Everything Murphy...

Rest in Peace, Cinnamon

2012-01-26T11:05:00.000-05:00

Our sweet girl Cinnamon went to Heaven this morning. She was almost 17. We really wanted her to die in the comfort of her own home, and she went very peacefully. In fact, I thought she was sleeping when I went to check on her this morning and realized that she'd passed.

Jimmy and I both prayed to St. Francis last night to end her suffering and for God to take her peacefully. Our prayers were answered.

This week, the kids had been so sweet to her when they found out she was dying. Charlie covered her with his blanket (which he is usually glued to) and both kids gave her kisses and held her paws. Charlie tried to feed her water from a sports bottle, and Madi even generously offered up one of her blankets to bury Cinnamon in.

We love you, Cinnamon. Rest in peace, you good girl. And tell your brother we said hello and miss him too. We are glad that you two are together again.

Dear Daniel,

2012-01-24T19:13:00.000-05:00

Two years ago today, they placed you in our arms.

And we will never be the same.

I praise God for having you.

But I'm sad to have lost you so soon.

The love I have for you will never diminish, son.

You are with me always, a fixture in my heart.

Thinking of you today and every day, my angel boy.

We miss you down here.

Daniel and Charlie

2012-01-22T13:16:00.001-05:00

What is one thing that these two boys have in common?

A shared love for their big sister's headbands!

Daniel in March 2010

Charlie in January 2012

Showing Hope

2012-01-18T12:06:00.002-05:00

Last week, Jimmy and I received an email invitation to volunteer with Steven Curtis Chapman's upcoming "Songs and Stories" concert tour. I am assuming this is something that Show Hope grant recipients are invited to take part in.

When I first read the email and noticed that the venues were rather far from us, I hastily declined, but asked to be contacted if the tour should come further south.

I woke up the next morning having second thoughts (Holy Spirit, I'm sure), and dug up the email to show to Jimmy.

Surely we could make this happen, right? I mean...after everything Show Hope did to help us bring Charlie home??

So, we promptly lined up a babysitter (thank you, Mom & Dad), cashed in 10,000 Marriott points (thank you, credit card bill), and we will drive to Lakeland, FL on March 10th to spread the good word about adoption at a Christian music concert (thank you, God).

We are really excited about this unique opportunity!!

Say "Cheese!"

2012-01-10T11:36:00.000-05:00

Mr. Charlie is getting big.

In fact, he's finally caught up with his peers. I took him to Mommy & Me yesterday, and he was the same size as all of his little friends.

I have no idea how much he weighs or how tall he is. I usually rely on our pediatrician for charting that data. But, thankfully, we haven't been to the doctor since Charlie's well visit in September. I suppose I should throw him on the scale at Publix!

It feels so good to watch this little guy thrive...

"Merry New Year!"

2012-01-03T10:24:00.002-05:00

...as Madi would say. New Year’s Eve seemed like the perfect occasion for something out of the ordinary this year. We wanted to do something low-key, but at the same time, we wanted to do something special and fun for the kids, too. So we settled on dinner out at a Japanese Hibachi restaurant.

It was everything we hoped for and more. It was quite an entertaining dinner, and it was--by far--the best Charlie's behaved at a restaurant--probably because he was totally freaked out when the hibachi grill went up in flames. He instantly snuggled in very closely with Dada for protection.

The kids were clearly mesmerized by all of the activity, and the chef really connected with them. Madi loved that the chef decided that she should sample everything for the table. She felt so important.

We loved all of the tricks that included Daddy being hit in the cheek with a shrimp that was supposed to end up in his mouth (not), so on the third attempt, the chef made the shot. Madi predicted the "onion volcano" when she saw it being constructed. We were pretty amazed that she caught on to that, having never seen it before. I guess we shouldn't be surprised by anything that child figures out...

After dinner, we spontaneously caught up with dear friends, the Wilson family, who we haven't spent enough time with lately. We passed by their house when we returned from dinner, and they joined us in the yard to release a Chinese lantern into the sky for good luck. It was so nice to catch up with them.

We wish all of our family and friends a very
Merry New Year, and we pray that 2012
brings much happiness, peace, love,
good health, and prosperity to all of you!

A Special Gift from Santa

2011-12-26T14:46:00.002-05:00

Of course, having Charlie with us this Christmas was the best gift of all. He loved the excitement of all our festivities, though he's too young to really understand what's going on with all of it. I'm sure next year will be much different for him. For now, Madi is his "gauge," and if she's happy, he's happy.

Madi chose not to send a letter to Santa this year. Clearly aware of all she's been blessed with, she told us that she wished for Santa to give her toys to other kids who needed them.

Madi has a heart of gold, but she's also a very smart kid, so we think she kinda knew that Santa wouldn't forget her.

And so, on Christmas morning, we found this, along with the letter below, straight from Santa himself.

Dear Madi,

I understand that you’ve been a very good girl this year. I’ve also been told that you’ve decided not to send me a list because you wish for your toys to be given to little girls and boys in this world who have none.

I want you to know that your generous request has provided Barbie dolls, games, and clothing to children who needed them very badly.

Now…back to you, my dear Madi.

I know how much you love having a lemonade stand, and I understand that—in the past—you’ve raised money for various acts of charity.

For this reason, I have decided to send you a special lemonade kit that will help you to draw attention to your causes.

May you continue to be a blessed angel on Earth doing good things for one and all.

Yours truly,

Santa Claus

Her kit came complete with a personalized sign, pitcher, tray, and cashbox. We went outside today and Madi raised her first $30 (including a sizable donation from Bubba). Her charity of choice for today is the Ronald McDonald House. We are very proud of her!

"Crismis"

2011-12-21T11:49:00.004-05:00

A song written by Madi

(and translated by Mommy)

The tim is hire

(the time is here)

it is crismis Ev

(it is Christmas Eve)

The Buls are ringing

(the bells are ringing)

crismis is so fun

(Christmas is so fun)

it is not a bot tos

(it is not about toys)

it is a bot jesis

(it is about Jesus)

if you are lukey a lf will kom to yr hos

(if you are lucky, an elf will come to your house)

But not ares

(but not always)

if you havit wune tim it wil com bak

(if you have it one time, it will come back)

crismis is fun

(Christmas is fun)

it is a bot shiring a bot ciring and loveing to

(It is about sharing, about caring, and loving, too)

so crismis is for evebudey

(So, Christmas is for everybody)

'Tis the Season...

2011-12-19T13:29:00.002-05:00

...to be jolly. Except I've been quite grumpy. As much as we've tried to embrace the meaning of Christmas around here, we've still managed to get caught up in the whirlwind somehow. It's such a busy time of year, isn't it?

And this week, school is winding down. Shopping is finally done (started last night).

Relax.
Breathe.
Prepare for the coming of Christ.

It's time to truly focus on Christmas. Better late than never.

Though we set out our Advent wreath on time this year, we've not been so good about adhering to our tradition. I guess because Charlie goes nuts when he sees candles. He must think a party is in order. I think he expects that we'll all break out in the Happy Birthday song. And then he refuses to eat dinner, because he's much too busy trying to blow out the candles from across the table.

Maybe next year.

I am happy to reflect, though, on the things we've done thus far to celebrate the reason for the season.

We took our annual visit to Bethlehem. A local church sets up an amazing living nativity each year, and we've ended up going with our same group of friends for the past four years together.

Bubba and Grandpa treated Madi and me to the Christmas Pageant at the First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale. They put on an amazing show every year. If you ever have a chance to make it to this show, DO IT. It is a must-see and there is nothing like this show to put things in perspective and remind you of the true meaning of Christmas. Here's the link in case you want to put it on your list for next year:

http://www.fbcnet.com/templates/System/details.asp?id=20607&PID=608305

One night last week, Jimmy and I stuck the kids in the wagon and walked around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. We were stocked with popcorn, hot cocoa, and a warm blanket for the kids. Our walk was cut short by rain, but good thing Bubba had a trusty giant umbrella to help us out in case of emergency. We'll venture out again this week, I'm sure.

We were thankful that our Christmas elf, Peter, decided to come back this year. This was a subject of wonder in our house for most of the year. We weren't quite sure whether we deserved to have him back or not.

Now that I think about it, since he did come back, maybe that means we haven't been so good, which would explain why we're under surveillance again! Hmmm...

Luckily for us, he showed up the weekend after Thanksgiving. Madi is always on her best behavior when Peter's around. It's amazing how things change when he's in the room. Totally hilarious.

The morning he arrived, she pulled up two chairs for her and Charlie, and they sat there for a good half-hour staring at him, while she explained to Charlie what the elf thing's all about.

He seems to have embraced it, because he loves finding Peter's hiding spot every morning, too. He points at him and says, "Pow Pow." It's very cute.

I am just fascinated at how Peter manages to find a different stake out every single day, especially in this little house!

Sad to say that Christmas cards aren't making it out of our house this year. I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. We'll just say "Merry Christmas" to all of you, and we'll enjoy reading your cards this year!

Wedding Bells

2011-12-12T20:14:00.000-05:00

Grandpa Murphy has a new bride! He met Suzanne (a.k.a. Miss Suzanne to the kids) after we came home from China with Daniel in 2010. She was very supportive to him during the toughest of times, and having been widowed twice before, she knew exactly what he was going through after losing Grandma Pauline.

They started out as companions and ended up falling in love. In an intimate church ceremony Saturday night, they tied the knot, and Madi was honored to be the flower girl.

Miss Suzanne is a wonderful addition to our family. She adores the kids and they love her, too. We are so glad that Grandpa found such a special person to spend the rest of his days with.

Charlie wore a suit for the first time (thank you, Amanda. It finally fits him!) and I had to post this adorable picture.

He knew exactly how cool he looked...

And the winner is...

2011-12-08T18:23:00.002-05:00

Several weeks back, when I picked up Madi at school, she asked me with excitement, "Mommy! Do you know what a Nook is?"

Before she allowed me any time to respond, she then said, "It's something that can help you read! And we can get one for just one dollar!"

"Really?" I replied with a chuckle, already aware of the upcoming fundraiser at the school book fair.

So I took the opportunity to teach her how a raffle contest works and explained that her dollar would not get her the Nook, but rather a chance at winning one.

The next day, we filled out eight entries and tucked them into her school folder along with the money.

When I greeted Madi at school this afternoon, she came running at me full throttle to happily announce that she won the raffle!

The story was too cute. They first announced that the winner was a Kindergarten student in Miss Maldonado's class. Madi described how all the children crossed their fingers and how she tightly closed her eyes in anticipation of the results.

Then they did a drum-roll over the loudspeaker, and finally announced that Madolyn Murphy won! Her gleeful expression when she told the story indicated that she must've been over the moon. She walked proudly to the Media Center to collect her prize, accompanied by the two class messengers for the week.

We are so thrilled for her, though neither Jimmy nor I have a clue as to what this Nook Tablet can do yet. We are in the process of setting it up tonight, and it looks pretty darn awesome! And not a bad deal for eight dollars!

I can't wait for the day when she can download Daniel's story on her Nook:)

And then there were three...

2011-12-07T19:56:00.000-05:00

Bubba and Grandpa are back!

2011-12-05T13:25:00.003-05:00

When they left in May, it seemed like it would be forever until they came back from California.

And now, like the snap of a finger, they're here again. My how time flies.

Madi accompanied me to the airport late Thursday night. There's no way we could have held her back from collecting Bubba.

We got them home and settled. Madi was in bed by midnight and needed her first late pass (anticipated in advance) the next day. Totally worth it.

Bubba surprised Madi and came with us to our Girl Scout outing to the Humane Society after school on Friday.

They do unbelievable work there at our tri-county no-kill animal shelter. They truly are angels.

Each of the Daisies and Brownies in our troop made blankets to deliver to the animals. The cats seemed to take to their blankets right away. It was a neat experience to see how loved and well cared these homeless animals are.

We spent Friday evening getting back on track at their house. Charlie was re-introduced to them and to their great, big bathtub. He loved it though he was literally up to his ears in bubbles at times!

Charlie loves walking around with Grandpa's cane. In fact, both the kids do. Madi named one of them his "candy cane," so Bubba helped her turn it into one by decorating it with red and white.

We've wasted no time throwing Bubba and Grandpa right back into the mix of things. We're so thankful that they are back:)

The Mayor

2011-11-29T09:33:00.004-05:00

At the end of Mass on Sunday, a very kind man--with a chuckle--said to me, "He walks around like he's the Mayor--shaking hands and kissing babies!"

I was so relieved to here this.

Because from my perspective, Charlie seemed more like the chief organizer of some extremist political protest. He was boisterous (at all the wrong times), and he was definitely a "stand out" in the crowd.

I had been very busy in the pew that morning trying to keep him occupied while he grabbed at his sister's crayons and incessantly cried out, "Choo Choo, Choo Choo" when I pulled his Thomas book from our bag 'o tricks. Big mistake.

Unfortunately, that was all I saw. That is, until the kind man pointed out all "the good" in Charlie's actions.

He actually did deliver his sippy cup to a crying baby. He did shake hands and wave at people around him (including Father Ridore), he did pucker up for anyone who looked willing to kiss him back, and he did strut down the aisle as if he were "well-connected."

I love how the Holy Spirit sends messengers to "keep it real," and I'm grateful for it.

Perhaps Charlie will be Mayor someday...

Tree Angel

2011-11-28T09:16:00.003-05:00

The angel atop our Christmas tree has a new look this year. She's holding a Chinese Love Knot in her arms.

The Chinese knot has come to be the symbol of reunion, luck, harmony, and love. Traditionally, a Chinese knot must be bent, tied and crafted from a single red rope, to express the endless circle of happy life and its red-color represents beauty, happiness and wishes.

This love knot was given to us in China when we brought Daniel home.

It will stay in her arms forever now, on our tree, and will serve as a sweet reminder that Daniel's with us at Christmas time.

It was a busy weekend of preparing our home for the holidays. We put up our tree yesterday, and Madi put on all of the breakable ornaments while Charlie was napping.

What a sight for him when he woke up. He came into the living room and said, "Woooowwww!" I'm sure he's not seen anything like it! He jumped right in and helped to decorate the tree while we danced around to Christmas music.

Yesterday marked the beginning of Advent season in our Catholic faith, and we are focused on the coming of Christ and preparing, in joyful anticipation, of His coming.

Daredevil

2011-11-25T13:45:00.002-05:00

There are some things that could make my heart stop.
This is one of them.

They asked me to come outside and photograph their "Kodak moments."

I reluctantly agreed.

And managed to get some great shots for her to remember.

Then I had to leave, because I couldn't stand it anymore.
She's such a daredevil...unlike her mother.

Madi's down now.

Mommy's all better.

So much to be thankful for...

2011-11-24T09:20:00.001-05:00

This morning, as I reflect upon how fortunate we are to have been born in this country, in this day and age, I feel so very blessed.

We know nothing of the struggles of our forefathers.

Or of those in other countries who suffer from hunger, illness, and poverty each day.

How did we get so fortunate?

These thoughts remind me just how thankful I am for:

my God - my husband - my children - my parents - my relatives - my friends - my angels - my health

For each and every blessing I've been given in my life, I am so thankful.

Wishing you a very happy and peaceful Thanksgiving!

The Big Boy

2011-11-23T11:54:00.004-05:00

I think I'm in trouble here.

Baby boy, as we speak, is napping in his "big boy bed" for the first time.

What in the world did I just do? Oh my, how I think this will bite me in the you-know-what.

When we went in for his nap, he grabbed his blanket (which he's become quite attached to) and climbed up into the bed.

I put his jammies on him, and then prodded him to get into his crib.

He made sounds of displeasure at the very idea, and I...well...I caved.
Totally.
I'm such a sucker...

I gave him a kiss and closed his door. When I went back to check on him 15 minutes later, he was sound asleep.

It will be interesting to see where this goes. The thought of my two-year old out of his crib makes me crazy.

I wonder if I can warm him up to the idea of napping in the bed and sleeping in the crib at night?

Oh, Dear Lord I hope so!

The Evolution of a Kiss

2011-11-20T13:59:00.002-05:00

When we brought Charlie home 8 months ago, he didn't seem to know what a kiss was.

For the next couple of months that followed, he began to "accept" our kisses by leaning in.

At month four or so, he began to kiss back by pursing his little lips ever-so-slightly.

And now...he's finally at full pucker:)

Turned the corner

2011-11-16T12:11:00.000-05:00

Just one day after Charlie made it perfectly clear that he wants more Mommy time, he made huge strides at Mommy & Me class this morning.

For months, he has chosen not to participate preferring to sit on my lap as an observer. It was almost comical because we would get home and I would catch him practicing some of the moves.

I started to believe that Charlie thought it was my class, not his.

But this morning, he turned the corner. Different kid altogether.

Charlie did everything. He participated in every song and every movement. He was vocal, and he was engaging. This morning, Charlie Murphy emerged from his shell at the YMCA, and it made me very happy.

So happy that I didn't expect to react the way I did. I couldn't have suppressed the tears if I'd tried.

It was just so very rewarding to witness such a transformation...

Totally not worth it.

2011-11-15T13:23:00.005-05:00

I posted in July, after my knee injury, about how I took Charlie to the baby room at the YMCA, and he was absolutely fine with it. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it.

Charlie has had quite the opposite reaction the last two times I've taken him back to the playroom.

Absolute meltdown.

I mean, he can't catch his breath meltdown.

Totally. Not. Worth. It.

Not for this Mama, anyway.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not judging those who leave their children in a playroom. I'm just fessin' up that I'm a bit weak in this department. I'm all for a good workout, but not at the expense of my son's emotional state. I'm not willing to put Charlie back into an "institutional" setting with lots of kids and a few caretakers when (just my opinion) I believe it's an all-too-familiar setting for him.

And it's obviously way too close for comfort.

Maybe I'm over-analyzing, which I'm famous for 'round here. But I don't think I am.

So it's back to taking nice, quiet strolls in the morning for us, and I will embrace every moment of his attachment process.

Until Bubba gets here on 12/1, that is. Then maybe I'll get to sneak out for an hour or two a week while Bubba and Grandpa enjoy some quality bonding time with their Grandson...

With flying colors...

2011-11-15T08:24:00.000-05:00

...Charlie passed his Early Steps evaluation last week. It's an amazing program in Florida (and other states) for early developmental intervention, and we've suspected for a while that Charlie has delays in speech (for various reasons). So I made an appointment and took him in.

While the therapists acknowledged delays in the speech department, they believe the delays are totally expected given his background and the short time he's been home with us. They want him to have at least a year to catch up before considering intervention services.

Charlie passed in every other area, too. He was so cute during the evaluation, and I loved watching him interact with four therapists at once. He knows how to work the room! They had bubbles in their possession, so he was pretty thrilled to play with them.

There were a couple of times when Charlie became uncomfortable and began to cry, so I scooped him up on my lap, kissed him a hundred times, and gave him the reassurance he needed. After that, he was fine and resumed his evaluation. I was a very proud Mommy.

Even though Charlie was denied services, I am so glad that I took him in. It definitely gave us some peace of mind about his development, especially his speech. And we were given some great tips for helping him use words. One of them is the "delayed response" technique in which I need to hold out on what he wants until he stops crying/screaming and actually uses a word. Yikes. That's usually when I cave!

The Strawberry Patch

2011-11-12T09:20:00.002-05:00

Last weekend we took the kids to the strawberry patch,
a local country store with much to see.

The berries aren't in season for picking yet,
but it is still a really neat place for kids.

They house swans, donkeys, tortoises, and a plethora
of wild birds that have been rescued.

Charlie was totally fascinated by all of it. Especially the ice cream.

King of the Hill

2011-11-08T19:29:00.000-05:00

Look at that smile.
You'd think he climbed Mt. Everest!

Chasing dust

2011-11-05T08:39:00.002-04:00

I love how children are drawn to the simplest things. Bubbles, of course, are a continued "big hit" in our household.

And we've made two new discoveries:

Much like a kitten, Charlie is mesmerized by the beam of light produced by a flashlight. I think he could chase it for hours. He had a ball with the neighbor kids on Halloween running around our driveway and chasing the light.

This morning, he's discovered dust. Yes, dust. And there is plenty to be found in this house. But he is particularly drawn to the dust particles that float in the air and are only visible in a certain light. I caught him turning himself in circles pretending to be a speck of dust himself.

Hopefully he won't land on a piece of our furniture;)

A beautiful morning

2011-11-02T11:01:00.006-04:00

Most mornings are pretty crazy 'round here. Dropping Madi off at school. Hustling to the YMCA for Mommy and Me class or a scheduled playdate. Or just running errands in our "spare" time. Added to my (self-inflicted) distractions of modern technology, it hasn't given us much down time.

Class was cancelled today for renovations in the kiddie room at the Y. What a blessing.

After drop-off, Charlie and I came home and ate breakfast (quietly) together. I made a bowl of grits for each of us. He insisted on pulling up his chair to the table, like a "big boy." Then, after I fed him a bite--he returned the favor. As we took feeding each other bites, I saw a familiar gleam in his eye. It reminded me so much of Daniel. And it brought back moments with Daniel that I'd forgotten. Lo and behold, we'd done the same thing together.

After breakfast, Charlie and I took a stroll around the neighborhood. The weather here today is simply amazing. Cool (high seventies, maybe?) and breezy. Just a taste of what we should soon feel on a more regular basis.

When we came home, we went out in the backyard to play. We started rolling a ball to each other, but then Charlie wasn't thrilled with the feel of the grass on his legs (again...much like Daniel), so he ambled over and plopped on my lap.

As I sat criss-cross applesauce, and he was perched in the middle (facing me), I held him against my chest and we hugged each other. For about five minutes--in total silence--we held each other tightly and listened to the beautiful sounds around us. We watched butterflies flutter, and large birds soar in the blue sky.

It was perfect.

Then, of course, Charlie became squirmy, so I picked him up and carried him over to see Daniel's plaque. He proceeded to kiss his hand probably ten times and touch Daniel's face. It still amazes me how connected those two boys seem to be...

Trick and Treat

2011-10-31T16:23:00.001-04:00

So I procrastinated just a tad this year with a Halloween costume for Charlie. We've been so busy, and quite frankly...I don't know what I was thinking. Apparently, I wasn't....

Yesterday afternoon, I dragged Madi around to six stores, and absolutely nothing struck us. Nothing. Everything was either the wrong size, looked cheap, too expensive, or just plain ugly.

In a desperate state, I called our friend Emily, and she bailed us out with a cute little construction worker vest and hard hat. It was perfect, though I knew he likely wouldn't wear the hat, and it saved the day for Charlie's Halloween party at Mommy & Me this morning.

My first school party

I think I like these things called cupcakes.

And I love my first Teacher, Miss Lora

Then Mommy got the ultimate "trick" for Halloween. I returned from working with my editor this afternoon to hear from Diane (our friend, neighbor, and sitter) that Charlie was stirring. He was "stirring" alright. Those of you with weak stomachs might want to sign off here...

When I walked into his room, shortly before it was time to pick up Madi from school, I was blown over. Little Stinker (literally) had gone number two, and it was everywhere. And I mean everywhere. On every blanket (five of 'em), both of his musical toys, his bedding, his clothes, his feet, and it didn't stop there. He had finger-painted all over the crib rails.

Sorry for being so graphic, but if I gotta live it, you gotta read about it. That's part of the deal here. And why would I share such disgusting information? Because someday I want Charlie to read about all the crap (pun intended) he put me through;)

Realizing that there was no quick fix to the situation, I immediately speed-dialed Emily to pick up Madi from school.

Seriously folks--I was paralyzed. This has never happened with Madi or Daniel, at least like this. I tore his clothes off, scooped him up from underneath his armpits (holding him out at a safe distance) and ran him into the bath to get cleaned up. It took me a good half-hour to get him and his crib squeaky clean, and I didn't even gag once. Now that's true love. Oh--and I should credit Charlie with this: Not once did he cry or show any sign of trauma. That was all me...

The "treat" of my day was that on my way home from meeting with Marilyn, I made a quick pit-stop at Toys R Us as a last resort and lucked out totally. I found the cutest, softest Tigger costume HALF PRICE! Best $8.00 I've ever spent. And Charlie absolutely LOVES wearing it!

Good thing he's so darn cute...

Our Angel Madi

2011-10-29T20:26:00.000-04:00

One of the challenges of Kindergarten (for me, anyway) is the abundance of projects. The kids had to come up with their own Halloween costume idea and make their costume for a grade. No store-bought costumes allowed.

Madi came up with the idea of an angel. The costume came out great after a few weeks of stressful planning. Actually, I stressed about it, and she really didn't.

Her project also required a written component, and when I asked her to write why she wanted to be an angel, she wrote, "Because my little brother Daniel is an angel." God love her.

We used a pillowcase for the dress, and Madi hand-painted hearts, peace signs and crosses on it. We made wings out of foam board, which she also painted, we strung them together with elastic. We used pipe cleaners for her halo. We propped a little white peace dove on her shoulder and added some sparkles to her face. She looked beautiful.

Before we left for school, I remembered (thankfully) to snap a couple pictures. When I asked where we should take them, she replied with excitement, "Out in the backyard with Daniel and Schroeder!"

Jimmy and I had the honor of attending a fun little Halloween performance in her classroom Friday. The kids all looked great in their homemade costumes, and they were so excited about their big show.

Madi loves her costume so much, that she decided to wear it for all of our Halloween events over the weekend, so the effort paid off on our wallets, too:)

Thank you, Faith

2011-10-26T13:25:00.004-04:00


Our first picture of Charlie. He looks good in pink.

This time last year, we had just received a call from our agency about Charlie's file. We were reeling. It was so hard to process such a joyful beginning on top of such a difficult ending.

It still amazes me how we found Charlie--or how he found us--I should say, by the Grace of God.

Let me put it to you this way...I was looking for Faith and Faith led us to Charlie.

A friend of mine (Carmen) had sent me a Facebook link to a wonderful well-known organization called Love Without Boundaries last Fall. I had been perusing their postings regularly and fell in love with countless faces on their website. I inquired about several children who I believed could be ours.

Then I saw Faith. I fell in love with her instantly. Faith was from the same province as Daniel. She was the same age. She even had the same heart condition. Our agency felt it was "too close" for us. I didn't. I wanted to find that little girl, so I called our agency again and again hoping that they would locate her. But they couldn't.

On the morning of October 23rd, 2010, our Holt agent, Beth, signed on to her computer and began looking for Faith's file, once again. But then up popped a photo-listing she had not seen before. It was Charlie.

Beth said she knew instantly that he was "The Murphy's baby." He seemed the perfect fit for our family, but where did his file come from? He'd entered the Shanghai orphanage in December, 2009 and babies in China become adoptable after six months, which would have been June, 2010, just after Daniel had passed away. So why did his file just pop up in October?

Perhaps our guardian angels shuffled some papers around and kept his file--which must've been locked by another agency--under the radar until we were ready.

Or perhaps there is another family out there--who we need to thank--for releasing Charlie's file after four months of contemplation about him.

Either way, God found a way to get his file in our hands when He was ready, and when we were ready.

So, now we have Charlie. And we still have faith:)

Renea

2011-10-25T11:39:00.001-04:00

This post is for my dear ole friend, Renea.

She loves to pester me for updated blog posts.

And insists upon updated photos, too.

Apparently, we are one of her favorite reads with her morning coffee.

So, how's this for a photo?

Do those kids look familiar?

The picture isn't exactly updated. It's more like...well...outdated.

Do you realize that picture was taken thirty-some years ago?

And we were sporting my mom's old sixties duds.

Cute, huh?

Love you for being a follower:)

Fall Fever

2011-10-21T11:27:00.002-04:00

We definitely have it here today! The weather is absolutely gorgeous, and we're hoping this is a sign of what's in store for us this winter.

Last weekend, we took the kids to the Cason United Methodist pumpkin patch. It's a tradition of ours, and it was so cute to see Charlie traipse through the hay in the parking lot trying to pick up even the largest of pumpkins.

Madi had so much fun showing him around and putting him into the decked-out carriage. He seemed to like it; although, we detected that he was a bit unsure about the whole scenario, since we couldn't get him to smile much.

We took time to search for our perfect pumpkin, and while we were checking out, Charlie ran over and grabbed the white one shown in the last photo. Of course we couldn't say no...

Creepy and Spooky

2011-10-18T12:14:00.000-04:00

Creepy

Spooky

Bubble Time

2011-10-15T12:17:00.000-04:00

SO GLAD these Crayola colored bubbles are WASHABLE!

Especially since our 6-month post-placement photos are due this weekend!!

Trains

2011-10-14T10:06:00.002-04:00

We finally found a toy that can occupy Charlie's attention for a reasonable amount of time...trains!

We made this discovery last week when we attended a school book fair/fundraiser at Barnes and Noble, where they have an elaborate train table set up with all of the possible bells and whistles.

Charlie was very comfortable in this new element. Let's just say he was, well--a little too comfortable...and...ahem...filled his pants.

As I made the startling realization that my son's dirty diaper was wafting through the play area, I was even more horrified when I realized that I didn't have a single supply in my possession.

No diapers. No wipes. Nuthin. Nada. Zilch.

In an attempt to remedy the situation with a "quick fix," I desperately panned the store for women with babies, but the only baby in the store was a newborn. I knew there was no way our little chunker monker was going to fit into a swaddler diaper. Not on a prayer.

My friend, Carmen, kindly reminded me that we were surrounded by stores in the area, so while she tended to the little stinker (literally), Madi and I sprinted out the door like we were on an episode of The Amazing Race and found the nearest Walgreen's. We gathered all of the necessary supplies, checked out, and made it back to the book store in five minutes flat.

Problem solved.

Please forgive my ramblings about my poor parental planning skills, but the up side was finding out how much Charlie seems to like trains! So, we went over to Bubba and Grandpa's house and pulled out all of cousin Matthew's trains from years past and set them up here for Charlie. So far, so good.

As I sit here posting, I ask myself, "Have I learned anything here?" Apparently not enough. My purse still lacks supplies, the diaper bag still sits in the garage, and I've neglected to stock the van "in case of emergency."

Guess I better sign off now and take care of things before Murphy's Law strikes again...

Confirmation

2011-10-11T12:33:00.004-04:00

On Saturday, we celebrated our nephew, Myles', rite of confirmation, which is about inviting and accepting the Holy Spirit into your lives.

I was honored to be chosen as Myles' sponsor for this beautiful and touching ceremony, especially since he chose "Daniel" for his saint name. I think I shed a tear every time I looked at his name tag!

I posted his dedication on the blog before, but wanted to post it again since Saturday was so meaningful for our family. This was written by Myles about choosing his saint name:

The name I have chosen for my confirmation is Daniel, in memory of my little cousin and God brother Daniel. In February, my aunt (who is my sponsor) and uncle adopted a two year old boy who they named Daniel. He had a heart condition and needed surgery to correct it. The surgery was a complete success but there were complications during his recovery. After being in the hospital for almost a month, he passed away.

St. Daniel was known for his ability to interpret dreams. Daniel and his three friends were taken to Babylon. He was given the name Belteshazzar. Daniel was the first of the three presidents of the empire under the reign of Darius the Mede. His ministry began late in his life. His date and time of death were not recorded. His feast day is December 17^th.

I have chosen to take Daniel as my confirmation name, in memory of my cousin who I miss very much. This is one way I can think of to keep him in my heart.

After the ceremony, we celebrated over a delicious brunch at Mizner Park. In typical fashion, Charlie became a bit antsy after being restrained for a while. Murphy was kind enough to walk the kids outside to the fountain.

After about ten minutes, Madi came running in to say that Charlie fell in and got wet. Well, we never expected this! He was drenched! He had lost his balance and fell in the fountain while reaching for a feather.

Thank God, Murphy was right on it, and plucked Charlie from the water. I was also thankful for having a spare diaper, though we did not have an extra set of clothes. We drove home with the heat on in the car! And the kind restaurant staff gave Murphy a tee-shirt for being such a life-saver--literally!

No, Charlie. This was not your baptism. You already had that!

Field Trip!

2011-10-07T11:58:00.000-04:00

Can you spot Madi? She would be the cute little Chinese one in the top row:)

Often referred to as a "hover mother," you can imagine how thrilled I was to have the opportunity to help with her first class field trip. It gave me a chance to be right there to watch Madi interact with her new little buddies and enjoy a very fun day with them.

We went to a place called Bedner's Farm, located in Boynton Beach. We took a hayride led by a John Deere tractor and spotted plenty of wildlife as we learned all about their farm. This place made me really want to buy local fruits and veggies! Farmer David shaved fresh raw corn right off the cob (with his pocketknife) for us to taste. It was amazing!

The kids all got to choose their own little pumpkin from the patch to take with them. I loved watching Madi scurry around in search of the "perfect" one.

Of course, Mommy played second fiddle to the ever-popular Ms. Maldonado (or as Madi says, "Miss Mulldonado"). Many of the kids (Madi included) insisted on sitting on her lap during the hayride. She is so loving to all of them. We are still feeling very blessed to be in her classroom this year.

Daisy

2011-09-29T14:05:00.004-04:00

Madi is officially a Daisy. It's part of the Girl Scouts. I think, back in my day, it may have been called the Bluebirds.

She is very excited about all this. Last weekend, during a torrential downpour, she coerced me to bring her to the store to purchase her Daisy vest and t-shirt. We got totally soaked, but our mission was accomplished.

Our first meeting is in a couple of weeks. Madi somehow thinks we're going to the zoo. The concept of "meetings" is all new to her.

She has one goal and one goal only for this venture--she wants to sell the cookies. Badly. She's so enterprising...


Our little Daisy


There's the smile I was looking for. Daddy "made it happen" by pulling Mommy's pants down (skip the visual please)

Growth Update!

2011-09-27T11:56:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the 50th percentile, Charlie Murphy!

We had Charlie's well visit at the pediatrician today. It amazes me that in the six months he's been a Murphy, he's gained about 9 lbs. and grown about 4 inches!

Now that's what I call playing catch-up:) Way to go, big boy!!!

Cat Care

2011-09-23T12:58:00.004-04:00

There is only one person in this household so diligent about
making sure the cats have their bowls.

He just forgot to put the food in it...

Nice try, Charlie:)

Happy Birthday Babies!

2011-09-20T12:59:00.001-04:00

Madi and Charlie's birthdays are three days apart.

We celebrated some big milestones this weekend.

Charlie turned two on Friday.

Madi turned six yesterday.

Double happiness:)

I surprised Madi yesterday and showed up at school to have lunch with her.

The look on her face brought tears to my eyes.

Charlie gets cuter everyday.

He has no idea what this whole birthday thing's about,

but I think he likes it!

Trouble.

2011-09-15T12:25:00.000-04:00

With a capital "T".

I knew the Little Mister was quiet for just a little too long back there.

I went back to his bedroom and peeked in. No Charlie.

When I turned around, I found him standing on multiple cases of Capri Sun juice boxes (four to be exact) to access all of the "mystery items" on our desk.

Okay...let me clarify that the boxes were already there, BUT the little stinker actually made a staircase and climbed up them!

So, do 'ya think we're in a little trouble with this one??

Bubba and Grandpa--fair warning--I hope you're taking your Juice Plus. This little guy's gonna keep you on your toes come December;)

Mop Chop!

2011-09-13T19:51:00.002-04:00

I took Charlie for his first (much needed) professional haircut today. I had messed around and botched his bangs enough to realize that I needed to rely on the pros, and today was my scheduled trip to my trusty hairdresser Debbie, who's been cutting my hair for over twenty years. It was the perfect opportunity to introduce Charlie to the scene. Charlie meet scissors. Scissors meet Charlie.

In typical fashion, Charlie remained very quiet in his stroller during my entire haircut while he studied every movement around him. I have come to count on this type of behavior in "unfamiliar surroundings." Though he'd been there once before with me when he first came home, it was months ago and everything was so new to him then.

Charlie's such a mechanic at heart and you can see he wants to know exactly how everything works. I love how he takes everything in, and he doesn't miss a thing. He first watched Debbie wash, cut & blow my hair and then it was his turn. Debbie asked if he should sit on my lap, and knowing Charlie's independent spirit, I opted to have him sit on a booster chair like a "big boy."

What in the world is she doing to me???

Debbie managed to keep him occupied with the spray bottle as she chopped away. The look on his face says it all--total skeptic! But he took it, and he allowed Debbie plenty of time to get the job done right. He really handled the situation quite well and never so much as squawked. And here's the finished product

I earned this lollipop, believe me...

We think he looks a little bit like a Chinese "Mo" from the The Three Stooges--but precious nonetheless. The other thing he looks like--a little boy. He has just transitioned from baby. And the boy who needs to know just how everything ticks refused to leave without trying to pump up the chair like the hairdressers.

If they can do it, so can I!

Gotcha Day

2011-09-08T19:59:00.000-04:00

Okay...so I'm a little late to post about Gotcha Day 2011...

It was great! We ended up having a sitter for Charlie and we surprised Madi with a night out alone with Mommy & Daddy. She's been itching for this and we knew it. What better occasion to make it happen.

When we broke the news to her, the reaction was not only priceless, but it was so profound that we knew instantly we made the right decision. She was over the moon.

We first went to P.F. Chang's for dinner. She feasted on dumplings and edamame and was game to try a few other appetizers, as well. After dinner, we made our way south to meet our neighbors, Carol and Perry, along with Uncle Brian and Cathy for BOWLING! Madi enjoyed her evening out and especially loved that we were out bowling until 9:30 (while Charlie was home in bed). We arranged for the bumpers to be up on our bowling lane, and almost all of us improved our game (at least the women, anyway).

She's such a big girl and so easy and pleasant to be around. Like Aunt Carol said, "She's really not like a kid!"

We've promised her more nights like these...

Calling Bubba to tell her our plans

She's a natural...

Proud Mommy

Proud Daddy

The Girls

Five Years Ago

2011-09-03T15:54:00.003-04:00

Five years ago, sweet Madi,

Our lives were changed forever

when God blessed us with you.

We never imagined just how beautiful you'd turn out to be.

Or how smart, and graceful, and thoughtful, and kind.

For your tender age of almost six

You amaze us everyday.

And we are so proud of you,

Our precious daughter.

We can't imagine life without you,

Nor would we want to.

You make us better people,

And teach us so many lessons about life.

Happy Gotcha Day, Xiaoyuan.

Today we celebrate the most special girl in the world.

It happened again...

2011-09-02T20:44:00.000-04:00

Charlie and I were enjoying an outdoor breeze in the backyard this evening, when he suddenly crouched down and peered between the slats of our wooden deck railing.

His gaze was fastened to big brother Daniel's plaque.

After a moment, he quickly got up, took a couple of steps backward and looked totally mesmerized as he stared over in that direction.

A breeze kicked up, and without hesitation, Charlie made a beeline down the step to the yard. I knew exactly where he was headed.

He barreled through the grass and right over to that plaque. With his tender bare feet, he timidly made his way through the mulch. And when he reached his destination, he held out his little hand and touched Daniel's face.

I have no doubt, once again, that his eyes saw something (or someone) mine couldn't...

Charlie's Angels

2011-09-01T11:17:00.002-04:00

They look a bit different from the Charlie's Angels of the seventies, but they are every bit as beautiful, if not more! Actually, Charlie's much cuter than the original too:)


Madi, Kai, Camille, Alex, Ami Mei, Kayla & Charlie

With our half day of school yesterday, we were able to enjoy some free time with our mei mei friends swimming. A couple of these Chinese cuties, and their mommies, hadn't met Charlie yet, so it was a bonus to be together.

The girls are all turning out to be little fishes in their young lives. Charlie's pretty much a little fish, too. He loved when they took turns pulling him around on their boogie boards in the water. Though he's given me much resistance to floating on his back, Charlie was making some good attempts to do that yesterday, too!

He's a Barbie Girl

2011-08-31T11:57:00.001-04:00

One afternoon last weekend, Madi and Charlie were playing in his bedroom. After about ten minutes, Madi came out to the kitchen and reported, "Mommy, my baby is sleeping. Come see him!"

On that note, "her baby" began loudly calling out from afar.

She escorted me back to the bedroom to find this. "Her baby" was lying on the floor, all neatly tucked into her Barbie sleeping bag! Ready for nap? NOT!!!

Kindergarten!

2011-08-25T12:03:00.004-04:00

So...the second day of Kindergarten ended up being significantly smoother than the first.

Let me back up.

First of all, I must say that Madi handled the morning routine yesterday like a champ. We set her alarm clock for 6:30 and she came into our room, all dressed, at 6:32. She ate her breakfast bar (she picked them out) and was ready to go with time to spare.

We were disappointed that Daddy had to be away on business for a couple of days, so he missed out on seeing her off for her big day. I know that had to kill him. Thankfully, Madi's friend, Ami Mei, and her mom, Carmen parked at our house to walk to school together. The girls enjoyed having a friend along.

When we showed up at the classroom, we were told by the teacher that she had never received a roster with Madi's name on it. She also mentioned that the class was overflowing and there was a possibility that some students may be moved. I was confused. She was confused. And I think Madi was a little confused, too. Afterall, there was no cubby assigned for her belongings and no hook for her to hang her backpack.

Ms. Maldonado graciously offered to keep Madi in the classroom while I attempted to sort things out with the office. This was not the "warm and fuzzy" first day of school that I was expecting. I guess that's what I get for expecting, huh?

I went to the office to find that Madi's registration forms were not to be found, though I had hand-delivered all of the paperwork back in May. After several minutes of speculation, they sent me on my way with a clean registration form and insisted that I return it as soon as possible with accompanying "proof of address" documentation.

I left the office feeling more confused than before and extremely frustrated--on the brink of tears, actually. Charlie and I walked back to the classroom, with an updated roster for the teacher, and found Madi, like such a big girl, combing through baskets of books over by the sofa. She handled it all in stride--so typical for our extraordinary daughter. It was I who was boiling inside.

We walked back home, and Carmen entertained Charlie while I scurried to complete the registration form. Half an hour later, Carmen went on her way and Charlie and I walked back to the school to submit the new form. The office staff continued to tell me what additional paperwork was needed, as I continued to tell them what paperwork I'd already submitted. You get the point.

Finally, one of the women had an epiphany.

"She's in Kindergarten?" she asks. (sounding somewhat perplexed)
"Yes." I reply with frustration.
"Oh...I was looking in the Pre-K folders!"

Seriously?

At that point, I really didn't care about the mistake--I just didn't want to have to go through the process of obtaining more blue and yellow forms from our pediatrician, etc. etc. etc.

Charlie and I left the school, hopeful that our paperwork would be found. Of course, the experience wouldn't have been complete if we didn't get caught in the rain on our way home...

Over the course of the day, the anxiety of the morning's events began to subside. It's really no big deal in the scheme of things, right?? Charlie woke from his nap in perfect time for the walk back to collect Jie Jie (big sister). The walker pick up section was chaos, but I really wasn't expecting much from our tax dollars by that time.

I loved seeing Madi turn that corner at pick up. I could barely wait to ask her a zillion questions. But, like she's prone to do, she shut me down and kept very quiet about her day. I knew that getting this information will take time and some very covert prodding. I was able to get a drip of info here and there yesterday afternoon. At one point, Madi said to me, "Mommy, if I can stay home from school, I'll take naps!"

Finally, last night before bed, Madi had a total meltdown when I told her that movie night and popcorn had to wait until Friday. As she was sobbing, she defiantly cried in her little voice, "I don't want to go to school! I don't like winter! I want summer!" The reality was setting in. No more lazy days. No more late nights. No more hanging around and playing with Charlie. The schedule's on.

Back to today...Madi was a bit more sluggish this morning than yesterday, but she didn't put up a fight, thank goodness. We did manage to leave on time (barely). Today, due to questionable weather, we drove to a park closer to the school, and walked from there.

And we were thrilled to find that Madi had been assigned her own cubby and backpack hook!!! I helped her unpack her stuff and she was totally comfortable with a place to call her own, so I knew that it was my time to go. I kissed her goodbye and off we went to the office...

...where they had found all of our forms.

We went to the "Boo Hoo" tea for a short time, but Charlie was pretty antsy, so we didn't stay for long.

Oh...and of course, the experience wouldn't have been complete if we didn't get caught in the rain on our way home...again...

Daddy, please come home!! And bring wine with you!!!

Missing my baby

2011-08-24T21:19:00.005-04:00

Will this sadness ever cease?

Will I forever think of milestone missed after milestone missed?

Tonight it finally hit me that Daniel would have started Pre-K 3 this week. He would have started going to the same sweet preschool that Madi went to. And he would have loved every minute of it.

I think I've been suppressing this for a couple of days, which would explain why I'm an overwhelmed mess right now.

Not to mention that my baby girl started Kindergarten today.

Tomorrow's another day.

And I promise to post something happy.

The Negotiator

2011-08-23T19:44:00.002-04:00

I have been in discussions with Madi about caring for our cats lately. She's at an age where she could handle feeding them, and I thought perhaps she could use that as a chore to make some money.

Tonight before bed, she noticed that they needed a food fill-up. As we tended to their bowls, the following discussion took place:

Madi: "You know, Mommy, I could start taking care of the cats for you."

Mommy: "Oh yeah, Madi? What would you do?" (trying to feel out the scope of the position in her mind)

Madi: "Ten."

Mommy: "Ten dollars? I was thinking more like five per week, Madi."

PAUSE

Madi: "Seven!" (She shouts desperately as she chases me down the hallway)

I wish her Kindergarten teacher good luck this year...

Future Hand & Foot Model

2011-08-22T16:25:00.000-04:00

Took Madi for a manicure and pedicure this weekend to celebrate her big year. It amazes me that every color looks fabulous on her gorgeous skin tone!

Open House

2011-08-19T13:05:00.002-04:00

The last few days before Madi's Kindergarten open house had resulted in much build-up. Most families we spoke with had received post cards informing them of who their teacher would be. We received nothing. For once in my uptight, need-to-know life--I was totally calm about the whole situation despite the lack of information I was holding.

We strolled over to Banyan at 10:00 a.m. sharp this morning and headed into the over-crowded cafeteria to search for Madi's name on the class lists. Murphy's Law prevailed, and her name was not to be found.

As though this were an expected outcome (given our last name), we walked over to the office to resolve the dilemma. We had requested a particular teacher for Madi. She's the "veteran" K teacher--the K director, actually, with many, many years under her belt and an awesome reputation to boot. When we toured her classroom in the spring, we could practically see Madi thriving under her tutelage. Lately, however, we started second-guessing our decision and wondering if we did the right thing by requesting anyone at all.

But we learned this morning that Madi did not get her. Who we ended up with is simply amazing to us, and several months ago we would have never dreamed this would happen. Our neighbor, Linda Maldonado, has a beautiful, sweet and talented daughter named, Charde, whom we watched grow up. She went to Banyan Creek school as a child. In fact, she was taught by the "veteran" K teacher I mentioned. Charde went to college to become a teacher, and literally months ago--she was looking for a job.

Charde went back to Banyan for a visit and ended up getting hired as the first Banyan Creek student to become a teacher at the school teaching gifted 3rd grade classes. We were so thrilled that she would be back in the neighborhood and that she would be teaching in our home school! In her heart, however, it was Kindergarten that she wanted to be teaching.

In a last-minute class shuffling, some changes were made at the school, and Charde landed her dream job--the Kindergarten class she had dreamed of. We were so happy for her with this wonderful news, but our hopes of having Madi in her class were slim, since we had requested another leader.

And mysteriously, the Good Lord had a different plan for Madi--our request had not been granted. This morning, we received the joyous news that Charde (Ms. Maldonado) will be Madi's teacher. This news brought tears to my eyes--a totally unexpected reaction. I love the surprises in life (the good ones, anyway). Jimmy and I both feel relieved and pretty confident that Madi will have a great year.

Oh...and I had to promise Jimmy that I will try not to drive Ms. Maldonado crazy...

Already?

2011-08-13T10:32:00.002-04:00

Yep. Already.

Back to school starts the week after next.

I think we're probably late to the "Twinkle Toes" party, but Madi was certain these were the shoes she wanted for the big "K" school year. She had two stipulations--they had to be purple, and they had to light up. Mommy had a different stipulation--they had to be on sale!

We finally found the "perfect" pair the other day. They met all criteria except they do not light up. Madi settled. On the way home, she declared, "Mommy...I think it's good they don't light up. It would probably distract the other children in class." So proud of her reasoning...

We have been busy gathering school supplies from Banyan Creek's list this past week. We found an adorable backpack to fill up with her required "stuff". It certainly helps bring some excitement into something that she's a bit apprehensive about--new school, new teacher, new friends. Our "big girl" has actually been making noises that she would like to be a baby again. We know she'll be fine once she gets in there. It's just a lot to think about for her.

Jimmy and I remember the good old days of shopping for school for our own school supplies. Back then, pencil boxes were made of cardboard, and lunchboxes were made of metal!

An Early End to Vacation

2011-08-06T12:42:00.002-04:00

Mid-morning on Thursday, we headed over for our weekend get-away in Marco Island. We thoughtfully planned our departure around Charlie's nap. Of course, it wouldn't be natural if we didn't have to turn back to the house three times for various things we forgot (and to go potty one more time).

Thanks to Madi's desire to do everything in one day, we managed to go to the beach and get seashells, swim at the pool, visit the gift shop, eat dinner out at the restaurant, and watch the sunset from our balcony.

Sadly, our vacation was cut short by an alarming accident early Friday morning. Put it this way--we won't be winning any "Parents of the Year" awards.

Shamefully, we left a cup of hot coffee within Charlie's reach. Being the sweetheart that he is, he attempted to deliver it to Jimmy and ended up spilling it on himself. You can only imagine the panic when we heard his blood-curdling screams. THANK GOD for his long-sleeved pajama shirt, which Jimmy ripped off of him immediately. We put him in a cold tub and decided that we needed to seek further medical attention because we were really concerned about his eyes. We weren't sure if they were red because of crying or if they were actually burned by the coffee.

In our panic, we called the front desk and they arranged for a Marriott driver to take us to a nearby urgent-care center. Unfortunately, the doctor on duty was new and really wasn't able to give us much help other than to take Charlie to a pediatric emergency room. He, too, was concerned about his eyes and wasn't sure how to treat them. The nurses there were a great help. They tended to his 2nd degree burns with cream and bandages, and gave us signs to look for in case of respiratory distress.

Since the closest pedi-emergency room was in Fort Myers, which was 1.5 hours away, we decided it best to pack our bags and head back home. Thanks to the double dose of Motrin (one from us and one from the clinic), Charlie was totally content on the drive home and even fell asleep for an hour. We drove straight to Joe DiMaggio's Pedi-ER and they confirmed that NOTHING was wrong with his eyes:) The redness was totally due to crying. THANK GOD once more. The burns on his back/shoulder appeared much better by then with a few blisters. So much more damage could have been done...

We felt terrible to leave our vacation (for Madi's sake, really), but we felt worse about Charlie and knew that he'd be much more comfortable at home. And we were right. He was so happy to be home that you'd never know anything was wrong with him. Because Madi suffered the greatest disappointment, we have promised her a do-over to Marco within the next couple of weeks.

So, now we have to "up" our security level in the house with the realization that nothing is safe with our little guy. He is truly a "Curious George." We feel SO BLESSED that Charlie is okay.

Today, we breathe a sigh of relief and thank the Lord for our wake-up call that could have ended up in tragedy.

What's in a Name

2011-08-03T19:23:00.002-04:00

Seems like everyone's been referring to Charlie as "Daniel" lately.

Do we mind?

Not. One. Bit.

We don't find it appalling.
Or careless.
Or mean.
Or stupid.

We find it...well...
Heartwarming.
Very, very heartwarming.

Hearing his name from others reminds us of the mark he made on this Earth.
On our friends and family.
And we're thankful for it, actually.

We will certainly never forget sweet Daniel.
We hope no one else does either.

Bug Bites

2011-08-01T11:28:00.001-04:00

The kids were like a buffet for the mosquitoes over the weekend. I can blame myself for failing to put repellent on them. Madi must have ten red, swollen bites on each leg.

After watching Madi scratch at her poor legs all day long for relief, I applied some Benedryl cream to the bites last night.

As I rubbed her legs, I shook my head and told Madi that I was very angry. "At who?" she asked. "At the mosquitoes." I replied in disgust.

"Why did God make mosquitoes?" she asked. "I don't know." I replied...again in disgust.

Madi suddenly became very annoyed with me and said, "MOMMY!" "How would YOU feel if you were just a little bug and you had no food???!!!"

She sure puts things in a different light sometimes.

"So....you're not mad at the mosquitoes?" I asked.

"No." she responded quite adamantly.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2011-07-27T13:35:00.004-04:00

He knows how to love.

He knows how to comfort.

He knows how to be the most fun person on Earth.

He makes us laugh.

He makes us cry.

He makes us laugh more than he makes us cry.

He's an awesome Daddy.

He's a generous and loving man.

I am proud to call him my husband.

Today we celebrate you, Jimmy, and say--
"We love you back"
more than you will ever know.

Happy 45th birthday.

Lovin' Life

2011-07-26T15:01:00.000-04:00

To say that Charlie is "blossoming" is an understatement. He is doing great, and he's so darn cute I can hardly stand it.

Every day brings a new expression, a tad more spunk, and tons of personality. He is funny, charming, adorable, and stubborn as a mule sometimes too. Oh, how we love to watch him emerge from the shell he once was under.

He is trying to say a few words now. Our favorite is open, which comes out as "ope" with quite a lot of effort behind it. We also love when he holds up a finger and counts to "un."

Charlie is very observant and studies every move we make. He then tries to mimic our actions. He helps me unload the dishwasher on a regular basis. His job is unloading the flatware and handing it to me to put away. He takes great pride in his accomplishment. He also enjoys closing the dishwasher when we're done.

Charlie hasn't taken a tumble in a while, dare I jinx myself to write that. He's pretty good on his feet now, and he has really picked up the pace. Especially, when he's running away from Monster Daddy. We have to be very quick with him these days. He has a pristine radar for things he shouldn't have and places he shouldn't be in. He's a curious little guy, which scares us.

His favorite toys of choice right now are the recycle bins. Yes, the recycle bins. He is commonly found toting around a paper bag full of cardboard and paper items through the house. He goes for the plastic/glass bin too, which we try to keep him away from for obvious reasons. We are trying to come up with a better solution in our kitchen, so these items aren't quite so accessible. It would be nice if he'd just gravitate to his toys...

He still wants e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g that Madi has. Sometimes, she pretends that she is using his sippy cup, just so he'll want it. She gives in to him frequently. She adores him and it kills her to see him upset. She's such a sweet sister.

We are so blessed, and we know it. God has been good to us times 3. Can't imagine life without our little monkeys.

Hand, Foot & Mouth

2011-07-20T12:36:00.002-04:00

Charlie has brought home a nasty little virus called Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. I knew this one was only a matter of time for our finger-lickin' monkey boy. The poor little guy is miserable due to the blisters in his mouth that make eating a very difficult and painful thing. Charlie's quite the eater, so this is definitely not fun for him.

Virus + hungry baby that can't eat and can't talk = very stressful household

Thank God, my sister-in-law Kathy and our beautiful niece, Kelsey (Boo Boo) were here yesterday when his condition worsened. He had a fever the day before, but I had totally written it off to either teething (again) or another run-of-the-mill virus. He also had a nasty bug bite on his leg, which is not uncommon for this sweet and juicy little man. We speculated that maybe he was having some sort of allergic reaction.

When I was at physical therapy, Kathy had a really tough time feeding him and putting him down for his nap. He was pretty much inconsolable. Charlie's nap was cut short by discomfort, so I held him for a while, but it was obvious he was still hurting. We took him outside for a change of scenery, and that's when things escalated. He started making some very strange and unfamiliar faces in the swing. I had never seen these faces before, and I started to panic. I yanked him out of the swing and darted for the house. We were all looking at him and there was a moment when we were actually asking if he was breathing. The fear of God went through me, and I don't even want to admit my thoughts out loud. Let's just say that I'd been down this road before and I was terrified...

I called the doctor's office, and God bless them, they told me to bring him in immediately. Kathy drove us over, and Charlie seemed to be better in the car, which was a relief. We even got a few laughs out of him. Kelsey stayed back to play with Madi. The physician's assistant and pediatrician diagnosed Charlie right away. This is all too common in little ones. Since it's a virus, it will take a few days to run its course. They prescribed a mouth "swish", which we are applying with Q-tips. He doesn't like it much, but he seems to acquiesce if we allow him to put the swab in his own mouth. We are also giving him Ibuprofen and Tylenol to help with the pain.

On a side note, he's gained another pound:)

It was a crazy day, and I was so glad to have the support of Kathy and Kelsey, especially to help keep Madi company. Kelsey plans to study nursing in college next year, so I love having her around for her great, out-of-the-box ideas that always seem to help. The timing could not have been better for their babysitting services!

So much for an uneventful Summer!

Box Baby

2011-07-14T13:27:00.004-04:00

Charlie has a new-found obsession with itty bitty spaces.

Last week, Jimmy introduced him to a Huggies diaper box.
He complains until we pick him up and stick him in there.

It makes a great little vehicle.

I actually fed him breakfast in his box the other morning.

Last night, the box tipped over, and he bumped his head.

The Huggies box has now been removed from the house.

The other night, at our friends house,
Charlie was introduced to a small laundry basket.

He loved that too.

The girls pushed him around and made a nice, cozy habitat for him.

Honestly, I think he would have slept there.

For the past few days, he's been crying out for the clothes hamper.

It is a taller space with a top on it.

Kinda like a large bird cage.

Not quite sure what this new obsession is all about.

Don't really care. It's working for him.

It's keeping him happy and comfortable.

That keeps us happy and comfortable too.

New Smyrna

2011-07-11T09:29:00.002-04:00

We took another little road trip this weekend. We headed up to New Smyrna Beach to visit Aunt Diane and Uncle Rick. We had a great time, but the ride up was...well, let's just say...pretty rocky. Charlie began to wail incessantly just as we drove into a torrential Florida-style downpour. If you've ever done this before, then you know just how frightening it can be in total silence, never mind with a two-year old screaming his little head off! I thought Jimmy was going to lose it. Madi and I attempted to console Charlie by handing him anything and everything that was within our reach. We struck out every time. Then, as timing would have it, Madi announced that she needed to go potty...badly. We tried the first available exit in search of the fast food stops listed on the highway sign and somehow found nothing after a few miles. The rain seemed to be getting even worse in this direction, so we decided to turn around and try another exit. Poor Madi. Thank God, we had better luck at the next exit and found a Burger King.

R-e-l-i-e-f.

We also got some things to nibble on figuring that might calm the kids (and the situation.) When Madi and I got back in the car, Jimmy immediately warned me not to pick up the napkin sitting on the drink console. Naturally, that's the first thing I did (I swear I did not hear his warning. He claims I was too busy testing the fries out of each bag.) Garbanzo beans spilled everywhere. Whose crazy idea was it to bring Madi a cup of garbanzo beans as a snack on a road trip anyway? Mother of the year...

There was nothing to do but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Slowly, things improved. Bellies were full. Bladders were empty, the rain began to stop, and I tediously picked up every garbanzo bean in the van. We were very relieved when we arrived at Aunt Diane and Uncle Rick's house. Charlie was like a new kid. He giggled and smiled at everything as he took in our new surroundings. He was nothing short of psyched to be out of that van! We all were, actually!

I had given Aunt Diane and Uncle Rick a complete disclaimer of Charlie's current tendencies and his ability to deconstruct a home in record time. This was a huge concern for us. They graciously had removed all breakables from Charlie's reach at our request and consoled our concerns by telling us that they only wanted us saying "No" to Charlie if he was in danger of hurting himself. They were all smiles as Charlie dispersed his toys all over their house. They even opened up their Tupperware cabinet to him. Now that's what I call hospitality:)

Uncle Rick might just be the most meticulous person we know. We had a joke that I wanted to bring some sidewalk chalk for the kids since they have this humongous driveway that would make a perfect canvas. Jimmy chuckled at the idea, knowing Uncle Rick. I shared our joke with Aunt Diane earlier in the week. Well guess what was waiting for us when we got there? A mammoth carton of the best sidewalk chalk out there...purchased by Uncle Rick! Apparently, anything goes when it comes to these kids:)

One of the many highlights of our trip was heading to the beach to see the space shuttle lift off. It was Charlie's first trip to the beach. Sad, I know...we live ten minutes from the beach and have to drive 3 1/2 hours away to get him there. What can I say--life gets in the way sometimes! Charlie wasn't really crazy about the water or sand at first, but after a while of digging in, he started loving it. We are headed for our annual weekend in Marco Island soon, and this was the perfect 'intro' to the beach for him!

Seeing the space shuttle was pretty awesome, to say the least. I'm sure you all felt the same nostalgic feeling we did while watching. It was incredible to witness such an historical moment, especially so close up.

Aunt Diane called saying that Madi forgot something in New Smyrna. What did she forget? Her invitation to come back anytime with her little brother:) Oh, we'll be back alright...

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T12:56:00.000-04:00

3 Months Home

2011-07-02T14:24:00.002-04:00

Somebody pinch me. Have we really been home with Charlie for three months? It seems like yesterday, yet it seems like an eternity! All at the same time.

It's been a while since I dedicated a post to this little bugger, who by the way, has discovered his nostrils. It is not uncommon for me to peek in the back seat of the van to find him with his pointer finger resting comfortably up his nose. It is all I can do not to laugh just because of the look on his face as if he's discovered gold. He studies my expression to figure out if this behavior is acceptable. Instead I give him a disapproving shake of my head and a stern "No, no, no, no!" Madi gets a kick out of it too. We just shake our heads, and she'll say, "He's such a boy." We also chuckle and remark that Daniel would have never done such a thing. It just wasn't his way.

We took Charlie to the doctor about two weeks ago for his well visit. He grew another full inch and gained almost another pound. That outie belly button we met back in Shanghai is long gone. He is getting to be quite the chunky monkey, and we are loving every little cushion and roll. Quite smoochable, he is.

Charlie's still missing a couple teeth, so drool is still a part of our everyday life but not as much as it used to be. He's getting around on his feet quite good now, though he routinely forgets to look down and ends up falling over things. I guess he'll learn that one in time after a few bumps and bruises.

He's not talking yet, but he's very verbal. That's the most difficult issue for us right now. It is very tough (and frustrating) to try decipher the meaning of each grunt and groan. It can be ~~slightly~~ extremely irritating as these grunts and groans escalate. He wants to be heard just like the rest of us in the family (Jimmy excluded), so he'll make sure it happens, especially in the midst of a conversation! We take solace in knowing it's only temporary (the grunting and groaning, that is).

Charlie loves swimming! He's a total little fishy, another major difference between him and his big brother. In fact, he's one that we worry about because he has no fear. Swim lessons are definitely in his near future. He opens his eyes underwater and his mouth is wide open too. He kinda resembles a grouper. He inevitably swallows a gallon of water every time we swim, so we've come to expect that it will show up in his 2 pound diaper the same day.

Madi and Charlie are the sweetest of siblings. Last night we went to dinner as a family to celebrate our togetherness. Madi basically fed him, because he wanted only exactly what she had, down to the styrofoam drink cup. When we got home, I threw them both in the tub. As Madi hugged her little brother, she began softly singing, "I love you, Daniel" over and over. Not that she thought Charlie was Daniel, but it was as if she were thanking Daniel and acknowledging her love for him as she physically was able to hug and hold Charlie. It was touching to say the least.

What a blessing Charlie has been to our family, so far. He gives us a run for our money sometimes, but we'll take it. We thank God for it.

The Silver Lining

2011-07-01T12:20:00.001-04:00

I happily report that I've been off my crutches for over a week now. Once I began therapy and received clearance to "test my limits", I really haven't needed them. Boy oh boy, am I thankful to be back in action doing the simple things again like laundry, grocery shopping, and well...holding my baby boy!!!

Which reminds me to mention, before this whole episode happened, Charlie would always cry when I'd put him down for his nap or at night. He didn't cry for long, but he always cried. Then, the injury. I couldn't pick him up. I couldn't hold him. Torture for a mom. I relied on Jimmy, when he was around, and our Godsend little neighbor, Maia, who started babysitting for us. The first time I really put him down to bed again was last weekend in Tampa. He cried, but I think it was likely more because of unfamiliar surroundings. When we came home from our trip, something miraculous happened. He didn't make a peep when I put him down...and he hasn't since. My theories? (a) He knows he's home and he's glad to be here. (b) He's happy that Mommy can hold him again, so he's not going to complain.

Now, about my healing...I love physical therapy. It's my new spa! I have my own personal trainer, Kristina, to lead my exercises and stretches to help get my knee back where it was (or better, maybe). She massages my knee for a while, followed by an ice pack, electrical stimulation, and a good magazine. I could seriously fall asleep if I could stop socializing long enough to do so. Did I mention how much I love my physical therapy? It is truly the most relaxing "Mommy time" of my week. I am considering another injury (just kidding). Oh, how the Lord works in mysterious ways...

So...the final bonus (that comes to mind) is that I headed back to the YMCA. Sad that it took my injury to get me back there, but I repeat...the Lord works in mysterious ways! My therapist recommended time on a stationery bike, which they have an ample supply of at the Y. I hadn't worked out there for almost a year as I always opted to walk outside after losing Daniel. The outdoors seems to make me feel connected to him.

I was also hesitant to put Charlie in the baby room. Madi absolutely loathed the baby room when she was little, so I had mentally written it off, at least until the fall when Madi's in school. Wouldn't ya know, Charlie loves it! We had initially planned for Madi to go in with him to help her little brother, but they wouldn't allow her in because of her age, so she goes into the Kid's Club, where they play games, do arts and crafts. I am calling it her "camp". She's having more of an adjustment than Charlie, but so far, so good. I know she'll love it once she gets used to it. I love that we suddenly have a great back-up plan for those summer days when nothing materializes with friends or activities.

Turns out that my knee injury hasn't been so bad after all. Thank you, Lord, for giving me a new perspective!

The morning ritual

2011-06-29T12:07:00.001-04:00

This post feels eerily familiar from summer last year and our lazy mornings, except this time Charlie's in the picture. This is truly one of my favorite parts of our day.

When Charlie first came home, he wanted nothing to do with "lounging around" in bed in the mornings. He just wanted to move and explore. It was very reminiscent to Daniel's transition into our routine. Now we have a much different story. It is clear that Charlie now looks forward to being plopped into our bed with Madi and me. Daddy faithfully brings sippy cups of juice and some sort of junky pre-breakfast snack (note can of Pringles pictured).

Our ritual buys us approximately half an hour of quality cuddling time while watching our favorite show, Arthur, and maybe a little Curious George if we are feeling really lazy. The downside is that our crumb-laden bed feels more like a sandbox every night, but nothing that can't be swept away. These mornings are priceless. Bring on the junk...

Bon Voyage Emily!

2011-06-28T12:38:00.002-04:00

Madi's sweet soulmate, Emily, and her parents are moving up North. We are sad that they will be so far away, but we take comfort in knowing that they are a short flight away AND they have plenty of family in South Florida that should ensure they come back to visit once in a while.

I decided to take a spontaneous journey with the kids to visit them in Land 'O Lakes over the weekend knowing this would be our last chance to visit them there. I was slightly concerned, given the condition of my knee, but the trip worked out perfectly since my driving hasn't been affected and we were accompanied by two helpers, Julianna Debonis and Madison Ulvenes. They were a huge help at the rest stops!!

Ed and Clare, as usual, rolled out the red carpet for us, cooking yummy meals and making us feel extremely comfortable in their home. The few hiccups that occurred mostly involved me feeling out of my element with Charlie's mobility and my lack thereof. He was fascinated by their staircase (I was afraid that would happen), and for me personally it was a bit stressful chasing him with my injury. I was so nervous about falling down the stairs with him, but thankfully Clare and Emily were usually around to help with that. Despite the stress that I put on myself, it was so worth the trip for Madi and Emily to have time together. They really are like sisters. It was a great opportunity for them to get to know Charlie. He took right to Ed and Clare and spent two days tugging at their pants legs and moaning for them to pick him up. He obviously sensed their affection for little kids:)

Speaking of little kids, the Maloney's have a toddler of their own. But their toddler is humongous, very furry, and loves to lick faces. In fact, Maggie, their white Golden Doodle puppy, adored Charlie and would lick his face clean every chance she could get. Charlie was in shock, at first, by her size, and he would fall apart when Maggie would take his toys, but they became fast friends and began learning how to share very quickly. He became fascinated with her, and her food bowls of course! We agreed that our little ones are both high maintenance!!

We wish the Maloney family well in their new ventures. They will always be a huge part of our lives. We know we will always remain connected by our two little beauties...

Mommy's Big Helper

2011-06-22T11:54:00.003-04:00

Madi's been tremendous under these crazy circumstances with Mommy hobbling around on crutches. Twice this week she accompanied me to stores to assist with shopping.

When we arrived at Target, a kind store employee saw me getting a cart and suggested that I use the automated cart. I really didn't think of that as an option...but okay. So, he gave me some simple instructions, and I hopped in.

As I put the cart in reverse and attempted to steer my way out, I banged into the side railing and almost backed into a post. Madi was mortified. She was both very concerned and clearly afraid of humiliation at the same time! Honestly, I wasn't sure that I was too comfortable with the situation either.

"Madi, would you rather push the cart, and Mommy will walk with my crutches?" I asked. I observed a huge sigh of relief as she adamantly replied, "YES!" shaking her head up and down quite violently.

She pushed the cart the entire time. She was the subject of much attention for being such a big helper to me. She was also the envy of one little boy who said, "Mom! Look! That little girl is all alone!" He proceeded to demand that he should get out of the cart and be allowed to push his Mom's cart too. What would I ever do without my amazing and determined assistant? Of course, I pay the price by letting her choose a treat (or two) of some sort, but it's totally worth it!

Trinity Sunday

2011-06-21T13:49:00.001-04:00

Last year, Daniel went to Heaven on Trinity Sunday--a holy day that celebrates the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit. The date was May 30th.

On this year's liturgical calendar, Trinity Sunday happened to be on June 19th--Father's Day, of all days. I find that so amazing. This was such a comforting and peaceful reminder that Daniel was sharing Father's Day with God, our Father. It is also a reminder of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives, and here we are now with Charlie. Only by the miracle of faith. God is so good.

We love you Daniel James Weifeng Murphy. We hope you had a blessed Father's Day up there.

No surgery!

2011-06-17T13:26:00.001-04:00

Music to my ears, for sure, as I am not a big fan of medical procedures. Period.

I did tear my Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). I did tear my Meniscus. I also sprained the Fibular Collateral Ligament and the MCL. I still have trouble believing that I managed to do so much damage from that silly obstacle course at Bible Camp. I am wondering if maybe some damage had already been done to my knee in the past.

Anyway, I've escaped surgery since I am not an "athlete" nor do I compete athletically. I'll just be happy if I can take walks, swim, bike and take some classes at the Y again.

I start rehabilitation next week, and I'll be on crutches for at least another week. The crazy part, to me, is that I am virtually pain free and the doctor seemed impressed with my range of motion. This keeps me hopeful that my knee will heal quickly.

Thank you, Lord!!!

Bible Camp 2011

2011-06-13T20:34:00.001-04:00

Last week was our annual SVF Summer Bible Camp. It is truly one of our favorite weeks of the year, because Madi and I get to participate together since I volunteer as a group leader, and she is in my group.

This was something totally new for Charlie. It was his first experience being separated from us for several hours a day for a week straight. I peeked at him several times throughout the morning, and it seemed like he was always eating (what else is new??) and almost always being held be one of the fabulous camp counselor volunteers. He really bonded with our friend and neighbor, Maia Schulte. In fact, by Wednesday, when I went to take him from Maia, he pitched a fit!

Though Charlie clearly had a great time in the "Sweet Peas" room for the little ones, his exhaustion showed. He would pass out moments after we would get into the van at 12:00. After all, I normally put him down for his nap by 11:30, so his schedule last week lagged a bit behind. I'm sure the week's events were confusing for him, but at the end of the day, he was back at home--with his family.

Bible camp, as usual, was so fulfilling and such a great learning experience for both me and Madi. With a theme of "Sowing and Growing in God's Garden", we studied Creation, The Garden of Eden, The Sower parable, the Barren Fig Tree parable, and the Mustard Seed parable.

The week didn't go without a hitch, however. On Thursday, I was challenged to do the obstacle course with the five-year olds. I was holding my own until I tripped over one of the 6" hurdles (pathetic...I know) and ended up going down. It happened so fast, but yet in slow motion at the same time. Thank God for our village. One friend took the kids home for me. Maia came home and babysat for the afternoon. Another friend's husband drove right over to SVF and took me to an urgent care center for x-rays. I am humbled, once again, by our amazing community here. We are truly blessed. Luckily, there was no bone breakage, but I am on crutches and have been instructed not to bear weight on my left leg until I have an MRI tomorrow and meet with the doctor on Friday.

I have to remain thankful, even for this experience. It has made me slow down, for sure, and it has made me have a higher level of respect for people with disabilities. Crutches are much more difficult than I ever imagined. It has made me learn to sleep on my back, something I've struggled with for a long time. It has also forced Madi to become a little more independent, since I can't answer to her every request and demand. It has also reinforced what an amazing husband I have. All weekend, he ran around like Cinderella (literally) doing everything possible for me and for the kids. I am blessed to have him, this I know.

Another year of Bible Camp gone. We were sad to see the week go, but we are better for it and better for the lessons that we learned this year. Amen.

Madi and one of her besties, Ana Socha

They enjoyed donut lollipops of the World at snack one day.

Charlie ate ice cream all by himself one day.

Beamin'

2011-06-12T21:07:00.001-04:00

Butterflies

2011-06-11T14:46:00.000-04:00

Last month, Madi became somewhat obsessed with the Live Butterfly Garden "as seen on T.V." Maybe you've seen this commercial that fascinated her so. She would shout for me whenever it would come on, so that I could see this amazing TV offering.

Bubba and Grandpa shipped it to Madi as a graduation gift. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head when we opened the box. She was so excited. We set up the habitat in our dining room and watched the caterpillars turn into chrysalids within days. They were then ready to be transferred into the habitat. It really is amazing to witness metamorphosis.

A couple of mornings ago, as we were eating breakfast, Madi noticed that we had butterflies! Over the course of the day, we watched them hatch from their cocoons. I discovered that Madi will be a great birthing coach someday! As she sat there on the edge of her seat, watching the cocoons wriggle, she encouraged them with, "C'mon! C'mon! You can do it! You can do it!" She was even taking deep breaths on their behalf!

We scurried around for the directions on how to feed them, but Daddy really wasn't comfortable with hanging on to them for too long, so we went into the butterfly garden to set them free that evening. The mission was successful until they discovered that one of the butterflies had a wounded wing. Daddy took the butterfly out of the habitat and allowed Madi to place it on one of our milkweed plants in the garden. We haven't seen the butterfly since, so we hope that he has healed and flown away. If you haven't seen caterpillars turn into butterflies before, it is totally worth the $19.95!

Seeing Daniel

2011-06-08T08:14:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if Charlie can see Daniel. I know...I know...it sounds like I've lost my marbles, but I have reason to believe, or at least wonder...

Part of our "regular" family routine in our backyard is to stop by our plaque of Daniel, given to us by our friends, the Sneidermans (I posted a picture of the plaque last summer). Everytime one of us takes Charlie to the plaque, he reaches down and touches Daniel's face.

Yesterday evening, I carried Charlie outside to put something on the grill. We walked across the yard, over to the plaque, and we did our standard. I said hello to Dan Dan and Charlie touched his face. But then I just stood there for a minute. This wind kicked up, blowing the bamboo plant behind the plaque and ringing our bell (that's a story for another day). Charlie looked down the yard, towards our gate, and stared as if he was fixated on something--or someone. Then, he reached out his arm and hand. Okay, I suppose that's typical behavior for a baby. But then he turned to the plaque and reached out to Daniel's face, as if to say, "That's the same little guy I see right there!". He did this a couple of times before we went back into the house.

Call me crazy, or wishful maybe, but it just made me wonder...is it possible that he sees his big brother?

Little Monkeys

2011-06-07T19:58:00.000-04:00

Yard Sale

2011-06-03T13:28:00.001-04:00

Madi with a few of her customers/friends

Madi desperately wanted to have a yard sale. She had been collecting items in her room to sell for quite some time. We finally decided that last Saturday would work for our schedule, and we went ahead with the plan. We used Friday as our last day to gather up items for her sale.

One item up for discussion was a Ken doll that Grandma Pauline had saved for many years. My friend, Lisa, had mentioned recently that Ken dolls would be worth money someday. When we came across the doll, she immediately wanted to sell it. I refused, pointing out that it might be worth money someday. In a very acquiescing and defeated tone, she replies, "Okay...we'll just sell it on Ebay." Cracked me right up. I have no idea where that came from, but it was priceless. Then she insisted that I move him into my room if I want him to stay. Little does she know, he's hiding on one of her closet shelves...

We emailed some of our neighborhood friends and anyone we knew with little girls in their households. We put out her tables of stuff at around 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning. By 7:15, she was riding her scooter around the driveway complaining that we had no customers, so we decided to make a couple of signs to draw more attention. She and Daddy drove up to the front of the neighborhood to post the signs. Worked like a charm and people started showing up.

Let me just say that I'm not very good at running these type of events. It all feels somewhat violating to me. For some reason, it is very difficult for me to part with some of these things for so very little, so I sadly found myself leaning on my five-year old daughter for her negotiating skills. Is that wrong?? On more than one occasion, I wavered, "I don't know...Madi...do you want to take $1 for that?" Madi always answered, "Yes!", very vehemently, and it didn't matter what the item was worth! I think she's got the perspective that I need...

At the end of the day, Madi accumulated $50, and we have enough stuff to do another sale. We felt like our customers walked away with some good bargains, and some of them likely needed those good bargains. Win-win all the way. Except for Daddy, who was hoping for a clean garage!

2-4-6-8...20!

2011-06-01T11:28:00.001-04:00

Charlie's walking is improving drastically! He started taking a few steps here and there, but this week he seems to have gained some confidence to walk more, especially in the presence of Daddy! He truly went, day by day, from two steps to four steps to eight steps and now he's making major leaps and bounds!

I was able to take this footage today as Madi coaxed him with food from the other side of the kitchen. No MRI needed for this little man!

Angel

2011-05-29T12:54:00.000-04:00

I can't believe a year has passed

Since we said goodbye

To you, our precious Daniel James

So many questions why

We fell in love with our first sight

Of you and your beautiful face

We knew your body was broken

But your spirit was full of grace

You fought so hard to stay on Earth

To be part of our family

But the Good Lord had a bigger plan

That we just could not see

You touched so many along the way

Our hearts were blessed by you

Perhaps that was the plan of God

To teach us a thing or two

And so He chose to take you up

And leave us all down here

We'll meet with you again someday

We miss you so much, my dear

More photos of the Big Day

2011-05-28T12:43:00.001-04:00

Diploma Glow

Aunt Sheila came to watch the celebration:)


Ruby will be missed next year:(

We celebrated at P.F. Chang's for dinner.


We will never forget Mrs. Avogardo!

Big Day

2011-05-27T09:24:00.001-04:00

Field Trip to Ronald's House

2011-05-25T12:35:00.001-04:00

When I dropped Madi off at preschool yesterday morning, the Director, Peggie Nasin, had lined up the five large canisters of pop-tabs that had been collected throughout the school year. It was a pretty amazing sight and turned out to be a pretty emotional morning for me seeing that so many families had participated, all in Daniel's memory.

After school, I picked up Madi and girlfriends Olivia, Ruby, and Lauren, and we loaded up our delivery. I asked the girls if they knew where we were going, to which one of the girls shouted, "McDonalds!" Oh boy...I had to burst their bubbles right away, and explain more about our mission. Not only were were venturing out on a 40-minute car ride, but there wasn't going to be any food at the end of this rainbow!

I had turned the seats around in the van so they could all face each other and do what little girls do best--talk. It was pretty hilarious to hear them chatting up a storm. I wanted to chime in more than a few times, but I bit my lip and tried to just enjoy the opportunity to be that "fly on the wall". Though we had stayed at the Miami location last year, I decided that the Fort Lauderdale location would be a better choice for a carload of small, impatient girls. Thank goodness I was thinking. The girls started the ole "How much longer?" routine shortly into our ride. That was almost immediately followed up, in typical fickle-fashion, by "I'm thirsty!" Of course, then every one of these divas-in-the-making were thirsty. I doled out their cups from their lunchboxes, but unfortunately a couple of them didn't have a drink. I promised them we would get a drink when we arrived.

The girls were very excited as we got closer and arrived at the property. They were anxious to get in the front gate as we waited to be buzzed into the courtyard. We took a minute to take some pictures with Ronald (ceramic--the real Ronald needs to be reserved months in advance) and our pop-tab collection. After our photo shoot, we went into the office and met Miss Silvana, who would be taking us on our tour. The facility is really nice. Built in 2004, it is a very comfortable, clean and modern place where families can rest their heads while their loved ones are in medical care at the hospital next door. We first visited a beautifully decorated playroom and media room. Of course, the girls loved these rooms the best and wasted no time running over to plop down on the sofa. We loved the "Quilt of Hope" shown in the photo, which was made by children and their families staying at the house. One of the girls asked for a bathroom break, and the rest followed suit. Off they marched, one by one.

We went back into the courtyard, and Miss Silvana asked if anyone had questions. One of our girls coyly asks, "Um...are those stairs?" and points to a staircase. It is so funny what intrigues little people. I am now feeling my mother's pain as she dragged me through museums while all I wanted to know about was the vending machines or the gift shop. I was right in the middle of the same experience. We promised the girls that we would take the beloved stairs once we were done seeing the rest of the bottom floor. The kitchen was very clean and modern. The girls went crazy opening up the cupboards to see what goodies were being stored by some of the families. We explained how the families were assigned a space for their groceries so they wouldn't have to eat at restaurants every night. They appeared to be absorbing the information...until they spotted the vending machine, and what d'ya know--they all remembered that they were thirsty. The water was sold out, but fortunately, Miss Silvana had a private stash. I purchased two waters for the girls to share, and they made sure I was painfully precise in my rationing.

We then moved on to the patio area, which would be my area of choice. Lots of fresh air and open space with teak patio tables and chairs on a paver patio. The girls made a beeline for the play area, which had a couple of play houses. I think they would have liked to spend more time there. They played for a few minutes, and grabbed some of the rubber mulch to keep as a souvenir (it's the little things...).

We finally made our way up the stairs to view one of the guestrooms. It was interesting to the girls that the rooms do not have televisions so the families can spend time talking and decompressing in their rooms. They liked the rooms and liked that there was extra space for wheelchairs and cribs. We took the elevator back down (just because I knew that was next on their list). Our tour had concluded and Miss Silvana asked, once again, if there were any questions. "Um...does that other staircase go somewhere else?"

We thanked Miss Silvana for taking time to show us around and teach us about their good work, and we got back in the van to head back north and go for ice cream, as I'd promised. It wasn't long before we were back on the highway and the girls were once again asking, "How much longer?" Grrrr...I was having fun but this was starting to feel like Groundhog Day. About 20 minutes into our ride, one of the girls announced that she had to go potty. My bad--I shamefully forgot to empty their bladders before we departed. Because I wasn't so familiar with this little friend's ability to hold her liquid, I decided it best to pull off the highway and head to the closest, cleanest place I knew of--Panera Bread. We walked in like a mother duck followed by four little ducklings walking at a very quick pace. By now, they all had to go potty, so we took care of business.

We got back in the car and head up the road. "How much longer?" they chimed. I replied, "Girls, it might be dinner time by the time we get ice cream. They all moaned and someone pleaded, "Awww, but can we still get ice cream?" They squealed with delight with my answer. I explained that the red lights were holding us up, so they began chanting, "NO MORE RED LIGHTS! NO MORE RED LIGHTS!" The funny part was that it worked! Two times in a row! I pointed this out to them and their voices escalated. They chanted for five miles. It was about all I could take, so I told them their mission was complete and thanked them for getting us there quicker.

We arrived at the ice cream shop, where they collectively proceeded to the restroom a couple more times. Though there were about ten choices of ice cream, their choice was easy because they all gravitated to the first flavor, cotton candy, and they all wanted the same thing. Little followers--or more appropriately, little friends--who all just want to be alike and to be liked.

It really was a fun afternoon. Exhausting nonetheless, but fun. The girls were troopers and despite the comedic tone of my post, I do believe they understand the good work done by the Ronald McDonald House, and how collecting pop-tabs is helping their cause. I hope that these kids continue to collect pop-tabs forever. I wish we would all remember to collect pop-tabs forever--in memory of our sweet Daniel. May you rest in peace my son.

For more info, please visit: http://rmhcsouthflorida.org/

25th Percentile!

2011-05-24T12:35:00.001-04:00

Charlie's "well visit" to the doctor yesterday turned out to be a sick visit:( He slept very poorly the night before due to coughing, and he has been a very sticky, gooey baby. There are so many factors in play. First of all, it seems that all of his teeth have decided to come in at once. Molars are popping everywhere and he's one big pool of drool. We are also aware that it's been a very bad season of pollen here in South Florida, which is causing many allergy problems for people. Lastly, he is still facing many new germs and viruses, so he may be fighting something. No fever, but we can't rule that out. He escaped vaccinations until next time.

Since Charlie's not walking yet, Dr. Bradford wants to consider an MRI of his head if he's not walking in another month. We are seeing such steady progress that we are really hoping that won't be necessary. That's our new motivation to get this little guy steady on his feet quickly. He's taken a few steps here and there, but he still doesn't have the confidence, and maybe the strength, to take off yet.

Now for the good news: Charlie made the 25th percentile for weight! He gained 2 pounds! He is now officially on the charts in the 25th percentile for both height and weight categories:)

Daddy rocks!

2011-05-17T14:44:00.000-04:00

It's no wonder the kids adore Jimmy so much. He is the most fun person in the world!! Always bouncing them, throwing them, thrilling them.

Yesterday afternoon, I left for an appointment and Daddy graciously accepted the dinner time duty. Daddy and Madi decided to let Charlie feed himself, and then they decided to finger paint his face with tomato sauce! Charlie was in his glory!!! Of course, I came home and had to end the party due to my obsessive compulsive nature. You can only imagine the mess, but Charlie never had so much fun at dinner!

Siblings

2011-05-15T13:34:00.000-04:00

Can you tell that Madi loves to smother her brother? She is constantly hauling him around like a rag doll against his will. We find it rather cute. Some find it rather alarming if they haven't been around the two enough to know that he's totally used to it. Charlie's not powerful enough to fight back--yet. I'm sure he will be soon though. He has started letting her know, both verbally and with hand in face, when he's had enough.

Charlie is standing on his own now for almost half a minute at a time now. We have been trying to coax him to take those first steps, but it hasn't happened yet. His confidence is almost there as is his strength, so it could be any day now. He's really becoming quite verbal too, but no distinguishable words yet. Progress in leaps and bounds!

Back to the book

2011-05-15T09:01:00.000-04:00

So after much thought about my "therapeutic" plan for the blog in the next couple of weeks, I decided that my energy will be better served getting my head, my heart and my hands back into Daniel's book. I am hoping that harnessing the pain we feel walking through this one year later will add some emotional substance to his story since it brings so much back. Please stay tuned...

The Walk of Pain

2011-05-12T13:10:00.000-04:00

Cardiac arrest. The two words that changed our lives forever one year ago. These are painful times, so I think I will focus on embracing the goodness of God for giving us Daniel and write five things about him every day until the day he left us, which was May 30th. So, bear with me. This will be very random and scattered. I suppose this is therapy...

I remember the day he first smiled in China and
we discovered that he had dimples:)

I remember how much he adored Yo baby yogurt drinks.
We had to keep them all at Mom and Dad's house because
he would drink them until they were all gone.

I remember his cute little butt and
the small patch of hair on his back.

I remember the night he broke his arm and
was such a trooper at the hospital.

I remember how much he loved being thrown around
by Jimmy like a normal little boy.

Mother's Day

2011-05-10T13:43:00.002-04:00

Madi made sure Mother's Day was special for me and for Bubba too. She formally invited us to a tea party at school on Friday. She was so excited for the program that she nearly burst open trying to keep the details a surprise. She managed to keep the secret though.

The kids gave a sweet performance of songs and poems dedicated to Moms and Grandmas. It was so sweet. The kleenex pretty much came out when we were seated. I find those things pretty emotional. They are just so, so precious. We were very proud of Madi and her strong singing performance. We were then seated for dessert and punch in the fellowship hall, which was decorated with the children's beautiful artwork. Madi presented me with a bag of goodies containing the most gorgeous handmade card ever and a special heart-shaped box with her sweet little graduation picture on it. She said I should put all of my precious jewelry in it, but right now all of her jewelry happens to be in it!

On Sunday, Madi, Daddy & Charlie presented me a gift certificate for a much-needed manicure and pedicure that I will redeem over the summer. Madi was quite disappointed when she found out that I wasn't receiving my 'royal treatment' that day. She was so upset by it (literally in tears) that she decided to give me a manicure herself. And so, as I look at my left hand I see one yellow nail, one pink nail, one purple nail, one blue nail, and a green thumb! She lost her ambition waiting for my left hand to dry, and so my right hand goes unpainted...

We had a delicious family dinner at Bubba and Grandpa's house. We are winding down for their departure tomorrow. It will be difficult here without them. We've come to rely on them so much for fun time, babysitting, and just to have around when I need an extra hand or some support.

As beautiful as Mother's Day was with my children, I couldn't help thinking about last year and my only Mother's Day with Daniel. At least I had that--Jimmy never even got to have a Father's Day with him. I wish I had more vivid memories of our day together though. Our celebration last year was so clouded with preparation for his surgery, and I'm sad for that. So, this year I celebrated with two in my presence but three in my heart.

I do vividly remember this day last year. We were saying goodbye to family and friends and heading down to Miami with Daniel. We went out to dinner that night in Miami with Grandpa, and it was like Daniel saw the world with a new set of eyes. He soaked up every minute and enjoyed every experience of seeing the intracoastal waterway with boats, birds, fish and all kinds of action. His surgery took place one year ago tomorrow. He loved life and his enthusiasm and courage inspires us everyday.

Healthy Baby

2011-05-05T12:51:00.000-04:00

Here's the little boy that's been trying to eat the cat's food. Does he look under nourished?

Charlie is doing great. We received his blood work results this week, and he was good in all departments:) That gave us a sigh of relief after the lab ordeal last Thursday. I asked Bubba to go along for the ride since Jimmy was working. Madi insisted on going and helping Charlie. Having been through this when Madi was first home, and having been through everything with Daniel, I knew this trip to the lab would be 'no picnic'.

Bubba volunteered to hold Charlie, and I gladly obliged. Madi and I stood close by to coach him and console him. He started crying the minute we walked into the lab. It was as if he knew what he was in for. He stared at his little arms as they tied rubber bands tightly around them, and his face went blank as he tried to figure out what was happening. I know the rubber bands hurt him--they hurt me for crying out loud! That's when he lost it totally. The phlebotomists found a good vein in his left arm to work with right away. Beautiful. Except the good vein stopped working halfway through the torture. They pushed the needle in a little further. Then they decided to pull it out a bit. They kept telling us to make sure he didn't move, because that might hurt him more. The blood finally started to flow again...for a minute. Then it stopped again. They adjusted the needle a few more times. All over, what seemed, very casual conversation. My Mom tried to remain cool, but I could see she was freaking out inside. We all were. At one point, Madi's head disappeared underneath my shirt.

They soon decided to pull out of the left arm and try the right. We were thankful that the right arm seemed to flow freely right away. They managed to get the four adult-sized vials they needed for all of the tests. It was a grueling ten minutes. Sure seemed like more. It's hard to imagine what was going through that little mind as he sat there helpless with no idea this was for his own good.

We went directly to IHOP afterwards since it was nearly lunch time, and Bubba was quickly forgiven over a massive bowl of grits. Bubba felt like she had a lot of making up to do. Charlie ate like a king. He napped well that day too, poor baby. Madi declared that she wished she hadn't been there. It was more difficult than she expected--than we all expected.

So, we are thankful that it's over. We are rejoicing in the news of good results, and hoping that he won't need to go back to the lab for a long time.

Competing with Cats

2011-05-01T14:22:00.001-04:00

Charlie took to the cats from day one. He also took to their food bowls. Since Charlie likes to make a habit of "camping out" in the kitchen, we've had to make a point of removing the cat food bowls from his reach.

A couple of weeks after he came home, he moved a little too quick when I wasn't paying attention. By the time I got to him, he had already done what I feared. He had eaten some of the cat food that had already been licked by one of the cats. It makes me shudder to think about it. I tried to pry his mouth open to get it out, and the little stinker bit my finger so hard, I thought I lost it for good. Ouch.

Sometimes I catch him playing in the pantry, and he inevitably picks a can of cat food and sticks it in his mouth. I have repeatedly pointed out that there is a picture of a cat on the can, not a little boy.

We are working with him, as pictured, to clearly distinguish that the cat food is for the cats, not for him. We are also working on paying close attention to those non-verbal cues that tell us he's hungry.

I know what you're thinking--and yes, we are feeding him!

Easter

2011-04-26T12:42:00.004-04:00

Charlie's baptism was beautiful. The Easter Vigil was so special. Charlie and Madi were great. In fact, all the young kids present were great, considering the service is 1 1/2 hours. I think Grandpa Wharton probably won the "poorly-behaved kid in church" title.

Charlie kept himself busy, as usual, playing with the church missals and he was fascinated by the candles that everyone was holding. The Easter Vigil starts with everyone lighting a candle before the lights go on. It is really beautiful, and thankfully, he didn't reach for the flames. Madi and Jules did their best to entertain Charlie and keep him content. We are proud to say that we never had to walk him out, and we completed the Mass without a single Cheerio.

Charlie had a few funny moments. He gave Father Tom the raspberries as we presented him for baptism. He also let out some healthy toots that were audible within a five-pew radius. He was very calm and serene for the actual baptism. He laid his head back as Father Tom poured the waters of baptism over his head. He seemed to love it. He also loved when Jimmy held him up to the congregation like Simba in the Lion King. Everyone cheered and gave him a warm welcome. While I was holding him during the ceremony, there were a few times when he pitched himself backwards and stared up at the ceiling. I don't doubt that there were angels floating above, his brother likely included.

On Easter Sunday, while Charlie was napping, Madi and I headed over to our friend Ruby's house for an Easter egg hunt. There was an appearance by the Easter bunny, which was actually a Bugs Bunny costume. When we left, Madi asked, "Who was that, Mommy?" I said, "Who do you think it was?" Madi replied, "I don't know, but they had white hair!" She followed that up by saying that she hadn't wanted to shout it out in case the other kids were listening.

On the way to Sheila and David's for dinner, we stopped by the cemetery to visit Daniel and Grandma Pauline . Easter brought back a flood of memories of sweet Daniel hunting for eggs in our backyard last year. He was so funny because he refused to pick up any eggs that he considered to be "out of bounds" and would possibly get him dirty! He would point at the eggs and grunt, beckoning Murphy and Myles to retrieve them for him. He was such the opposite of his little brother, who is often slobber-laden and will gladly eat dirt or just about anything he finds on the floor...

Aunt Diane and Uncle Rick were able to travel down for the celebration and to meet Charlie and see Madi, the "apple" of their eyes. They were here for a couple of days and we were so blessed to spend Easter together.

We were a bit nervous this weekend because Charlie woke up with the croup Friday night at midnight. He was up for about an hour. I gave him Motrin and took him outside to get some humidity into his respiratory system. He slept in on Saturday and had a decent nap, so we figured he'd be okay for Mass, which he was. By Sunday, his cough persisted, though the 'barking seal' cough of the croup had gone. His runny nose persisted too. So frustrating trying to figure out whether his issues are allergy related, teething related or just plain virus related with all the new germs he's being exposed too. We decided that he would go to the doctor on Monday.

Sunday night was scary to say the least. He was so full of mucus, we were terrified that he would choke in his sleep. It was pretty much a long, sleepless night for Jimmy and me. Charlie seemed to sleep; although, it certainly wasn't quality. I took him in yesterday, and Dr. Bradford confirmed that it seemed to be viral and settled in his lungs. Thank God we took him in. He is on nebulizer treatments now and medication. Ever tried putting a breathing mask on a toddler for 5 - 10 minutes?? I can't say that it's easy or fun! Rather than put the mask over his head, I've been kind of holding it over his face as long as I can and making a game out of it. I figure if he gets any of it, he's good. I am now double-dosing him with Juice Plus to get his immune system built up quicker.

Thanks, Marjorie, for the wonderful pictures!

On the Charts!

2011-04-20T12:32:00.000-04:00

This is amazing stuff.

On April 4th, we took Charlie to our pediatrician for the first time. He had shown decent weight gain, but he was still 'under' on the American charts in all areas.

I took him in today--just two weeks and two days later--to find that he's grown one full inch!! He is on the charts for height in the 25th percentile! I was surprised to find that he's gained only a 1/2 pound given the way he's been eating. He's still 'under' on the weight charts, but something tells me he's going to make it on there by our next visit in a month.

It's amazing what love, nutrition, sunshine, and the power of Juice Plus can do for a body:-)

Charlie endured three shots today. He was a trooper. He cried, but I'm not sure what disturbed him more--the shots, or the big bandage that they placed on one of his "sucking" fingers! I tried to remove it before his nap, but he wouldn't let me. Good thing he has two hands...

Charlie's Baptism

2011-04-18T12:37:00.000-04:00

My parents have been pushing for Charlie's baptism since we arrived home from China. I know they were concerned about having him baptized before their return to California. One night, my friend Carrie was over and mentioned what a perfect season Easter would be for his baptism. The next day, I phoned our "family Deacon", Deacon Lee, and he arranged for Charlie to be baptized at the Easter Vigil at St. Vincent Ferrer! What a miraculous event to take place at such a meaningful time!

This will be our first "public" baptism, and it is a very special one for our family. I remember when going through RCIA several years back, Deacon Lee told us about how years ago, all baptisms were public. It was only recently (sorry, I don't remember how recently) that private baptism services became popular. A public baptism seems so fitting for Charlie given everything that our friends and our beloved St. Vincent's community have been through alongside us in the past year or more. We know that so many prayed for Daniel. We know that so many have prayed for Charlie. We are grateful for such an amazing support system in this world.

We wish that all of you were close enough to be present for Charlie's baptism. We know that you have been "invested" in our lives as well, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We promise to post pictures.

I love this post

2011-04-15T12:57:00.002-04:00

I love this family that traveled to bring home their son, Adam,
at the same time we traveled to bring Daniel home.

They are constantly an inspiration to us through their faith.

I love this post on Jennifer's blog.

It says so much about how these precious children
feel about having a family.

The Smith's will always have a special place in our hearts.

Mommy & Me

2011-04-14T19:55:00.002-04:00

Last week, Charlie and I started Mommy & Me classes at the YMCA. He was fascinated with all the goings-on. He loves the music though he didn't engage very much, likely because the songs don't make sense to him yet. He seems to mostly observe though he does enjoy constantly knocking down a block tower that another mother constructs for the kids.

When we went into the "gym" area, Miss Lora rolled him down a foam wedge a few times. This is an activity she does with all of the willing participants. Ever since this was introduced to him, I have seen him lay on the floor periodically and try to work on this new skill! Initially I thought he was tired, until I realized what he was doing. He's been practicing his new skill this week too.

There was a twinge of sadness the first day when the bubbles came out. Last February, I remember posting of Daniel and his absolute fascination with bubbles in this very same classroom. Charlie is fascinated with them too. The photos below are my "bubble boys", Daniel last year and Charlie this year.

Show Hope

2011-04-10T13:50:00.008-04:00

The week we left for China, we were surprised with an amazing and unexpected, but hoped for, notification. We were given a grant from a charitable organization called Show Hope.

Show Hope was founded by Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth. You may have heard of them several years back when they lost their precious daughter, Maria, who was adopted from China. When we applied for a grant back last November, we felt a common bond given our loss of our child.

The interesting part is how Show Hope was weaved into our adoption process. Jimmy's Aunt Karen initially called us back in 2008 from Steven Curtis Chapman's concert. She was all fired up and told us all about his organization and how they were helping to fund adoptions. She knew that in our hearts we were ready to pursue another adoption, but we weren't sure if it were financially feasible.

So I started to write them a letter. But I never completed it. I never sent it. I didn't feel that it was absolutely necessary at the time. We proceeded with our adoption process and depleted most of our resources bringing Daniel home. It was worth every penny.

We knew this time around we needed their help. I found the letter that I started two years before, and I finally finished it. I told them all about Daniel and about our common loss of our children. We shared our story with them, and they bestowed upon us a gift that we will forever remember. They helped us bring Charlie home.

Part of the application process was that Jimmy and I both needed to write a statement of faith. Jimmy procrastinated for a week or so, and then one night he sat down and spilled it all out. I was so proud of his profound words and his faith that he seldom shares. He is such a special person. I realized just how inspirational he is down deep in that beautiful heart of his. I cried when I read what his heart had put on paper. And here, I thought I was the writer in the family. Here is what he wrote:

"My journey towards finding my faith started when my wife and I began the process to adopt our first daughter from China in 2006. We searched many churches and finally found the perfect home that was right under our nose, and it was filled with our friends and acquaintances. We started attending St.Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, and it was the perfect fit to revive our faith. We entered into the RCIA program and as each class ended we realized how much we were in missing in God.

The congregation accepted us with open hearts and arms as if we were already family. It was fantastic to feel so close to God. We brought our beautiful daughter Madi home on a Thursday, and that Sunday we made our first family trip to church. Madi, as well as we, loves that Sunday Mass that brings us closer to God.

We realized how deep our faith was when we brought our son Daniel home from China last February. Daniel had Tetralogy of Fallot and needed open-heart surgery. We were confident that God would guide us and protect us through this surgery. Daniel’s surgery on May 11^th was successful, but his lungs became an issue and many other problems arose. One evening, very late at night, we were called into the hospital for an emergency procedure. My wife Lisa and I called our closest family members and friends, but no one answered. We realized this was part of God’s plan to prepare us that no matter what happened, he had a greater plan for Daniel. People all over the world were brought together for prayer chains in Daniel’s name. Some that had distanced themselves from God were now getting closer because of this little boy and our strength in our faith. That night, as we walked the empty hall of the hospital, we realized the possibility that God had another plan for Daniel as much as we wanted him with us. We began to realize there was a strong possibility he would not come out of the hospital alive. We felt this feeling of calming and warmth knowing that if he was called to Heaven, he was where we all want to be someday.

Daniel passed away on May 30^th. It was Trinity Sunday. We saw this as a beautiful sign that Daniel had spread the word of the Lord and it was his time. We will never truly understand why the plan was put in place but we know Daniel touched a lot of people and also solidified our faith as we found comfort in the saddest day of our life.

We have now been matched with another beautiful boy from China with a small hole in his heart. With the love of family, friends, and God, we know he will be safe. We are thankful that Daniel is watching over him and watching over our family. Faith will forever be the most important rock for this family."

We could not be more grateful to Show Hope for their financial assistance bringing Charlie home. We know that our sweet little Daniel had a hand in their decision, and that makes this gift even sweeter. We hope to pay it forward someday.

Please consider supporting Show Hope or an organization that helps orphans. Whether you are called by God to pursue your own adoption experience or to make a charitable contribution to Show Hope to help others answer their call, God's orphans are out there in the world. And they are waiting. Waiting for families to take them, to love them, to keep them, and to show them hope.

Busy Body

2011-04-08T09:27:00.000-04:00

Isn't it true what they say about kids and toys? You could spend a fortune in toys, but what they really want are the pots, pans and remote controls?

Charlie, meet Tupperware. Tupperware, meet Charlie. I have a feeling this will be one of his favorite spots in the house!

Miracles

2011-04-07T12:55:00.002-04:00

We took Charlie to the cardiologist today. Dr. Rhoden listened to his heart and heard only an "innocent murmer". They wouldn't even proceed with an echocardiogram. It was deemed unnecessary based on the fact that she heard a "second heart sound". He's growing normally, so it seems, and he hasn't had a history of illnesses that would put up any red flags. We were instructed to bring him back when he's 3.

When we brought Daniel home from China last year, our friends Michelle and Jerry Gemma gave us a beautiful plaque with a quote that I reflect upon quite often:

"There are two ways to live your life. Once, as though nothing is a miracle. The other, as though everything is." Albert Einstein

We are certainly seeing these miracles unfold before our eyes. Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Adjusting to a New Life

2011-04-06T10:44:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure Charlie could be doing any much better than he is. He's been right on track with sleeping ever since we got home. He's been eating like a champ. We've removed formula from his diet, and he's on all table food now. He really is a good little boy.

We took him to our pediatrician, Dr. Bradford, on Monday. He has gained a pound since we've had him. The most encouraging news is, that once again, we were told his heart seems normal. Dr. Bradford heard a normal heartbeat and also believes his ASD has healed! We scheduled an appointment at a cardiologist tomorrow morning so we can get an echo-cardiogram and find out if it's true. We pray it's true.

The weekend was very busy with friends and family meeting Charlie and bonding. We had a special visit from one of my dearest friends, Mo, and her family. They came in for the day on Sunday, and we were so thankful to spend some time together. We don't get to see them often. The timing that they were in Orlando on business was too perfect for them not to come down for a visit. Charlie had his first swimming experience at the DeBonis' pool that day too. He loved it! He never missed a beat as Daddy swirled him around in a little inflatable boat. He truly just goes with the flow.

Home

2011-04-02T10:35:00.000-04:00

We woke up on March 31st at 5:00 a.m. to prepare for our trip home. It is a long one, to say the least. Our first flight, from Guangzhou to Shanghai, was nice and short and without event. Actually, the whole trip thankfully went that way. We had a decent layover in Shanghai, which gave us sufficient time to check in and relax a bit before boarding our 14-hour flight to Newark. There was a really cool kids play area in the airport which helped pass time for the kids during the wait.

Madi and Charlie were troopers on the "big flight". Charlie struggled a bit to get comfortable because he was overtired. Jimmy walked him to the back of the plane and cradled him until he fell asleep. He slept on Jimmy's lap for 8 hours! Madi stretched out across their two seats and slept for about 6. Jimmy and I managed to sneak in some sleep here and there. When we arrived in Newark, Charlie's paperwork was submitted and he became a U.S. citizen right there at the airport!

By surprise, we were greeted in Newark by the Burns family. Their daughter, Katie, came home from China in the same group as Madi. They traveled two hours and took five trains to get to Newark airport to welcome us back to U.S. soil. They had handmade banners, a bag of bagels in hand and some toys for the kids. We haven't seen them since our China travels in 2006, so it was a welcome and very sweet surprise.

We knew the trip couldn't go entirely without a hitch. Our major snag was a delay from Newark to Palm Beach, our final destination:) Our flight ended up leaving Newark at about 10:30, 1 1/2 hours past scheduled departure. That put our arrival into Palm Beach at 1:30 a.m. where we were greeted by Bubba and Grandpa Murphy to get us home. We could have cried. You tend to get emotional after traveling 32 hours straight! They were smitten with Charlie from the get-go and were so excited to give Madi big hugs.We allowed Charlie to sit on my lap for the drive home. He was scared of the car seat, but we know that will be short-lived.

We made it to bed at about 3:30 after visiting with Grandparents and friends, and Charlie didn't fuss too much in his new crib. If you could see the crib he used at the White Swan, you'd understand why! He must feel like he's in paradise here at home. We listened to him coo for a while before he fell asleep, and he actually made more sounds and noises last night than we've heard him make in the whole two weeks. The kids are both sleeping in this morning while we catch up. It will be a fun weekend of introducing him to his new surroundings. I think Charlie's diggin' his new life. So far, so good...

A Note to Daniel

2011-04-01T06:31:00.004-04:00

You did it, buddy.

Soon after you left us for Heaven, you planted a seed in Mommy and Daddy to come back to China and bring another child into our family. So we did. We followed our hearts and God’s plan, and here we are with your little brother, Charlie. We are now a family of four, plus an angel.

We will never, ever forget you. You will always be our first little boy whose spirit was brighter than the sun. We promise to take very good care of Charlie, and we will think of you so often as we watch him grow. He will know all about his big brother and what an amazing little soul you were here on this Earth.

Thank you, Daniel, for teaching us so much about love and about life. Thank you for seeing us through on another divine mission of faith. We thank God for the months you were in our life. We will love you forever, our precious son.

note from the narrator (Andrew). Once again, I am handing back the blog to the Murphys, as they will be arriving home today. It almost seems routine to subvert the Chinese blocking of blogger. Again, I am humbled at the notion of being asked to be the herald of all of this news. Saying hello to Charlie so soon after saying goodbye to Daniel is hard. So I won't.

Hello, Charlie.

See you soon, Daniel.

Leaving Guangzhou

2011-03-31T06:23:00.001-04:00

We are ready to come home. A small part of us would love to continue this "fantasy life" of a buffet breakfast every morning and a leisurely schedule, but it is definitely time to get home and get back to reality!

We have met some incredible and inspiring families on our journey, as we have in our adoptions before. I love how each journey is so unique and how we "collect" new friends with every adoption journey we've experienced. They almost become family. One thing we noticed this time is that there were no first-time parents in our group of nine families. Every adopted child was coming into a family with other children, some biological, some adopted. These families will always have a special place in our hearts and in our memories of bringing Charlie home.

Yesterday we went to the U.S. Consulate for our oath taking ceremony. We repeated the oath, with tears of joy, for the third time. It is a moving moment, to say the least. We were happy to hear that special needs adoptions were up to 64% in 2010 and to 73% in the first few months of 2011. Adoptions, in general, were up last year on the whole, Americans are still answering the call to help the orphans here despite political, cultural and economic differences.

We are picking our visas up at 5:00 today and we are free and clear with Charlie. The next step is when he becomes a U.S. citizen when we reach our port of entry in Newark, NJ and that is obviously a major milestone that we look forward to.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. We are so blessed to be surrounded by the love and support that you give us. We thank you all for being a part of our special journey, one which doesn't end now--but only begins. It is simply amazing to think that less than two weeks ago, we only knew this child through a few pictures and updates, and now he is in our arms and we have fallen in love with him. He has fallen in love with us too. Praise the Lord.