"Oh How He Loves Us..."

I was sitting in the back row last Saturday night listening to the praise team practice before church started.  Baelin was sitting in my lap.  She loves music.  We have to go in to the sanctuary before every service so she can listen.  One of the songs that they were practicing was the new David Crowdwer Bands song ...."How He loves us.."
As Jeni was sing and the words were on the screen and Baelin leaned over to lay on my chest I knew how much God loves us.  In an instant I was reminded that this little girl was born on the other side of the world.  She was abandond at 3 moths old, placed in a foster home, placed in an orphanage and then given to us to be brought to the other side of the world.  God knew before she was born the journey this child would take and He knew before I was born that I would be sitting in the church holding her.  Now that is just how much God loves us......

I know ...I know....we should do better...

The fact that we have not updated this blogg in over a month is one of the very reasons I don't scap book.  I think about updating often, but it never seems to get exicuted.  Okay, on to what has been going on around here...
Things are great really...well we had a big storm last night and lost power for almost 24 hours and now the roof is leaking.  Other than that everything else is great. 
Blaise has gotten over her first "I was never in day care sooo I am going to catch everything in Kindergarten" fever virus.  You know the one where they come to you glassy eyed and slightly lethargic with a fever of 103.8, you give them motrin fever breaks, they run around playing and then almost exactly 4 hours later (when said motrin werars off) they return glassy eyed and temp 103 again. 
Na and I got to both go when Blaise's class went to the Pumpkin Patch.  It was a muddy mess but the kidos didn't mind. 
Baxley is doing great as usual.  She is really doing well in AWANA this year.  The girls wanted to be Mary for Bible character dress up night.  You would be suprised what one can do with a pillow case and cheap twin sheet set some scissors and a glue gun.  I soo suprise myself at times. 
Baelin is doing great, we think...(one of those never been here or done this before kinda things).  She seems to understand everything we say to her.  She follows most all comands.  Still not saying much though...
Deep down I know there will be a time when my blogg update will include "when will she stop talking???"

Fall has begun

Hello to all! I know it has been a little bit since I, Mr. Incredible, have updated this blog. The lovely Mrs. Incredible has been taking care of it lately. The reason I know this is because as soon as she is done typing she tells me to go fix it, add some pictures, and post it......You know the old saying, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, Teach him to fish and he will eat forever!" You think that would apply to simple computer things right? I did too, So I walked in there looked her dead in the eye and said "Yes ma'am!" and then handed her a fish and fixed her post. What can I say, I love her.

Anyway, It is now September and the weather has been absolutely wonderful. We purchased Baelin a new swing for the swing set so that she can swing in between her sisters and she absolutely loves it. She makes the cutest little cackle whenever I get her up high enough to hit the next plane flying over but, that is what she seems to like, so that is what I give her. I like to hear her laugh so its worth it right? Deer season is right around the corner so going out in the woods and riding the four wheeler has been a common thing these days. Baelin went with me to deer camp the other day and sat patiently in a chair for almost two hours watching me split wood. She found it fascinating for some reason and would not take her eyes off it. A cup of tea and a package of fruit chews and she was set for the show. I figured that I would split a log, then chase her down, split a log, hold her, split a log, chase her down and so on.....but she impressed me and I kept going until I was done and she was happy. Since I did not get as many breaks as I thought that I would, I ended up paying for it the next day at the Fire station with the ache of muscles I don't use everyday, and no time to let them recover. I cried a little every time I had to move to fast. It was a manly kinda whimper, not one to be ashamed of or anything, and the tears stayed near the eyes, you know, nothing streaming down my cheeks or anything. It's all good though. We had fun and that was worth the discomfort.

One of Baelin's new favorite activities is to lead me by my hand to the four wheeler and push me on to it and then signal for me to pick her up and place her on my lap. We then ride for a while up and down the road and through the woods where to date she has gone to sleep ever single time. I can't see her face while I'm driving so I have to wait on her to slump forward into the handle bars before I know she is out. She never fusses when she passes out, but she will get upset with me if I stop and get off before she has gotten her ride time nap in.

Now don't get me wrong I miss the older two while they are in school but I have also really enjoyed the daddy-daughter time alone with Baelin during the day. We have bonded closer since school has started. She actually woke up crying the other night and let me rock her in the chair and slept on my chest, and when I tried to put her down she got upset. This is the totally opposite of what would normally happen if I tried to rock her, so that is one more step forward for us I think!

Baelin will not go to strangers anymore and has to be around someone for a while before she will even let them pick her up. I especially like this because she runs back to me if someone tries and I, being stingy with my girls like I am, don't have to go and snatch her away with the possibility of coming across a bit rude by accident. So it is a win/win for everyone. LOL

She loves going to church and being in her class. Getting her teeth brushed at night has been really easy lately with her helping now, (instead of the professional wrestling holds I had to do on her before). She eats really good now with very little fussing, and best of all, her stool has finally gotten solid on a more frequent basis. I know if you are new to this post, that may sound like a weird thing to say but, IF you have happened to read the Wal-Mart adventure several post back, then trust me when I say, that was not the only instance in public where I have had to hang her butt out of the vehicle. Enough said!

Well, that is probably enough of an update for me, I will try to post more often because I know how bored you all get just waiting on these post. Hope everyone is doing well and would really like to see all of our traveling families again one day. Take care all. I will try to get some new pictures and videos on her soon.

What's really going on Here...

We have completed our first week of school. It only took till Friday for me (Mom) to threaten to put them in uniforms if the morning routine didn't soon become "routine". I am "really looking forward to getting three girls ready for school one day"...yeah right!

Bax has decided that third grade "Isn't sooo scary". The teacher "isn't the mean one she thought she had".

Blaise (as of today) "is going to be the principle of the whole school when she grows up." Na and I are not surprised by this considering at this point in her life the principle is the person of highest authority. She also loves school and has many new friends (none of which she knows the names of yet) just "that girl".

Baelin is still looking for her Sissy's during the day. She fell asleep on my bed looking at a book today. She has not gotten quite accustom to getting up early to take the big girls to school.

Yesterday was fifth Sunday so no PM service. All the Travis boys and there families went to Paw Paw Gary's house after church for grilled chicken and fried rice. The step- siblings were there and we had a great time catching up. The kids had fun in the chilly 84 degree pool. Na took his diving gear. By the end of the day Blaise went from not wanting to get her face wet to buddy breathing on the bottom of the pool with her Daddy.

I wondered how long it would be before the large empty space where Momma Judy should be wouldn't seem so large and so empty. It will take your breath away at times. When you least expect it. I sure wish she could be here to see Baelin and to watch her grand babies get older and grow in maturity and knowledge. She would be so proud of all of them. Between our family, and that of Na's step dad's family, mamma Judy had 4 boys, 1 daughter, One Son in Law, 4 Daughter in Laws, and 8 Grandchildren to watch over on any given day around the pool. She would take her post on the porch over looking it all and just sit and wait for the grand kids to need her. She waited on them hand and foot and they loved her for it. It was their favorite place to go, and although it still is there is just an empty chair where Mom use to be. It is hard to swallow sometimes but we take comfort in the memories she gave us.

Baelin , Blaise, and Baxley can teach us so much some time. They are never sad about Grandma not being there they just start in with "remeber when grandma....." and then laugh. That is how she would want it. That is how we get through.

We are looking forward to the many wonderful years ahead and the many adventures school will bring us this year!

Birthday's and Starting School

We had the "Big girls" Birthday party on the 15th. Nothing like real pony rides in your own front yard. Well maybe, nothing like Blaise dressed in her purple sun dress, pink "cow boots", and "princess cow hat" and pony rides in your front yard.
Yep Baxley is 8 and headed to the third grade. She "don't want to go because it is going to be hard", but wants to go "because I get to learn how to write in cursive". Such is the deli ma. She is getting so big, not just in stature but in her thinking and actions. Making her bed, cleaning her room, helping Blaise do all of the above just like I was helping her last month.
Blaise turned 5 and is kindergarten bound, look out MA Hardin Elementary, your new principle hasn't seen anything yet. She also is climbing on up the maturity ladder. Chocolate milk is still her drug of choice, and she still finds her way to our bed most nights. "Baxley is asleep, I am not lying, and now I can't sleep by myself" Who can say no to that? As I am typing this she is "fixing" her new pony's hair while singing at the top of her voice the songs she learned in " big kid church" this morning.
Both girls are having trouble deciding what extracurricular activity to pick for the year. Dance, gymnastics, cheer, karate are some of the leading contenders, but time is ticking and no final decisions yet. I have added a new app to my I phone that has a color coded calendar that I am sure to put to good use with two girls in school.
Baelin actually rode a pony and liked it. Yes, we were all surprised. I just wanted her picture on one, but she let them ride her all around the yard. We are wondering how she will handle being home alone with "Sissy" at school. Maybe, with out her interpreters present she may learn to talk for herself.
I am looking forward to a new chapter in life as the big girls go to school, and Babe has a little time alone to adjust to her life with us. I thank God everyday that He gave me Na to navigate these (for us) uncharted waters of parenthood. I am truly blessed to have him on my team.

Never too old for a "teachable moment"...

I know we haven't really been using this Blog very well, but I do want to change that so here is my second post in a week.
I had a "teachable moment" today with God. Maybe I should say God had a "teachable moment" with me. I know there are probably a lot of these moments that I have that go relatively unnoticed by myself, but this one was right in my face. I love that about God. I wish they were all this evident. So here it is....Jami, "practice what you preach"!!! When Baxley started school we requested, in writing her Kindergarten teacher, and I think we did her first grade teacher , too. Truthfully, I always felt a twinge of guilt about doing it. I felt like I didn't trust God to put her in the class that He wanted her in. So last year I didn't do it.
Well, Blaise starts Kindergarten this year, and we didn't request her teacher. I prayed for God to put her where He thought she needed to be. The class lists were posted today, and she did not get the teacher that I wanted. Well, my first reaction was to to pout and whine and throw a temper tantrum. All of the things that I have punished my girls for going all week. You want to know what God did, He reminded me of a conversation that I had with a friend a few weeks ago. This friend is going through some stuff right now, and I was trying to encourage her. I told her that she had to let go of all the pieces of her life before God could put it together like it was meant to be. Now, when I was talking to her I was amazed at the words as they came to me. It was definitely not my doing, the Holy Spirit helped A LOT. So today in the mist of my fit I heard "you prayed for Me to put her where she needed to be..."
I want so much for God to be in control of my life, and the girls lives, and Na's life, but I was reminded of just how hard it is to let go of everything. I am very thankful for these teachable moments. They show me just how much God loves me, and wants me to grow in to dependence. So, I will try to "practice what I preach"....and look forward to many more teachable moments this year.
BTW Baxley got one of the teachers that I had this year.

"Six months...Really?...Are you kidding me?"

“Six Months…really?...Are you kidding me?”

That is exactly how I feel when I think about the fact that we were handed our “China Baby” six months ago. The past six months have been: a blur, overwhelming, wonderful, sad, happy, great, terrible, very slow, and absolutely nothing like I had imagined since we started this journey. However, I am most confident that they have been everything God had intended them to be.

Gotcha Day

“How is she doing?” Oh, if only I had a dime for every time I get asked that question.

So, how IS she doing?

Well, the Mommy who has raised a couple of other two year old’s thinks that she is a pretty typical two year old. She is a picky eater, she plays well alone and with others (when she wants to), she likes to sleep in her crib (unlike her sisters), she hates to have her hair washed, is pretty good about letting us brush her teeth, and gets upset when we don’t know what she wants.

The fist time Mommy of a two year old who: was abandoned by her mother at 3 months old, raised in foster care until she was a year old, was then put in an orphanage until she was two, and then handed over to two people who look nothing like anyone she had ever seen before, put on a plane and has spent the last six months in completely unfamiliar territory, thinks she is doing remarkably well.

6 months

No, I don’t think she is completely convinced that we are not going to give her to someone else, yet. No, I don’t feel like she is as bonded as she will be. No, I don’t think she completely trusts us yet, but why should she. I actually admire her independence and her fighting spirit, maybe she is a little like her “Momma.”

Yes, I think she feels safe with us. Safe enough to test boundaries (aka temper tantrums). Yes, I thinks she loves our “orphanage” but, you can’t beat only two other kids who cater to your every want. Yes, I believe that there will come a time when deep down in her soul she will know that I am Momma and Na is Daddy and that she is the little sister.

“How are the other girls?” “What do the other girls think of her?” These are also two of my favorite questions.

The “other girls” are the most amazing “big sisters” I have ever witnessed. Bax has always been the best big sister I have ever known. She has taken on another little sister like there was nothing to it. I sometimes think “If I was just half the Mom that she is sister …”

She is my learning curve as a Mom and I am blessed to have her as my first daughter. She is about to enter the 3^rd grade. She went to church camp for the first time this summer. She is the only kid I know whose favorite TV shows are: How it’s made, Dirty jobs, and anything on Animal Planet.

Blaise is a great little and big sister. She will play with Baelin and calm her when she is upset. She already admires Baxley, and “I just like Bax’s clothes better” has already started. Na and I often say,”One day Blaise will rule a small or maybe medium sized country.” She will be starting kindergarten this year. She is very excited and tells me to “zip it” when I talk about keeping her home because I don’t want her to leave me.

When I was pregnant with Blaise I prayed fervently against jealousy and envy, and for a deep love to develop between the girls. I can say that God has definitely granted my request.

When we started this adoption process I started praying the same prayer. Again, God has answered my prayer.

I have learned so much about God, myself, relationships, faith, trust, obedience, and love in the past six months. …..”it aint about how fast you get there, or what’s waiting on the other side, it’s the climb”.

Ahhh, here it is. Four months since we met our Baelin and added one more precious girls to our family. It seems like it has been forever since we have been to China. It is funny how little time has passed and yet, it feels like she has been with us for years. That is good, it is a great feeling to have her in our lives.

She looked up at me the other day, stuck her arms straight up and said DA-DA. Then she smiled, crinkled her nose, and let out the cutest little giggle you have ever heard. My heart melted and I was in Awe at the blessing right here before me. She has come such a long way in these months. She comes to me, crawls up in my lap and even lets me rock her to sleep from time to time. She can let us know what she wants, when she wants it, and has no problem keeping up with her big sisters. If you didn't know any better you would have believed she was raised here.

Blaise and Baelin both went the other day for their shots. My middle one is so ready for kindergarten and I am not. I thought I would be but she already seems to big and that will just make her look so much older going to school. The only good thing to that is we will have time alone with Baelin during the day to work with her without the big sisters intervention.

Funny story. Mrs. Incredible took the girls to the doctor while I was in Maryland doing some training. While there they re-drew some blood on Baelin to check her levels and to make sure she was where she needed to be on her shots. In doing so it triggered the County Communicable Disease place to call the next day and start drilling Mrs. Incredible on why we were getting titers drawn and did we know she was positive for this Asian big that was suppose to be real bad. I forget what they called it and couldn't pronounce it if I wanted to. So she calls me kinda freaking out, because they asked more questions than they did explaining it. They said they would call back tomorrow and wanted to know how many people were in the home, where all we had been, how much me weighed, is anyone experiencing a cough or illness, and things of that nature. So Mrs. Incredible was a bit concerned but did not see any threat. So she waited patiently next to the phone the next day and they finally called back. They said they made a mistake and although Baelin was positive it was the good positive. The one that says yes she is immune to the virus. Not that she has it. Mrs. Incredible told them that if they would have slown down yesterday she would have explained to them that if was a foreign adoption and for her to show positive to those immunizations would be natural, and that the titer was drawn to make sure she did not need any booster shots. They quickly apologized and said "Well know you know your CDC units are on top of things!!" Mrs. Incredible said "Gee, thanks!" So we did not have to be quarantined or wear the dust mask for days on end. All is clear.

So anyway, all is going well on the home front, Went camping for the first time a couple of weeks ago and had a blast. Baelin was a trooper and enjoyed every bit of it. The other two would live out camping if I would let them. Most of the family came up and camped one night with us, and we had a grand time. Like the good ol days.

Well that is all from the world of the Incredibles for this episode, tune in next time to hear more of this fantastic family and their many adventures, Same bat time, same bat channel.

Fitting In

Over the past few months there have been many miraculous changes in our lives. From the turning of winter in to spring from saying goodbye and hello to old and new members of our family. It is strange to think on where we were this time 3 years ago to now.
Three years ago we had everything planned out. No more surprises and life was on a cruise control setting with no worries in the foreseeable future. Two years ago that cruise control got adjusted and we decided to pursue another child through adoption knowing it would take a while. Life still did not change much. Girls got older, family had fun. Then mom got diagnosed with cancer and things just seemed to go out of control. The gas pedal was broken and we never knew what pace we were going to be running from one day to the next. The wait of answers from test, the wait of answers from the adoption, and nothing seemed to slow down or speed up. The time we had with mom needed to slow down, and the time we had with the adoption needed to speed up. The girls were growing up and learning new things and Jami and I were growing in our marriage. The one thing that wasn't fitting in to this whole equation was time itself. It just seemed like nothing and everything made sense at the same moment.
Now the adoption is over, mom has gone to be with the Lord and time has finally seemed to level out. The Lord has been working inside of me slowly over the past couple of years. The Lord was teaching me new things that I didn't really want to learn, but the Lord is persistent and of course I am getting the learning anyway. I have come to trust more, do less, and be thankful that I have people out there that I can lay some burdens on. I don't have to do everything myself and that others are capable of making coherent thoughts without my help. LOL It has been a work in progress but here I am on the other side. The storm has settled and the calm is here. I don't know what to do with it but I welcome it.
I sat here today and tried to think to time before the kids and could not. Snapshots were there of good times but life before the little gals is gone. Then I tried to just think back to before Baelin and that too is just snapshots. When I think of our life it is always of our family as a whole. There is not one of us without the other. Baelin has become an Incredible and the little quirks of a two year old have come out. She has made the transition from being a lovable, unsure, toddler, to an all out active, destroy what ever looks fun and smile about it toddler. You can not tell she never lived here. She knows our home better than I do and is not afraid of any room anymore. The older girls love to find her when it has gotten too quite for too long and you know there is going to be a surprise when you find her.
She loves to cuddle now, where as before she never wanted to be touched, She loves to swing, and to be thrown around, where before it was a screaming match every time she moved to fast. We have to lock the cabinets up so that she doesn't eat all the fruit snacks in one hour. She knows where everything is kept and knows how to ask for it and much more to manipulate daddy for it. The older two play with her all day and they enjoy trying to teach her new things. She has the cutest smile that she loves to show off now and when you say "I love you" she touches her nose. So that has become our new thing. It started off with Jami trying to hold eye contact with her. Jami would touch her nose while saying "look at me" and then when Baelin would look Jami would say "I love you". Now whenever she hears "I Love You" she touches her nose and smiles!
All is well, the puzzle has been finished and the new box of pieces have been opened. We look forward to figuring out the new one and sharing the many adventures to come.

Our girls

Well it is officially the day after Easter. I hope everyone had a dry one. Not so the case here in Arkansas. The storms moved in and camped out on us the entire day and looks to be doing the same today. Mr. Incredible had to be at the firehouse all day so I did not get to spend Easter with the lovely ladies in my home. Instead I had to go protect the citizens of the Big City. We were not at work more than 15 minutes before we got a house fire. Nice way to start off your day. My was not ruined...it was part of the job, but you have to feel for the people who were displaced from their home on Easter Sunday. We were however able to keep the fire contained to the garage and a Little damage in the dinning area but for the most part they will recover. Inconvenient but no major belongings lost. After that the storms rolled in and the calls just kept on coming. We finally got to slow down a little by that evening and had a decent night. While I was there my ladies went to church and then to my grandmothers to visit and have lunch. They had fun and got plenty of candy and stuff.

My wife, bless her heart, got the idea for us to take our precious, innocent, unscathed girls to go see the new Hannah Montanna movie on opening night. I said sure because in all actuality it is one of the shows they watch that is less annoying than something like Spongebob, and I kinda like it. What I wasn't ready for was the wake up call to my future reality. My 2,4, and 7 year old still like Miley/Hannah for her music and who she is. Not so much the case with the 1000 pre-teen/teen girls there that night. When we walked in I felt pretty good about myself, Daddy taking his girls to see a movie. Then we got into the theater and I suddenly felt so alone. There were maybe two other dads cowering down in their seats when I looked around. They all had this look on their faces that said, "Oh please Lord let me make it through this without running into someone I know!" Heh. Not me. I walked right up them stairs, picked out a row right in the center of the theater and sat my girls down. Then quickly ran to go get popcorn and drinks, being oh so careful not to make it back before the previews started.

When I walked back in I had to go around two teens who were doing the line dance to one of the songs in the movie. There was no music yet but that did not seem to be a problem for them. Dosi Do and whatever else that was made me turn go back out the door and into the other side of the theater. Which wasn't a problem because it was really closer to my seat. Then I passed out our overly expensive snack items and take my seat among the raging hormone, hairspray, makeup, and estrogen mass that was there. Ahh the movie begins. Sit back, relax. and enjoy.......tranquility, Dolby digital sound, and DLP projection all ruined by the High Pitch Scream of girls when the opening screen showed Hannah! Including two of my own contributing to my sudden hearing loss.

Then down the noise came and the giggles started. They are so cute......when they are 7, or younger. As I looked around I wasn't as comfortable as I once was. Every star or boy that was shown on the screen was met with (an equally appropriate I am sure) sound. The younger girls got excited during the songs and when Hannah or aka Miley were on the screen. The older ones, those teens, those nerve wrecking, reality checking teens, were the ones that got my attention. When the cute boys were shown, or did something just absolutely darling there was this "AWWWWWWWWEEEE" sound that rumbled through the theater. Then when he would smile it was even worse with the same noise met by wiggling and giggling and kicking their feet and grabbing their chest as if they were having a heat attack. OH COME ON!! It is a movie! I quickly looked at my oldest and then the middle one to make sure they were not even thinking of participating in such a display of "not my daughterness!" and luckily for them they were not.

I wondered at that time am I really going to have to put of with this? Am I really going to have three teenage girls in the house one day with all their teenage girl friends sounding like this and acting this way? Of course I already knew the answer before I asked myself this silly question. "Not over my dead body!!" that of course was denial fighting with reason and then the facts sank in and I secretly cried on the inside. "I am sooooooooo not ready for this!!" Luckily I have about 4-5 years before it gets started and then I will find some kind of support group to join, and become a monk, and going on a sabbatical until the youngest is 20. I know some of you have already braved through this area in your lives or are going through it now and I just want to say "May God himself come down from heaven and bless you personally. You deserve it!"

Moving along

Another day, another change. Seems like we learn something new everyday doesn't it? If you want to or not, life is going to teach you something with every new day. That is a wonderful thing to have happen to us. It keeps the mundane from setting in and gives our lives purpose and hope. Now most of us refuse to learn anything or to notice the lesson for the day so unfortunately we may be doomed to repeat it. I don't like reruns on the T.V. or leftovers in the fridge so I assure you that I do not want to repeat any lesson that I had to learn, I don't know about you but I am a once is enough kind of person. Now before you think I am getting all philosophical let me assure this is just a bunch of rambling that has no point or direction so please do not get your hopes up. I am actually done with that train of thought. Moving on.

We took the family and some friends to the park yesterday and had some lunch and some discussion about life and let the kids play. The wind was whipping like crazy so lunch was a full contact sport just keeping plates and food on the table. We had a couple of casualties but for the most part everyone got fed and then went off to play or talk. Baelin had a blast but was wind burn by that evening, as were the rest of us. We did find a new trait during this romp at the park. We figured out that she knows what "No" means and we also figured out that it is not something she likes to hear. Strange....my other two girls suffer from the same affliction. When we would catch her doing something wrong she would turn around look us dead in the eye and stare at us for a moment as if we were crazy. Then we would sternly repeat "No" and she would start yelling at us in some 2 year old profanity and start hitting at her head. If she had anything in her hand she would throw it, careful to throw only one item at a time for added effect. After some more yelling at us she would get real quite, look at you and give up. A smile would break out on her face immediately following this display of disapproval and she would laugh and pick up whatever she had thrown and try to do whatever it was once again and then we would repeat this process before she would bebop back to you smiling and laughing. I am sure this affliction will pass by all my girls in the next 12 - 18 years but I am just being optimistic I am sure.

The other adventure I had on this same day was a little more exciting. I took Bax, Blaise and Baielin with me along with a friend of theirs to the park a bit early and everyone else met us later. On my arrival I told the kids to take off and get to playing just to stay out of the creek that ran through the park and stay within sight. I had Baelin in my arms and a couple of drinks to carry to the table where the feast was going to partake moments later. The kids had made it to the other side of the creek and were on the swings at the farthest point that they could be on by the time I got to the table. I immediately heard this familiar voice screaming for help! I turned to look and saw my middle child Blaise bent over doing the pee hold and falling to her knees. I knew this could be only one of two things. She got hurt some how or she got too excited trying to run and keep up with the other kids that she did not take the time to notice she had to pee really bad. My8 deductive skills are awesome are they not? I could not just take off running to her because I still had Baelin in my arms so I just kept yelling to calm down while I made my way to her. When I go there she was crying and doing the pee pee hold saying that she had wet her panties just a little bit and had to go the the bathroom, which was on the side of the park that I had just came from. I had no change of clothes and was 20 miles from home with no intentions of going back there until late that night. She had soaked just her panties pretty good but it had not made it to her jeans. Lucky me! I had an idea...I told her to stand real still and I unbuttoned the front of her pants and ripped her panties down both side so that I could pull them off of her without exposing her to the many people at the park who I realized had made their way into that area when she went to screaming help. So once they figured out I was the dad they started to filter away but they did do a lot of pointing at me. When I tore her panties she got really mad at me as if they were her best friend in the world. She got louder when I did this screaming not to tear her panties and I did get a bit nervous about what others were thinking but I managed to get them off get her on her feet and walk her and the rest of them to the restroom to clean up and go potty. I tossed the soiled piece of clothing in the garbage which made her cry again and then after she got to use the potty she was all better saying that at least she did not get her pants wet and "whew that was a close one daddy!" So back to playing they went. I thought all was cool but as soon as mommy arrived at the park she took off running to mommy and started telling her how daddy ripped her panties off and that they were her favorite. She failed to mention that she had gotten them wet. I had to explain my reasons once she got to me. I am not sure what the Lord is trying to tell me here recently with the by products of my children but I hope that I have learned all I need to. The rest of the day was fun and without any other bodily fluid event until later that evening.

After church I stayed behind to clean up the pre-shool and get things put up before going home. Blaise stayed with me and Jami took the other two home. I was about to walk out the door when someone come running in to find me saying that Jesus had just fell off the cross. We have a passion play that the many talented people of our church put on. It is a live outdoor production with a cast of 50 or more I think. Jesus is raised up on a pulley system to the top of a cross that is 15 foot off the ground. Last night during dress rehearsal the pulley came apart and he rode the lift down and was jarred onto the ground and bounced off with the t part of the cross still attached to his arms. Not to mention it was cold outside and he had only the loin cloth on. We rushed to his side and did the medical thing that we are trained to do and got him off to the hospital. Praise God he only had a small fracture on his back that will heal on it's own and they let him go home today. So today I tracked down a fall arrest cable to put on the pulley to keep that from happening again. The passion starts tonight and goes every night til Friday. The three men on the cross will be in little clothing and tonight it will be getting down to 30 degrees. They did the same last year and I applaud them for sticking it out and toughing through the cold to make this happen. We had several hundred a night last year and they are hoping to double it this year. It is free of charge and right on the side of the interstate so many passer-bys see it and return to finish watching it. It will be wild to see how many people attend tonight.

When I went back into the church to get Blaise she was pacing back and forth in the hallway saying "Oh Lord, who is going to play Jesus, he has fallen. Oh Lord who can be Jesus now, I hope he's not dead!?" It was funny to watch her concern for this play at 4 years of age. I assured her Jesus was alive and well and the play would continue as planned. She is the funniest little thing I get to hang around. She takes after her daddy quite a lot. Poor thing. Well that is all I have to add for now. We hope you all are doing well and we talk to you next

time.

Spring Break

Well, it is Spring again or so the calendar says. I don't think anyone has mentioned it to mother nature yet. Here we are on March 28th and it is 42 degrees outside. I am sure it is worse where some of you are. Well we took a little trip to the lake this week and pretty much just hid from everyone. It was well needed to recharge the batteries after the last 9 weeks of sensory overload! The trip to China and all that entailed and then the readjustments to life and the newest member of our family have left us with a need to dump the files and reboot. So that is what we did.

We found a nice little condo next to one of the many lakes here in our fine state and then we sat back and did little. Luckily mother nature let us have a nice storm every evening and sunshine every morning. The cable was knocked out twice by the storms and the power once so watching T.V. during the storms was not always a choice. The rains left most things too muddy to go to when the sun was out so we did allot of driving around the country side looking at the mountains and the lakes and then a little bit of other things as the intermittent sunshine or overcast would allow.

I personally haven't slept as much as I did this week in years. It was very nice and well needed, I actually felt lethargic by the end of the week, which was my goal. Baelin and the girls had a blast. We let them wade around in the lake a few times after they broke us down with the constant barrage of telling us that they wanted to go to the lake. What they really wanted to do was to go swimming but the lake was still way too cold! Once we arrived at the lake and Baelin got her feet in the water it was all I could do to get her out of it again. She actually kept trying to go deeper and deeper but I would pull her back and she would get mad at me for not letting her try to swim.

One day we set off to the one and only sport I have ever been really good at....mini golf, or as the unprofessionals like to call it....Putt Putt. I love to play and my girls love the idea of playing but they never finish a game so therefore neither can I. What we do play is really comical to watch. Blaise likes to drop the ball next to the hole and bump it in while declaring real loud "I win, you loose!". Baxley actually starts where you are suppose to and gives it the great try, but she soon becomes frustrated, kicks the ball in and moves on to the next hole. I however take it a lot more seriously.

I always start by placing my ball on one of the three designated pre drilled tee holes where every great mini golfer has started from. Then I strategically line my ball up based upon the various trajectory paths the ball will take once I apply the appropriate amount of pressure and swing. A nice tap of the ball sends it on its way across the artificial turf into the rail that will change the angle of the next path as planned out prior to the initial swing in my ever calculating mind. Then over, in or under one of the many obstacles that have been placed on the set course to deter those not up to the skill level and to remind them of why their name will not be remembered in the annuls of mini golf. It is a thing of beauty to see the ball evade the dangers of the course and then roll ever so slightly toward the cup that has been placed in the ground. As it gets closer and closer you get that feeling of pride that sweeps over you because you know how totally awesome you truely are. The moment then arrives, just when all the stars have aligned and the angels are starting to sing your praises to the mini golf gods and you look onward just hoping that all the people there that day are awe struck and watching this thing of perfection....There! Right as the ball has finished it's treacherous journey, the hole in sight, you know nothing could change this destiny set before you!.....Wham!! a putter hits it the other way and a foot stomps it into oblivion, and that little familiar voice screams out once again..."I win, you loose!! Told ya!!" That is why I love the game.

We found some riding stables one day so we took the girls thinking we would all get to have some fun, but unfortunately they only had two horses left and were booked the rest of the day so I sent Mrs. Incredible and Blaise on one horse and Baxley on a horse by herself for an hour ride into the valley and back. Baelin and I went a kicked it in the car where I thought we would play and get to have some daughter and daddy bonding time. As soon as she sat down she fell asleep. So I sat quietly and waited for the girls to return , and low and behold as soon as they rode in, Baelin woke up.I think she did that on purpose, just to avoid my many lame and awkward attempts at making her laugh. She was probably sparing us both actually. We then headed back to have many more wondrous adventures and play time at the parks between storms and then headed back home.

Coming back home after a nice week of rest was actually the best part. As much as I like to travel and to see things, I like being home the best. My girls of course were not ready to be back and they talked me into taking them to see a movie that same evening. Me being the authority figure told them absolutely not! .........(Yeah, you all believed that right?).......I actually said "Which one?" and "Get in the truck." Because what I say, goes around here!

Baelin did great, she did not seem to even notice the great big screen, moving pictures, and loud noise behind her the entire time. All she cared about was the big tub of popcorn we were all holding and the large drink I had in my hand. She ended up eating her weight in popcorn and then dancing to the credits at the end, no fussing, and no running around. What more can you ask for from a 2 year old. Then off to the house (again) and to bed.

SO here I am at work (working hard by the way, can't you tell) writing to you all of the adventures in the life and times of the Incredibles. You all be safe out there! God Bless!

Baelin strikes again.....

Mrs. Incredible decided that it was time for her to go back to work for a few days this week. So Wednesday was my first day with Baelin on my own. This of course is no problem for someone of my many talents and skills. What I found out later was that I was out of practice for what all a 2 year old can throw at you.
My day began like normal. I arose from my slumber to find the two littlest ones still sleeping away in thier beds. Ahhhh...some quite time. Mom had run the oldest to school on her way to work so I had nothing to do but prepare for my day. A bit later the middle child awoke to find that she got to be home with Daddy today. She actually prefers it this way beacuse she knows I will take her to the church with me to work and she can play. Then shortly later the youngest daughter awoke. She did not seem to mind that it was just me so I was relieved. She let me hold her for just a little bit and then she was ready for some breakfast. So off the the kitchen I went to accomodate the little ladies in some fine dinning cuisine.
A glass of chocolate milk and a couple of powdered doughnuts for the middle one, and some granola and apple juice for the youngest one. Now Baelin has not been drinking as much as we think she should be at times, but she is getting better everyday. On this day however I decided to try some apple juice on herfor the first time. (I should have diluted it...I know that now.) The apple juice of course was a hit! She drank a whole glass really fast and then followed it up with another one. With breakfast being done it was off to the next item for the day.
Scurry around the house and get the gals dressed up to go get tags renewed on the vehicles, and then off to get Baelin's Social Security Card. This venture proved a bit harder than I thought it would. The people at the social security office had evidently never gave a social security card to a child adopted oversees, but was a U.S. Citizen. They were very perplexed and they really started to aggrevate me after an hour and a half. Did I cave in? No, I pushed on. I entertained both girls the entire time we were there and no one got fussy or upset. "I can handle this....it is like Bax and Blaise all over again right?" I thought.
The next venture was off to Lowe's to get a few items for the church. We have buggies in so I sat them both in there and I played with Baelin as I pushed them around. There is also many cool things to let your kids play with while you shop in Lowe's. All was good for a while and then the first real challenge of the day. Blaise had to go to the bathroom really bad. So off to the men's room in a giant hardware store. You can imagine how well the bathrooms are cleaned. It is not as bad as the squatty potties in China...but it runs a close second. I did however manage to find that it was empty and there was a handicap stall that was actually clean. So there we go. Set Baelin down and assist Blaise. I managed to keep Baelin from sticking her hands in the comode and get Blasie's buisness done without a hitch. Point for Daddy!
Then off to Wal-mart for a few items for us and a few things for the church. I forgot my wallet in the truck but remembered it before I got started good and ran back to the truck to retrieve it. Small glich, but no one was injured and we were back inside carrying on with our shopping in no time. I asked my daughter what she wanted for lunch on the way home and we agreed to some Mexican food. So off to the register with my items to check out and then to luch.
I was feeling really good about myself at this point. I had this 2 year old care down pat. I thought I had picked right up where I had left off when Blaise was still 2. Well, It was at that time the Lord thought I was getting to cocky and decided to bless me with the gift of humility.
I looked down at Blaise and her face made that half smile while her cheeks got real red. You know when they are making you a gift in thier diaper for you to tend to shortly after they are done making faces. Yeah....you all know that look.
At first I was like, "Aww..you making daddy a present aren't you?" while I was unloading the basket on to the conveyor. The cashier oblivious to the creation being performed before her kept right on ringing up my items. Then Blaise made the coment that the baby was stinky. I had not really noticed until then that the odor was quite rank and the plume of the baby aroma was increasing by the second. I looked down at Baelin and noticed her pants were a bit wet around her inner thighs. That is when it hit me! This is not going to be a pretty diaper to change!!
I picked her up a little and things went down hill fast. The aromatic liquid like substance, that had come from the inner areas of who knows where, were not content with being contained to the area of origin. They wanted out and they chose every avenue of escape at once. Up the back over the pants and dripping onto the floor! Now most people would loose it at this point, but I am a trained professional and Hero's do not loose thier cool.
I did the most rational thing I could thing of. I pulled her shirt down as far as it would go down her back and put it under her butt to contain the seepage from going anywhwer else. I reached for the diaper bag to grab some wipes, just to realize it was still in the truck. Did I panic here? No, I simply used a reciept I had in my pocket to clean the little drop of dribble off the floor and then stood up real quick, swiped my card, and grabbed my bags. I was sweating like crazy and getting flush from embarresment....but absolutely was not panicing!
Blaise is pinned to the corner of the buggy now holding her nose and making all kinds of stinky gestures with her hands and the lady behind the registered had just got a nice sense of the essence of the moment as I was walking away. I did not look back! I bolted for the door as if I had stolen something and made it to the truck.
I quickly unloaded everything but the contaminated child and then strategically opened the doors so that no one would see the operation that was about to begin. I reached into my Man Bag. (Defined as: The smaller version of a fully operational diaper bag that is less girly and I don't mind carrying.) And ripped out the wipes and layed them side by side for the operation........I only had three!!! This was a deffinate 15 sheeter but I had to make do like all good soldiers do. Then I pulled out her extra clothes....all I brought was a onesee. Not enough to wear to a mexican resturant of course, so that was for sure off. I then stood my precious child up and carefully removed the contaminated clothing without further spreading of the extremely loose items at hand, being extremly careful not to touch the diaper until I was ready to go all the way. She of course is screaming now and people are looking my way, but I am sure they would have understood if they had come near because the wind was blowing toward the front door. This is the part where I began to panic a little. Several thoughts went through my head...the main one being I am about to ruin my truck seats, and the latter one being I am going to be carrying a soiled child back in to Wal-Mart to finish the cleanup my three wipes are not going to do. Then I sucked it up, regained my compoure, and went to work.
I place her head and upper back precariously on the seat of my truck and held her by the feet dangling the rest of her body in mid air and becan removing all the "stuff" with my three wipes, making sure to get the maximum use out of the first to so that the last one would be left for the fine tunning cleaning. Eureka! I did it...dispite how uncomfortable Baelin might have been those couple of minutes.
I threw everything I stripped off of her straight down on the ground in front of me so that I did not loose my grip or let her touch my seats. Once I had her re-dressed I carried her around to her seat made her smile and buckled her in. Then it was back to my side to collect the dicarded contamination for disposal or washing. I did happen to have enough sense to bring some diaper disposal bags with me, which are sented and came in real handy on the ride home. I retrieved everything with a pencil instead of my hands and then bagged the pencil as well. In to the truck we all go and crank the air on for a second just to find out that it stirs the aroma more. Windows down, McDonalds lunch and then home as fast as I could go before she let me have the rest of the apple juice that I should have diluted that morning when all was well. The rest of the day went fine, I guess I had learned all I needed to that day. The Man Bag is now better stocked and will go with me into the store the next time.
Why do I share this with you? Because that is the kind of guy I am. It is nice to know that you are not the only ones in this crazy world who has had a day like this. You can say you never had but I know you would be lying! Till next time...be prepared.

It has been over a month already!

Well the 2nd of March was the offical one month mark of our new journey with Baelin. It has been miraculous to see her change so much right before our very eyes. Since we have been home she has seemed to take this shell of uncertainty and lay it aside for a more founded realization of family. I had my moments during the past month and a half where I wondered if we did the right thing by her. Then I would catch a smile on that beautiful face of hers and at that moment you could see it in her eyes that she knew she was in a better place.
Baelin would hardly leave mommy's side for the first few weeks and if I picked her up to hold her she would come unglued. That was hard to get use to over time. Then when I least expected it she walked across the room held her hands up and wanted me to pick her up. She layed back against me and fell asleep in my arms. That sealed the deal....... My daughter was with me. Know I can hardly remember a time without her. It is wierd and hard to explain but it feels like she has been with us her entire life. She loves to play with her sisters, and she doesn't mind me loving on her anymore. Now, looking back on the transgormation she went through I would say it happened overnight, but I know it did not. Each day brought a new milestone and then there were those days where we seemed to take a step back, but she has pushed on and made our family what we knew it would be.

Baxley and Blaise love thier new baby sister and love getting in to see her every morning. If we did not pull them back Baelin would never get any sleep. They can not stand her not being up when they are. They have been absolutely wonderful with her and are not jealous or anything. I am very proud of them. They waited as long as we did for her to get here and they have been just as nervous, excited, exhausted, and enlightened as we have.

Although we feel like we are getting a good grip on a lot of Baelin's habits and attitudes there are a few things that we still don't know about her. She makes hand jesters when she wants something or when she gets aggrevated and it could be the same hand jesters for both or different ones, she has about 3 distinct jesters in all. It is almost like she is signing but how would she know how to do that? Then there are her few word like sounds that she makes for everything that we have come to conclude is just her way of cussing us in chinese! She has started blowing kisses, playing peeka boo, saying thank you, and just recently pointing at nose when we say it. I did get her to say Dadda the other day several times but she has not put the connection on me yet. Hearing her say Dadda though was enough, I promise you. Oh, the other strange thing is she only poops at night. Sometime during the night she will fill that diaper to the breaking point! You don't need the morning coffee any longer I assure you. This wakes you up just fine! I am talking break out the fire hose and get to cleaning. LOL

I will have to tell on myself though. Tonight I was getting her ready for bed and had went to change her into her jammies. She had so much fun getting her clothes off and playing I decieded to let her run around for a little bit in her Hiney Suit. She took off across the house just babbling and laughing and it was amusing for a while, that is until she got tired, looked up at mommy while rubbing her eyes and the poop hit the tile floor. Yep, I was in trouble....my idea....my mess to clean. ......Yeah! So I did what any loving parent would do....I rubbed her nose in it and then told her bad girl and put her outside. Just kidding...I ran her to the bathroom for a little bit earlier than planned on bath. Then back to the clean up on isle 5. So needless to say that eveyday is an adventure, and I look forward to the next one.

On another thought while I am babbling. I have already been asked if we regret taking her from her home and making her adjust to our lives. As if? I told them that she was being forced to live a life that wasn't hers before we got to her. We went and brought her back to the home God intended for her to be in. People who don't understand the reasons behind adoption, or international adoption are missing out on the bigger picture of what giving a life to a child is. The absolute difference you can make in the life of a child and consequently the life of you and your family is far worth the small sacrifices you may face in the process. If you are conseidering adoption in the future my advice is to jump in head first and offer your family to a child who does not have one.

Incredibles

Welcome to the first blog.

Hello to all friends and family who have begged us to create a blog so that they could keep up with the many adventures of the "Incredibles". Now do not mistake the title of our blog as if we are saying we are better than everyone else, it is actually just the opposite. If you have seen the movie the Incredibles then you would know that it is an average family with everyday problems trying to blend into the norm. The only problem is that you have a man who knows he could be more and his loving wife who tries her best to keep his head level and grounded. A daunting task it can be at times. When the movie came out we identified with many of the inuendos of the film and I just kinda attached myself to the title. It may be because I am big and fat and still serve people like crazy, or that my wife is a red head, or even because we have three children? It surely isn't because I have any kind of super powers.....at least any that I can reveal anyway.
Just a quick intro of the family. There is me of course, refered to here only as Mr. Incredible and then there is Mrs. Incredible and our three wonderful daughters. The youngest one we just adopted from China about a month ago and that was a challenge and adventure in its self. We really have a wonderful family full of daily challenges and whatever life can throw at us. In the forefront of us all is our God and Savior, without who none of the above would have been possible. We are servants of the Lord and go through daunting task to help all who need us. We are the Incredibles.
I hope you enjoy checking up on us from time to time and as always we would love to hear from you whenever you get a chance to drop in.