Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Yesterday was Dr. Seuss's birthday! Schools celebrated across the nation. We made hats at daycare. These hats barely made it home to the Mommies...but it was a fun project!!

I should have made cupcakes.......what was I thinking....oh well!!

Sorry the blog is slow, I'm a busy bee this week......meetings, classes, conference on Saturday and we are currently changing insurance companies.........my homeowners insurance rates are out of this world!! The new company is going to save us $500 a year!!! Whoo Hoo!!

Wordless Wednesday

Another must read

Please everyone check out this blog. I know we are all in the mist of helping with the Starfish, but this wonderful lady is helping China Orphans as well. I'd really like to help her anyway that I can. Since we already sponsor at Emily's orphanage, I really can't help her out monthly, but I'd love to get some items together and send her. I've been reading her blog for so long I think I am related to her now!!!

Anyway, her name is Pam and she has really touched my heart!!!

Here is Pam's Blog................................

http://my.opera.com/paminhenan/blog/

PS.......the little boy is available for adoption................

Happy 40th Birthday!

No gifts please, I have everything I want!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope Haven Cuties

Debbie is in Xianyang and got a snapshot of the cutie pies. These children have been matched with forever families. Just waiting for paperwork to come thru. I had to share because this is Emily's orphanage. I believe #1 is Angie's little boy, and the last little girl belongs to Susan. Emily and Susan's girl were in almost all photos together. I'd love to get together with them, but we are MD, and they are CA....wouldn't you know................

Lily is doing very well with her bonding. I'm so glad. Be sure to check Debbie's blog in my favorites........

Now I'm off to bed. I have some nasty bug..............

Wordless Wednesday

Debbie's Gotcha!

Debbie just posted her gotcha day photos.....check her blog on my favorites list.....here is the photo of the day!!!!!!!!

I'll save Emily's pool photos for Wordless Wednesday!!

Ok I really have to get some work done......I have piles of laundry!!!

NSN changes

I've heard more than once about this change coming due to the wait regarding low-birth weight babies. I do not understand the gist of it. I hear that low-birth weight babies will be referred as nsn. I'm not just speaking of the rumor sites. I've heard this from agencys. My youngest son was a low birth weight baby. Hayden has learning disabilities, ADHD....we think from the steriods he was given at birth.....and he also was in physical theraphy for the first 3 years of his life. I don't understand how they can refer these children as nsn........... There are many more advanced issues with low birth weight babies....

Now that said, I consider myself the luckiest mom in the world. Hayden almost died on me 3 times. Twice in my arms. I don't care what we have to do, I just want him here alive.

BUT, and here is the big BUT families................Hayden gets very upset because he can't function at a 2nd grade level. And at 7 he has realized this and it's been a very big problem. My 7 yr old suffers from depression. It's not just about us as parents.....these little people grow up........

If I were still a waiting nsn parent, I think I'd have to be exploring these issues...

We are home

Quick post. We are back. The pool was ok....not WONDERFUL, but ok and we needed the break.

Debbie is about to post gotcha day photos so check her blog....I know I will!!! On my blog list to the right......

Emily LOVES the pool. She has zero fear of water......and she tried to dive in. Oh what fun...........she scared me more than 10 times.......

I'll get photos up later when the kiddies nap..........gotta run...........

See ya on Tuesday

Sorry I won't be at the chat this weekend. RMJ my package and postage helper check will be sent early next week.

Hugs everyone, I need a break..............

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentines Snow?

We had a off the wall snow storm last night....weren't even supposed to get this...so I snapped some photos...........yes they had school...2 hour delay.....

Wordless Wednesday

We are going away

I told Bruce if we didn't get away soon I was going to go nuts. We haven't exactly had the best of times lately. I think we need some serious family time theraphy. So we are staying here for the long weekend. It's a large hotel near the beach with an indoor pool. It's supposed to be a lot of fun, so I hope so. I need to get away. There is a pirate area, waterslide, bar, and diner..so it sounds good. I can't wait to see Emily's face when she sees the pool!

PS Starbucks and an Outlet Mall are next door....can you say "HEAVEN?"

It's a MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!

She is in a dress.

She has a bow.

She is SMILING!!

It's a Miracle!!!!!!!!!

Jonni quick look!!! Emily is smiling!!!

HA HA.........seriously she hates the camera so this never happens, and she won't leave in a bow!!!

Making Valentine Cookies

The kiddos had a day off from school (4 of these guys are daycare kiddies),so we made cookies for Valentines.....cept they are all gone already...oh well they had fun and that's what counts.....

We have another day off from school tomorrow so now we will be working on cupcakes!

On another note, We have decided to check into becoming foster parents. Something I've thought about for a long time.

I have 2 classes this week and a head cold so I'm sure blogging will be slow.

PS I was just looking at that God Awful Shed in my backyard from the photos. Wish I had some talent and could paint the thing to look better....wouldn't it be neat with at Panda and bamboo theme painted on it.....I'll have to see what I can do this summer.......anyone know where I can get some really big stencils?

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day all! What better way to celebrate than wish Debbie well on her trip to China!! Yes her little one is coming home!!! Debbie is leaving on Friday!Lily is in Xianyang, Shaanxi....my Emily was there too....but Emily was in Hope Haven downstairs and Ms Lily is upstairs!! Debbie is taking some photos to China for me to give to the nannies of Hope Haven!!! Everyone please pray she gets to visit the orphanage because some adopting parents have been denied...........Debbie's blog is in my favorites....please send her a note of Congratulations!!

Happy Valentines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XOXOXOXOXO

Why I have no time to blog

Hayden let me know of the goings on in the bathroom...so I ran up the stairs and this is what I found....so you see why my house is a mess?

Oh and take note of the thing to the right...see that little chair? Will you sit on it?...........neither will Ms Emily........ok she is 2 and it's TIME. Apparently Ms. Emily doesn't think so...................

The boo-boo is from brother Anthony....she got finger nailed in the face by accident...it is all healed now......

Wednesday's photo is a man pushing his son...these bikes are for sale everywhere for like $20 and my SIL wanted to buy one. I asked her if it was going in her lap on the 13 hour flight? She gave up on that idea.......... PS....the child in the background is in split pants and both are boys....we did see girls, but not many.

PS ..Happy Chinese New Year.........I'm a Monkey, and Emily is a Rooster.......so what are you???

Wordless Wednesday

News

Bruce's dad passed away at 6:00 pm yesterday.

I guess I should add that Bruce is adopted. He did find his bio father, but by the time he found him, his bio father was deceased. So losing his (real) dad (his words) is even harder I would imagine.....

Thanks for all the good thoughts...............

Love the Woods,
Carol, Bruce, Anthony, Hayden, and Emily

Bad news

Bruce has rushed over to his dad's house. I believe he is passing away. His dad has cancer. He has accepted hospice, so there will be no further attempts to save his life. Please think of Bruce today.

Will you join us?

Starfish Supply Raiser...

Starfish Foster Home is always in need of small-item donations! Some things are just difficult to get in China. At the moment, we need the following items. Due to import regulations, it is better to receive new items.


Long sleeved onesies or body suits from 0-3to 2T. We need some for next year
Winter sleepers, the ones with covered feet from about 6-9 months to 3T.
Any summer clothes, Preemie to 2T.
Summer shoes from 0 to 6 children's.
Vick's Baby rub
Infant Motrin and Tylenol
Gripe Water from Amazon.com
Pelican plastic bibs
Baby sunscreen
Plastic backed changing table covers
Plastic backed bibs
Playtex Bottles (the ones with the bags in them)
Playtex nipples (the have four different kinds some of each will do)
If you would like to help the Starfish Foster Home by supplying any of these items or any other items for small children, please leave a comment or e-mail me at timnkim@gmail.comI will be collecting the items throughout the month of February and then mailing them to Starfish at the end of the month.

If you are not familiar with Amanda or the Starfish Foster Home in China, please visit their blog at 'Chinese Starfish'.

Is this not heart breaking?

I sat down and watched this movie the Rescuers again with my kids.....haven't seen it since I was about 10!

Did this hit home and make me cry???????????????????

Do you remember this one???

See video below!!!

Disney's The Rescuers - Someone's Waiting for You

The Storms in China

WE NEED TO REACH OUT AND HELP GUYS!!!!!
Welfare institutions in south and central China are having the hardest
time dealing with the weather disaster. This part of the country is
simply not equipped to deal with extreme cold or heavy snow and ice.
The
most common critical problems are power outages, lack of safe drinking
and
cooking water, lack of fuel, diapers and public transportation. In
many
places where buses have stopped running, our Half the Sky nannies have
been walking hours (in one case, 4 hours) along icy roads to get to
the
children. As conditions worsen, our nannies and teachers are
remaining
at
the institutions day and night. They have given up the idea of going
home
to their own families for the holidays. They need quilts. They need
warm
clothing. They need coal, water, disposable diapers and food.

Here are the reports I have thus far, while in-flight. I will send
more
soon. Where you don't see a report, either all is well or I don't
yet
have information. I will tell you when we've heard from everyone.
We've
also given all the directors an emergency number to call when/if the
situation changes.

Hunan Province –

Chenzhou has had no electricity or water for six days. They are
relying
on coal for heat and cooking. The supermarkets and banks are closed.
Staff is using personal money for baby food, diapers, coal and water.
Costs are rising due to shortages. They have a natural well which,
thankfully, is not frozen. Even the older children are helping to
fetch
water. They have perhaps six days of food remaining. The local
government is overwhelmed by the disaster and is unable to help much.

Shaoyang has seen heavy snow every day for 20 days. There is
sufficient
water and, for the moment, there is power, so the children are warm.
However, 5 of 6 power poles have been downed by weather. Only one
stands
and the institution fears it will fall as well, leaving them without
electricity. Much of the rest of the city is already dark. Children
and
caregivers continue to work and play together. High school students
are
cramming for exams and trying to ignore the cold. Everyone prays that
the
power pole will continue to stand.

Yueyang also has no electricity. The one functioning power generator
is
being used in the children's dormitory. They are relying on coal
heat but
the price has tripled in recent days. They are running out of food
and
have applied to the local Bureau of Civil Affairs for funds to buy
more.
Our HTS nannies have been walking for hours to get to work, often
slipping
on the ice, "even though they try to be cautious."

Xiangtan has had snow for the past 10 days. The main water pipe is
"broken again." There is no water for cooking right now but they
do have
electricity, coal and blankets. They are still able to buy food but
prices have gone way up. Not all of the HTS nannies can get to work
every
day. They are keeping the programs going as well as they can and make
sure that at least five nurturing nannies are there with the babies
every
day, along with the institution's caregivers.

Jiangsu Province –

Changzhou has seen some heavy snows but the director reports that the
children are fine. The director says that he's doing his best to
ensure
that the children do not suffer. Public transportation is crippled by
the
snow and HTS nannies and teachers are waiting for hours to catch a bus
for
home or even walking home in the snowy dark.

Nanjing reports no problems at all despite the heavy snows. I tried
to
fly into Nanjing yesterday but it was not possible.

Anhui Province -

Chuzhou has both water and power. Only public transportation has
failed.
HTS nannies and teachers are walking to work. They are leaving home
extra
early to be there for the children.

Guangxi Province –

Guilin has two broken HTS heater/air conditioners in the Infant
Nurture
rooms and they've asked us to replace. The rooms are very, very
cold.
They ask for more soft matting for the floors and also snow boots for
our
HTS nannies who've been slipping and falling in the ice and snow as
they
come to work. They are so ill-equipped to handle severe weather.

Jiangxi Province –

Fuzhou lost power for a few days but now it is back to normal. The
snow
stopped a couple of days ago but now is falling again. The directors
and
HTS staff have gathered all the children into one big room to keep
them
warm. They've bought New Years clothes for the children and will
have a
party no matter how bad the weather. This year, however, the foster
parents will stay home to keep the children safe. The institution has
enough food and water. They want us to focus on those in more serious
trouble and ask us please not to worry.

Jiujiang says they've never faced such bitter weather. They
desperately
need disposable diapers. Washable diapers cannot be dried. They need
warm clothes, shoes, gloves hats quilts and warm mats for the floors.
They need medicine for infant coughs and colds.

Hubei Province –

Wuhan suffers heavy snows but they still have power. Heaters are
working
but there is no water for bathing. The local community has offered to
take children in for the Chinese New Year and the institution feels
this
may be the best decision to keep them safe.

Huangshi reports that the freeze is so severe that all heater/air
conditioners have stopped functioning. They need quilts and warm
clothes
for the children. They need disposable diapers. Several HTS nannies
have
fallen on the ice on their way to work and they need medicine to treat
cuts and bruises.

Gathering these reports together makes me think about how careful we
have
always been at Half the Sky to maintain our focus on nurture and
education
programs. Ours is not a medical or relief organization. There are
many
wonderful groups who do that work. Probably the primary reason we've
been
able to accomplish so much and reach so many children is because
we've
maintained our focus on our core mission -- providing nurturing care
for
children who've lost their families..

But a moment like this really cannot be ignored. The tragedy of
Hurricane
Katrina in the US taught us that no matter how wealthy a country might
be,
its vulnerable citizens (old, poor, ill, and orphaned children) are
the
ones who suffer most when disaster strikes. Even as China seems to be
entering the first world, a disaster like this is quite simply
crippling.
We know that orphaned children will be among those who suffer the
damage
most.

I say this because I think we should break one of Half the Sky's
rules
and, if there are sufficient funds raised in the Little Mouse
Emergency
Fund, we should offer relief (water, food, diapers, quilts, clothing)
to
any orphanage where children need help. Let's see how this goes. If
people are as generous as I think they might be, we will work with the
provincial Bureaus of Civil Affairs in every hard-hit community, and
offer
assistance to all welfare institutions where there is need.

Please lend a hand, however you can. You can donate to the Little
Mouse
Emergency Fund by calling us in the US at +1-510-525-3377 or in Asia
at
+852- 2520-5266 or by visiting us at www.halfthesky.org. Once there,
you
can click on "Donate Now"
http://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Categories?
category=Direct+Contributions
or go to http://www.halfthesky.org/help/docs/usdonation-orderform.pdf
to
download a form to mail or fax. Donations are tax-deductible in US,
Canada and Hong Kong.

Please forward this message and tell your friends and family.

I will be back with an update very, very soon.

Thank you!

Jenny