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Where O Where...

Have I've been...



BUSY! VERY BUSY!



And soon you will all know why!

(for those of you who are 'my friend' on facebook, you already know)



I am waiting to tell two very important people in my life the big news before announcing IT here!



They are in Florida this weekend for the big race...so it will have to wait until Monday.



Anyway has it really been since December that I posted?



Oh I have become one of those bad bloggers.



But I am going to make up for that ~ starting now!



Let's see if I can recap the past the 9 weeks...



We rang in the NEW YEAR at Grandma's in NEPA!



We all had a blast during our extended vacation at Disney World this past January!



While at Disney, I decided to purchased into Disney's Vacation Club!

(and yes I am already planning our next trip)



When we returned home {during an ice/snow storm), we lost complete power in our home for four days....that's right FOUR LONG DAYS...no power, no water, no heat, no tv...nothing!



Let's just say by day three, I was NOT happy ~ at all.



We celebrated Chinese New Year this year at home with our traditional meal ~ homemade Fettuccine Alfredo, oranges and olive oil, and garlic bread! I have been making it since CNY 2006 when we celebrated Francesca's first CNY with us!



My mom and aunt came down for a visit for a few days!



Benjamin had his 2nd post-op appointment with the surgeon and Annabelle had he first.

(it is looking like our sweet & spicy Annabelle will be next in line for bowel surgery which part one is scheduled for March 29th)



We celebrated Valentine's day with tons of candy, a few valentines, and a date lunch with just Keith and me!

(oh ya and supper out with the whole family)



As Francesca's home room mom, I have been doing a lot of volunteering at her school and I am just loving it!



I also was able to reconnect with a few good friends over the past few weeks as well!

(Krista, Kelly, Sandy, Sara and Lori - just to name a few)



~ and ~



I was able to help four families by explaining our lives, living with three children with severe bowel conditions!



And last but not least, I finally got Benjamin's paper work all ready and submitted for his US passport.



Yep, that's most of it!



So now that I bored you all with those silly details of our life over the past 9 weeks, here are a few photos of the kiddos that were taken over that time! Enjoy!!!!

{a few photos from our trip to Disney}


High Tea with just us girls at the Grand Floridian....




{Grandma & Francesca}

The girls truly loved it ~ as we {Grandma & me} did too!

Keith wearing all three kddos 3D glasses {just before entering "It's a Bug Life}!

Breakfast with Pooh and his friend!

Mickey & Minnie!

Sleeping Beauty on the Tea Cups!

Did I ever mention to you all how much this little boy has rocked my world!

{with Thumper & Miss Bunny!}

{and my favorite ~ Mulan}

{back to those 3D bug glasses}

Francesca aka Bettie Shorepaddler as the pirate princess

{Annabelle was Kelly Ropewalker but I am saving that photo for another post)

We celebrated Francesca's 6th birthday while at Disney! At first glance I wasn't too sure if I was going to keep this one, but as soon as I saw my mom's face I knew I had to (she is truly crazy about her grandchildren)!

Kiddos with Alice!

And finally I just had to add this one as well! I swear, she just takes my breath away.

So there you have it! I think I am on the road to recovery for lack of posts!

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

From Our Family to Yours!

Love, The Leonard's
Keith, Shelly, Francesca, Annabelle and Benjamin

{first school dance for Francesca}

OK seriously ~ when did my baby get to the point where she was able to go to a school dance on a Friday night {no less}! It is true! And she had a wonderful time! Her friend, Kyra (along with her Mom, Dad, twin brother and older brother) invited to take Francesca with them to the big school dance that happen this past October! She excitedly left the safe haven of our home around 6:30PM and returned full of giggles and smiles promptly at 8:45PM! She has a great time and we are truly thankful for the Walsh family for inviting her!

According to Mama Walsh, the kiddos had a great time and danced their hearts out!

As for me, I didn't expect anything less!

{happen to find}

Can't you just eat him up! I mean seriously...I am guessing that Keith took these photos for when I went to download our Halloween ones from our stay at Children's I found these!

Oh I can't begin to tell you all how this little boy has touched my heart and opened my eyes to so much more....

Halloween at Children's Hospital!

This was how we celebrated Halloween this past year! Why it wasn't exactly how anyone had visioned this year's custom display ~ we truly made the best of it and had a wonderful time!

We were able to get Benjamin out of his bed (for the first time) and lay him in a pillow lined wagon and do a bit of trick & treating around his floor!

Both kiddos had a blast!

{Francesca's school party was the same day as the hospital's party ~ a HUGE THANK YOU to Grandma for she substituted for me that day as the classroom mom!}

Where do I begin...

So much has happened since my last post...


(at Halloween) Benjamin had his first surgery {spinal} at Children's Hospital in Washington DC and after an almost week's stay at the hospital and a post op follow up with our neurosurgeon, he is doing very well. It is seriously possible that he will require further surgery on his spine in the future, but for now all is good!

While Benjamin was in the hospital recovering, our 4-legged buddy, Honey Bear, who has been with Keith & I since we were dating (14 years ago) past away...He will always be remembered and we are still missing him so very much...(btw ~ he was our first offical adoption at age 2)


We are currently getting ready for Benjamin's next surgery {recto-urethral fistula and part one of his bowel repair} which will take place next week. After his surgery, Benjamin will be placed on a colostomy bag but we do not know how long.


Here at Casa De Leonard, we are also getting ready for the Christmas Season, a New Year's Holiday at Grandma's and our second 2 week vacation in January in Disney World for Francesca's 6th Birthday!

As many of you know, Francesca started Kindergarten this past September and Annabelle started Preschool! Francesca and Annabelle (both) love school and their teachers. Francesca has started an after school program one day a week for singing & dancing as well as joined our local Girl Scout Daisy troop here in Derwood. Annabelle is still my "spicy" little girl who has taken it as your objective to show "guidence' to Benjamin for everything. Those two {A&B} are still our "Frick & Frack" and the best of buds!

and...

(last but not least) Keith and I have realized that "the door" to adoption was NOT locked but only closed and after pulling very hard on that door's handle, it has once again opened for us and we have submitted a new MCC to our agency for the Special Focus Program. While we are not 100% sure if we will get a referral, we are 100% ready to make this party of five a six pack! And what totally sweetened the deal {for us} was when my dear, loving, and amazing girlfriend, Miss Sara from Football & Fried Rice offered to come with me during the travel for our newest addition!!! Seeing how we would have three little ones at home, Keith and I know it would be pretty much impossible for both of us to travel so when I mention my concerns to Miss Sara, she quickly jumped on board 100% willing to help out in any way she can and offered to come with me! How sweet is that!

So as you can see, things have been very busy for us here in DC land! I do have a few more photos I want to share with you all and I hoping that over the next two weeks I can get some up and posted! So please check back for further cuteness!