Monday, October 8, 2012

Hello out there!

 Well, to say it has been a while is an understatment other than the post below with Lauren's Adoption Video.  I thought it might be time for an update.

Lauren is now 2 1/2.  She is a hoot for sure.  She is definitely a spit fire and keeps us on our toes.  She is loving, smart, funny and truly a gift from God.  Is is attending preschool 2 days a week and doing pretty well.  She does cry when I leave but is settled within a few minutes.  She has had all her cleft surgeries until about age 6-7.  She has done amazing and to be honest you would never know she was Cleft affected.  We recently had her evaluated for speech and to be honest I don't know that she will qualify for Early Intervention.  I really hope she does as I feel she needs it.  Her receptive language is amazing.  She has always been many steps ahead which makes it even more difficult for her to communicate.  She get very upset when we can't understand her and even though she knows some signs it is still very difficult for her.  The EI team just said that remember she is only two and that just because she may not qualify now doesn't mean she won't in a year.  I keep stressing to them that it is very important to get her services early to keep ahead of the problems we know she will have simply because of her cleft.  Say a little prayer that we get what we need!

Below are some updated pictures of the girls from our trip to OBX in September.    Enjoy!













Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Lauren's Adoption Video

Wow long time no... write, see or update.  Well life gets in the way BUT I did want to post 
 The Adoption Story of Lauren Madelyn Pahls  I finished her video.  It is very long as it was so hard to decide and cut down over 2500 photos.  If you would like to watch click on the link above, then click on the black tile with the "The Adoption Story..."  If you would like to see it in full screen mode hover over the show and click on the full screen icon in the bottom right corner. Turn on your speakers. Not even sure if anyone is still around but I have some family that can watch from here.  Hope everyone is is great!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!


I had a wonderful Mother's Day!  Lauren and I slept in until 8:45!  It felt great!  My friend Susan and Grace came over for dinner.  Mark was wonderful!  He got up extra early to smoke ribs for us!  He did the entire dinner for Susan and I!  He did a great job!  We had snacks and just enjoyed the day!  The weather was perfect to sit on the deck and enjoy the day together with a few glasses of wine.  Emma and Grace played all day in the back yard and woods!  Lauren was a dream although she seems to be on this eat and sleep routine!  Once she eats she wants to sleep... once she wakes she wants to eat... then sleep.  She must be going through a growth spurt!  Here is the best picture we got for the day!  They I think it is real to life!  Thanks to Mark and Susan under pressure! 

Here is the three girls together!


And of course my best big girl.  She is so beautiful!!!!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day like it did!  Thanks Mark for giving Susan and I a wonderful day!  You are the best!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Home coming and a few days after

Wow.  I am amazed at how much time in my day I have lost!  But, I wouldn't have it any other way!  We are so blessed to have these two girls.  God has answered our prayers and his work is perfect.  I still can't believe she is here and is doing fantastic.  It is amazing!  To tell you the truth...  All I want to do is sit and play with Lauren all day!  Of course I enjoy nap time as it is the only time I have to get anything done, but I just love floor time with my baby girl.  I have loads of pictures to upload from our arrival home and the day or two following.  Some of the pics aren't the best but you will get the idea! And if you know me you know that I have to have the "first's" photos, so there are a lot!  Feel free to skip over them!

Finally home!

A hug from Mom!

Grandpa's missing... he's taking the picture

Just happy to be home!

Grandpa meets Lauren

Grandma meets Lauren

Lauren in her room for the first time!

Getting ready for bed

Love this one!

Still sleeping at 11am!

First morning waking in her new room ( I woke her up)

Laruen meets Abby!  It is a love affair now!

Emma the morning after!  (I woke her too, but this is what she did anyway)

Lauren's favorite place, the highchair


Me and my two girls, this picture really captures my emotions, thanks mom!


More to come soon!


Monday, May 2, 2011

She turned 1!



She HATED her birthday hat!  She cried during most of the presents and wasn't sure about the cake.... BUT she had a small party with family and we couldn't have been happier to share her first birthday with her!  Many photo ops weren't taken... oh well we have the memory of it and that is real life with a 1 year old. 

I have a quiet week planned to try and get myself together.  We have a blood work appointment tomorrow so I am gearing up for that task as I am sure it won't go well!  She had a nasty reaction to one of her immunizations and broke out in a really bad rash and fever on Friday but all is good now and we were very happy that the TB test was negative.  Lauren is doing very well!  She is 29 inches long and weighs 18 pound 14 ounces.  She is sleeping 12 hours at night and takes 2 naps during the day!  She eats just about anything you give her and the switch to whole milk has gone off without a hitch!  She is the happiest little girl!  She cracks herself up and us too.  Life is going great!  Now I just have to get myself on a schedule and life will be blissful for me. 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!









I wish I had more time to write but I am really worn out.  Just trying to figure out life right now.  Emma goes back to school tomorrow and I have a 1st Birthday to plan (it will be very small).  We are doing very good and the best thing is my mom got ALL the laundry done and it is put away!  A family of 4 sure can produce a lot of laundry for a 15 day trip!  I promise I will get this blog updated with the rest of our trip once thing settle a bit!  I do want to say thanks again to all the followers and the wonderful comments!  I am glad so many of you enjoyed following our journey and I hope to be able to keep going for Lauren's first years as I did with Emma.  I am glad that I touched many of you, helped some of you and was able to share our journey.  Please keep following!  I know so many of you have blogs of your own that I follow but haven't been able to check in on!  I hope you are all doing well and I hope to stop by soon!

We are home!

A few days late for this post but we made it home safe, sound and exhausted.  I have so much to catch up on and many posts and photos to do.  I will try very hard in the next day to get it all caught up.  Emma and Lauren did fabulous on the flights home.  I know when the people around us saw us get on with 2 kids and one being a baby they were worried but they did great.  Other than the roller coaster of a decent and landing we had which prompted both kids to throw up along with several adults all went great.  We were delayed getting home on our last flight and walked in the door at 11:45 pm.  We were greeted by Grandma and Grandpa and loads of balloons.  Once we pulled in our drive was we had baby girl decorations all over the house and yard.  My friends are great.  It felt so good.  We have had minor jet lag issues and it seems we might have gotten Lauren over the hump.  So with that all said we are doing great! 

More later but for now... I hope you all have a blessed Easter Sunday!