Princess Party

I finally got around to updating My Adoption Website-check it out for more pictures:

http://www.myadoptionwebsite.com/ourjourneytoella/werehome042408.htm.


Ella attended her first Princess Birthday Party for her friend Ivy. I can only say that the excitement level was off the charts. She had a so much fun at the party and keeps asking me when her birthday is and what kind of party we are going to have. Unfortunately, she will have to wait until November.

"Love Without Boundaries"

Update-I have a few bids in on a couple of items-wish me luck because I keep getting out-bidded-lots of good stuff on ebay.



Ella-My Heart Baby

I know that my blog is new and not reaching too many people, but I am posting this information because my Ella is a "heart baby." Love Without Boundaries is holding its annual "Born in My Heart Art Auction" April 24-29th. All proceeds go to help orphans in China that have serious heart conditions and who are in need of surgery. My Ella was born with a hole in her heart...VSD in medical terms. Ella was not abandoned until she was 5 1/2 months old. I truly believe with all my motherly instincts that Ella's birth parents could not afford her heart surgery and gave her up to save her life. I can not imagine the agonizing decision to give your baby up after bonding for over 5 months. I will be forever grateful for Ella's birth parents for making that decision. Although Ella was able to get the surgery for her heart, she had to wait a long time...almost 2 years after she entered the orphanage at the age of 2.4 years old. Even in a state run orphanage, a charity usually has to step in to help fund any type of surgery. Ella's corrective heart surgery was funded by "Project Tomorrow" and Ella was fortunate enough to be operated on in one of China's premier children's hospitals and by an incredible pediatric surgeon. Heavenly Father has always watched out for her and I know she was blessed with the ability to have this surgery done through this organization. Ella has been evaluated by a cardiologist here in Arizona and her surgery was a success, but the doctor stated over and over that Ella should have had the repair done on her heart much sooner than actually happened. She is healthy, but according to her cardiologist "fought like a solider" to breathe. I already know that my Ella was born with a strong will-she has overcome so much in her little life. Ella is so brave, but it breaks my own heart knowing that she fought so hard to live. If one more innocent child could benefit from this auction-one more life would be helped.

Visit Ebay for details:
http://stores.ebay.com/Love-Without-Boundaries-Store

Read Details from Love Without Boundaries Website:
http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/

Subject: Annual Art Auction Begins!"Born In My Heart" Art Auction April 24th - April 29th (Beginning the 24th @ 9:00am PDT) In nearly every orphanage in China, children in need of heart surgery wait to be healed. In an effort to help as many of these orphaned children as possible, Love Without Boundaries began the "Born In My Heart" art auction five years ago. This is an annual event that serves as our special tribute to the miracle of adoption, and also as a fundraiser to help us provide these essential operations to children who need emergency heart surgery. You can help to save the life of a child by taking part from April 24-29. Every penny raised will help to heal precious children and give them the opportunity to grow and thrive, and perhaps even find a family of their very own. So please bid often and bid generously! Auction items will begin to launch at 9am (Pacific) on Thursday, April 24th. Nearly 300 items will be added throughout the day, and the auction will close Tuesday, April 29th (again, with items closing throughout the course of the day). We have some absolutely incredible items this year, all donated by LWB's fabulous supporters! Just a few of the items you won't want to miss are: "Jia: Portrait of Hope" by Leila Ashton: an original oil painting of one of our LWB heart babies, a life-size replica jade burial suit, two giclee prints of "Qi Pan" by Zhao Kailin, personalized digital lifebooks, the most beautiful collection of quilts imaginable (including several "100 Good Wishes" quilts), beautiful paintings (both originals and giclee prints), caligraphy, custom adoption videos, amazing photography, embroidery, gift baskets, jewlery, clothing, heritage items and so much more! You will be able to access our auction from the Love Without Boundaries website homepage at: http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/, beginning April 24th You can also play a part in healing hearts by posting about the auction! If you have a personal or family website or blog, we would be so grateful if you would mention this event, as so many children are counting on us for surgery. Help spread the news that lives can be saved! Thank you in advance for helping to make this year's auction our best ever! Love Without Boundaries Art Auction Committee

"Parenting 101" From Ella

"Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you should or shouldn't have said." Author Unknown

Ella and I were out shopping today and I decided to stop at Decor Unique to find out how much they would charge me to frame a picture. I gave Ella the old do not touch anything-it will break speech before entering the store. We were in there for about 30 minutes in which, my very obedient daughter did not touch anything. She even held my hand so that her hands would not knock anything over. After getting the price for my framing project, I decided to forget that idea and buy these instead.



As I went to pick up the items off the floor, Ella gets this look of horror and panic and yells at me "MOMMA-NO TOUCH! YOU BREAAAAAK IT!" I stopped dead in my tracks and the phrase-"Do as I tell you, but not as I do" came to mind. I knelt down beside her and explained that momma is going to carry them to the counter and pay for them-so that makes it ok to touch them. She gave me that confused look-like the time I tried to explain to her about not yelling up the stairs to get her brothers attention and then me turning around about one hour later and yelling up the stairs to get the Bridger and Hunter's attention. From my little four year old's point of view-I can only wonder what she really thinks. None the less, I got a good laugh and some decorations for house.

Yipee

At the crack of dawn this morning our phone rang...it was Ella's doctor. He was so excited to let us know that Ella's Lead levels are DROPPING so quickly and that she is so close to normal levels that she DOES NOT have to have any more blood tests done! Woo Ho is an understatement. I am just so glad that I do not have to put her through the blood draw issue, but to know that she is getting healthier than what she was in China makes me so happy. I guess the gallon of milk products we made her eat everyday really did work. I told Ella the good news...she looked at me with the biggest smile on her face and said "No more owies." Yes sweetie-no more owies.

Linda' Blog and Terrorism

So I was cruising through my normal blogs and stopped by Linda's blog to read up on her adorable kids daily activities. I read the most awful story on her blog about terrorism in her own neighborhood. The things people do in the name of "good works."


http://journeytolila.blogspot.com/

Blogging Help

Does anyone in blog land know how I would make it so that I am informed by email if any one's blog that I follow is updated with a new post...so I do not have to manually check every one's blog? I am such a blogger/computer illiterate. I know hardly anyone even reads this thing, but if just one person could help me, I would be SO happy.

Let's Get The Lead Out, Babe!

Ella had her blood drawn today for the 3rd time since November. When we brought her home from China, she had an extensive medical check-up in which blood work was done to test for every kind of medical disease known to man. Ella's LEAD level came back quite high and we have been monitoring the level every two months. The last blood draw showed the level dropping which is good news. Ella knew exactly what was going on as soon as I drove up to the building. As usual, Ella was the center of attention in the waiting room. I was asked the usual questions...where is she from, when did you adopt her, did she speaks English, was she in an orphanage. Everyone in the waiting room "ooohhh'd" and "awwww'd" over how cute she was. Me, being the way biased mother agreed with every single comment. I thanked her fans as we left the room. She was so brave and only cried a little bit when the techs drew the blood...poor thing. I hated holding her when she was scared and in pain, but these things need to be done. After it was all done, I told Ella that Madison and I were taking her to lunch for being so brave. Nothing sooths a "Boo Boo" like Mexican food. Check back for an update when I receive the lab results.

"Momma...picture Ella...I say cheese"

Ella loves to have her picture taken-on a camera, cellphone, video recorder-you name it and she wants to pose. Enjoy her cuteness.

Happy Birthday Madison-Sorry, No Political Elections To Vote In Today

Today was Madison's 18th birthday. Happy for her and mostly sad for me. This birthday has been hard on her Dad and I. She is no longer a child or teenager and will soon be off to start her own life. But, as Madison's humor always shines through, she has informed us that she is an adult and can do the following:
-get a credit card
-buy things off the television
-go skydiving
-vote in an election (her father is so proud)
-buy a pet at Petco
-get a gym membership
-buy Dry Ice, Spray Paint, Cough Medicine
-check herself out of school
-sign safety waivers
-buy cigarettes
-go to clubs
-rent a hotel and
-as her bother Bridger informed her today, buy beer in Mexico

(the last four are Ha Ha's)

Madison is as gorgeous on the inside as she is on the outside. She is kind, caring, loving, talented and beautiful. She always strives to do the right. She is an independent girl who was born with a spirit of self confidence. I am in amazement that Bart and I have had the privilege of raising this righteous daughter of God. We Love You Madison. Happy 18th.

Pre-Birthday Preparations & Panic Attacks

Madison, my first born turns 18 tomorrow. I am not taking this very well. Panic attacks, sobbing, wailing and in total denial. So, today in celebration of this monumental birthday, I took Madison to her favorite restaurant in Scottsdale to drown my sorrows. We had delicious food at The C0unter After, we ran down to the Sc0ttsdale Mall to visit the R0cky M0untain Ch0ch0late Fact0ry. Madison hates cake, so we always get her Birthday Fudge. Yum Yum. I have enjoyed watching my sweet Madison grow up, but this birthday is taking me down.

Addiction

I have some serious blog designing issues. I am addicted to changing the blog every five seconds (according to Madison). I have decided to hire someone so that I can put my energy towards other addictions.
If you keep seeing the blog changing, Madison would like you to call me and tell me to get away from the computer.

No Nap Momma

I rarely give Ella a nap because she is 4 1/2 and the whole nap thing messes up her sleeping schedule. Ella has been behind on her sleep-we were out late Friday and Saturday nights so she went to bed way past her bedtime and got up the next morning at her regular time. Sleep deprivation has set in. This afternoon, I was done...I broke down and put Ella on her bed and told her to go to bed. She was confused about why she was going to bed in the middle of the day. She lasted about 2 minutes before getting off her bed. I told her that she needed to go "night night" and she immediately started to cry. Broken hearted cry. Ella told me "No Night Night Momma-No Night Night Momma, Ella play with Momma." Since my mother instincts tell me that she needs sleep, I put her back into bed and told her not to move and to close her eyes and take a nap, although I almost caved and let her stay with me. Not even 60 seconds later, she was out-sleeping like a baby. Yes, I know that she is going to be up later tonight, but what do I care-I will be at Traffic School until 10 p.m.