April 3rd

Last Saturday, April 3rd, marked our one-year anniversary of our referral call for Lauren. Wow, what a day I will never forget, the day I saw my sweet Lauren's face for the first time.

We celebrated by enjoying a breakfast with our friends. Over the 4 year wait, Mary, Terri, Suz, and I became friends and enjoyed spa days, etc. while we dreamed and prayed for our daughters. Denise is a friend who we met on our trip to China. She and her husband were in our travel group. Lauren and Emma (Denise's daughter) are from the same province. Pictured above from left to right: Caroline (Suz's daughter), Kailahni (Mary's daughter), My Lauren, Emma (Denise's daughter), and Gwyneth (Terri's daughter). This is our version of the "red couch" picture. :)



Suz made these awesome "carrots" made with goldfish, the girls loved them! Thank you Suz!!



Terri, Gwyneth, and Lauren



Emma, Kailahni, and Lauren enjoying their prized Easter gifts.



Lauren and Emma



In this picture, I think Lauren is saying, this is my peep, Kailahni...

We missed all of our awesome friends we have met through this adoption process, who mean the world to us, but don't live nearby. You are always in our thoughts and discussions whenever the Arizona Adoption Mama's get together..

Easter Weekend

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend! I'm a little late posting this, but wanted to share Lauren in her Easter dress singing her favorite song "Hosanna". Last weekend was filled with cherished visits with friends and family. I will post pic's soon...Lauren and I just returned from a night run and she is wanting some ice cream, so I'm off to scoop up a bowl for my girl!

Weekend Fun!

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Springtime & Backyard Pedicures

Yesterday Lauren, Danny, and I enjoyed hanging out in the backyard blowing bubbles, barbecuing, playing tag, and soaking up the sun. I gave Lauren her first pedicure and we had so much fun together! Gosh, can I just say I LOVE being a mommy to such an incredible little girl!!

We're off to our community's carnival today, birthday dinner for mom and Kristy, and the back home for a "movie in the park" that our community his putting on tonight!

Happy Weekend everyone! :)

Approval For My Boards!

Lauren and I just returned from a night out with one of my good friends I met long ago and went to nursing school with. I was just discussing with her how long it is taking to get my approval letter to take my boards...I then come home and I have an email stating I've been approved and can schedule my date! woohoo! (I guess I'm going to have to get serious about studying now) :) I have been so glad to be done with graduate school and able to spend time with my little Lo that I have not been very diligent in preparing for the big exam...time to gear up!

p.s. March LIDers you will find this funny, the reason the AANP took so long to get me a date??...they had moved buildings..sound familiar! :)

Impromptu Visit To The Zoo!

Lauren's Haircut

Yesterday Mommy and Lauren had haircuts together! Lauren did great and we were pleasantly surprised to find that Grandma also was getting her haircut at the same place and time! Next time I think we'll all schedule massages and make it a spa day!! :)

Happy Birthday Mom!!

I can't imagine my life without you..I am so blessed to have been given such an incredible, strong, beautiful person as my mom. As a mom myself now, I appreciate even more all the sacrifices you made for me. I love you with all of me.

Saturday Morning Zip Line

Tea Party and Fireflies

Lauren woke singing this song today, then dressed herself and invited Mommy, Daddy, and Bailey to a tea party!

Hiking With Kai and Mary!

We just returned from a fun morning out with Mary and Kai! We went hiking with the girls at a mountain near us. It was so nice! The weather is perfect right now! Again, it was serious business for the girls, but they had fun! :)

Lauren in Action

I have been having trouble posting video from the start, but thanks to Mary, I have a live action shot of Lauren for you! I'm working on getting our Family Day video posted as well.

Fun Times!

2010

Good morning and Happy New Year everyone! Yesterday was a day like no other. It was the first day that I fully felt like the weight of school, clinical, etc. had been lifted and we here at the Davenport home had a magical day. We started the day by watching two beautiful people get married after waiting for so long. Congratulations Terri, your wedding brought tears to my eyes, you and Ed are such special people.

After the wedding we headed home, threw my hair up in a pony tail, put on some old scrubs and for the next 5 hours Lauren, Danny, Bailey, and I sang, danced, put away Christmas decorations, organized, cleaned, kissed, held hands, and felt like "us" again. Survival mode is finally over.

I also put on my ipod and went for a run by myself which I haven't done since last June. This was an awesome time with God. Just thanking Him for all He has done, the miracle of Lauren in our lives and in our arms. It was also a time of prayer for my family and extended family and asking, so..what's next. Medical missions has been in my heart since I was five and cried to Jesus while sitting behind dad's recliner with my big headphones on listening to Keith Green. I know my trip to India 16 years ago was just the start and I am excited to see where God takes us next.

It's going to be a great year! :)

Dreams do come true...

Thank You Mary!

My Lauren is so sick...

Poor Lauren has been so sick since last Sunday and her temp is still in the 103-104 range today. Today was supposed to be a day of celebration, my graduation, etc. but instead we spent the day in pediatrician offices and getting Laurens first xray. It has been heart breaking to see her so miserable. I know she loves me, but I feel so cruel shoving medication down her throat, giving her cool baths, etc.

Thank you Mary for dinner the other night. I cannot tell you how much that meant. I am SO fortunate to have you as a friend and am really glad we are neighbors now. :) I took a pic of the dinner you sent, but I am hardly able to keep my eyes open to download the pic's right now. It's been a long week.

Please keep Lauren (Lo Lo) in your prayers. She did test positive for the Influenza A today, so at least I know what we are dealing with, but I tell you it is one thing to be a health care provider and a much different thing to be a mommy of a very sick little girl.

650 Clinical Hours...Done.

Christmas Jubilee

Well, I woke early this morning and can't go back to sleep, so I thought I'd blog. My first thought today was of my good friends Steph, Terri, and Suz who are on a flight to China to get their girls at this moment. It brings back memories as I watch them all take off on the trip of their lives. I still think there is so much we did and felt during that trip that it still hasn't all sunk in and I look forward to more time pretty soon to sit back and reflect on all that has occurred since July 7,2009. Everytime I watch Lauren sleep or laugh, I am overcome with an emotion that is like no other. She is such a miracle, only God could bring this amazing little girl all the way from Zhenfeng county, China to our arms here in Peoria, AZ.

As a side note, I finally graduate next week and cannot wait. It's pretty much been survival mode lately with all we have on our plate here, but soon, Lauren won't have to say, "mamma work..bye bye mama" nearly as much and that will make me very, very happy. :) It breaks my heart everyday. But, what seemed impossible just a few months ago, is finally going to be finished next week.

Well, tonight we decorate our tree and drink hot cocoa and start our first Christmas with Lauren! Our amazing friend, Bella, got us "Polar Express" tickets and so we are going to the Polar Express on Dec. 21st! I will post pic's! Lauren is going to have a blast, she thinks the train at the zoo is amazing, wait until she gets to ride with Santa on a real train!

Anyway, this post is kind of random thoughts, but I thought I'd say hi and Merry Christmas to all of you! Love you!

I'm PC and I'm 2!