Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas Card


This isn't the actual card we sent out but a Christmassy version of the same picture. 

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas with those you love and a Happy New Year in 2011!

The Conant Family
Chrissy & Gerry
Grace & Lila

Friday, December 10, 2010

School Pictures

We finally got Grace's pictures today.  She was home with an ear infection on picture day so had to do retakes.  I was starting to think they would never get here.  I think they both look beautiful and the pictures were worth the wait!

 Grace, 1st Grade, 2010

Lila, preschool, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Christmas is Coming!

 Only 16 more days until he gets here!

 Trying on the stockings

She wanted her picture taken when she was hugging the dog.  Daphne will never look at the camera at the right time. 

Lila and I are having a good time lately while Grace is still at school in the afternoons.  I recently realized that Lila didn't want to nap in the afternoon then didn't want to go to bed at night, sigh, time for naptime to end.  She is falling asleep much more quickly at night now and I love the extra time with her. 

We are all looking forward to Santa getting here.  Grace keeps changing her list, we're going to see him next week so she needs to have it finalized by then.  Lila picked out 2 toys from the TOYS catalog and has stuck with wanting those 2 things. I'm hoping nobody comes up with anything new the week of Christmas like Grace did a couple years ago with the violin. 

We have the Santa countdown calendar and have been gluing a cotton ball onto his beard every day so far in December. That beard is filling up quickly. 

Christmas is coming!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Mom

My Mom & Dad

I haven't posted for ages but after losing my mom it seems like a good place to journal some of my thoughts about her and losing her.  I cannot believe the funeral was already a week ago or that it was over a week since I spent those last few hours with her.  She wasn't talking but was responding by raising her eyebrows or opening her eyes when my sisters talked to her on the phone or those of us there talked to her.  I know she knows we were there & we were with her.  I don't remember exactly what the last thing I said was before she died, it was just Mom and I when it happened.  I got there about 5:30 after Grace's Girl Scout meeting, left about 10:00, and returned about 11:00.  I told her I was there and was going to stay all night.  She was gone when I checked on her at 11:35.  It was so peaceful that I wasn't sure.

I saw a prayer answered that day. I talked to my sister at about 2:30 that afternoon, we needed to decide if we wanted to give Mom a feeding tube to see if she would regain her strength or not do the procedure and start hospice care.  I prayed for God to make the decision for us.  By the time I got to the hospital she had deteriorated to a stage where the feeding tube was no longer possible. In a few hours time I saw HIS intervention and my prayer answered.

She has had MS for about 25 years.  It was diagnosed my senior year of high school. Now after having that disease for so long, 10 years in a nursing home, not being able to walk or have the strength to do all those things she wanted to do when she retired (write children's books, help Grandma get her GED, play with her grandkids) she now can.  She is no longer confined to a wheelchair or bed.  She can now walk and dance and do anything.  She can see us whenever she wants to now not have to wait for a visitor to come to the nursing home. 

There are moments when I forget.  I think of something I need to tell her, or want to go visit when I'm driving around town. Those are the saddest moments.  Gracie is missing her Grandma terribly.  I have held her more than one night while she cuddles the toy dog she always played with at Grandma's and cries.  Lila misses her too but isn't able to express it as well so she's having nightmares and being very emotional.  It's hard to see my little girls hurting.  

Other than Mom's death we have been busy with the usual things in life.  Lila had 2 teeth crowned, they gave her oral sedation medication so she was really loopy from that for a day. 

Halloween was a fun filled weekend of costumes, pumpkin carving, and trick or treaters.  We are now preparing for Thanksgiving and more family time. 

2 tired little girls with all their loot!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

American Diabetes Month

Join the Movement: Stop Diabetes

My sister & I both have Type 1 Diabetes.  Please join us and Bret Michaels to raise awareness during November, American Diabetes Month. 

Friday, August 27, 2010

rip Mr Monarch

The butterfly hatched but his wings didn't dry properly so he didn't survive.  We read online that only 2% make it in the wild so his chances were pretty low anyway.  Even with his withered up little wings he was very pretty. 

It was a fun learning experience for Grace. Gerry & I learned a lot of facts about butterflies too.  Lila has added butterfly to her vocabulary.  These things make it all worthwhile. 

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Season of Change


I'm sitting here fascinated by the chrysallis our caterpillar spun today and thinking of all the changes going on around me. 

Becky, Natalia, and Connor are flying home as I type.  I keep thinking about what we will do together this week and then realize our wonderful summer together is at an end.  Thanksgiving seems far, far, away. 

Grace starts first grade on Tuesday.  I will miss her being home every day but know she will have so much fun and learn so much this year, like she did last year. 

Lila starts preschool on Thursday.  It's a big change when your baby will be gone every morning.  She will do so well and will change and learn so much!  What will I do to keep busy when she's not here? 

It's a beautiful cool day, only about 80 degrees, with a light breeze.  Is this change in the weather the beginning of fall or just a break from the heat of this past summer?  I love fall and that peaceful, reminiscent mood it invokes. 

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Happy Anniversary to us!


August 4, 2009 was the day we officially adopted our Lila.  We met her on August 3 then returned to the adoption center the next day to sign the final papers and take the oath.  It doesn't seem possible that it has already been a year. It seems like we were just in China.

Look at the changes in her in the slideshow.  It amazes me to see how much she has grown and the happiness in her expression.  She was so scared at first but her true happy, outgoing, silly, sweet, loving, affectionate, personality has shone through.  Our baby is now a little girl ready to start preschool in a couple weeks.   She is all we hoped for during the long, long wait. The perfect little daughter for our family.

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Happy Birthday to me!

Today is my birthday which so far has been a great day but it in no way compares to last year on this very day when we were on the plane on the way to China!  It does not seem like a year already. 

(self-portrait on the plane or "Lila here we come")

I'm working on my big post for our 1 year Adoption Day anniversary next week. 

And before I forget again, who was it that told Gerry her kids read our blog at the CHI reunion?  Hi!! 

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Children's Hope Reunion 2010

AJ with Lila, Me with Mikayla, Gerry with Grace
The big girls in the hot tub. Christine and the little girls in the pool.
Bec trying to hide from the mosquitos (I'm STILL itching...)

At the zoo (Maryn, Maelyn, Lila, Mikayla, Grace)
How cute is this??? (Lila and Max)
Playing at the huge playground at the reunion.
Have you ever seen a face this sweet? (Mikayla)
We just returned from a long weekend in St Louis. Our adoption agency is based there. They have a reunion every 2 years for ALL the families that have ever adopted through them all around the world. It was a great reason to go to St Louis to see the friends we traveled with. We were able to get together with 5 of the families that were in our travel group of 19 families last August. We were all together at the reunion, then had a smaller gathering at Kevin & Stacy's Saturday evening, Sunday we headed to the zoo then back to the pool at the hotel. So much fun to see the people that we have shared so much with.

Friday, June 25, 2010

3 year portraits




I like to play with my camera. Lila and I spent about 1/2 an hour taking pictures the other day. These are my favorites of those we took. (Thank you to our wonderful Secret Pal, Jodi, for the darling dress & headband!)

Lila had her 2 week post-surgery appointment this week. They are very pleased with her progress! We return in a month for her next check-up.
We have finally settled into a summer routine since being home from the hospital. The girls are sleeping in, playing outside, watching movies, and having a great time. My sister, niece, and nephew are here from Texas for the whole summer so have been here to play, stay all night, or go see movies. Toy Story 3 was awesome!!!!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The birthday party, the hospital stay, and it's good to be back to normal!

Grace with her candles on the cake
A couple hard days of recuperating after surgery

Waiting to check into our hospital room


The birthday sisters!

Lila blowing out her #3 candle

Grabbing the pinata loot!

Grace takes a swing

Lila was the first to try

Ladybug pinata!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Surgery

Lila had surgery Tuesday. We are in the hospital hoping to go home Saturday or Sunday. I would add some pictures but don't have the cable for the camera here at the hospital.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Fun weekend!

Mikayla, Lila, and Grace at the Children's Museum


Lila being silly at the zoo!

Greg, AJ, and Mikayla at the zoo butterfly house.


Our family at the zoo butterfly house.


Greg, AJ, and Mikayla were here for Memorial Day weekend. We went to the zoo on Saturday then had a barbecue while the kids played outside. Sunday we met for lunch, went to the new Clifford the Big Red Dog exhibit at our children's museum, then ended the day with dinner at our house. It was a fun weekend with good friends, getting caught up, watching the girls play together, and just hanging out.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Dear Lila!

My baby girl is 3! She had a wonderful "first" birthday with presents, ice cream cupcakes, and her favorite meal for dinner (fried rice). We will have a big party for both girls on June 5. We are waiting until my sister & her family are home from Texas to celebrate with us!

Tearing into her first present at breakfast to start the day off!



Birthday girl with her yummy ice cream treats! She was a pro at blowing the candles out. I'm not sure if they celebrated birthdays at the orphanage or not. We think this was her first real celebration ever but definitely her first full of love and joy, at home, with her family. It was a day that made me think of her birth family and know they are missing her & wondering where their little girl is on this special day.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Today Grace is 6!

Her new big girl bike!


Ladybug cookies for her Kindergarten class! The party theme this year is ladybugs.

What is it about a birthday that makes you remember the first time you held that tiny little baby? I can remember every detail of what I told her and her tiny little face peeking out from the tightly swaddled blankets. She'll always be my little angel.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

My first real haircut




Lila had her head shaved in typical orphange style in China. She had a lot of growth since we got home and it was time to get it shaped up. She wasn't scared at all, climbed right into the chair, was silly & squirmy for the cut, and came out looking much better. Delores evened it all up and cut it into a cute little layered bob.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Update

Grace in her soccer uniform singing for Mother's Day at church, this was about 10:25, her game was at 11:00! I am so glad we stayed to sing, they did a great job. Very well enunciated, nice volume (not yelling but loud enough to hear), very melodic. Aunt Andrea was so proud of Grace she got tears in her eyes. The 2 bigger kids on the left are the 2 in my class.

The Tigers with Andy and their trophies! Mother's Day tournament 2010

Jessica called me last Saturday to tell me that due to a change in his dad's work schedule Wyatt is going to a daycare much closer to home. I'm happy that he will be at home with Billy more now than being here 10 hours a day. We missed him horribly these first few days but know it's what is best for him. He will have more time at his own home with his Mommy and Daddy! It was wonderful though to get to see him this weekend and rock him to sleep, I needed some time with my Mr Muffin Man.

We are getting back into our normal routine and enjoying our family time together. As much as we loved having Wyatt here, I was worrying about the effects of sharing Mama with a new baby. Lila did start having some sleep issues and nightmares. She also started referring to herself and Shishi again instead of Lila, avoiding eye contact, speech progress slowed, just several little things that made me feel that she was feeling insecure. I'm trying to do a lot of holding, loving, bonding time this week to get us back to the strong security we had.

So far the Mary Kay venture is not going well. I only have a couple people interested in facials. I'll do those in May and June and see if they lead to any more. I am calling and emailing but the market seems saturated with Mary Kay consultants but if you're interested in a facial or some products, let me know or go to my site www.marykay.com/chrissyc

Our backyard has become the neighborhood gathering place this spring. I usually can count on the doorbell ringing about 4:00 to find someone asking "can I come over and play???" We have several kids raning from Lila to about 4th grade. They really play well together and it's fun to have them here. I must stock up on popsicles and juice boxes for the summer!

Grace's team was in an annual soccer tournament this weekend. I don't know who decided that mothers want to sit at the soccer field all day on Mother's Day... They played well today, Grace got in some really good passes.

Lila's second surgery is in 3 weeks. We check into the hospital on June 7 then surgery is the next day at 10:00. This will be a longer surgery and a longer hospital stay than the December surgery. Before then we have my niece's graduation, both girls' birthdays, birthday party, end of school, Kindergarten graduation, friends coming from out of town (cannot wait!!), my sister and the kids arriving from Texas for the whole summer, Gerry's family arriving in June for a week (hoping some of them get to stay with us!), plus all the usual appointments and events. It's easy to get stressed over all this stuff but when you step back and appreciate it they are all really blessings!

Happy Mother's Day! It's my first with both my little girls!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Wyatt's first week & the new appliances

The new refrigerator. The old one was from 1987. It was time.

My new stove!

The old one was from approximately 1972. We kept using it because it still worked. It was dying a slow death, was making strange noises and I think I was smelling gas leaks. So this is our beautiful new one!


His funky tie-dyed onesie

Lila's first Easter!

Baby Boy


Harry on the neighbor's garage roof


Easter dresses and baskets!