Easter Preparations....

Today we decorated Easter eggs and decorated cookies.  Maddie had a great time!

Got to try out those sprinkles!

Play Kitchen

Today, Grandad Lockman and Dave assembled a new play kitchen - Grandad and Grammie Lockman bought this a while back and we are just now assembling it for Maddison.  Maddie just loves it as you can see from the following pictures and video!  Thanks again Grandad and Grammie Lockman!!!

"Let me help!"    Can you spot Maddison....

Our little "Foreman"

 

Look Grandad - this is how this works!

Finally - a kitchen a gal can use!

Follow-up trip to Portland....

This past week we made a follow-up trip to Portland to see our doctor at Shriner's.  We had a great time and Maddie did very well with all the commotion associated with a teaching hospital.  At one point, we had two nurses, our doctor, two 4th year residents, a speech pathologist, and our care coordinator in a small examination room!  She was so brave and opened her mouth up for the doctors to see how her cleft palate looked after 4 months.

The doctors thought everything look fantastic!  We mentioned she is still having some drainage through her nose when she eats thin foods or drinks liquids.  The doctor thinks there is a tiny hole where he contected the closed cleft into the area where the doctors in China closed the lip.  He isn't too worried at this point - it may close on its own (please pray for this outcome!).  He doesn't want to do any more surgery at this point unless it interferes with her speech development.  He wants us to come back this summer for another checkup.  We think we can tie a trip to Vancouver, B.C. for a niece's wedding and the doctor visit together.

Here are a few pictures.....

 (Taking pictures of Maddison is still a little challanging.  She is not excited to have to smile or look at the camera.)

We also had a chance to visit with family while in Portland.  It was so good to see Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob and our nephew Morgan.  Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob have been so helpful in our adoption journey to Maddison - Uncle Bob was one of our medical professionals who reviewed Maddie's medical files for us!  Cousin Morgan has always been one of Maddie's favorite cousins - the first one to meet her when we came home from China!

"Cousin Morg - this is how you read.....!"

We also had the chance to go to the zoo.  Maddie just loved the animals!

How short can cousin Morg get?

6 Months!

Its hard to believe, but Maddison has been with us for 6 months!  Just seems like yesterday that we were in China waiting to get her on that Monday morning (Labor Day).  Arriving at the Civil Affairs office, along with the other families in our travel group, we were told it was a 2-1/2 hour drive from Maddie's orphanage to Zhengzhou and she would probably be one of the last children to show up.  Getting off the bus, we were not expecting what happened next.  Yisha (our guide) came out of building and said "Jia Jia (Maddison) is here!"  Wow!  we weren't prepared - struggling to get cameras, snacks, toys, etc. ready - as we walked into the room.  There she was across the room with a nanny and an orphanage official.  Here's a couple of pictures of that meeting.  Maddie spent the time crying and it was very hard to console her.  Maddie spent the next few days glued to Robin and a lot of grieving was experienced by all!  

P.S.  Thanks to Grammie and Granddad for traveling with us and helping.

We are on our way to meet Maddison.

The day we all met.

Mama and her baby!

A precious moment!

First Family Photo

Grammie is in love.

Granddad lends some moral support.

Her she is today!  Not the same girl.  She is doing fantastic and we love her dearly!!!  Robin and I keep saying that God blessed us with Maddison and she is so much apart of us.  She is truly our little girl.  It is as if she came from our own genes, except she is a little tanner.  Maddie has characteristics of both the Lockmans and the Laugs.  She fits us to a tee!  The Lord is so good!!!!!

Making her first batch of cookies....notice the chocolate on her shirt.

Celebrating 6 months with Grammie and Granddad

 Friday we had our 6 month visit with our social worker to complete the required 6 month report that is required by the Chinese government.  All went well and another hurdle completed!  Maddie has her post surgery checkup on March 12th in Portland, Oregon at Shriners.  Can't wait to hear what's next for Maddie.

Cookies......

Robin and Maddie had a fun afternoon of making chocolate chip cookies!

 

 

TRAINS - the Next Generation in "Training".....

Grandpa Lockman is a TRAIN MAN...all the way and has been one ever since he was a little boy.  I grew up with at least one Lionel Train around the Christmas Tree every year.  He has little trains and big trains and everything in between.  I though you all might enjoy seeing a few pictures of Maddison and Grandpa playing trains and yes, I got in on the fun too.  


P.S.  The blue Rock Island train is my very own train which dad bought me when I was a little gal.  Trains run in the family.  It seems to be in our blood.

~ Robin

Maddison opperating her little trains.

Mommy gets involved in the action.

Maddison running the controls

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trains do come off their tracks sometimes and rails don't always stay together.  

We have a problem......

......things still aren't right.....

now we are back up and running.

A train for each age.

Maddie had to stop and put money in the doodle bug. 

The joy and excitement of training.........

Here it comes....

There it goes.......

"Thank you!  A good hug for playing trains with me, Grandpa."

"Can I help Grandpa?"

Maddie LOVES books and yes Grandpa even has a train book......yippy!!!!