Merry Christmas

As I sit here typing, listening to the complete quietness (Joe and Christina are sleeping and the kids are downstairs watching a Christmas movie), I can't help but think about last Christmas. We had a wonderful time and lots of memories but something was missing. When I was at church last year listening to the singing all I could think about was what is Christina and her Foster Family doing right now. We had a picture but not Christina. She wasn't at church for us to hold and she wasn't there to see all the beautiful Christmas decorations and to listen to the angelic singing. She wasn't at Mom and Dad's to open all the Christmas presents that family had given us for her and we had no idea when she would be home. Last night I was sitting in church holding Christina through the whole service. She was oohing and aaahing over the lights, singing and the little baby boy in the pew ahead of us. I remember missing her last year but all the pain I felt then I couldn't remember last night. I just enjoyed the moment and was in ahhh of what God had done the past year. All the ups, downs and not knowing was erased the moment we held Christina for the first time. It's amazing how God gives us a child and that child can heal all the pain and suffering just like Jesus does for us. Born to us as a baby in a manger so many years ago. We no longer need to suffer because he was born and saved us by dying on the cross. Everything is in God's time eventhough it isn't what we would want at the time but he always makes things better if we allow him to. Thank you God for Christina, she is the light of our lives. Thank you for all our children you have given us they ARE OUR LIVES. Thank you everyone for the support the last year and all the prayers. Merry Christmas!!! Here are some pictures of us making lefse for the first time. We had quite the assembly line going:

Christina even had her first taste of Lefse and she loved it!!

Christmas Eve Pictures:

Christina touched her first real Christmas Tree. She is smiling because she is thinking she is getting away with something because there isnt' a gate in front of it.

After Christmas dinner we did dishes since Mom still tires easily after her surgery. Here is Christina and Grandma taking a rest on the couch.

Christina opened her gift and it was a baby doll. She screamed and she would scream if someone else would hold it.

Christina found the step at Mom and Dad's. Every child likes it as a seat.

Maria and Christina opening gifts.

Michael so happy with his fishing equipement.

Anthony only wanted a coverall and he was so happy. See how close in height he is to Joe. They can share clothes.

More pictures of Christmas Day...stay tuned:)

Roller Coaster Ride

Two days after Thanksgiving Christina got really sick. By Tuesday morning she was huffing, wheezing and crackling in her lungs. I took her in and she had croup and was diagnosed with Asthma. They also said she had an overgrowth of yeast which was making her stomach not except many foods. It was nice to know what has been causing every thing but at the same time it was scary. We had to start Neb treatments and she took them really well. She is also getting yogurt everyday as well as probiotics for the yeast overgrowth. As of today she is much better and back to her active self. She is able to eat more foods as well. yeahhhhh!!!!! Even though she was sick and had difficulty breathing she still managed to smile. I was rocking her at 2:00 AM...her fever had jumped up to 103 and she was huffing, wheezing and her eyes were closed but I was singing to her and she gave me the biggest smile....only Christina!!!

We decorated the tree on the First Sunday of Advent. It was so much fun seeing Christina see and feel everything for the first time. Christmas last year was happy but sad because we new we had a little girl waiting for us in Guatemala. This year she is here enjoying everything we are. What a blessing.

Here are some pictures of us putting up the tree.

"Do you need this??" Everyone chipping in.

"Do you need any help Daddy"

"What is this shiny stuff?" "Does this taste good?" Daddy helping Christina put on her first ornament.

"What are these things for Maria"

Yes, we had to eventually put up a gate. It was way to tempting to eat the blinking lights!

After she started getting better she went from a practicing walker to a professional walker which is her favorite mode of transportation right now and she has been attempting running. Oh no here we go....and I was happy she was going to walk. I think I will regret that someday soon. She has found the cubbards and Joe is on the mission to put safety latches on but until he gets around to it we have toy hand cuffs, belts, yard sticks, you name it on all the doors. Christina was able to go outside in the snow and she had so much fun she didn't want to come in. She was the cutest show bunny in her snowsuit.

The kids are building a snow fort. they are so excited to have a "normal" winter so they are outside any chance they get.

Mom had a double masectomy and her lymph nodes were free of cancer. We were so happy to hear the good news. Thank you for the prayers. She is recooperating fast at the relief of Dad and Darren. They didn't enjoy being nurse maids, since I was sick and Carolee was in Florida it was up to them.