Emotional Day

First some pictures from Chinese New Year Party, yesterday.
This afternoon, I got the strange notion to check out WAC*P's waiting
child list, as I was looking at the older kids....
I came across a familiar looking face. I hesitated, but then asked
Joseph if he knows this boy.
"yes, yes! that is my friend from the picture!"
Then more excitement we found 13 kids from his room/section of the
orphanage....I now have faces to go with at least 17 of the 32 kids that
he lived with. Some of them are home, some are coming home, but at
least 13 are on that list.
It was interesting, he told us tidbits about each of them...some "very
smart" one has "big mouth, broke my yo-yo"
One had "this" - one shoulder higher than the other. A few were very
good kids.
So if you are looking at the kids on WAC*P's list and they start with
JH5 let me know.
Then he asked to see the orphanage on the world map...found it on Goo*le
Earth.
Then "find my family home?" "no, too far"
Well he wrote his address for me awhile ago....(thank goodness, because
he claims he doesn't remember it now)...
so we entered that into the same program and after some false
starts...(translating into Pin-Yin doesn't always go smoothly)
We found his foster family's home town! He found his school, but not
his house....it was a bit confusing seeing the houses from above.

Pray With Us

The other day our agency told us the names of Joseph's, foster brother's ...American parents.

The agency passed along our contact information and now I  am patiently waiting an e-mail or phone call.

I pray if this is a positive step in our son's life that the other family will make contact.

These boys would have lived together at least 7 years. So I think some kind of contact would be good.

Well That Was Interesting!

Yesterday I wanted to deliver a belated baby gift to the neighbors and
the girls and Joseph wanted to come along.
As we walked in the freezing cold Joseph told me that his foot goes
sideways when he runs. He demonstrated for me. I told him to concentrate
on walking properly.
As we got to the end of the drive he said "mama, my foot is loose!"
I stopped to look and sure enough it looked like it was a bit wiggly. I
said we will need to tighten that after we
deliver this gift.
Well we walked a few more steps and I could see that it was not a good
idea to walk further.
Now our drive is about 500' long and I'm thinking..."let him stand there
until I run into the house?" "It's freezing cold!
Oh wonderful-- I actually had my phone in my pocket....something I
hardly ever do. Called Ray and told him to come and get Joseph. As he
stepped into the truck his foot fell off!!
Thankfully I have a handyman husband, and he got out the allen wrenches
and reattached the foot...we think the bolts never had been tightened
properly...hopefully it doesn't happen at school.

Later in the evening Joseph asked daddy "do you like money?" I'm
thinking...."careful daddy"
Daddy says" yes I like some money"
Joseph: "If your house goes 'pong' what would you get first?"
Daddy: " I would get my kids and wife, then go back in for my money."
So I had to ask "Joseph, if the house goes 'pong' what would you get
first?"
He looked sideways at the girls and said "my sisters"...." I couldn't
carry mama or the boys and daddy"
What a kid!

New Feet!

Yesterday I reminded Joseph that he won't be going to school today and he was disappointed until he remembered that it was "new feet day". Let the pictures tell you the results....of course my battery only lasted for 3 shots ! but the pictures tell it...after some initial adjustments he loved them. Now I do know they will take some getting used to there are some pressure spots, but he stands so much straighter!   The down-side? He needs to learn how to get up again if he falls. So that will be fun to teach and .. They made him stand 5' 3" and he really should be more like 4'11" not sure why but it makes him a bit of a smart alec! he is only one inch shorter than mom.   Thankfully when he went on his rant about his haircut tonite, he had his feet off and I could talk to him as the little boy he actually is. I met another bloggy mom today, so neat! Anna, praying for your family tonite.

Glad That Day is Over!

But first yesterday, we actually had a snow day, not just a delay.
It was for ice, not snow. It was a day for adding to the snowman and
getting wet.

Then the mail came and they found the new Family Fun magazine and Joseph
decided we need to make the CNY dragons....of course I had to help
because none of them can read directions very well =-O
So here are the finished results

Yesterday was the evening my DH decided to replace the failing
alternator in the van and was unable to remove one of the bolts. He was
very irritated at himself, but....
Anyway, thankfully the garage that has been tending to the venerable old
lady (our '93 Astro) consented to see her today, but first I had to get it and the children to school.
I am very thankful that everything stayed together until I reached the garage. And thankful for MIL who took Faith and I home from the garage....

They replaced the alternator and she should be good as new....for now....I am hoping to
get a picture of 222,222 miles on that odometer. Better start carrying
my camera, she is at 220,9__ something.


Tomorrow we plan to add a few more miles and go to Philly to get
Joseph's new legs...I am excited and worried. I hope it isn't too
painful to stand up straight after all this time of having one hip
higher than the other. If you think about it I'm sure he could use extra
prayers.

Finally We Can Pack the Snow!

We got snow earlier this week, but it was so cold and dry, there were no snowmen in our yard.
Today the temperatures inched up a bit and the snow worked beautifully.

So first off the boys needed to make an 8+ foot snowman. Little sister came out to pose, she had been out earlier and DID have a coat and snowpants and gloves....REALLY!

 

Then Ezekiel decided he needs to add on....


Older Sister did not like the haphazard way the boys made THEIR snowman, so she made her own.

The the boy that reads too many Calvin and Hobbes comic books, made this snowman....

uggh! don't look at the mold that insists on growing on my wooden window sills

A Note

On Sunday I noticed Youngest Brother busy writing on a piece of Oldest
Sister's paper. I decided the sermon was probably above his head and
left it go.
After church he gave me this.... sniff, sniff!!

Belated Post

I should have posted this about two days ago.....
Eight years ago we met our first daughter.....isn't she the cutest thing?

Stared at her daddy for the longest time....

She was a sick little girl when she was handed to us. Thankfully we had
antibiotics and by the time we reached the medical appointment in GZ
they listened to her lungs very carefully, but said she is "OK".

She came home to meet her 3 big brothers....

 

It was love at first sight




Today she is a feisty 8 year old that tries to keep her brothers in line.

We love you girl!

A Bigger House

While we were driving today....Youngest Brother said "when me big
man...me go to Chi*a and... 5 children"
At first I was not sure if he was going to Chi*a and getting married and
having 5 children. So I asked "will you adopt or have babies?"
He said " some 7 y.o. and some 10 y.o. and some little....maybe 10
childrens"
I said maybe you better ask your wife...he gave me a blank look....I
pointed to daddy and said "I'm his wife"
He just laughed and said "I don't know"
I told him, "you need a wife if you are going to have that many children
and I am going to need a big house for all my grandchildren."
With Oldest Sister's 12 children, his 10, and youngest sister.... not
sure how many she has planned, looks like I will be needing a big house
when they all come home for Sunday lunch.

Happy New Year!

We had our traditional New Year meal...

Pork and Sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, and green beans....I figured we would have a lot of sauerkraut left...but everyone ate it!!
What do you eat for New Year's dinner?