Spring Break and Easter

Make a scrapbook

4 Months Together as a Family

WOW!  Four months have passed by quickly as all of us have grown and been stretched.  Each day our hearts grow closer together and it is as if Jin has always been with us.  His English is improving and his vocabulary expanding.  Just the other day he warned his brother when he said, "Gugu, you need to say please to me."  As you can see his comprehension is improving too.  It is always an adventure at the Holloway Household and for that we are very grateful!

Saturday Morning Play Time

Saturday morning Clint called me upstairs and warns me to be quiet and bring the camera.  What was I walking into?!  All I heard as I approached their room were giggles and hearty laughter.  Our sweet boys were happily enjoying an all boy tea party. 

Umm, umm

  A nice cuppa with my brotha

Happy All The Time

I'm in-right, out-right, up-right, down-right happy all the time.

When Jesus Christ came in and cleansed my heart from sin,

I'm in-right, out-right, up-right, down-right happy all the time.

These are the words to our latest song at church.  Well, this morning Mr. Jon Campbell very eloquently merged these lyrics into our morning prayer.  It was a beautiful surprise.  We have been blessed with a few recent blessing out of the mouths of babes..  A few weekends ago Jon Campbell announces, out of the blue, "I am very happy that I have a new brother to play with!"

Happy all the time

Where one is the other must be at all times.  They spend hours playing Batman and Robin, Scooby Doo and Shaggy as well as Thomas the Train and Percy.  They are a matched set and have blown us away with their compatibility.  Of course they have moments when they aren't "kind to everyone", but boys will be boys.  Recently though, Jin said something about China to his brother.  Jin Campbell instantly became very distraught and began to cry.  He told Jin he didn't want Jin to go back to China because he loved him and would miss him too much!

We rather be playing

Jin's right foot update

DAFO Tami2

     Jin is roughly 2 weeks away from receiving some relief and stability for his right foot.  After meeting with an orthopedic surgeon and viewing his x rays the best course of action will be a custom designed foot insert shown above.  Jin chose, with the assistance of Jon Campbell, a spaceship theme with blue and yellow straps and padding plus some Scooby Doo mixed in .  He will place his foot in this Dafo Tami2 and then it will fit into inside his shoe.  Currently, he has complete motion and flexibility of his ankle.  This insert will allow that to continue which is essential to his everyday activity.  One would never know that he is missing all 5 of his toes on his right foot until.... his shoe flips completely around or jets striaght up.  Many people have to do a double take, "Did I just see what I thought I saw?"  Jin runs, skips, jumps and dances like any 4 year old just minus 5 toes.  He has learned to compensate and adjust and that he does beautifully.  The orthopedic surgeon believe he will be fine for years until he becomes an adult and the existing cartilage wears away.  Surgery will then be needed.  Until that point and as long as he experiences no pain, life will gone on fine.  This insert will provide stability and a filler for his shoe to aid in balance.

     Monday was his casting appointment.  A cast is needed to make the insert according to his exact foot shape and formation.  I was unsure how he would react.  Again, Mama worried for no reason.. He was perfect and the process was complete in 30 minutes.

 

A nylon sock was placed on his foot.  Then the tubing inserted. 

The tubing is used to make the cast removal safe and simple.   

 

Wet gauze coated with a hardening substance is wrapped

around his foot and up a portion of his leg.  Jin had to

keep his foot still and not flexed for the

 cast to dry in the proper position.

Within minutes his cast was dry and ready to come off. 

Hopefully this first try will be right.  Mr. Matt used a

blade rather than a saw.  He did not want the sound

of the saw to scare Jin.

Success!

Jin and Mr. Matt Bulow of Bulow Biotech Prosthetics 

Gung Hay Fat Choy

We celebrated Chinese New Year with a lot of NOODLES!

We went to the Golden Coast Chinese Restaurant for a great lunch.  Papa was a little squemish with the assortment of sea creatures for the choosing.  The Golden Coast was packed from wall to wall, but the boys cooperated and we got a great table.  It was close to the buffet and in perfect view of the Lion Dance Troop which we anxiously awaited.  It was well worth the wait too.  The Lion Dance Troop was fantastic. 

SMILE PRETTY FOR THE CAMERA :)

The boys are trying to feed the lion some red envelopes

What is China?

Clint spoke to Jin's class about China today.  He had the full attention of all 6 of the three year olds for 25 minutes.  It was both very precious and humorous to observe.  Both Jin and Ms. Cheryl wore their traditional Chinese dress as well.  Clint spoke about eating Chinese food with chopsticks to Chinese letters.  Jin was an excellent assistant.  Papa and Jin also taught his class a few Chinese phrases.  They  got a kick out of that.  For snack Jin shared fortune cookies and blueberry marshmallows, a Chinese treat, with his friends.

Jin and his panda

Playing the calabash

A calabash is a woodwind instrument similar to the recorder.  It is made from a calabash gourd which is also used to make pipes.  The mouth piece is made from ox bone.  Very detailed painting is done on the front.

Ms. Chery with her students

Jin shares his Chinese books with his friends

These are the books we sent Jin as part of his care package in the orphange once we knew were his "forever" family.  They have travelled many  miles :)

Jin with his classmates

The 1st SNOW of 2010

They said there was a 100% chance of snow and for the 1st time they were RIGHT!  The snow started to fall mid morning and continued to fall all day just like powdered sugar from the sky.  It was beautiful.  We went out to explore after lunch and had a great time.  At this point there was an accumulation of 2 inches, but it was not sticking to the roads yet.  The boys played with their trucks and Super Heroes in the snow for awhile.  Batman and Superman were made into frozen pops and seemed to love it?!  Then we went on an exploration walk along the creek.

Plowing the snow in the John Deere

Lov'n the SNOW!

The making of frozen Super Hero Pops

Following Papa's footprints in the snow is not so easy

Taking a break and enjoying the scenery together

Our creek

WOW, look at our ice castles!

We can break ice with ease.  Hayaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Getting ready to make snow ice cream for the 1st time.  See the snow we just dug up from the front yard.  Be careful you may find a few blades of grass in your ice cream.  More importantly, don't eat yellow snow!

 
The total snow accumulation- 4.5 inches!

Happy Birthday Papa!

It may be Papa's 37th birthday, but Jin got a great present too...NOODLES

Today is Papa's 37th birthday and we celebrated Chinese style.  We had dinner at Fulin's in Brentwood.  It is a wonderful Chinese restaurant plus it was voted the best Chinese restaurant of 2009.  Jin, as you can see, is grinning from ear to ear.  Noodles make him happy all the time.  The noodles were then followed by broccoli and snow peas.  Jon Campbell surprised us all and ate the deep fried chicken and really liked it.  Jin's eating habits just may be rubbing off on him.  We had a great time together.  We sure do love our Papa.  He does so much for all of us and for that we are very grateful.  I especially need to tell him that say more often.  THANK YOU PAPA!  WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

Jin loves snowmen

All throughout Christmas Jin was amazed and thoroughly excited about Baby Jesus, snow and snowmen.  He was able to play in the snow at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Indiana, but sadly there wasn't enough to make a snowman.  Have no fear though... He was able to create his own snowman at school.  Jin brought it home Friday so please take a look.  We hope you enjoy it!

TaDa!

Pancake & Pajama Day in Ms. Cheryl's class

Jin was very excited to wear pjs to school today.  In Ms. Cheryl's class they made pancakes together and wore their pajamas all day.  Jin chose his new camo pjs which have a matching robe.  He loves his robe because he often says, "COLD, COLD!"  What a treat, Papa was on hand to assist as well.  He makes one mean pancake.

Camo is the way to go

Stirring the pancake mix

Yum, yum, yummy!

"No butter on mine, please and thank you."

The many phrases of Jin...

Jin is beginning to put several words together and using them correctly too.  Take a look at a few.  It is amazing to see his vocabulary grow and his repertoire expand. 

I want Gugu.

What's this?
Excuse me, please.

I don't know.

Jin is Ultraman

I want to pray.

Milk please.

Please read.

I love you.

SMILE!

Gugu, I want to play.

Jin's been home for 2 months

BROTHERS

Jin has been home with us for 2 months now.  We can't believe how quickly time has flown.  Jin is adjusting very well and is quite happy.  Jin and Jon Campbell love playing together, reading together, watching dvds together and most of all laughing together.  There are many "ah" moments.  Tonight before tuck in time I noticed Jin's very dry, chapped lips.  Jon Campbell jumps out of bed to grab his chapstick.  He leans over Jin's bed and says, "Jin, do your lips like this."  Jon Campbell patiently applies chapstick to Jin's lips without being asked.

Jin loves Thomas the Tank Engine, Percy, milk, chocolate, bananas, oranges, veggies, rice, crackers, noodles, cherry tomatoes, fish, Lightning McQueen, Batman, books, and the list goes on and on.

Jin completed his 1st week of school at Judson Baptist.  He loves his teacher, Ms.Cheryl and playing, playing and more playing. 

Jon Campbell loves his brother.   Every evening wearing matching pjs is a must per Jon Campbell.

We are very fortunate to live in a city with a wonderful children's hospital.  Jin has been examined and observed by numerous doctors since his arrival.  Currently, we are working to complete all needed shots.  It is very common to discover the ones he had were not "active" or "good".  The vaccine serums may have been old or not properly stored at the adequate temperature.  He is a trooper!

 Do you know what this is?

After failing his hearing test we realized Jin's ears were clogged.  Clogged is an understatement.  Apparently Asian ear wax is different than others.  When it hardens it turns to cement and cement it was.  Sweet Jin sat with a towel around his neck, I held a small basin on his shoulder while the nurse flushed his ears with a bottle and a half of warm water with a hot pink liquid.  Once freedom was found the wax balls each dropped with a thud into the basin.  WOW!  

Their 1st joint cooking venture

The Holloway Pizzeria is open for business

Jin's 1st Day of School- YEAH!

Wednesday, January 6th was Jin's 1st day of school at Judson Baptist.  He was very excited!  He could be heard throughout the house calling out, "School, School, I'm going to SCHOOL!"  Armed with his new shoes, Lightning McQueen lunchbox and turtle bag, Jin marched into his new classroom ready to start his 1st day.  Honestly, I was a ball of nerves and very unsure how Jin would do or what he would understand.  As usual I was wrong and Jin had a simply perfect day.  Clint and I walked him in where he was all ready to jump in and play with the toys.  He didn't even look back which is a good thing, right?! 

Jin with his Gugu (big brother)

As Jon Campbell walked out the door for school, he called back to Jin, "Have a good day and be a how bow, bow!"

I am ready to go to school!

The turtle bag is all packed and Jin is ready to go,

But Mama has to snap one more picture!

 

Jin and his teacher, Ms. Cheryl

Our family is blessed by Ms. Cheryl.  She is very warm and loving and greets Jin with a hug and huge smile.  She is a perfect 1st teacher for Jin.  Ms. Cheryl's note after his first day read, "Jin had an awesome day!  He is so sweet and obeyed extremely well!  He ate every bite if his lunch and our snack.  The only area that is hard to understand is routine (when we can play with toys, when we read books quietly, etc.)  I will try to make a picture schedule to help with that.  He is precious!"

1st piece of artwork

                          

To celebrate Jin's 1st day we celebrated with gelato at Whole Foods

We're going for a ride!