ONE MONTH HOME

It is hard to believe that Maddison has been physically apart of this family for six weeks and here in the States for four weeks.  In some ways I don't remember life without her.  She was part of our lives for many months even before we physically could hug and kiss on her.  Sometimes, I have to pinch myself just to know she is ours and sometimes she does the pinching and you do know she is here. 

Travel:
This week has been a busy week.  We left for Shriners Hospital in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, the 6th of October.  This was a 700+ mile trip.  We were not sure how well of a traveler Maddison would be.  That is a long ride.  It is almost as long as the flight across the Pacific Ocean we took recently.  Thoughts of struggling with a toddler on that flight were in the backs of our minds......oh yea!  Dave and I decided to break the trip up into two days of driving each way.  Smart move on our part, if I can say so myself.  Maddie was a wonderful traveler.  Knowing we would be making this trip multiple times we decided to make it as pleasant as possible. 
 
We took three small carry-on suitcases, a bag of toys, and lots of snacks.  It may seem like a lot of luggage to some, but I wanted Maddsion to feel totally apart of this trip.  Last time we had suitcases we were moving her to the States.  I did not want in any way for her to think we might be returning her.  I went over and over whose suitcase was whom.  Maddison totally understood that the little khaki suitcase was hers and she knew her stuff was in it. In China, we learned  Maddie likes the reassurance that she feels if she sees a crib for her in our hotel room and if she knows that some treasured item of hers is in the suitcase.  Normally, her favorite footed pj's.  This time we also made sure she saw her favorite toys, blanket, books, and shoes were included. (The story behind the shoes goes like this.  While we were in China, Maddison enjoyed lining up shoes and always included her pair in with ours.)  Each place we stopped, she would look for these items. This seems like such a small thing, but if you came from a place where you shared everything and nothing really belonged only to you, you might feel different too.

Reading her favorite Bible story book.

Shriners Hospital:
Tuesday we had our appt at Shriners Hospital.   It is a wonderful place!!!!!!!! God is so good!!!!!!!!!  We really loved the people.  They are so kind and the hospital is very nice.  We met with all kinds of people including an ENT  (ear, nose, & throat) doctor, Dr. Smith and the cleft palate doctor, Dr. Wen.  Dr. Smith is semi-retired and only does the easy stuff like tubes in ears nowadays. He used to do the cleft repair surgeries so he totally understood what and how things should go.  Interesting fact, Dr. Smith travels a lot and has been to China many times.  He has even been involved in setting up clinics for cleft people in a province near Maddison's province.  Dr. Wen teaches at the Oregon Health and Science University which is right next door.  He brought students with him to the meeting.  It was interesting to watch him teaching as he was examining Maddison.  He really knows his stuff!!!!!  That is very comforting.  Again, God is so loving and good to put people in our lives just for the moment.  Dave and I believe the staff at Shriners will give Maddison excellent care. 

Let's talk surgery.  We know many of you are interested in the timing.  We are scheduled for surgery of the hard and soft palates on November 1.   Since Maddison is 22 months and normally this type of surgery takes place around 18 months, there was an urgency in preforming the surgery.  They asked us if we were interested in next week.  We would have driven home and just had to turn around again.  That was a little fast.  She will be 23 months at the time of her first surgery here in the States.  

Again, I am in awe at how wonderful our Lord truly is.  We thought it might take 3 to 4 months to just get in to see the doctors for the first meeting.  Let alone have the 1st surgery completed in less that two months or Maddison joining our family.  WOW!!!!!  I am going to say it again.......God is so very good!!!!!!!

Pictures from our day at Shriners Hospital: 

We are ready to head to the hospital.

Here we go!!

The sweet gals at the front desk.

Admissions

How does this thing really work?

Have we grown in six weeks?

 Family:
On this trip we also visited with some family.  Dave's Uncle Bob & Aunt Mary live in Portland.  We got the opportunity to spend a little time with them one afternoon.

Their lemon tree was really neat to touch.  Not real sure how the lemons fared after Maddie finished with them.  Do you think they will turn yellow after all that?

"Let's see, mama, what does that say again?"

 Maddison really missed the puppies.  She was so excited when Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary gave her a puppy.  (Notice her bib is on backwards.  We call this the "Super Baby" look.)

Also, our middle nephew attends school in Portland.  We got to hang out with Morgan some too.  

"I like this cousin thing!"  Maddie.

"Things one does on a road trip."......Maddison.
         P.S.  " I did eat lots of snacks like apple juice, string cheese, blueberries, crackers, apple sauce, puffs, and even yogurt.   Unfortunally, mama can't prep food and take pictures from the front seat all at the same time."

Practice your silly faces.

Take a nap with Dolly.

Take off your shoes and socks.

Play with your toes.

1st night on our road trip

Sandman Inn in La Grande, Oregon

Snack

Snuggle with blanket

Sleep some more

~ Robin     
     P.S.  Don't forget to check out the previous blog.  I finally had a chance to complete a blog entry for week 3.  There are some great pictures.  Scroll on down and keep reading.