Shenanigans

.... that's what we've been up to, general shenannigans.School ended for Brynn last week and all of the Handley chicks are officially on summer vacation. After wallowing in misery over the end of first grade for all of 10 minutes, my darling baby said to my husband "Daddy, you know last year when school ended I was so pissed off ... this year I am not angry at all!" Pissed off?!?! She's 7 for god's sake!!! Where the #@!& she gets language like that is beyond me ;)2 Okay, so maybe mommy does talk like a sailor ... could it be time to actually start watching what I say around the kiddies? Anyhoo, we've had constant rain storms this week, so Brynn's dream of going to the pool every single day of summer has already been shattered. We did get one good day in (that's Brynn with BFF Amber in the pool above). Julia is now just one of the kids ... she's running around and bothering her sister like a good sibling should. In a few weeks we'll leave for NC to visit my FIL. Brynn doesn't really remember her "Bad Paw" so this should be a really great trip for her ... if you ignore the 12 hours it will take to drive there. I wonder if she will ever ask me if I have a father? She already gets that my mommy is in heaven, but I guess the idea of dads who don't care about their kids (let alone their grandchildren) hasn't crossed her mind yet. Okay, so I am a little bitter ... it comes out every year right before father's day.

Our little group of Wenzhou girls has had some major developments this month! This week Deb's daughter, Ellarie, had her palate closed and mom reports she is recovering very nicely. Here's hoping that this will be the only surgery necessary :) And in huge news ... Meilyn is home with her family!!! Well, at least she's on a plane to the US as I type, so close enough ;) I am so happy for Cortney and her clan. I can't wait to get these girls back together one day!!

My brother and MB are finally, officially engaged ... as in she has a ring now. The date is October 14th of this year ... yeah, my brother is getting debt for his 28th birthday! Holy crap ... he's 28! How do I manage to stay eternally youthful while everyone continues to age around me ;)

Summer Is Here!!!!

I didn't think it would ever come ... but it came!!! I had my last final today and finally start my LAST year of school in the fall! We've decided to put Julia in daycare while I am in school to prevent mental breakdowns such as the one I had this past semester. I am so happy to finally have time just to devote to my family and friends. Bran and I got to take the kids to the rail trail in Shrewsbury this past weekend. Brynn road her bike 3 whopping miles!!! We were so proud of her. Julia wanted to walk the whole way ... needless to say, we'd still be walking home right now if I hadn't forced her into the stroller :)

Cortney ... you'd had better be prepared, you're going to be spending your summer with 3 kids ... You lunatic! JK :)

My Baby is 7!!!!

Brynn celebrated her 7th (when did she get that old?!?!) birthday this weekend! This year's coveted gift was a bike ... she's just getting her balance and whatnot, but so far she loves it! Julia is content to sit in her stroller and just watch big sis pedal :) Brynn had her party at the gym where she has gymnastics ... lots of neighborhood friends and kids from her class attended. Nobody told me when kids get to a certain age parents just drop the kids off and you are officially in charge of 14 screaming 7 year olds for the next two hours, like it or not ;)

My little baby turning 7 has me in one of those awful reflective mom moods. You know how you revel in your little baby getting bigger, more independent, more like the wonderful person you hope they grow into ... and then you remember this means you are older ... much older, than say oh when she was in diapers and you still counted as part of the under 30 crowd. Maybe there is something to be said for teenage pregnancy? Just kidding ... but I am feeling my age. I can't help but think how nice a mini-van would be now that we have 2 :)

Anyhoo, We finally have warm weather her in York. I think we missed Spring this year and are just going into ungodly hot. I just need the summer now ... I definitely need the break, and I just want to spend some time with my kids when I don't have to worry about getting homework done (mine or Brynns!)

A huge shout out to my friend Cortney who just sent back in their LOA for their gorgeous daughter Meilyn!!!! Meilyn is one of Julia's buddies from Wenzhou ... I am soooo excited for you guys!!

And if everyone in the cyber world would join me in hating my friend Peggy, who left for Hawaii today ... without me. Peggy you b!tch :) Oh well, at least you have your kid with you, how much fun can you possibly be having ;)

Happy Easter!

Julia's first holiday at home! The girls are getting along beautifully and Brynn is so happy that Julia will finally play with her. My brother, Bryan, and his fiancee (?) Mary-Beth stopped by today. They gave the girls these wonderfully loud toys as easter presents, which they love. When they have children of their own, I will return the favor in spades. For your edification Bryan and MB, parents don't give other parents children a) playdough, b) noisy toys or c)noisy playdough toys. :)

We've officially been parents of two for a whole month now!!! And we have the bags under our eyes to prove it.

Deb, I saw the pics of Ellarie on the boards ... omg she is adorable!!! She looks like she's settling in so well!

Cortney, any word yet? I've been meaning to write you with my 100 useless suggestions but seem to have no time for anything any more. (Except maybe poopy diapers!)

Finally, it is Easter and I don't think it broke 40 degrees today. I am ready to move to CA :)

Settling in Just Fine

Julia discovered the food pantry ... she literally spent half an hour pulling food off of the shelves :)

We've been having adventures in pediatric care ... We took julia for her first check-up with the same Peds office we take Brynn too. What a difference though! This doctor seemed to have no idea about issues with adopted children. She didn't understand that children in institutionalized care would be delayed in fine and gross motor skills, including speech. Don't even get me started about the nurse there ... let's just sum her up this way, she was going to stick Julia with 2 shots at one time. One in each hand. At the same time!!! The doctor had to stop her ... geesh. Anyway, we've switched Peds and are very happy with our new Ped. If you're in York, PA and want the name just email me. We also took Julia to the Johns Hopkins cleft clinic. I can't say enough wonderful things about them. In one (long) afternoon, she was seen by an audiologist, an ENT, a speech therapist, a pediatric dentist and the plastic surgeon. All her testing has come out fine so far and it looks like her repair in China was done well. We'll know for sure in a few months wether or not a revision will be necessary. She did test positive for TB exposure (positive PPD) so unfortunately, we will have to do a year of Isonaiazid as a precaution.

She is adjusting great, I wish I was doing so well :) I am not sure what the future holds for my school career right now. I am still behind in my classes from the trip and today I totally bombed 2 tests. Also, I missed 2 classes to take Julia to the new Ped. Maybe this is why most people chose to complete college before they have children? I don't know, I know if I withdraw I am not going back ... and I am having a really hard time accepting that I may never get that BA. On the other hand, my kids (and DH) deserve to have me not being insane and stressed 24/7.

Words to the wise ... college and kids don't mix :)

They're Creepy and They're Kooky ...

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The Old Bait and Switch!!!

We are finally home!!!! And what a grueling journey home it was. In summation:

• The 11 hour trip from Narita to Detroit stinks.

• The 11 hour trip from Narita to Detroit sucks when your baby has explosive diarrhea.

• The 11 hour trip from Narita to Detroit becomes comical when your baby's cute butt shoots said explosive diarrhea across the plane bathroom and it bounces off the mirror onto every conceivable surface in said bathroom.

Seriously though, (not that explosive diarrhea isn't very, very serious!) Northwest airlines totally sucks!!! They cancelled our trip home from Detroit and couldn't book us on another flight until 6 hours later. They were really nasty about it at the rebooking counter too! By the time we finally got home, poor Julia was in just a diaper as she had soiled every piece of clothing I'd brought on the plane for her.

The adjustment has been a little rough. Our baby who never cried in China is certainly making up for it now. She is scared of her older sister, the dog, the cat, the sheer size of her house and I am assuming her own shadow. She is still eating like a horse, which has resulted in the unpleasant side effect of massive stinky diapers that seem to come like clockwork at 3:30AM.

Tomorrow, we have our first doctor appointment and first trip to hang out at Starbucks with Aunt Julie. Which will be more traumatic, we'll see.

A huge congrats to Deb who just celebrated the Gotcha Day of their new daughter Ellarie!!!! She has such a beautiful bunch of girls :)

And as if having 2 kids didn't make me feel old enough .... Morrissey is coming in concert!!!!!!! Oh melodrama!