Three more weeks until we finally meet with the geneticist again. I'm preparing my long list of questions. I think I'll feel so much better once we speak with the doctor and the genetic counselor.
I've been able to speak with some other families who have children with this syndrome. Again, thank goodness for the internet.

In unrelated news, Avery really, really wants a Buzz Lightyear doll. She keeps asking for an allowance so she can save up her money to buy one. Sadly, we don't do allowance around here yet, and it would probably take her a year or two to save enough allowance to afford Buzz. Her sister was nice enough to give Avery $2.00 out of my wallet to go towards her Buzz Lightyear. My kids are so generous!

Once again, I'm overdue on posting some pictures.

We spent some time at the mall, riding the fun rides (you can tell we were with the grandparents because Mommy is too cheap to pay for all that fun).

Yes, there is still snow here in Ontario, but the sun is finally warming things up. We usually don't have this much snow this time of year and the frigid temperatures. The girls love it, well Avery does. Brennyn loves snow for about 10 minutes or so!

I just found out that our original guide from our adoption trip to China has started a homeland tour company.
She was such an amazing person, so kind and patient. Yes, I know that it was her job to help us in any way but she went above and beyond the call of duty.
Trust me, I realized how amazing she was after I we met our second guide in Beijing for Brennyn's adoption. Not that she wasn't bad either, she was just more of a "doing my job" person.
Oh, and I'm also not talking about our guide in Xi'an, she was also amazing (especially considering she was really a tour guide, we were the first adoption family she had met).

Anyway, I am going to link her website here because if you are thinking of travelling to China, I highly recommend her: http://journeyhometours.com/index.asp

In case the link doesn't work, just google Journey home tours.

We are planning a trip back to China, but unfortunately, it won't be for a few years. I wish I could go tomorrow!
We are planning to visit with Avery's birth family and I'd also like to visit the hospital where Brennyn was found.

Luckily, most of the tours seem to plan for visits to both these provinces, one for tourist reasons (Shaanxi), the other because so many children have been adopted from Jiangxi.

Oh good, the snow is back

Yes, another snow day here in Southern Ontario. What is this spring they speak of??

Avery was telling Brennyn that she didn't have school today because there were no buses. Brennyn went and grabbed her little people bus and told Avery that she had a bus for her. I think Brennyn enjoys her Avery free mornings (I know, I'm so mean to admit that, but sometimes Avery has a habit of picking on her sister ALL DAY LONG).
Avery of course turned to her sister and said, in only the way a 5 year old who is going on 15 could say "Um, I don't fit on that bus, it's a toy".

Should be a fun day!

Brennyn just said to me "I was really sad mommy and you maked me happy". I asked her what she meant and she just repeated herself and went back to playing.
You make me happy too baby girl!

March Break

Had a great week, Avery's first ever March Break. She was happy just to be off school for a week! The girls and I spent a few days with my parents and we visited with some friends of mine. It had been way too long since we visited the old homestead. Still amazes me how much that city has grown and changed. Nice to visit friends though.
Grandpa bought Avery the Toy Story 3 movie, so she was very, very happy. I think she watched it 3 times (in as many days).
My mom and I took both girls to the local YMCA where we spent 2 hours in the pool. I think it's safe to sign the girls up for swimming lessons again, they love the water now.

Ran 11 kms today, half marathon is in 6 weeks, yikes.

Some answers

Finally, after almost a year of waiting on test results, the geneticist called. We have an answer. It turns out that I already knew the answer (don't know what people did before the internet), but it's better to have concrete results.

I'm not going to get into specifics on a public internet space. I'm just happy to have an answer. We have a long road ahead of us, but hopefully when we see the geneticist next month, they will be able to assist us. I just want to find some other families with children who have the same syndrome so Brennyn will have someone to talk to when she is older.

Again, I want to say how thankful that I am to live in this country. I don't know what we would have done if we didn't have access to such an amazing research hospital. There was no way that the people in China would have known what syndrome Brennyn has and to be honest, they would not have been able to afford the dental care she will need in the future.

I feel so blessed to have this little girl in my life. She is such a loving, adventurous, beautiful child. Actually, I should say how blessed I am to have both my beautiful girls in my life.

I was sure that Avery was given her own camera for Christmas, but I must be mistaken since I keep finding these strange pictures on my camera!

Still nothing on the genetic front, however I did get an appointment booked for Brennyn in April. Although, the secretary didn't have a clue what I was talking about.

Booked our vacation

8 more weeks and we'll be lying on a deckchair in the hot Caribbean sun! When I look out the window at the 10cm of snow that fell last night, I just think of beach, water and fancy drinks (okay, I don't drink fancy drinks, but it sounds more Caribbean).

Yesterday all the snow was gone (due to the record amount of rainfall in the afternoon) but by this morning it was all back. Ahh, good old Canadian weather.

In other news, still waiting for Brennyn's blood work results. I am fairly certain that the genetic counselor knows my voice, which is a little scary since I know how many kids they see (it is at sick kid's hospital).
We did find out that they are doing a research study and they wanted to know if we would sign Brennyn up. Hopefully, we will find out more about the study on Monday.

Grandpa was reading a story to Avery and this is what happened!

I always said she was clever

Have I mentioned how Brennyn keeps me on my toes? She's a very busy, curious girl who doesn't miss a trick.
Yesterday, Brennyn was getting excited and throwing her toys around. I heard a rather large bang beside me and saw one of my crystal containers on the floor. Brennyn had knocked off the table (this may have been right after I told her for the 5ooth time that day, not to throw things).
I bent down and picked up the dish, while saying "that's it, time out".
Brennyn calmly replied "I already am mommy", and she was. Sitting on the bottom stair in time out position.
I think I may be in trouble here, they are both too smart for me!
Oh, and the picture above was apparently taken by Avery. I found it while uploading some pics (and don't mind the big scrape on the forehead, results of trying to jump from the coffee table to the couch after taking the cushions of the couch).