Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Lottie Lee



A new Toy..wine corks Lottie is busy,busy,busy and starting to move- crawl, cruise, & walk all over!  She is growing & changing every day as we try to document it all we promise to update the blog at least monthly to share our latest news! Its amazing to watch Lottie discover new things every day & such a joy to see her enjoy life!  

Sunday, April 14, 2013

TX Blubonnets

A TX tradition each spring is to take photos in the bluebonnets-TX state flower, a wildflower that grows alongside the roads in late March/April. Lottie was not to thrilled, when we plopped her down in the field of beautiful bluebonnets, maybe next year?




One Month Home

We have been home one month! its been such an amazing 4 weeks we are actually not sure where to start.  I guess first would be our crazy medical situations-read more here:The Bug Bite

Life as a family of three has been wonderful, we have been hesitant to report our progress, as not to jinx ourselves or brag too much but I guess we feel pretty confident with our little one. So here goes: (Warning PROUD Parent ALERT!!!)

Lottie is nothing shy of amazing we are beyond blessed and so in love!  She has adjusted beautifully and continues to stun adoption professionals, Doctors. Social workers, and Therapists.  Everyone always says we heard your description of her, but until meeting her its hard to actually believe it to be true...but it is true!  Lottie is so very loving and VERY attached to her Mommy & Daddy.  She is a social butterfly & loves people, she lights up a room and will not leave until she has been held by everyone.  Lottie loves a crowd and boy can she work it, cheering her on gives her the biggest satisfaction she will scream and clap her hands in amazement (take my word at some point in her life she will entertain an audience)  She is wicked smart and has picked up some signs instantly.  She is fearless, calm, brilliant, strong-willed, & loving.  She enjoys playing by herself, in fact she actually needs some alone time each day and will quietly play on her blanket for hours on end.  Lottie loves corners, she loves edges, she will flip through magazines & books her fine motor skills are advanced and she has such a graceful way as she delicately touches objects.  She loves anything with textures, soft things fancy her most!  She can get lost in time rubbing a soft blanket or toy and is fascinated by the smallest details.  

Lottie has adjusted so beautifully, she loves her home, her dogs & her room.  She is eating well, and sleeping 12 hours through the night with a 1-2 hour nap each day.  She loves bath time, car rides, walking to the park.  Every day we see her experience something for the first time, she lights up with excitement and curiosity.  

Lottie is wise beyond her months (19 to be exact), & its truly amazing to know where she came from to her abilities today.  She is a fighter.  She is determined, and she is going to take herself to the highest level-did we mention she met with her therapist to begin working on gross motor before the next session she had met all the goals and is already beginning to walk on her own! Others may think we are crazy, but we really feel she knew leaving the orphanage was the best thing for her, she knew love when she met us and she never looked back.  It is very common for children to grieve their loss, actually almost expected.  Lottie never grieved, she never cried. 

We have been given the greatest gift, a daughter, she truly is everything we hoped for, and actually so much more. We knew in the beginning adoption would change our lives, it did even before we met our precious daughter.  But sitting her now, 30 days home I am not sure I can even put into words how amazing it is... I guess the best way I could describe it is for the past 45 days since meeting my daughter in Xi'an, China I witness God's miracle every day. 

How did we get so lucky for God to choose us to be her parents, we are forever grateful and each day thank him for our blessing.







"WE WITNESS A MIRACLE EVERY TIME A CHILD ENTERS INTO LIFE. BUT THOSE WHO MAKE THEIR JOURNEY HOME ACROSS TIME AND MILES, GROWING WITHIN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO WAIT TO LOVE THEM, ARE CARRIED ON THE WINGS OF DESTINY AND PLACED AMONG US BY GOD'S VERY OWN HANDS." KRISTI LARSON

The BUG Bite

Well we have been MIA for the past month and have a pretty good excuse....

FIRST we  BOTH enjoyed a full month off from work & spent the time loving on our sweet baby girl...

AND...

We had some very interesting medical issues we needed to tend to, put a little damper on our month but we are happy to report we are healthy!

So a brief rundown of the madness

Winn came home with bug bite from China (remember the post about the arm infection?) this bite turned into cellulitis & the bug bite the size of a pea turned into a golf ball size bump on my arm. First appointment Dr. gave antibiotics & shots, but by day 4 no improvment, Dr opened the bite, drained it and packed the wound for 5 days (lovely I know), then  a new round of antibiotics were given, I  tested positive for MRSA and more antibiotics were prescribed.  By day 8 I began running a 103 fever with hives ( which lasted for 4 days) and by day 13 I had a scary allergic reaction to sulfa based antibiotics which took me by ambulance & landed me in ICU! By day 26 I am off all medications, have an epipen due to my sulfa based allergy, and a small scar on my right arm to remind me of this experience

We are greatful for our Dr.s and medical group in Austin & we are so thankful this little medical emergency happened they way it did as Scott was home & although it was a BAD situation it happened with the best scenarios