The Alexander Zoo Crew went to the zoo!

Dad and Lily feeding the pretty bird.

TJ and Lily at the zoo.

A couple of pirate girls on the Radio Flyer ship.

Lily and Madeline.

I love this photo! I have never seen a frog actually sitting on a lilypad before! Before you say, "Wow, Kath, you take really good photos," know that the Alexanders brought a camera and both batteries were dead before we got out of North America!

We met our friends from Northeastern Ohio at the Columbus Zoo today. Madeline and Sarah were fostered through the same orphanage....A Mothers Love. Anyway, it was a great time for all of us. A special thanks to Jeff and Wendy for capturing some moments for the slacker Alexanders. I know we got some photos, so I'll take a look and maybe add some tomorrow.


Oops, more photos below.

Dane getting bit by the bear.

The Owens-Alexander children photo....minus TJ who was way too cool to be in the photo!

Some pics of Tom per Sqarepegs request!

Tom and Sarah in Nanning, China.

Tom and Sarah on Gotcha Day.

Tom at the People's Park of Nanning, China.

Tom and Kathy at Sarah's finding spot in Qinzhou City, China.

Tom and Kathy on a tour in Beijing, China.

Tom and Kathy at the Beijing airport.

Tom and Kathy in October of 1987.

Tom's eyes.

Okay, well, I was given some grief by Squarepeg that I don't have any photos of Tom on the blog. Well, here is how I look at it. First, Tom makes up 1/7 of the family. So, do I give him 1/7th of blog space? No. Second, Tom has a full-time job. He spends plenty of time with the family...he's a great dad! But, if you calculate that in a 24-hour period, he has awake time with his family for about 3.5 hours on a weekday and a bit more on weekends. So, during the week, that would be about 15% of the day. Does he get 15% of the blog space? No. The other issue is that when the entire family is together, typically Tom is the photographer....thus the reason for more photos of me with the kids. There is also the "cute factor." I have the camera at my disposal 24/7. The majority of my time is spent with the cutest family members....Sarah and Lily. So, it makes sense that there would be more photos of them. Next, I have our boys. I love them just as much, but to be quite honest, they aren't around near as much as the girls! Plus, the girls are much cuter than the boys! Before you think I'm not being a good mom, know that they would agree completely! Seeing that Tom and I are the ugliest of the seven, it makes sense to not put as many photos of us on the blog! Of course, there is also the "time factor." Blogging can take a bit of time. As for photos, I have to transfer them to the computer and then upload them on to blogger.....taking a bit of time in this busy life of mine. I desire to please the viewer of the blog, so it makes sense that I would spend this time wisely by uploading photos of the important five Alexanders. Really, who wants to check our blog to look at the parents anyway?! But in case anyone is concerned, Tom is doing quite well within the family unit (gotta love Raising Arizona!). So, let me give you a picture in words:

Tom is a wonderful husband. He loves me more than I deserve to be loved. He likes to make me happy and knows that means several things. It means Sugar Bear Pizza when he'd prefer Donatos. It means coffee ready in the morning where I am required to only get a cup ready and open the spout to pour the coffee. It means not whistling in the morning when I'm in earshot. It means doing the dishes when he doesn't feel like doing the dishes (yes, my love language is acts of service! It means being patient and kind when I dont' deserve either.

Tom is a wonderful father! He loves his children deeply. It means going to the games, the concerts, the meetings for one thing or another. It means placing the girls on his shoulders when he is really too tired to put them there. He has meaningful talks about the Lord and life with them. He prays with them and over them. He reads that silly princess book over and over again to two girls that want to sit on his lap and have him read it over and over again! It means going without so they can have some of the things they desire. It means disciplining them when it may not be the most pleasant thing to do. One of the best things he does for his kids, is love their mother!

Tom is simply a good guy. He loves God and humbly tries to be faithful to God in his work, his family and in all aspects of his life. Integrity is important to him. When he does mess up, he makes the situation right. I can't think of a better guy to be my husband and the father of my kids!

That's just a little picture of Tom.

Kathy

The VSD is closed! Praise God!

Psalm 100:1
" Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth."

Well, it was a good visit to Children's Hospital in Columbus! Sarah did a great job. First, she weighed in at a whopping 25 1/2 pounds! I think she was a tad bit over 36 inches. She was excited to see Dr. Ro. She laid down on the table for the 25 minute echocardiogram without a problem. She didn't care for all of the things stuck to her for the EKG, but she got through it just fine. Dr. Ro came in and went through her routine with Sarah. She was really impressed with how well Sarah has adjusted socially. It helped that this appointment was 70 minutes total time from the last one that was over two hours! Anyway, the praise report is that the VSD is totally closed! Yeah! Dr. Ro said that in most cases we would be totally released and not have to come back ever again. We were given the thumbs up that she can go through life without having to even take an antibiotic before going to the dentist! Dr. Ro then informed us that she still had a little concern about the coronary artery fistula. What is a coronary artery fistula? One of the coronary arteries (a blood vessel that supplies the red blood to the heart muscle) was not formed correctly. The coronary artery connects with a heart chamber rather than a coronary vein. What does this mean? Not a whole lot. She said it is extremely small. I think she was leaning towards a total realease, but two other physicians felt it needed to be observed a little longer. So, we go back in one year. We are thrilled with the outcome!

As for the pictures:

The first one is of Sarah and our friend, Mo. Tom had to take TJ to the Ohio State Football Camp so last night Mo offered to tag alone with us. The next photo is of Sarah and I in the lobby waiting to get called back. The third photo is of Sarah on the table just after the echocardiogram. I love this picture simply because the first time we were having this done, she refused to leave my lap. (Hate my profile thought...gag). I will likely confuse you with the next photo. It is of Sarah and I with two of the medical staff from the clinic on Shamian Island in Guangzhou, China. It was at this appointment that they told me that her heart seemed to be okay because they couldn't hear the VSD at all. It was an emotional day for me! In honor of that day, Sarah and I wore the same thing to this visit. Silly, huh? Well, okay, my white shirt is a bit bigger than the one I wore then! Sarah is wearing the same outfit. And in the last photo it is Sarah's Cardiac Specialist, Dr. Pamela Ro.

So, today, we continue to give God glory for putting His healing hands on our little girl. Thanks be to Him!

Kathy

Dane Has Talent and Water Play

The girls wanted to play with their wather thing. It was fun, but I kept hearing someone say, "How much is this water costing me?" The girls had fun.

Just having fun in the water!

The girls saw that their friend Sydney came outside so we invited her over to play. Lily and Sarah ran to greet her. I loved watching them run across the grass....glad I had the camera out.

Three beauties playing in the water!

Freeze Pop break! Lily ALWAYS eats her the fastest and then she gives the eye to the ones remaining.

Below are two videos that Dane made when he was home alone. The first one is actually the last one he made! He was discouraged with his attempt to play the violin and spin a plate on a stick at the same time. You just have to watch them!

I'm back.............

This is Madeline on the left. She and Sarah were fostered through the same orphanage in China...A Mothers Love. I got to know Wendy via internet since we were getting our girls about the same time through from the same place. It has been great to develop a friendship with them since they live near my mother in lovely northeastern Ohio! Sarah was out of sorts over something, but I like this photo anyway!

This is Lily and Sarah with two of their cousins.

Dane is hanging out with the boys! The driver is Brandon, a cousin. Geo, another cousin, on on Dane's right. The other boy is a buddy of Dane's...Brant.

This is Lily with some of "the boys." "The Boys" is the term used to categorize the five cousins that beling with Ron and Julie. Julie is Tom's sister. She has eleven children and "the boys" are th younger five. This photo has four of them in it.

Tom took the girls up to the farm to celebrate the birthday of their Great Grandpa Thomas. I think it was number 95!

The girls love Pokey and Jenny...the donkey's on the farm!

I spent a few days up home, but didn't take the camera with me. My mom came back with us and I took one photo! What's the deal with me? This is the one photo. Sarah got up one morning and got in bed with her Grandma Flo.

This is a picture of one of our hair challenges. Sarah got this comb stuck in her hair. This was my first experience of getting a comb out of the hair...oh my!

What a mess!

YIKES!!!

I went out with some friends tonight and came home to the girls in the tub. It was so cute to see Lily washing Sarah's hair! I even made a video and will try to upload it. Lily was pretending to be "Alecia." Alecia is my friend that does all of our hair. Sarah was being Cinderella. She loves Cinderella! In fact, Sarah turns three on July 7th and is insisting on a Cinderella party. Oh how my life has changed! I love it!

Still here!

Well, there has been some concern that I haven't posted lately. Sorry. I really don't have an excuse exept that I'm busy transitioning from the kids being in school to being at home with me every day.

I'll be sure to post something exciting next week! Until then, enjoy this sideway view of the popular "squatty potty" from China.

Kathy