I've been tagged by my cute cousin Kami (Bird Family)

What is his name? Scott
How long have you been married? 15 years in August... hint, hint... Hawaii, cruise, Mexico... :)
How long did you date? About 1 year
How old is he? 36 - and we just discovered grey hair... stress... :)
Who said "I love you first?" He did... but only after he'd been caught talking on the phone with....
Who is taller? He is by 5 inches
Who eats more sweets? We both love sweets.
Who can sing better? hmmm.... he is a whistler and I don't sing... neither
Who is smarter? since I have been talking to a 3 year old for the past 9 years (is my math right if Mckenzie is almost 12...??? :) - I'd have to say Scott
Who does the laundry? He is good at helping me
Who pays the bills? hum... I don't know... kidding - me
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Scott
Who mows the lawn? Scott - hopefully Reese can take over this job this summer
Who cooks dinner? Me - except for Fridays and then neither
Who drives? Scott - he has the easy job - I get the kids but sometimes that is great if they are all zoned out on a dvd and sleeping ;)
Who is more stubborn? ? me
Who kissed who first? him
Who proposed? Scott
Who has more siblings? we both have 5 - I'm the oldest and he is the 2nd youngest - youngest boy
ok... so I tag, Tracy, Tracey, Tracie (that was easy), and Lisa
Have fun! Copy the questions, answer them, add them to your blog and tag 3-4 people.

For mom :)

I was better this week with the camera. Here are a few of the pictures from this week...

Today was Davis' (and Mckenzie and Reeses) 100th day of school. Davis' class has been doing lots of activities around the 100th day. He is sporting a cute cowboy hat that he made at school in 2 of the photos - he counted 10 groups of stickers with 10 in each group and put them on the hat. He also made a very cool necklace with 10 groups of different beads. Davis is eating Cherry Delight in another picture. He came home from school a few days ago with a recipe and insisted on making this for us for family night. It was really good and he was so proud of himself for being able to make it all alone. He has an amazing teacher - all 3 of them do - we are very lucky!!!

Lili is enjoying some of the cherries that were left over from the cherry delight in one of the pictures. Scott caught her in the fridge dipping her hand in the cherries and coming out with a handful...mmm...

I have enjoyed going into the girls room in the morning to see what happened the previous night. This morning they were all over each other in Lili's bed... too cute.

Nathan and Heidi came to visit on Monday. Heidi is taking care of the Bulckley's kids here in town and so Nate stayed to visit awhile while she ran the kids around. It was so nice to talk to him. We were able to share lots of thoughts and feelings about Ryan that we had not been able to do adequately over the phone. It was a nice therapy session - for both of us... I think- I really appreciated him taking time to stay and visit for a while. Love you guys!!! (isn't Heidi cute :) )

I took Meili to the doctor yesterday because she has been breaking out with hives and just has not been acting like herself. She had an ear infection and sore throat and the doctor thought maybe she has had it since she was so sick while I was in China - and the hives are the end of it all. We'll see.

I've posted a picture of 4 of the kids (my oldest was still not awake... she had a hard time putting her book down the night before - a new book by Jessica Day George (her new favorite author) that she LOVED and so she slept in) enjoying a slower Sunday morning. I should not put this one on because it may clue Scott into why we walked into church after the meeting had started :) We had a great time just hanging out giggling. Everyone had there morning milk in our bed and we just vegged.

It is hard to believe that we arrived home 4 weeks ago today. Lili has done so well and adjusted perfectly. I really have a hard time believing that we have not had her home longer - seems like she has been here forever. She is finally showing up on our insurance so we are now working with scheduling an appointment in Arkansas - hopefully by the end of next month we will know when we get to head to Little Rock.

Reese had two teeth pulled at the dentist yesterday.... I think they were molars... He loved having to have a milk shake for dinner but did not like having the gauze in his mouth all night. I'm amazed how he suddenly believed in the tooth fairy this morning when he woke up. The darn tooth fairy forgot to leave money and Reese had torn his bed apart looking for it. The tooth fairy came while he was in the shower.

Mckenzie has been busy with her play practices at school. She enjoys practicing for it but wishes she had a bigger part. I'm glad she does not - one less thing to worry about. She is a traveling saleswomen in The Music Man.

Life is going relatively well. I am doing well - most of the time- Lots of happy moments with the kids... I do have the wind sucked out of me lots of times (I had a friend describe how the loss feels - and this describes it well) It is so weird how I will feel totally fine and then the next second I am crying. I am very grateful for the knowledge that we will be together again someday.

Anyway, I hate to leave on a low note... sorry.

We are looking forward to spring and being outside more. I noticed the tulips (or some bulbs) popped their heads out of the ground today.... yeah!!! It is suppose to be 60 by the end of the week - it will be interesting to see how busy Scott is this weekend when it is 60 degrees at the golf course... (I'm watching you and your golf clubs... maybe you can convince a client to work at the golf course)

The boys start wrestling next week. They will have 2 practices a week and then tournaments on the weekends during March... ahhh.... I hate watching them.... it makes me nervous just thinking about it. Mckenzie is getting ready for music festival in 2 weeks.... mom can you hear the fights starting :).... I should get a white egg timer.

Have a great week or few days - I'll try to post more often.

Peace!

100% in love

Okay... I've loved her since we saw her cute little face on August 17th (Mckenzie and Nate's bday) but the love keeps getting stronger and stronger. Tonight the kids were all in bed asleep and Scott was at a meeting. Lili was having a hard time falling asleep so I caved and let her out of bed. We played and had a great time. I love her beautiful smile that makes me so happy. She is a treasure and I am so grateful that she is part of our family. She has started crying for me when I leave and I feel her needing me more and more and I continue to need her more and more. Adoption is incredible to experience. I am grateful to two birth families that gave up their sweet angels so we could raise them as our own... and for a loving Heavenly Father who led us to both of our angels and gave us all 5 of our children... And to a Heavenly Father who gave me someone with lots of smiles when I am needing them most.

Thanks to Jodie for a wonderful 'luncheon' today. It was nice to see so many friends. I took one photo but wish I would have taken more... if you were there and I did not get a picture stop by - I need one - I'm such a bad photographer... I always forget to take pictures.

Also, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you to all of you who have helped me through the past month and a half! You are so appreciated!!! I have appreciated the messages, phone calls, letters, cards, meals, babysitting, flowers, plants, treats, gifts, prayers, house cleaning, painting, visits, and the list can go on and on... I feel like I have been in a fog and feel like I am slowly coming out- so hopefully soon I'll get thank-yous out but until then - thank-you so much!!! The other day I found a stash of Christmas gifts my kids and Scott had given me- it was weird because I'd totally forgotten that I had even received them... loved them... but, like I said - I've been in a fog.

Anyway,

Peace xoxo Melanie

Photos from Grandma and Grandpa Hunsaker

Thanks for the pictures. They are great. I'd love the video of Lili - can it be sent in an e-mail?

e-mail from orphanage director

A few days ago I sent an e-mail to Lili's orphanage director, foster family and nannies. Tonight I received a reply from the director. I'm so amazed by this... here it is:

Dear Melanie Hunsaker, lovely yuanxiu and your family: First of all I wish you a happy Chinese New Year! Letters and photos have been received, that my family love yuanxiu, she will be a loving environment happiness growth, we are very happy. Photos and letters will be forwarded to my foster family and nanny-sharing, we hope that we can continue to yuanxiu information and photographs. Finally I wish your family happiness! Nanchang TAN MINGZHU

Please send me your blog address

For all of you with blogs - please send me your address. I love reading them. If you don't have one, you should start one and then send me the address :) I love checking in on all of our friends and family.

This morning I downloaded my pictures from my camera. Unfortuantely, I only had 3 or so new pictures since last week. I guess this shows that we are getting back into the swing of things and life is becoming more normal.

Last night after the girls (little ones) were tucked into bed we kept hearing noises from their bedroom. About an hour later the noises stopped so we went in to see the damage... it looks like they had a great time playing babies and then wiped out on the floor - the moon must have been bright because the bedroom light stayed off the during the play hour. (Their room was clean before they went to bed... maybe they are why I'm having a hard time keeping my house clean)

Lili had her first haircut last week. My aunt Pinch cut off her mullet (sp?) and evened out her ends. It looks a lot better now... I'm assuming her last hair cut was when the orphanage buzzed it a few months ago.

My boys both missed a couple of days of school last week because of fevers and coughs. Davis' is still holding on but he feels much better.

We were lucky to have Loye and Vaughn (Scott's parents) visit us over the weekend. We always love having them at our house and are sad to have them go. Lili warmed up really fast to them. The first morning she went up to Loye with her arms stretched out for her to pick her up. (I'm begging them for a photo of them with the kids to put on this ... I become lazy with my camera when Loye is around because her camera is always out)

I'm feeling a bit more on top of things. I had the sweet Miller girls come help me last week and help me get the house in order... felt so good!... called it Scott's Valentine's Day present - lucky him :) and very romantic :)

We are still waiting for Lili's name to show up on our insurance plan so we can procede with her surgery. Hopefully, sometime this week they will add her file and we can begin working with the doctor in Arkansas and insurance regarding the removal of her hemangiomas.

Well, we are looking forward to a week of meetings (church and school), activity days, scouts, and normal life. Hope all is well.

Peace (my brother ended all of his journal entries this way - and so when you see this, is it my thoughts to him and remembering his love and hope - and the love and hope we have to be with him again someday- also, the peace that he feels now and the peace that he wants us all to feel and of course the Peace Ryan felt (and we should feel) from the Atonement of Christ)... love you Ryan!!!

Anyway...

Peace,

Melanie

Yesterday, Scott and I took the little girls to Primary Children's for an appointment with a dermatologist. Our pediatrician here suggested it and so we decided we should explore options. It was a worthless 6 hour drive... except we enjoyed hanging out together and meeting up with my brother, Greg, who is doing his anethesia (sp?) rotation at Primary Childrens ( I took a cute picture of he and Scott and the girls but had my camera setting wrong - I'm sick) - we also went to Training Table with him. The dr appointment was no joking 2 minutes long... she told us to wait on the hemangiomas that more than likely they will go away by 9 (but maybe not - we should wait and see) We are not going to wait and see so we did not like this advice. So, we will stick with the original plan... I'm just going to have to be patient to wait and get it all scheduled and okayed by insurance.... may take a while.
Lili has adjusted wonderfully!!! She is always full of smiles and a little giggle. She and Meili enjoy being with each other - they can pretty much destroy anything in no time flat. The boys, Reese and Davis, still think she is pretty special and will do just about anything for her and Mckenzie as always has been an amazing helper!
Lili loves to eat and loves to climb into her high chair. She has fallen asleep in it twice -

Life is good

A sucker in one hand, a french fry in the other and a hamburger - how can she not be happy?

the past few days(new soap box post below)

(Reese just read the title for the previous post and said, "Chaos... chaos... what chaos mom?" I'm glad they are oblivious to it :) )

(2/6/08)

Some cheap and even money saving therapy for me today...

For anyone who knows me you will know that I love (d - now past tense) reading the local newspaper. I have subscribed for the past 8 years at least and faithfully read it each day. Today, I called and canceled it. This felt so good to do. I have been amazed by what free press and speech really means since my brother's tragedy (and a few other times I've been quoted in the paper) It is amazing to me that they can take your name and wrap some " " around something and claim that it was said by the person. I haven't been able to read the paper since my brother's death because it has made me stop and think that probably most articles are sensationalized and that their job is to sell a paper and to do this it may require false stories so they are able to follow up with minor corrections later. I have also always loved watching local and national news channels... while I have not given up on this completely I do have to stop and think when I listen to stories... also, when the media hovers over people and tragedies and car accidents, reality tv shows that show tragedies, etc... before I had not realized that these are all real people with families who care for them - I definitely stop and think now and will not ever be so quick to believe everything I read and hear. I have also realized that I have waisted so much time with these when I have truthful books that I should be reading and putting my time and energy into.

Phew... this is theraputic as well :)

The girls are quickly adjusting to eachother. Lili is Meili's little shadow. Meili keeps saying, "stop following me." It has been fun watching them play and get along for the most part... yesterday, Lili was playing with a Pyrex bowl and some smaller tupperware bowls and was stacking the smaller bowls into the glass bowl... Meili went up and took the glass bowl from her and chucked it across the tile entry - it shattered - she is trying to find where her spot is - She is also good at reminding me about her - I'll ask her do you want to get you or Lili out of the tub first - she always says Lili and then after I get her out she'll say, "momma, you forgot your other princess" I am having a great time with both of them.

Mckenzie and Reese are going skiing today with Scott and the Charter School they go to - they were both so excited. Davis is doing well and loves having both girls at home to greet him when he gets home.

Lili has (knock on wood) slept in her bed for the last 2 nights and is sleeping all night. The boys have not and have come into our room each night to sleep with us - one of these days :)

We took Lili to the doctor the other day. She is short (3%), weight (10%) and head (25%). Our pediatrian said that the nutrition goes to the brain first, then weight and finally height... she said we should see her height pick up some. She also had blood and stool sample tests. All is well except for the fact that she has giardia which is a reportable disease so I've had to answer calls and explain to the Health and Welfare office.... fun.

Hope you are well.

Melanie

I'm trying to find the smiles in all of our chaos :)

Our weekend went relatively smooth.... as long as you don't count the messy house that we are living in. Mckenzie, Lili and I have almost flipped our nights again which helps. Lili is still waking up 5 or so times a night just screaming. She appears to still be sleeping so we wonder if she is grieving. Her days are wonderful and she is happy and all smiles. Meili has adjusted to her a bit more and they have played together the last few days. In fact, Friday I went to their room to ask what they were doing and Meili told me, "Get out, momma, we are making a mess" And a mess it was but they were having a good time together - isn't that what counts now :) ???
We all went to church yesterday and successfully survived it... Scott conducted Sacrament Meeting for the first time and did a fantastic job!!!
A few things this week that made me smile:
I heard Davis telling Lili this when he was getting dressed for church, "Lili, you are hot"
Scott and I left all of the kids with Mckenzie while we went out for a minute. Mckenzie called to tell us that Meili had changed Lili's diaper twice... if only she would change her own :)
And, yesterday we went to my parents for the Super Bowl and dinner. My mom sent us home with a plate full of her yummy Pineapple Upside Down Cake. This morning while I was packing lunches Reese asked me if he could have a piece... for some reason I said yes. I looked at him a few minutes later and had to stop him on the cake - my mom did not cut it into small pieces just one large piece - I'm sure he thought he hit the jackpot being able to eat the whole big piece... Anyway, I told him he had had enough - he told me I said that he could have the piece and then said, "but it is my favorite... well this and German Shepard Cake (pretty sure he meant German Chocolate cake) :)
Hopefully, I will get on top of things this week. I plan to spend the week at home going through my piles of papers that have accumulated over the past month, laundry and house cleaning... sounds fun, huh :)
Hope you are well. Melanie