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I've set the date of this post to be my due date, December 7th (or 8th, depending how you calculate), so it will stay on top. Scroll down for current posts!

Welcome December!

Well, it's finally here, the month in which baby brother will make his entrance. So far nothing is happening labor-wise, but I'm not expecting to go early. I'm trying to think more like December 16th or so. I may have to fight the OBs to let me go that long, but I'm going to try. Then again, I could wake up in labor tonight. We'll see!

As if to welcome in the new month, we got hit with our first real snow overnight. Here's a picture of our very excited girls out playing in it. They're getting so big!

All is Well

Julie came through surgery wonderfully and has almost no pain in recovery! We were also pleased to learn that her hearing will come in more gradually than we thought, mainly because her ear canal is filled with gel and she's wearing a cotton ball all the time. We should start to see the effects of the prosthesis in the next month or so. She'll have a hearing test in 6 weeks, which seems like it's right around the corner, which makes me realize we're going to have a baby really soon! Speaking of baby, here's a picture of me from yesterday, at 34.5 weeks.

Prayer for Julie

I'd like to throw out a quick prayer request for Julie and the surgery she will be having surgery tomorrow morning. Yes, we are in surgery mode around here right now. Last October was the same way. At least this time the surgery is a "good" one. Last year, Julie had a radical mastoidectomy in her left ear, as well as the removal of a cholesteatoma (growth) in that ear. The growth had eroded her middle ear bones to the point that the surgeon had to remove them too. Now, a year later, there is no regrowth of the tumor or recurrence of the mastoid infection (praise God!), so she is going in for reconstructive middle ear surgery. Basically, the doctor will insert prosthetic ear bones to replace the ones she no longer has. This should restore her hearing in her left ear, which is a very exciting prospect! Of course, surgery is still surgery and we're very nervous about getting her through it. She has been through so much and quite understandably freaks out about such things. It sounds like the recovery should be easier than her previous ear surgeries, at least. We're also a little concerned that her new ability to hear may overstimulate her or bother her in some way until she adjusts to it...kind of like someone turned up the volume and it's stuck that way. So, if you think to pray for Julie and our family tomorrow, we'd very much appreciate it. I will update soon. Thanks!!

More Updates

Melody had her first post-operative appointment with the surgeon yesterday. Some of you know that Larry and I already noticed a hole opening in her palate, which caused us great disappointment and dismay. The surgeon, however, was able to offer some encouragement in his assessment. The whole back part of Melody's palate looks really good at this point and the grafted tissue is doing well. There is, indeed, a little hole up front, but the doctor says it should be much easier to fix than the ones he just dealt with. He said that if her palate stays just like it is we will have made good progress. That was very nice to hear. As a parent, I guess I was hoping for the perfect outcome all at once. It's only natural not to want to go through another surgery if it can be avoided. We go back to see the doctor in another month. He said that whatever Melody's mouth looks like then is what it will stay like. Her next surgery will be about a year from the last one.

As for me and "Baby Brother," we're going well! I just got off the phone scheduling all the rest of my OB appointments for the entire pregnancy. I only have six more!! Oh my! I'm feeling really well, other than an annoying case of carpel tunnel in my wrists which causes numbness and pain overnight. The doctor told me to wear a brace and it seems to be helping, especially with the pain aspect. I will have Larry take another belly photo this weekend when I hit 32 weeks. I'm happy not to feel too huge yet!

Larry is now halfway through his first semester of graduate classes toward a second master's degree. He is incredibly busy with a full-time job, full-time classes and a full-time family. In fact, his final exams coincide "nicely" with our baby's due date! I think he is enjoying the classes, which is great, and we both hope it will help open doors for him (and our family) in the future.

I didn't write about it at the time, but our family traveled to NY to visit my mom this past August (yay for frequent flier miles!). It had been 3 years since we'd been there...too long. We stayed for a week and had a good time. The girls especially liked all the fun things that Oma had prepared for them to play with. Here are just a couple of pictures.

Mother and Daughter

Blueberry Picking (my favorite activity of the whole trip)

Oma and Granddaughters (blurry but very cute!)

We're Home

Melody did very well during her surgery on Monday and we were able to come home late Tuesday evening. Monday was a bit rough as she got over the anesthesia and expressed her anger at being hooked up to the IV and O2 line, but by evening she was already drinking apple juice and taking pain medication by mouth (which meant we could stop using morphine through the IV). By Tuesday morning, she was virtually jumping around in her crib and wanting to "get out!" Amazingly, she doesn't seem to be in much pain, so we're only using regular Tylenol and Motrin as needed. She's one incredible kid! My biggest prayer at this point is that the repair is successful this time and that we don't have to go through this again. In the middle of the surgery, our surgeon came out to ask our permission to graft in some donor tissue (AlloDerm) to increase the likelihood of success. I wish I'd had some time to research it, but we didn't and of course we said yes (what else would we do on the spot like that?). The tissue isn't like getting an organ since it's processed to the point where the cells are removed and there's nothing for the recipient's body to reject. It's an odd concept...kind of like human gauze or something. Our surgeon uses it all the time in breast reconstruction and facial repairs, so he was really confident about it. We think it may be one of the reasons Melody isn't experiencing too much pain, since the tissue is covering a lot of the really raw spots. We'd truly appreciate all prayers for the success of the procedure, as well as for the coming month of dietary restrictions. It's really important that nothing disturb the healing process, whether it be food or fingers or a toy. I'm sure glad that we're doing this now before the baby is here! I'll try to update again in a few days. Thanks for all your support!

Here We Go...

...into surgery tomorrow. We will arrive at the hospital at 7AM and stay one or two nights. Please pray for Melody's safety during the surgery and for her comfort during the recovery period. I am so anxious about the whole thing and I really just want it to be over. It is so hard to put my little girl through this, even though I know she needs it.

...into our last trimester of pregnancy! It's hard to believe. My OB appointments have increased in frequency from once every 4 weeks to once every 2 weeks, which makes it seem like the birth is getting closer quickly. Our childbirth classes start next Sunday and run right up until my due date. Hopefully we'll have a name by then!

...into Melody being an official 2-year-old. Her birthday is this coming Friday but we celebrated today because of her surgery. I'll have to post pictures at some point. She didn't hesitate a bit when it came to singing "Happy Birthday Dear 'Me-do-dy,'" blowing out her candles, or tearing the paper off of her gift. If you ask her how old she is, she will proudly say "two!" while holding up one finger :). We're working on getting that second finger up, but for now it's really precious.

Here's one of my favorite pictures of the girls from this summer. We are so blessed!

A Few Updates

We just scheduled Melody for surgery on September 22nd. We were really hoping she wouldn't need it, but there is, indeed, a fistula (hole) in her palate that needs to be closed. The surgery will be similar to her original palate repair, including the recovery protocol and time frame. Sadly, the surgery is just 5 days before Melody's second birthday, so no cake. I think she can manage melted ice cream though!

Our pregnancy is going along just fine, perhaps with the exception of my swollen ankles/feet! It's hard to believe that "baby brother" is due in just about 3 months. That isn't long! I've really loved having him inside me, but it will also be very exciting to meet him in person. Larry thinks he'll arrive early, but I'm not so sure.

Julie started her second year of preschool a few weeks ago. She is the only girl in a class of 10 kids! She is still in a self-contained class, but she will be going into one of the integrated classrooms for play time a couple of times a week. That way she'll get to interact with some typical peers and also some girls. We're really happy about that! The decision to let her join the other class was based on the amazing progress that Julie has made in the last several months. She is now able to speak in whole sentences a lot of the time, and she has started asking yes/no questions like a pro. It's SO wonderful to listen to her ramble on about something. What a gift!

Melody, too, has started speaking in basic sentences much of the time. The other day she told me "I all done drinking juice!" I had no idea that 1 year-olds could do that! She is a little perfectionist in the making and enjoys putting things where they belong. She and Julie have started playing simple little games together...they just make it up as they go. I adore watching them play together.

Here are a few recent pictures. How they grow!

Sneak Peak!

Finally, here are a few of the ultrasound photos of the little guy we're waiting to meet! His face is pretty clear. On the left you can see his shins, and up by his head you can see parts of his arms from his elbows up toward his wrists. He's curled up on his back, so you can't see his tummy here. Too sweet!


And such cute little feet!


I suppose some of you may be interested in what he looked like from the outside on the same day the above pictures were taken from the inside. Here's the view!


It is so lovely to feel him bumping around inside of me each day. I really wonder what he'll be like and who he'll grow up to be. This whole experience is such a miracle and a privilege!

It's a.....

BOY! Yes, our ultrasound clearly showed that our little one is definitely a little boy. We are in shock but thrilled! He looked great! We got a good look at arms, legs, hands, feet, brain, heart, spine, ribs, face, kidneys, stomach and just about everything else. His heart was beating at 153 bpm and he measured in the 32nd percentile for size at this point. The OB said that was within normal limits and that he is probably just a smaller baby. That's fine with me! I can't believe that this is the last time we will see him until he is born. I have pictures to post, but I can't find where Larry put them on the computer, so I'll have to come back and add them later. I just wanted to get this up for those of you who might be waiting to hear the news. Thanks for sharing this with us!

One Year Ago...

...we received one of the greatest gifts anybody can imagine. On July 9, 2007, Melody Joy SiWei was placed in our arms and united with our hearts. It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since then. She has changed so much! One thing has not changed, however; Melody continues to bring joy and love into our lives every single day. Her development has been amazing and thrilling to watch. She can now string 3 words together at a time and she is definitely exhibiting the strong will of an almost-two-year-old. She is so observant and detailed, even at her age. She loves baby dolls and real babies, and she is exceedingly gentle with both. We finally folded up the pack-n-play a few months ago, and Melody now sleeps exclusively in her crib. She still wakes in need of reassurance, but she's come so far from her original night terrors. Melody and Julie have bonded like glue and really seem to need each other. Neither likes to go to bed at night without the other in her place. They sing back and forth before falling asleep, both to our amusement and frustration (after it goes on for an hour or more!). We are truly blessed beyond measure and we thank God for both of our precious girls.

July 9, 2007



July 9, 2008

Julie's 4 Year Old Picture

And here's one of my Two Peas in a Pod.

For the Curious

I know that some of you have been wanting to see a picture of me for a while now. The reason I haven't posted is because there's not a lot to see! I'm 16 weeks now, so in the 4th month. I had an OB appointment today and all is well. The baby's heart rate was 140, so even lower than last time. I scheduled my 20 week appointment for July 25th, which includes an ultrasound and the option to find out if it's a girl or a boy. Stay tuned! Okay, pictures. These were taken earlier this week. I have to say that how I look depends a lot on what I'm wearing and how bloated I am due to various gastrointestinal issues (fun!). I basically just look a bit chunkier at this point, not yet really pregnant. I do feel like things are changing faster now though, so we'll see what happens!

Happy Birthday Julie!

Amazingly, my little girl is 4 today. We had a lovely day celebrating and playing outside. I tried to take some formal-ish pictures of her but it didn't work out so well, so I'm going to try again tomorrow. Right now I'm about ready to drop off to sleep though.

Happy Birthday sweet Julie!

Lots of Good News!

First, Julie is finally healthy! She's still finishing off two prescriptions, but she is her happy self again. I can't tell you what a relief and joy it is to have my healthy girl back.

Second, I am now in my second trimester of pregnancy. It's a very exciting landmark for me!

Finally, some of you may remember me posting about a mom whose new child passed away while we were all in China last summer. Well, I just got word that she recently returned from China with her second child, a little girl who is almost 3. What exciting news!

I think all this good news calls for some pictures :-)

Heat and Heartache

Heat: Our air conditioner is broken. It needs to be completely replaced. We are scheduled for that a week from Friday. It is only 8AM and it is 75 degrees with 77% humidity inside. It is only going to go up from there, with outside temps predicted to reach 90. I've closed up the house to try to keep it from getting too terrible as the day goes on. It's odd to have sticky floors though...

Heartache: Julie had a very hard night. She woke up crying four times between 11:45 and 4:25, at which point Larry switched beds with her and I tried to help her sleep through the morning. The heartache involved is twofold. First, she was inconsolable. One of the worst, most helpless feelings for me as a parent is being unable to help or comfort one of my children. Second, she was totally unable to tell us what was wrong, even in basic terms. There are many challenges to raising a child with developmental challenges, but this is one of the hardest. We are left guessing and grasping at straws much of the time. One day I hope she can say "I'm scared" or "My tummy hurts" or anything that would give us a clue about what is going on inside her at any given time. She also doesn't yet understand many questions put to her, like "what's wrong?" or "why are you crying?" She has definitely made a ton of progress in the right direction, but sometimes it feels like communication fails us most when it is most needed. So, we forge on, doing everything we know how to do for her, praying that it is enough.

Let me end on an up note. Today, for the second time this week, Julie woke up with a dry diaper!! We are so proud of her! It's hard to believe she'll be 4 in just a few weeks. Wow.

A Real Pair

One of the greatest joys of parenting for me has been to watch our girls develop a relationship that is so special and unique. They love to play together and always ask for each other when one is absent. Julie always wants to do things "with Meddy." Here are some pictures of good sister time. I know there are a lot, but I just couldn't decide!

Sweet Julie

(Prayers for her health would be much appreciated. We've switched antibiotics and added a medication for reflux. That's in addition to the cough suppressant and Zyrtec for chronic hives. At least the fever broke so we can stop the ibuprofen regimen. We just want to see her feeling better soon...)

158

I had my 12 week OB appointment today and was thrilled to hear the baby's heart beating away at 158 beats per minute. That Doppler thing is amazing! Everything else looked good and I was out of there in about 10 minutes. My next appointment is in a month.

As promised, here are a couple of pictures. I just spent the last hour copying pictures from my camera to the computer. I had to go all the way back to April 25th! I think I may be turning the corner in terms of getting some energy back. My appetite has finally returned and I no longer feel yucky if I eat. Yay! Okay, pictures. These are from the one hot day we've had so far...

I still exist!

For those of you who've been pregnant, you probably understand the crazy fatigue of the first trimester. I sure do! I literally fall asleep as soon as I sit down at night (as well as during the day!). So, my opportunities to blog have really dwindled. I'm getting close to the second trimester when I hope to get some of my energy back. That would be nice! (Also, Julie has been sick for the last 17 days. It actually started mid-March, went away for a bit and came back. Sometimes it's really hard getting and keeping her healthy because of her ear stuff.)

Let's see. One reader asked if the kids know about the baby. At this point, neither one of them really understands, but Julie is getting bits and pieces. I checked out the book "A Child is Born," which is full of beautiful photography of all the stages of development from conception to birth. Both kids adore the book! Julie keeps asking to see pictures of the "baby inside." Larry and I asked her if we should have a baby, to which she replied "yes." We asked if it should be a sister or a brother and Julie said "brother." When asked what we should name the baby, Julie thought a moment and said "Baby Einstein!" She loves that video series, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. She doesn't have the concept of acutal naming yet, but I really like her nickname for the baby :-).

I have so many pictures to share. Here's hoping I can get at least one up in the next few days!

I Am Thrilled to Introduce...

Baby Potter #3!

As you can see, he/she is not waiting for us in China this time. By God's grace, we are going to have a baby! I am due sometime between December 4th and December 8th, depending on whose calculations you use. I had my first ultrasound today and it honestly blew me away. It almost wasn't real to me before I actually saw and heard that tiny, beating heart. What a miracle! The heartbeat was 175 beats per minute and the baby measured 19.9mm long (less than an inch). In the photo above, the yolk sack is the light grey blob all the way on the right. Directly to the left is the baby's head, followed by it's body, tummy facing you. You can even see the little arm and leg buds! I am humbled and amazed by this entire process, and I recognize even more how God is the creator and sustainer of all life.

For those of you who can watch videos, here is a clip from today's ultrasound. If you crank your speakers you can hear the heartbeat starting about 14 seconds into the clip. It sounded to me like "dunk-a-dunk-a-dunk-a-dunk" really, really fast. Again, all I can say is what a miracle!


Now that the cat is out of the bag, so to speak, I will probably be back to blogging more often. It's been hard not to talk about it these last several weeks. Plus, I've been sooo tired that it's been hard to find the time. Anyway, thank you all for sharing in this exciting news. I will keep you posted!

Let's Watch TV Together!

Sleep in a Tree?

After Melody's long, sleepless night, she managed to sleep all through the next night! Julie, however, was up around 3AM singing and playing. At 3:30AM she climbed into our bed and snuggled in between us. My groggy brain registered that she was talking, but I didn't really process what she was saying. It wasn't until the next day that it sunk in and made me laugh. For whatever reason, she felt the need to inform us that "koala sleep in a tree!" I remember Larry saying "shhh," so Julie lowered her voice to a whisper and replied "koala sleep in a tree!" Around 4AM, Larry returned her to her bed and we all got a little more sleep. Life with kids is certainly not dull!

Little Mommy

Here are some pictures from earlier this month. Melody just loves babies, real ones and pretend ones. It was so much fun watching her take care of Baby Sonya:






Disclaimer: I assure you that I do not wipe my face or Melody's face after wiping her bottom! I'm also not entirely sure what's going on in the last picture. She didn't learn it from me!

One of Those Days

Both girls are sick with icky, goopy colds right now. Melody doesn't sleep well to begin with, but when she's sick her sleep goes down the drain in a major way. Last night it took an hour and a half of struggle to get her to sleep. By midnight she was up screaming. After handling that, Larry went downstairs to get some stuff done. Around 2AM Melody started up again, so I brought her into bed with me. From 2 until 6 she tossed and turned and kicked and thrashed. Larry "slept" on the living room floor for a few hours (we don't have a couch at the moment). Right now it's supposed to be nap time. She went down fine around 1, but woke up at 1:45 screaming and I am not holding out much hope that she's going back to sleep. I'm listening to her screech right now, trying to decide how long to give her. Days like this are just so mentally taxing. On the flip side, I realize that I have everything to be grateful for and nothing to complain about. I am immensely thankful for the privilege of having children and I love them both dearly. It's just hard to keep perspective without sleep (and with so much screaming).

Something else to give thanks for: our flowers bloomed yesterday! What a gorgeous, refreshing reminder of the beauty of God's creation. I love spring!

Role Reversal?

And here they are playing with two of my toys from when I was little. Amazing!

Daddy and His Girls

Larry is definitely a girl daddy. Making fancy hats and having pretend birthday parties come naturally to him. I think it's precious!