Two Weeks and Counting!!!

Wow, I can't believe Friday we have already been home three weeks!!! So much has happened!Mostly all good! But we have had ALOT of sickness spread thru our house also. We have done amazingly well!Aubrey has really amazed me in so many ways!For a little girl who has grown up the first nine years of her life in an orphange she has adapted WONDERFULLY!!! Now we have had small issues here and there but that's to be expected and THANK GOD when they pass! I feel we are getting alot accomplished everyday! We are finally getting into a routine again.We have decided to home school Aubrey until next school year. I have went back and forth on this and even went to the school several times trying to make the right decision for her. She really really wanted to attend school as soon as we arrived home but I was so afraid of throwing to much at her all at once.She was a bit disappointed but she was excited when I told her a teacher would be coming to her home to teach her. This girl is ready to learn.She will work in the workbooks I have her for 5 or 6 hours at a time. She wants to get them out as soon as she wakes up!! I have to tell her mama is not that lively as soon as I wake up!We must wait just a little while until I can wake up a bit! I hid her books one morning because I knew she would get them as soon as she popped out of bed.WRONG THING TO DO!! As soon as she got up and started looking for them she was very upset because she thought they were lost.So I had to tell her I put them up and I would get them in a few mins.She is so EAGER to learn!!Which is great!!! We have had all our blood work done, urine and routine physical!We have also had our eye exam and our first visit to speech teacher was today! It went wonderfully!!The teacher was absolutely amazed at how fast she catches on . She really didn't have any issues with sounds either.She said it shouldn't take her no time at all to pick up english!!THANK GOD AGAIN!!! We will start going every Monday unless it interferes with the teacher coming! Then we'll have to reschedule them. We still have alot to do.We have dental app. next week.Shriners the next and then UK a couple weeks later.Yes you could say we'll be pretty busy.And yes it's almost dance recital time again!So first week of March means practice almost everyday. I can't wait to see what the doctors say about Aubrey's feet and legs.This little girl wants to do so much! If you ever felt sorry for yourself over stupid little issues,spend a day with my precious girl!See what she has learned to deal with everyday!She doesn't even feel like she has a special need this is just normal for her.I wish I would have took my video camera to Chuckie Cheese!Aubrey was absolutely precious!!She was so excited beyond words!!She got up and danced with all the kids.She didn't care if she stumbled a few times and almost fell.She was having a blast!Yes I cried more than once.This little girl is so happy.Really makes you think about the little things you complain about.She is also a little booger!!!and LOVES LOVES Mc Donald's hamburgers!! I mean after every dr's appt and speech and so on she will say!!MAMA Aubrey wants a HAMBURGER!!! She is smiling ear to ear!How could you tell her no?? I did tell her mama had to stop eating hamburgers but I would get her one because mama was growing to much! So we went thru the drive thru.I looked back and she was still smiling ear to ear!She kept saying yummie mama yummie! This girl can eat a hamburger in 5 mins flat!She waste no time at all. But I am hoping she can gain about 20 pounds so she can have anything she wants.God has blessed my family so much I can't even explain how grateful I am to him for all his blessings and faithfulness to  my family.NEVER FEAR WHEN GOD HAS YOUR BACK!!! Oh another big thing for Aubrey I almost forgot!!Aubrey got her ears pierced!!! Such a big girl!!Didn't even shed a tear!!! She will tuck her hair behind her ears now everyday so she can see her earrings. All my kids are adjusting to each other wonderfully. Mia and Aubrey but heads from time to time but they love each other and are getting better each day!I think Mia thinks Aubrey is her age because there almost the same size.But Aubrey knows she's the older sister and she keeps Mia in line.Noah just has it made because they all baby him!So he wins all the way around!Of course you already know how she feels about Madison!! Aubrey really loves Blake also!and surprisingly Blake has alot to do with her.He is always going up and kissing her and telling her he loves her. Makes her Day!! I guess you could say I just have awesome kids! Sorry I really must brag just a bit! And Gene is pretty awesome himself. I'm just a lucky lady!! Except for potty training which will be the death of me!!Did I forget to mention how much I totally hate it!! Yes Noah is three and a half and were just starting due to all his medical issues he's had.Prayers Please that he will be successful and I will still be sane when it's over. He has pooped in the pot several times!!Yeah Noah!!But the boy will not pee pee in it!!! Yep right the opposite of most children. Oh well guess I better get my worn out behind to bed while I can all my munchkins are sleeping!6am comes early!!! Blessings to all!!!!!!!!

WOW WHAT AN EVENTFUL NIGHT!!!

We'll we started out our night dropping Madison off for dance then we were headed home to do Mia's Valentines Day card for school. We got them all filled out .There were alot of extra princess stickers so  I  thought my girls would have a good time with them!!Boy was I in for a SURPRISE!!  I thought Aubrey was having an awesome time in her room tonight. coming back and forth being so good.This girl was REDECORATING !! We went and picked up Madison from dance then went down stairs.Madison walked in the room and shouted OH GOD WHO MADE THE WHOLE ROOM PRINCESS!!! If you know me I'm very very picky about the walls and stuff being stuck on them. God must have just given me a new found patients. I mean there were stickers EVERYWHERE!!Every piece of furniture walls, light switches, her bed etc! So I calmly went in the room and gently began peeling stickers off of everything. We'll when I did Aubrey didn't like it one bit!She begin to SCREAM her head off the whole time I was peeling her creations. When  I was finished peeling and cleaning I got the translator and begin to explain why we didn't decorate with stickers. I told her I wasn't mad at her and it was ok she didn't know any better. She seemed ok! I gave her a hug and told her to just decorate her coloring books.She smiled and said ok mom. Then a few minutes later she was playing on my phone and deleted my translation app and Madisons mermaid game!Now who knows if this was on purpose.But I really don't think so because she come and showed me as soon as it happened. So I told her she couldn't just take my phone anymore because I had to have the app to talk with her.So she begin to SCREAM again!! and I mean SCREAM!! THIS GIRL LOVES THE CELLPHONE.So after about 30 mins. I went to her and told her to put her pajamas on and brush her teeth. I said your upset you need to go to bed you'll feel better when you calm down. I tucked her in and told her I loved her and was fixing to walk out and she said MOM I love you to!!! See she usually said this immediately but she was so mad at me she didn't want to. I gave her a hug and kiss and in a few mins. she stopped crying and calmed down.I stayed in the family room so she would know I hadn't left her. She then walked into the family room which is right outside of her bedroom  and said mom I need a drink. So she went and got a drink then stayed up with Madison.Which was fine as long as she had calmed down and wasn't screaming. I know God is with me every step of this journey! Because right now as I'm typing I have to laugh about the whole thing.Now she's as happy as can be and has been dancing with Madison.ADVENTURES AT THE LUMPKINS HOME!!Lord what's next.

Thank God were Home!!!

God is so great and faithful!!! I must start out by giving him all the praise and glory he deserves. He gives me the strength everyday to do all the things that must be done. He gives me sleep when there wasn't much at all the last week. We had an amazing and wonderful trip once again to China!! But we are so happy to be home and trying to get our schedules back on track! Flights home went well.Just the last part of the big flight Noah got really really sick.He had a really high fever and was just miserable.My heart hurt seeing my boy so sick. Aubrey was great with him!She was rubbing his little arm and trying to make him feel better. These two have really bonded well. She was really concerned for her little brother. Her and Madison are doing great also.She really looks up to Madison and wants to do everything Madison does. So finally we arrived home after being delayed several times in Chicago!! The wait was TERRIBLE!! So close to my family and friends but so far away!Sitting in an airport with my sick baby and longing to be home with my family!! We'll we have been home a little over a week and things are going well!! They are actually much better than I expected. We have had a few small issues here and there but nothing God didn't get us thru. The first night we were home Aubrey slept in her room with Madison. The next night we ran to Walmart for grocery's and all the kids were home with Blake. Aubrey was falling asleep in the guest room so Madison ask her if she wanted her to tuck her in?WRONG THING TO DO!!But she thought she was just being helpful. She put Aubrey in her bed went out and shut the door. We walked in just a few minutes later and Aubrey was screaming!!She was terrified. I went down and held her close and tryed to get the stupid translator to work so she could tell me what was wrong. She said mama I didnt know where you was?Madison left and I didn't know where your room was. I felt absolutely terrible!!I assured her it would not happen again. she was so scared we had all gone and left her. So she has slept with me in my bed until LASTNIGHT!!She is such a great little girl!!! She has been going in Noah's room and tugging him in with me at night then to Mia's and Madison's.I guess after a week of seeing them being big girls and boy's she wanted to try.So she slept in her room like a big girl lastnight! She is really afraid of the doors being closed. So we assured her the closet and the bedroom door would stay open.She was a CHAMP and slept all night and was as happy as could be when she got up!!! Thank you Lord!!We are building trust! She has done wonderfully since we have arrived home!Sometimes  we have had a few melt downs when she didnt get her way.But when she seen that didnt work she snapped out of it. I try to be very loving and understanding but I must be firm also. I have to remember she is nine years old and not a baby.Poor Noah has had a terrible time getting his sleep adjusted again.Aubrey is doing great .After the first couple days where she would have slept all day! Prayers for Noah he is still struggling but things are getting better. Poor Madison and Mia have had the same sickness Noah had when we first got home. I'm ready for a house of well children is an understatement.Aubrey is bonding well and we are all doing great also.God is awesome!! Sorry it's took so long to update but the sleep has been minimal.

Thankful Thursday!!

We'll today the weather was fabulous once again!!God really blessed us with the best weather ever.We enjoyed each and everyday In our beautiful daughter's country!! It was a day of mixed emotions.Really really HAPPY to kiss my babies at home once again and see my other family and friends. But sad that Aubrey was leaving the only home she had ever known. And that she wouldn't be able to walk thru the park and talk with other chinese people as she had done the past two weeks!She really enjoyed this alot.I was Happy that she had a forever family and she feels very loved and cared for. Just a total mess of mixed up emotions. A little nervous about the plane ride home!!I'm the worst flyer ever!!!HATE HATE HATE IT!!! From the second I'm on the plane until the second we land again. Was also worried about Aubrey getting motion sickness. But God is always in control!!I should never worry or have fear because I have someone special who never forsakes me. He really has my back!!Guess you could say!! We got up and has breakfast as usual. Then we decided we would go hunt down the chicken crackers my 18 yr old baby requested me to bring him back!! After about a four mile walk to get these babies we decided to go spend a little more time in one of our favorite parks before meeting David our awesome guide!! He would meet us at 4:30  with our new driver who was taking us to Hong Kong  to spend the night then be at the airport at 8am to checkin for our 11am flight!! It was going to be a long 24 hours!! But God always provides me with what I need to keep going when I feel like I'm just so tired I can't! Ok WHERE do I start??? David was AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!We loved him!!He felt like family!!He was so kind and helpful everyday. he didn't seem like a guide we had met a few days ago he felt like family by the time we were leaving!! He was wonderful and kind with my kids!Always talking with Aubrey and explaining everything to her.He was so good to Madison and Noah also!!Noah has made a friend for Life!! Now to discuss the not so wonderful trip to Hong Kong!! I had to get paper out and write this why I feared terribly for our lifes!!NO JOKE!!Thursday at 4:30 pm and were leaving Guangzhou China!!I ask for everyones prayers as if you guy's could hear me writing this down on paper!!Duh Lisa! But I knew God would give the message for prayers to some of my faithful prayer warriors.I pray Aubrey can rest and not be sick the whole flight. We are all exhausted and will be so glad to get home and show Aubrey her new home and the rest of her family!Will try and write more when we get to the hotel in Hong Kong! I'm back already!!! Had to write this................ I think our new driver is CRAZY!!!! He drives WAY TO FAST!!!!!!Pray we get to Hong Kong alive!!!!! My silent prayers now!!I think i might have needed Dramamine !!Aubrey is medicated THANK GOD or this ride would be a diseaster!!Noah has already said why is this man driving so fast?? Yes he's three!! Noah then said Aubrey doesn't like riding in cars  mom. I hope Noah doesn't get sick!Where is our other driver???????????I request him back immediately!!! It's going to be a long three hours.Just to try and be positive a bit..2 hours into our 3 hour trip to BEEP BEEP BEEP!AUBREY IS NOT THROWING UP BUT EVERYONE ELSE IN THE VAN IS EXTREMELY CAR SICK!! First time I've ever been carsick in my life.I feel as if I could lose it all at anytime!!Not a good feeling!Madison and Noah are complaining also!Gene is also saying his belly hurts. I guess you get the picture.  This guy was texting watching a movie and taking phone calls while driving three times the speed limit!!! NO JOKING!! I was terrified!!Oh I almost forgot the worst part!!He was also FALLING asleep!!REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I never really wanted to grab someone and shake them as bad as I wanted to grab him. I starting hitting Gene's arm . I said watch him he's falling to sleep. So you know he only spoke a few words of english but we kept trying to keep him  talking SO HE WOULD STAY AWAKE!! I would amost say I would have rather flown there. I thought I should definitely complain on him but Gene didn't want me to!He said God had blessed us with an amzing trip let's just forget it!! FORGET IT!!NEVER I'M PROBALY SCARRED FOR LIFE!!NAH JUST KIDDING ABOUT THAT PART!! But the rest I'm so NOT kidding!!And this guy said he was picking up another family and making this trip again after dropping us off. We were all so sick feeling by the time we arrived i couldn't wait to throw myself out of that van..But THANK GOD WE WERE HERE IN ONE PIECE!!Now my prayers were for the next family who had to endure this trip with him!!!GOD BE WITH THEM!! I'm sick feeling just thinking about this.Blessings everyone

Wonderful Wenesday!!

Today started out to be a great Day!We all went down to breakfast. The kids were really tired because we had to wake them up two hours earlier than usual but we had our consolate appt. so we had to be on time! So all legal things are done and were ready to come home!!!! We have Aubrey's visa and passport. Everything went well at the consolate!Very quick! Our guide is great!We were there a bit early and we were first! WOOOHOOO all done with legal things. So afterwards we decided to go to a great shopping area we had briefly visited before. I wanted to get Aubrey a pair of tennis shoes that fit her feet. One of her little feet is hard to get certain shoes to fit on until it's corrected so I wanted to make sure we got a pair that fit right. She can wear her boots but there very hard to get on.She can't do it without baba's help. After we did some shopping there we decided to head to Shamian Island and do some walking and looking around there. There was also a nice playground for the kids. This is so terrible but we have tryed to avoid this playground because I didn't know how Aubrey would do climbing and was afraid she would fall!NEVER DOUBT THIS GIRL!! SHE IS AMAZING! She has learned to do everything the other children do and no she didnt fall.She did great!!I felt bad we hadn't taken here there since she did so well. She is still doing great!But she doesn't like NO to much! That has nothing to do with adoption.That's just a nine year old little girl! We had bought her several things today when she ask for something else I can't even remember now what it was but when I didn't buy it she got upset and acted mad at me. I stoped her got down to her level and I told her mama loves you but I can't buy everything you see. I gave her a kiss.She wiped it off Gene said when I turned my head but she was ok and didnt act mad at me anymore. She will learn it will just take some time. I guess when you don't have anything of your own and then you start getting you just get overwhelmed by it all. The only other issue we have had at all which hasn't really been a problem but I'm stopping it now is her telling me NO!! I just explained to her that it wasn't nice to tell me no when I ask her to do something and it did not make me feel happy. She really acted like she understood so i ask her to brush her teeth again and she said ok mama!She is doing great and I feel as long as we start from the beginning she'll  continue to learn and flourish. She is very thoughful and kind.She's not a bit selfish. I had the guide expalin to her we would be going to Hong Kong tomorrow and home Friday!She seemed excited and was just amazed we all had our own bedrooms. She will love her room and her new bed.The super small bed she had at the foster home felt like you was laying on a concrete floor.NO JOKE!! We stopped by Subway to grab a quick lunch.Then took a taxi to the hotel!!BIG MISTAKE!!Putting Aubrey in a taxi after she has ate!It was like a volcano erupting!!!!HORRIBLE!! And it was so not funny but the look on Noah's face when Aubrey puked all over him was absolutely PRICELESS!! I had to laugh.If you know Noah he gags over anything!She soaked him and his new bubble gun.He was absolutely mortified!! But after we got them both out of the taxi he actually was laughing also. He said mama why did Aubrey throw up all over me.I was trying to go get towels to clean them  both and while I was some wonderfully nice lady at the hotel came over and was cleaning Noah and Aubrey off with kleenex.She was so kind!I do terrible with puke so it's all I could do not to throw up myself. THANK GOD FOR THE HELP!!He so knew I really needed it.So we went to the room and both showered and changed.Now all is well again and there playing with there new bubble guns.BOY DO THEY SMELL BETTER!!Everyone PLEASE PRAY  for Aubrey's travel home! That she will rest and not be sick the whole 16 hour flight.I'm a bit nervous.But God will take care of us.He always does!! But PRAY ,PRAY PRAY THE MORE PRAYERS THE BETTER!! Not sure what we will get into the rest of the evening.I think were having dinner with another great family we met at the Chicago Airport!There new parents!!So excited for them and there little Olivia! Blessings Everyone

Terrific Tuesday!!

Tuesday was the most beautiful Day!!!Free Day!!So we all went down for breakfast then had to run to the store . We had decide to go back to the Hilly Park today!!It is absolutely beautiful with all the chinese New Year Decorations!! We had a great time!Got ice cream and spend along time here.Afterwards come back  and Madison and the rest of the kids had some swimming fun!The pool is HUGE COMPLETELY AWESOME!!!! They had a blast!We'll I wouldn't say Aubrey had a blast but she liked it she was just extremely scared because she couldn't stand even in the shallow end.She finally let Baba and Madison pack her around some so she was happy with this but still very scared.Madison will have her loving it in know time!!Noah he's a little fish just like Madison and Mia!He could swim for hours. Baba got cold so when he got out Noah and Aubrey had to.Then They were freezing so baba took them to the room to change while I stayed down with Madison and her friend!!I have met some amazing christian couples who I wish lived closer!But we plan on keeping in touch thru facebook.It's nice to talk with people who really understaand how you feel about adoption! And dont ask DONT YOU HAVE ENOUGH CHILDREN? Funny because there is only a handful of couples here adopting for the first time.All the rest of us have two, three and some have more. I just love how our awesome God has placed such a love for these precious children in so many hearts.I have to fight back my tears daily because I'm overwhelmed with the joy it puts in my heart!!!! So before you ask and I know you want to???Are you done?Don't you have enough children? You know Gene and I ask ourselves this after picking up Aubrey and I said I don't know!We'll as the weeks have went on I really don't think I am done!How can you be done when there are sooooo many precious children that just need that one person to give them a chance at life? I have seen so many beautiful children here!!Wish I could take them all!!! You know you would just have to be in my shoes to understand!!! Material things just don't mean the same to me as they did years ago.It's just not about that.I don't care that I'm not driving a new sporty car anymore or that I dont live in the fanciest neighborhood.Doesn't bother me at all what people say or think!! I have far more blessings than I ever had or got from that STUFF!!That's all it is STUFF!!! But I have beautiful children who are healthy and HAPPY!!And feel they have meaning and belong!! The smiles and laughter over the smallest things we take advantage of.thats what it's all about!!If you've ever thought  about adoption? But your scared or think you just can't afford it!!The REWARD is FAR FAR GREATER than the paperwork! And if it's God's will HE WILL make a way!!Everyone can fundraise .No it's not fun and some people definitely don't love seeing you come around but!!Just think about what your reward is in the end! So PRIDE!IT HAS TO GO! You have to worry about what God thinks about you and know one else.Don't get me wrong I love all my friends and family. But I used to care if I wasn't in a super nice car or if I didn't shop at the mall for $$$$$$  dollars worth of clothing. So glad God opened my eyes and showed me what was really important!! Because folks in the end what he thinks is all that will matter anyways. So try and be happy and think of others sometimes.How you can make someone else smile!Love and Blessings Lisa

Marvelous Monday!!!

We got up and went for breakfast as usual. Then we were meeting David at 10am to go to Safari Park!!The kids were so excited! We loved loved it but it was a bit different than we thought. It is like a huge huge beautiful Zoo!!Like Disney World style!! With several rides but all geared towards little people.Madison was a bit disapointed because we thought there would be some big rides also she'd like.But she still had a great time feeding animals and running around with her siblings! This place is huge takes all day to go thru.We were wore out and starving!!We did see the other two couples there we have friended and really enjoy talking with them.So we all made dinner arrangements which went great!Had and awesome time with great company!And Aubrey and there older daughter had a great time talking in chinese. But my little firecracker was a bit lively for the 13 yr old.She is so hiliarious!!I dont know if you've ever heard the song GANGNAM style but it is very popular with young kids in the states and also very popular in China also. Well Noah is the man when it comes to singing this song and dancing!Makes everyone laugh.We'll my little shy girl was shy no more when it comes to this song.She began to run around all day singing HEY SEXY LADY!!Noah even runs around laughing!!I hope she picks up english as fast as she picked up this song. She is so funny she will even do the hand motions and has got Noah's little shuffle down pat. The other girl is 13 and was raised by a seventy yr old couple so she's much more reserved than my firecracker. I think she was a bit embarrassed in the restaurant. After we ate we invited them back to out room to talk. they was telling us there daughter really wanted her nails done pink.We'll if you know my Madison, you know she brought nail polish.So we went back to the room and she was very happy to get her nails done.I painted Aubrey's and Madison's a couple days ago!Aubrey was thrilled with her's also.After they left the kids played a bit more then we were all wornout so we headed to bed.Free day today so we will rest alot .Madison is dieing to swim sometime today with a few other girls here. We have had a wonderful trip and the weather has been perfect!!Hate to go back to freezing temps. wish we could take 70 and sunny home with us..3 more days until were home!!Blessings Lisa