Mike is gone on a business trip to Canada for a week. He left early this morning, and it's now 2:30 in the afternoon. The house is already sooooo quiet without him. And, it's only Day 1!!!
Maelie and I have plans for the week, to reorganize the house a bit, do some arts and crafts things for Father's Day coming up, and going through her clothes. We'll see what gets done. But, I'm a night owl, and like to do things after Maelie goes to sleep. Of course, Mike works all day and likes to chill out in the evenings. So...this is why I'm hoping to get some reorganization done while he's gone.
Like I said...we'll see what gets done. But, Day 1 is already lonely! :)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Maelie had a rough day
Maelie had a rough day today. We had a wellness checkup, and, since we missed her 1 year check, and were just a month (not even) shy of her 15 month check, poor Miss Maelie had to have 4 shots. And, a finger prick to check her lead levels. Apparently, they do this in areas that have known higher levels of lead at the one and two year marks. Our pediatrician said she'd never seen a huge problem with children having high lead, but since we do live in an older house, it was good to get it checked. Although, Maelie was not happy about it!!!!
Maelie weighed in at 21 lbs, 5 oz, and measured 29 inches. However, I do not feel that measurement is accurate. Neither did the pediatrician, but she also didn't redo it. So, this means she only grew 1 inch since her last check up at 10 months (which is b.s.), and will show a heckuva growth spurt at her next check-up.
But, all in all, Maelie is healthy, her ears are clear, her head circumference is 'perfect,' and as for her weight and height measurements, she's at the 30th percentile for American children. I checked out the Vietnamese charts, and she seems to be hitting the 50th percentile, although I know she's longer than 29 inches.
The doc was impressed with Maelie saying 'umbrella' yesterday, and, for the record, four times in a row I got a 'mammmamamma' out of her when I asked her to say 'momma.' :) :) :) Hopefully, she'll sleep well tonite and not have any reactions from her vaccinations.
Maelie weighed in at 21 lbs, 5 oz, and measured 29 inches. However, I do not feel that measurement is accurate. Neither did the pediatrician, but she also didn't redo it. So, this means she only grew 1 inch since her last check up at 10 months (which is b.s.), and will show a heckuva growth spurt at her next check-up.
But, all in all, Maelie is healthy, her ears are clear, her head circumference is 'perfect,' and as for her weight and height measurements, she's at the 30th percentile for American children. I checked out the Vietnamese charts, and she seems to be hitting the 50th percentile, although I know she's longer than 29 inches.
The doc was impressed with Maelie saying 'umbrella' yesterday, and, for the record, four times in a row I got a 'mammmamamma' out of her when I asked her to say 'momma.' :) :) :) Hopefully, she'll sleep well tonite and not have any reactions from her vaccinations.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Sully Update
Good news on my father in law! He does NOT have lung cancer. It seems he has pneumonia! This is good news! THIS is treatable!!!!!!!!
Keep the thoughts and prayers and 'oms' a'comin'! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep the thoughts and prayers and 'oms' a'comin'! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First Real Word!!!
***UPDATE***
Maelie's first word was, unbelieveably...."UMBRELLA." :)
Maelie has been trying REALLY hard to talk lately. There's been a lot more 'mammmamamamamamama's, and 'wowwhawowwha's lately. Today, as I left the room for a second to let the dogs in, and Maelie was sitting in her high chair playing with her toy, I heard a word. The toy said a word, and she repeated it. I was SHOCKED. I came back into the kitchen and had her say it to me three times. She hasn't said it again since, but, she also got tired and had to have a nap.
Now...I will give anyone out there, besides Mikey, a prize, if you can guess her first word. Seriously!!!!!!!!! :)
I'm so proud of her today!!!!!! OH! She also decided to give me open armed hugs today, too!!!!!!!!!! It's just a red-letter day. :)
Maelie's first word was, unbelieveably...."UMBRELLA." :)
Maelie has been trying REALLY hard to talk lately. There's been a lot more 'mammmamamamamamama's, and 'wowwhawowwha's lately. Today, as I left the room for a second to let the dogs in, and Maelie was sitting in her high chair playing with her toy, I heard a word. The toy said a word, and she repeated it. I was SHOCKED. I came back into the kitchen and had her say it to me three times. She hasn't said it again since, but, she also got tired and had to have a nap.
Now...I will give anyone out there, besides Mikey, a prize, if you can guess her first word. Seriously!!!!!!!!! :)
I'm so proud of her today!!!!!! OH! She also decided to give me open armed hugs today, too!!!!!!!!!! It's just a red-letter day. :)
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sully
"Sully" is the nickname my husband gave his dad. I'm not really sure where it came from, but because Mike's dad is also a 'Mike', we've both called him Sully for as long as I can remember. It's kind of a special nickname from Mike and me...no one else in the family really calls him that.
This is the first time I've written about Sully like this on my blog. I'm not really sure why I chose to keep it private. But, it's time to write.
Sully has been battling cancer since shortly after I returned home with Maelie from Vietnam. At the time, he wasn't feeling well. He was really tired, cold all the time, and would feel winded, as if he couldn't catch his breath. He finally went to the doctor, and after tests, it was determined he has myelofibrosis. This is a cancer of the blood, and to put it in simple terms, it causes the body to stop producing red blood cells, platelets. This was why he was feeling so tired and winded; his body wasn't receiving oxygen.
Along with the myelofibrosis, Sully also has leukemia cells in his blood. This is not an acute leukemia yet, however, but does add to the whole because the body is battling so many things. He also had a circulatory problem in his leg, which was causing much pain. He had a surgery on this over a month ago, and unfortunately, this wound has not healed properly, so he has had to undergo two additional surgeries, so far, to repair this.
There isn't a cure for his cancer. He's had to have regular blood transfusions to supply his body with platelets. A month ago, he went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and found that he could have chemotherapy, which could lengthen his life and add to the quality of his life. The first round of chemo seemed to help him. He went back for the second round last week, and, unfortunately, they have found his leg wound is infected again...which led to one of the additional surgeries I mentioned.
In the course of all this last week, they have found two spots on Sully's lungs. The doctor is thinking cancer, but they will not be sure until a biopsy is done, probably tomorrow. If it is cancer, Sully is seriously considering coming home, foregoing anymore treatment, and letting nature run its course. We have no answers on this yet, until the biopsy is done and the results are back.
I have known Sully years before Mike and I even started to date. My sister worked with Sully and Mike at the same business, which is how I got to know the family. Sully has always been the bright spot, for me, in my family of in-laws. And, yes, I do say this tongue-in-cheek....I love my in-laws, but seeing Sully, and talking with him, has always been a joy. He's special in a way that's hard to describe. A very smart man, he can fix anything, build beautiful furniture out of wood, analyze things to figure how they work. He started as a mechanic, and worked his way into becoming the service manager for the business he worked for. So, not only is his 'street smart,' but also intelligent with numbers, customer service, etc. Always level-headed, until pushed, Sully is the calm in the Zadra clan. Which is why I always gravitate to him at family functions.
I could write forever about Sully, and introduce you to him, but it would take pages and pages and days. I wish I could, though, introduce you all to him, because he's so special. This has been such a difficult time for us. I lost my own dad about 6 years ago. My dad passed away from a heart attack. While he had been ill, my dad's passing was fast. I always wondered if it would have been better, or easier, to know how much time he had left. Now I know it is NOT easier.
I understand Sully's feelings on possibly stopping all treatment. At what point does one finally say, "Enough is enough?" But, it's hard. I know it's hard for him, too. He loves Maelie, and I know how tough it is for him to think of missing out on watching her grow. Just as it is devistating for Mike and I to think of Maelie growing up without him...without a grandfather at all. But, we have to keep in mind that we can't be selfish, and put him through more pain, more poking, prodding, and surgeries for our own desires. Whatever Sully decides to do I will respect it and just do the best I can to get through the emotions.
If you can, any thoughts and prayers for this wonderful man, and Maelie's grandpa, would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure I'll be blogging more about Sully from now on.
This is the first time I've written about Sully like this on my blog. I'm not really sure why I chose to keep it private. But, it's time to write.
Sully has been battling cancer since shortly after I returned home with Maelie from Vietnam. At the time, he wasn't feeling well. He was really tired, cold all the time, and would feel winded, as if he couldn't catch his breath. He finally went to the doctor, and after tests, it was determined he has myelofibrosis. This is a cancer of the blood, and to put it in simple terms, it causes the body to stop producing red blood cells, platelets. This was why he was feeling so tired and winded; his body wasn't receiving oxygen.
Along with the myelofibrosis, Sully also has leukemia cells in his blood. This is not an acute leukemia yet, however, but does add to the whole because the body is battling so many things. He also had a circulatory problem in his leg, which was causing much pain. He had a surgery on this over a month ago, and unfortunately, this wound has not healed properly, so he has had to undergo two additional surgeries, so far, to repair this.
There isn't a cure for his cancer. He's had to have regular blood transfusions to supply his body with platelets. A month ago, he went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and found that he could have chemotherapy, which could lengthen his life and add to the quality of his life. The first round of chemo seemed to help him. He went back for the second round last week, and, unfortunately, they have found his leg wound is infected again...which led to one of the additional surgeries I mentioned.
In the course of all this last week, they have found two spots on Sully's lungs. The doctor is thinking cancer, but they will not be sure until a biopsy is done, probably tomorrow. If it is cancer, Sully is seriously considering coming home, foregoing anymore treatment, and letting nature run its course. We have no answers on this yet, until the biopsy is done and the results are back.
I have known Sully years before Mike and I even started to date. My sister worked with Sully and Mike at the same business, which is how I got to know the family. Sully has always been the bright spot, for me, in my family of in-laws. And, yes, I do say this tongue-in-cheek....I love my in-laws, but seeing Sully, and talking with him, has always been a joy. He's special in a way that's hard to describe. A very smart man, he can fix anything, build beautiful furniture out of wood, analyze things to figure how they work. He started as a mechanic, and worked his way into becoming the service manager for the business he worked for. So, not only is his 'street smart,' but also intelligent with numbers, customer service, etc. Always level-headed, until pushed, Sully is the calm in the Zadra clan. Which is why I always gravitate to him at family functions.
I could write forever about Sully, and introduce you to him, but it would take pages and pages and days. I wish I could, though, introduce you all to him, because he's so special. This has been such a difficult time for us. I lost my own dad about 6 years ago. My dad passed away from a heart attack. While he had been ill, my dad's passing was fast. I always wondered if it would have been better, or easier, to know how much time he had left. Now I know it is NOT easier.
I understand Sully's feelings on possibly stopping all treatment. At what point does one finally say, "Enough is enough?" But, it's hard. I know it's hard for him, too. He loves Maelie, and I know how tough it is for him to think of missing out on watching her grow. Just as it is devistating for Mike and I to think of Maelie growing up without him...without a grandfather at all. But, we have to keep in mind that we can't be selfish, and put him through more pain, more poking, prodding, and surgeries for our own desires. Whatever Sully decides to do I will respect it and just do the best I can to get through the emotions.
If you can, any thoughts and prayers for this wonderful man, and Maelie's grandpa, would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure I'll be blogging more about Sully from now on.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Beautiful Girl
I have some blog postings I want to do, but I wanted to post this photo right away. We went to visit my mom today, and it was gorgeous outside. I took a bunch of photos of Maelie outside...they were all perfect! But, the color is all off on the camera, so I'm having fun playing with filters. I just had to post this one right away, because I think it's just so beautiful in sepia.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
First Teeth
Yes...First TEETH!!! We've been seeing white bumps and signs of teething for quite awhile now, but it's official...we have two teeth that have broken through! One on the bottom and one on the top, both in the front. :) She has a lot of bumps in there, too, and we no longer have to worry about how she chews her favorite food (chicken); she has one heckuva strong bite. I found this out looking for the new teeth....
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Tonight We Lit A Candle
Tonight we lit a candle for the other mother. Maelie's Vietnam Mommy. She is the one that gave birth to Maelie. For this, we shall be eternally grateful. It is my deepest wish that Maelie's Vietnam Mommy can know in her heart that the baby she gave birth to is well cared for and loved so completely by her adoptive parents and extended family and friends.
We will light a candle for Maelie's Vietnam Mommy every Mother's Day night. Thank you, Vietnam Mom. Thank you.
First Mother's Day
Today, we celebrated Mother's Day. Our first, with Maelie. I never knew before just how truly special Mother's Day really is. Everyday, of course, with Maelie, is special. But today, I felt as if I 'belonged' on this holiday. Maybe that word is too trite. I not only 'got' what this holiday really feels like, but because I'm Maelie's Mommy, I felt as if I was the luckiest mom in the world. This child has made me feel such deep emotions that I never knew were even possible.
Mike did a lot to make this holiday special for me...for us. Maelie gave me a very lovely 'Mom' necklace. Daddy knew that Mommy needed a piece of jewelry that said 'Mom' on it for her first Mother's Day. :) Daddy also did something very special; he went through my folder of photos from the day I adopted Maelie in Vietnam and had some of the very special photos of that day blown up and printed. I cried again seeing them. And, of course, Mommy got the obligatory box of chocolates. :)
Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Mike's mom,and all the special moms I know. Thank you, Mikey, for making the day so special, and thank you Maelie, for making this day a reality.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
One Year Ago
One year ago today, on the Saturday before Mother's Day, I received the very first glimpse of Miss Maelie. Until this year, that was the best Mother's Day gift I could have received. Now, of course, the greatest gift is HER!
I don't want to share too many details about her referral, but, a year ago today I knew she was in an orphanage in Bac Ninh, Vietnam, waiting for her new family. Due to all the previous setbacks we had had, I was hesitant to be excited and hopeful that this little girl would join our family. But, let's be honest....I fell in love with that little face. :) How could you not????
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I don't want to share too many details about her referral, but, a year ago today I knew she was in an orphanage in Bac Ninh, Vietnam, waiting for her new family. Due to all the previous setbacks we had had, I was hesitant to be excited and hopeful that this little girl would join our family. But, let's be honest....I fell in love with that little face. :) How could you not????
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Monday, May 4, 2009
First Steps - For Real!
Maelie and I decided to get out of the house and into the beautiful day today so we drove to Grandma's house. I grew up in the country, so I love to take Maelie out there to get some fresh air out of town. Even though 'town' isn't that big, it's still nice to go to Grandma's house!
We decided to go outside and let Maelie play in the grass. She walked from me to Grandma!!!! TWICE!!!! Look Ma, no hands! :) So it was a total of about 4 steps. I'm still proud as can be!!!!!! :)
We decided to go outside and let Maelie play in the grass. She walked from me to Grandma!!!! TWICE!!!! Look Ma, no hands! :) So it was a total of about 4 steps. I'm still proud as can be!!!!!! :)
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