Kieren's New Do...

That's right! I cut Kieren's hair today! I ended up cutting 2 inches off the back and trying to blend the sides. I still need to finish the front. Someone was getting cranky and wanted her nap (besides me)! Good thing my mom is in England right now! She is going to have a fit!!!!!! So, what do you think??? (Sorry about the nasty Lovey in Kieren's mouth. It's nap time.)

Boys Are Brain Damaged!!!!!

Cullen's best friend, Ben (a.k.a. Mudman).

Let me start this by saying that I love my son. (Now I know you are saying "Uh-oh! What did Cullen do now?") Please read this completely before passing judgement on me.

Heather and I have a theory that boys become brain damaged at the age of 7. I don't know what happens. Maybe their warranties run out! Maybe their wiring shorts out! Maybe God thinks He's funny and shuts off their brains/common sense for a number of years! Who really knows!!! All I know is that Cullen's favorite answers these days are "I don't know" and "I know".

Example: last night we are sitting down to dinner and I notice some dark spots on the table cloth. I asked Cullen what it was and he said "I don't know". I told him that he always eats there so he should know what it is. I ask him if he knows what it is and he says yes. So I now have to, again, ask him what it is. He tells me it's chocolate syrup. So I get mad. Not about the chocolate, but the fact that we have to play 20 questions to get an answer. So I tell him that all he needed to do was to tell me what it was the first time and before the words are totally out of my mouth he says "I know"!!!!

There are too many other incidences to list. AND IT'S NOT JUST CULLEN!!!!! This is a world-wide problem! I have pasted in the email I received from my good friend DeAnne last night. She is surviving THREE boys who suffer from the same type of brain damage.

From DeAnne's email:

The boys, as Mary and Bev know, are staying home taking care of themselves this summer rather than doing camps or a babysitter. So far, it's working out pretty well. Today, I called home to check on the boys about 12:15 & talked to all 3 of them to confirm that they were all ok, no arguing, no problems. I told Kennan, since it is his week to make lunch, to make sure that all leftover food is put away properly before I get home, and to empty the dishwasher before I get home so Ben can put in the dirty dishes. He said ok.

I arrive home about 1:45 to find pizza still sitting on the stov! etop. Kennan insisted that he didn’t hear me say a THING about putting the food away! How was HE supposed to know he should do that?? I asked if he had at least emptied the dishwasher. No, he hadn’t. He didn’t hear me say ANYTHING about the dishwasher! NOTHING at all! I recounted our conversation, reminding him that he had even opened the dishwasher to see if it was full of clean dishes. He stuck to his story that I hadn’t told him to do anything with the dishwasher. So he had to put away the food AND empty the dishwasher while I was mad at him. He grumbled and complained and whined the whole time. Everybody picks on Kennan.

As I cleaned up around the house, I kept telling myself that at least they are not fighting all day. At least they are happy and healthy and playing, and they are safe. Cleaning the house – ok, tidying the house – doesn’t take too long and it’s a small thing. But I still wish they would at least do what I TELL THEM TO DO.

I told Ben that the garbage men had been by, so he needed to get the garbage cans and put them back next to the garage. I said “While you’re out there, please empty the cat boxes, and then I’ll put clean litter in.” He said ok & trotted out the door. He came back in a few minutes later, & I asked: “Did you empty the litter boxes?” Confidently: “Yep!” So I went to put clean litter in them. He had not emptied them. I stomped in & said “You told me you had emptied them! Do you think I’m too stupid to notice that they are still full?!” He groaned. “I forgot. I thought I had emptied them.” It is occurring to me, not for the first time, that Guy & I need to make sure we hire someone competent to take care of us when we get old & decrepit, because depending on our boys is not a good plan. I sent Ben back out to empty the cat boxes. When he came in, I asked – because I am a mom who knows how these things go – “Did you empty BOTH of them?”

Astonishment: “We have TWO of them?”

“Yes. We have had two for a long time. You always empty two.”

Pause from inside the garage. “I can’t find the other one.”

“It’s right there! Next to the door! RIGHT THERE!!”

Ben gives a heavy sigh, picks it up, and spills it. “Mom, it’s just too heavy.”

Veins and arteries pop inside my brain. I struggle to keep my calm voice. “Son, I know you can do this. Dump what’s left in the box, then sweep up the mess and dump it, too.” I want to cry.

I go to my room to contemplate running away. I sit and read for a few minutes, then go fill the finally empty cat boxes. Bobby is on the couch, reading. I tell him that even though he has done nothing wrong, it is up to him to think of something for him and his brothers to do to redeem themselves to me before I go nuts. He goes into the den and fusses at them and tries to tell them to do extra chores. Oddly, they don’t think this sounds like fun. I explain that I don’t care if he takes them down to the pool – all I want is quiet for an hour or so. Kennan, still grumpy because everybody picks on him, says he will sit silently on the couch for an hour and will not go to the pool or to the creek or even into the back yard. More squabbling ensues. I stomp to my room. Ultimately, I tell Kennan he has to sit on my bed with me while I read to keep him out of trouble. He grumbles and cries. (No, he couldn’t keep quiet for an hour. I would have been stunned if he’d managed it for half an hour.) I send him to sit on his bed. More crying about how everybody is so mean to him.

I decide it’s a nice day, so I’m going to leave him inside and go lie on the hammock and read. Maybe the other two won’t find me out there… No such luck. Ben comes out to play. He has been digging a rather large hole in the garden to mine for clay and iron. Since it rained a lot last night, the hole is full of mud. Ben puts his hands in it & thinks it feels really cool. As he’s wearing only long pants but no shirt, he decides to smear mud all over his chest, stomach, arms, and back to keep the mosquitoes off. Then his cheeks, nose, and forehead. I got pictures. It was so funny. And a little voice in my head was saying “A daughter wouldn’t smear herself with mud.” What the hell – one more load of laundry. Kids should be able to get muddy. Playing outside is better than watching TV or playing on the computer. He runs around the backyard using his deepest, growliest voice saying “I am MUDMAN!” and chasing the dogs. I call Guy, who is out of town, and leave a voice mail that he needs to come home soon and bring me chocolate. Also, I send a picture of Ben.

Ben decides he’s had enough and turns on the hose to clean up a little before he goes in to get a shower. I’m pretty amazed that he thought of that. He sprays himself and has a great time pretending that Mudman is melting and turning into a human. By now his pants, which had been only muddy, are dripping, sopping wet AND muddy. He takes off his shoes and socks before he steps inside (come to think of it, they are still in the backyard at 10:30 tonight) and runs in to put his dripping, muddy pants on the washer. He scampers to the shower. I try to blot up the mess on the floor and then get ready to do a load of laundry. I discover that Guy (who normally does laundry and he really does a good job of it) had left a load of clothes in the washer the day before. They do not smell good now. I grumble about how I have to take care of every single creature with a penis in this family. Ben comes out of the shower, but still has mud on his face & neck & in his hair. I tell him to get back into the shower. He goes into the bathroom but the water does not go on. He comes out without mud on his face. I ask what he did, and he says “I wiped it off with a towel.” He is ASTONISHED that I actually expect him to get back in the shower at this point and work some MORE on getting clean. I say I’m going to wash him myself. The bathroom floor is pretty bad, but the bottom of the tub is covered in mud. There is mud on the sides of the tub, mud on the walls, mud on the shower curtain. I turn on the water, have Ben check the temperature, and start to spray his back. He yowls that it’s too hot. I cool it off & rinse him some more. I ask for the shampoo so I can wash his hair out. “What shampoo?” Long pause. “The shampoo... you just used… to wash… your hair.”

“Oh, that’s empty.”

“Well, hand my Bobby’s shampoo.”

“That’s empty, too.”

I decide I really, really do not want to know how long they have been out of shampoo. Really. I get my shampoo from our bathroom & wash his hair. While he’s drying off, I try to clean up the tub & walls & shower curtain. I tell him to mop the floor, & he does a cheerful, neat job of it. I’m still thinking about running away, though. I go throw the muddy towels and muddy underwear into the load of wash.

Ben puts on clean clothes and comes into the kitchen saying he’s cold. After all, it IS only about 75 degrees outside, and he’s wet! He asks if he can have some hot chocolate. I say sure, as long as you fix it. Kennan pipes up with an injured voice “What about ME?” Because of course I was deliberately neglecting him. Poor, persecuted middle child. All he had to do was ask me. *heavy sigh*

Guy called as I was making dinner. Ben answered the phone & told him about how much fun it was to play in the mud, and how he & his brothers had been good all day. When I got to talk to him, I told him about the afternoon and was on that tipsy edge of hysteria where I couldn’t stop laughing and was about to cry. I need more sleep, and maybe a nanny.

Sorry, DeAnne.

See what I mean!!!!! Boys are brain damaged!!!! I just hope it reverses one day...

Swim Time (More Vacation Photos)

My two bathing beauties!!! (Wouldn't Cullen freak if he read that!)

"Okay, Daddy! I'm all ready for my swim! Let's go!!!"

My happy three-some. Kieren and Cullen are both water-babies, to Daddy's delight.

(You just gotta love a zoom lens! Great photos and I get to stay dry!)

Kieren...

Kieren escaped from her diaper change yet again today. I couldn't resist taking this photo! How do you like the new image package I'm using? I decided to play around and thought this was pretty cool.

JiangCheng Sisters

Kieren and Dottie are both from JiangCheng SWI in Yangjiang City, Guangdong, China. Kieren is 5 days older than Dottie. We drove to Lexington, Kentucky last week for our agency's reunion weekend and had dinner at Dottie's house (they live there). It was great to see the girls together again after a little more than 6 months!

Dottie was being a little camera shy!

The girls enjoyed chasing each other around the table.

A hug for her JC Sister!

Cullen and Hannah (Dottie's big sister) entertained the girls with their piano playing.

Together Again!

Some of our Travel Group was able to get together at the AHH Reunion picnic this past Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky. From the bottom left is Mary with her daughter Alice; John with his daughter Dottie; Cullen holding his screaming sister Kieren (only my children...); Connie, John's wife & Dottie's mom; Aunt Judy, who traveled with Mary; and in the center is Hannah, Dottie's older sister! Kieren and Dottie are from the same orphanage.

The picnic version of the Red Couch photo! Kieren (on left), Alice (in middle), and Dottie (on right).

Making a Splash...

Andy took these great photos of Cullen's swim lesson last night! Cullen is really doing well!! He LOVES his lessons. Too bad they're only in the summer.

Leaving

We are leaving for our agency's reunion weekend today. I'm not taking a lap-top so I'm not sure I'll be able to check any emails or blogs until Sunday night. My folks are taking care of the fur-babies and house. I'll check messages around noon and then we are hitting the road! I'll post lots of photos next week!!!!

June 21st...6 Months Home

Sorry I never had a chance to post this yesterday (as it is now after midnight). With Vacation Bible School and Kieren being a beast, things have gotten away from me! Anyway, as I was saying, Kieren has been home for six months now. Its hard to believe! I feel like she's always been here. Its so funny, but I forget she's adopted. She doesn't look Chinese to me. She just looks like Kieren, my (usually) sweet, funny little girl. We are even in the habit of saying things like "she gets that from your side of the gene pool". When we compare Cullen's toddlerhood to Kieren's, we speak like she was born like Cullen, from my womb not her China-Mommy's. We forget. But please don't get me wrong! We are honored to have a Chinese baby and all the heritage that comes with her. We are grateful to her China-Mommy for giving birth to her and leaving her to be found. Kieren will know about the beautiful country she came from and the even more beautiful people who live there!! When she is old enough and ready, we will tell her about the place she spent the first 8.5 months of her life. We will show her the pages of questions we sent to her orphanage and the hand-written translations. We will share what little information we have. It may not be enough, but we will deal with that if/when that happens. So for now, we celebrate the moments as they come: referral, travel to China, Forever Family Day, coming home, first Christmas, first New Years, first birthday, first Easter, first six-months home, and all the other firsts as they happen.

15 Months Old Today!!!

Perfect...

Kieren thinks Ian is pretty great too!

The Gentle Giant...

Cullen was so entranced with Ian that we couldn't get him to look at the camera. I love the look on his face! He is so gentle.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day to the two most important men in my life - my Daddy and Andy! Because of the love you show, Cullen will also be an amazing Daddy one day!!!

Warning...Attack Panda!!!

This is how Kieren went to sleep last night!!! Her "LiLi" attacked and knocked her out!

*No stuffed animals or small children were harmed in this photo. This was performed by a professional. Do not attempt at home.

Focused Beauty

No need for words...

Firing The Babysitter!!!

O...M...G...

Cullen is 9.5. He loves his sister and dotes on her. Sometimes I have Cullen watch Kieren while I grab a quick shower. This is what happened to my family room in 15 minutes!!!!! Kieren ran amuck and Cullen watched TV. I'd fire the babysitter, but he works for food!!!!

Introducing My Nephew ~ IAN PATRICK EDWARDS ~

This is Ian Patrick Edwards. He was born at 7:28pm tonight. He weighs 6 pounds 8 ounces and is 20 inches long. Heather had to have a C-section after many hours of induced labor. Everyone is doing just great! We are so thrilled!!!! And, by the way, the kid has quite a set of lungs on him!!!!!!

It's a BOY

Ian Patrick Edwards was born at 7:28 pm by c-section. Mother and son are doing fine. Sam will post more details later.

Heading For The Hospital

I'll be heading for the hospital in about 2 hours. Heather had to be there at 6am. Yuck! I haven't heard anything yet, but they will be there awhile before anything will happen. I will post as soon as I get back!

6 Months Ago Today

6 months ago today, Kieren was placed into my arms. She was so sick. All her ribs and her backbone could be seen through her skin. She wouldn't eat. She hated to have anyone touch her hands. She wouldn't let us hold her bottle. But she smiled for us and never cried.

Kieren is now a healthy 14 month-old. She is into everything. She climbs everything! She loves to run up behind me and hug my legs. She cuddles with everyone in the family. She chases the cats and kisses the dog. She sings and dances. She loves to giggle and smile. She is perfect! It's amazing to see the difference 6 months and a lot of love makes!

Rainy Day Fun

Is It My Turn Yet??????

Kieren wants to do EVERYTHING that Cullen does! This morning while Cull was playing Game Cube, Kieren wedged her body behind his in the game chair. Being the seasoned big brother that he is, Cullen just kept playing. Eventually Kieren climbed out and found something better to do.

So Independant...So Cute!

Final Approach

Heather is now on total bed rest!!! If she doesn't deliver this weekend, the doctor will be inducing her at 7:30am Monday. It's about stinking time!!!!! My next "Heather Update" will be the big one!

Stay tuned...

Life's A Picnic (In A Treehouse)!

Kieren is ready to have lunch and play. Too bad her legs aren't quite long enough yet to climb to the upper deck of the treehouse.
But that's what big brother (or Bruh) is for! Cullen is always ready to give Kieren a little boost.

Yum! Cullen's yogurt tastes better than mine! Shhh! He didn't know I was "sampling" while his back was turned!!
It was a perfect day for a picnic! We should have lunch like this everyday!
Cullen and Kieren enjoying their first picnic AND first summer together! Life doesn't get much better.

Wrestling With Bruh

Ha! I win!!! Now you have to watch "Oobi" with me AND like it!