Our First 6months together

I cannot believe it has already been six months since the day our little IzzyB was handed over to us. I remember not being able to breathe I was so scared and excited. I had traveled to the other side of the world for her, as many of you know this entailed me overcoming multiple fears and phobias, so it was hard to believe I was in China much less being given this most precious gift. these are pictures of the first few moments we sent with her at the orphanage and later in our room. I remember trying not to cry because I didn't want to scare her, but I cried anyways. It all seems surreal now, like it was years ago, or a dream, but I have the proof it really happened. My house looks like a tornado hit it, I can hear Izzy breathing on the baby monitor, and I am exhausted. It all adds up to having a very bizzy 2 year old named Izzy B or as Austin calls her just the B.

I am so thankful that Auntie Nicki took these pictures because it was such a blur of activity I would have had no documentation of the event. I have to say we had the best travel companions in the world: Joe, Billie, Nicki, Anna and Will. I look at the pictures of our trip and miss them so much. We were truly blessed to have such wonderful people to share these moments with.

Now I am off to bed. I have 7 hours before the B will be using the crib as a bounce house and want to be fed. I keep waiting for her to go over the side and run free.

Feeling better, Haircut

Okay, Izzy feels better...a little. So I got some pics today of her haircut from last Sat. They just cut her bangs and the long side points she had grown. It cost 5 dollars so 50cent a hair . I would have left her bangs long because they look cute side swept with a barrette, but the barrette lasts about 2 seconds.

Cry baby cry

Can you name the artist for each song?


1.Just Cry Baby Cry(Don't cry no more)
Cause every tear that flows falls into the ocean
And rises to the skyAnd then the rain will come
Right before the sun shines...

2.Cry baby crycry cry cry
Make your mother sigh
She's old enough to know better
So cry baby cry.

Yes, the crying continues. I don't know what to do. Next entry: Scream Mommy Scream.

Cries in the night

Well it has been almost a week since Isabella's surgery. Things are getting worse instead of better. Last night was another crying marathon. Buck slept blissfully through it. She is so pitiful, crying holding onto her flower pillow, not knowing what to do. I managed to pull my back out reaching in to get her because she wouldn't even stand up. I gave her Motrin and walked her for a couple of hours (also not good for the back) but she finally settled down and went back to sleep. During the day she is so busy she is fine, just not eating well but at night it is so much worse.

I really don't know what to do for her, except hold her, hug her, and tell her it is okay. They say the pain is worse between the 3rd and 7th days but can persist the full 2 weeks. It breaks my heart to see her this way, on the upside she is definitely becoming a Mommy's girl! Which is a big thing since her love has always been for the GeGe and BaBa.

I need to post pics of her hair cut. It was only her bangs and the points on the side, but she is felt to bad to take any. Soon.

My Terrific Kid

Friday Austin was named Terrific Kid for his class. Isabella picked this as the day to feel her worst and be her grumpiness. She did love all of the clapping though and thinks it is for her.

In addition to terrific kid Austin also got his ribbon for A honor role, auditioned for the play and got a speaking part, he sang Be Our Guest for his audition. The kid loves the spotlight and has a new character for puppet troupe at school, The Giant. I hope I will get a DVD with all of the episodes of the puppet troupe that has has done this year. They broadcast it on the School TV once a week.

Just a quick note

Just wanted to write a quick post about Izzy. She did well through the surgery. She is hurting and her throat is sore but otherwise fine. Her hearing test went well. They feel like her problems are related to the fluid in her ears and that hopefully it will resolve with the tubes. She saw the speech therapist today and we will see her again Friday.

So things look good. I am bracing myself for what will happen when we actually know what she thinks. She is very expressive in her babble, it will be fun to hear the words to go with it.

It has been a while

I know it has been a while. We had to say goodbye to our pup which was heartbreaking. Buck, Austin, and I were there to hold him until the end. It has been over a week almost 2 and I am still crying. Austin has lost his best friend. Isabella does not know what to think and is still holding food out for him but he is not there to get it. I am still stepping over him when I get out of bed. Seeing your child in so much pain just intensifies your own.

This week (4/15) Isabella has surgery to place tubes in her eardrums, remove adenoids, and perform a BAER (brain auditory evoked response test) while she is under anesthesia to see what her hearing status is. The test doesn't work if there is fluid in her ears so we have to have the PE tubes in before the test can be done because she always has fluid in her ears.

Speech therapy will begin this week and Occupational therapy the first week of May. I was to start a job 2 days a week at the local Vo-Tech but it is now on hold since the good people of FL voted to decrease property taxes and now the schools, fire, police, and other public services are facing a shortfall of money.

On the upside, Isabella has learned to use a spoon, makes a mess but is getting better at getting the food to her mouth. We found she is "highly" allergic to milk and eggs so maybe we can get her messy, gooey, mucousy diapers under control, I am having a heck of a time feeding her though, the food she likes contains milk and eggs.

That is about it.