Merry "Painful" Christmas

Poor Lucy. Tried to take a Christmas photo of all the kids and tired, napless little Lucy just looked like she was in pain. Don't think this one will be going out with the Christmas cards, but it was definitely blog worthy! Ha ha!

FU SISTERS!

Of course, I went on Marry's blog and saw this picture and had to have it for my blog!! This was taken of Lucy, Ella and Kaia (L-R) (three of the "Fu sisters" in our travel group) at Kaia's third birthday party. Aren't they the most gorgeous Jiangxi girls you have ever seen???!!!

Why is it so Hard to get ONE Picture Where They are all Smiling??

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FU FU!!

It's hard to believe that my little 11 month old, nearly bald, quiet as a mouse and highly observant sweet little baby from half way around the world...is now THREE YEARS OLD! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY MAE JI CHUN LAUGHLIN - OUR LITTLE "FU FU!" I knew before I even saw your picture that I loved you. I just didn't know how deep my love for you would be. You are my beautiful, talented and sweet-hearted baby. I love how you sing Chinese songs at the top of your lungs. I love how you smile automatically when mommy says "Cheese." It's not just any old smile - it is a smile from the top of your head to the tip of your toes! You amaze me everyday with how smart you are. With three older siblings as your role models, I knew you would learn everything so quickly, and you did! Seems like just yesterday that I was holding you like a baby. Just today, after bath time you said, "Mommy, hold me like a baby." I will always hold on to you my baby. Lucy, you are such a joy to us and so many others. We love you with all our hearts. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!

Attack of the Drool Monster

Hi All: Greetings from soggy, wet Utah. I don't mean it's raining...actually it's drooling. A lot! Abbie, that is. She has always been a drooler, but since her surgery, she soaks at least 30 bibs a day! Sometimes I have to double or even triple them up because the drool is literally pouring out of her mouth at the rate of a fire hose. We always know where she has been and where she is...just follow the little puddles and you will find her. Puddles on the floor, puddles on the furniture, blankets, me. Yuck! We are all soaking wet from the Drool Monster and I have started calling her "Slimer" instead of Abbie. Help! Anyone have any suggestions?? (P.S. she just drooled on the computer. Gross.) I am going to make a doctor's appointment, but in the meantime, any ideas are good ideas! Love you all and sayonara from drool-land.

The Cowley Kids

I love it when old friends keep in touch. "Daddy" Jeff used to work for me before leaving for nursing school. I remember when each of Jeff and Laneea's three beautiful children were born. I love this picture from Halloween. Thank you Jeff and Laneea for remembering us and sharing precious pictures of your family!

"Poncho Villa"

Howdy Pardners: Cold days in Utah require warm, fuzzy '70's style ponchos! At least that is what my mom thought when I was a child growing up in "frigid" San Jose, California. I think I had a homemade poncho for every occasion. So when the granddaughters started to come around, it was inevitable the poncho pattern would reappear! Finally, the handmade, official Grandma Judy ponchos fit "the girls" and we had a little fashion show just for Grandma today. Enjoy the pictures Mom! We love you! (p.s. of course, Abbie was her silly self and had to get in on the fun...but we think she needs a poncho too! Don't you? Extra pee wee sized please! :)

Fun with Friends at the Neighborhood Halloween Party!

Halloween...Surgery...and Six Pints of Ice Cream!

Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while - we have been busy bees! Dressed as gypsies, dolls, Evil Emperor Zurg, Pee Wee Herman, Jessy from toy Story and a Duck, the Linne-Laughlin family went to our friend's (Sean and Jenn) house for an outdoor Halloween potluck in their garage. This is now a tradition going on at least four years! While Dan, Gracie and Lucy were Trick-or-Treating their hearts out on a nice Utah evening, Abbie, Ericka and I stayed home to pass out candy to gobs of little ghouls, lots of princesses and many hungry teenagers. Our friends Keishel and Jon and their two beautiful girls came over to visit (also a Halloween tradition!) We all had a good time and it helped me take my mind of of Abbie's surgery scheduled for the next day. We had to check into Primary Children's Medical Center at 6:00 AM. So, I was up at 4:45 AM (actually, I don't think I slept) and got Abbie and all our hospital gear there on time. Dr. Morales, Dr. Park and Dr. Smyth performed the following procedures: ear drainage and tympanotomy tubes; hearing test; four cavities filled (we thought she would need crowns); one tooth extraction and root canal; teeth sealing and x-rays to determine the status of her permanent teeth. We learned that she has all her permanent teeth except for the left canine. This is good news because Dr. Yamashiro (cranio-facial dentist) will have her own teeth to work with and there will be less likelihood of rejection when she has her bone graft at age six. She also had her preliminary palate surgery and the installation of the hard palate prothesis with two screws...AND three skin tags removed from her right ear! Needless to say, she spent the first 24 hours sleeping on morphine and in a good deal of pain. However, children bounce back quickly! Before long, she was running the hallways, waving to the other patients, made friends with the nurses and making art work in the Forever Young Zone play and activity center for inpatients. We spent one night and now our little leaky faucet (drooling like a fire hose) is home and terrorizing her siblings instead. :) Now on Tylenol with Codeine, Abbie is eating and drinking fairly well, but it hurts me to watch her! Today we went to Burlington Coat Factory to purchase the girls new winter coats. When we returned home, there was a large package containing SIX pints of ice cream on dry ice for Abbie! Special thank you to my friends at work for this special treat! Wow! That's a lot of ice cream to eat!! Abbie's next surgery will be in 9-12 months and will consist of stitching closed the muscle tissue of her soft palate and finalizing the hard palate. Have a wonderful weekend. We love you all! Tracie