This blog chronicles the miracles and struggles of our daughters, Emily and Olivia. Emily was born 15 weeks early and had many complications, but she continues to amaze us! Olivia, born in China with heart complications, is also beating the odds. She joined her forever family (us!) when she was four years old and has been doing wonderfully! UPDATE: We started homeschooling August 2009 :)

Sunday, April 26, 2009

March for Babies


The sun was shining this morning as we drove to the walk (and took the first picture above), but right before the 9am start time the thunder and rain started! And it rained the whole six miles! We were soaked to the bone and had squishy gym shoes, but we survived. We are now home warming up in dry clothes and resting our feet. Thank you to all who donated to March of Dimes! We're a little short of our $2500 goal, but $1615 isn't too shabby. It's not too late to donate if you haven't yet--just click on the link in the side bar to the right.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Easter dresses




I forgot we had more Easter pix still in the camera... Here are some cute ones of the girls as they were finding their Easter treasures before church last Sunday.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Spring Break



I haven't collaged or scrapbooked many of our Spring Break photos yet, but today I put together some of my favorite beach pix. Most days were chilly, rainy or windy (which I still prefer to the snow back home!) so we didn't actually spend much time at the beach, but we still had a great time. I knew the weather would be questionable, so I hedged out bets by booking a beachfront hotel with an indoor water park which worked out perfectly! We also got to spend time with Andy's sister, Diane, her husband, Norm, and cousin Mike who all live in Raleigh.

March for Babies

Every year we walk to support March of Dimes because of the pivotal role they played in saving Emily's life. She was born 15 weeks early at 1.5 pounds, but she is now strong and healthy thanks in part to March of Dimes. We would like to give back by helping others who find themselves in the same fight for life we were in nine years ago. Our goal is to raise $2500 before the walk on April 26. Can you help? You can click on the link below to donate and there should also be a badge in the sidebar that is keeping a running total. Thanks!

Click here to help me reach my goal!

Monday, April 13, 2009

In character

Olivia has quite an imagination and never seems to tire of acting (though the rest of us do after a time!). The other night we read about Cinderella and talked about how the ugly step-sisters were jealous of beautiful Cinderella and were so mean and nasty to her. So now, for the last few days, Olivia has pretended to be Anastasia, one of Cinderella's evil step-sisters, which by default makes me the evil step-mother! She usually likes being a princess, but I guess she didn't feel like playing the part of a victim!

I'd hoped she'd put the game to rest last night, but this morning, when she stumbled into our room half asleep she declared that Cinderella (the designated blond-haired rag doll) had just done something else wrong deserving our feigned wrath. She has not seemed to notice that I retired my role yesterday. Tonight, every few minutes my drama queen has been running over to me, very exuberantly telling about the latest dirt on poor Cinderella who still has dreams of going to the ball. Anastasia really wants me to jump in and punish the poor doll with more new chores so that Cinderella can't possibly attend the gala event. When the desired response is no longer forthcoming from this tired evil step-mother, Anastasia tries to prompt me with my lines; "Tell her that she CAN'T go the ball, MOTHER! She HAS to stay home and clean the floor and the toilet and the...!" Moments later I hear, "MOTHER, MOTHER, Cinderella just stole MY dress! " Gasp. Gasp.

This child of mine is very dramatic and animated and can stay in character for days on end! Though she is not really acting evil she does have a devilish grin and seems positively giddy about keeping poor Cinderella in check. As I type, she's just informed me (clad in her dance leotard that she has just proclaimed to be her ball gown) that the mice are busy making Cinderella's gown and we MUST stop them! She is also insisting that we must leave for the ball soon!

I think I need to get her signed up for a drama club! I also need to think through the next story I choose to read to her very carefully ;)

Friday, April 10, 2009

Happy Easter!


We had a great Spring Break, but I haven't sorted through all the pix to post here yet...but I did make a quick collage of our Easter egg coloring this afternoon. As you can see, the girls really enjoyed themselves :) Hope you have a happy Easter!