Gotcha Day!!

Betsy (Miao Miao) with her nanny. This was the first picture I took of her. She was crying when they first came in the room, and didn't get near us.

Wow!! Can't believe it's been one year now since we've gotten Betsy. Her Gotcha Day was Wednesday, March 28, 2012. We celebrated her being with us one year on that day. Well, we actually celebrated for two days because Wednesday night we had church! On Wednesday we let the kids have cake after dinner then went to church. On Thursday night we had Chinese food, and I let the kids decorate sugar cookies for dessert. After dinner, and baths we watched Betsy's Gotcha Day video. It was fun to look back and see how she's changed so much. After the video we gave her a set of handpainted nesting dolls we bought when we were in Harbin City, her birthplace. We are so thankful for Betsy, and the journey the Lord led us on to get to her. She is a precious, funny, vibrant, beautiful, full of life girl!! I can't wait to see the plans the Lord has for her life unfold in the coming years:) We are so blessed to be her family!


Momma, Ellie, Ms. Chen(director of adoption center), Betsy, & Sam

Betsy finally got out of Ms. Chen's lap to play bubbles with Ellie.

Her personality came out!! This girl laughs the hardest of anyone I know:)

All smiles with daddy:) She warmed up to Todd faster than me.

Betsy finally let me hold her after not even wanting to look my way at first. Thankfully this happened after only about 2-3 hours!

Betsy at home!

This was taken in January...about 10 months after we got her. What a difference a family makes!!

Betsy on Gotcha Day...March 28, 2012.

Betsy's Surgery

Betsy's last eye patching day!

There will be no more patches for Miss Betsy:) On Tuesday, February 21 she had eye surgery to straighten both of her eyes. When we got Betsy's referral her special need was listed as Nystagmus of the left eye. After we got her, and took her to two different eye doctors, she was diagnosed with alternating esotropia which means both of her eyes turn in at alternating times. The first thing the eye specialist in Birmingham told us to do was to patch her left eye(which was actually the stonger eye, not the weaker as we first were told), so the vision in the right eye would be as strong as the left eye. We began patching her eye 2-3 hrs. a day. She did great with the patching. After a few months we went back to the doctor, and he said he could see improvement. He then wanted us to start patching her eye 4hrs. a day for another 30 days. When the 30 days were over we saw the doctor, and he said it was time to schedule surgery. We scheduled the procedure, and on February 21st went to UAB Children's Hospital South for an outpatient surgery. We didn't know what time we had to be there till the day before, and were hoping for early morning. I was worried Betsy would not make it very well without eating for a while...the girl loves to eat!;) We were told to be at the surgery center at 9:00am. We had about a 2 hour drive the morning of the surgery, so we left at about 6:40am. Betsy was great! She really didn't ask for food till much later in the morning, and when we told her she couldn't have anything because the doctor said she didn't need to eat she was fine. Betsy ended up being the last patient for Dr. Elsas, so they didn't come get her till about 11:45am! She was so good while we waited. We played cards, read a book, rode on lots of different toys around the hallway, and she played with her baby. About 30 minutes before they came to get her the nurse brought her some"don't care" medicine...that's what she called it! Just to help relax her, so she wouldn't be scared/nervous. She was hilarious after about 10-15 minutes:) When the nurse came to get her Todd carried her, and I walked with them to some double doors with monkeys swinging on trees eating bananas painted on them. She went right to the nurse just talking and bobbing her head around...so silly! After about an hour the doctor came in, told us all went well, and said she would be out of recovery in about 30 minutes. When the nurse rolled her in on her bed from the recovery room she was asleep sucking her thumb! She looked so sweet, but pitiful. Her eyes were swollen, and there were little drops of blood around her eyes, and on the bridge of her nose. I looked at her and tears filled my eyes. I was so thankful in that moment to know that everything went well, but most of all that she had a mommy and daddy to love and comfort her after this surgery. Although this was minor she felt really bad the rest of that day, and the next. I couldn't help but think of all the sweet children who will have major surgeries, but who don't have a mommy and daddy to hold them, love them, and tell them it will be ok. I am so thankful to God for allowing us to be Betsy's mommy and daddy:) Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!!

Daddy and Betsy after we arrived at the surgery center. Oh, and baby Lucy:)

Daddy giving Betsy help with "Go Fish".

Mommy and Betsy waiting for the nurse to come with her "don't care" medicine.

Betsy and baby Lucy.

This is Betsy about 10 min. after she got her medicine.

She's got the giggles now!!

One very "loopy" little girl;)

Sweet baby:) This is after Todd put her in the car to go home...she slept all the way.

Posting Soon...

Yes, I promise I will get to it very soon! I have pics to post, and details about Betsy's recent eye surgery. I was on the computer anyway, so I decided to do a really quick post. Just wanted to say thank you to all who called, texted, sent goodies, or asked how things went last week. She's recovering very well. Most of all, thanks for all the prayers:) We have a post-op appointment Wednesday. Hopefully after that I will do a better post, so that's all for now!

Ok, Now For Christmas:)

Getting our Christmas tree:)

Well, I said I would get Christmas pics posted soon, and for me this is fast! In my mind I thought I MUST get this post done before February...well it's January 31st, and not a moment too soon:) We had a great first Christmas with Betsy. Everything was new! She LOVED opening presents!! She would unwrap one, throw down the paper, and was ready for another...much like any little child;) The funniest thing happened Christmas morning though. We always tell the kids to go to Ellie's bedroom when they wake up, so no one gets downstairs before me and Todd are ready for them:) Everyone was ready, waiting in Ellie's room. I went upstairs to get them...each one so excited. Betsy didn't know what to think about all of this! As the kids made their way downstairs to see what Santa brought Betsy just stood back and watched the others. Ellie took her hand and lead her over to look at the new doll Santa had brought her. She looked at the doll, and just stood there...not saying a word! We all kept saying "look Betsy...it's the doll you asked for". She turned around, went over to a chair, and sat down!! She sat there with this blank stare on her face. We asked her if she liked the doll, and she said no...what?? Anyway, as everyone else enjoyed themselves she sat in that chair for about 10-15 minutes. I remembered something her caregiver told us about her personality. She told us Betsy didn't like new things (not gifts)...meaning when experiencing something different it might take her a few minutes to adjust. We have seen this kind of "look" on her face a few times since we've had her...the day we got her, the first time she was introduced to the pool, and when we took her to a waterpark for the first time. As with the other times, she finally came around and everything was fine. She LOVED the doll!! More than anything this Christmas I wanted Betsy to know that the reason we celebrate Christmas was because Jesus was born to be our Savior! She is learning more and more about Jesus everyday, and that makes me smile:) Hope you enjoy the pics!

Mommy, Nana, and Betsy before Betsy's first Christmas musical.

Sweet angel:)

Sam, Ellie, Hugh, Granny, Betsy, Henry, Maddie, and Nathan at Granny's Christmas Eve.

Betsy loved her pillow pet!

Reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas", and "The Best Thing About Christmas"

Christmas morning...Betsy very unsure.

Henry enjoying his dinosaur.

Wonder what's going on in that little mind??

Ellie is happy with her sweet treats set!

Sam showing off his video game, and new bike.

Hugh likes what he sees!

Finally!! A smile, and a happy little girl:)

Hugh and Henry showing off jerseys big brother Sam gave them!



 Christmas Day at Nana and Papa's house.



Betsy loves her new hot pink boots!!



Papa with the kids...showing picture we gave him of the kids in front of the treehouse he built them.



Nana showing off her new fur wrap...all the way from Harbin City, China. Betsy's birthplace.

Humor Me, Please:)

We had an American dressed as a Chinese person , and a Chinese child dressed as an Indian!

We always enjoy trick-or treating with friends:)

Betsy checking out the candy! She enjoyed herself;)

Daddy with Betsy and Henry at Granny's house Thanksgiving day.

Betsy, Ellie, and Nana enjoying time together in the kitchen!

Papa, Nana, and "the gang"

Ok, yes it has been soooo long since I've posted that I don't even know if anyone is checking this anymore! Well, if you are reading this...I thank you for not giving up! I am FINALLY able to post pics:) so...since it has been a while since you have seen any new pictures I am going back to Halloween...yes that's right...Trick or Treat!! I have to post a few from October to get this blog back on track! One reason I started this blog was to be able to keep up with Betsy's first year with us(as well as allow friends and family to follow our journey to get her). Well, I am way behind on the first year stuff! When we reach the one year anniversary of bringing Betsy home I plan on having all of this put into a book. Let me just say that Betsy is doing great...learning so much each day. She is a blessing, and keeps me on my toes! I am posting pics from Halloween and Thanksgiving, and will be back soon for Christmas...promise! I will do a separate post for that. Well...that's all for now!

one thousand gifts...

This is the book I am currently reading. It is such a great book! Ann Voscamp is an amazing writer. I have read and re-read many pages of this book. If you haven't read it I highly recommend getting a copy. Maybe one for you, and someone on your Christmas list! I still don't have any pictures to post:( I am still having camara issues! Henry, my youngest has had a fever virus for the past five days, although today he seems to be better...I sure do want him to get well soon! He has been a very sick little boy. Praying that no one else gets it! Betsy is enjoying the holiday season...she keeps saying Christmas is coming, or did you know Christmas is coming? She's so cute:) I think about where she was last year , and how we longed to have her with us. God is so faithful! If your waiting to bring a little one home right now I know exactly how you are feeling. More important than my understanding though, is knowing that the God who called you to the very moment you find yourself in has lead you here by His sovereign hand! Find peace and comfort in the story that He is writing for you...He is in control!! Merry Christmas everyone:) Hopefully pictures soon!

Happy Fall:)

Well, today I got to my computer and was planning on updating my blog. I needed to upload some pictures first. I pick up the cord (can't remember what it's technical name is right now) and the part that should plug into my camara was bent!! I straightened it out, but it is not working:( So, right now Iam not able to add any new pics. I am hoping to have this problem solved soon! I will say we are busy around here...as I know everyone is:) We are looking forward to Thanksgiving next week, and the kids being out of school for a few days. Betsy is doing well, learning something new everyday. I am working with her during the week teaching her the basics...colors and shapes right now.  We read alot too! She knows all her shapes very well, and almost all the basic colors. After Thanksgiving I think she will be ready to move on to letters and numbers. She can spell and recognize her name, and is learning to write her name as well. I am very proud of her...she is enjoying learning. When I think of all she has learned since we have been home my head feels like it's spinning! We are very thankful for her progress. That's all for now...hopefully new pics soon:)