At the park

Here are some photos taken last Sunday. Gabe took this one of our "little family". I'll add the one including Gabe, Lora and Wilson in it as soon as Lora uploads it; that one is on her camera.

10-16-08 Okay, here are those promised photos, finally!)



See Ella walking in the grass? She's getting better at it! :o)It was a sunny and breezy afternoon.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

When Mike arrived at the playground after this little walk, he saw Joel's pull-up coming down the slide. Apparently Joel had started with his shoes and quickly ran out of things to throw down the slide and followed with himself in his birthday suit. The other dad at the playground shook his head, motioned to his own toddler and said, "We're going through the same thing."

Joel re-dressed and sat in the van for some time out. Lora and Wilson stayed near. Lora's camera takes a photo when it detects a smile, so Wilson was experimenting by smiling and frowning as fast as possible to see how quick the camera could take his picture. Kids!

Then we got down to the business of having fun on the playground!



Thank you Heavenly Father for families!!!

So excited!

Just so you know, Milly and Ben, I'm so excited that I've been online shopping for a cookie jar!
Love,
Mama

(So I can be a "cookie grandma". Isn't this jar something? Too expensive though, but very cute-- from an old nursery rhyme.)

Drum Roll please.....

Yes!!!! Milly is pregnant! Praise the Lord!

We will learn whether there are one or two babies after ultrasound the week of October 6th. Keep praying for all to go well, Thank you!

New photo of Mike and Dolores

Here is a photo taken of us earlier this month. Yep, looks like us!

Good news

Milly says the word from the lab today looks very hopeful that she is pregnant! Another test in three days will give her an answer "for sure". It's all so amazing. This is medical technology that has only been available in her lifetime. Louise Brown, the first baby conceived through the help of IVF was born just two weeks after Milly was.

Katie's Art

....to be continued when Katie can get some of her artwork to me....she and Jess recently relocated back to the Pacific Northwest and are not yet online.

Follow-up with Ella

Ella and I went in for her follow-up with the ENT this morning. Well, he had the scheduler make another appointment for her at the hospital for another ear cleaning with possible tube replacement. Even after irrigating her ears as his office recommended, the Dr. could not see down her ear canals... they are too tiny. We do know that she is hearing some, because she is babbling loudly, often sounding very bossy. ;o)But she also throws big grins in with it.

Here's the thing I'm concerned about: even though there are three excellent hospitals in that city, they didn't have an opening for two months (with the possibility of a sooner spot if they have a cancellation) and they can't do the ABR right afterwards... there has to be the follow-up visit with the ENT and then schedule the ABR again who knows how many more weeks out. I'm afraid we're just chasing our tails here, because the last ABR was only 6 weeks after the tubes were placed and already her ears were filled with fluid again! How will we ever learn whether she has a real hearing impairment and/or stop the fluid from building up again?
(see older posts).

Timmy likes marshmallows

I just have to throw this post in here to keep track of it. Timmy has started tasting things, especially on the sly when he thinks no one is looking. Marshmallows are a favorite, he discovered them at a recent Primary activity, when he stole someone's marshmallow creature on a paper plate, sat down facing a wall and started tasting it. This is a big step for Timmy who is fed by g-tube and doesn't eat by mouth. We hope and pray he will progress to getting his nutrition by mouth!!!

Janina's Art

Our daughter Janina has been married to Marty since the end of 1999. They are experienced foster parents and are now also adoptive and bio parents; currently blessed with a 3-year-old and two 2-year-olds. Janina is an illustrator. She has earned several commissions with her abilities and was also honored with a showing. Here are a few of her portraits in various mediums.

Transfer took place

Milly called last night and let us know that the two embryos that had reached blastocyst stage in good condition were transferred back to her yesterday!!

She said we can expect to hear whether it "took" on about the 26th. This is another good space of time to pray; thank you so much everyone!!!

Think happy thoughts Milly and Ben!

Praying for Milly and Ben...

This is the morning of the embryo transfer.

Milly's Art

I want to do a section of posts on my kids' artwork. This is really fun and important to us as a family and helps to explain who we are. I'll start with Milly's art because she is our firstborn.

Married to Benjamin since 2000, Milly works as a supervisor at LifeLine. Her artistic abilities have earned her several commissions. She has also taught cake decorating in various large craft stores in the past and currently decorates cakes and pastries for a great little shop in Boston. Here are some examples of her work. If you'd like to see more, enjoy yourself at www.theartorium.com .

Good news this morning

Milly called with excitement in her voice: 6 of the 15 eggs retrieved are going to the blastocyst stage (many cell divisions); they plan to have at least two of their little "babies" back on Tuesday morning! Keep praying!

Ella is nearing three...

Here she is, such a funny, spunky and passionate little girl! Ella will be three in November. Look how her hair is curling on the ends! My baby is growing up.

From Milly this evening (with permission)

Third IVF cycle, Egg Retrieval Day:

"I feel like it was a success today, and I'm pleased with the results. Ben and I both feel like this will be a successful cycle, and I think we are both entirely ready. I'm excited. Because of all the eggs they got, there is a chance we might be able to go to blastocyst, and might even be able to freeze some embryos. I'm being hopeful, I'll know more tomorrow when we get a call from the embryologist with the fertilization results.

I think the weight that I have lost has been a factor this cycle. I feel healthier and better about myself, and like I'm taking better care of things in my life. I also think that the Lord has played a big role in this as well. I'm glad for Ben's blessing this morning, and I am very grateful for all the prayers that my beloved friends and family have said for me on my behalf. Thank you to you all."

Milly & Ben

Today and the next several days are very important for my daughter Milly and her husband Ben. My heart is with them. Please pray that all will go well!

"Respect" PSA

PRODUCTION NOTES

This public service announcement was produced for and with the Arc of Northern Virginia and the Arc of Virginia by Will Schermerhorn.

"Why? Because my son is the teammate in the PSA."

Email Will at will@blueberryshoes.com

Blueberry Shoes Productions, LLC

Ella's ABR hearing test

Yesterday Ella had her ABR hearing test. This is the one that is done while she is sedated/asleep. Here are the results: After only six weeks since her surgery to have ear tubes placed and fluid drained, part of the test showed that there is again fluid in her ears, indicating that either her tubes are out already or they are plugged. ? :o(

She has a moderate hearing loss in her right ear and a mild hearing loss in her left ear, both for the lower tones. She can hear high tones.

We are to follow up with the ENT again. Good, because I have a lot of questions!

The Wilson and Lora Cooking Show

Here are photos of Wilson (our student from Hong Kong) and Lora (our daughter who went on exchange in Taiwan) making "wontons". These little sausage, onion and cabbage filled dumplings can also be fried, but they boiled them. MMMmmm! They were gone fast at supper! We have a silverware compartment full of re-usable chopsticks, by the way. :o)

Update on exchange student

Wilson seems to be doing great, he's having some fun and we're seeing more smiles and flashes of his personality now... I'll add pictures later, we do have some good ones!