Girls Day at the Beach

Today I took the girls down to the beach for the day, since Scott and Logan are away for a week on a camping trip in Georgia.
The weather and water was perfect! Lots of sun and fun! Wish I could've taken more pics, but it was nearly impossible to take pics and keep Meigan from wondering too far out like her sister! Even out of the water she was too busy to look at me, so I gave up!

Who's a Big, Brave Girl?

I am!


Yesterday was Meigan's follow-up appt. with Dr. Stelnicki, her craniofacial surgeon, that has repaired her palate and lip. After waiting in the room for seemed like an hr, (which ain't pretty with a tired and hungry 2 year old!) He finally came in the room to see the progress on her lip. He still saw more thick scar tissue than should be, so even though I have been diligent with massaging her lip, she needed a steroid injection to help break up the tissue. Not what I wanted to hear. She was SO good laying on the table opening her mouth cause that's just become habit for her.
Only the injection was to go straight into the lip. You can only imagine how I felt at the end of the table holding her legs cause I knew what was to come. The PA was quick, but darn I know it hurt. Meigan didn't get as upset as I thought she would and she insisted she hold the gauze on her lip. After drying her tears, we walked out with a pretty pony sticker and she even blew a kiss to the shot lady. Only long enough to quickly put the guaze back on her lip. Unfortunately, she goes back for another injection the end of April. As far as further surgeries, the Dr. wants to wait another year before doing her nose. Fine with me. I wouldn't want to do something too soon only to possibly have to do it again when she is older.
We are also having issues with our insurance regarding her speech therapy. Our insurance will not cover developmental delays but does cover CL/CP issues. They have denied payment on a month's worth of therapies because it is being coded under DD, no mention of cleft lip/palate. Seems like a pretty resolvable issue, right?
Wrong. I have been on the phone with so many people and all I can say is incompetence! I have faxed her medical records with the correct wording so hopefully it will be resolved. We've been going 2 months and we are well over 2 grand already, so until we get the matter fixed, we've had to cancel. She loves going and I won't go down without a fight!

Oh Happy Day!

Meigan sleeping in her big girl bed. Sweet dreams little one~


Today was a very big first for Meigan. It was the first time since she had started nursery school, over a month ago, that she didn't cry when I left her! She has had a new teacher for about 2 weeks and this morning when Meigan walked into the classroom, her teacher held her arms out and Meigan went right to her. She then proceeded to tell me bye and wanted a kiss! So, guess who was all teary eyed leaving the school this morning? It was a moment I had been waiting for and then when it happened, I was happy and sad at the same time, if that makes sense. When I went to pick her up, she threw a fit because she didn't want to leave, go figure!
I truly am happy she feels secure enough to let me leave her. It is a big achievement for her as she is still quite attached to her mommy!
Tonight I actually got the chance to rock her sleep, too. I absolutely loved rocking Logan and Jennifer and feel guilty I haven't done it much with Meigan. She has always been so good about going to bed and I just haven't had the ole rocker out.
As I was rocking her, and staring into those beautiful sleepy brown eyes, I couldn't help but think about her birthmother and how indescribably hard it had to have been to know it would be the very last time she would would ever look into her baby daughter's eyes again. Were those eyes curiously staring back at her mother or were they heavy with sleep? With that thought, I gently kissed her forehead and quietly thanked a woman on the other side of the world for giving us the opportunity to raise such a special little girl. We are humbled to have such a chance.

Happy 6 months, Meigan!

From this:
to this!


Hard to believe it has been 6 months since Meigan joined our family. Funny because it is now hard to remember what it what like before we had her. She just fits our family perfectly. She has been through so much in this time period also. Three surgeries, speech therapy, nursery school and just learning what it like to have a forever family. Everyday is a new learning experience for her and she soaks everything up like a sponge. It really has been amazing to watch her transform! I can't wait to see what the next 6 months holds for her.
We love you Meiggie, to the stars and back!

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2007

Can I Breathe Now?

Jennifer was discharged from the hospital yesterday before noon. She is doing much better but tires easily. Yesterday she slept all afternoon. I was even able to catch a nap myself thanks to a very dear friend who kept Meigan Sunday night and all day Monday. I guess the exhaustion is finally starting to hit me. When Jennifer was really sick I was too worried to be tired. Thank you all for your encouraging words and prayers. There is nothing worse than the helpless feeling you have when your child is so sick and you don't know if things will get better or worse.
Looking forward to happy and healthier month:)

411 on Jennifer

Just a quick blog for anyone who doesn't know about Jennifer yet. She was hospitalized yesterday with a bad kidney infection. She is still running fevers and they will not send her home until she is fever free for at least 24 hours. She was also very dehydrated so she is getting fluids and her antibiotic by IV. Before I left the hospital this afternoon to trade off with Scott, she was eating Fruit Loops and drinking water. Better than yesterday. She was pretty out of it. Please continue to keep her and this whole family in your prayers. I feel like I'm losing it at times.

Cheerleading pics

I've been meaning to post some pics since Sat., but with me being sick, but better, and now Jennifer very sick I can't win! Three out of five people in this family are on an antibiotic. Scott and Meigan thankfully are ok. Please keep Jenn in your prayers, though. She has a very bad infection and running high fevers. The dr is hoping the medicine she is on will do the trick so she will not have to be hospitalized and need IV medication.

Jesus Painting

Truly Awesome

Be Back Soon

I've not been in the blogging mood this week due to me being under the weather. All week I've been fighting sore throat,hard coughing which has been keeping me up, and laryngitis since Thurs. After coughing so much that I thought my head would explode, I drug myself to the Dr. today and found out it's bronchitis. Here we are about to start a new week and it's back to the running here and there and everywhere, unfortunately. I just don't have time to get sick!
I do have pics to share of Jennifer's cheer competition she had in Ft. Myers on Sat. and Logan is very proud of his autographed basketball he got at the Harlem Globetrotters game last Fri.
I've basically been a couch potato when I can sqeeze it in. Scott's been a big help, but most of the time it's easier to do things myself.

Meigan's school picnic and Logan's Cub Scout Picnic Pics!

| View Show | Create Your Own

Bummer:(

Today when I walked Meigan into her classroom, I sensed something must be wrong because her teacher was not there and the asst. director was. The first dreaded words out of her mouth were, " I need to tell you something that has happened". She then proceeded to tell me Meigan's teacher turned in her resignation yesterday and she wanted it effective immediately.
Of course, no details as to why she left so abruptly. They are working on filling her position. Having done pre-school for many years, I know that finding a suitable teacher for 2 year olds is easier said than done. Needless to say, I was sad she left. I thought she was great and Meigan was really starting to take to her. Today, I had to leave her screaming and crying while they were walking to chapel. She is familiar with the Asst. Director, though because she was always in the room to help with Meigan when I would leave.
Made me feel better when I came to pick her up. She was sitting eating her lunch, happy as a clam. When we left, she was blowing kisses and hugging her friends goodbye.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

The parties are over. The kids are sugared up and hallelujah it's bed time!

With Lots of Valentines XOXO,

Stephanie, Scott, Logan, Jennifer and Meigan

My Little Cheerleader Champion!

Hard to see Jennifer. She's in the very back!

All the hard work pays off!


This weekend we went to Tampa for Jennifer's cheerleading competition at the Florida State Fair. It was cute seeing her squad on that big stage. The nice thing about her age group is win or lose, you still get that prized trophy! They were all very excited to get their awards. That makes it all worth it:)

What Have We Been Up To?

Busy, Busy, Busy!

We've had a busy week, thus my blog is suffering! Scott's parents are visiting from Ohio so haven't had the chance to get on the computer. Meigan has been sleeping in the room where I have the computer so unless I sneak on after she's asleep... Actually, she's still awake as I type.
Meigan had her first speech therapy on Mon. She started playing with a toy with her therapist and I snuck out of the room. She was fine the whole time! She will have speech twice a week, so I'm glad she felt comfortable without me. Hopefully tom'row will go as well.
Today was her first day of nursery school. She was not happy with me leaving her, crying, clinging, etc.. By the time it was time to pick her up, she didn't want to leave! She has a very sweet teacher. She said you never would have known today was her first day. She played and had a great morning. What a blessing for both of us!
Tonight, I took her to work with me at the church nursery and she said said 2 words very clearly... move and go! This was while she was on the playground waiting to go down the slide. Sounds like she's picking up the toddler lingo already!
Logan and Jennifer got to go airboating today with both sets of grandparents! They saw lots of gators and wildlife. My mom has my camera so hope to post pics of our week tomorrow.

Meigan's Going to School!

I didn't want to post anything about this until I knew for sure, but next Wednesday,
Meigan will be going to nursery school at a local church! I was so happy they had an opening in their 2 yr. old program. We went and visited yesterday. She wasn't quite sure what to think. I'm sure she was more clingy thinking I was going to leave her there. She'll go 2 days a week for 4 hrs. on Wed. and 3 hrs. on Fridays.
We're hoping this will give her an opportunity to develop her language and social skills with kids her age. I can now say I have 3 kids at 3 different schools. Not an easy feat to pull off, but hoping it will be worth it.
I will now also have 3 glorious hrs. to myself on Wednesdays to do anything I want,
and on Fridays, since Jennifer doesn't have school we can hang out together. She loves her just mommy and Jennifer time.
Next week we also get to add to our plate speech therapy sessions. Meigan will go twice a week for 30 min. through our local hospital rehabilitation program.
Eventually, I think I will just move into our van because we seem to be in it more and more.

Update on Dr. Visits

Yesterday Meigan had her follow-up with Dr. Stelnicki's office. Her lip is healing well, though the inside gap is a little wide. ( I wonder why?!!) Nothing to worry about at this point. The fun part will be massaging her lip 3x a day, 20 secs. for 6 months. This is to prevent build up of scar tissue and to help flatten out the area above her lip. Twenty seconds doesn't seem like a long time, but when you have your fingers in a 2 yr. old's mouth while she's squirming and refusing to open her mouth, well let's just say, it ain't easy! The alternative is steroid injections so we will just have to learn to endure it!
We go back in March to see how her lip is progressing and to discuss phase 3, the nose.
After that appt., we were off to the pediatrician to pick up a script for lab work that she needs to have done. Not looking forward to that either.
On a good note though, I'm trying to be more diligent with potty training. Yesterday she did pretty well. I keep hoping I won't have to buy any more diapers after this last pack. I'd settle for pull-ups. I've been taking her to the potty alot more hoping it will just click and she'll tell me when she needs to go. Could I be so lucky?

New pics and Pinewood Derby Races!

I was saving this picture to compare to pictures taken later. I don't like it, but it's amazing to see the transformation in only a week!
Here we are a week and 2 days (and 2 accidents) after surgery! Simply amazing!


Logan getting ready for his car to race!
Logan's is the red car on the left!


Yeah! We made it through the week with no more accidents! Meigan is doing well and it is so awesome to see how every morning her new little lip is healing more and shaping up! Anxious to see what her surgeon thinks on Tues.
Today we went to the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby races. Logan's car won 3 times, but not enough to win overall. We enjoy seeing all the cars race.