Bringing Home Holland

It is really shocking to sit for a sec and think where we were last year.

Cav was really still raging, and more wild child than son.

Can you believe he still had NOT had surgery for his legs - not for almost another month.

We had no idea his remaining tibia would be broken into 3 pieces and we would spend the summer in a cast with a rod ensuring he would heal correctly.  We suspected but had no idea his casts would only last on average 10 days and we spent many days driving to Denver for replacements.

Although we knew he would amaze us we had no idea it would only take 48 hours to learn to walk by himself with his new legs.

We still had no idea that his funky hands were actually a manifestation of mild Radial club hands, and that he would need surgery to "fix" them.

Although this is about our two youngest boys I have to add we had no idea Fei's spinal cord was compressed and would require "emergency" surgery on her spine and base of her skull.

We had no idea Cav would blow through his first knee in mere weeks, his first set of legs in months.

We had NOT even met Tao yet,

and no idea our sweet angel possessed the most glorious dimples AND the sweetest personality.

If you have followed us for any time, then you know that it has been a hard year.

Besides 5 surgeries, 14 casts, and more therapy visits than I can count, we also learned to set boundaries.

Truthfully, it probably has been the hardest year of my life.  Requiring the most personal growth I have ever experienced.

I laugh when I think back over the year and think "What the heck were we thinking adopting during such turmoil."

But more importantly, I can see that for much of the past year, God carried our family and me specifically.  The rest of the time He guided me, molding and shaping.

And as we celebrate an absolutely crazy weekend.

I can truly smile and feel blessed.

Friday the 10th ~ Tao's hand surgery to remove his extra thumbs.  We were very blessed that the surgeon was able to transfer the muscle from the "claw" to his real thumb (instead of doing the same surgery as Cav needed)

Saturday the 11th - I lost my mind and we somehow ended up with a new puppy (yeah we were looking for a kitten!)

Cav turned 5 on the 12th (mother's day)  I shudder to think what his life would be like if he hadn't become our son.  And I am thrilled to say those very hard fought words.

Tao turned 3 on the 13th.  So special to celebrate his very first birthday with his family.  It was also very emotional since Friday was his surgery, the very reason he was abandoned.  (I don't believe they had any idea he was also a dwarf.)  We are blessed to have a newborn picture of our sweet screaming baby.  But to think a "simple surgery" which only took two hours changed the course of our sweet angels life.

Happy Birthday boys ~ we truly love you!

The boys and their puppy (post coming)

How many littles does it take to put together a car!

Big Brother's are great for going fast!

Heehee now that's the way to ride in his new firetruck!

Mom and dad searched HIGH & low for a hand powered ride on

It's a little smaller than we thought but it'll work for this year
You turn the handles back and forth to make it go forward 

I am so cute!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 NIV