Here is another that I completed this morning...
{linked for credits}
"Purple"
12 years ago
Sunday, April 25, 2010
{you LOVES shoes}
I have been having so much FUN lately scrapbooking!!! I am trying to get caught up in Makayla's book, as if that could really happen when I take so many pictures daily of her! LOL But, I am trying!
{linked for credits}
{linked for credits}Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Another FIRST!!!!
I just made this layout today of Makayla. She had a BLAST playing in the sprinkler this weekend! I am so excited that we get to have so many FIRSTS with this little Punkin'! This was her FIRST swimsuit and her FIRST time playing in the sprinkler!!! Have I ever mentioned that I absolutely LOVE this little girl!!! God is good...ALL THE TIME! 
Friday, April 16, 2010
OK...I cannot believe it has already been a month since my last post...really sorry here!! However, it is all good news!!!! We have finished her sedated ABR, CT scan of her brain of her cochlear, finished ALL of the blood work (A+ on it all) required and her ear molds done for hearing aids. We just met with the Cochlear Team this week and she IS a candidate for cochlear implants (meaning that her very own cochleas and nerves are beautiful) and our insurance pays for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise God on this one, because it is around $60,000 per ear! She is profoundly deaf and we will need to have her in hearing aids for 3 months to introduce sounds and noise and then she will have her surgery around August and they should turn them on in September...just in time for school!!! We are so excited that she is a candidate that we could scream! I will someday hear my little girl say "Mommy", "I LOVE YOU", and...you get the idea!
Makayla is doing absolutely FANTASTIC and is such a blessing and joy! It makes me want more, but every time I mention that she needs a little sister, Mike about falls off his chair! LOL He really wasn't ready for any of them, but has adjusted quite well and loves them all very much! LOL He can't get over how much Makayla belongs in our family and how much he loves her already! That is a GOD thing! I will try to post more pictures of her later, but for now I posted our announcement of our little Makayla (at the top). I made the announcement the other day and just LOVE how it turned out!!! Below are a few of the LO I have done for her scrapbook (with the exception of the first LO, that was made for me by my friend Lisa). In the LO from my friend, the pictures are of our first day and night together in China and we were bonding wonderfully! The rest of the LO are made by me and are not in any particular order...thanks to blogger! arrrrgggg!
Take care and thanks for stopping by to see how she is doing!
Hugs & Blessings to you all,
Fonnetta
Hugs & Blessings to you all,
Fonnetta
Monday, March 15, 2010
{UPDATE}
Ok...I know you all have been waiting to get the scoop on our Sweetheart and I think I might have a minute to post the facts:
2/10/10
1st Dr. appointment- Our family Dr. was the first one to see her and the verdict was sad. She had an upper respiratory infection, sinus infection, double chronic ear infections, thrush (yeast infection) and we got set up to do the 3 day poop sample for giardia (we already knew she was positive but tested to make sure there wasn't any more parasites) and mulluscum (virus related to small pox). Our Dr. said she was SICK!!!! Poor little Makayla...even though she was so sick, she still smiled all the time!!! She weighed 26 pounds and was 34 inches tall. She was in the 1st percentile for her weight (Asian Charts not American) and 25th percentile for her height. We put her on a 10 day amoxacillian and Nystatin for yeast, then prayed for healing! We will do all we possible can to get her well!!!
2/12/10-Poop samples done (PEEE-UUU) and FedEx'd to the lab...it takes the lab a week to grow what is in the stool and then they take time to find out what will kill them too, so you aren't experimenting on the child. We really liked that part!!! We just want those creepy, stinky little things GONE!!!
2/16/10-ENT appointment @10am. Dr. looked in her ears and said she has chronic ear infections and her adenoids are HUGE!!! There is still fluid in her ears and because her adenoids are so big the fluid in the ear and inner ear cannot drain. What would happen is the fluid would just grow bacteria again and the infection would start all over. There is no way to know if she can hear until she has surgery to remove the adenoids, put tubes in her ears to drain the fluid so the inner ear can heal. Yep, you guessed it...we scheduled surgery!
Surgery scheduled for March 1, 2010
2/17/10-Poop samples back and POSITIVE for Giardia! Yep, we knew it and YEAST! Thankfully though that was it. No other little weird things came with her.
2/19/10 Finished with the 10 day round of antibiotics...she really does take her meds well! She will be on the nystatin for 2-3 months, so that one will be a while!
2/22/10-Pre-Op appointment for surgery. Her ears have healed but the fluid is still there. At least we know, right? Her surgery will cost about $5,000! Did I tell you we have a health savings account...we pay out of pocket for the first $3,600 then the insurance pays 90%...OUCH!!!!
3/01/10-SURGERY (6:30 check in for a 7:30 surgery). We also decided to have our Dr. get as much of the blood work needed while she was under for surgery. The agency and Post Adoption want A LOT of testing done to make sure she is healthy, even if the test were done in China we had to do them over. I think she is traumatized ENOUGH, so we are having most of it done now.
At 8:45 am the Dr. came out and said the surgery went really well and she will need to be on another 10 day round of amoxacillian to help prevent infection and ear drops for 3 days to help with infection and swelling (we want those tubes to stay in).
I got to go straight back right after that and be with her while she woke up. She looked so sweet!!! The nice part of just getting the adenoids removed and tubes put in is that there are no pain fibers connected to the nerves!!! So, that means post surgery is virtually pain free. She may not even need Tylenol (and she didn't). We do have to stay away from people for 7-10 days to prevent infection from others. Since the adenoids are right behind the nostrils when she breathes it can get right to that raw tissue and she could get sick (back to the cave for the Sweeney's)Makayla woke up enough in the 1st recovery to be taken to the 2nd recovery and there it was a little more frustrating. Evidently they gave her an extra shot of Demerol in her leg!!!! For a child that has NEVER even had Tylenol and Demerol being 10X stronger...she woke up to throw up!!!! Even the pediatric nurses were upset! The little ones just don't handle that stuff!!!! In the mean time...I called for the nurse because something was coming out of her ear that looked like rotten gauze and I didn't want to mess with it until she saw it. She assumed that I said wax and assured me it was normal! I asked her to come and look at it and she did. Her face said it all...she didn't know what it was either and thought it looked like rotten gauze too. So, she called the Dr. to make sure he had not packed her ear and he said he had not. That was GUNK from her inner ear that had squeezed through the tubes because of the pressure in her ears. She had to of felt better to get that crap out of her ear!!!! The nurse removed it and nothing else has really come out since then. Anyway, after she threw up they sent us home and we RUSHED!!!! We knew she wasn't finished throwing up! It is a good thing we only live 10 minutes from the hospital! Sure enough we got home and she threw up 2 more times and passed out! I felt so bad for her, but I know from experience that she needed to throw up to get that crap out of her system. I just held her while she slept and after about 2 hours, she woke up and FELT GREAT!!!! You would not have known she had surgery that morning!!! She was eating EVERYTHING and drinking lots of fluid and we played! We read books, played puzzles, had a tea party....seriously she was GREAT! The hearing would take time. The inflammation had to go down and the fluid drain from the inner ear before we might know anything. We also are not sure how long she had chronic ear infections and how much damage it caused the ear...we wait and just enjoy our precious little gift!
3/08/10- POST-OP appointment. She is doing great! The ears are healing beautifully and we are seeing some signs of hearing. She covers her ears at times, points to her ears, and makes more vocal noises!!! We also did a hearing test while in the office with the audiologist and that came back inconclusive! SO, we are scheduled for an ABR (sedated hearing test) It will be at the children's hospital and the test is for 2 hours (she will be sleeping for this one). They are testing the nerves to make sure they work and to see the degree of loss we are working with. Then we will know what to do and what she will need as far as hearing aides or whatever!
3/09/10-Infant Toddler Assessment. Emily came today to do some assessments on Makayla to see where she is cognitively and test her small & large muscle skills. We knew Makayla was smart!!! She is between 3 & 4 years old for her cognitive abilities and her small motor skills are fantastic. Her large motor skills are almost where they should be (because of lots of work on our part! She has changed so much since the day we got her)!!! Emily will come back next week to visit again and by the third visit be able to do a family plan for us and to help Makayla get all that she needs to be the BEST little girl she can be!
I think Makayla is doing a little grieving, finally. I am so happy! I know it sounds weird to be happy, but tears make room for growth and she need to mourn the loss of her previous life so she can fully embrace her new one! There have been about 3 times in the last 3 days that her cry has been very sad (out of the blue) and the tears fall pretty hard!!! She curls up in my arms and we rock until she is OK. I cannot even begin to know her loss. Those children were her brothers and sisters and those nannies were like her mommies. She knew nothing else and even though her life is so much better know...she mourns her loss. I am grieving with her and she is letting me. Makayla needed a Forever Mommy and I am so blessed to be chosen for that. The tears only last about 3-5 minutes and then she is OK and wants to play again. I LOVE this little girl so much!!!
3/11/10 BLOOD WORK back- Well everything looks GREAT!!! She is a little anemic and has low thyroid function and vitamin D, but there would have been no way for her to retain any nutrients with giardia. We have 5 more things they need that the hospital couldn't do, so we have that request ready for her next sedation on April 5th. I still don't want her to have anymore trauma, so they can draw the blood when she is asleep.
In the mean time we have been brushing her teeth and noticed why she doesn't like hot or cold food...she has a broken molar in the back of her mouth and a few cavities. Yep, you guessed it...we have a dentist appointment on 3/16/10 and she will most likely need to have her tooth capped and some fillings!!! This little girl NEEDED a forever family!!! I cannot even imagine ALL the pain she has endured!!! This little girl is no sissy!!!
We have also kept her on her Chinese diet of congee and/or noodles because of her teeth. And now that she is finished with her second round of amoxacillian she is on probiotics to put some good stuff back in her little tummy!!!
This was a very long post and I am glad it is over!!! We are all doing great! She is still very bonded to me and also loves her Daddy and siblings!!! We don't have any problems with her wanting strangers (she won't leave our arms)...she is attached to ME!!! YAYAYAY Thank you Lord!
Since China...Makayla is:
Walking, running, lifting her arms over her head, throwing a ball overhand, feeding herself, off of bottles, signing, babbling, drinking from a cup, climbing stairs, playing pretend, learning to like grass (LOL), sleeping all night and almost fully potty trained!!!
OPPORTUNITY, that is all a child needs and I am more than happy to give her all she needs!
You are officially updated!
Hugs,
Fonnetta
2/10/10
1st Dr. appointment- Our family Dr. was the first one to see her and the verdict was sad. She had an upper respiratory infection, sinus infection, double chronic ear infections, thrush (yeast infection) and we got set up to do the 3 day poop sample for giardia (we already knew she was positive but tested to make sure there wasn't any more parasites) and mulluscum (virus related to small pox). Our Dr. said she was SICK!!!! Poor little Makayla...even though she was so sick, she still smiled all the time!!! She weighed 26 pounds and was 34 inches tall. She was in the 1st percentile for her weight (Asian Charts not American) and 25th percentile for her height. We put her on a 10 day amoxacillian and Nystatin for yeast, then prayed for healing! We will do all we possible can to get her well!!!
2/12/10-Poop samples done (PEEE-UUU) and FedEx'd to the lab...it takes the lab a week to grow what is in the stool and then they take time to find out what will kill them too, so you aren't experimenting on the child. We really liked that part!!! We just want those creepy, stinky little things GONE!!!
2/16/10-ENT appointment @10am. Dr. looked in her ears and said she has chronic ear infections and her adenoids are HUGE!!! There is still fluid in her ears and because her adenoids are so big the fluid in the ear and inner ear cannot drain. What would happen is the fluid would just grow bacteria again and the infection would start all over. There is no way to know if she can hear until she has surgery to remove the adenoids, put tubes in her ears to drain the fluid so the inner ear can heal. Yep, you guessed it...we scheduled surgery!
Surgery scheduled for March 1, 2010
2/17/10-Poop samples back and POSITIVE for Giardia! Yep, we knew it and YEAST! Thankfully though that was it. No other little weird things came with her.
2/19/10 Finished with the 10 day round of antibiotics...she really does take her meds well! She will be on the nystatin for 2-3 months, so that one will be a while!
2/22/10-Pre-Op appointment for surgery. Her ears have healed but the fluid is still there. At least we know, right? Her surgery will cost about $5,000! Did I tell you we have a health savings account...we pay out of pocket for the first $3,600 then the insurance pays 90%...OUCH!!!!
3/01/10-SURGERY (6:30 check in for a 7:30 surgery). We also decided to have our Dr. get as much of the blood work needed while she was under for surgery. The agency and Post Adoption want A LOT of testing done to make sure she is healthy, even if the test were done in China we had to do them over. I think she is traumatized ENOUGH, so we are having most of it done now.
At 8:45 am the Dr. came out and said the surgery went really well and she will need to be on another 10 day round of amoxacillian to help prevent infection and ear drops for 3 days to help with infection and swelling (we want those tubes to stay in).
I got to go straight back right after that and be with her while she woke up. She looked so sweet!!! The nice part of just getting the adenoids removed and tubes put in is that there are no pain fibers connected to the nerves!!! So, that means post surgery is virtually pain free. She may not even need Tylenol (and she didn't). We do have to stay away from people for 7-10 days to prevent infection from others. Since the adenoids are right behind the nostrils when she breathes it can get right to that raw tissue and she could get sick (back to the cave for the Sweeney's)Makayla woke up enough in the 1st recovery to be taken to the 2nd recovery and there it was a little more frustrating. Evidently they gave her an extra shot of Demerol in her leg!!!! For a child that has NEVER even had Tylenol and Demerol being 10X stronger...she woke up to throw up!!!! Even the pediatric nurses were upset! The little ones just don't handle that stuff!!!! In the mean time...I called for the nurse because something was coming out of her ear that looked like rotten gauze and I didn't want to mess with it until she saw it. She assumed that I said wax and assured me it was normal! I asked her to come and look at it and she did. Her face said it all...she didn't know what it was either and thought it looked like rotten gauze too. So, she called the Dr. to make sure he had not packed her ear and he said he had not. That was GUNK from her inner ear that had squeezed through the tubes because of the pressure in her ears. She had to of felt better to get that crap out of her ear!!!! The nurse removed it and nothing else has really come out since then. Anyway, after she threw up they sent us home and we RUSHED!!!! We knew she wasn't finished throwing up! It is a good thing we only live 10 minutes from the hospital! Sure enough we got home and she threw up 2 more times and passed out! I felt so bad for her, but I know from experience that she needed to throw up to get that crap out of her system. I just held her while she slept and after about 2 hours, she woke up and FELT GREAT!!!! You would not have known she had surgery that morning!!! She was eating EVERYTHING and drinking lots of fluid and we played! We read books, played puzzles, had a tea party....seriously she was GREAT! The hearing would take time. The inflammation had to go down and the fluid drain from the inner ear before we might know anything. We also are not sure how long she had chronic ear infections and how much damage it caused the ear...we wait and just enjoy our precious little gift!
3/08/10- POST-OP appointment. She is doing great! The ears are healing beautifully and we are seeing some signs of hearing. She covers her ears at times, points to her ears, and makes more vocal noises!!! We also did a hearing test while in the office with the audiologist and that came back inconclusive! SO, we are scheduled for an ABR (sedated hearing test) It will be at the children's hospital and the test is for 2 hours (she will be sleeping for this one). They are testing the nerves to make sure they work and to see the degree of loss we are working with. Then we will know what to do and what she will need as far as hearing aides or whatever!
3/09/10-Infant Toddler Assessment. Emily came today to do some assessments on Makayla to see where she is cognitively and test her small & large muscle skills. We knew Makayla was smart!!! She is between 3 & 4 years old for her cognitive abilities and her small motor skills are fantastic. Her large motor skills are almost where they should be (because of lots of work on our part! She has changed so much since the day we got her)!!! Emily will come back next week to visit again and by the third visit be able to do a family plan for us and to help Makayla get all that she needs to be the BEST little girl she can be!
I think Makayla is doing a little grieving, finally. I am so happy! I know it sounds weird to be happy, but tears make room for growth and she need to mourn the loss of her previous life so she can fully embrace her new one! There have been about 3 times in the last 3 days that her cry has been very sad (out of the blue) and the tears fall pretty hard!!! She curls up in my arms and we rock until she is OK. I cannot even begin to know her loss. Those children were her brothers and sisters and those nannies were like her mommies. She knew nothing else and even though her life is so much better know...she mourns her loss. I am grieving with her and she is letting me. Makayla needed a Forever Mommy and I am so blessed to be chosen for that. The tears only last about 3-5 minutes and then she is OK and wants to play again. I LOVE this little girl so much!!!
3/11/10 BLOOD WORK back- Well everything looks GREAT!!! She is a little anemic and has low thyroid function and vitamin D, but there would have been no way for her to retain any nutrients with giardia. We have 5 more things they need that the hospital couldn't do, so we have that request ready for her next sedation on April 5th. I still don't want her to have anymore trauma, so they can draw the blood when she is asleep.
In the mean time we have been brushing her teeth and noticed why she doesn't like hot or cold food...she has a broken molar in the back of her mouth and a few cavities. Yep, you guessed it...we have a dentist appointment on 3/16/10 and she will most likely need to have her tooth capped and some fillings!!! This little girl NEEDED a forever family!!! I cannot even imagine ALL the pain she has endured!!! This little girl is no sissy!!!
We have also kept her on her Chinese diet of congee and/or noodles because of her teeth. And now that she is finished with her second round of amoxacillian she is on probiotics to put some good stuff back in her little tummy!!!
This was a very long post and I am glad it is over!!! We are all doing great! She is still very bonded to me and also loves her Daddy and siblings!!! We don't have any problems with her wanting strangers (she won't leave our arms)...she is attached to ME!!! YAYAYAY Thank you Lord!
Since China...Makayla is:
Walking, running, lifting her arms over her head, throwing a ball overhand, feeding herself, off of bottles, signing, babbling, drinking from a cup, climbing stairs, playing pretend, learning to like grass (LOL), sleeping all night and almost fully potty trained!!!
OPPORTUNITY, that is all a child needs and I am more than happy to give her all she needs!
You are officially updated!
Hugs,
Fonnetta
Thursday, February 25, 2010
COLORING...
...she still loves it!
this is one of the many faces she makes when she is laughing and being silly that just makes me smile...she is so stinkin' HAPPY!!!!
this is one of the many faces she makes when she is laughing and being silly that just makes me smile...she is so stinkin' HAPPY!!!!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
SILLY...
...little girl! Makayla LOVES to make people laugh and she is GOOD at it! LOL
We received a welcome home card in the mail from my friends parents and in it was a gift card for Makayla and Mommy to go shopping at Target for something she might need. We chose her new toy organizer...we applied the gift card and a little more and came right home and put it together!!! And, might I say it is WONDERFUL!!! Thanks so much Jerry & Kathe (Dad & Mom)...we LOVE it and YOU too!!!
We received a welcome home card in the mail from my friends parents and in it was a gift card for Makayla and Mommy to go shopping at Target for something she might need. We chose her new toy organizer...we applied the gift card and a little more and came right home and put it together!!! And, might I say it is WONDERFUL!!! Thanks so much Jerry & Kathe (Dad & Mom)...we LOVE it and YOU too!!!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
We had a wonderful time at the Chinese New Year Celebration that was put on by our Spokane China Family Group (special THANK YOU to Stephanie)! The kids enjoyed all the crafts (making necklaces, coloring dragon fans, and origami) and especially the cake...Makayla could have eaten 2 pieces...well, all the kids could have eaten 2 pieces of cake...wait...I think Alex did!! LOL Missi also brought her best friend, Selena, along for the event too. 
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Just Swingin'
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
PHOTO SHOOT
We had a little fun and took some pictures...she is a ham in the cam!
SERIOUSLY...I'm in LOVE!!!!
SERIOUSLY...I'm in LOVE!!!!
Monday, February 15, 2010
New Slippers...
We have hardwood floors in our house and we all have slippers...well, except for Makayla! It was time to go out and do a little shopping for the PERFECT slippers!!! We were successful and she LOVES her new slippers. She can put them on and off herself and they also have traction so she doesn't slip on these floors. I cannot even count the times she would stop, point at her slippers and SMILE!!! Shopping therapy works for any age! LOL
...and a game of Patty Cake!
Oh, how we are in love with this little girl!!! She makes all of our hearts smile!
...and a game of Patty Cake!
Oh, how we are in love with this little girl!!! She makes all of our hearts smile!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Meeting Gma Barbara & Gpa Dan...
My Mom and her husband, Dan came for a visit to meet the newest addition!! Makayla had fun playing with Grandma's clip on earrings, snacking on oranges, building castles with mega blocks, stuffing blocks up Grandpa's pant leg, and wearing the new hat they bought her (it came with a summer dress too)! Thank you for the dress and hat...I think she especially loved the hat!
Meeting Aunti Debi...
My sister and her family came to visit us today and meet their new niece and Marcus got to meet his new cousin! Marcus was so sweet...they were getting ready to make the long car ride to our house and he just had to go through his stuffed animal to give some to Makayla. He chose a pink dolphin, green frog and a purple dog.
Makayla warmed up to Aunti Debi really fast! They had some fun tickle-hugging time!
Thank you Marcus, Makayla loved them all! Also, thank you Aunti Debi and Uncle Bret for the cool rain stick!
Thanks for coming to visit!! Sorry we didn't get any pics of you Bret and Marcus...next time!
HUGS
Makayla warmed up to Aunti Debi really fast! They had some fun tickle-hugging time!
Thank you Marcus, Makayla loved them all! Also, thank you Aunti Debi and Uncle Bret for the cool rain stick!
Thanks for coming to visit!! Sorry we didn't get any pics of you Bret and Marcus...next time!
HUGS
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!
Makayla is doing FANTASTIC!!! She is now feeding herself and eating really well. She is always willing to taste new things, but is not afraid to wrinkle up her nose and sign no-no-no while she is shaking her head, I have to admit it is pretty cute! it doesn't always work with Mom though. Sometimes she says NO just by the look...so a little taste has changed her mind most of the time.
This morning after breakfast we opened a little "LOVE" gift from Mom & Dad for Valentine's Day. She was pretty excited to get...wait for it...a PHONE!!! I know you were totally surprised! LOL She also loves to look at herself, so a mirror was only fitting for this and the girl loves jewelery and a set of 3 bracelets was perfect! She seemed pretty excited to open her present and so were the other two kids.
This morning after breakfast we opened a little "LOVE" gift from Mom & Dad for Valentine's Day. She was pretty excited to get...wait for it...a PHONE!!! I know you were totally surprised! LOL She also loves to look at herself, so a mirror was only fitting for this and the girl loves jewelery and a set of 3 bracelets was perfect! She seemed pretty excited to open her present and so were the other two kids.
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