Oldie but goodie from 2/20/2007

One BIG year ago (NOW FOUR YEARS!) today – the center of my universe changed. I went from being consumed by the adoption of a child to the MOTHER of THIS CHILD! It was and is the best day of my life save, perhaps, the day I married my DH. (NOW ALSO THE DAY MY SON LOVED ME BACK) In true Snoopy fashion here goes!

It was a dark and stormy day.. No, it really was. The weather was terrible in NanChang the provincial capital of JiangXi in the People’s Republic of China. But we braved the vertical rain and 30 degree weather to reach the Civil Affairs Office for our first site of EFP. Suddenly – there she was sitting in the lap of one of the Nannies. She looked exactly the same as her referral picture and so healthy – rosy cheeks (from the 10 layers of clothes she was wearing) and bright eyes. I recognized her immediately and started to cry – when I realized I should not cry I should take pictures. I did.

I can’t really describe the moment when they called our name and after checking our passports, handed our baby to us. OUR BABY! After all those months and months of agonizing doubt and self criticism. Feeling guilty for past mistakes or different choices and what did it matter in that moment – not a bit. EFP looked up at me, patted my face, smiled and then pushed her 19.5 lbs self onto me and snuggled right. I wanted to kiss and hug her…run away from the office and have her all to myself to tell her all the things I had saved up to tell my daughter.... but I settled for dangling the (magic!) plastic keys in front of her and she busied herself ripping my name tag to shreds. We were quickly all holding babies and cameras and juggling things mightily when it was time to get back on the bus again. I think we had returned to our hotel room and then went for lunch where I FINALLY got to feed a baby (MY BABY!) a meal of sorts. Back in our room I uncovered her many layers a little at a time to expose one limb at a time and checked her all out. Perfect right down to the large blue spot on her upper buttock! It was not long before we were hanging and laughing with our silly baby and it was clear that she was fine with us. We returned to the Civil Affairs office and completed the paperwork and just like that (HA!) we were parents to one beautiful healthy happy baby girl!

These last 12 months (4 YEARS!) have been incredible. How do you explain such an utter transformation? I can only say that all the months of being tired, anxious, afraid and sort of being dazed, I am happy to say not only do I still think that we got the best baby ever – I know we did! I know that we have never regretted for one second our decision to adopt from China and that February 20^th is my favorite day – because it is the day I was made into EFP’s Mommy. Every day I wake up thankful that this day came and today I am especially grateful that she is my daughter. We spent this last weekend with our travel group and I suspect that similar thoughts are racing through those parents’ heads as well. We are all convinced we were somehow given the best baby. (But I really was!) We are all who we are today because sometime ago we made the decision to take a leap of faith and put our hopes and dreams into the hands of some civil servants in a far away land. Thank you – whoever you all are. Thank you! We are so blessed by this little girl and her little China-Cousins. My heart is just overflowing with love for my family and for our friends all around us celebrating our families.

One year ago – my entire universe changed and now a nearly two-year old (Nearly 5 year old) baby girl rules my heart and my home. Thank God!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

I really don't know where the time goes.... two kids, one full time job, MBA classes... etc. Life happens and the blog waits. Everyone is fine.. kids are great. We are well on our way to #3... we are waiting to review our homestudy... all our paperwork is in, we are waiting for our Letters of Good Conduct and then the fun begins! All that authentication and back and forths... well, it is what it is, right. I forget what a hassle the paperwork is while I am doing it... how aggravating.. worth it in the end.. but so annoying.

I sometimes wonder.. what it is about a particular child.. how does a particular smile grab you and before you know it you are helpless in the face of a child who, in spite of every nagging doubt, begs to be seen and then, there you are, on a plane to China. I am not allowed to post her pic here.. but I really think she is exactly the middle between EBB & EFP. That is - she looks like she could be sister to both.... (in looks at least) I know that this is it for us... not that I wouldn't do it a few more times.. but honestly, even this seems a little like chancing fate.. I mean I already have two great kids... we are in a groove, not perfectly mind you, but seems like life is somewhat manageable these days....

Not much happening on the house hunt front, that is I can easily find something to buy - not having so much luck in the selling this place front. I am going to have to use a realtor and hope for the best. Beyond the school front... our neighborhood just doesn't seem to be going in the right direction. Maybe it is the economy or my location - or the complete and utter paralysis that sets in when I even *think* about all that I have to do to really sell this place, but oh dear do we need to leave!!

We are heading into the home stretch adoption #3 wise. Our home study is nearly done.. we have assembled all the pieces (reordered certificates of birth, marriage, finance, medical, etc.) just waiting on Good Conduct - final final draft for review.. and we should be very close to going to USCIS. Whoopee! We have a range of choices for travel.. and I really can't say which way we will go.

Travel Options:
1. Mom travels with 2 Friends (favored option)
2. Mom travels with no friends (least favorite option)
3. Mom, Dad, EFP & EBB travel with 1 friend (sort of OK option)
4. Mom, EFP & EBB travel with 1 (or 2) friends (ok option)
5. Mom + 2 friends w/Dad for first few days to complete adoption (very ok option)

Since the whole trip is GuangDong (actually GuangZhou!) the whole time.. we can consider some options that we weren't able to last few times. Daddy is leaning toward the 5th option since he really wants to be there and this would enable us to have the full and final adoption then and there. We are fairly certain that the kids will be ok if they are together and with one or the other of our great friends, both of whom have offered to take the kids for a couple of days if it comes to that. Hopefully the timing will work out and any of those plans CAN happen. Otherwise - it is ME ME ME and my new baby girl. Frankly - the BEST reason to have DH along - is 1. his extraordinary SHERPA skills and 2. His willingness to get copious amounts of coffee as close to my mouth at whatever time in the AM it needs to be there!! One reason why I am REALLY thinking that the China Hotel (Starbucks in the LOBBY) may be the place to stay this time around!!


Otherwise - things here at Casa Imperial are normal. Two snow days in a row.. are driving me bonkers... but the kids are great. EBB is doing pretty well in school -he is getting it, making slow - but steady progress. It is true that there are no flash bulbs going off - we need patience, he is making up for all those years of deprivation, but it will take time.

EFP is, as usual, brilliant. She sings all the time - is really coming out of her shell a bit. Making nice friends and really going forward with leaps and bounds. I am nervous about her starting K - since our choice are restrictive parochial school or lackluster public K. Not great choices either of them - but that is what we have. Probably wasn't wise to add a child who would be the same age for 6 months and start K at the same time - since that does effect our choice. We have to put DD#2 in Public school since she will need some services: ESL, possibly speech - and who knows what else. I can't even go on with it.. just to much to think about.

Kittens are growing... and still insane. Spotty - very loving, weird attacking the floor at odd moments, pounces on feet, steals: socks, panties, hose, hair scrunchies. Stripey - carries a fleece mouse around in her mouth ALL the time, loving and cuddly, pounces on feet. Orianna is her usual dejected and pet demanding self.. and has gained back at least 5 of the 8 lbs she lost - probably because she has been eating the Kitten food instead of hers.

Work is still great. There are one or two people I could live without but they just add to the ambiance of the place to be honest! It is a very hectic job.. I never seem to have a dull moment or free moment or moment where I can think clearly! Luckily my two great friends are right down the hall and we have resurrected the "grab a bit for lunch" thing.. and that is working for now.

So that is my little update... I do have cool pics - but until I get this home network thing figured out and can get the pictures that are downstairs on the laptop upstairs to the desk top.. well, you know.

It's about time.. & some news!!

Autumn Moon 2009

Stripey & Spotty - Buffalos posing as Kittens!

Brother & Sister Love

They just do this when I bring out the camera...

Aaaawwww...

EFP & Pony LOVE!!

Just LOVE that smile!!!

What the heck is that thing?

What? A Flounder? It looks like a sea monster!!

OH! THIS is what a fish looks like before Mommy cooks it??? I get it!

Fishing Fun!

I can not believe it has been so long since I had a moment to update the blog!! Seems like I never have a minute these days.. kids are so busy.. new job.. starting not to feel so much like a new job.. is wonderful but HECTIC!


AND... tada...

we are paperchasing again.... ha ha bet you didn't see that coming did ya? We received PA last week for a 5 year old girl residing in LongGang, ShenZhen, GuangDong... she has a repaired cleft lip/palate... and she has a beautiful smile!! Can't post pics yet (darn! cuz she is a cutie pie!) just exactly who we need! Her birthday is listed as 8.23.04 - so she fits right in between EFP & EBB!! Can not believe we have hopped on the roller coaster again.. but you know.. somehow this felt right.. it is a long story.. how we got to this place.. with highs and lows.. happiness and sadness... but then that IS adopting from China isn't it? Can't imagine travel before the summer and I can't really travel until well after July - so perhaps August (UGH GuangZhou in August????) or September.. and two or three of my favorite people in the world are (hopefully) going to travel with me while DH stays home with the Empress & Emperor.. while I travel for Empress Sassy Pants...

Spent most of the fall dealing with Imperial Daddy's unfortunate BOWLING injury... completely dislocated 2 fingers... requiring emergency surgery, 3 or 4 titanium pins and a hand surgeon specialist to preserve his ability to use his fingers... of course it was his left hand and yes, he is left-handed. To be fair we don't bowl.. and he had no idea that the finger holes came in different sizes.. so when he went to throw the ball and his hand stayed IN the ball when it traveled down the lane.. well, you can't even imagine the difficulty!! Then to top it off.. and as we have come to expect.. he bowled for another hour, and refused to go to the ER for a couple of days.. till he really had no other choice... and then we found out how serious an injury it was. Now, you would think that having him home for 2.5 months would have freed up some of my time.. no way. Well, enough about that! Finally he is back at work and mostly able to use the hand but he still has PT a few times a week.

The Empress is doing really well in her new center.. it was nerve wracking to move her but honestly she really needed a change and so new experiences.. though she still misses her two little friends especially. She is really a smartie and I can see that a regular school is just not going to cut it for her... haven't figured out what we will do about that but I am again touring the private schools in the area.... gotta sell the house. PERIOD. She is adding & subtracting, reading and knows all the sight words.... if she were a little more emotionally/socially mature I could easily skip the Kindergarten and go right to first grade.. but I don't think she is ready for the other kids quite yet. At least in her pre-K she is with great kids and she does seem to be blossoming and changing a bit.. she still has a hard time expressing her feelings to others... and I have seen her crumple at the suggestion that something she is doing/wearing/believing isn't what others do.. but she is actually starting to be ok with that too.. that is accepting that others are not always going to agree or like what she likes - it is not ok for others to disparage her for her likes and she absolutely can stick up for herself if she needs to. Love my little girl.. she is the absolutely best thing that ever happened to me.

The Emperor, is doing very well also. He is really a great kid.... finally showed some growth.. 3 inches in a few months then added one more recently.. so he is topped off at about 44" and weighs about 50 lbs!! Solid little guy - my boy!! His sense of humor is exactly what you would expect of any yo boy.. and let me tell you he is always in a humorous mood.. always. His teacher confirms he stays happy all day and even tries (and usually succeeds according to her!) to make her laugh.. all his teachers are impressed with his progress, how hard he works and how sweet and funny he is. I will say that I can't imagine our life without this little guy!

As for me.. well, making progress on getting the place organized to sell. We put a for sale by owner sign out.. and then someone took it. Oh well. We'll try again. I have a little more to do before I can get a Realtor in... but I hope we will be able to sell and find a new place we like as much, but in a better school district. Otherwise.. we are all good. Orianna is hanging in there - she has been a real sport about the interlopers. Kittens are adorable and very cuddly and LOUD.. one is a thief.. socks, pantyhose, hair scrunchies etc. the other is just funny... EFP is still so happy with her orange stripey kitty.. though it hasn't stopped her from wanting every FAKE animal in the universe for the holidays. I don't know I will do with all the fake pets.. ..tune in soon and see!!!

Miscelleany

Life is hectic! No question about it. Two kids, two working parents... and a lot of blessings in the form of friends and family events. The kids are both happily settled for the summer. EFP started in her new school (close to where I work) and EBB is in Summer Day Camp - the first week was not so great.. but now he has made a few friends and we have explained to the camp director - what is what and all is well. I am sort of settling in at my new job. It is weird to be starting over and yet not starting over. I suppose that is the benefit of working at such a large place.. there are places to go and things to - in other areas or departments so it is like starting over - but with some history.

My new position has a great deal more responsibility - higher level authority and some back story that makes it difficult to get a handle on things at times. I am lucky though in a sense because just about whatever I decide (because there is no written history really) seems to be OK. I am navigating OK - watching for the obstacles etc. The people I work with are quite nice.. I fit in quite well - which is saying something. The kids seem to have adjusted to the new state of being also.

Moving EFP seems to have been a good idea.. scary a$$ trip to the ER and 4 Staples ... aside! She really seems to like it and the kids are great. I don't much like packing lunch everyday - for both kids - but it does seem to provide a more nutritious vareity of foods and I do get more say over what they are eating. EBB still wants to eat noodles more days than not.. but I am getting him to eat lots of other stuff too.. veggies, fruits, yogurt etc. so it is all good. Now to put into place my new diabolical plan of placing strategic notes into their lunch boxes with love and other fun stuff!!

We also added to our family. TWO KITTENS!! One is the (you guessed it!) an orange stripey girl named..... Stripey and a dilute calico (that is a Tortoiseshell with any white is usually called a Calico - and a dilute is paler) that is mostly white with little Calico spots who we call... Spotty (though I call her Puff Kitty) and we are just loving the uproar. We did have a pet challenge right off the bat as Spotty spent a few days in (outrageously expensive) emergency Animal Hospital for a disease we now know is "Kitty Fever NOS" (not otherwise specified) and has no known origin but takes the life of many a kitty. NOT this one I am happy to report. Our Free Kitty is now guaranteed gold standard!! We still miss our Cali though. And Eeks and Zan as well. So we are happy - but nostalgic about our new additions. Pics soon!

Well - that is all for now..

Busy Busy Bees!

I know, i know... I am a bad bad blogger. It has been SO CRAZY around here lately... between my new job (yay me) the kids' activities (yay them) our family and friends... we have hardly been stationery!

We are heading into summer and it amazes me that a whole school year seems to have come and is now going!! Can I just take a few minutes to (brag, gush, overdo) say how proud I am of my little boy? He has worked so hard this year... and still he smiles and is simply the happiest little boy! Just today he graduated Kindergarten! He announced at dinner.. that now that he has graduated he is finished with school and will go back to daycare with his sister! LOL We howled! Actually he will start camp in 2 weeks... :-)

Both kids have had loads of fun in gymnastics this year and Saturday we attended the end of the year exhibition... we are so fortunate to be parents to these two amazing children... I have had my share of tears before they came into my life... and nothing has changed.. except now they are tears of joy. I tear-up all the time... thinking how life lead me to this place, these children... and in case you think I don't have enough to be happy about.. well, here goes a sample! These are miscellaneous shots.. from a weekend away, a fun Asian Cultural event, the gymnkhana, and my son's award ceremony at school! Enjoy.

Silly Chillies

At performance of National Acrobats of China - Staller Center

That is Mean EFP Face - and her very very silly brudder!

Having Fun with FCC at National Acrobats of China Show

Very silly boy!

Happy Birthday Empress!

Who is THRILLED to be 4!???

Yea!