December 19, 2004
Earlier in the week, Nicholas played piano at the local coffee shop with other children whom his piano teacher instructs. Lili had to get into the act. I would say it is safe to say that Tracy is happy too! My Mom and Dad also joined us, and that is Bill holding Lili.
Nicholas and Lili play for Mommie
Lili feeling safe in Grandpa's armsToday after Church we did some home maintenance, chores, and cleaned the house. Then in the late afternoon we visited Gracie Jo's grave and changed the flowers to a more Christmas like look. We then ate Pizza at Pizza Queen and came home to make cookies. Lili is really helpful in the Kitchen. Hopefully she will learn all mom has to teach, so we can have twice as much baking in the home ;-)
Lili teaching Mommie how to make cookies from scratchTomorrow they have no school, so the boys will be with Lili and I at the store. They are actually a big help when they are there. Lili will not be content to just spend the day with me. She will want to be involved in whatever they are doing. I am looking forward to this Christmas as much as any we have ever had. We have sooo much to be thankful for. Four wonderful children and a little girl in China just waiting for us to go over and bring her home. I am amazed how much Gracie's loss has changed my life. It really puts things in perspective when you lose a child. Only the really important thing matter the most now. I believe we have a better sense of family priorities. I hope to have lots of pictures for the web page from our Christmas. Next year we will really fill out the family picture! Just 7-8 months until we have Maggie Jo -Scott
December 17, 2004
I hope God answers our prayers one more time and pairs us with the perfect baby. We have been so blessed with adoptions in our lives. If you are considering adoption, please talk to someone who has done it. I hear all kinds of folks say, "We always thought about it, but . . . " Well, get on the stick and provide a loving home to some little one who needs it!I imagine the next seven to eight months will just fly buy. I hope everything goes as smoothly as the last time. I know one thing for sure, I am taking my good camera and the computer. Being off line for two weeks is not in my future again - hear that Tracy ;-) I plan to take more still pictures and less video. Maybe I have time to train Michael to run the video camera? We are expecting a very cold weekend here and up at the cabin. In case any of you have not seen the cabin, here is what a northern winter in the UP of Michigan looks like. If you visit this site again, the picture will change every five minutes, the way I have it linked. http://www.cabincam.net/netcam.html is the page address -Scott
December 14, 2004
Many of the first time couples are probably very impatient waiting for their child. I find this period of time in the adoption, one of great anxiety of wondering if I am prepared. I don't know who Maggie Jo is yet, so I am not really anxious to meet her per say. I am more scared that I am not prepared. I have done this three times before and find this time in the adoption process rather unique. Now - once we get our referral (most likely in June 2005), things will change. I will feel anxious to get our little girl home. The Chinese do a marvelous job with the children, and the nannies love these babies like their own children. I believe it is human instinct to want all your children together, and after we got Lili, I was so anxious to get home, even though I was having a wonderful time with Tracy and our new daughter in China. I imagine having Michael with us will be a great experience for him, but I also am aware of how helpful he is with Lili now, so I expect him to be the same with Maggie Jo. Tracy is a Super Mom, but our time together in China was very special because we were dependent on one another. The first few days are great, but we were so anxious to get our child, that the tourism was somewhat muted. I loved seeing the sites, but I enjoyed the part of the trip that included Lili the most. I am hoping to be a bit more relaxed this trip. The guide/ in country facilitators we had were top notch, but it is not normal for me to be dependent on some one else. (Control Freak? ;-)This morning Tracy brought Lili in to wake me up and held her up over my face. Lili had a hooded parka on and all I saw were two eyes, a huge smile, and a bunch of parka hood. She said D aaa d! and then gave me a kiss on the forehead. Not a bad way to start the day I might say. We had some snow the past few days and the boys are anxious to get Lili on a sled. I am thinking of taking them to the local ski hill that has an area for tubing. I imagine they will be very protective of her and try to take her up the hill. Fortunately, Tracy and I are not so easy to convince when it comes to adventures with their little sister. I will soon have some pictures to share again. -Scott
December 4, 2004
On the way home from the party in Columbus, Ohio we figured we could stop and find our tree. We had the racks on tip of the car, so why not? The hunt for the perfect Christmas tree was a bit different this year. Yes we once again returned to Rush's Tree Farm on 347 past the Honda plant. Yes, we once again had the three boys, Lili and Tracy and I. But this year was different indeed. Lili was in Charge. She picked out the tree. We tried to convince her that one just her size was not big enough to put all our ornaments on, or even get presents under. She insisted. I then told her if we cut it down - it will die. She seemed to not like that idea of killing Mr. Brown's tree, so we all went to "Plan B." This year was different as well because Michael cut the tree down, and then he and Chris carried it up to the needle shaker. If you have never cut down your own tree, you do not know what you are missing. The smell of the pine needles, the zig zag of the saw, the howl of the winter wind and the cries of brothers sparing.
Lili lobbying for her perfect little treeToday we attended a Christmas party for other families in Central Ohio that have adopted children from China. It was very nice with lots of good eats and many pretty little ones that look a bit like Lili. She enjoyed sitting on Santa's lap and the boys enjoyed telling her all the facts she should know about Christmas. I am going to try and upload some pictures tonight as I finally remembered to bring a USB cable home for the camera. We found a Nintendo Game Cube on eBay this week so the boys are staying up late playing with it. We will get them some games for Christmas. Here are some pictures from the COFCC Christmas Party. If you click on them, they will be full sized for printing -Scott
GREAT NEWS!
The Group
The little Chinese girl in the green chair is named Grace, and
just walked up to us and said she "wanted to be in our picture".
So, This will give you a peek at "next year's" Christmas!
The Ross Girls
Lili and Santa
December 2, 2004
Remember a few months ago I asked you all to pray for someone special who was pregnant? Well yesterday she gave birth to a healthy 6 pounds 4 ounces baby girl. A few months ago the doctors were not at all optimistic. They said they had never seen a good outcome when these conditions were present. . . . Then we all started praying, and now I have a new little one in our extended family - A H E A L T H Y baby girl. I will tell you more when or if I get permission to post, but I just wanted to let you all know - Good Job!Lili and her brothers are fine. We did survive the week without mom. I only took one day off work to clean house before she got home. Work has been good for both of us, School has been great, and Lili has even gone with me to a special client to set up a network. She is so adorable and knows how to win folks over with a smile and flash of her eyes. Today I went with Michael to Wright State University for a field trip. Other than me getting a bit queasy on the bus, I had a good trip and I believe Michael did too. The folks at Wright State University did an excellent job for the kids. I even got a tee-shirt! Our School is very special. We live in a county that all the schools are very good. We just believe ours is something special.
Today, the cabin received it's first significant snowfall. I am like a little kid when it snows. I actually don't care much for it here in Ohio, but I like to watch it really pile up at the cabin. -Scott
November 17, 2004
Day three of Mr. Mom Week. Tracy is still at training in Cincinnati, and the boys and Lili are eating well and don't smell bad. I cheated last night and took them to the YMCA swimming, so that took care of baths right? Actually they have had baths or showers every night. Lili has been especially joyous this week. I think it is because she gets to snuggle daddy more that I am home MUCH more - right? The boys have been little worker bees under my King bee guidance. We have been sleeping well and getting all that homework done. I think we will make it if we all work together -Scott
Homework at Pizza HutNovember 14, 2004
One of the things that makes our family work so well, is the separation of, and sharing of duties. Well, today we left Tracy in Cincinnati for a work week. She is in training there, and I will be here at home with all four kids - BY MYSELF!!!!! I am hoping this week goes bye quickly. Actually I am looking forward to the challenge. But just to be safe, I will move all my appointments to next week if possible. I have a feeling that I will learn to appreciate the things she does around here. Lili and here brothers are doing well. They are enjoying the fall and are doing their best in school. I have to cut this short, because it is bath time! -ScottNovember 9, 2004
The mystery is solved. Lili was caught red-handed with her hands in the cookie jar! She pushed a chair up to the counter and got into the cookie jar as we all sat i amazement! Sociologist would say she is asserting herself, but I say she is learning from her brothers. We were practicing spelling words at home with the boys and Lili was trying to imitate them. Oh, she can spell I A and O now . . . She continues to grow and thrive well. The past few days have brought the first white ground at our cabin in Upper Michigan. It brings back memories of her first time in the snow. This past weekend we had the boys' (Nicholas 9 and Michael 13) birthday party. Lili loved the ice cream cake. When we first got her from China, she did not know what to think of ice cream. I think the coldness of it surprised her. Tracy and I took her to lunch today and she was a hit with the local young ladies at the Chinese Restaurant. -Scott
November 7, 2004
The boys had a birthday party. This is Lili's first time singing along and helping blow out the candles. She enjoyed herself more than I expected with all the attention on her brothers special days. (Michael 13 years old, Nicholas 9 years old)
The Cutting of the CakeNovember 3, 2004
The election is finally over . . . or is it? Anyway, I had a lump in my throat as I took Lili into the polling place yesterday morning as Tracy and I taught her how to vote. I could not help but reflect on how different her life is with us. It strengthened my resolve to bring Maggie Jo home as soon as possible. We have learned that it may be possible to sponsor a child in Lili's orphanage through financial support. If any of you are interested in further information I could include a link. It is my understanding that it is for older children so they may attend school. It seems most couples want young children, so the older ones tend to be forgotten and left behind.Lili watches Finding Nemo on my computer here in the office nearly every morning. She chants Nemo Nemo Nemo until I give in. She picked out her own outfit this morning. I hope Tracy approves. I have a big test in two weeks as Tracy will be in Cincinnati for five days training. That means I will have the kids, the store and the house - all alone. I told her we were going to move into a hotel and have carryout while she was gone! I will manage, I will just have to be more efficient I suppose. No pictures today, just felt like sharing our voting experience yesterday. -Scott
