Seasons First Snow Fall

So today we had our first real snow fall. Chris and I were very excited about taking Olivia out to experience her first snow fall. We were up and at em early, had a wonderful breakfast at Cracker Barrel and we were off to Target to get little Miss some boots. We purchased our goodies and we were off! Olivia was in the back seat just chatting away and giggling. I turned around to see what she could possibly be giggling at and found out. She had taken her shoes and socks off! Now, keep in mind that is was maybe 20 degrees and Olivia has no socks!! Oh well, I have come to learn to choose my battles and if her feet get cold I am sure she will let me know. Crazy!

So, we are now home and outside......as you can see from the pics Olivia was not having any part of the snow.

Take me inside Mom, its COLD

If you look closely you will notice that Olivia does not have on any socks here either

Ahhh, inside my warm home!
This is more like it....no snow.....give me food!


More to come later....

We love you!

Happy Holidays

Rochester is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It has been bitterly cold and snowing. We dont have any accumulation but it is nice to see some snow. Olivia does not really know what to make of it yet.

She is doing really well in school. She no longer cries when I drop her off. But I am also slinking out without her seeing me leave sooooo..... She seems to be more and more vocal since beginning school. She is still not saying many words. She knows more, eat, welcome (and the sign language that goes with the first 3), apple, NO, up up up, jelly, Grandma and NoNa....she is really coming along. I still have to remind myself that she has only been around English for 4 months so it will take her some time.

Olivia turned 20 months old yesterday! It is hard to believe. My little girl is growing so quickly! She has been in my heart all my life but in my arms for 4 months! Why does time need to go so quickly?? I am very Thankful for Olivia Jade and would not change a moment of time since she has been my little girl!

With the Holiday season upon us please stop and take a moment to tell your loved ones just how much they mean to you! Time moves very quickly, we need to cherish the now and not dwell on the past shouldas and couldas. It is ok to visit past memories but we can not live there, as we are to learn from the past. Now is all we have, grasp it and love it! We are all exactly where we are supposed to be.....I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Many blessings!

I finally have some pig tails! Although when Mama turns her back I am gonna rip these things out!

I cant move!

Playing with Aunt Rachael on Thanksgiving Day
Higher! Higher!
Eating and more eating

My little dare devil...
Has learned to climb.....oh boy!!

Pics and more pics

Here are a few pics over the last couple of weeks. Chris and I are in the way to Grandma and Grandpa for Thanksgiving lunch. I will post those pics this evening!

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving everyone!!

We love and miss all of you!!

The Caschette's

Happy Halloween

Olivia has been a little on the sickly side but other than that all is well.

She will begin "school" on Tuesday. I say school but it is really a day care but it is very structured so more like a school to me. Olivia has been to visit s few times and seems to truly enjoy being there. Of course, Mama is still in the room with her so that may change on Tuesday when we visit and mama leaves. I am very comfortable with the staff and the location is maybe 3-4 mins from Chris' work and maybe 10 mins from my work.

Olivia was a pumpkin for Halloween. Yesterday there was a Halloween costume party at Chris' place of work so I took Olivia in her pumpkin. She had a great time and was not scared of Chris in his makeup.

OLIVIA GOES POTTY

MY LITTLE GIRL HAD HER FIRST SUCCESSFUL POTTY IN THE BIG GIRL POTTY!!! THE FACE SAYS IT ALL.....SHE WAS SO SURPRISED!!

Very funny

Before you start the video, go to the bottom of the page and stop the music

Doc Visit and Day Care Tour

Calling NaNa, gonna tell on my Mom...cant remember why, but I am telling
Shhh, this is Final Jeopardy, I have to concentrate
AHHHH, I beat Dad at Jeopardy~



Such a darling little face

Giggling at my Mama

Here are a few pics from the last couple of weeks! Boy has my little girl changed. It is truly mind boggling that in 3 days she will have been in my arms for 3 months and in my heart forever!

As you can see or hear I have added some music to the page. These songs are very inspirational to me and hold a special place in my heart. A few helped me during the wait, while a few are just great songs!

This past Wednesday Olivia finally had her appointment with her cranial facial plastic surgery team. The entire staff commented on how great her lip looked. The repair of the palate also is great except for a small pen sized fistule at the back of her mouth. A fistule is a place where the palate did not close. Dr. Girroto does not think the fistule will cause is problems in the future but if needed we can repair when she has surgery around 7-11 years of age. Yes, she will need to have surgery to place a small piece of bone placed in the roof of her mouth, her palate was more severe than we realized. At first glance her lip looks as if it is a unilateral incomplete - incomplete meaning the cleft did not go into the nose area. Olivia's actually does go into her nose. It is very minor so that is why when Chris and I looked at it we did not believe it was complete. Now, knowing what we are looking for we can see the complete part of her lip. The palate is actually a little worse than her lip. Not really normal for this to take place, so we have been told. Anywho, her palate does go into the hard palate meaning she is missing bone. This is where the surgery comes in, when her permanent teeth begin to come in she will need orthodontic work and then the surgery to place a piece of bone in her palate. While the doc was checking out her mouth, he showed us where the palate begins. Something that I was not able to locate before. Her cleft begins just past her two front teeth on the right side. It was pretty cool to be able to see where it began.

Her ears may or may not need to have tubes inserted. The doc did say if the surgery is done while in China it was not common practice to go ahead and enter tubes in the ears. In the US it is common practice. So, he would like us to make an appt to see the ear nose and throat doc. Also to make sure her hearing is ok. I am gonna say it is ok, she just has selective hearing! HAHAHA

Today, Chris and I went to visit a day care - well to me it is more like a school as it is very structured. They have teachers in every class room. Any way, it was bitter sweet. Olivia did enjoy the classroom in which she would be in daily. A classroom full of girls! HA I did get a little emotional since Olivia has been with me daily since 7/22. Although I know it is very important for her to have interaction with children her age I am not so sure Mama is ready. I told Denise (the director) the first day I drop her off I may sit in the parking lot all day! She laughed and said that it has happened! HAHAHAHA

2 Months of Mommy and Daddy Bliss

This picture was taken today. As you can see Olivia's dress was not able to button in the back. When we first got her the dress was wayyyy to big, not today her belly is getting to big....hahahahahaha....I love it!!

This picture was taken the evening the stork arrived.

This picture was also taken the night the stork arrived!
This picture was taken today! Look just how much she has changed!

Uncle Frank here is your new boat! You can sell the pontoon and get this one! Do you think I will be able to ski behind this one?? HAHAHA

Olivia climbed in the chair and buried herself behind all the pillows!

Her first vacuum cleaner!

I was feeding her breakfast the other morning and forgot to turn off the TV. Being lazy I did not want to walk the short distance and turn it off so I turned her highchair around! Well, little miss smarty pants still found a way to watch Little Ensteins through the hole in the back of the high chair!


Uncle Frank, your new truck! I bet it is great on gas!

This picture was taken just a few moments ago...check out the look on my face..Olivia was putting her hand down my shirt!! WHOA!!
We have been home for 2 months today!! I can not believe that I am not dreaming of holding my daughter anymore! She can actually run into my arms!! WHOA!!


It still amazes me that we traveled to China to get this precious gift! I was asked the other day why we chose China and I simply answered, "because that is where I knew my daughter was"! What else was I to say? I just had a pull to China! You know the whole red thread!


Some days I do not want to get up at 630, I have never been a morning person, but when I walk into Olivia Jade's room, I somehow forget all of my tiredness and again thank God for what He has given me. We still have our challenging days, with more to come I am sure, but I would not change where I am in my life for anything in the world! I am very happy with my life and all that He has given me, challenges and all!


Ok, so this was started yesterday, I did not have a chance to post it! Sooooo, here ya go!


We love everyone! Without each and every one of you Chris and I would not be here! If you are reading this please know that you hold a special place in our hearts!

Blessings!

The Caschette's - family of 5 - yes 5, dont forget our 4 legged daughters!
HAHAHAHA