OUR PRINCESS KARLY

This blog was created for our beautiful daughter Karly, who we adopted from Guatemala at 10 months old on 03/06/08. Thank you all for your love, prayers & support, we really appreciate it!
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December 30, 2008

Yesterday was Luke's surgery to replace his ear tubes and remove his tonsils and adenoids. He did great, and today he's been doing all the things he normally does. He doesn't mind taking the amoxicillin, but hates taking the tylenol with codeine. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, he's drinking and eating soft foods. I wish I could recover from anesthesia as quickly as he did! The doctor said his tonsils were very large and his adenoids were humongous! So, his speech, hearing and breathing should be dramatically improved once the swelling goes down.

Karly is recovering from another ear infection, her 3rd one in 9 months. It's looking like she may possibly be getting tubes by Spring at the rate she's going. I don't think she would do as well as Luke, I'm sure there would be some major screaming before and after surgery with her.

Drew is enjoying playing his Wii. He's very good at it, and usually beats me. He and I went bowling today and he was disappointed that it was much more difficult than Wii bowling!

December 18, 2008

It's time again for a monthly update on my kiddos! We'll start with Karly. She is still doing very well. She is sleeping through the night, from about 7pm-8am and she takes an afternoon nap from 1pm-3:30pm. She is usually very happy, but has the occasional fit when something doesn't go her way. She likes to get in my cupboards and pull out pots and pans, food, anything she can get her hands on. She also now likes to climb up on the big chairs at the table and tries to grab people's food. She is still not really talking, so Early Intervention will be coming in early January to evaluate her. She'll probably have a special instructor like Luke did. I'm sure once she starts talking, she'll talk ALL the time. She seems to understand what we're saying to her, so that's a good thing.

Luke is doing very well in Preschool. He goes 2 days a week and seems to really like it. I just found out today that he needs to have a 2nd set of tubes put in his ears, because the last set fell out and he's not hearing well again. He's also going to have his adenoids and tonsils taken out, because they feel that this will help his speech, ear infections, breathing, snoring, etc. He's scheduled for surgery on December 29th. Please pray that all goes well for him, that he recovers quickly, and that this is the last of the ear problems for him! Other than all that, he is a very happy boy. He's quick to comfort someone when they hurt themselves, he's very compassionate and empathetic. He enjoys watching Spongebob, ALL the time! He's still crazy about Thomas the train too. He's our little clown, he's always saying and doing funny things. He is fully potty trained, and needs very little reminding to use the potty.

Drew is doing awesome in school. He got his first report card in school, and it was great. The only thing that he could really improve on to get a better report card is his neatness and legibility. His teacher tells me that he is a very bright little boy and he sets a fine example for the other students. She also says he's shy and reserved at school, is she talking about the same kid??!! At home he's bouncing off the walls sometimes, and just loves to annoy Luke. Most of the time they all get along very well though.

Well, that's it for now. I posted some more pictures for you to see.

Adoption Timeline

Karly born: 04/26/07
Accepted Referral: 05/16/07
DNA taken: 07/02/07
DNA results: 07/14/07
FC: Not sure of dates, but SW interview was on 7/24/07
Pre-Approval: 09/03/07
Held up for 6 weeks from entering PGN because a Judge wouldn't release our social worker report!
Enter PGN: 10/23/07
Kicked out of PGN: 11/15/07
Resubmitted to PGN: 11/28/07
Out of PGN: 01/24/08 Actually approved on 1/22
New Birth Certificate from Antigua: 02/04/08

Passport:02/05/08
Orange:02/12/08
2nd DNA test taken: 02/15/08

DNA results received at Embassy: 02/25
PINK slip from Embassy stating when our appointment is to pick up Karly's VISA (sent via email): 02/26
Travel date: 03/03

Embassy appt: 03/04 at 7:15am!!
Home forever: 03/06!!!

About Me

Pennsylvania, United States
I am married to the love of my life, Rick and I am mommy to 2 boys, Drew (7) and Luke (3), and 1 girl, Karly (1 1/2). Drew (4/25/01)is our biological son and he is in 2nd grade. He's such a smart, handsome boy! We adopted Luke (9/12/05) from Harrisburg, PA in 2005 and we brought him home when he was 2 days old! He is always making us laugh! We adopted Karly from Guatemala and she came home on 3/6/08. She is our little princess. I am also mommy to my 2 angel babies in Heaven, Blake (12/26/03)& Gabriella (10/10-10/13/04) who were so small, so sweet and taken all too soon. I run an infant loss support group once a month and I volunteer at a grief center for children.
YOU

All babies are a gift, some are even surprises.

But YOU, my adopted child are a treasure!

YOU were not only planned and prepared for;

YOU were a journey we took, a mission we had our hearts on, a treasure so precious!

YOU were worth the wait, worth the tears, worth all the fears we faced.

Because YOU, our adopted child are a treasure!

Not of my flesh,
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.

Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart,
But in it!