The Fake Smile.

Maggie has figured out that she needs to smile when I have the camera out.

So, she squints her eyes and does her best fake smile.  How did she figure this one out ?

So pretty and so smart !

"Dads For Adoption"

Chuck here, I am guest posting for Kathy.  I have been thinking about posting my thoughts since our "Gotcha" moment.  I am overwhelmed.... In an awesome way!  This adoption has truly changed my life.  Now I know everyone just said.... Duh.  But the change I am speaking of is more than just another child in the house.  It's a God change.  I see life different.  Grace, Mercy, Love, Affection, Tenderness, .....  It's all different now.  My kids have changed, my wife has changed, and I have changed.  My walk with the Precious Father is changing.  It truly scares me to death to think I almost missed this.  I was the one with doubts, fears and what ifs....?  I want to say right here right now that there is nothing on this earth like a wife that hears the voice of God.  My wife heard God and it changed our life.   From the moment, December 28th 2009 ~ 4pm (in China), Kathy handed me Maggie it was like a light switch was flipped.  I saw it.  I know I am rambling....  The video below is good.  Coach "O" says exactly what I was going to say and its in a video.  To learn more about this family click here.

Chuck

Catching Up.

We had beautiful, spring like weather this past weekend.  So, Maggie could finally wear one of the dresses I made her while we were waiting to travel to China.  I miss sewing.  Today, I cut out a pattern for a Maggie  dress and spent some time looking at fabric.  Oh, then it snowed Wednesday morning.  Crazy !

Maggie loves balls ( and cars,airplanes,sticks and dirt).  We got this ball today at Target, and I think it's Maggie's new best friend.  She loves it !

Other random updates : Maggie had her first speech therapy session and it went great ! She responded to all the sounds and was very interactive.  She is working in some simple sounds now ( AH, BU) and will gradually build up to words.  She also will start Early Intervention for speech therapy.  She is doing great with her bone conduction hearing aid.  If you look close at the pictures, you will see her "hearing aid" on her bow.  That is where the microphone part of the aid is.  The "oscillator" is behind her ear hidden behind  the headband.

I am chewing on writing a post about Special Needs adoptions, since Maggie was a SN adoption and we are so blessed to have her in our lives.  I know it may be scary to some people, and there can be many unknowns.  BUT, all these children need is love, a family, and a chance.  We consider Maggie's only special need is that she needed a family. I will have to stop there or I won't get dinner ready on time.

We are so grateful for our family and friends and all the help they have given.  We have been able to spend a lot of time with my family in Birmingham and are so Thankful for all their help with keeping the boys and dinner/breakfast and so much warm hospitality !  Maggie has a way of bringing us all together.  She is doing so great and is so sweet - like a bowl of confectioners sugar !

Saturday at the Park.

This was Maggie's first time in a swing.

She Loved it !

That's my girl.

Have  a great weekend !

Maggie can hear !

At 5 AM, I loaded  three very sleepy and disoriented children in the car and we headed to Birmingham.  The Hear Center at Children's Hospital has been a great experience for us and our answer to prayer.  Maggie  finally got her bone conduction hearing aid this morning and it has been like watching a miracle.  The headband that she got today is too small and does not fit her right.  I have already made a pattern to sew her some cute headbands that will fit and be more stylish.  She doesn't seem to mind the headband and so far leaves it a lone. She cried right when we put it on her and then she was very quite, taking it all in.
What a miracle ! My baby can now hear !! Amazing !!

I can already tell a big difference in her interaction with me.  Maggie is really looking at my face more and reacting to sounds.  She's even saying  m-m-m a lot.
 Some things she  heard for the first time today are : Charlie barking, the water running, the boys playing football in the front yard, lots of I love you's, every song I could think of to sing to her and her daddy's voice on the phone.

All Clear !

We were in Birmingham all day yesterday.  I am so happy to report that Maggie's heart and eyes are fine.

Maggie has a small hole in her heart, called a VSD.  It was reported to be about 4.5 mm in China, and yesterday the ECHO reported it to be about 2.5 mm.  So, it is closing and she will not need any surgery.  In fact, the doctor said to treat her as if she has a healthy heart ! They will monitor her on a yearly basis and she has no exercise restrictions.  Glory !!!
Also, her eyes are perfect ! No glasses for this baby.  We are rejoicing at the great news.  Thank you all for your prayers for Maggie.  We have felt them.  Now, we go back to Birmingham on Thursday to get Maggie's bone conduction hearing aid.  I can't wait !!!!!

Maggie updates

 

I thought I would take a minute and post an update on Maggie. This is what we know so far:
- She has an appointment Monday with a pediatric ophthalmologist for a (hopefully) routine eye examine  and will also see a pediatric cardiologist to access her VSD.  We have already had several doctors listen to her heart and all have said it appears she has a small VSD that may still heal on it's own. 
- She gets a bone conduction hearing aid on Thursday and will be able to hear "normally" for the first time.  It will be held on by a soft headband and the hearing aid is hidden in a cute bow.  Go here to see what her headband and bow will look like.  Maggie tried on the bone conduction hearing aid last Monday and heard our voices clearly for the first time.  At first she was startled, then she cried, and then she wanted to sit in my lap and was quite.  Of course, I was crying and very happy that she was responding to the hearing aid.  When she gets older ( around 5 ), Maggie can get a bone anchored hearing aid that requires surgery to attach a 'snap" to her skull.  The hearing aid will then attach to the snap and will be somewhat hidden behind her hair.  I am so amazed at the technology that is available for hearing impaired people and I can't imagine what will be available in the future.
- Maggie will start speech therapy soon.  She is not saying any words yet, which is normal for a child who has never heard words, only vibrations and mumbles. 
- We are waiting on Early Intervention to make their assessment.  They will also come to our house ( yay !) for speech therapy and/or physical therapy.
- Maggie has taken several steps by herself.  She really wants to walk !  She can climb our stairs (yikes) and crawls all over the place.  She loves to "listen" to her musical toys by laying her head on them with her right ear down.  It breaks my heart that she can only hear by putting things very close to her right ear, but she is so smart and figures it all out.  When I rock her, she presses her right ear up tightly to my mouth so she can hear me sing to her.  I can't imagine her world of silence.  She is such a happy baby and so content.  We are so blessed by Maggie and working very hard on spoiling her !

Snow !!

It started snowing  just about the time we were finishing up with school today.  The boys could not get their coats, gloves and hats on fast enough. The neiborhood kids were all coming out and it was pure FUN.

Will started making huge snowballs right away ( he's watched The Elf Movie too much !) and Chuck helped him finish a snowman.

Maggie and I stayed inside and played by the fire.

We had such a cozy, fun family day.  

Wordless Wednesday

Jeans,Tu-Tu's, and Tents.

Maggie finally got a pair of jeans for goodness sake. I think she really pulls the look off.

This is the best picture I could get of Maggie in her new Swimsuit ( from Target ).  She is a very busy girl and had no time for picture nonsense.

Why do little boys love to build tents in the Living Room ?

" You can stop taking pictures of me when I play.  'cay Mom ?"

Wordless Wednesday

Praise Jesus

We found out Maggie has normal hearing in her right closed ear and
severe hearing loss in her left ear. She will get a BAHA hearing aid
very soon and will be able to hear soon. We are very excited about
getting the hearing aid and speech therapy and know that this is a
miracle for Maggie. God is good!
Sent via iPhone
Be Blessed!
Chuck Beams

Maggie is asleep... Test in progress

Oh, why don't we get a chest x-Ray while were at it...

Hungry and frustrated... On the way to get sedation....

We are checked in and waiting. Maggie's procedure is scheduled for
9am... Keep those prayers rolling!!!