Happy Birthday Kate!!

Since we missed Kate's birthday by a few days we decided to celebrate with our family of four when we got home.  Kate didn't quite know what to do with the cake- but she caught on quickly.  Happy birthday sweet girl- we love you!

Even Georgia was in on the action

Mmmm- what is this?

I think I might like this

Daddy "helps" Kate taste the cake

Daddy what did you do that for?

Hey- that was kind of funny!

Let me try that myself

Do I look cute?

Yeah- I love birthdays

DIagnosis for Dad

We got the pathology report back from Dad's surgery today.  They did find cancer in one of his lymph nodes so he will have to have chemotherapy.  Dad was really hoping that he would not have to go through that,  but we are thankful that it was only in one lymph node.  Please continue praying for my sweet, sweet dad.  The major hurdle is behind us, but we do still have a long journey ahead of us.  Also be praying that he gets to come home tomorrow.  He is beyond ready to get out of the hospital.

Dad

Thank you for praying for my dad.  His surgery went very well- the doctor felt very good about it.  Recovery, on the other hand, has been hard.  The medicines that they have him on for pain are making him uncomfortable and he has not been able to sleep.  He has slept less than 3 hours total in the past 48 hours.  Please be praying that he will be able to sleep.

I will update more soon- but I am heading out the door to the hospital.

Thank you for praying- keep it up.

Change of surgery time

Dad's surgery has been moved from 11am to 7:30am tomorrow!  

Thank you for praying for him.

Update on Dad

We got the CT scan report back yesterday and the cancer has not spread to any other organs!!!!  A huge praise!!  Dad's surgery will be this Thursday, Oct. 22 at 11am.  Please continue to pray for him, for the surgeon Dr. Cranford, and for his recovery.  

My Dad

We found out this week that my dad has colon cancer.  We do not know any details yet (what stage the cancer is, if it has spread anywhere else, etc) but he had a CT scan today, so we should know more by Monday.  Please, please, please be praying for my sweet dad.  If you know me at all, you know that I have a very special relationship with my dad.  I love him with every fiber in my being.  He is an amazing man who NEVER complains.  His response to finding out he has cancer was, "Amybeth, this is no big deal- this is just one tiny bump in life's road".

Please keep him, and my mom, in your prayers.  I will keep you all updated as we learn more.

Oh be still my heart

I LOVE this picture.  Brett taking two seconds away from playing baseball to come kiss his sister.  And look at his face- he is so proud of her.  When I put this dress on her he said, "Ohhhh Kate- you are a princess".  It just doesn't get any cuter than that.

My TWO children- my cup runneth over!

Week one at home

I can't believe that we have only been home one week.  It feels like a lot longer than that.  The week started off rough.  Kate was not her normal happy self, and between the two of us there where lots of tears.  She would not (and still at times will not) let me take two steps away from her.   The first few days home were very hard- between us being jet lagged, Kate being so clingy, and me just wanting to hold my sweet boy I had been away from for so long- we were a mess around here.  Each day has gotten better and better though.  Kate will let me leave her side from time to time now- more and more each day.  My sweet friends have been amazing. Between bringing over meals, coming over to play, and planning play dates to get us out of the house- I have felt well loved.  And of course our parents have been beyond wonderful- I am soooooooo thankful that they live so close to us.  All in all- things have gone so much better than I thought they would.  Brett has been AMAZING!!  He is so sweet to her- wants to see her first thing in the morning, makes sure she has her food before he has his, tells me to hold her if she is crying, etc.  He really has been the best big brother.  We have had a few melt-downs- but only a few.  I am so proud of him.  It is so fun to see the two of them together. 

So far this week Kate has had her first Mexican (which she loved), we met friends for Dunkin Doughnuts, had a play date at our house, went to Target (got to start her off right!), went to story time at Barnes and Noble, gone on a play date at the park (where my girl ate 3 pieces of pizza!!!!), met her cousins, and gone to the library.  She is very social and loves to be on the go- so we have been out almost every day.  I really am amazed at how well she is doing considering all that she has been through the past three weeks.  Yet another assurance of how well she was loved her first two years of life.  We are so blessed.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers- please continue praying for us as we get used to being a family of four.  Please especially pray for Kate- EVERYTHING that she once knew has been taken away from her- nothing is familiar- no sounds, scents, faces, food, etc.  I can't imagine what that is like for a 2 year old.  She is doing wonderful, but I can tell that she is still grieving at times.  Pray for her and for wisdom for us in how to comfort her. 

One of the signs that my sweet mom made to welcome Kate home

Not only did my amazing friends come greet us at the airport at 10pm, they also came back to our house and lit all of these luminary bags to welcome us home- and stayed to pray for us.

Playing in the backyard on the first day home

Meeting her cousins

Kate's first photo shoot- she is SO MUCH EASIER than Brett to photograph- she will actually sit in one place and smile for more than .2 seconds.

I posted one more post below...

The famous "Red Couch" photos

Anyone who is familiar with Chinese adoption knows what the red couch is.  The red couch is in the White Swan hotel in Guangzhou and it is a tradition to get pictures on it.  I have seen SO MANY of these pictures- it was so neat to actually be the one in the pictures this time.

This is all the kids in our group.  Mia-13, Anaia-10, twins Brooke and Brianna- 23m, Ryan- 11m, Kate- 24m, Bin-Bin- 18m

The whole gang

HOME SWEET HOME!

We are home!!!!! Our family of four has been united and, as I type this, are all sitting in the kitchen eating donuts- life is good!

Our welcome home at the airport is something I will store in my memory forever.  I will do a detailed post about it when I get more pictures from everyone, but here are a few pictures to prove that we made it home.

Thanks for your prayers.  Keep praying!