1 year ago today

 It's hard to believe that a year today we got weeman. My heart was so full but hurting too. Learning more about his life before us made this mama a little heartbroken.

 Nanjing,China. The civil affairs office at 1:45 in the afternoon, china time. I will never forget!

 This picture was taken 2 weekends ago by my cousin, he is getting so big but also a little monkey as well.

                                                                         Our Family of Four

busy life

Life is busy...but we wouldn't change one thing about. We are so in love with the way things are right now. There are only 2 things that would make me a little happier, my mom living close and my grandparents we here on earth. I miss them so much.

What's new? I had to have treatment for a lump in my thyroid. Everything seems great with that. I have also been helping in miss diva's school with the Nutrition for learning program. I am truly enjoying being in the school. Still working and enjoying my babies more than ever.

Jason is doing well. He is amazing and is totally in love with his kids. I love to see him sitting down at the table helping miss diva with her homework. Puts a smile on my face. He is back at work, not liking it much but there is no choice but to work...right?

Miss Diva is amazing. She is doing super in grade 1. Her reading level is much higher than the teacher thought. She is loving dance, still going to mandarin school as well. We have hired a university student, who was born in mainland china to tutor her about 2 hours a week. She seems to like her and that's a bonus.

Dru just had surgery on Oct 29 to re-repair his palate. He was discharged in 24 hours. He is a tough little dude that's for sure. His speech and English language is coming along pretty good. He loves his jie jie and baba. I am so proud of his strength and to be chosen to be his mama.

Overall, we are doing great! We are gearing up for the holiday season with our babies. I cannot wait to decorate that tree with both my babies this year. Last year, Christmas was exciting to have him home but a bit of a blurr as well.

We are doing great.........we are a very blessed mama and baba.....

17 years married

This weekend, Jason and I celebrated 17 years married. This is awesome and I love him more then I did that day, but will never love him as much as the next years to come.

Have we had it easy? Yes and No.

Our relationship has always been strong, we have a very good line of communication. We love to sit and chat about what is happening in the life we are living. The fears we face, the adventures we would love to do together and especially talking about our babies. They are our world.

We struggled for years with infertility. This was a hard place for us. We exhausted all our resources until one day I was shown where God wanted us to be. Oh so clearly. We struggled with the cost of the adoptions but the bank as lots! Thank you CIBC! Would I do this road again? Absolutely! The only thing I would change is the waiting. I think I would not have done the IVF's and all that but went to adoption first. I guess it's a process you need to go through, to be with the child you are meant to parent.

Jason and I have been, done and seen a lot of things. My favorite is obviously going to China. I am in love with this country, the culture, the smells, the food, the sounds, the language. Everything except for the spitting I am in love with. I love my children's homeland and patiently waiting until we can return.We also love to spend time doing road trips. Another was Chicago. Loved Oprah,solider field, the bean. Most of all spending time with our little family!

Jason and I have been through some hard times with family. Being accused of things I would never dream of doing. I am seeking help with this because it's making me hate people. Which that is not me. I also do it because I am the one that is beating myself up about people who assume they know but have no idea. Will they ask?No! Why because we are an easy target. It's like I am on welfare driving fancy cars and living is a huge house...not the case. God knows the truth, we know the truth and they are missing out. Do I care? yes, but am I going to worry, No!Losing our grandparents has been rough. I miss my nanna and poppa so much. I wish everyday they could see my kids. One day! I miss grandpa Brook. Loved listening to him talk about places he as been and things he as seen. he was a very smart man and I loved listening to his wisdom. Miss you guys!

Jason and I have decided to take the kids to Florida in March. We are so excited. Miss Diva and I are going to Disney. I am more excited then she is....She is happy to just stay home and enjoy home.We have rented a house and going. I cannot wait. Here we come Mickey Mouse...lol

Here's to another 17 years, hopefully somethings change but if not. Oh Well, I am going to be a happy lady with the little family and life I have. I am happy to be alive, happy and healthy.

9 months home...how is that possible?

Dru has been home for nine months......ALREADY.It seems like we just stepped of that plane. He is settling in well and I am loving in love with this boy....such a funny boy

The day we received him...my heart was so full. Thank you God for all my blessings...

Precious baby boy!



We are thrilled to have this little guy as our son. He is such a ham and make us laugh everyday!

Love you Zhang Yi Hui...Dru Yi Hui Schraud

Cinderella

Lately, we have asking Miss Diva to do little chores around the house. Make her bed, put her laundry away, easy peasy things like that. She is not a fan!

On Saturday, I asked her to do the same.....here is the conversation we had

Me: Madisyn, here is your sock and underwear,  could you put them in your drawers please.
Madisyn: agh man!
Me: oh, also, when you are done, you bed still needs to be made, please.
Madisyn: man, you are treating me like Cinderella.

Jason and I were doing the dishes, we laughed so! She is so hard done by. Poor girlie....

Makes me giggle....

here is a picture of your Cinderella

6th Birthday...all ready

 The theme for the party was "going on a safari." I had little safari hats for the kids to wear, vines hanging around the house and we had Little Rays Reptiles come. The entire group of kids and parents had a great time.

Miss Diva with one of her little friends from school. So wonderful to see her make connections and build little relationships. I love her so much.

Little Rays pulling into the drive....Miss Diva was so excited....

listening patiently...the children all got to touch if they wanted too...what a neat experience.

Mrs. Toad

I was so surprised that she agreed to touch any of these animals. She never ceases to amaze.

Happy Birthday my sweet little girl. Mama, Baba and Hui Hui love you to the moon and back.

Look at all the special gifts she got...blessed little girl!

years home in Canada

Yesterday, I realized that Miss Diva was home in Canada 4 years...4 years already. It seems like yesterday that we walked down to Sheraton elevator and around the corner and there she was standing with her nanny.

The kids dates are somewhat the same...we left to travel for Miss Diva May 5 2011, received her on May 8 2011, returned home to Canada, May19 2011. Mr Jiggles (new name baba calls him) we left for him on December 5 2014, received him on December 8 2014, returned home December 19 2014.

We are so proud of this little girl. She is so brave and strong. She makes me smile everyday! We love her so much and so glad we get to parent her.

5 months home

5 months home today and I can see huge changes in our boy! He has grown almost 2 inches within this time. It's crazy! He no longer hoards food but takes his time and will pass on things he isn't so fussy about. He can be a little stinker when he wants to be. Like pulling mama's ponytail and running and hiding. Then giggles when I see him.

He is getting content to go to sleep by himself. This is just starting with his nap in the afternoons. I am falling in love with this little boy! Attachment for is us has been hard. He prefers baba over me anytime, that's okay.

He loves his jie jie! He looks for her when she is not at home. he will go to her room and sit on the floor, wondering where she is. She loves him too. We are so blessed.

he loves to play and enjoy the backyard. I love our backyard too. It is huge with lots of room to run around and have fun. He screams and cries when it's time to come for dinner.

He has been enjoying the water table with this nice warm weather. I think this is what he is use too. The cold weather would crack his little cheeks until the bleed, even if I put Vaseline on them.

His love for food is amazing. he loves yogurt and almond milk. He is an amazing little boy!

I wish I could sent his china family pictures, just so they know he is okay. We have been sending emails to his orphanage every month. I hope they are getting them.










                                                                                 

Four Years Today

Four years today, we walked out of this airport in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. We new that we would meeting our daughter sometime that day but not within the next 2 hours. Our guide got a call from the orphanage director as we were being delivered to the Sheraton Hotel, that Wang Feng Yan would be arriving within the next hour.

This was when I finally peeled her of her nanny. I was so heart broken but didn't want her to see me cry...she was so brave and loud. I had fallen so in love with the little girl I had  pictures of for 6 months

She patiently waited with the orphanage director for her mama and baba. She had no idea what was going to happen to her world. She was curious about were she was and what the fuss was all about. The fuss was her, the most important little person in our lives.

She was so brave!

Our first family picture as a family of three

Then she shut down and fell asleep. We went back to our hotel room and let her sleep. Then she woke and we played. I will never forget this day!


Happy Forever Family Day Yan Yan! We Love You!

4 months already?

Sometimes we sit and think! It feels like weeman has been in our family for a very long time. But there are everyday obstacles that reminds us that he is still so very new to our family.

Today is four months that we landed at the airport in Toronto. Ready to be home forever with our new son and our amazing little princess. Did I ever mention what a wonderful traveler she is? I think I am still in awe of her. She is amazing!

Today, we hung out at home! Played with weeman's new toys from his birthday party and spent quality time together. I love my little family and so glad that our son is settling in nicely.

4 months home and lovin' the outside.

Birthday party for weeman

We celebrated weeman's birthday just a little later. I needed more time to wrap my head around it and last weekend we had 2 birthdays to help celebrate.

I kept it low key, so I thought! but it was over stimulating for him. We found that out during the night last night. He was crying out for mama and talking, kicking the wall and just very restless.

I like to make things by myself. I love crafts, so I made his birthday sign for the gate going to our backyard.

I also really enjoy baking. I find that this is a stress reliever for me. So I decided that I would make cupcakes instead of a cake this year. I liked the car candy 

The kids playing in the backyard. The little girl in the purple is the girl that was adopted at the same time as weeman. She is a sweetheart and we love her. She and Miss Diva really enjoys playing together. She was sad when miss diva had to leave and go to dance.

 

miss diva and one of her daycare friends playing on the swings together. They had a wonderful time in the backyard and the weather was beautiful. I love the sunshine!

 

my cousin's little guy, karter! He was so upset that he got cake and icing on his fingers! Weeman does the same mad face when he doesn't get what he wants.

Weeman opening his gift from Ronald. He loves stuffies and this horse is just as big as what he is. He is trying to sleep with it at night but it's to big. He loves it though!

Sitting on the ground with his loot!He is such a ham! Jason and I feel so very blessed to be parenting this 2 wonderful children. We are so very thankful!



Happy Birthday my sweet little man! Mama, Baba and Jie Jie loves you to the moon and back.

Weeman's 2sd birthday

                            He loves to look and be read too. This makes me a happy mama.

 Our little boy turned 2 today. I am so thrilled to be parenting this little boy. he is such a little ham.he thought his birthday cake I made for him to share with his daycare friends was pretty cool.

On the other side of the world, I know there is a grieving mother. The decision she made was a very difficult one. This day must be a very hard one for her but I hope that some how she knows that he is loved and cared for. Thinking of you china mama.....

Easter part 2

The easter bunny came in through the back door. You should have heard the squeals coming from Miss diva when she saw the footprints on the floor. She was so excited. I love my babies so much.