What's been going on at our house?

School is in full swing now and we are busy, busy, busy here at the Whitledge household. We have spent a wonderful fall break in Panama and went Trick or Treating on the coldest Halloween in 10 years. The boys have enjoyed hunting with their daddy while Caroline and I run errands and enjoy being home. We have learned more about Caroline's tumors and have started her medication. All of this in just three short months. Now Thanksgiving is knocking on the door with Christmas right around the corner. We will have had Caroline for one year on December 30th and to me that just doesn't seem possible. I absolutely cannot wait to write that post!

You are 3 years old today!!

Caroline is 3 years old today. She fills our home with laughter and love daily. We spent Saturday in Louisville and it was so much fun. Caroline picked out a stroller and doll at the Pottery Barn and when we pulled that stroller out of the box her feet never hit the floor. On the late ride home from Louisville the moon was shining so bright and I looked up at it and talked to myself. I wish that somehow someway I could tell Caroline's birth mother that she is okay, that she is so loved and that she has made our family complete. I wish that I could meet her,I'm sure she's beautiful, smart and oh so stubborn like our Caroline. I'm sure that she would be so proud of her for overcoming such obstacles and having a smile on her face. I'm sure that she would have loved to have kept her for herself, but she decided to save her life instead. I would personally like to thank her for all that she has given us although I feel like she is out their still grieving herself. I owe her more than I could ever imagine and just once I'd like the chance to tell her. Happy Birthday sweet girl...you are loved by so many!!

The 1st Day of School For Our Boys and Caroline's 1 Year Referral Day!

Time passes so fast and I honestly just get too busy to document everything here as hard as I try. The boys have started school and are doing awesome. Cole is a 3rd grader and Luke has started kindergarten. Much to our surprise Luke has done wonderful with absolutely no tears. Yea Luke!! I love having them both a school with me.

We have also saw Caroline's referral for over 1 year now. I will never forget opening up that email and feeling like she was the one. I'm so glad that I was led on this journey and we are so fortunate to have her here with us. I was in love the moment I saw her face. She has come so far in the short time that we have had her. Just look at her smile!!

Teammates Make the Best of Friends

Cole is currently playing on the Blue Sox baseball team and we have had so much fun. This week I took Cole and a friend to watch the Bats play in Louisville and we had a blast. This weekend we went out of town for our first out-of-town tournament. The kids and parents had so much fun.

Happy July 4th!!

We had a great July 4th weekend. We went to Panther Creek for the fireworks show and to raise some money for Cole's Blue Sox baseball team. The boys had such a great time and not one of them complained the whole night. Caroline wasn't afraid of the fireworks at all. Before the show began she rode her first horse. It has been amazing to watch her do things for the first time. She now thinks we need a horse :)

Home Six Months Today

Where does the time go? We have been home 6 months today with Caroline. It's hard to believe that just 6 months ago she was handed to us in the quiet building in Guangzhou. She cried, screamed out momma and ran from us as we tried to comfort her. She has come so far in just a short time. There are times when she amazes me in what she is able to understand, speak and do. She loves her brothers dearly. She now calls only me momma and she wants to know where her daddy is every minute. Caroline completes our family and I honestly don't know how we got this lucky. She is the missing piece to our family.

First Swim Day and We Love It

My Nephew Clears the Fence

Yesterday during a ball game my nephew hit one out and Caroline just happened to be there! I'm so sad I didn't get to see it because I do go to many of his games. Way to go JOHN!! We are so proud of you.

Happy 40th Brad!

Yesterday was Brad's 40th birthday! Where has time gone? It seems like yesterday we were in our twenties. I guess the old saying is true. Time flies when you're having fun. We spent the day working in the yard, at ball practice and then we finally got to go out to eat with NO kids.....WOW! Hope you had a great birthday!!!

On This Mother's Day

This Mother's Day feels so different for so many reasons.  First, our family is finally complete and that's a great feeling!  Second, Caroline's birth mother is out there somewhere and I can't help but wonder where she is, what she is doing and how she must feel.  Last, my eyes have been opened to all those kids that will never know the love of a mother.  

I must first talk about my own mother and what she means to me.  She is someone who I talk with just to talk.  It seems like we can talk for hours and really not talk about anything.  I never remember her missing a ball game, a talent show, a school function or anything that meant something special to me. You could always count on her being there cheering you on.  If you don't know Carol Kay then you might not know that she would take up for us in a minute if she believed we were in the right.  The boys love her and to Caroline she is something she's never had....a Nana.  

Then it's my own kids, the kids who call me Mom.  Each of my kids are so very different in their own way.  Cole is my kid who never meets a stranger, can always find something to do, and has a heart of gold.  Luke is my kid who has a temper,  fights for what he believes is right, and questions everything.  Caroline is my kid who is very strong willed, loves her momma deeply and knows what real loss feels like.  All of them so unique, so special and deserving of a momma's love.  I'm so proud of each of them.

Last but certainly not least is something that has honestly caught me off guard.  I never thought I would think about two women so much who are half a world away.  Two women who mean so much to me, but will never know.  First, is the woman who gave birth to our Caroline.  The one who chose to give her life, the one who cared for her from the time she was born until the time she was three months old,  the one who left her on that busy street corner to save her life.  I feel certain that she thinks about her today, I'm sure she wonders if she's still alive.  I would love to be able to tell her that Caroline is doing great, I would love to be able to see if she resembles her mother, I would love to be able to see if her mother is as strong willed as she is, I would love to know her side of the story.  All of these things haunt me today and I wasn't expecting that before we adopted.  Second, is Caroline's foster mother whom I never got to meet.  This woman provided the closest thing to a mother that Caroline has ever had for 5 months.   There are days when I watch her and I know that someone taught her what she knows today.  She was well cared for and certainly knew what it meant to love and be loved.  So today and every day I will honor the two women that played a part in our Caroline being here with us in our family right where she belongs.  

So, on this Mother's Day I appreciate my mom and all she does for us.  I will cherish my own kids and their unique personalities.  I will honor two women in China, one that chose life and one that nurtured our girl until she was in our arms.