Ellie's New Wheels

Ellie got an amazing Christmas gift this year. For practical reasons, it was delivered to our home, so she didn't learn about it until several days after Christmas. And after that, it required 18 hours of charging before it would be "road ready". ;-) Can I insert here that as a child I would drool over these in the toy section department store catalogs? As you can tell, Ellie was quite excited that the day her jeep was ready, the weather cooperated so she could take her wheels for a spin outside without many obstacles or space constraints like she would have indoors.

Reni was eager to join her and thankfully this model was equipped with seat belts. I don't know if you can tell or not, but Ellie has a lead foot. She would also drive gangbusters right up to whatever might be in her way (the basketball posts, the garage door, a car, etc.) and just when we thought she was going to hit it, she would stop. And other times she wouldn't. Nathan and I were laughing so hard. Don't worry. Neither child was in any danger. We just couldn't seem to capture those moments on video.
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Ellie quickly decided she was the police and she was going to chase us, the "bad people", down in her police car. Reni was her loyal sidekick who was given no responsibilities. Not even the job of writing tickets. But he was permitted to change the radio channel.


(Below) Here she is giving Nathan a ticket. The next photo she is pointing him the way to jail. Incidentally, she has never been with her parents when they have been pulled over or ticketed. I don't know where she learns these things!
(Below) I included this one just because I love how laid back Reni looks with his arm behind the seat! Also, Ellie won't let us tie her hat strings under her chin due to sensory-related issues of hers. And because of her pony tail, it just didn't sit right on her head. Combined with the intensity of her driving, it added to the humor of her look . Is that bad?

New Hair Cut

Snapped this one quick after coming in from outdoors Wednesday. The rest of the pics (that preceded this "hat hair" pic), will be viewable soon.

I came across this blog post last night and can't get it out of my mind. I hope you'll take a moment to click over and read it:

http://stitchingtochina.blogspot.com/

Ellie & Reni go to work with PaPa...& more Ohio pics

Our last full day in Ohio found us visiting Dad Waggoner's workplace over lunch. First we stopped at his hospice office where we met or were reacquainted with a lot of nice folks (sorry no pics here). Reni did a great job warming up to everyone and showed off his walking skills. Ellie was excited to find they were having a potluck lunch and she happily accepted some proffered brownies . From the office, we drove down the street to the hospital and met the staff on the hospice floor. Above you see Ellie quite interested in looking at muscles and bones. She's always asking what's under her skin so this was a handy way to show her.

At the end of the wing there is a nice lounge, kitchen, and play area for the families of patients. Ellie and Reni were both fascinated with the fish aquarium, specifically the bubble-eyed goldfish.

Reni did a great job with this animal puzzle. Below you can see he and his daddy giving their fiercest "roars" ;-)

Later that day, Stephen, Rachel, and their five arrived for a quick stopover from Virginia. Elisha and Joshua have birthdays at the end of December and in early January, respectively, so Mom had a cake and gifts for them.




Later that evening, the kids opened their stockings and gifts from Nonna and PaPa. Below they opened a letter telling them about some gifts waiting back at their home in Illinois!


I think that wraps up the Christmas pics! Whew! But check back again soon... I have 2 more blog posts! I know -- given my track record I should really stretch them out a bit more but I feel compelled to keep content (relatively) fresh. ;-)

Lots on my heart and mind tonight...

Lots on my heart and mind tonight...

We don't try to browbeat by standing on our adoption soapbox all the time here, but tonight in my internet clicking I came across this verse in Proverbs 24:12: Once our eyes have been opened we can't pretend that we don't know what to do; for God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.

It's not a fad or a passing fancy. We have two living, breathing reminders in our home every day that there are dozens of children in just Ellie's and Reni's former orphanages going to sleep tonight without someone to read them stories or say prayers with them or offer a bed to crawl into should they wake up scared. When the time is right, if the Lord permits... we can do more.

Today I'm rejoicing to hear of a second friend leaving on January 13 to bring home her son from China. Soon there will be three less orphans between these two families. Thanks to some bloggy friends passing on the word, I found some links to creative products and services other families are selling to raise money and bring home some more kiddos. I bought a travel mug and inquired about a design service. We can do and will do more, though. We are excited that Nathan has been invited to share in Asbury's chapel this semester. In 11 years at the center, this is a first. Guess what he's going to share about ? (he was asked to share about this topic, by the way) ;-) The date has changed once, so when we know for sure that it's not changing, I'll post a link where you can listen live or download the podcast.

Also contributing to these thoughts.... an article I read on my phone while laying on the floor in Ellie's room as she fell asleep tonight -- it's always particularly touching to me to read of an older child finding a family. This post pertains to three siblings from Uganda: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/25/881216/for-the-holiday-a-gift-of-joy.html

Shifting gears...

This Christmas I got a sweet, unexpected gift: the opportunity to meet (online) the mother of another double-amputee child. In the past month I began seeking out resources for families of children with limb deficiencies. My unscientific research concluded that in this relatively small "special needs" category, most of the populace is missing a hand, partial foot, or digits. Outside of (adult) veterans, very, VERY few children are missing both legs. I don't know numbers, but let's just say there's no Yahoo group that I've found.

The connection came as a result of our agency requesting permission to share Reni's story with their staff. Our former liaison for Ellie's adoption read the account and e-mailed me directly to say she knew of a family in her daughter's wheelchair basketball league that had a school-aged daughter missing her legs at the same place as Reni, and that this little girl also shared hand differences (Reni has an anomaly on his left hand). Needless to say, I felt this connection was providential. It's been wonderful to see her photos of a very happy and active (and beautiful) little girl and learn about all the different ways she gets around. What an encouragement! Her mom told me that they had never met another child who shared the same issues.

Final note of the evening... we've had an encouraging past few days with Ellie. I may have shared here before that transitions are particularly difficult for her. After nearly 2 weeks on the road, we were anticipating a difficult first day back at school. On top of that, her brilliant mother scheduled a dental appointment for her orally averse, medically-anxious daughter on the same day. Imagine our surprise when we got a good behaviour report from school combined with her absolutely best handwriting sample ever. Not only that, she had exemplary behavior at the dentist's office, allowing them to not only count her teeth, but polish them and apply fluoride with a toothbrush! She asked Nathan if she could get her balloon (our promise if she cooperated without crying). She barely held it together, but Nathan told her they would stop for the promised "shiny balloon" on the way home. With that confirmation, she thought she'd push it one further. In front of the dentist she asked, "Can I get candy too?" :-)

Thanks for reading! Stay warm!

O-H-I-O ... Seeing Double

Go Bucks!

(Below) Some faces for the Razorbacks, and some encouragement for the hometeam

(Below) Warming up for the game, and exchanging some sibling love

"Christmas Morning" in Ohio (December 28)

Special thanks to Dad Waggoner for letting me swipe these photos off his memory card! ;-)

I didn't manage to document our last day in Illinois... the day after Christmas we had a family worship service with the families of two of my mom's three sisters. Aunt Miriam graciously hosted us at her new home in Eureka. We stayed long enough for a yummy lunch and then packed the kids up in the car for a drive to Nonna and PaPa's house in Ohio. Our destination took the edge off of leaving Illinois (Ellie's usually in tears when we tell her it's time to go). The morning after we arrived at Mom and Dad Waggoner's, we had Christmas with the kids.

Row 1: (L) Ellie reminding Reni how to unwrap a present, (C) Happy to open her own gift, and (R) Reni peeking in a gift bag.

Row 2: (L) Ellie "helping" Aunt Rebecca open her gift from us, (C) a familiar sight: Ellie watching Reni play with a toy and not knowing how to enter into cooperative play -- thankfully she didn't snatch the new Leap Frog cell phone immediately out of Reni's hand, (R) Reni knows what this is to be used for!

Nonna and PaPa had some fun new riding toys at their home and Reni was happy to let Ellie drive him around. She was a pro!

We put the gifts away and drove over to the mall for our new tradition (we tried this last year and it was a hit). Before departing, the adults drew names, then drew the name of a mall store, and had 45 minutes to find a gift under $25 for our person. I drew Mom Waggoner and a sporting goods store. The challenge is part of the fun -- sorry, Mom! ;-) Thankfully, it was the day after Christmas so there were lots of bargains to be found.

After shopping and naps, we had a wonderful Christmas dinner prepared by Mom. Then we went downstairs to give our gifts and learn who had our names.


Dad drew Nathan's name and Walden Books. Nathan drew me and Victoria's Secret. Apparently perfume is at the front of the store. ;-)

Check back soon -- I have two more posts of photos from Ohio!

Christmas Day in IL

Note that today is a "double poster" day, so scroll down for Christmas Eve pics after this ...

The tree on Christmas morning

Row 1: Ellie and Reni checking out the snowfall, Pip trying to break Gigi's double-knotted string (not very nice, Gigi), Ellie thanks Aunt Hannah for her gift.

Row 2: Check out Reni's tongue of concentration, Ellie has co-opted Pippa's alphabet game (totally similar in function to one Ellie has owned at home for a couple of years, but the apple shape makes it COMPLETELY different), Reni looking too cute in his new bear hat (not pictured are matching paw gloves)

Row 3: Reading "the Nutcracker", Tua models who new princess pjs while mimicking a lion (strangely enough her mother did the EXACT same kinds of faces for the camera when she was four years old -- are genetics a weird animal or what?), Ellie enjoys her new book on outer space and the planets.

Best way to get fresh air after a morning of opening gifts ... take a ride on the 4-wheeler in the snow with Uncle Seth! (notice I shot the picture through the window where it was nice and warm) Thanks, Seth!

Christmas Eve with the vanOrman Family

Before putting the kids to sleep, my dad thought it might be clever to tell the story of Christ's birth from the eyes of some squirrels and rodents who shared the stable space. Before he could even begin, the girls grabbed the puppets and started their own dialogues. Ellie promptly named the rat, "Ratatouille" (very original, I know).
When dad finally regained the stage, it wasn't for long. I think the Ellie was too wired from the cookies or something, and her attitude was contagious to her brother...



I know, they look like they were paying attention, right? Not so much.


Mom took over with the "Night before Christmas"... Tua and Pippa were good listeners, but Ellie's mind was somewhere else.

Reni wasn't far behind! Maybe next year will be better!