The Fanning Four

Bethy has a staph infection. From 2 bug bites she got yesterday at school. I know, right? They've named a room after us at the pediatrician's office. Ok, not really but they should. We given them enough money to pay for one. Maybe that's how they got the rockin new train table in the waiting room. The Bethany F. Train Table. Fortunately I needed to call to get a refill on one of her prescriptions and thought to ask what I should be doing to treat the bug bites. I described what they looked like. They said to bring her in right away. Doctor said she'd have probably ended up in the hospital if we hadn't come in. C.R.A.Z.Y. We ran into Bethy's best bud (the one who had to cancel playdate this morning because he was sick) at the doctor's office so it was like a mini playdate. In a weird "Our kids are always sick" kind of way. As for the adoption- everyone keeps asking how it's going. We're just waiting for China to approve our paperwork. ...

The neatly arranged bins of toddler boy clothes have errupted into a chaotic mound of whites and darks on Caleb's bedroom floor. I folded up the 12 month and under clothes and placed them in a "give away" pile because he's already too big for them. The 24 month clothes are going in the dresser and closet. The 18 months I'll save just in case he's smaller than we expect. To me the putting together of the bed and the washing of the tiny clothes are two of the biggest moments of getting ready for a new child. Every time I walk by and see his bed, I think about how I long to see him in there. There's nothing like a sleeping baby. Even a toddler looks like a baby when they're asleep. It's really precious. And I'll know he's safe with us. If he coughs, cries, or calls out for us, we'll be there to scoop him up and hold him. And the clothes, well they're just little and cute. I remember folding the tiniest onsies, anticipating dressing u...

Yesterday in the nursery at church (both Tom and I were there at the time to witness it), a little boy took a toy from Bethy. He turned to walk away and she charged him from behind. She full on tackled him and he fell to the ground with Bethy on top of him. Is it ok that I wanted to say both "Bethy,when someone takes a toy from you, you need to use your words." and "Way to go girl!"? It is for this reason that I let Tom handle the situation. I really do have an internal struggle of how to best teach Bethy to be sweet and nice but also to stand up for herself. If you know her, I think you would agree that she's a little bit of both. Sweet as can be but just don't mess with her!

Yesterday was just a bad day. I took Bethy for her follow up with the pediatrician (from being sick last week) and it turns out she has an ear infection and all that fluid that's been there for almost two months is still there. So, we're on to round 3 of antibiotics. The only other option is three days of shots. No thanks! Also, looks like Bethy will be getting tubes in her ears. We will be going to the ENT on Monday to talk about that.  So, let's pray this new round of antibiotics gets rid of that ear infection. We're also trying another new allergy medicine since nothing seems to be working so far. We went to the pet store after the appointment as a "special treat". Bethy loves looking at the animals! She fell asleep for the ten minute ride home and then refused to take her nap. I needed a nap really badly. So, it was not pretty and to say I was frustrated would be an understatement. I told Tom last night that it's days like this that make me wonde...

 Isn't he completely precious? Don't you want to kiss his little cheeks? And HE. HAS. DIMPLES!!!!!!!! We also got some developmental updates. His cleft palate is making it hard for him to eat solid food and to speak. Other than that he's on track developmentally. But we are anxious of course to get him home so he can have the surgery and start to work on those things. From the report he seems to be doing great overall and he sure looks happy! And pink, oh the pink!

Bethy turned a corner Sunday night and stopped coughing non stop. It was rough there for a bit and I am glad that bout is over! She even went back to school on Monday and our week has been a little bit back to normal. Tom is through the worst of his busiest time at work so that's also helped. We even got to spend the afternoon at the beach/pool at some friends' place on Sunday. I love being with my family! It's been a while since I've posted about what Bethy's been doing lately and I need to keep a record anyways so here ya go: She said "Just kidding" today for the first time. She said, "Hurry, faster, faster, a bear's coming...... Just kidding." And then she laughed hysterically. I can't even begin to describe how happy this makes me. It's almost as exciting as her first steps. The ability to make a joke is a good thing and I'm glad we're moving into that realm! Here's another conversation from today: Bethy: "...

I would like to stick my daughter in a bubble. Actually I would like to go into a bubble with her and protect her from whatever is making her sick. It was around November that she was diagnosed with asthma (August when she really started being sick all the time) and we still have hadn't a period of "wellness" long enough for her to get allergy tests. Bethy's real sick again..... We're doing ok. But I just want her better. Here's what's going on: Fluid on her ears for about a month now that isn't responding to treatment. She's started to not articulate words as well and the doctors tell us she can only hear us in a muffled tone. We're trying one last med change and then we may be doing tubes. She had a croup cough last night and at today's doctor's visit her lungs didn't sound so good (Congested, wheezing- signs her asthma is not under control). She's still coughing pretty bad and has a low grade fever. She needs to respond...

We've been watching A LOT of Beauty and the Beast. A.L.O.T!!! It has spawned many theological discussions about the movie- it's really quite interesting and wonderful the similarities between the story of Christ and the Beauty and the Beast.  Beast has a "west wing" that he doesn't want anyone to see. It's dark, dirty, chaotic, and full of his secrets. Eventually Beauty makes her way in and ultimately saves the Beast from the curse. But he has to let her in for that to happen. I must confess that I have some trash in the west wing of my life. We all do. Parts of our lives that we keep hidden from others and even from God, fearful of what they will think if they see it. Fearful of having to change our sinful ways. Fearful even of love. So, for lent I am symbolically cleaning out the west wing spots of my house. You know the ones? The drawer filled with junk. The linen closet that you've just been throwing things in. Each day in lent I am cleaning out a...

Yesterday, I worked on Caleb's room. It no longer looks like a temperature controlled, $30 a month storage space. It's not done, but it's getting close. I used to keep the door to that room closed because it was so messy. But now look at it. You can almost see him sitting there playing. I can picture myself scooping him out of the crib and kissing his sweet cheeks. I'm trying to get together the pacakge that will go to China and be delivered to him. A photo album, sticker sheets, a cd of music, and a letter. That's what we can send. I'm ready to snuggle his face. Bethy's doing so much better! Thanks for all the prayers. This week we've got two friends in town and this weekend we are going to a wedding. Next week is spring break and we don't have any big plans but I'm sure we'll find something to do!

I tried to tell the less than compassionate nurse in the ER Saturday night that she would probably throw up when he gave her the medicine but he sat right in front of her face anyways. So, I had no sympathy for him when he stomped off the go clean Bethy's spew off his scrubs (In fact, in the middle of the night, in an ER, it is amazing how funny your child spewing on a nurse can be). I believe the phrase is, "I told you so." Bethy's asthma flared up Saturday night and I believe we had a total of four vomit sessions and 5 "Bethany, you need to try and take a deep slow breath." panic sessions. We also had 2 admissions to the ER which I am positive will result in 2 copays. And we returned home at about 3:30am Sunday morning. But the good news is- her lungs sounded and looked good. And still did at the doctor's visit on Monday. She's got shot of steroids still running through her and is now on a heavy dose of antibiotics. She also slept two and and hal...

It's been a week since we saw our sweet Caleb's face for the first time. Since then I have looked at it approximately 1,348 times (and counting). But besides that, we have been BUSY!! Going to a wedding for a sweet friend: Relaxing at one of our favorite places on Earth: And becoming a 31 month old:  And now that we know who Caleb is, people have so many questions. I will answer some of them here: 1. Where is he now? He is in an orphanage in a city north east of Beijing. 2. When do you get to go get him? Hopefully around mid July or August 3. How long will you be in China? About 2 weeks 4. Will Bethy go? No :( 5. What is cleft lip and palate? This wikipedia article explains and has pictures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_lip_and_palate 6. It must be so hard to not be with him now that you know who he is, how do you handle it? Honestly, this week has been easier than normal in that respect. Before we got his referral, I knew he was alive but didn't have...