Our Bella

Isabella.....Whats New With Her?

Isabella will be turning 4 in May. Where has the time gone? Isabella is my most amazing child. I have always thought that she suffered some kind of abuse at the orphanage. When we got Isabella she was totally shut down. That must be how she dealt with her situation before coming into our family. In addition to being shut down, she did not attach to us either. It was so so sad. She came to us at 14 months old and she did not eat solid food, she did not utter a sound, never cried, made very little eye contact and did not show emotion. To look at her today you would never know it. She is securely attached to me and John and so full of love that she blows me away. Everything was a struggle for her too...talking, learning, accepting love,playing, laughing. As Bella came out of her shell all things started to fall into place. She still struggles with so many different areas but she does things on her own schedule. She was just discharged from Occupational therapy and i believe she will be discharged from speech in June. Talking was very hard for her. At almost 2 1/2 she couldn't even say moo when she saw a cow. Now.......John and I just laugh as she tells us these big stories! She is full of words, sentences and ATTITUDE! She still has that protective side to her and I can actually see it when it is about to emerge. Its like she disconnects .She also gets special ed services because she is cognitively behind. She has made some big gains there too but she is still behind. Her special ed teacher does have concerns about her ability to learn to read and write. BUT....Bella has always done things when she was ready and not before. Bella recently was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Since your thyroid function and brain development go hand in hand they are wondering if there is a correlation between her delay and her hypothyroid. I HATE the idea of Bella taking medicine everyday for the rest of her life! She also needs to lab work done every 3 months to make sure she is getting the right dose of medicine. She hates the lab work and I hate subjecting her to that. I was kind of in denial in the beginning thinking maybe the lab was wrong and maybe it would just turn itself around even though I know that doesn't happen. All that aside.....Bella is funny, loving and she can just melt my heart. Her strong will is something I envy in her and I hope she carries it around for life. Hopefully she will be starting preschool in the fall. She went for a few months this year but she wasn't quite ready yet. On the days she went she would be up crying all night up 6 or 7 times totally inconsolable. Otherwise she would be in bed with us. We did it for 4 months and nothing changed so we decided to for go preschool this year. Plus she had developed the hypothyroidism. Every child is different and I'm pretty certain that was what was best for her! She is VERY excited about our upcoming trip to Disney in May. She is a huge princess fan. I think Cinderella in her favorite! She still loves Dora though and is always pretty loyal to her! I am going to post some pictures of my beautiful girl!!

Easter Happenings

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I love what it stands for, I love that it is a sign that spring is usually on the way, I love that people dress up, and I love that my children understand (somewhat) that it is about more than the Easter bunny and chocolate. Our day started out wonderfully. There were baskets, laughter, an egg hunt, and some special family time together before daddy left for work! I dressed the kids and they looked awesome as you can see below! I was determined to get an early start. We sit in the same seat every Sunday at church. I want my same seat even if it is a holiday ! So, I like to go early. I am getting ready to take a few last minute pictures of the kids.......when I see it.........Isabella DREW all over her beautiful white dress while I was dressing John Jr!. I was trying not to freak out. I guess it didn't work. So now i have to change her. I was so ANGRY! So I did what any other mother would do....I changed her into another beautiful dress. One that she hates wearing. So if you think Isabella looks like she was crying in some of the pictures...she was. If you think that she is wearing two different dresses....she was. The rest of the day turned out really nice. We had dinner with a friend who's husband also was working.

Happy Easter

Getting Ready For Easter

In Memory of My Mom

March 20, 2000 was the day my mom died. To say I miss her is an understatement. She was my mother, my friend, my biggest cheer leader and I was the light of her life. Even though she had five children, her and I shared a special bond. I dont have a picture of her on the computer, plus she HATED getting her picture taken....much like me. Although we were raised catholic, my mom was Jewish. In the Jewish Faith you light a candle at sundown the night before the anniversary of death as a way of remembering and honoring. I remember my mom lighting candles for her parents. Im always sad to light the candle and for the 24 hours that it burns I cry many times. Last night though was very different. Last night the kids were asking alot of questions too. Tori and Bella were very interested. Tori started to cry too. She said she missed her too and wondered if she was healthy and safe! I am sure where ever she is she is both! I do wish she could have met my children. She would have loved them so. When I graduated high school I gave my mom my yearbook to sign and she wrote and gave it back to me so quickly I was thinking wow that was fast. I though there would be big paragraphs and a lot of words. However the five words she wrote said it all " you light up my life". To say I miss her is an understatement!

100 Things About Me!

I got this from my friend Ohilda's blog. I would link back to her but I cant figure out how. She has a very inspiring blog at http://www.deliveredfromheaven.blogspot.com/. I thought it would be fun to list 100 things about myself....So here it goes.

1. I cried while on a ride at the magic kingdom (not so long ago) Space Mountain!!
2. I am a homebody most of time but I love to go on family vacations
3. My favorite colors are pink and purple
4. I am a big country music fan and my favorite country singer is Randy Travis
5. My favorite album of all time is harry Connick Jr. When your heart finds Christmas and that is my all time favorite Christmas song.
6. I once had a night job and on Sun. would go right to church. I not only fell asleep one Sunday what woke me was the gentleman sitting next to me trying to get me off his shoulder!
7. I like crossword puzzles and playing scrabble. I love words
8. My favorite holiday is Christmas Eve. I love everything about this day. We bake, go to church, feast, family, tuck in the kids, read The Night Before Christmas, go to bed and wait for Santa
9. I always have a candle burning in my house
10. I don't like horror movies
11. I have trouble confronting people face to face, I have a wicked "poison pen" though
12. I do not like getting my picture taken
13. my two best perfumes are Delicious by DKNY and Escape by Calvin Klein
14. I have trouble saying no to people
15. I love Jack in the Box taco's. We don't have any in NY
16. I wish my kids had grandparents
17. I spend a lot of time on the computer. Checking out blogs of people with children from China
18. I don't like cats
19. Three little kids keep me super busy
20. I am a former smoker.....I quit 7 years ago....I HATE cigarette smoke
21. I am still afraid of the dark
22. My dream car....a GMC Acadia.....fully loaded
23. Don't mistake my kindness for weakness
24. I like to cook
25. I don't like going food shopping
26. I am a worrier
27. I believe everything happens for a reason...even if I don't know what the reason is
28. I hate to get up early in the morning
29. I still miss my mom who died 8 years ago and sometimes I think of her and still cry
30. I am a good person
31. I love to laugh so hard that I cry
32. I like playing board games with friends
33. I love to read and hope to pass my love of books on to my children
34. I would do anything for my husband and my kids
35. I have so many on line friends I'd love to meet
36. I wish my family got along better
37. I am always on a diet but don't lose much weight
38. I believe honesty is the best policy.....except if I have to reveal my weight
39. I am very sensitive and cry easy
40. I love spring time& I love the smell of soil being turned over
41. I am a good judge of character
42. I miss my friends from my last job on Long Island
43. I have a good sense of humor and like to make people laugh
44. I like going to hotels and I love room service
45. I have never roller skated
46. Favorite birthday cake: yellow cake with fresh banana's and real whip cream
47. I could talk to my kids for hours and never get board
48. I never had a big birthday party
49. I love shellfish....lobster, clams etc
50. I am good friend
51. I do not wear make up....never have
52. I wish I didn't have so many freckles on my face
53. I wish I could be more organized. I envy people who are super organized
54. I put the kids to bed at 7:15 so I can have some time to myself in the evening
55. my favorite book to read to Isabella is " I love you as much"
56. If you are standing behind me in line at walmart......it is none of your business if my kids are "real" brothers and sisters
57. I hate to be really hot during the summer
58. I helped save someone on an airplane three years ago on the way to Florida. American Airlines sent me a free ticket for helping
59. If Victoria's school bus is one minute late I start to panic.
60. I don't like to be away from my kids
61. I prefer to drink from a straw.
62. I like to cross stitch
63. people sometimes feel sorry for me that I never had birth children......don't because I don't. I wouldn't trade my three for anything. I am missing NOTHING. I feel sorry for them for not knowing the joy of adoption
64. I have not been to movies since before we brought Victoria home. John and I saw Freaky Friday the week before we went to China for the first time
65. I wish I could find a GOOD babysitter. Someone that could watch my kids during the day so I could run errands or go to appointments.
66. One day I dropped Bella off at preschool and the teacher came out chasing my car because I forgot something. I fully expected it to be my purse. When I turned around it was my son! I forgot John!
67. I love reality TV....Bachelor, American Idol, Dancing with the stars
68. I hide under the pillow if there is lightning and thunder
69. I love coffee and I love pumpkin spice coffee
70. I am not good at keeping secrets.
71. I am a Registered Nurse turned stay at home mom
72. I would like to be thin. I truly agree with the statement: you can never be too thin!
73. I feel I am falling behind technology wise. I don't have an ipod or any newer electronics
74. Most people with a 3, 4, and 5 year old are at least 15 years younger than me. I'd like friends my age with small children.
75. I am married to my best friend and we were best friends for along time before we started dating
76. I hope its God's plan for us to have one more son.
77. Nice matters!
78. I have no fashion sense!
79. I feel when we go out sometimes people judge me because I have 3 Chinese children.
80. I feel very fortunate to be able to be home with the children. My husband does an amazing job of taking care of his family.
81. I want to be able to give my children the things they want. But I want them to know the value of things too.
82. I am very excited about going to Florida in May.
83. I love to follow the weather and always know in advance if there is bad weather on the horizon
84. I still watch The Waltons and wish I lived during that time
85. Favorite movies: Overboard, For Richer or Poorer, The Santa Claus, Beauty and the Beast
86. I loved disney's High School Musical Movies! I and II
87. I love snow storms!
88. I was born on May 26, 1960
89. I married John on July 6, 1996
90. I love children's books illustrated by Eric Carle and so does Tori's Kindergarten teacher. Now Tori does too!
91. I would love to write a series of childrens books.....maybe someday I will!
92. Gymboree is my favorite place to shop for kids clothing
93. I have 15 nieces and nephews
94. I am not a risk taker and err on the side of caution
95. My heart breaks for China's children left behind, especially the special needs
96. I pray everyday
97. I function best when under stress
98. I remember everything
99. I love the smell of steak on a BBQ
100. I LOVE BEING A MOMMY TO TORI, BELLA, and JOHN JR.

All About Victoria

I decided to do Victoria's update because she is the oldest. So...Whats new with Victoria??? In August Victoria had her tonsils out. Her tonsils were HUGE. The surgeon said he should have charged by the pound! Her big tonsils caused her to have sleep apnea where she would have periods of NO BREATHING in the night. She was also always very tired. It has all worked out great. She sleeps good, wakes up well rested and is not too tired during the day. Victoria started Kindergarten in Sept. She is an awesome student, loves school, and idolizes her teacher! She has reminded us several times that her teacher is a very wise woman. Victoria loves adults and enjoys talking to grown ups. Adults seem to gravitate toward her too. Victoria loves anything to do with coloring, cutting, glueing, and pasting. She spends hours drawing pictures and telling stories about her pictures. I will leave you with a story: During sunday school Victoria's teacher was talking about how people in the community help each other and they talked about various professions. The teacher went around the class asking what everyone wanted to be. They apparently had a nurse, a few doctors, a fireman........when it was Victoria's turn she told her teacher she would like to be a princess!! Glad she has such high aspirations! Victoria is growing up so fast, it makes me a little sad. Sometimes I look at her and see the same little baby face I remember from China. Then the phone rings and it is not for me and John but it is friend calling for her. Then I remember how fast life passes. So I try to enjoy our special moments together. I suppose there will come a time when she will not want to cuddle in my bed with me and watch her favorite movie, or hold my hand as we walk through the store. But for know I am enjoying my growing girl!!

Trying To Upload Photos

Here are some pictures of the kids from December! In the coming months I hope to keep more current.

Hello World!

Well, I have finally done it! I have been wanting to get blogging but just havent had the time. Being a mom to three children under 6 has kept me hopping. I have been inspired by my friends Sandra, Karen, and Sharie. All of whom we traveled to China with. It will be a good way to keep up with friends and family and show off my beautiful family! Since this is my first post I have not figured out the picture thing yet. Thats a job for when the kids are sleeping. So hopefully i will figure out what Im doing with in the next week and post some pictures.