Our wonderful Christmas present!

To hear more please visit our new blog
"jorja on our minds and in our hearts"
at http://journeytojorga.blogspot.com

Chef Jailyn!

Not one of my other kids ever wanted to help in the kitchen like Jailyn does!
We really need a stool for Jailyn to be able to reach the counter, but for now we use the high chair!
Jailyn and Mom are making a new dish with some of our left over turkey!

Wonderful Christmas Morn!!!

There's nothing like the joy of children ages 14 to 2 waking up on Christmas morn! Kenzie and Conner came to our room at 5:30am! We made them sleep until 7am! We had a wonderful day watching Jailyn experience her first Christmas morn!

Only two kids left

Our adoption agency has only two more children to find families for on this list!
Drew and Leah! They are both beautiful children!
For more information on these two children contact Karla at www.lifelineadoption.org
karla@lifelineadoption.org
Praying these kids meet their forever families soon!

Happy Birthday Brady

Brady is 14 years old today. He was so excited today! Almost too much to handle having your birthday on Christmas. Brady is a so good at letting us celebrate his birthday on Christmas Eve! Usually, he wants me to make lasagna for him - but this year he wanted Steak and Shake, he loves the cheese fries. Watching him eat these fries is not a pretty thing, so I didn't post any of those photos. :) Happy Birthday Brady we love you! You were/are a wonderful Christmas present!

Sweet Baby no more tears

This sweet little guy would have been 2 years old on Sunday. He was on an adoption list with people searching for his forever family, but he died. In God's hands, may this little guy's eyes now see and his heart be full of peace. This sweet guy never knew what it was like to have a mommy or daddy to hold him tight. Please pray for all these kids world wide whose families have not found them!

Away In A Manger:
Be near me Lord Jesus
I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever
and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear Children
in your tender care
And take us to heaven
to live with thee there.

Christmas Igloos

Rather then making Gingerbread houses (which can be very time consuming, frustrating, and a mess). We make Christmas igloos! We love this tradition too! This year the kids worked on them a little bit at time and came up with this scene! Love it!

Merry Christmas to y'all!

Made out of sugar cubes and vanilla icing! Fun for all ages!!!!

Prayer Requests

These two little guys, Sawyer and Evan, were Jailyn's buddies for 16 months. They are both having medical issues and are under going numerous testing. Please keep them and their parents in your prayers! Bonding is hard on any level, but when you are worried about the health and development of your child it can be even harder! We love you guys!

Holiday Traditions!

What are some of your holiday traditions? We love new ideas!

Some of our traditions are - each child has a Christmas tree at their bedroom door. The kids have really enjoyed this. They usually decorate their trees in ornaments that they have made throughout the years. This year Kenzie and Conner (my decorators) wanted to get new ornaments so they all match. Brady our traditionalist didn't want anything new - he likes his old ornament. He did want to add a new soccer ball ornament. They were all excited about getting Jailyn her first tree and purchase ornaments.

A few other traditions we keep up - take a drive around town at night to see all the Christmas lights. This is fun for all ages! Make chocolate chip cookies for Santa (you know they are Santa's favorite). Trace the kids hands and feet and make reindeer's out of them (we will be doing that today). It's amazing to see how the kids have grown. Brady's feet and hands are too big anymore! :) We read the Nativity Story throught out the month and remember to keep Christ in Christmas. We also wrap the kids doors with their specified Christmas wrap. We began this tradition when the kids couldn't read, so they knew whose gifts were who's.

And of course, we have lasagna and chocolate cake for Christmas Eve dinner! Brady's favorite! One year he asked for a cross cake to celebrate his birthday and Jesus' birthday! :) This year Brady wants his lasagna dinner on Christmas day. (not too sure what Mimi and Papa Paul will think of having an italian christmas! :)

This year, Kenzie suggested that the kids play Secret Santa. They will be choosing names and purchasing gifts for each other - under $10. So, they have to be creative. Hopefully this will be the first year of a lifelong tradition!

Enjoy your holiday traditions!

Jailyn's fun day!!!

Jailyn had a great morning at her ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) Christmas party!
She was able to make a photo frame, decorate a cookie, take a sleigh (wagon) ride, and meet Santa!
We have talked to her about Santa, or "Ho Ho!" as we call him. But she has never seen him in person. While we waited in line ECI employees blew bubbles for the kids (what a smart idea! I think I'm going to bring bubbles shopping with me! Totally amused all the kids!) When it was Jailyn's turn to see Ho Ho, I told her, "It's your turn to sit on Santa's lap." and she turned toward him and crawled up on his lap! Couldn't believe it! Even though she wasn't all smiles, she was not nervous at all. Santa gave her a gift and she politely took it, walked to the basket of gifts and put it away. I think she thought it was a prop. :) I'm sure she will get a hang of the "greedies" soon enough, but it is sure nice at this stage! :)

Update on Zhang Qi

This little guy is doing a little better! He is eating 50ml (approx 1.69oz) of formula every 3 hours. He is gaining strength enough to cry. (He was unable to cry when he entered the hospital) When the nurse stuck him for a blood test he cried! I'm sure that was a sweet cry! We are praying that his strength improves and can be moved to foster care.

Thank you for your prayers for this sweetie!

Another UPDATE 12/7/07
Zhang Qi is in stable condition! Although he has developed a cough. He is continuing to take his formula. If all goes well in the next several days he should be ablet o go "home" to the SWI. There are several nannies there waiting to love on him.

Please continue to pray for him!

Please pray for this little guy!!!

This little guy's name is Zhang Qi. He is only 6 1/2 weeks old. His body is refusing to keep any milk down. He has been placed in a hospital (finally). The hospital didn't have an incubator available for him so one is being borrowed from another organization. Dr.'s are consulting today to see how to help this little guy!
Unfortunately, this happens to too many cleft babies!!!
Thank you for your prayers for Qi!