The Disease

(These photos were taken a few weeks ago when the girls were helping us decorate the outside of the house for Christmas. Simone loves to have her gymnastics leo on most of the time.)

Sophie just came in from outside to say, "We are outside searching for Lewey Poop! Simone stepped on a poisonous mushroom, she does not know if she has THE Disease."

We Finger Paint With Shaving Creme and Finger Paint

Today we received a fun note from Sophie's PreSchool Teacher:

We Finger Paint With Shaving Creme:
Sophie said, "My hands are sad 'cuz they're all messy."

We Finger Paint With Paint:
Sophie said, "It's cold. It's warm."


On another note last night the funniest thing happened:

When I went up to bed at ten pm last night I collected all the things that needed to go back to their "home" in my arms and then started to climb the stairs.

I dropped hair bows and headbands in Simone and Sophie's bathroom, dropped Sophie's dolls off in her room and then went to Simone's room to drop off her Zoo Zoo Pet Hamster.

Well I pressed against the Zoo Zoo Pet Hamsters back and it started to make loud noises so I ran out of Simone's room into the hallway. I put it down, Simone moved but went back to sleep, Sophie let a little cry out and Daddy, not so happy.

The Zoo Zoo pet would NOT stop!!! So I ran it to our bedroom at the other end of the house. Well Sophie still heard it and is crying by this point so I go back into her room. Daddy tries to turn Zoo Zoo Pet off with no luck.

I lay in bed with Sophie and start to laugh. She gets mad at me because I am laughing and tells me "you too loud!!"

Rick gets even madder and takes Zoo Zoo Pet down stairs.....I laugh even harder, Sophie thinks this is not funny and I get a look from her!

I laughed so hard!!! Simone slept through it all.

I just asked Rick what happened to that Zoo Zoo Pet last night??? He said, "it is in the garage with the batteries taken out."

Memories ;)

My Heart

This evening I could not stop thinking of how proud I am of Simone.

During her prayers tonight she just kept praying and praying. She prayed for about five minutes and Sophie was so good while she did. Sophie just sat there listening while I held her and sucked on her fingers.

Here is some of what I could remember:

Simone said, "I love my sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet Sister. I have God in my heart and Jesus loves me in my heart (the worked on a heart project earlier this week at school. I can't wait to see it.) In Utah all the dinosaurs are dead."

Before I forget....A few weeks ago when Sophie was saying her prayers she said, "please watch over my Uncle JJ so he does not get arrested and locked up in jail!" (Her Uncle is a police officer.)

Uncle Jason

Sophie says while we are driving in our Honda minivan tonight, "Uncle Jason can't fit in this car."

I turn the music down.

I (Mommy) says, "yes he can there is enough room for his head." (as I motion my hand above Rick's head.)

Sophie says, "when he drove this he almost did not fit, his head right up here (as she points to the roof." (referring when Uncle Jason was out here for spring vacation they had Sophie in my car for the day with out me, I was at work.)

Sophie says, "how he get like that?"

I said, "he was born a big baby around 10 pounds and then grew up to be that tall."

Sophie said, "hmmm."

Conversations

While riding to school the other day Sophie says, "I don't like school. I like PARTIES, I LOVE CANY!!"

Then randomly Simone tells Sophie, "Sophie when you are 30 Teacher Dee will be a Grandma and so will Teacher Jessica. You end up being big, then bigger then a Grandma!"

Sophie said, "I want to marry Daddy!" Simone said to her, "you can't marrie Daddy, he is already married to Mommy!" Sophie says, "then I marry Mommy."

Simone tells me that her good friend in Kindergarten Sophia has the same Cousins as her. I said sorry Simone but if she was Emma and Sara's cousins too then we would see her more especially at family parties. "Mommy I know she has the same cousins because their numbers match!!! Emma is 8 and Sara is 5, same numbers, same COUSINS!"

Panda Play Group

Today we were able to meet up with our Pand Play Group Friends.  We had a GREAT time! 

The highlight of the time together was seeing Maya and Remmington (what cool names!).   I can't stop smiling about our day together.

I was so excited while taking the group photo that I thought I did not catch any, I did not want to miss this photo!!  Tracy told me she could email me so I felt better but when I got home I found I did have some.  I just think it is time for me to purchase a new camera.....My friend Scott told me that they only last so long any ways :)  Hmmmmm, maybe that is why I am having so many problems with my Digital Camera, it is around 5.5 years old........can I wait until my Birthday in July?

Simone and Sophie We were so excited as you can see them touching Maya in the photos.  Sophie Wei was able to hold Maya and Simone was able to feed her a bottle.  This was a big topic of our discussion at dinner tonight.

I feel so blessed for our Girls to be apart of such a fun, sweet group of Girls and Mommy's!!

Silly Girls!

Thanks Aunt Andrea and Uncle Jason for the new outfits!  Note Sophie's choice of boots, she insists on her snow boots with every outfit.

What a great afternoon!

Thanks Cheryl for hosting. 

This evening I went to my dermatology appointment to check out my moles.. ... I took Simone with me because she really wanted to go.  When we arrived and when the Doctor came into the room Simone said loudly, "Do you know why I am here?  Because I am going to be a Doctor, Tell them about it Mommy!"  I could not believe it, she cracks me up.

Rick went to pick up some groceries with Sophie.  When we arrived back home

he told me that Sophie said to him, "Daddy if you don't buy any pudding I will put you on the Naughty List!"

I Love My Family!

Doctor Simone

Simone still talks about being a Doctor.  She says, "that she would like to cut open the hurt and fix it".  A  couple of weeks ago she tole Sophie and I that she would like to "be a doctor so I can fix Sophie's hip and leg."  Sweetheart you can be what every you want to be ;)

She also told me a few days ago that she has a "good memorie" because when she watched a scary show she remembered it "at night time and it still scared her".

This photo was taken while we were at the Watson's.  (Thanks Becca for making our Christmas Card, can't wait until they arrive!)

We have been pretty busy.  Even though report cards were done a week ago, I my bottom left wisdom tooth taken out on Friday and Rick has been busy putting in our new hardwood floors with help from Scott!! 

Work Christmas Parties tomorrow, teacher gifts to hand out and hopefully our Christmas Cards will be arriving soon.

I am also busy makine gifts on line.....I hope to be done soon, better get to work.

BOB

Simone, Rick, Sophie and I are siting at the table this morning eating breakfast.

Sophie says, "Booty Buttt!"

I say, "Sophie that is not appropriate to say." (as Rick and I are laughing inside.)

Sophie replied, "BUT my Dad laughs!!"

Later that morning when our friend Dave came by to pick up Rick Sophie says, "BOB!"

Rick tells us that is what she says now for "Booty Butt."

Sassy girl on our hands!

Great Daddy

After I got out of the shower I see Sophie Wei sitting on our bed with some warm hot chocolate in a sippy cup and a heating pad on her arm as she snuggles under the blanket watching Kai Lan.

This just melted my heart.

I asked Sophie what was the matter.

She said, "my arm hurts from shot so my Daddy do this!!" (She had two immunizations yesterday, one shot in each arm."

What a blessing Rick is to our family.

That Witch!

"That WITCH hurts my eyes!!!" Sophie told me this tonight as I put her to bed while she puts her hands on top of her eyes.

I asked her what???

She then said again, "That WITCH hurts my eyes".

I then asked her if she meant the one fromt he Wizard of OZ and she said yes....They have been watching it at preschool.

One Year Ago Today

Sophie Shi Wei, One year ago today you walked into our lives and it has been a blessing since! I will never forget arriving at your Orphanage. It was big and grand. I could pinch myself because I could not believe I was going to be a Mommy again.

I have so many photos that I love from that day. Here are a few of my favorites.

Holding you for the first time. You were so tiny and full of life.
Your Daddy was in love already.
We were blessed to meet one of your Ayi's.
And two of your good friends.
You meet your big Sister Simone (Jei Jei).You meet your Grandma Prater.

Over the last year you have brought us so much joy.

You turn three years old.You have surgery to repair your acetabulum on your pelvis by using a bone graft from your femur and had your femur back in place (hip displasia.)
(1. Right peri-acetabular Pemberton osteotomy.
2. Right proximal femur shortening osteotomy.
3. Right hip capsulorrhaphy.
4. Application of right hip spica cast. 6 weeks.)

Surgery was ruff but we made it through.
We learned that Popsicles make you happy and that you like them.
You attend preschool full time in January with Sister Simone because both Mommy and Daddy are at work full time.
You meet lots of your family and friends.
You are so silly.
You and your Sister love each other so much.

You make us all laugh.

You are so sweet and everyone likes you and you love chewing gum.

You like to call your self "a princess."

You prefer skirts over dresses, no socks, silly faces and enjoy "hitting" anyone or objects as you walk by.

You love to Dance. You tell us that you want to do Ballet "with out Mommy and Daddy" and "NO Crying."
At the end of April we learned from your Surgeon that your acetabulum is progressing and growing. The blood supply to your pelvis and femur area look good. Your limb difference is 1.5 cm difference. We receive a lift insert to put inside your gym shoes to help you walk/run. It does help you and keeps you from falling down so much. You no longer need to wear the Dennis Brown Bar for your club feet therapy. We do not have to go back to the surgeon for one year unless we have any concerns. We will not have to have surgery to have your hardware(metal plate and four screws at the top of the femur) taken out. Our Surgeon said that if it was his kid he would leave it in. The only time it would be a concern is if you brake your leg in that spot and when you go through the metal detector in the airport. What a blessing.

Sophie Wei below last week. She painted her face all "BY MYSELF!"

I will never forget these two photos above. They mean more as time goes by.

If you look closely you are skwirmming out of my arms. It was time to go and we wanted to snap a few more photos. As I set you down you went back to the hallway behind me. It is where all of your friends were due to the earthquake a few weeks prior.

You cried and I teared up as I picked you up again.

You did not want to go. You liked us but we were strangers.

We were taking you away from your only home you have ever known.

Your friends and toys.

Your Ayi's.

Your food and smells.

Your language.

Your bed and your school.

Your Homeland.

We hope you always know how much we wanted you and prayed for you.

Your our sweet little girl.

We will never forget your family in China and your heritage.

We promise to take you back as often as we can.

I love these photos my Mom took right after we left the Orphanage. We were trying to go slow and comfort Sophie Wei the best we could. Letting her grieve.
Following her lead.

Today I am remembering your story and ours.

Our family coming together.

We love you so much Sophie Shi Wei.

Love Forever, Mommy