December 2013

It was a busy month of December, so there was no time to blog about all the fun stuff we did.  Here's a short recap in pictures.

On December 6, St. Nick brought the kids each a set of wireless headphones.  One is now connected to an old Blackberry, the other to the Kindle, so both kids can listen and/or watch what they like simultaneously without fighting over the equipment.  No strings attached, literally.

The Christmas party at our local children's hospital is quickly becoming a tradition for us.  This was our third year there.  Rex and Emilia so enjoy the live band and the band is incredibly kind to them.  They have remembered them from year to year and treat them with great patience and understanding.

Our traditional Christmas treat: homemade cinnamon rolls... before the icing went on.  There were 36, 18 regular and 18 GFDF.  As you can see, the kids could not wait for them to cool a little, but dug into the first pan right away.

Rex and Emilia with the new spinning tops they got from our Ms. Rie.

We spent Christmas Day with our friends in Northern Ohio.

A few days after Christmas we loaded up the hip minivan with extended family and went to the Festival of Lights at the zoo.

Without knowing it, the kids gave us some beautiful gifts this Christmas.  Emilia spent the holiday week talking more than ever before, even around people she rarely sees.  She made us so proud with a few short and spontaneous sentences like "Up ball [I want up on the ball to bounce]"; "Top it? [Should I stop what I am doing?]" and at Target, "Circle red [I see a red circle]."

Rex, during a car ride where I had hopped into the back to sit between the kids, took my hand, laced his fingers with mine, leaned is head on my shoulder, and just sat peacefully by my side.  If that's not the gift of pure love, I don't know what would be.

We rang 2014 in quietly, but it's going to get a bit crazy soon as Emilia is scheduled for her heart surgery at the end of the month.  I will write about it more when the time gets closer.  For now, I wish everyone who visits our little blog a wonderful 2014 with many great adventures, countless happy times, and lots of love.

Now I Know My ABC's

Emilia has recently become quite interested in letters and is making incredible progress on identifying them.  Here she is earlier this week working on letter recognition with our Ms. Rie:

If Emilia can manage to learn all lower and upper case letters by the end of May, she will have completed half of her kindergarten readiness requirements.  The ones she does not yet fulfill have to do with speech, like being able to say her own name and address.  I think we are a while away from meeting those due to apraxia, but Emilia does not legally have to start kindergarten until 2015, so we have plenty of time.  Right now, we are just so amazed at the progress she is making across the board.  Go Emilia!

IAC 267 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC session 267 which was held on November 27, 2013:

1) Cyprus dossier from March 2010 referred a female child aged 2 years

2) Spanish dossier from May 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years and 2 months with features in health status

3) Spanish dossier from May 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years

4)  Spanish dossier from May 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years and 11 months

5) Canadian dossier from September 2010 referred a female child aged 4 years and 9 months with features in health status

6) Italian dossier from December 2010 referred a female child aged 5 years and 4 months with features in health status

7) US dossier from April 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 4 months with a family history

8) Italian dossier from December 2011 referred a brother and sister aged 7 years and 7 months & 4 years and 1 month

9) Italian dossier from December 2012 referred a male child aged 9 years and 5 months

10) French dossier from June 2013 referred a female child aged 6 years and 3 months with features in health status

11) US dossier from November 2013 referred two waiting children (#1425 & #2040) with profiles on the MOJ site

12) US dossier from November 2013 referred two waiting children (# 1816 &#2162) with profiles on the MOJ site

From Our Family To Yours

Wishing you a Christmas filled with magic, 

goodwill, and happiness.

Photo by Carrie Lynne Photography

Love,

The Martinis

IAC 266 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 266 which was held on November 20, 2013:

1) French dossier from November 2009 referred a female child aged 4 years

2) Dutch dossier from May 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years and 1 month

3) Austrian dossier from June 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status

4)  German dossier from June 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from August 2010 referred a female child aged 3 years with features in health status and a family history

6) US dossier from December 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with a family history

7) US dossier from February 2012 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

8) US dossier from November 2012 referred twins, male and female, aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status and a family history

9) Italian dossier from April 2013 referred a female child aged 9 years and 7 months

10) US dossier from November 2013 referred a waiting child (#2091) with a profile on the MOJ site

11) US dossier from November 2013 referred a waiting child (#1789) with a profile on the MOJ site

12) US dossier from November 2013 referred a waiting child (#1941) with a profile on the MOJ site

13) US dossier from November 2013 referred a waiting child (#1882) with a profile on the MOJ site

Our Girl Is A-Learning

Last spring Emilia wouldn't do anything but bang and throw these puzzle pieces.  Now she understands the concept of a puzzle and can do this one along with some others we have.  

And she definitely knows her family.

And her shapes.

We're so proud of Emilia's hard work and determination, resulting in such wonderful progress.

IAC 265 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 265 which was held on November 13, 2013:

1) Greek dossier from March 2007 referred a female child aged 9 years and 8 months

2) Dutch dossier from May 2010 referred a male child aged 4 years and 2 months

3) Dutch dossier from May 2010 referred a male child aged 5 years and 5 months

4) Spanish dossier from May 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 9 months

5) French dossier from June 2011 referred a male child aged 6 years and 11 months with features in health status

6) Italian dossier from November 2011 referred twins, male and female, aged 7 years and 6 months

7) Italian dossier from May 2012 referred a male child aged 8 years and 5 months with features in health status

8) Italian dossier from February 2013 referred a female child aged 8 years and 10 months with a family history

9) US dossier from June 2013 referred a female child aged 10 years and 2 months with features in health status

10) Italian dossier from November 2013 referred two waiting children (#2073 & #2079) with profiles on the MOJ site

11) US dossier from November 2013 referred two waiting children (#1701 & #1155) with profiles on the MOJ site

12) US dossier from November 2013 referred a waiting child (#2193) with a profile on the MOJ site

13) US dossier from November 2013 referred a waiting child (#1010) with a profile on the MOJ site