Last but not least, when we were in China we did not buy too many
souvenirs this time, but we did want something for the boys. Tea sets
just didn't seem quite right, but when we saw rip-sticks for $16 we
decided to see if we could get them home w/o Mr. Nosey's figuring out
what was in the package. We lugged the 2 rip-sticks through the 3
airports all wrapped together in a rice bag and duct-tape. The handle we
fashioned was from plastic raincoats braided together (should've taken a
picture)
Anyway they DID figure it out, but they were surprised that there were 2
boards in the package...
They seem to be pretty good quality and the wheels light up when you go
fast enough.
Joseph was pretty determined to try them, but his prosthetics do not
have ankle joints so he has problems getting the balance he needs.

We have an appointment Nov 11 at Shr*ner's in Phila. One day I hope he
has good ankles and I will buy 10 rip-sticks...and 10 helmets, and 10
sets of knee pads....

Grief

Well just when I thought there would be no grieving...today it came.
Brought on by a math problem 40/2 =
I know it wasn't about math.
I'm just glad little sister was in school, so we could cry together.
Then you made me coffee (somebody was observing)
I will do my best to find your "Younger Brother"

Love Mom

Firsts...

Today my brave new son had his first dentist's visit. He was not very enthused about it and when he finally sat on the chair he held his hands over his mouth.
I got out the translator and started talking.
He was worried about "pain"
Big surprise...isn't everyone
I hesitated to assure him "no pain" because I wanted to be entirely truthful and how did I know if he had sensitive teeth?
So I told him this is very important and bad teeth cause pain.
He consented finally and we discovered the reason for his discomfort in eating some things...he has about 5 loose teeth!
He carefully guards them and does not wiggle them...I have no idea what he was told before.
We even got x-rays and everything looks good with only "a watch on #14" whatever that means.
He even got his teeth cleaned, but I drew the line at the fluoride treatment...he was finished sitting.

Then we went to McD*nald's for lunch...hopefully he doesn't get the idea we do that every time we go into that town....

Our Sunday Afternoon Walk

Weather in the Commonwealth of PA was BEAUTIFUL today!
After church we took a walk in a nearby development and discovered a
wealth of wildlife...according to our newest son....the grasshoppers
were good roasted on a stick. When I offered to make them for supper he
respectfully declined.

Naming Your Child

When we received our first approval for our son...we used his Chinese
name when referring to him... I couldn't give him a name from me at that
point...there were too many unknowns.

Then finally we had final approval and the name search was on....we had
kicked names around, but knew that we needed to keep his original name
(or most of it) and then add a name from us. We wanted a Bible name,
like our other kids, but it had to sound right with his Chinese name.

We looked at meanings a little bit, but mostly just decided "does it
sound right"

We agreed on "Joseph" I must say it was not my first pick, but I
figured we will probably stick with the Chinese name which by now was
the name that flowed off my tongue when I spoke of him.

We met him and asked if there was a nick-name...no, they always used his
full name...akk! my mom only used my full name when I was in trouble! So
we shortened it to just his given name...and he was with us a day or
two before we had the guide tell him about his additional names....he
tried them out...but when asked a few days later, he preferred the
shortened Chinese name we had been calling him.

"no problem" that's what I've been calling him all along.

We get home... and we asked again, because he had been asking "momma -
ming-zu?" or "Momma, what's your name?" (what's my name?) so after
awhile he remembered and said "me, Joseph."

We used the translator and asked which name he preferred and he said
"Joseph"

OKAAAY, so now I'm using both names....

Then the other night I showed him the character for Joseph in the Bible
Story Book (written in Mandarin) He grabbed the translator and entered
the characters...gave theatrical moans...and pointed to the
translation...."shivering whisper"

Oh boy!

So we got on the computer and pulled up the English translation of
Joseph....means "The Lord will increase"

Not sure if he is convinced that we had the English meaning in mind
(cause we really hadn't looked it up).

I need to find out from someone, how they translate those old Hebrew
names into Mandarin characters...is is by phonetic sound or do they take
meaning into account.

Thankfully "shivery whisper" is in bed...he decided tonite was the night
to make shoes for one of the dolls...more on "James-boy" (doll's new
name) later...and his tape and fabric shoes.

Oh, about the picture...after days of rain...we saw a sun-dog...I think
I will just call it another rainbow.

What I Didn't Expect

My ten year old son in a mystery....

The one page of information that we got with his referral, does not even
scratch the surface. The information gives minimal information on how he
got his burns and even less about his life since then....

After knowing him for three weeks, I want to know...

Where did he learn to give back rubs?

How does he know the difference between peach trees and apple trees?

Who taught him that the best answer in a new situation is "no"

Where did you spend your time? You knew which animal you were smelling
at the fair.

Why do you think you will get hives from a long sleeved shirt...is it
the idea that it was wool?...or didn't you like the shirt?

How allergic are you to shrimp and mushrooms? Why didn't the paperwork
mention it? (c'mon people this could have been important)

Who taught you to prepare food?

Why do you seem to know that God is very important to us? You remind
your siblings to pray before they eat, when they would charge ahead and
start stuffing their mouths.

Yet you say you had no religious education of any sort.

We took you to Chinese Church today, you sang the songs, what did you
hear? what did you learn?

The other things I didn't expect...
The child I expected to have outbursts over a new sibling...is not the
child having the outbursts. They happen about every other day, mostly
when she is tired, plus she was sick when we came home. Hopefully, this
week is better.
I did not expect to be quite so BUSY almost like a newborn...except he
can get into the refrigerator by himself! :^)
I also did not expect to fall in love so fast.
I did not expect one of his first words to be "careful!" (am I
over-protective?)

This boy is determined! I don't think he ever shot a basket before
Friday and today he managed to get a few shots in the basket! He was
very pleased with himself. My camera skills were not good enough to
catch the actual shot.

Last night he met his 13 cousins on my side of the family....he was a
bit stunned, but seemed to blend right in.