I can't find Abby to chase, so you will have to do Mr. Tiger. Don't get cocky, I'll win this fight yet.
I need my shades on to play with this bus!
You know it's cold in Ottawa when the penguins have to wear snowsuits.
Jumping on the bed...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tiger Wrestling
Not much new from yesterday, we are soon heading out to CHEO for B's appointment so I have packed as many small and (hopefully) distracting toys as I can into the diaper bag. The snacks have also been loaded up. Here are a few pictures from the last week...
I can't find Abby to chase, so you will have to do Mr. Tiger. Don't get cocky, I'll win this fight yet.
I can't find Abby to chase, so you will have to do Mr. Tiger. Don't get cocky, I'll win this fight yet.
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Visit From Uncle J
This weekend we had a visit from my brother who lives in Oklahama. He was at McGill for a job interview and made a sidetrip to come see us and meet B. Needless to say the kids kept him occupied (and vice versa). Tomorrow B and I head to CHEO for his first of 4 visits to the International Adoption Clinic. He will likely get bloodwork done right after that, so we will see how he (and I) handle that event.
Uncle J, trapped in a spiralling game of "why?" with the kids, starts diagramming plant DNA to explain his point...
Watching Sesame Street and Muppet videos, some of those bring back memories (especially Ma Na, Ma Na)...
Uncle J, trapped in a spiralling game of "why?" with the kids, starts diagramming plant DNA to explain his point...
Watching Sesame Street and Muppet videos, some of those bring back memories (especially Ma Na, Ma Na)...
Saying goodbye to Uncle J before bedtime.
B hamming it up for the camera with Uncle J.
Our harmonica trio play some foot-stomping tunes (my apologies in advance to anyone who can actually play the harmonica).
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Post-Family Day Update
Hello all. You can tell by the existence of this blog that I lived to tell the tale that was Family Day (I know a few of you were wondering if I would - K being one of them). For those of you not living in Ontario, many people get this day off but we federal workers don't, so I had the three kids yesterday. Things went pretty well, with only a few minor skirmishes to report.
The pics from yesterday are below and show the fort, the helmets and the pillow sliding. The other pics and our rowing video are from others days. We also put a bunch of chairs together and played flying to China (I wasn't allowed to be the pilot or co-pilot).
B had his first two needles today and handled it pretty well. He stopped crying within a minute or so. The doctor will wait until B has had his visit to the International Adoption Clinic and associated blood-work to know what other needles he needs. They will be able to tell what things he is already immune to, which may avoid a few needles. He also had his first completely solo bath today and again - no crying. He even laughs when he splashes water in his own face. He had great fun today offering me Cheerios and then snatching them away at the last second. He doesn't know how attached I am to food, he may want to re-think that one before he gets bitten.
B "repairing" our plant stand. I'm glad he knows what hammers are for, because although he doesn't know it yet, he's going to be repairing all the numerous damages he causes over the next 15 years...
The girls busy cashiering (don't worry - they also play with the drill/hammer set, probably more than B does).
Hanging out in the tent
Everybody out - I think I saw a skunk in there!
Not sure exactly what sport this is, although I know grocery shopping can be rough at times.
Pillow sliding (believe it or not, not sanctioned by dad - don't know where they came up with this one).
The pics from yesterday are below and show the fort, the helmets and the pillow sliding. The other pics and our rowing video are from others days. We also put a bunch of chairs together and played flying to China (I wasn't allowed to be the pilot or co-pilot).
B had his first two needles today and handled it pretty well. He stopped crying within a minute or so. The doctor will wait until B has had his visit to the International Adoption Clinic and associated blood-work to know what other needles he needs. They will be able to tell what things he is already immune to, which may avoid a few needles. He also had his first completely solo bath today and again - no crying. He even laughs when he splashes water in his own face. He had great fun today offering me Cheerios and then snatching them away at the last second. He doesn't know how attached I am to food, he may want to re-think that one before he gets bitten.
B "repairing" our plant stand. I'm glad he knows what hammers are for, because although he doesn't know it yet, he's going to be repairing all the numerous damages he causes over the next 15 years...
The girls busy cashiering (don't worry - they also play with the drill/hammer set, probably more than B does).
Hanging out in the tent
Everybody out - I think I saw a skunk in there!
Not sure exactly what sport this is, although I know grocery shopping can be rough at times.
Pillow sliding (believe it or not, not sanctioned by dad - don't know where they came up with this one).
Rowing to buy some new socks across the river - from a Robert Munsch book.
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Busy Crew
Not much new to report today, although B had a bath without any protest which is progress (still put up a fight at nap time though - maybe that will change next). It might take the bathroom a week or so to dry out, but I'm just happy he wants to get in. Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days. As you can see the place is never dull:
B, in a rare state of sitting down (he always says "cheese" now when the camera is out).
B, in a rare state of sitting down (he always says "cheese" now when the camera is out).
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Joy to the World
A surprise post for CB. I have a few video clips from the Christmas Pageant experience. For those of you who don't know, the girls learned the first verse of Joy to the World. They were supposed to go up on stage with a bunch of other kids (with sheep hats on) and sing in the play's finale. Well we got as close as the front row of the seats but never made it onto the stage. They did however join in the singing. The following series of videos shows our attempts to get them on video. I seem to be having trouble posting more than 4 videos so I will try to post them separately. Just fyi the last video is a little bright, you may want to wear sunglasses...
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Chinese New Year!
Greetings all to a New Chinese Year! A couple of weeks ago we attended a New Year's party and the kids got to wear their outfits. They were kind of hard to catch standing still but see below for a few shots. The girls seemed scared of the fireworks at the end of the night but B would have probably been down there lighting the fuses if I wasn't holding him.
B is settling in quite well. He is still not real impressed with the daily car rides to the sitter and back while I drop off the girls. Usually by the time we have arrived back home I have already put his boots and socks on three times (yes velcro boot straps while handy for me aren't great for childproofing).
We had great news at CHEO last week. We took B in to get assessed for his cleft palate surgery and the plastic surgeon pronounced that it had already been repaired in China! The orphanage people didn't know that and we just assumed the reports were accurate. So that means one less surgery here. He will probably have his lip reduced a bit just before he starts Grade 1 and his right nostril won't be touched until his face stops growing (18 or older). At the rate he eats they may never be able to do that surgery! We have an appointment for him in March with the dental surgeon to see if he needs surgery for his jaw - the part where the cleft was, dips in a fair bit from the rest of his teeth. He also gets his first appointment at the International Adoption Clinic March 31 and then in April he sees the ear-nose-throat specialist to make sure everything is fine there. It is common for cleft kids to have hearing problems and some require tubes in their ears for a few years. B seems to hear fine - when he wants to listen. The nurse said she can't help us out with that one.
B and I signed the girls up for Junior Kindergarten last week, it is hard to believe the time has gone by this quickly - they will be 4 in June.
B is certainly picking up on the language. He can say "up" when prompted. The other day when I started to take his picture he said "cheese". He also waved at an elderly gentleman in the grocery store today - I think it made the old fellow's day - he seemed quite impressed at that.
B's other passion is small game hunting - particularly housecats. Poor Abby has never been chased this much in her entire life! B even makes a point of climbing up on the couch if he sees her sleeping on the back of the couch and follows her until she hides somewhere. Today I had to pry his hand off her tail or she might be a bobcat now.
The other big news today was that he stopped crying once he got into the tub! He started splashing and laughing and later trying to drink the bath water – hmm I wonder which two girls taught him those tricks?
Well enough talk, see below for the photos.
The new truck some of K's colleagues bought for B. His sisters even let him use it once in a while.
The big picnic. Note the miraculous sight of not one "Baby Jesus" but two attending the same party. I try telling A they are angels but she corrects me everytime.
B at the Chinese New Year party
E and K playing with an octopus
A in the only shot I had that wasn't blurry (they don't sit still long).
Peekaboo!
The first time I heard him say "cheese"
Small game hunting
Toliet paper hands!
He's so smart playing with a computer already...
B is settling in quite well. He is still not real impressed with the daily car rides to the sitter and back while I drop off the girls. Usually by the time we have arrived back home I have already put his boots and socks on three times (yes velcro boot straps while handy for me aren't great for childproofing).
We had great news at CHEO last week. We took B in to get assessed for his cleft palate surgery and the plastic surgeon pronounced that it had already been repaired in China! The orphanage people didn't know that and we just assumed the reports were accurate. So that means one less surgery here. He will probably have his lip reduced a bit just before he starts Grade 1 and his right nostril won't be touched until his face stops growing (18 or older). At the rate he eats they may never be able to do that surgery! We have an appointment for him in March with the dental surgeon to see if he needs surgery for his jaw - the part where the cleft was, dips in a fair bit from the rest of his teeth. He also gets his first appointment at the International Adoption Clinic March 31 and then in April he sees the ear-nose-throat specialist to make sure everything is fine there. It is common for cleft kids to have hearing problems and some require tubes in their ears for a few years. B seems to hear fine - when he wants to listen. The nurse said she can't help us out with that one.
B and I signed the girls up for Junior Kindergarten last week, it is hard to believe the time has gone by this quickly - they will be 4 in June.
B is certainly picking up on the language. He can say "up" when prompted. The other day when I started to take his picture he said "cheese". He also waved at an elderly gentleman in the grocery store today - I think it made the old fellow's day - he seemed quite impressed at that.
B's other passion is small game hunting - particularly housecats. Poor Abby has never been chased this much in her entire life! B even makes a point of climbing up on the couch if he sees her sleeping on the back of the couch and follows her until she hides somewhere. Today I had to pry his hand off her tail or she might be a bobcat now.
The other big news today was that he stopped crying once he got into the tub! He started splashing and laughing and later trying to drink the bath water – hmm I wonder which two girls taught him those tricks?
Well enough talk, see below for the photos.
The new truck some of K's colleagues bought for B. His sisters even let him use it once in a while.
The big picnic. Note the miraculous sight of not one "Baby Jesus" but two attending the same party. I try telling A they are angels but she corrects me everytime.
B at the Chinese New Year party
E and K playing with an octopus
A in the only shot I had that wasn't blurry (they don't sit still long).
Peekaboo!
The first time I heard him say "cheese"
Small game hunting
Toliet paper hands!
He's so smart playing with a computer already...
OK maybe not - then I saw him brushing his teeth with the pen...
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