Meeting Mason at the airport!

 

 

 

Here is the sweet little guy. It still felt funny meeting him at the airport instead of Korea. It was a wonderful day, though. My heart was breaking watching Mason grieve the losses of his first 13.5 months of life. He had a rough time throughout the meeting of his new family and the van ride home. He is such a sweet and beautiful little boy and was perfectly planned for his forever family.

It made me remember back to the day we met Anna and how she was silently grieving her losses. Mason is about the same exact age that we met Anna in China. She was at a different stage, though. She was in an orphanage and developmentally she was a bit behind where a child in foster care would be. Mason was already showing just how smart he was! He would shake his head no when he didn't want something. Head shaking is obvioulsy universal in all languages. He took a lid from Stacy from the cheerios and knew just where to put it. Smart little guy. Mason is walking, so I can't wait to hear how THAT is going in his new home! When Stacy called last night, she said Mason had had a rough time crying. Then he wanted his shoes on and wanted on his back in the snuggly and was content then for a while. He was trying to talk in Korean, too, to his new big sister, Marissa.

These children who wait for their forever families are so resilient and amazing, but it is still so heart breaking knowing all that they have lost on their way to their forever families. I know that in a few days that Mason will be a completely different little guy and I can't help but think about his foster mom in Korea. She raised him from 4 months old until yesterday. It would be hard to give him up. He was obviously well cared for.

You can see more pictures of the gazillion that I took by clicking on the right on the Meeting Mason blog.

Happy 9th Birthday, Brandon!!

 

 

 

Brandon was excited to start his birthday off today by opening some presents. He then took off for breakfast out with his grandparents and Dad.

So, what was I doing 9 years ago...well, we drove up to the hospital at midnight and that was an hour away where I gave birth to Logan. I was induced at 37.5 weeks with Brandon and he was born at 12:43 in the afternoon. The dr. said she was going to leave the room for a while to go deliver another baby. She said I wasn't near ready to deliver yet and that we had plenty of time. She was wrong and then took another peak and found that I was about to push him out. And out he came 12 hours after being induced. That night big brother, Logan, came to the hospital. I remember his sweet little pouty big brother face. He now knew that he was no longer the king of the kingdom.

Birthday Party, etc.

We had the Grandparents and Aunts and Uncle over Sunday for the boys' birthdays. They requested jello cakes with cool whip, so my mom brought those. That is their all time favorite! YUM! And what are the odds that I had those candles in my cabinet?!?!?

And how about this weather????? Today we had rain, sleet/snow and it was just sooo weird. It was almost like hail, too. You know those little tiny white balls inside a bean bag chair? Well, that is what we had for about 15 minutes. I went in town for lunch with Stacy and the sky got so dark and weird and then it started snowing and sleeting. Hello...it is April 28!

Stacy is counting the MINUTES TO MASON! We head up to the airport at 8 am tomorrow and we will be gone all day. I can't wait to see David, Stacy and Marissa meet Mason! I will take lots of pictures!

 

 

 

 

Korea Update

Well, Stacy got the call she was waiting for from her Social Worker. It wasn't quite what we expected, though. We were really thinking that since we knew that Mason's VISA had been processed, etc., that we would be heading to S. Korea as early as next Tuesday on the 1 am flight or Thursday on the 1 am flight. The Social Worker said, however, that Mason was arriving IN AMERICA on Tuesday. What??? Stacy had changed her status from ESCORT to TRAVEL a few weeks ago, but apparently it was already too late or something else went weird. So, We will be going to Chicago to meet Mason on Tuesday and he arrives on the 2:20 plane from South Korea. I was really getting excited about the trip, but all things happen for a reason, so we will trust in that. Sooooo...............Yeah....Mason will meet his forever family and it is a happy ending. Stay turned for pictures or check out Stacy's blog at the right for more info.

Birthday Bush

 

 

 

 

We have always taken pictures every year in front of these bushes on Logan's birthday since they are in full bloom Arpil 17. This year, however, Spring came later. So, a week later.....voila! It is neat to see how the kids grow taller each year next to it.

VARIOUS

A few things.....

Let's see....Korea is coming on FAST. I am starting to hyperventilate. I will keep you posted. Definately traveling in the next 1-3 weeks for about 6 days.

Last night we attended an Open House at a Preschool for Anna for next school year! WOW is all I can say. I was amazed at the many neat and wonderful things that the kids had done there this year and it was apparent that Anna has missed out on some oppurtunities at her current preschool. Sad. We will miss all the wonderful mommy's and children from there, but we feel we must move on to the other school. We have made some great friendships. We did see a TON of people there from our town, so hopefully some others will be in Anna's afternoon class. It was so neat there. They had eggs incubating and they actually hatched that afternoon. Since we don't have any pets, Anna loved the guniea pig and they also had fish and had hatched butterflies. Do you even call that hatching? Anyway...I was really surprised at all of the things that the children were able to do and learn there. They seem to have a good amount of music and fingerplays, too, so Anna will love that.

Barry's dad had a CT scan yesterday, so we are praying for good results. It has been almost 14 months since the surgery for the lung cancer and then the heart surgery shortly after. So, keep Larry and Ginger and our family in your prayers.

 

 

 

I had to be a parent helper today at preschool, so I took my camera. Anna got to be the snack leader, calendar helper and line leader,etc. She hasn't been wanting to go to school lately, but she is fine once we enter the parking lot. She just wants to stay at home and do her own thing, I guess. Anna is holding up a live little wiggly worm in one picture. She made friends with it today and was happy carrying it around on the playground

Day at the Zoo

 

Our ZOO is lame, but the kids never seem to mind. We just don't seem to have many animals that are exciting. I will say, though, that in the last couple of years they have added camels, zebras and cheetahs. Logan worked a week at the zoo and enjoyed that, so even if it is a lame zoo, it still provides us fun. Anna and I had a good time there and took a picnic.

Happy 12th Birthday, Logan!!!!!!!

 

I thought taking a picture of Logan at the computer was an appropriate picture today. He is often found here instant messaging his buddies. Logan's day started off with a special breakfast out to eat with his dad and his grandparents. Barry had to go out of town until Saturday, so he wanted to have time with Logan before he left.

Let's see...what I was doing 12 years ago....Well, we were living in Bloomington and I was teaching Special Ed. in Pontiac. I had to take off on April 10 because I was having trouble with the pregnancy. I was induced at 37.5 weeks at midnight and he was born at 3:46 pm. Logan Joseph was 8 pounds at birth and was so squishy and adorable and he was a perfect 10 on the Apgar Score. I don't think his daddy stopped smiling for over a week. What a day it was! We had a long pregnancy with bleeding and complications after having a miscarriage before Logan. It was an ok birth, but I did get a fever afterwards. I remember the dr. saying that the baby wasn't progressing and if I didn't push harder that she would use forceps. NOPE...then he came out. My parents and Barry's parents came right up to Bloomington that night to see their new grandson. It was a great day. He was a wonderful baby and slept so well. We had no complaints!

Fast forward 12 years and WOW....time sure does go fast. It sure has been a rollercoaster ride with Logan every step of the way and parenting such a gifted child has brought both challenges and great joy. It has been especially fun during this last year to see how he is becoming a teenager. He is always a little bit ahead of the game and has been a teen for a while now. Hee hee.

Gymnastics

Anna has Gymnastics one hour a week. She enjoys it and is getting a little better at paying attention. She has trouble going from one station to the next and remembering what to do. Each week there is a theme and this week it was bug week. Her favorite is when they get to go to the giant trampolines, but they didn't get to do that today. She has a male teacher and he is very good with the kids. He carries out the theme weekly and is so organized. It is like going to preschool. Today they learned a lot about various types of bugs and they pretended to be butterflies and caterpillars and ladybugs. CUTE class.

Look how we've changed.

Today as siblings.

3 years ago..we came home with Anna

Anna in Hong Kong

Anna, Carly and Kailee wait to get on airplane in Hong Kong

Boys meet Anna at airport

Anna meets cousin Faith at airport

Time at home as siblings

Today marks the day that the boys met Anna at the airport and we became the Schmidt Family of 5! Woo hoo...what a whirlwind 3 years it has been. Look at how young the boys were. Logan was 8, Brandon was 5 and Anna was almost 14 months old. As soon as we touched down in Chicago and got off the plane, Anna was a US Citizen!

I had to add the picture of Anna and her cousin because I feel that if it hadn't been for cousin Faith, we would never would have gone to China!

The boys did not smiling for days! They were so excited to have Mom, Dad and Grandpa back home again and were thrilled with their new sister. That first week back with Anna was great. There were times that first week that Brandon would just get so emotional and just cry with happiness. Even today, if we watch the videos from China or that first week, it still hits him and he starts crying. Of course, he and Anna now fight terribly at times, but they have good moments, too.

Logan still has a special connection with Anna and is so good with her. They hardly ever fight....if ever. They don't have that special screech between them that Anna and Brandon often have.

Visit with cousins

 

 

 

The kids are so excited any time they get to see their cousins. We went to Barry's parents' house Saturday afternoon to visit with them and Barry's sister's and families were there, too. Logan was sad to miss it, but he was with a Friday-Saturday thing with youth group.

Logan's 12th Birthday Party!

Barry and I took 5 6th Graders to Kick's on Sunday for Logan's birthday. His actual birthday is Thursday. That is certainly a place to take these boys! There is a giant pizza/pasta/salad/dessert buffet and man do those guys put away the food. It has been so neat to see these 5 grow up and remain friends. Logan has known them forever!
The boys did laser tag and video games for a couple hours. They didn't do the bumper cars or go carts since the lines were long and they must not have thought that was cool or something. Fun day with 5 great kids! I know one thing, though. This is the FIRST birthday party of Logan's to EVER have snowflakes outside! Also, I always take Logan's picture in front of our azaela bushes outside and they are always so pretty and blooming. We have named those 2 bushes "The birthday bush". I don't think that the bush will bloom in the next 3 days, though, this year! It is as least supposed to be beautiful the rest of the week, though.

Various and Korea Bound!

Took the boys to their physicals yesterday. Interesting and as detailed as Anna's. Brandon told the Dr. he was "in puberty" right now because his voice was cracking some. He is almost 9! She chuckled and after the exam, she said "Well, sorry, Brandon. You are not in puberty, but your brother is starting puberty now. " Brandon was disappointed and Logan had the look that he wanted to die of embarrassment.

Surprisingly, Brandon's bloodwork showed a borderline high cholesterol. He doesn't eat all that healthy and we have tried to get him to eat better. Now he will have to. Maybe Anna can sway him to the healthy side! He is a skinny little guy,but is growing. His blood pressure was also higher than the doctor would like.

Well, Stacy is coming over today to talk about S. KOREA! She asked me to go with her as she brings home Mason. I will be helping her and be her resident photographer, of course. She gracioulsy offered to pay for my airfare, so I hope I can live up to my job!

I created a blog at the right, so you can click on Meeting Mason and we will post to it while in Korea. She is waiting on Mason's VISA and as usual, there are problems with things in "adoption land". You are always waiting on something and then someone at these govt. offices screws something up. Her VISA stuff for Max somehow ended up in China, not Korea! So, we wait. I told Stacy I need to be home from Korea by May 20 when the kids get out of school. Plus, we leave for Gulf Shores a week later!

We have NO idea and when we would travel and it is hard when adopting and being out of control of things. I remember it well! It is interesting being on the other side of the fence now. You are at their mercy. So, we wait. We are hoping for the first or second week of May. At least we have followed a few Lifelink travels to Korea,so now I need to go back and read them again to figure out where we will be and what we will do. I need to investigate the siteseeing that we will do for 2 days. I guess I am the "Cruise Director". And I can't wait to hold those babies in the nursery like Jill and Angie did. Wooo hoo..... We will be staying in Seoul and will probably be gone a Thursday to a Monday.

Stacy is a nurse and she and her hubby have a beautiful daughter, Marissa, who is 9. I have warned her to keep Marissa away from Brandon. We have gotten together a few times and they have come swimming at my in-laws. Ironically, Stacy was my father-in-law's nurse as he was on his way to his lung surgery in Feb. 2007.

Will we ever start soccer season?

For the third week in a row, Brandon's soccer game is cancelled. This is getting rediculous. I think that next week they will start no matter what! The weather is just not cooperating and has been so rainy....and now a chance of snow!

The eyes

 

 

Because Anna wears glasses, we sometimes just miss those beautiful eyes!

How you Live

I added a new song to the playlist, to play first, that I love to hear on the Christian Radio station. It is by Point Of Grace. We were watching "Idol gives Back" tonight and this would have been a fitting song for the show tonight.

Point Of Grace – How You Live
From the album How You Live

Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress, use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes

And have what you want, but want what you have
And don't spend your life looking back

Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances and let it all out
'Cause you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

So go to the ballgames and go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children, dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night

Don't run from the truth 'cause you can't get away, no
Face it and you'll be okay

(Chorus)

Oh, wherever you are and wherever you've been
Now is the time to begin
So give to the needy, and pray for the grieving
Even when you don't think that you can
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
And make peace with God, and make peace with yourself
'Cause in the end, there's nobody else

(Chorus)

Quote of the Week

I really should have started a quote of the week a LONG time ago.

Here is one Brandon said...Keep in mind he will be only 9 on April 30.
"Mom, I think I am in puberty because my voice started to change today".
Me-"Did you try clearing your throat? That will do the trick!"

You just have to know Brandon to realize how funny that is.

Another one....from Anna now.
"Can I have a snake?"
We were on our way home from the preschool family nite and the Mobil Zoo was there. Obviously, there was a snake.

A conversation between Anna and Brandon in the car...
A- "Mom, Brandon is talking about BOOGERS!"
Brandon- "Am NOT"
A- "Are so!"
Brandon- "Am NOT!"
A- "Mom, he is talking about Boogers!"

And this went on and on and on and on.

She's growing!

Anna being silly yesterday.

We loved our doctor that the kids had, but he retired. BOO HOO. However, we had an "intake" physical for Anna today at the new doctor and holy cow.....talk about a detailed physical. The doctor was a woman and was absolutely wonderful with Anna. She needed a 4 year old check up anyway, so the timing was perfect. The doctor did a cbc, urinalysis, hearing exam, no eye exam since it is obvious that we are on top of that, iron test and a cholesterol screening. Anna weighed in at 31 3/4 pounds and 41 1/4 inches. So, that is 25% for weight and 75% for height on the American Charts, not Southern Chinese charts. Wow....that is tall. Her legs go on forever. Anna's BMI was 13.1 and unfortunately that is on the 1% and is underweight. She has come a long way, though, in 3 years!

I just could not believe how detailed the appt. was. She also had a couple of immunizations that she was less than thrilled about getting! The boys go Friday and Anna was happy to tell them that they will get a finger prick.