Shen's First Christmas

Christmas, 2008...Shen's First Christmas as a member of our family! It was fairly calm considering that Shen calls the Jolly ole St. Nick, Santa Clock (can't say Claus yet) and he didn't quite understand Santa got down the chimney, left presents and then went back up the chimney. We got up around 7:00 to a beautiful White Christmas, but didn't let Shen go into the family room until everyone was present. We had cinnamon rolls as we opened presents. Shen made a haul, as did Connor! Every year we say we are not going to get all these presents, and then.....well, you get the idea.
Here are some pictures from our morning together. It was great fun and we are all now recovering from the festivities.
The one thing we never want to forget is the reason for the season and that is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. So, Connor and Shen ended the morning by singing "Happy Birthday!" to Jesus! It was a great day!
We pray that all of you had a blessed Christmas!!
Love,
Jack, Jodie, Connor and Shen

A REALLY cold Winter Day

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in awhile but it has been an incredibly hectic season for us. No excuse, though; and I will try to keep a better record going forward.
Today, although it is only the first day of Winter and the shortest day of the year, it is also the COLDEST. We awoke to a regular temperature of -9 degrees with a wind chill of -36 degrees. Now, that my friend, is COLD!!! So, I thought I would initially show how Shen is spending the morning. In the picture, please note that he is watching the movie CARS while wearing his CAR pajamas, with a blanket over him. Also, note the SpongeBob slippers staring at you from his feet under the blanket.

On another note, Shen's follow up visit to the doctor last week went very well. The tubes remain inserted and in place. We are being very careful not to get water in his ears but don't think that this kid is not having fun. While I was in Orlando on business this past week, we had a big snowstorm in Chicago. School was cancelled so Connor was home and took Shen sledding for the first time. Although I didn't get to witness it myself, Jodie left me voice mails all day that little man was having the time of his laugh going down the hill behind our house and then pulling his sled back up to do it again. That has become one of his favorite phrases, "Do it again!"
We hope all of you are well.
With Love,
Jack, Jodie, Connor and Shen

Building an indoor fort on a cold winter day

Everything is going really well except that it is REALLY cold here in Chicago. When I returned from our Orlando headquarters yesterday, it was 9 degrees and there was about 4 inches of snow in our driveway, some of which had melted during the night, then froze (Yuck!). Since Shen had his ear surgery one week ago today, we are still keeping him indoors and not exposing to the winter elements too much. So, on these cold winter days, what else is a little 4-year-old to do but build a fort in the family room. Using cushions, sheets, blankets, rugs, pillows, and anything he could get his hands on, little man made this fort all on his own, and without any of us knowing he was doing it. He came in the next room and said, "Come look!" Well, this is what he demonstrated to us. I LOVE this kid's imagination.
We hope all of you are well and preparing for this wonderful Christmas season.
May God be with you!
Jack, Jodie, Connor and Shen

Shen's Surgery

Today was the big day. Shen had tubes put into both ears. For those who don't know, this was done because there was a lot of fluid behind both eardrums due to the cleft surgeries and it needed to be relieved.
The procedure went well and Shen is doing great. The doctor's only concern is that his eardrums are extremely thick and there is a possibility that the tubes could get squeezed out. But, we will just be patient and see what God has planned for this part of Shen's Journey. Here is the way today went.
We got 4 inches of snow overnight so I got up at 5:30 and shovelled a quick path for the Jeep, then we left at 6:15 for the hospital, arriving right at 7:00am. We got Shen registered and we all immediately went back to his "suite." After a little paperwork, they put little man in his hospital "attire." You can see him in his personally "fitting" robe in the first picture. Then, they brought him PRESENTS!! He got a hand-made pillow and a hand-made dinosaur (both seen with him in the second picture) as well as a hand-made blanket. He LOVED them!
Then, they gave him a sedative to help him relax before taking him into the Operating Room. Well, this became quite the scene. He behaved very well but he became REALLY goofy on the medication. We couldn't stop laughing (with him, not at him). Finally, he went back to the O.R.
After about an hour, we spoke to the doctor and went back into his recovery room. He came out of the anesthetic really well, just a little groggy. About an hour later, he got to ride in his little set of wheels (final picture) and we came home. He continues to do very well; no pain, yet not very active. He's just having a pretty laid back day.
We hope and pray that all of you are well.
Love,
Jack, Jodie, Connor and Shen