Gymnast in the Making!

 We discover new things about Kell all the time.  We want to give him the opportunity to try lots of activities and discover what he enjoys and is good at doing.  Though small, he is very muscular and strong so we were thinking gymnastics.  Then he did this...

...without even stretching (ouch!).  And this...

 Definitely gymnastics first, it was decided and he had his first "practice" last week.  We call it practice because he wanted a "practice" of his own after going to countless basketball and baseball practices with his brothers.

He was so excited and did great! And, may I add, so cute, too!  He is so proud to be going and wants to go each day...but it's only once a week.  Here he is with Emma Lael whose class meets at the gym at the same time.  He was very excited to see EL and her mommy, Andrea there!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012..Kell's first Valentine's Day at home.  Last year in this picture was a picture of him ...so glad to have the real Kell in the picture this year!  Kell is holding the valentine that Burke made for him last year.  We sent a picture of the valentine to him in China and he recognized it when I pulled it out.  "Oh! That's mine!"...and found the picture of it in that worn out album that he brought to America with him.

Kell is working hard in school and doing great!  His home teacher, Mrs. Phillips (love her!), wrote out this message for Kell and he wrote it on this heart card...you can see how much he's been practicing his writing!  You'll have to turn your head sideways to read...sorry I can't turn it around!

We had a great family evening together.  We played Zingo (it's Emma Lael's favorite game and she gave one to Kell)...it has become a favorite and he's gotten really good at it, dinner, a few gifts, and lots of LOVE! 

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love.  It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  No one has ever seen God.  But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us."

1 John 4:9-12

Surgery Success

Kell had a minor surgery yesterday...the first of 2 or 3 to complete the repair of his cleft lip/palate.  He did awesome!  He's a little trooper and always quite the character!  Here's basically how it went:

Put on the latest in surgical suite fashion:

Shake your booty just to keep things light during the long wait

Con the anesthesiologist out of his headgear and mask because his is way more cool

Flirt with a few nurses (that gets you the best post surgical slushies):

Wake up in record time feeling great and drive Mommy outta here:

Oh yeah!  Not supposed to drive after surgery!

Happy patient goes home after making a few new friends...we'll be back!
Thanks for all the prayers lifted for Kell!