Jude

November 29, 2009

Sunday Snapshot: Jude

Jude doesn't like to be cornered. So I knew my efforts to capture him for this Sunday Snapshot post would have to be cunning.Fast.And in his own element.So I took him to the playroom.And he was happy.Jude came home at 19 months, in the summer of 2007. It took he and I about three weeks to 'bond' and that was it.We were mother and son.I positively, absolutely and completely adore him.Jude is bright. He is able to learn new things without any effort, either on my part or his. I've never intentionally 'taught' him anything, yet he knows his numbers, colors and anything … [Read more...]

36 Comments
Posted Under: Jude, photography, Sunday Snapshot

October 28, 2009

change of heart

I could positively, absolutely, drown in this boy's eyes.Can someone tell me why most people who adopt from China prefer girls?It's a rhetorical question, of course.I know the answer, because I once was 'most people'.I'm so grateful God changed my heart. … [Read more...]

21 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, Jude, my faith

October 23, 2009

thankful. again.

I know. I just posted about Jude. And I was just thankful for him.But this is something completely different and totally unexpected.He gave us quite a scare last night.We were, again, at football practice. And all the littles were playing on the bleachers. Yeah, the ones Isabelle busted her lip on, just in time for school to start.You think we'd have learned our lesson by now.He fell, a long way down, and landed on his face. And his mouth bled like crazy. Thankfully it stopped relatively quickly and he was coherent enough we didn't think we needed to take him to the … [Read more...]

20 Comments
Posted Under: Jude, real life

October 20, 2009

thankful

Watching Jude run fills my heart with joy. Like just about any mama, watching her child.But it also fills me with indebtedness, gratitude and thankfulness.Jude couldn't even stand on his own when we met him in China as a 16 month old with uncorrected bilateral clubfoot.His ankles were bruised from his attempts to try and stand, and after just a few minutes of effort, he'd have to give up, exhausted.But that has all changed, thanks to one extremely special man.Dr. Ponseti, the man who developed the Ponseti Method of clubfoot casting, revolutionized the way clubfoot is … [Read more...]

18 Comments
Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude, special needs adoption

September 5, 2009

score.

Chris and I took the littles to Old N@vy the other day.It just so happened to be "Military Appreciation Day" and well, we like it when Chris' job gets him a little somethin' somethin'. That and the fact that they were having a huge sale made the scenario ideal for some serious shopping.So we did. Chris found himself some jeans and a shirt. The girls found some yoga pants and jeans. The boys found some long sleeve graphic tees, undershirts, hats and mittens. I found some $34 jeans on sale for $19. With a hidden tummy panel. (geesh, how old am I?) I bought 4 … [Read more...]

19 Comments
Posted Under: Jude

July 24, 2009

overexposed

More beach pics.Surprise.Another day hanging out on the Atlantic... cool breezes, warm ocean, a multitude of shells.These pics are a bit more overexposed than I usually take, but I thought they were worth keeping.Especially considering they are of some of my very favorite subjects.On the entire planet. … [Read more...]

4 Comments
Posted Under: a-bone, d-bomb, Jude

June 4, 2009

wordless

Okay, not quite wordless.One word: irresistible. … [Read more...]

14 Comments
Posted Under: Jude

June 3, 2009

quick trip

I'm back! Figuratively and literally... we just got home last night from a quick trip to Iowa City. It was recheck time for Jude and Shepherd at University of Iowa, and even though it is 3 pit stops, 4 videos, painful, an 8 hour drive, it is always worth the effort to get there.In fact, the kids really surprised us this time and the candy bribes and video offerings I brought along seemed adequate to soothe the savage beasts. There was barely an argument or tear shed the entire trip.The word on the boys' feet: perfect! We are forever grateful to Dr. Morcuende and his … [Read more...]

15 Comments
Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude, Shepherd

November 20, 2008

My Chinese son

I have 5 sons and 3 daughters. When we started for Isabelle in 2004, we had 3 sons and 1 daughter. So it was a logical conclusion that we would be going to China for a girl. I guess I never put much thought into it, a daughter it was to be from the start. Sophie, who came home next, captured my heart when I saw her precious face on a special needs list, so we never even spent any time debating the "boy or girl" issue. But then came Jude. When we initially thought about going back for our third child from China, in my heart I was thinking it would be a girl. … [Read more...]

43 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, clubfoot, Jude, special needs adoption

August 4, 2007

We’re baaackkkk.

We finally arrived home veeerryyy early Wednesday morning. It was one long drive. We left Iowa City at 12:00 PM Central time and didn't arrive home until 5:30 AM Eastern time. Yeah, it was way too long to be in the car with 5 kids under 8. But we made it! I am SO thrilled to be home, and we are finally catching up on our sleep. Jude is wonderful, I am really amazed at how different each adoption experience has been. As different as each of our incredibly unique children, I guess :) Here are some of my favorite pics, taken in Omaha when we were vising our great … [Read more...]

17 Comments
Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude