Merry Christmas

                                              Merry Christmas from the Lane Family

Ellee turned 7

Ellee had a great 7th birthday! Her birthday is actually the 16th but due to scheduling conflicts we had to have her party a week late. Here is her party in the way of pictures :)

Ellee's last day of school

Today was Ellee's last day of school. She has accomplished so much this year and I couldn't be more proud of her. She has done things that everyone told us and her that she would never do. She met several of her goals. She knows most of her shapes, colors, and numbers and has expanded her vocabulary. She also knows how to write her name!!! She has had a wonderful teacher, great therapists, and a great support system (also known as her cheer leading section) I wish I could send a video to the orphanage and show how well she is doing.  When she starts back to school we will have started a new journey, in a new town, and in a new school district. I can't wait to see how well she does and what this next year will bring for her.


***Sorry no pictures will be added to this post because blogger has decided that I have reached my limit and therefore will not let me add anymore pictures :(

Johannah's last day of school

Today was Johannah's last day of preschool. It is so hard to believe that the girls have been home over a year, and that Johannah has already finished her first year of pre-k. She is ready for kindergarten, I'm not but she is. I can't wait to see what this next year has for her. She is so smart and her speech is improving so much. In the last couple of weeks she has added more words to her speech and has also put two word sentences together.


***Sorry no pictures will be added to this post because blogger has decided that I have reached my limit and therefore will not let me add anymore pictures :(

Johannah's birthday Pictures

Johannah turns 5

Johannah turned 5 today! This is her 2nd birthday with us! We didn't get to have a party because we are in the process of moving and because of the hold up with the IRS and not knowing exactly when were are moving we weren't able to plan anything. I do plan on having her a party this Summer to make up for that. Instead we kept her home from School, Andrew and I took her out to breakfast and made the day all about her. For supper my mom took us out to eat at Olive Garden. On Saturday Johannah will have her pictures made by my wonderful friend Amanda. I got her the cutest shirt and it matches her cake :)

Today is one of those days I wonder if her bio mom ever thinks about her. I pray she knows that she is  in a loving family and that we are ever so grateful to her. I pray that she finds comfort and peace with the decision that she made. I don't know her circumstances, I just pray for her.

Long time no post

I'm sorry I'm such a horrible blogger! We have been so busy lately with trying to get ready to move across country, drs. appointments, plays, field trips, and the list goes one. Let's start with first and foremost the girls are doing GREAT! They are happy, healthy, learning like crazy, and spoiled rotten and they know it ;) Ellee was in her first play a few weeks ago, and she done great! Her teacher said that Ellee was the first Kindergarten she has ever had that has done such a good job. That same day Johannah had her very first field trip to the local fire department, and the park. Next came Ellee's follow up doctors appointment at Vandy for her ear. The doctor said that everything looked great, and that the surgery helped, and that he didn't want to see us for 6 months and then after that appointment we would change to going only once a year Whoo hoo! We also had Easter in there with all of this, and the girls had a good one. Because our stuff was in storage (because we should already be moved now) the girls didn't get to wear the Easter dresses but we had a good day anyways. The girls loved their Easter baskets and only got a little bit of candy and the rest is stuff they can wear or use ;) This past weekend the girls were in a fashion show held by our local health department to fund mammograms for those who can't afford them to still be able to get them. A friend of mine (who was the coordinator of the event) sent me a message on faceb**k last night and let me know that Johannah was on the front page, so I sent Andrew out to get one. When he brought it back I flipped it to the back page and there was a picture of Ellee also. So both of my girls made the local newspaper :) For now that is it and hopefully it won't be that long until the next time I post :)

Mary Kay fundraiser for the Sader family

I am doing a Mary Kay fundraiser to help the Sader family bring home their other precious little girl from Eastern Europe. This is the 2nd trip over the ocean to bring home a little one with something a little extra. So if you would like to order something go here and pick out what you would like to order and then email me at lane1105@gmail.com and I will send you an invoice and you can either pay through paypal or by sending a check to my address. Thank you so much for your help! 

This is sweet precious Charity

Home a year

At exactly this time last year, we landed at Nashville International Airport after traveling for 24 hours. We were exhausted, tired, cranky and ready to be home. I remember it like yesterday. The girls did amazing on all the flights, but by the time we left D.C. to head to Nashville we were READY for it to be over and us to be home. Once at the airport we had friends there waiting for us and I was so happy to see them, Andrew and my momma. Gosh all this seems just like yesterday, but it feels like the girls have been here forever. How is that even possible? We officially got home home somewhere around 1:30-2:00 in the morning. I remember going in the girls room and staring at them as they slept, and being so thankful they were home in their beds. And it is still something I do, I go in and check on the girls make sure they are covered up, in their beds etc. but the main thing is to look at them and to praise Jesus that they are HOME!

Gotcha Day 1 year anniversary

One year ago today Ellee and Johannah walked out of the orphanage they were in for the last time. Happy 1 year gotcha day to my baby girls.

Johannah is feeling under the weather so her poor eyes look pitiful in these pics but she's still gorgeous :)

Miracles really do happen

A few weeks ago Rachel (another adoptive mommy from RR) asked me if we would like to get together before we move and I said yes so she said she would ask another adoptive mommy Lyndi if she would also like to get together and what day works best. So we chose today, and we were calling it an "Orphan No More Party" Another really big part of today was 1 year ago today Andrew and I stood in front of a judge and she pronounced us the parents of Ellee Elizaveta Lane and Johannah Dasha Lane. One of the best days of our life! So today couldn't have been a better day to have a play date and for us to celebrate! (even though some of it was sad because we are moving so far away from them) To see 5 former Ukrainian orphans all in the same room, seeing so much change in all of them, and seeing the love that everyone of them had in their eyes. People that say miracles don't exist or don't happen anymore should have been in that room today, but since they weren't I have a picture that proves Miracles really do happen and they happen everyday all around the world!

Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love

A year ago today 2 little girls walked into a room and my world changed forever. It is hard to believe that a year ago my girls were in an orphanage, and a year later they are sleeping soundly in their bed right now. The last year has been such a blessing! Ellee and Johannah have changed in so many ways. They have the biggest and best smiles. They love unconditionally! They can turn any day that I am having into an even better day. They give the best hugs and kissses. They are my miracles, and blessings! I love my girls so much and can't thank God enough for them.

Valentine's Day

Today was our first Valentine's Day with Ellee and Johannah. On Valentine's Day last year we had our SDA appoinment and then went to TGIF to meet with other adopting families. I kept asking Andrew how he was going to top this year because last year was so good, but I have to say that this year I actually was able to get my girls up out of bed, hug and kiss them, and they are here with me, last year I was so close to them but hadn't actually met them yet. So this year was pretty Great! :) Johannah had to stay home from school today because she had a croupy kind of cough and had been up all the night before coughing to the point of vomiting so I kept her home, sad that she didn't get to go to her first school Valentines party but her health is more important, Ellee came home with lots of candy and evidence of sugary substances all over her lol... After school I had to run home and wash my hair because one of my students' got icing in my hair because we were playing around, so before we went out I wanted to wash it out. I got the girls' all dressed up and then we went out to eat. We went to Chili's and had an amazing meal. Afterwards we took the girls shopping and got them a few new outfits. It was an Amazing, Great Day!!!

Kisses from Johannah

Cheesy smile from Ellee

1 year ago today (I know such a flashy title :)

1 year ago today we were flying to Ukraine to meet our daughters for the first time. It's hard to believe some days that it has been a year and at other times, it is like they have been here forever. A friend on my facebook reminded me of what they said about Ellee, that she was nonverbal, unteachable, and will be a burden for the rest of her life. How sad! But boy do I wish they could see her now, to see them now. Ellee is forming sentences, she can say her abc's and recognizes those letters, she can write her name, she can put hard puzzles together by just looking at the shape, she can show emotions that she used to not be able to show. She loves the Wheels on the bus song, she loves to sing and dance and much more (but I have to save some for Gotcha Day anniversary). Johannah is learning her abc's, she loves to sing and dance, her favorite song is Bumblebee, her favorite book is Quack, Quack. They are happy, full of smiles, can be stubborn, love to eat, loves to role play, have the best laughs in the world, and can make you turn your frown upside down with just one of their great smiles, hugs and kisses.
If you missed our journey this time last year you can read that here

and a year ago today...

At this time last year... Read Here what we were doing ;)

1 year ago today

Read last years posts from 1 year ago today here and here



Wow the memories....

yuck yuck and yuck

The last week has been rough. On Wednesday of last week my throat started to hurt and I thought oh no please don't let me be getting sick, I have too much to do. Two beautiful little girls who needs mommy to be 100%, still have to work, a house to pack up, suppers to cook, laundry to wash, baths to be given, and the list goes on. By Friday I was miserable, and by Saturday I couldn't move off the couch. I slept most of the day and was so thankful that Andrew was home. My hubby cooked supper and lets just say Good try honey ;) Sunday I had to get up because Andrew had to work but I still wasn't feeling any better, but by this time Johannah and Ellee were feeling bad. So I went ahead and called my boss to let her know that I wouldn't be coming in on Monday and I called and emailed the girls' teachers. Monday we were all pretty miserable. Monday night Johannah and I were up all night coughing our heads off, Johannah's cough became more of a deep down barky cough. So Tuesday morning I called in again and off to the doctor we went. Ellee's ended up just being allergies so she is on claritan, Johannah's is borderline pneumonia :( and mine is bronchitis, so with 6 prescriptions later and 2 of us out of school/work the rest of the week we are on the road to recovery. Boy it is really hard being a sick mommy with 2 sick little ones. Plus Andrew is started to not feel well Saturday night (even though he won't fully admit it)

Ellee's new glasses

Ellee got her new glasses on Wednesday (January 18th) We got them from Drs. Valu-Vision so we could get the buy one get one free deal, so she would have a pair for school and home. It takes them 1 hour to make them so we went to eat and at around 7p.m.we went back and picked them up. You could see a complete change as soon as she put them on. It was like she didn't have them on, and she didn't touch them.The next day at school her teacher said she done great, although they were still sliding, and that was after 3 different nose pieces were changed out. She has the narrow bridge of her nose. Friday she had a good day and once she got home I put her glasses on her and the poor thing couldn't even play because they were sliding down her nose. So off to the store we went and bought the ugly band, but that ugly band is doing the job!!! She can see and play and she doesn't even realize she has glasses on! Oh I pray that this works and we don't have to do the dreaded eye surgery! 

Here is our cutie with her new specks (the flash on my phone was bright so it caused her to close her eyes)

School glasses

Home glasses

Whistle

We went to Wa*mart last night and Andrew bought some train whistles. At first I was puzzled because we hadn't discussed train whistles, and it was very "odd" for him to be buying train whistles. Once in the car I asked him again why he bought train whistles, and he replied watch. He gave them to Ellee and Johannah and at first they didn't know what to do with them, and after several attempts would get a few blows out but they still weren't quite getting the hang of it. They eventually dropped them. When we got home it was time to go to bed so we put them up for the night. After school today I gave them to the girls, Andrew was at work, and it was like something clicked and they both took off with them. They were doing great! I just had to get a video of them doing it and send it to Daddy since he couldn't be here for it.

I want to share those videos with all my bloggy friends :)

Hope you enjoyed :)

Medical Update

We spent most of the day Monday and Tuesday at Vanderbilt. Monday was Ellee's 2nd post-op appointment for her ear and a hearing test. She did much better on her hearing test, he still wants to do another test in about 6 months, because she is still healing from the surgery. Andrew was able to go with me to this appointment so it made it much easier. (I could never make it as a single mom lol) On Tuesday, it was me and my mom taking the girls to their appointments, it was again an all day thing at Vandy. First both girls had eye doctors appointments. We got a lot of answers to questions we have been asking since the girls first got home. First lets start with the easy one, Johannah hated her glasses, not the type of hate that she would just take her glasses off or cry when you put them on her, but the type of hate where she would yank them off and twist them. Many times I didn't know if they could be fixed or not but we would take them and the eye doctor would work his magic and they would be fixed, but the last time she twisted them they could not be fixed. I kept telling everyone that I thought it was the wrong prescription, but what we found out was that not only was it the wrong prescription but that she doesn't need glasses at all. Good thing she didn't wear them for very long because it could have potentially hurt her eyes. No wonder she had a fiery, purple passion hate for them things. Next comes Ellee, Ellee tilts her head to the left and we have been asking for months why and what we could do to fix it. Everyone that we went to, besides her pediatrician who didn't know why she was doing it and hoped the eye doctor (the original one we went to) could tell us why. The original one (the non-specialist and the one who prescribed glasses for Johannah didn't need them) Grrr... But when we went to her she said that Ellee did need glasses but glasses wouldn't fix it, it was something she has done for so long and it was just part of her behavior now. again Grrrr... Anyway 1 doctor came in and did Ellee's exam, then another, and then another, and they would converse in a language I did not understand. The third doctor did tell us that he was going to have another doctor come in (the doctor we were actually there to see) because what he sees is that he right eye is higher than her left eye, and she was tilting to compensate and make things straight. we noticed this behavior when she was watching tv, eating, and writing or coloring. She would even turn her paper to make it easier. This third doctor even took a picture (with my permission) and is going to use her in a case study and at a conference that he is going to speak at in May in Chicago. Wish I could be there. Anyway the 4th dr. came in and did her exam and then went over with me what he was going to do. He prescribed glasses that are going to solely concentrate on her right eye. He hopes that this will work and so do I, because if it doesn't work in four months we have to do eye surgery  I don't like to say it, I don't like to write it. It scares me to death. Please please please pray with me she doesn't have to have this, pray the glasses work.

During this appointment, which had already lasted 2 1/2 hours, I had to call the next appointment and let them know we were coming but we could be late. The good thing was we only had to go up a couple of floors to be at the next appointment. We got out of there and went straight to the next appointment and got there just in time. It was 12:25, Johannah's appointment was at 12:30. They hadn't had lunch, no nap, so I had no idea how this appointment was going to go. They call Johannah back and she has a hearing test done. She passed this time, not great but a lot better than before. Again she just had tubes put in so they want to retest her in a couple of months and see how her hearing is then. We go back out to the waiting room. A few minutes later we get called back only to go sit in another waiting room. A about 15 minutes later the nurse comes out gets me and Johannah and we go back to check in. She tells us at that time Dr. G had an emergency in the O.R. and didn't know when he would be in. She checked us in and we went back out to that waiting room which was tiny. The girls, however, done great. They entertained themselves, played with another little boy, played with me phone, waved and blew kisses at everyone that came by. Finally at 2:00 they told us Dr. G was there and they called us back. Finally at 3 Dr. G comes in and sees us. He told us everything looked great.

We left at 3:30... I was meeting a friend of mine who works at Vandy, and who is in our mom's group. I was returning a Signing Time DVD back to her and getting another one. We met up with her and then we went on the search for my van. Which was awful we went to each floor that I thought I parked on, and then finally just as she was going to have to go back to work, I realized I parked on the floor that we were originally on!!!! I was so upset. At this point I was hungry, tired, cranky and on the verge of a breakdown, but the girls they were great! We get to the van, exchange DVDs, say our goodbyes and off we go. I did the ultimate no no and went through a drive-thru and we ate on the way home. Yes in the car... When we finally got home I was exhausted, the girls were exhausted. Johannah was asleep by 6:30, Ellee by 7:00 (they slept all night) and me by 8:00 and I slept all night ;)

Forgot to mention Johannah has to have another sleep study done to see how her apnea is since her tonsils and adenoids being taken out. We hope to schedule that before we move, and we really feel her apnea is gone. So please pray for this too! :)

Thank you all my bloggy friends!

Here is a pic of the girls in their dresses that a wonderful friend of mine sent to them.