SNOW ! This is Andy's first real snow. Last year we never even got enough to play in so it is very exciting to have snow before Christmas. It was too slushy to build a snowman but we did do some sledding in the backyard.
Nellie made this gingerbread girl almost all by herself !
(unless they are pulled by bicyclists in China) Jerry and Matthew accompanied them.
Andy and Ric had a blast with Sing Spell Read and Write today. That Treasure Box will make sure they will keep coming back for more !
That's our kids Camila, Everett, Katrina and Ariel, in the second picture.
Andy asked nearly every day when it would be HIS birthday. Finally on his 8th birthday he had his first real party. He wanted a firetruck birthday cake and we patterned his party after a book series we love called 'Henry and Mudge' which meant balloons, games and a pinata. His big present was a bicycle with trainig wheels which he was able to ride even on our gravel driveway. Pretty amazing for a kid who didn't even know how to push the pedals on a tricycle a year ago ! He is already asking for the training wheels to be taken off. 
Andy celebrated July 4th as an American for the first time. All the kids came in, so we spent an exhausting day at the Factory and the Rec Park.
Last Saturday, after working out in the yard , we let the kids cook hotdogs out in the yard. We had to dodge a few raindrops, but the kids are now addicted. Our grown sons Jay (who got engaged this week) and Everett stopped by to join us.
When Andy was in the hospital, Maddie and Sophie (who were also adopted from China) sent him an exciting box of things to play with. Sophie had brain surgery shortly before Andy, so they understood some of the hardships of being in the hospital. 
P.S. Their family will be going back to China soon to bring home a little boy - if anyone has some spare frequent flyer miles I'll let you know how to get them to them.....Catherine
Two years later, she felt God lead her to move to Ch*na. At the time, some wondered if she was on an impossible mission, as she had little money, no support and only a strong conviction that she was being obedient to God's call. After she arrived, God began sending babies to her and recently she has signed a contract with the govt to provide homes for 60 aids orphans. The govt does not provide any financial support for these children. Cheryl has been able to open two homes, as God provided the finances as well as local Christian houseparents and staff. Twelve children live in each home.
and their team actually did what they did with titanium plates and something biodegradeable, so here are the pictures to prove it. The first two are in China - the ones at the bottom are at home on Easter. 
When I picked Andy and Jerry up at the hospital, Andy still looked pretty miserable. We tried to get a smile for the camera, but he would not cooperate. As we closed the door, drove away, and popped in the "Seussical the Musical" CD, we got our first smile. In just a few minutes, Andy was our old talkative boy, singing loudly with the music. As we reached the first traffic light, police were blocking the intersection at Franklin Street and we got to see the National Champion University of North Carolina TarHeels, escorted by motorcycle police, state troopers, lights on, sirens blaring! At the moment we are driving through a beautiful, snowny blizzard (hopefully the last we will see this year) and listening to 'Seussical' for the third time. We are all very happy. Catherine
Andy must be feeling a little better, he is starting to get more demanding -he even watched a little tv this evening. I want to talk Jerry into going to see the Chinese acrobats in Pigeon Forge in July - its free for kids sdopted from China. Is anyone else planning to go? Where are you staying?...They have told us we can go home tomorrow. The nurse is going to show me how to wash his hair first. He has to take showers instead of baths for awhile, can't dive into a swimming pool or play football but other than that he has no restrictions. 
Here is Andy with his new hairdo!! If you click on it , you will see the stitches that go ear to ear. As I thought, he was pretty disappointed after it came off. I am sure he thought that all would be back to normal and we would go home. His forehead is just beautiful and his eyes will obviously have a typical Asian beauty. It is hard to tell about the rest because there is still so much swelling, it looks pretty gigantic. The doctors say that he is doing amazingly well, and we will go home soon, much earlier than expected.
-so tonight I fed him orange sherbert. Tomorrow morning at 6 AM will be the reveal - his bandages will come off!! Andy knows it will come off on Monday so every so often he will wake up and ask if it is Monday yet. I suspect that he thinks the helmet is what is keeping his eyes closed and he is frustrated with it. The doctor said that Andy's head will still be swollen tomorrow and in fact, we will not know his exact head shape for a few months. Jerry will be the one here in the morning when it happens, but since Andy was moved to a regular room tonight the kids will be able to visit him tomorrow so we will try to have pix of everyone posted before noon.
Jerry spent last night here. he has just taken Ric and Amber back to Ronald McDonald House to sleep while they play. Tonight they will all go watch Carolina play basketball at Katrina's while I stay here. I am expecting Andy to want me here most of the time as he wakes up but, as with everything else, we will play it by ear.
