Ha! In your face, Jeff!

After being told since Cameron was born that he looked just like Jeff and nothing like me...wrong. And guess what? Brady looks equally like us as well;)

Loos Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

BIG NEWS! Woo Hoo!

Those of you who know Cameron and Brandon are going to fall out of your chairs and those who don't are going to think 'what took so long?'

Drumroll Please.....................

I am now the proud (and very nervous) mother of
TWO LICENSED DRIVERS! ACK! Not only that but Brandon drove somewhere by HIMSELF this afternoon and we both lived to tell about it! I don't know whether to celebrate or medicate!

A God Moment

Don't you love how God sometimes just surprises you with a bit of encouragement or affirmation? Last year we realized that for many reasons we needed to find a new church home. We attended a new church on Christmas weekend and felt a connection. A few months after we started attending, they made an announcement that the young man who was leading worship had been hired permenantly. He's an incredibly talented musician and has a beautiful voice. On Sunday, he was giving his testimony. Here is a man that God has chosen to use his voice to serve Him and bring Him glory. He told us that he was especialy touched by Psalm 139:13...For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. Why? Because he was born with a birth defect-as soon as he said it, I know exactly what was coming next. When he was born he had a cleft lip and a cleft palate. Then came the tears...mine, of course. I haven't ever shared on here, but Brady's doctor told us a few months ago that he will never be 'normal'. That's not the word he used, but it is what he meant. I don't know what God has planned for Brady, but I have a feeling He's got something pretty amazing in mind. I believe he can do anything he sets his mind to. He's stubborn that way:)

Grab the Tissues!

The Graduate!

Today was Cameron's graduation day. He is officially done with high school. He'll be living at home next year while attending college so I am dealing with it fine...even though my mom keeps telling me how OLD I am. Still younger than her..he he.

Brady Day!

Last Mother's Day I awoke to realize that we had overslept and were very close to missing our flight out of the Tri-cities on our way to China. We threw everything together and got to the airport only to learn our flight had been delayed. Big sigh of relief...or so we thought. Our flight kept getting delayed later and later until they cancelled the flight altogether. The woman at the ticket counter told Jeff that we could catch a flight out in two days. Jeff told her that she was lucky that his wife wasn't standing there when she said that! He told her that two days just didn't work for us. We were going to China to meet our new son and we needed to flight out that day. She found us a different flight and we were fortunate to get to LA in time to make our China Southern flight to Guangzhou. Even so, my stress level was through the roof. I know I should have just turned it all over to God, but I am stubborn sometimes. When we got to GZ, we were waiting and waiting and WAITING for our luggage. We had one suitcase but the other never came. We had to stand in this insanely long line to report it. While we were in that line, our guide left the airport thinking we had not arrived. So here we were at the GZ airport with no guide, no Chinese money and no way to communicate. Thank GOD another American passenger who also had lost luggage struck up a conversation with us. He happened to speak Chinese. He found us a cab and told the driver where we needed to go AND negotiated the fair price. Otherwise, I have no idea what would have happened. We had the whole day alone and were scheduled to get Brady the next day.

On the afternoon of the 16th, we headed to the Civil Affairs office to finally meet Brady. There was one other family also meeting their son for the first time. The boys hadn't arrived so we waited. Finally the nannies came in and scurried into the next room. I snapped a few shots but couldn't tell which was Brady. When they were ready to unite the families, they brought out the other boy first while Brady peeked into the room. His eyes were so big and his eyelashes just as long as they seemed in pictures. They brought him out and the next part is blurry to me. I remember talking to him, not wanting to push myself onto him but they wanted me to scoop him up quickly so I did. He didn't protest and didn't have much emotion at all. All the info that we got about Brady before the adoption talked about how QUIET he was. We sat him on the couch and pulled out the snacks and toys that we had brought. He quietly looked at what we had brought and I thought to myself that we were adopting the most sullen and timid child I had ever seen (please take a moment to chuckle over that one). I honestly thought this child might never smile. A few minutes later, he was belly laughing at Jeff. He took his hand and led him out of the CA office. I thought it couldn't be more perfect (again, go ahead and laugh). Then the bottom fell out. I won't lie. The next two weeks were the worst of my life. Brady screamed, hit, pushed, beat his head on the floor...I really can't even go back there yet. It just wasn't pretty. Thanks to many, many prayers we made it home (and with only one person asking us what the heck was wrong with him on the flight). We considered that a true miracle. The first weeks home were rough; last summer is a fog. I honestly could barely function. I asked myself many times what had we done. People always asked how we did it with five and it was always so easy. Then we had six and I DIDN'T know how to do it. I was overwhelmed. And during it all Brady was pushing me away. The minute Jeff got home from work, Brady would go crazy if I came near him. It was all so hard for everyone. All 8 of us. But through it all, I remembered one thing...God planned Brady for our family. He was ours and we were his. And then one day things just started getting easier and we fell into a groove and Brady's tantrums became less and less and he started feeling more comfortable with us. He started coming to me for comfort and wanting me to love on him. He became a happy, loving little boy. He has even just recently started asking for mama to do things for him, which is so awesome. This morning when he got up, he wanted me to carry him and didn't want me to put him down. It's so nice just to have him in my arms and not be fighting to get away. I know we still have a long way to go with Brady. Poor little fella has so many things to overcome. But today, on the one year anniversary of meeting Brady Daniel LeQiang Loos, I can say without hesitation that I am so glad he is my son.

Flowers for Mama

It is closed!

Brady had another appointment with his surgeon today. We usually get the latest appointment time so that I don't have to take the girls, but they didn't have an opeing available this time so I had to drag them along. It was a nightmare. Brady and AnnaClaire fighting over a chair and both refusing my lap THEN minutes later fighting over my lap. Allie then started elbowing AnnaClaire. I guess if your brother and sister are causing your mom to become a sweaty, frustrated mess why would you want to miss out on that fun? There were two other patients in the waiting room. One (a man) said to the other (a woman) 'makes me wish I had three'. As she looked at him like she was trying to decide whether he was on drugs or just kidding (I really think he was serious), I was making a note to self to never ever even consider bringing the girls again. Ever. Did I say never? Cause I mean never. When they called us back, I said 'thank you Lord!' and I am pretty sure I heard an amen from the woman. It didn't get better once we were in the back. Brady threw a fit because they didn't have time to ride him up and down on the table and then because I wouldn't let him play with the magnifying glass when the nurse wasn't there to help. Then AnnaClaire whopped Allie in the nose with her HEAD. When the doctor finally came in, both Allie and AnnaClaire were crying and Brady still had big tears rolling down his face. But the minute the doctor came in Brady calmed down and did everything he was told. I told him he was like the 'Brady Whisperer'. It's really amazing. He looked in Brady's mouth and said the palate was closed! How awesome is that?! Brady doesn't have to go back to see him until July. I am so happy for my little man.

I am so blessed

As we pulled out of the garage to go take Allie to preschool on Tuesday, I said to the little ones 'What a beautiful day the Lord has made!' Allie excitedly said, 'Yes, that tree is growing!' (referring to what I consider a glorified stick our landscaper put in our front garden...but I digress) So I asked who made the tree and Allie said 'Jesus' and so I asked who made Brady and she answered 'Jesus'. I said yes, that God created Brady and he has a special plan for him-that He has a plan for us all. Then I asked who made 'Allie' to which I get another 'Jesus!' so I said 'I wonder what God's plan is for Allie?'. Then in the most joyous voice, Allie answers 'to have a family!' Seriously, how do you drive when you can't see through the tears?

Last few hours of LWB Born in my Heart Auction on Ebay!

As many know, Brady was in a LWB supported orphanage and then in Foster Care also supported by LWB. They make such a difference in the lives of the children in China. Please check out their auctions!


From LWB:

We are down to the final 24 hours of the Love Without Boundaries Born
in my Heart Art Auction! Our auction ends Tuesday, April 29th.

Each amazing auction item will close at the same time of day as it
launched...beginnin g at 9:00 am Pacific Time, and continuing
throughout the day until nearly 8:00 pm Pacific Time. Hopefully the
spacing of the items will allow you to place final bids on all the
items that have captured your heart!

I see some serious bidding wars for some of our auction items, but
want you all to know that there are still some incredible bargains to
be found. There are some amazing pieces of professional art,
photography, prints, etc. that are currently listed at just a
fraction of their worth. We are just over halfway to our goal of
$40,000 to heal eight children...remember , this is all for the kids,
so please bid generously to help heal hearts and save lives!

You can reach our auction on eBay through a link on the homepage of
our website: www.lovewithoutboun daries.com or directly at our
regular eBay store location: http://stores. ebay.com/ Love-Without-
Boundaries-Store

THANK YOU and bless you, to all who have donated or bid on an auction
item this year. You are truly a hero, to some very special child who
needs your help.

Love Without Boundaries
Art Auction Committee
www.lovewithoutboun daries.com

Interesting Blog Post about the Care SN Orphans Receive in China's Orphanages

http://research-china.blogspot.com/2008/04/death-outside-dying-rooms.html

 

 

 

 

 

Brady Update

If anyone still actually reads this blog (which I highly doubt...LOL), here is the looong overdue update on Brady's surgery. As you know, Brady had his sceond surgery to repair his palate on March 10, which was a Monday. That Saturday as I was putting Brady down for his nap, I asked to see in his mouth and when he opened it I could see that the palate was splitting again. In fact the hole was already quite large. I felt like I had been punched in the gut. Jeff, Brandon and Ryan were in Atlanta at the SEC championship tournament (or I should say that due to the tornado, they were in their hotel room watching the tournament on television) so I didn't want to ruin their weekend by telling them the news. On Monday we had an appointment with Brady's surgeon. As soon as he looked in Brady's mouth his face dropped. He was very disappointed that it had split. He said that there were 2 layers and that if the upper layer hadn't split, it was possible that the hole would close on it's own. That night Brady was sitting on a bar stool in the kitchen and fell and hit his face on the floor. Blood poured from his nose and mouth (this has happened a few times when he has fallen and hit his face). I was sure that if that second layer hadn't split before that it had now. We went back to the surgeon 2 weeks later and the hole was smaller. The surgeon said it was 'slamming shut'. We went back again this week and the surgeon said it was a pinhole now. This is very good news for Brady and we are thrilled that God has healed him.

Please Read and LEARN from this tragic accident

This precious angel's mother is on a group with me. His loss is devastating, but will hopefully teach others about furniture safety awareness.

Boy, 23 months, killed when dresser falls
Corey Halpin's parents said he was a 'loving' child.
By TED CZECH
Daily Record/Sunday News


Corey Halpin, who died Monday in an accident at his Dover Township home, loved wearing hats so he would always be ready if someone was going outside, his mother said.. (Submitted)The thing Gail Halpin will miss most about her young son Corey is the way he would lie next to her in bed early in the morning, kissing her and saying, "Mommy, Mommy."

Corey Halpin, just two weeks shy of his second birthday, died Monday at his home in Dover Township in what his mother called a "tragic accident."

Gail Halpin said her son was playing inside a dresser drawer in his room when the dresser fell over.

While reminiscing Tuesday about what she loved about her son, Gail Halpin also said she saw his death as a way to warn others about the dangers of unsecured furniture.

"If my dresser had been secured to the wall, he wouldn't have died," she said. "If his death can help save other little children, then that's something good."

Gail, 31, and husband Jim, 35, described Corey as "loving," always wanting to be kissed and hugged.

Corey spread that love to all of his family members, they said.

Sister Annagale, 8, would swing Corey around on her back.

Corey and brother Kaden, 3, would move his bed next to Corey's crib so they could be as close together as possible while they slept.

With his father, Corey would imagine he was on a roller coaster, hopping, twisting and turning on his dad.

He loved to play peek-a-boo.

He also wanted his sandals and "Gilligan's Island"-style hat on at all times because if he thought anyone was going outside, he wanted to go, too, Gail Halpin said.

Gail Halpin said that, about 6:30 p.m. Monday, she was at her Equestrian Drive home in Dover Township and had just put Corey and Kaden to bed. But the boys stayed up playing, she said.
Gail Halpin was in another part of the house when Kaden came to her and said, "Mommy, Corey's stuck."

She went right away and found Corey in the bottom drawer of a dresser. He was not moving.

She pulled him out, carried him into her kitchen and called 911.

Gail Halpin believes Corey's weight in the bottom drawer caused the dresser to tip over and that, when it did, it closed on his neck.

She said that, as a tribute to Corey, she plans to dedicate herself to keeping other children safe. A group of her online friends plans to start a Web site where they will offer straps to anchor furniture to walls to prevent them from falling, she said.

Brady

 

So sorry for the lack of updates

I will try to update tomorrow.

Happy Easter Weekend!

I will update on Brady tomorrow:) In the meantime, please listen to this song. I can't make it through without tears.

Yeah!

Shortly before we got AnnaClaire's referral, my computer croaked taking everything with it. Last night Cameron recovered the pictures from my hard drive! Teenagers rock! I will be torturing you all with old photos the next few days ;)