Pinch Me!!

Sorry to keep you waiting... we only added 33% more kids, but the upkeep feels much more than that (and so does the noise level)! :)

It feels like I am still in a dream, can it be true that we are all together!?! My emotions had been pretty steady throughout the trip, until we hit Atlanta and things looked good for making it home as planned. I was overwhelmed with the sense of so many praying for us and God's graciousness in answering those prayers in such a special way! They hurried us through immigration and we had plenty of time to make our "on-time flight".

Once on board, I asked Daniel the time, waited forever while playing with Ellie, then asked again, and only five minutes had passed. :) What a great feeling to turn the corner at the airport and see so many faces of those who had been praying for us and for our homecoming! And then, even better, to see our older three run to their baby sister!

I was prepared to see her liven up when we got home, but expected it to take some time. She was all over the house within minutes from arriving home. She loves the stairs (already doing well on going down on her belly) and passing out toys to her siblings. Ellie slept all night in her bed, ate from her high chair without complaint, got over her fear of the toothbrush, and only whimpered in the bath.

We savored checking on all four of them together, then each went back a few times before we turned in. At our home, all of the beds are full, the car is full, laundry basket is full, but so are our hearts!

She loved the music!

The Newest American Citizen! And she slept through it! :)

A cute posse of little girls were anixious to meet Ellie! We'll have to find a better shot of them.

A sweet posse of grown-up girls ready to see Ellie!

Settling down for bed (at nearly midnight)! No we didn't leave Ellie here very long, but it was too sweet!

Off for a family swim on our first day together.After bath, clean and snuggly.

She loved the little princess set she was given. Ellie also loves chairs! She keeps trying them out, then moving to try the other one...it was well worth my time to paint them! :) When I took this picture, I called "Ellie" and she turned toward me with this smile. (We go back and forth with calling her "Ellie" and "Vane".)

Playing "share" with Noah. She is giggling here. The posse of little girls made welcome home signs to give us at the airport. Today, Noah, on several occasions, would follow Ellie around the house with one, saying "Weh-cum home, Ahhh-EEE" over and over!

Our first set of pictures with all four of the kids together, they are laughing at Daddy's silly faces. They have done well together with the expected amount of arguing (between the littlest two). Noah kept asking for his "duck" blankie that was still in a suitcase last night. When we were able to get it for him, he promptly brought it and his beloved penguin to Ellie. We were so touched.

Thank you, thank you!!! For all of your prayers, sweet words and thoughtful actions. We felt so loved by all of you! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Check out Daniel's blog for more of his thoughts and here for more pictures of the homecoming.