Time

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. The last year has been a very difficult year......I am still struggling to make sense of it all but I am believing and trusting in His plan.
Reed is still going to 2 speech classes, one at the elementary school and a private therapist. His speech seems to be improving and Dr G wants to do another palate surgery this spring. We don't like the thoughts of another surgery but we do want what is best so we are praying that we make the right decisions.


God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters- John Henry Jowett
Today I pray that whatever you have going on in your life, no matter what you are focused on; you always remember to take the time to offer comfort and support to those who care about you.

~Blessed

Summer fun

Two years home, four years old

Time is going by so fast. Our family day anniversary will be in a few days and it's hard to believe it will be 2 years since love brought us together in a small hotel room in Nanchang, China. God knew exactly what he was doing (duh), as if He doesn't always!

Reed is changing so much every single day and it amazes me how much. He loves to laugh, he loves to entertain and longs to please, he loves stuffed animals and always has to have 3 for mommy daddy and baby, he loves to cook, he is so tender hearted and gets his feelings hurt so easy, he is strong willed and independent, he loves his family and wants to always be with us, he is loving and tender, and he is so perfect just being himself. He is trying so hard to get his speech right and struggles everyday. He has been so patient with us and trying to get the letters to come out right but they just don't. It breaks my over-protective-mama-heart to think he will be subject to ridicule and laughter when he starts school not very long from now. He has already started to cry and get upset when we don't know what he's saying and I worry about his tender heart getting hurt and his spirit broken. (Oh Lord, I pray for the muscles in his lips to strengthen and for therapy to improve his tongue function and control so that he may better pronounce his words, I pray he will grow up to be healthy and happy)

His doctor is suggesting a second surgery on his palate when we go back in 6 months if his speech has not improved. Please pray we see improvement so that he does not have to go through another palate surgery. It hurts my heart to think of his struggles with the past surgeries and the ones to come.

These last 2 years have been joyful, sad, easy, difficult and a learning process for us all. I will never forget the first few days we spent together in the hotel room in China; Tim and I were new parents with so much to experience and learn including how to feed our new baby with a cleft lip and palate. One night we ever so gently broke up crackers for a snack and fed them to him one small bite at a time until Reed (as if to say "let me show you crazy people how to eat!") took a whole cracker from Tim and took a big bite. At that moment I knew that Reed would teach us much more in this lifetime than we could ever teach him and he has in such a short time. He has proved God's love for us is unfailing and that children are a true blessing, he has taught us how to love more deeply, how to live more freely, and how to persevere when things seem stacked against you. I love you my baby boy, today, tomorrow and forever! Happy 2nd family day on March 1st and Happy 4th Birthday on March 2nd. I love you to the moon!!!

CNY

Last night we celebrated the Chinese New Year, year of the rabbit, with our FCC friends. The kids had a great time and it was so good to see everyone.

Reed had the best time with Paul William. They stood in the back row when it came time for the group picture so I don't think either of them got in the shot.

Reed and Joel Grady. He is such a cutie!

Happy New Year!

Snow days

Monday morning we woke up to about 10" of snow and today it's finally beginning to melt away. I wanted to get some pictures before it was all gone so we rode up to Joe Wheeler State Park to play.

Christmas 2010

Reed woke up at 6:00 and we heard him walking through the living room. All we could hear was "WOW"....then a few seconds later we heard "WOW!" Then he ran into our room and started fussing at us because we all fell asleep in his room but mom and dad ended up in our own bed before Santa came. Merry Christmas!

Hope you have a very Happy New Year full of many blessings!!

First school picture :)

I've already posted these on FB, but I think they are so cute that I have to put them on here too!! This is Reed's preschool pictures, he did such a good job. It really looks like he does better in front of the camera when I'm not there :))

Happy Halloween

Trip to the pumpkin patch

Reed's very first field trip was to the pumpkin patch this week. I am so glad I got to go, we had a blast!

Updates

Where has the year gone? I can't believe it's OCTOBER!!

We went to the fair this week and when we first got there Reed covered his ears and said "too loud". He did enjoy it after he warmed up to everything and got to ride a few rides.

Speech therapy is going ok- we can't really tell a difference yet and when we try to do our homework Reed usually gets shy and does not want to practice for us. Any ideas?