Beautiful....

Chris arranged for family photos for my Christmas present this year...we had a friend come over who is an amazing photographer and he took some photos of the family, the 4 kids and some individual ones of Alyssa (her school picture didn't turn out). He took a couple of Evan as well. We haven't gotten most of them back yet but here are a few we did get back...like really, how do I choose which ones to use? They are all so beautiful!!!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing each and every family a very happy day on Thursday! As you can imagine, our household is a buzz of excitement and activity and we are enjoying all of it!!! As you can see below...it is very clear what our "gifts" are this year!

We hope God's peace, joy and love fills your home this year!

The MacKinnons....

Gift #1

Gift #2

Gift #3

Gift #4

I finally got time to upload some pictures...I was planning to wrap presents but then I found myself down on the computer checking out Megan and Shawn's blog - they put up photos of their new daughter from Ukraine - she is so beautiful!!! It's a private blog but if you're interested, email Megan and tell her you follow our blog.

We have been busy getting everything ready for Christmas...we are all really excited this year...

Nathan was over for a pre-christmas dinner and gift opening because he is going to Toronto to visit his dad over Christmas. This will be our first Christmas without Nathan in years!!! We had a great time decorating the tree and he opened his gifts. (pictures way below).

Only 1 week left...where does the time go????

Alyssa and her "friend", Nicholas. She has a HUGE crush on him and lights up whenever she sees him!

Evan at his Kindergarten Christmas concert

Alyssa at her concert...she looked so beautiful but I could NOT get her to smile for the pictures (except for the one she's in with Nicholas - no joke!)

Mommy and Evan

Nathan having fun with Evan

Nathan and Alyssa

YAY for our friends!

I am so excited for our friends, Megan and Shawn. They are in Ukraine and have just accepted a referral for a sweet, beautiful 3 year old girl!!! Megan and I have shared a lot of highs and lows through our adoption processes and I am just so thrilled this has all worked out so well for their family!

I have been trying to post pictures and updates for the last week and just can't find the time....I coached 6 basketball games over the weekend, I just finished cleaning the house, I've been checking my emails every 10 minutes to get updates from Megan and Shawn and for some reason I just can't get time to upload the pictures from my camera to the computer. And there are some really cute pictures on the camera!!!!!

I have to go up and put the kids to bed but maybe later if I get my second wind I'll post. If not, another day!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Stirrings...

There has been SO MUCH happening in the last few months and I simply have not had time to write about it...I do like posting about it because it's a great way to share thoughts and feelings (and my commenters are such a great support!) and it's a nice way to look back and see how things have changed or not changed, etc...

I don't know if I ever updated on the situation with our "little one". This is the little foster girl we had for several months and then custody was given back to her mom. Well, I can't share too much about her particular situation but she is back in foster care, only this time she is in another province so Chris and I have not been able to get her back (yet!). We have been talking to people who may be able to help us as we really feel strongly in our hearts that she belongs with our family if she is not able to be with her mom. I know the little one felt at home here and didn't want to leave. Right now, there are just lots of prayers and phone calls being made about this situation. Honestly, we are so limited in what we are "allowed" to do in her case but yet, I still feel we need to do whatever we can for her.

I didn't update on the situation of my loved one in Toronto either...it is a very personal story and I haven't felt like I had the right words to share it yet...it's coming though.

And now...here we are approaching Christmas. This is the first Christmas in 4 years where I have actually been peaceful and excited about the season. 4 years ago, we had just received our referral for Alyssa and I didn't care TWO HOOTS about Christmas....all I wanted was to get to my sweet girl! The next two years were okay but my heart was very heavy because I wanted to adopt again so badly but Chris did not. Last Christmas we were back into the whole emotional rollercoaster of adoption and Christmas was the last thing on my mind. So, back to this year...even though there are some unanswered questions, I still feel very good about being here with Evan, Alyssa, Caleb and Dylan and sharing the excitement of Christmas with them. We may even have Nathan with us again this year (our 19 year old foster son) although he is going to visit his dad for a bit and not sure when he's coming back.

I've also realized that I will probably NEVER be fully content with not adopting again. The other day Chris and I were talking and he said "I think I'd like another little girl from China" and all I said was "I'm ON IT!!". Like in an instant, I was ready to start again!! Am I insane? I just can't help it...adoption has changed my heart so radically I don't think I will ever be able to live the same again. I am mostly trying to leave it in God's hands...I say "trying" because I'm a control freak and it's really hard to not try to control my own life :-) It took 6 years for God and I :-) to change Chris' heart about adopting the first time. The 2nd time it took 3 years...so, I'm thinking if the pattern stays the same we should be adopting again in 1.5 years???? Right?! But, like I said, I'm leaving it up to God! :-)

My husband would have a heart attack if he read this so hopefully he won't catch up with the blog for awhile and he'll miss this post!

Well...the kids have their Christmas concert tomorrow so hopefully I can post precious pictures of the terrific kids I DO have!!

Merry Christmas!

Phew...let's take a breather!

Life has been an absolute whirlwind these last 2 weeks! I started my new job and have been training every day. I'm not used to working full time outside the home and it's been a huge adjustment with all the crazies, I mean kids, to take care of at home! This week will be my last official week of training and then I go back to only 3 days a week. That will be a much more manageable schedule for all of us!

Alyssa and Evan also started at a new babysitter's so that was an adjustment, although I have to say they are really enjoying it! It definitely helps that they have each other and they seem to be two peas in a pod! I can't believe the difference in how they interact together...honestly, in the summer Alyssa was just so distressed about Evan and all the attention she perceived he was getting and she wasn't (of course this was her perception, not reality). Now, they spend hours together every day playing, coloring, doing crafts, etc... What I find really cute is Evan will play barbies with Alyssa and then next time I check Alyssa will be playing soccer with Evan or trying out the gamecube (which she NEVER did before Evan came home).

The other day we were driving in the van and I overheard Alyssa say "Evan, isn't it good that there are 2 of us from China in our family!"...oh, I love that they share a connection!

Dylan had a hockey tournament this weekend (I totally forgot the camera!!) and it was crazy busy! He had 5 games and they took 2nd place overall. I LOVE to watch Dylan play hockey but I'm so competitive that it actually stresses me out a bit :-) I'm also coaching Caleb's basketball team so this has added to our crazy schedule. His b'ball team is for boys ages 10-11 and there are 18 of them! They are an amazing group of boys! Dylan just joined the team as well but he has never played b'ball before so he's having fun learning the game.

There's been so much I've wanted to post about but just haven't had the time to sit down at the computer and think clearly. Even now it's 10:00 pm and I'm frantically typing so I can get to bed (early work morning). Maybe in the next few days, I'll get a chance to write some of what's going on inside this complex brain of mine...ha ha ha...

Can anyone out there really believe Christmas is only 25 days away? Like, really, how did that happen!!??

Home Sweet Home

well, we all got home on Monday and Evan is doing fabulous! He started coming around on Monday and by Tuesday he was back to himself. So far, so good! We've even noticed a difference already in his speech...clear sounds instead of nasally.

I started the new job...I think I'm really going to enjoy it. Finished the "bookwork" training part and now I get to job shadow for 2 weeks...so anyone who has been thinking of giving blood or plasma, give us a call and you can come in and visit us!!! (1-888-2-DONATE)

We're working on an amazing website and our plan is to "launch" it by the end of November in honor of National Adoption Month. It will focus on all adoption related issues, book resources, support groups and events happening in PEI (related to adoption or cultural activities for our children), and lots more. The focus of the website will be on adoption in general, not just international. We will include whatever we can on domestic, private and international. Stay tuned...I'll post the link when it's ready to be seen by the world! :-)

THANK YOU for all your kind, wonderful emails, phone calls and comments during Evan's surgery. He is such an incredible little guy! For any and all of you who read my blog...I truly encourage you to consider the waiting child program! Not only in China but in any country...there are so many amazing, healthy children available through these programs and each and every one deserves the love of a family.

Okay...enough of the lecture...enjoy your night!!!

Oh Bummer!

Darn it all...we are back in the hospital with Evan. We were discharged yesterday afternoon but we decided to stay in halifax to see how Evan would do before we made the 4 hour drive back to PEI. Evan was so sick all night...he wouldn't/couldn't drink anything and he kept throwing up. He was still doing that this morning so we brought him back to IWK and they said we should stay here again for the night and get some fluids (via IV) into him.

It is now 9:00 pm and he is so much better!!! He is much less cranky (praise the Lord!!!) and has been eating lots of squishy foods (soup, pudding, ice cream....). I'm sure we'll be able to leave tomorrow morning and head back to PEI.

Evan's lips are back to normal and now we can see inside his mouth to see the hole (or that there isn't a hole anymore). It all looks really good.

On another note...I start a new job this week - my training starts on Wednesday so hopefully all will be well with Evan by then. I will be working with Canadian Blood Services and I'm really excited to be working for them and to have steady (but part-time!) employment. I'll be working 3 days a week which should be perfect as it still leaves me days off with Evan and Alyssa and time to get all the other household stuff/errands done!

Also.... A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD - he turns 60 today!!! I wish we could have all gone down to Digby, NS to celebrate with him but we aren't able. Dad and mom did come to visit Evan and us yesterday in the hospital so it was very nice to see them!!

Hopefully next time I update, we'll all be home in PEI!!

Thanks again for your well wishes and prayers!

He's done!

Evan all set to head to the OR

Mommy and Evan getting ready for the OR...I went in when they put Evan to sleep

Evan back up in his room after surgery...

*******

Evan is through surgery and is doing well. He looked worse than we expected when we saw him in Recovery but he looks much better now. His lips are really swollen and lots of blood in his teeth, etc... Evan was so cute when he woke up because he was so proud that his hole was finally closed that he began tapping me and trying to open his mouth to show me his hole was gone.

He also had 4 teeth removed (2 that were "useless teeth" stuck up in his clefts in his gum and 2 rotten ones in the back. He also had several capped with silver and now he looks like a pirate :-)

His brother, Caleb told him he would get $10 from the toothfairy for losing all those teeth so he keeps asking for his ten dollars.

The surgeon said Evan's palate closure went really well...we have tried to see it but it's pretty swollen right now so we can't see too much. The surgeon also extended his soft palate in the back as well...all of this will really help with his speech, too.

Evan had a difficult time last night as he was continually throwing up yet he still insisted on playing his gamecube. He is hooked up to IV so he can't really play and when I looked over at him, he was just kind of laying there looking at the screen but not playing. Too tired and groggy...I guess just knowing it was there was comforting to him :-)

Thank you for all your nice comments and prayers!!!!

If Evan starts to drink on his own we may be able to break free of the hospital!

More later....

We're at the hospital

Hi,
Just a quick note that we are at the hospital. Evan has been in surgery for a little over 3 hours and it should be only another hour or so. He is also having dental surgery as well as cleft palate surgery.

We are in his room getting everything set up and ready...of course I couldn't go without the computer so Chris has set it up for me!!! We did up Evan's hospital bed with his favorite spiderman blanket, his pillow and some stuffed animals. We bought him a HUGE Diego helium balloon and he is going to love it. A very sweet little girl in the next room is going home today and she gave us a HUGE Dora balloon as well so we have those hanging over his bed for when he comes up from recovery.

Will update more later tonight...

Tammy

3 more sleeps!

I forgot to mention....November is National Adoption Month and our PEI Adoption Coalition initiated media exposure to bring awareness and share in celebrating our Island families who have adopted or been adopted (domestically and internationally). The first set of stories will be featured in The Guardian on Saturday. Don't forget to pick up a copy!

First off... if Bethany Dobbertin is reading this, please send me your email! I'd love to chat with you about our children and find out if they are from the same orphanage!! My email is tammymackinnon@pei.sympatico.ca.

We are down to 3 sleeps until Evan's surgery...he is having his fistula closed (hole in his palate) and dental surgery. I'm not sure how many teeth they are removing - I think about 4 or 5. We are taking Alyssa with us and Caleb and Dylan will be staying with a few different families but they are very excited about all the sleepovers with their friends/cousins!!

Evan is very excited about having his "hole closed" (as he says). He's happy to know I will be sleeping in the room with him and Alyssa will be there to play games with us. We are taking his beloved Gamecube so he and daddy can play MarioCart!

I had a great time meeting some amazing, wonderful families at the Adoption Training Conference this weekend. There were so many moving adoption stories...I love hearing them!

I can't believe we are down to 44 days until Christmas and 90 days until Evan's "happy birthday". (he always calls it that) For some reason, Evan LOVES to countdown for events. We counted down Alyssa and Dylan's birthdays, Halloween, his surgery, still counting for Christmas, Caleb's birthday and of course, his birthday. Any time I mention something we are going to be doing, he says "how many is that?"

Still...can you believe Christmas is only 44 days away!!!!!! My friend Carolyn talked about this on her blog and I thought I would check back and see what was happening...she went back one year on her blog to see what was going on in her life...I went back one year ago and it's hiliraous to see how much things have changed and what God has done in our lives...this is what I wrote ONE YEAR AGO...

Our file is being translated RIGHT NOW!

Kids Link emailed me to let me know our file was sent to Ottawa 2 days ago to be translated, legalized and authenticated! We are so thrilled!!! Let's pray for a very quick turn around in Ottawa and then it can finally head to Ethiopia!!!

Waiting very anxiously for our sweet girl!

Isn't that weird??? Yup! One year ago we were submitting our dossier for a little girl from Ethiopia!! Now, one year later, we are home with our sweet BOY from China and he is so amazing! I would never have guessed one year ago that this is where God would lead us or what he had prepared for us!!!!

Please say a prayer for sweet Evan as he goes in for his surgery.

~Tammy

On my own...

Hey!
I'm in Memrmamcook this weekend (just outside Moncton, NB) for an Adoption Training Conference. I was asked to be a Parent Liaison for PEI by the Adoption Council of Canada. They are doing a pilot project on implementing post adoption support groups in each of the Canadian provinces so the training is designed to help the Parent Liaisons set up groups, network, have workshops on different adoption issues, etc...

I've met a great group of ladies (and 1 man) from NS, NB, PEI and Nfld. It's been nice to be put up in a hotel for the weekend and to hear other amazing adoption stories from these families!!!

Chris is home on the range with all the hooligans and all is well!!! Even Nathan is over for the weekend (our 19 year old who lived with us for MANY years!) so the kids are very excited about that.

Enjoy the weekend!

So much happening!

WOW, the time is simply flying by! I feel like I can't keep up with everyone's news, the blog, the events for our family....whew!

First off...congratulations to a couple of PEI families - our great friends, Megan and Shawn found out they will be traveling to Ukraine over Christmas! They have an appointment on Dec 15th to view child files and we are so excited they will finally see their daughter's face and get to meet her!!! Congratulations to Deanna and Calvin who recieved their referral for a precious little girl from Ethiopia - she is only 7 months old! How exciting!!

******
The kids had a BLAST over Halloween as you can imagine. Evan thought it was great but he just didn't have the stamina to keep up with the rest of the gang. Even the lure of candy wasn't enough to motivate him to "move it along!". He did get lots of candy and enjoyed the night. Alyssa has always been a trooper on Halloween nights and this time was no exception! She kept up with all the big kids and got loads of treats. We were out about 1.5 hours, walking through our subdivison. Our older boys went to every single house in the subdivision and they totally got the motherload! (I call it that because I'm eating most of it! Hee hee!)

We also had our FIRST snowfall for this year...it wasn't much BUT it was blowing around and some of it stayed on the ground. Evan was absolutely beside himself - he immediately got dressed and headed outside with Dylan and Alyssa. He loved it!!

We also went skating for the first time this year, and of course, the first time ever for Evan. He kept saying over and over and over "I just can't believe it! I just can't believe it" "I love it, mommy, I love it!" He is so cute!

***

Look at our gorgeous little man! He is so sweet growing so fast! He is filling out and has gotten a few inches taller. And look at his hair...it's getting longer! (It was buzzed when we got him in China)

First time on skates...after about 15 mintues he was able to go on his own.

Sweet girl Alyssa...she loves to skate, too!

Daddy and Evan

THE FIRST SNOWFALL!!!!!!!

Lovin all that "snow"

Evan "spiderman" mackinnon

Caleb "monster man" MacKinnon

Chris "pirateman" macKinnon

Dylan "the nerd" MacKinnon

Our best family photo to date! I look so ugly - can you believe people had the nerve to say to me "Oh tammy, you decided NOT to dress up this year?" Ha ha ha...very funny people!!!

I'm finally getting a chance to post some photos from the birthdays!

This is sweet Dylan when he was about 8 months old. What an adorable little boy he was!!

Here's our handsome 10 year old Dylan now! The time passes so FAST!

His crazy crew for the party!

Here's our sweet Alyssa before adopted her. This is one of her referral pics and she's about 8 months old. This was the first glimpse we had of our first and only (so far!) daughter!


Now look at this grown up, beautiful girl! What a cutie-pie!
Mommy and Alyssa on her birthday




Alyssa's crazy crew at her party

*************************************************************************

HALLOWEEN PREPARATIONS

So, I hate to complain but my husband has been working non stop, crazy shifts for the last month! I feel like I've been doing everything on my own...he's been working night shifts and the evening shift of 2-10 pm. Now, all parents know how sucky that shift is - it means I have the kids after school, homework time, supper time, extracurricular activity time (for 4 kids), bathtime, and bedtime. By the time he comes home at 10:15 pm, I'm in bed watching a movie or reading...I'm pooped! Anyway...that's life for now so I need to deal with it!

So, tomorrow is Halloween and I had been waiting for a time to carve the pumpkins and get everything ready for Halloween when both Chris and I would be home with the kids. Well, that wasn't possible so tonight the kids and I set up in the kitchen and we carved 3 very beautiful pumpkins if I must say so myself!!!!

Evan is THRILLED that tomorrow is Halloween...he has never experienced Halloween in China and the concept is beyond his comprehension...I mean, he's 5 years old and we are telling him EVERY SINGLE HOUSE in our subdivision will be passing out candy tomorrow night - and he gets to keep it all and eat it all. Really, does it get better than that to a 5 year old????

********

Caleb - dressing up as a monster...he's hoping to lay on our deck and scare kids as they come trick or treating...he tried that last year but soon gave in to the need to get candy instead.

Dylan - a nerd

Alyssa - ballerina

Evan - spiderman (FYI - Evan dresses up as Spiderman everyday! He even goes into town as spiderman)

Daddy - a handsome but dangerous pirate

Mommy - a witch (it's easy!!).

****************************************************************************

TIMEOUTS

I rarely have to put Evan in timeouts, he's very good to listen and hates going to his room when he might miss all the action in the rest of the house! But, tonight the kids were all going a little bananas and mama was getting a tad frustrated and Evan was being just TOO LOUD so I sent him to his room for a few minutes. When I called him back out to the kitchen to finish his supper, he comes running down the hall dressed like this: (yes that's underwear on his head and socks on his hands...I guess he found ways to amuse himself in the timeout!)

Honestly...the kid has such a personality!!!!

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!

BIRTHDAYS!

We had a busy weekend with our birthday parties! Honestly, I know everyone says this but I can't believe my kids are getting so grown up! Dylan turned 10!!!! To me, he's still that sweet, adorable, chubby 3 year old! And our Alyssa...how could she be 5 years old already??? Seriously, it feels like we just went to China (well, we did - LOL) to get her! And now she is tall, beautiful and not a baby at all anymore!



The parties were lots of fun...believe it or not, Dylan had 16 boys at his party (at our house) and it was awesome! This is a great age where they can entertain themselves and find lots of things to do. It was a beautiful weekend so that helped with having them play street hockey and a BBQ outside!



Alyssa's party was a bit quieter with 5 girls and lots of "girl power"! Still, lots of fun with games, pinatas and cake!

I think they both really enjoyed their special days. Evan is on the countdown to his birthday (it's not until Feb) and he says "only 98 days till my happy birthday!" He's also very excited that his birthday will be in the snow! He's never seen snow before (except the pictures we've shown him) and he CANNOT wait to see it for real! I'm not sure how he'll handle the cold weather because he's already wearing his winter coat, hat and mitts, while the rest of us are still going outside in sweaters!

I'll post some pictures of my birthday kiddos in a bit...next up, Halloween and then Christmas. I just remember last year at this time being so frantic about our adoption and how slow things were moving and would our dossier EVER get sent?? And now, here we are celebrating birthdays, halloween, christmas, etc altogether as a family. It's really nice.

I know there are many of you waiting still for your children...all I can say is the waiting SUCKS but it will happen! And when it does, it is WORTH IT!!!!

Enjoy the day!

EXCITING NEWS for our friends!

Our friends, Megan and Shawn, have recieved exciting news on their adoption!!! They had their dossier submitted for review. They are adopting from Ukraine, so the process is quite different from Ethiopia or China. Once their file is submitted to Ukraine, they will hear within 21 business days of their travel dates to go and find their daughter!!! CONGRATULATIONS guys!

Megan and Shawn are the first family in PEI to pursue adoption from Ukraine, they have had many battles along the way so it is extremely exciting to know they are so close to completing this adoption! If anyone would like information on the Ukraine adoption process, please let me know and I'll pass your info on to Megan. She loves to talk adoption and she knows all the ins and outs of Ukrainian adoptions!!! She does have a blog but it's private.

***********

Things are crazy busy here as you can probably tell from my lack of posts! :-) We have a new foster placement and it has been quite an adjustment!! Everything is going well, though. Evan is thriving and fits in like he has alwasy been here. Alyssa and Dylan both have birthdays this week so another busy weekend.

Dylan made the AA Atom Hockey team this year so he is beyond thrilled! We watched his first game on Sunday and we are so proud of him!

-

Here're some pics from our pumpkin picking day!

Some happenings in September

A Little Boy Shower - Chris' brother, Dean, and his wife, Stacy and their family hosted another welcome shower for Evan. A few of the extended family members showed up and we had a great time chatting, eating food, visiting and enjoying the gifts for Evan. Thank you guys for hosting this shower...Evan was thrilled with a party just for him!!!

Dylan was STOKED to watch his first live NHL game and it was here in PEI. He and Chris took in the game and Dylan was beyond excited!

Chinese School started again...here are Alyssa and Evan dressed in their Chinese outfits...all the way from the Silk Factory in Beijing! (and looking too cute!)

MOON FESTIVAL - several families who've adopted from China (and some waiting to adopt) got together to celebrate Chinese Moon Festival. We had some Chinese food, special mooncakes and then walked the boardwalk with our lit lanterns.