Home Sweet Home!

We finally made it home yesterday with Rubea. Kaylea came home on Wednesday evening and is doing amazingly well. I am having a very difficult time keeping her still and calm. She wanted to play kick ball yesterday with Grandpa. Today she was rolling around on the floor with Rylea, who is almost the same size!

Rubea, however, is having a difficult time with pain. There were some complications that will likely require yet another surgery in 6 weeks. So, I have been trying to keep her comfortable since we have been home. It is difficult to move her without hurting her. It just breaks my heart!! 

Both girls had their teachers come today for some home bound schooling. Rylea had a blast participating in school with Rubea. She may end up in school in a couple of months after all. It is only 3 hours a day and she really enjoyed all the singing!!  We’ll see once we get the girls back into school.

Have an awesome weekend….we are only hanging out!!

Carla

We’ve moved….

to a new room!!  WOO HOO!!!!!!  We got out of PICU about an hour ago and are in a regular room and the girls are together, still!! It is so much quieter down here. They have eaten breakfast and are watching Disney Channel. Life is good……

I am still hoping we can go home on Wednesday with both girls.  We just changed Rubea’s dressing for the first time. Her back looks AWESOME!!!!!!! Modern medicine is AMAZING!!!

Love from the 6th floor,

Carla, Kaylea & Rubea

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Rough days…

We have had a few rough days here!  Both girls have been pretty demanding and whiney. I am certain I would be too, if I had gone through back surgery. They are both still in PICU, but we are hoping to get out of here by tomorrow and to a regular room.  We know Rubea will be in here until at least Wednesday.  Kaylea should get out Tuesday or Wednesday. She has to stay head down until tomorrow afternoon! Thankfully, they put both girls in the same room here in the PICU and they will have the same room once we move, too! Both surgeries went really well. We can tell a huge difference in Rubea!!

Thanks for checking in with us!! I will post some pictures later :0)

Love,

Sleeping beauty!!

She made it through her surgery just fine and is sleeping soundly! We are thankful that she is doing so amazingly well. She is so much longer and straighter now! They placed a titanium rib on each side of her spine. They are attached to her pelvis and then to her top rib. Modern medicine is such an amazing thing! We are just thrilled with out come of the surgery and feel she will progress quickly now!

Thank you for all the prayers, support and good wishes!!

Hugs,

This weekend...

We have spent the weekend just playing, hanging out and shopping! Rylea gets very excited and giggles when she sees her jacket! I washed it earlier and it was in the basket to be folded. After realizing we weren't going to put it on her, she got mad and started crying!  LOL  It was too funny!  Poor baby thinks we should *go* all the time. She loves her car seat!! That is a FIRST for us!  We have had to do some shopping for clothes this weekend.  We were told she was probably a 2 or 3, however, she is a good solid 4!  I had some leggings that I purchased in the summer that are 4's so we just need some tops for her. Oh, and socks. Her feet are bigger than I thought! LOL  I also have some Gymbucks to spend, so I think we are going to do that today!! I am sure daddy was a bit hurt, but Rylea wouldn't let him feed her today! Only mommy or Kaylea could do the task, so Kaylea fed her breakfast this morning. She adores Ethan, too! Thankfully!!  Rubea is mean to Ethan (actually all the boys, but Ethan is the only one who cares!), so he was hoping Rylea would be his *best friend*, sooo sweet!!

Ok, we have a bit of a dilemma here.  We NEED a new double stroller.  Rylea doesn't sit well enough on her own to ride in the *Sit N Stand* that we have already.  I had chosen a stroller at Babies R Us, but found out you have to take the seats off to fold it....such a pain.  Then we started looking at the one that was side by side.  Rubea has a wheel chair and I am sure we will get one for Rylea soon.  She fits nicely in Kaylea's, but I when I have the 2 of them alone I can not push them both in separate wheel chairs.  So, I would like to get a stroller.  Any suggestions for a decent double stroller??  I would also like for them to recline.  You never know when someone will need a nap! :-)  Please email me or leave a comment!!

Thanks!!

Rylea is HOME!!!

She is very, very happy!  And giggly!! She is just precious and I am thrilled beyond words that she is HOME!!!  With us, ALL OF US!!!  She even took a little nap curled up next to me!! She LOVES all these brothers and sisters!! We'll see how things go tomorrow when everyone is in school, except her! It will be nice to have a couple hours a day with just the two of us home together. Soon we'll have lots of doctor appointments to fill the time :-)

Enjoy!!

It won't be long....

....until they are finally on their way home...just 8 more hours!!!  I had to go out of town for a funeral and during that time John has been trying to get the oh so important VISA!!  Of course there were many snags!  I am sure it was because I didn't have a computer in my lap at all times! Thankfully, after a couple of phone calls, many text messages and even more emails, I got all the questions answered and the visa was issued!  So, they are doing last minute shopping, packing and playing until they head for the airport at 8:00 am, my time!!  

We will post pictures over the weekend.  We have many, many appointments in the next 3 days. Two of our girls are having major surgeries next week, so there are pre-op appointments, lab work appointments, tests, an MRI, and appointment at the school for home bound services!! Not to mention welcoming home daddy and Rylea!!  I don't see much sleep in the near future.

Thanks for all the comments and prayers....

They are leaving for Hanoi....the last leg of the trip!!

They are finally off to Hanoi in a few short hours! This is the last, but longest leg of the trip! 

They will finish the visa paperwork and wait for the visa!!  Then be on their way HOME!!!!

We are sooooo ready!!   

Enjoy the pictures!!  They were on a river tour!!

This picture....

...makes my heart dance!!

Tomorrow morning (our tonight) they will be going back to Hanoi!

More pictures over on the Rylea & Rubea blog!!!

He has her!!

He has had her for just over 24 hours now and I think he is definitely smitten!  Just look at the smile on his face!! She is doing amazingly well and I think she is just perfect! I think the little girls will be the best of friends!!  Rubea wanted the computer in her lap today when we were talking to them via skype!  I have spent many hours just watching her and it has been so amazing! It won't be long and she will be caught up!! Ready for the 15th to get here so I can hold her in my arms....forever!!  

Blessings,

Only....

                                                 

                 Until Rylea Day!!!!! 

More days until *RYLEA DAY*

In Vietnam

He is now in Hanoi!

He will leave Hanoi on Sunday and fly to DaNang!

Monday is THE DAY!!!  AKA   RYLEA DAY!!!!!!

Just for fun....

This is her *new* smile!!!  LOL

He is in....

...KOREA!!!!  I sure wish he could bring home little Kai to his family, since he is already there!!  They've been waiting long enough to get that baby home!!  Hang in there Hays Family!!!

He is on his way....

....on his way to Korea...then it is on to Hanoi!!!!

Happy 2009!!!

WOO HOO!!!  Couldn't be happier to be in 2009 now!!  That means only a few short days until John has Rylea in his arms!!  We leave for the airport in 3 hours!!  His flight leaves in 5.5 hours!!

2008 was a very busy year here, so we are praying for a more relaxing year after John gets home with our precious daughter!!

Happy New Year from our family to yours!!