in connerlogical order

blogosphere

2010-08-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

I did sorta kinda start a new blog. Tallis will not be the star, but she is definitely a cast member. Of course, I'll still be updating this blog with all things 'Tallis'. I have no idea where I'm going with it, so it may be quite random. But, from me, would you expect anything else? Click the photo to visit. But, you know, only if you really want to.

Salutations,
~w

Lifeline Reunion

2010-08-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

Tallis is the one with the circle around her head...

'cause, that would be weird if I circled some other random kid.

This photo shoot was hilarious, as there were many kids

making a run for it trying to escape.

This is Lily...she matched our file to Tallis'.

This is Rebecca. Rebecca peeled me off of the elevator floor

at the White Swan to take me to a Chinese doctor.

We LOVE these ladies and all that they do.

"f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-four"

2010-08-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

Just because I didn't blog about it, doesn't mean that Tallis didn't have a birthday. We didn't do a big party, I think we'll save that for next year. Actually, staying home was perfect and Tallis definitely knew that the day was all about her.

Tallis learning the American tradition of boring the birthday girl

with a card before receiving the loot.

Rowan "helped" with the sprinkles.

As you can see, I'm not a baker. But, if I say that the kids decorated the cake,

then I'm off the hook, right?

Notice Mom's deathgrip? I'm afraid of fire.

Tallis' favorite gift was the gadget my parents got her.

She had a great day.

And the next day, she had cake for breakfast.

Good to Know

2010-08-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

6 June, 2009

20 July, 2009

(with a fresh scar on her forehead)

Yesterday, I was going through photos from other families' visits to Tallis' orphanage. Tallis sat on my lap and so I was showing her some of the photos that she's in. While looking through, Tallis suddenly said, "go back, Mom". Then she touched the screen to show me which one she wanted to see. She pointed to a table in the photo and said, "owie, fall down. bump your head." and then showed me the scar on her forehead. We saw that scar appear in the above photo when we received an update in July '09 and we've been wondering ever since how she got it. When she first got home, we'd point to it an ask what happened. She would show us that she fell. But now I know exactly where it happened. In the photo below, you'll see the table that is in a playroom at the orphanage. That's the culprit. The scar is a pretty good one, and it is quite raised. I'm glad that if she forgets someday, I'll be able to show her where she got that.

It seems insignificant, but there can be so many mysteries about your adopted child -- even the smallest thing adds a much-desired piece to the puzzle. It will be our job to tell her all that we know about her early years and so we want to be able to answer as many questions as possible. Like, where she got that scar on her forehead.

Happy Tuesday!

Not Really Hot

2010-08-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hanging out in the morning after waking up.

With bedhead.

We've had a bit of a rough patch with Tallis for the past week or so. It happens now and then, not as often as in the beginning, but it still happens. She just struggles. And, so, we do too. For her privacy, I won't go into the details. Besides, the details don't really matter. But I want to share a couple of things she has said recently.

One day last week, I played a video online of this little girl singing "Amazing Grace". I don't know why I clicked on it, but I'm glad I did. The boys looked for a second and quickly lost interest and walked away. Tallis sat on my lap. When it was over, she asked to see it again and so we did. I said, "I like that girl. I think she sings pretty. Do you like that girl, Tallis?" Tallis said, "Yeah, she good girl." She stared for a while longer and then, a little teary-eyed, she said, "Mom? I good girl too." I told her that I knew she was and then we talked a little about good girl things.

Just a few minutes ago, I tucked Tallis into bed for her nap. We talked for a few minutes and I kissed her and hugged her. I asked her if she was having a good day. I could tell she wanted to say something so I waited a minute for her to find the words. She said, "Mom? Tomorrow, I good girl." And then she said what I thought was "really hot." I agreed that it's hot outside. "No," she said and tried again, "I good girl. It's really hard." Her eyes were a little watery by now and mine were too. When Tallis is struggling, there's all kinds of difficult behavior going on. And when she tries to be better, she really tries hard. That's what she was telling me today. She's a little girl with a bit of a broken heart and having a broken language doesn't help matters. But, she is certainly trying and I am unbelievably proud of her for it. She is a really good girl too. I think I'll try to get that across to her better when she wakes up.

Happy Tuesday,

Tonight is Relative

2010-08-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Tallis' first time in a pool.

WHEW!!!

Super 8

2010-08-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Internet,

Here is your eight month update.

xo,

Once upon a time...

I don't really know what to update on. How's that for an intriguing intro? Kinda reaches right out and grabs you huh? Okay, well, bullets are handy:

I'm pretty sure Tallis has grown taller, but not heavier. We measure our kids on the wall every six months, so we'll see how much she's grown on her birthday (the day after tomorrow). Her pants are shorter, but her belly is smaller. She's already pretty lean, but now she looks more proportioned without her bloated belly.
Tallis does not fall even half as often as she used to, but she's still pretty clumsy. She has weekly injuries, but they are more mild now. Now if only she'd stop running into walls (and furniture, and kitchen counters, and people...).
English is still a problem for Tallis. She understands way more than she can communicate, but it's still limited. And any nervousness sort of makes her unable to fully comprehend what we're saying sometimes. She's really insecure in this area. Tallis is a smart little stinker and she gets that she can't talk like everybody else. She speaks the best when she's just playing with her brothers or other kids. She sort of chickens out with adults some. Daily communication is really fine, though. It's matters of the heart that we find challenging to get through. Lying, sneaking, etc. Good thing she's got a conscience, though, and can probably put two and two together when she gets caught and gets in trouble.
Tallis loves playing with her baby dolls most of all. We had to teach her how to have imaginative play. She went from dressing and undressing them over and over to now pushing them in the stroller, "shushing" them, talking to her babies, and, all the while, chatting on her cell phone to Daddy saying "uh huh" over and over. She's a good little multitasker.
One of our bigger issues is how much Tallis loves new people. She is way too friendly with total strangers. She'll even pout when we take her away from someone or restrict her from giving the store clerk a hug. I don't know, call us crazy! I am often challenged with accepting that Tallis is not shy like her brothers (which I can relate to more). She has her own personality and we just try to guide it along the right path without trying to change who she is. And, speaking of, Tallis' fearlessness and out-going personality is actually really good for Seamus and Rowan. She will do things that they won't without thinking twice; and, not wanting to be outdone by their little sister, they have been more willing to try new things. God knew exactly what He was doing!
Hey! Did anyone know that girls are sensitive and cry over EVERYTHING?!!! I need some patience because I cannot believe how dramatic one little girl can be!
Tallis is half fish. She took swim lessons for a few weeks along with the boys and she is a real go-getter in the water. It took a while for her to grasp that breathing is not very successful when your head is under the water...but she eventually got it.
Tallis is smart. The other day, as I was singing loudly, Tallis squinted her eyes and said as plain as day, "That's annoying!" Precious child.
Tallis is obedient and often gullible. One day, Rowan told Tallis to climb over the edge of the jungle gym. I looked out the window in time to see her little leg hanging over as she was obediently climbing the side and on her way to an eight foot fall. I stopped her in time. Now, close your eyes and you can likely hear the talking-to that Rowan received. Can you hear it? 'Cause it was loud.
Raising two four year olds can be interesting. I will comment no further on that subject as my nerves are beyond frazzled and may not survive a flashback. *nervous laughter*
Tallis loves to help any one at any time. She's an absolute expert on cleaning her room and I'm hoping that will rub off on her brothers eventually.
The boys don't remember that Tallis wasn't always here. Which is awesome. Seamus recently said, "Tallis was here last summer, Mom. Why can't you remember that?"

And that's about it. I could go on, but it's really just normal stuff around here these days. We've had a busy summer swimming, exploring, and consuming ice cream as often as possible. Oh! Tallis just had her first night away from the rest of us. Damon took the boys camping and fishing this last weekend, and I took Tallis to my parents' house for one night. She did fine, but I'm glad that she asked for me often.

I'll upload some pictures tonight. So check back!

2010-08-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

Tallis will turn four years old on Thursday, the 5th of August. That day will also mark eight months home. Some days it seems as though she’s been here forever and some days it seems like she’s just arrived. Life has changed drastically. The past eight months have been joyful, painful, crazy, hilarious, beautiful, and altogether amazing. Adoption is so much more than we thought it would be. By that, I just mean that there’s so much more than meets the eye. For Tallis, we’ve spent the past eight months not only helping her to accept and adapt to her new life, but also doing our best to retrain her after three and a half years of a different kind of conditioning. Her first year is a mystery, and the next two and a half were spent in an institution. When I look at my daughter, I just can’t fathom that all of that is true! Despite our struggles (and we’ve really had some!), she never ceases to amaze me with her resilience. She has changed our family for the better. God used Tallis to draw my husband and I closer to Him, to each other, and to become better parents. God orchestrated His might during the entire process to get Tallis home, and for the past eight months He has taught us a great lesson in love, compassion, self-control, and faith. We have needed Him, cried out to Him, and He has met us where we were EACH AND EVERY TIME. And why did He do this? The answer could not be more pertinent…

“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

-John 14:18

Coming Soon...

2010-06-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

Six month update is on it's way.

I just keep getting distracted.

Y'know, playing with this cute little stinker.

She is pretty cute, huh?

I mean, it's not so bad to brag about it, is it?

Well, anyway, I've got pics to upload

and some words to type

and I'll bring you all up to speed

on the super spectacular adventures

of Tallis the Great.

This May Give You Nightmares

2010-04-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

Don't say I didn't warn you.

It's unsettling how much my children are alike...

Kinda makes you afraid to close your eyes at night, huh?

Fish Crackers

2010-04-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

Mesmerized by the new fish

Ponyo (the orange one) and Sosake

*Ponyo has since died, been flushed, and been replaced by a white one also named Ponyo. So much for sentimentality.

Batman Vader and Snow White exploring some friends' property.

They didn't get lost because she remembered to bring her princess phone on the journey.

They have been begging to take a nap on the sofa.

So, I turned it into a bed one day and let them have their dream.

They are trying really hard in the photo to look asleep.

They did finally fall asleep...

after Daddy got home and laid down with them.

Tallis receiving some loot on Easter Sunday.

So much for pretty Easter photos of flowery dresses and sunshine.

The day was FREEZING!

All the photos include coats.

Still cute.

On a little Sunday drive.

The Hulk

2010-03-27T01:41:00.000-07:00

Tallis does look a little miserable in this photo, but what you can't see is her brother sitting next to her wearing a mask of The Hulk. Can you blame her for the grimace?

Well, my blog is obviously dwindling. You see, this blog began and continued as we were going through the adoption process. My reasons were many; including, keeping some thoughts and dates in order, documenting some notable moments, and making myself laugh through this crazy past couple of years. I get side-tracked at times (most of the time) and I blog about dumb things like hermit crabs, eating puppies, and Alan Thicke. Strike that...Alan may not be dumb. Anyway, the reasons for having this adoption blog have been realized in our daughter who is sleeping soundly just a few feet away. The adoption is final, but the process is in fact on-going. But, I am happy to say that it's mostly just boring enough that I have nothing to blog about. I could keep going with a blog about Tallis, but why ruin her life by turning it into The Truman Show? Tempting...

Nah.

So, from here on out, I'll likely just be posting minor updates on little Tallis.

I think.

Actually, I'm thinking about creating another blog that will have neither focus nor direction. Just a few embarrassing observations from time to time. If I do so, I'll post a link on the side here or something. But, right now, I don't have it in me. Seriously, having another kid is quite the adjustment! I have so many things to do, like write and send 'thank you's' to a million different people and organizations who made it possible for us to get our daughter home. Can you believe we're getting close to FOUR MONTHS HOME and I haven't done that yet? The very thought overwhelms me. And, for once, I know why. My entire focus is exactly where it's supposed to be right now -- on my family. I used to feel selfish for saying that, but not now. Yes, I need to get a few things done, but my little family requires all that I've got in me right now and so that's as far as I can go. Probably pretty lame, but it's the truth. I need some calm and some focus in order to write really important letters that I pour my heart into. That's what I'll eventually do when I get around to thanking the multitude of individuals who became God's hands and feet in our lives. We are so thankful too. I don't have the words. And that doesn't help much with letter writing.

See? My posts get weirder and weirder. No direction. Random confusion. My apologies.

Now for an update? Okay!

Tallis has been home for three months and twenty-one days. She is doing amazingly well! We love her. A few minutes ago, I heard her coughing so I went to check on her. She was sleeping with her arms above her head and so her blue pajama top was showing her belly. I rubbed her tummy for a minute before straightening her shirt and she smiled in her sleep. She's not our "child whom we adopted"...she's just our child. We are not without challenges, as I said that we are still in a process of sorts. But who cares? We'll figure it out. What matters is that our little girl is comfy and cozy, sound asleep, and smiling.

Say Fontina!

2010-03-22T00:34:00.000-07:00

On Paper With Pen

2010-03-08T23:52:00.000-08:00

Well, not quite. Tonight I typed a letter to a friend whom I have not heard from for quite a while. I decided to cut the chit chat and just type out an update. It went something like this and I thought it may as well be a decent post since I have no motivation to do anything productive this evening:

"Hi, my name is Wendy Connerly. I am Amy S's friend. Just not a very good one. I have a husband who is hairy but nice. I have a five year old son, a three year old son, and a three year old daughter. The boys are white boys from my white American womb of mixed European decent. My daughter is a tan little Chinese baby from China which is where Chinese babies come from. She has been in my daydreams for a decade. We adopted her three months ago. She can say "pizza" and "poo poo". I am in love with her pretty tan skin and I will always tell her how pretty it is. We're pluggin' along. Always tired and always complaining about how annoying we are for being tired. We eat a fairly healthy diet of mostly raw foods -- not because Mommy is a hip raw foodists, but rather because she despises cooking and gives the kids cucumbers instead of casseroles. Except for on Sundays when we get delicious McDonald's after church and then feel bad for the chemicals that are probably killing our kids. I make myself feel better by giving them cucumbers for dessert. We have a stinky dog who is also hairy and also nice. I have horrible handwriting and it is getting worse from lack of practice. I also have crackers. My three year old son has longish hair, pudgy feet, an obsession with picking at his fingers, and cars. He's nice and soft. My five year old son is a lot like me and he likes nature. He is also afraid of bugs. He also likes stories about missionaries. My daughter has heart shaped lips and more gas than a person her size should ever be capable of producing. This is from the worms who have lived in her guts for the past three years. My husband went to the store tonight and bought mangoes, bananas, and deep fried sweet potatoes. Not very healthy, but I plan to supplement with whole grains. My marriage is good and steady, but we need time alone together which is never going to happen. We plan to supplement with leafy greens. I have many friends, but I like to hang out at home. They call me a hermit and it bugs me but only a little because I don't see them often enough to hear them say this in order for it to bug me. It also bugs me a little because it always makes me think of those poor hermit crabs that they sell at kiosks in the mall and their shells have been painted in ridiculous colors and patterns which is so degrading and must make them feel shameful for being born hermit crabs. Being in the mall must be the last straw for them. I imagine that they must not live very long being painted so horribly and having to breathe in the mall. Plus I don't like crab very much and those are some reasons why I do not like the word "hermit". It has little or nothing to do with me. I have a telephone and indoor plumbing. I do not have call-waiting because I am too lazy to call the phone company and alter our plan. I do not plan to ever call them. I have a mobile phone but I do not text. I would get into more trouble than usual if I did so. I have a mother and a father. They are ridiculous. That is something I would text if I texted and it would get me into trouble because I would text it on the wrong day to the wrong person like the nurse at the doctor's office or the guy taking our order at the taco place which makes the very lovely Baja Fish Tostada which does not contain any crab. I also have a house. The floors are dirty. I can feel the dust on the wood. Maybe tomorrow I will vacuum and mop the floors. Or maybe I will just do the dishes, scoop poop outside from our hairy but stinky and nice dog, and wait for my husband to get home."

~w

One Ringy Dingy.....

2010-03-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

My new, and very retro, alarm clock. It's loud and sounds like the most annoying telephone ringer. It's purpose is to replace my current alarm clock: Rowan. But Rowan is set around 7 and I don't really want to change that setting.

Kind of having a hard week (!!!!!). Seamus was sick over the weekend; like the vomiting kind. He can finally go back to school tomorrow. He's been so cooped up. Tallis is still fighting me at bedtime and it seems to be getting a lot worse and that attitude seems to be carrying on into the next day. There's definitely some testing going on. I'm trying really hard to stay consistent no matter what. And understanding...and patient. And Rowan has been getting frustrated because the other two are needing lots of attention. So I'm giving him more every chance I get. I think we're due for a Mommy and Rowan date night. Mommy is due for a break. But, it's not happenin' any time soon. My "break" is staying up really really late at night. But then I'm super tired in the morning. I really really want to wake up at 5:30 every morning......buuuut, going to bed at two doesn't really make that feasable. It's nearly midnight now. If I go to bed within the hour??

Baby steps...

Where's Goldbug?

2010-02-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

Watching the microwave do it's worst to a bag of popcorn that Seamus got as a party favor from a birthday party. They asked if they could have it for breakfast one day and were shocked when I said "yes". They all thought they were getting away with murder.

I kept Seamus home from school today because he has a hacking cough that is getting way too loud and obnoxious for sharing at school. So, it's a sick day. Sort of. And we're all having fun with it too. I took a long shower this morning while the kids sat in front of the tv and watched about an hour of Pink Panther cartoons (which are awful and inappropriate as most 'classic' cartoons are but most of it is over their heads so I justify it as I don't want to waste perfectly good DVD's that Dad brought home from Costco one night). It was great. The three of them were lined up on the floor in front of the sofa chuckling at all the anvils being dropped on the Inspector's head. Tallis giggles too, only she stares at the boys and tries to join in when they start up. She waits for her cue.

After we were ALL ready and all 60 or so teeth were finally brushed, we headed off to the grocery. The reason for this trip was to allow Rowan to pick out whatever kind of ice cream he wanted. We are having a "No Potty In Your Pants Party" for him. He's been "leaking" and going through several pairs of undies every day even though he has been fully potty trained for well over a year now. He says, "it's just a drip, Mom". I say it's stinky pee. The poor kid just doesn't want to stop playing in time to make it to the bathroom. We've tried EVERYTHING to get him to stop "dripping". Finally, this week I told him that if he keeps his undies 100% dry for an entire day that I will buy him whatever kind of ice cream he wants. Yesterday he finally managed and today is the day. He chose "wainbow" sherbet. That was my favorite when I was a kid. The kids were angels in the store. They're always pretty well-behaved (relative) in stores, but I made it clear in advance that any naughty behaviour would leave someone out of the "No Potty In Your Pants Party". It was a very peaceful shopping trip. Except for the occasional bark from Seamus. On the way out, we stopped in front of the Redbox and I rented a cartoon for them.

I let the kids have sherbet for lunch. They were all shivering. Then, because our family is weirder than weird, I passed out sheets of teriyaki flavored nori and frozen blueberries, respectively. I think the blueberry feast is finishing up so now it's naptime.

I love sick days. Especially when the sicky is really not too sick.

Now, enough rambling about our morning....I want to say a few things about Tallis. This is an "adoption" blog and I should stick to that, but now we're just a normal family (relative again) and maybe I just want to go on about nori now and then. Or Alan Thicke. Anyway...

I need to answer a few common questions about Tallis and/or adoption. Every time we see someone they ask the same questions. So, I figure it's time for bullets:

Yes, Tallis is learning to speak more and more English. People want examples of how much she speaks, but I always find it difficult to recall because whether she's actually talking or not we seem to be able to communicate problem-free. We've been making up our own sign language ever since we were in China, so when the words are failing us we throw out some hand gestures. Some words we hear regularly are:

"Mom! Mom!" (no more "Mama", just "Mom" now)
"Mom! Rowan..." (the dot dot dot is usually followed by some muttering and gestures reenacting a fight)
"No no" (with a finger pointing at her brothers)
"Anana" (she loves bananas!)
"I have one oweenge peese?" (oranges too)
"I want one!"
"Wawa peese"
"I want pood" (then she mimics chewing)
"Hot, owie, hot" (mom's coffee cup)
"Ya ya" (her "yes" and it's heard about a thousand times a day when I've figured out what she was trying to tell me)
"Yeh peese"
"No, thank you" (especially when we say it's bedtime)
"Boom!" (when we ask her about any owies, old or new)
"Bess you!" (Rowan sneezed this morning and she was quick to tell him. That's a first and it was very cute)
"I love you Tallis" (it was a fluke when she said "I lut choo, Mama"...now she just repeats after me verbatum)

And a whole bunch of other stuff. Really, she speaks a lot and we can usually put the syllables together with the context and understand what she's trying to tell us. She's very good at making us understand her, even if she has to take our hand and go show us what she's talking about. If we're wrong with our guess, she shakes her head and says "no no". So that tells me that she understands us even more than we understand her. She no longer speaks like the Chinese (more from the back of the throat). It's all up front now. In summary, she's doing well. We're not going to do speech therapy. At least not unless we see a real problem. What she needs is time that's all.

The Night Train

2010-02-22T22:07:00.000-08:00

Three months ago, Tallis was still living in an orphanage in China. Some orphanage staff got her and three other toddler girls ready that night and they boarded a train to the capital -- 280 miles away. I hear that this train ride is around ten hours give or take because it makes many stops along the way. Knowing Tallis, she probably slept straight through. That train ride was likely one of the few times in her life that she ever left the orphanage and probably the farthest away she had ever been. I'm guessing that she ate breakfast with her ayis (aunties) on the train and they likely took a taxi to the Civil Affairs office the next morning. There she waited.

I'm sure it was both strange and exciting to see two other caucasian, western families speaking a foreign language arrive and scoop up Tallis' little travel companions into their arms. The kids may have been quiet or they may have cried. I guarantee that the families were crying. I wonder what she thought. And then I walked in, an ayi pointed to me and told Tallis "mama" and pushed her toward me. Tallis said "mama". It was a question. It was the sweetest little sound.

Three months ago, our daughter was an orphan. That's a baffling thought for me and it already seems like a lifetime away. But she's our baby now. And, she's happy and doing so well. She fits right in and it seems like she's always belonged here. I think she always did actually -- she just hadn't arrived yet. We love her like crazy too. She's smart, obedient, ready to please, outgoing, has a sense of humor, affectionate, goofy, and always willing to try something new. We think she's beautiful too. She's an abosolute gem. A pure gift from God. We are SO grateful for this gift. Even though we are exhausted some days and in desperate need of wisdom and patience, every morning Tallis makes me forget by running as fast as she can to hug me and say "good morning!" She really does that. Every single day. I love this kid!

This Is THE Moment...

2010-02-17T23:27:00.000-08:00

You have all been waiting for...

I told you that I had some stories to share and this one is at the top.

Brace yourself...

Around 9 PM, on Friday, November 20, 2009...a rarely seen creature was spotted making it's way through the crowded LAX security lines.

It was beautiful.

It was shiny.

It removed its shoes...

Yes. Yes!

I witnessed Dr. Seaver from Growing Pains in the flesh.

My mom spotted him first.

I didn't recognize the name and I said, "is that the guy from the home videos show"?

I didn't believe her and I was busy craving a taco.

But, then...a flash of light briefly obstructed my view and when my eyes could focus again I realized that it was Alan Thicke's forehead.

I almost grabbed my cell phone to snap a photo, but then I was quickly distracted by the baby boomers in matching Hawaiian print cabana shirts arguing over their bags. I started giggling and before I knew it he was gone.

He was so beautiful...

We're Still Alive

2010-02-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

Just doing our thing.

Maybe I'll surprise everyone and post some lengthy bullets...

...eventually.

Bad Blogger

2010-02-02T23:54:00.000-08:00

I know I promised jokes. But, the past two weeks have been HARD. Damon and I are just really emotionally exhausted. Tallis has been home for almost two months now and I have absolutely no idea where the time has gone! She's been trying out some new ways of testing us and as long as our hearts and attitudes are in the right place (easy, right?) we can recognize it and handle it like adults. But, sometimes I throw my own tantrums and forget who the grown ups are. Yesterday, I restarted my attitude and guess what??? It was a fantastic day with my three little wild things! Seriously, the parents set the tone and the kids follow suit. Yes, it's very very basic...but I keep forgetting. I'm an idiot. My kids, on the other hand, are brilliant and that's why they know which buttons to push. Gotta love 'em! And I do.

More To Come!

2010-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

I checked out someone's blog this morning to see that it was their Gotcha day for their own little girl from Wenzhou. It was total deja vous. I got all misty and everything. It started bringing back memories and now I've been thinking all day long about a million little things that I never blogged about during my trip to China. Okay, maybe a million is stretching it. But at least one or two. So, when I gather some old things lying around up here and brush off the brain dust, I'll write about them. And all two of you out there who read my blog can just eat it up to your blog-stalking heart's content. Maybe one of you is my mom.

Topics may or may not include:

Rare celebrity sightings (and I do mean rare)
A few reasons NOT to visit the Chinese doctor in a hotel clinic
Jokes which may turn out to be inappropriate, untimely and get lost in translation
Babies smoking cigarettes (which may or may not happen to be one of those inappropriate jokes)

And whatever else comes to mind. I hope I jot it all down tomorrow evening, but these things are best left for when the mood most haphazardly strikes. That way, I'll have something extra to blog about the following day when I suddenly regret some of those late-night inappropriate jokes and need to post a general apology.

Stay tuned...

Sploinken van Snooten!

2010-01-25T13:09:00.000-08:00

I know I need to write. But, we're busy over here.

Maybe tonight I will.

Maybe tomorrow.

Pajamas + Skeletons + Bedhead + Tea Party = SATURDAY!!!

2010-01-16T15:04:00.000-08:00

"Special Needs"

2010-01-13T15:52:00.000-08:00

Tallis saw the pediatric cardiologist this morning so that we could start looking into what's wrong with her heart. Ready for this? There's NOTHING wrong with her heart! It's normal. There is a murmur and they see where it's coming from, but it is all healthy and functioning properly and there is nothing to diagnose. On her Chinese referral, it stated that she had been diagnosed with pulmonary stenosis. But this doctor was very clear that she did not have PS. Or anything else for that matter. The tissue of her pulmonary valve is slightly thicker and that is where the murmur is coming from, but it's working perfectly and there are no problems.

I'm sort of stunned actually. Here we were, all prepared to adopt a child with "special needs" and she has none to speak of. We were bracing for some sort of trial with her heart and it's simply not there. We prayed for this, but I'm not so sure that I really thought God would do it. Oh me of little faith! Looks like Tallis' only "special need" was that she needed a family. I'm so glad God chose US!

Big Tuesday, Big Wednesday

2010-01-12T23:35:00.000-08:00

In the mailbox today was Tallis' Certificate of Citizenship. SO COOL! Before the new Hague regulations, both parents had to travel for the child to gain citizenship upon arrival in America. Actually, when I left, I still thought that the adoption would have to be completed in the U.S. after we got home because I travelled alone. I found out after we were home that the adoption was already final due to all the new Hague stuff (very official huh?) So, there it is...

"Be it known that Tallis Haoxue Connerly now residing at *** having applied to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for a certificate of citizenship pursuant to Section 341 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, having proved to the satisfaction of the Director, that (s)he is now a citizen of the United States of America, became a citizen thereof on December 5, 2009 and is now in the United States."

Doesn't it just make you all warm and fuzzy inside???!!

On another note...

Tomorrow morning Tallis sees a pediatric cardiologist for the first time. I have no idea what's going on in her little chest. But, I'm bracing for anything. I think.

Multiple Multicultural Multiplicities

2010-01-08T15:44:00.000-08:00

Randomness...
...because it's a free country and I can:

Tallis' pretty cute and pretty flat little nose just could not hold a spoon on it when her cousin, Christopher, was trying to teach her on Christmas Eve. Behind me is the drill I won from my parents' weird Christmas Eve game with weird door prizes. I need to get the receipt from my mom...I'm so returning it.

Thanks Mom!

Sweet dreams...*

*of deceptive forces who return to Earth where an ancient struggle erupts between two extraterrestrial clans

My parents bought Smurfs for my grandpa for Christmas. He's 90! What does he expect??

Seamus belting out "Silent Night" this last Wednesday for his school's re-scheduled Christmas program.

Rowan got to pick out a new dogbed for Scotty.

He was strangely giddy.

And proud.

Scotty's not as giddy as Rowan.

But he does like his new bed.

Verdict...It's In

2010-01-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

No TB! Blood-work was negative. Let's all have a nice, long WHEW! Ready? Set. "wwwwwwwhhhhhhheeeeeewwwwwww......" There.

Tallis' x-ray did show some sort of bronchiolitis, and the antibiotic has helped tremendously with her cough. I think, and the doc does too, that Tallis has probably had something in her lungs for a while and now we're kicking it out. I'm so relieved. Plus, she's not spraying us with saliva whenever she forgets to cover her mouth.

Speaking of things which come from the mouth, Tallis is talking more English. Today, on her own, she held up her hands and said, "all done. more?" when her lunch was gone. Food is POWERful! She very precisely enunciates "ow" and points to one of her brothers who has just injured her (or when she's trying to frame one of them). Hey! It's a word! (maybe) And, she still says "butter" when she wants some water. Maybe those are small things, but I think it's great. She's been in America for barely over a month and has picked up on things very quickly. I use my hands to motion things less and less with her. I can say "pull up your sleeves", "go wash your hands", "take a bite", "go put your boots on", "come here", and "close your mouth 'cause nobody wants to see the food in it" -- all with direct results! The kid is quick! She SO wants to please and loves to hear "good job"...so I'm sure that has a lot to do with her studious behaviour.

That's all. Just wanted to post the results of her TB test. *cough..andbragalittle..cough.cough* Thanks to everyone who prayed and passed along well-wishes regarding this!

My Heart Melts Like Butter/Water

2010-01-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

This morning, Tallis was motioning that she wanted water. I got her some and then I had her practice saying "water". Every single time she says it, it sounds just like "butter". Which is different but also very delicious. She's getting it.

AND!

Just now, I scooped her up and put her on my lap and I said, "I love you Tallis". Do you know what she said??? She said, "I love you, Mama" !!!!! Granted, it sounded like "I lut choo, Mama". But, it KILLED me! I thought for sure she'd repeat and say "I love you Tallis", but she didn't. She knew the difference!

To best describe my emotions just now, I'll quote from one of the greatest films every made:

"I'm in love! I'm in love! And I don't care who knows it!"

~Buddy the elf
from "Elf"

Do the Phlebot!

2010-01-04T22:16:00.000-08:00

Another chest x-ray. More blood drawn. The blood test should determine whether Tallis' TB test was positive due to vaccination or because she actually has it. In the meantime, just in case she has some sort of URI/pneumonia, we're starting her on antibiotics. Our pediatrician does not hand out antibiotics easily, so I trust her logic on this one. Hopefully, there's no TB and the meds will help.

When Tallis saw the phlebotomist walk out to call on us, she said, "Oooh noooo". Another lady in the room started laughing when she heard Tallis say it. Then Tallis started pointing to all of the places she's been poked with needles, pointing to the tech, and whining at me with her face all scrunched up. It was cute. At her expense.

I'll update on the results as soon as we know.

On another note, I should give some glimpse into life around here post-adoption. Time to break out the bullets!

Tallis is a different person than she was when I met her just six short weeks ago and she continues to evolve into someone new week by week.
She likes her dad more than she likes me, and I can't blame her -- I like him more than I like me too. I'll admit that it hurt for a while, but then I got over myself and decided that she'd just have to like me eventually. Once I did that, she started liking me. Now we're dance partners in the kitchen every day; we both consider the robot to be our best move.
I think Tallis is losing familiarity with all things Chinese. So soon too. I've said a few things to her and she doesn't respond the same anymore. Kinda sad. Kinda cool.
Tallis has learned to kick Rowan back.
Rowan is just getting sneakier. However, he does desperately want to hug her every night before bed.
Tallis is becoming a more "normal" 3 year old; e.g., she now cries just a bit and pouts when we say it's time for bed, and just yesterday she told her dad "no" when he corrected her on something. These are good things. Her obedience was almost sad at times.
Tallis eats almost anything. Except for bell peppers and cheese. But she still obeys and eats them anyway.
Seamus still adores his sister.
Tallis is SO clumsy! She tripped and got a nice goose egg on her forehead on Christmas day. Two days later she ran into a corner and got another bump. Then one of the boys opened a door too quickly (or on purpose?) and she got slammed in the head again. Poor girl. I'm looking into helmets now.
When we adopted Tallis, it must've been buy one get a few free that day -- she came with giardia, scabies, and now??? We're getting rid of it all one by one. Scabies was the first to go! Double yuck.
Her hair is growing! It was pretty thin and now there is all this fluffy stuff filling it in. Diet and a good life can do that I suppose.
She is not entirely attached yet. I don't know how long it's going to take, but we're still being very cautious about social activities. We've noticed that once we've been around friends/family, her behavior changes just a bit and we have to start over on a few things. Being a hermit comes natural for me, so we'll still be mostly hanging out at home. Everyone has been great and no one has tried to hold her or anything. She's tried to get people to hold her, but my "look of death" seems to be deterring people from picking up my kid. It's a spiritual gift.
Tallis still farts. After this antibiotic, we'll treat her for giardia whether or not she tests positive. I know she has it, but it doesn't always show up in every little turd we send to the lab. Sneaky little worms they are. Triple yuck.
Sorry for saying "farts" and "turd" (but only a little sorry).

We're still amazed at all the people God used to bring Tallis here. He worked a miracle. As we get to know our daughter, Damon and I both feel that she was "rescued" from her old life just in time. Not that it's EVER too late for any of these kids, but we do think that Tallis would have just sort of hardened had she been without a family for too much longer. It was God's time for her. My heart breaks whenever I think of the other children left behind in her orphanage. I mean, I was there. I saw children who don't belong to ANYONE. The loneliness must be so painful. And our daughter was one of them a few weeks ago. Our daughter! I can only hope and pray that more and more people will open their hearts and see if God has one of these children waiting for them. Eleven months from the time we applied to our agency and we have another beautiful child who looks at us and calls us "Mom" and "Dad". She needed us and we needed her. And we are thankful for ALL of our children every single day. The "work" is really just getting to know this new little person and sloughing off a few bad habits while showing her the ropes at her new life. She's one resilient little girl and she is learning to trust us every day.

I'm feelin' pretty grateful right about now.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
-Romans 8:14-17

Please Cover Your Cough

2010-01-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

I'm taking Tallis to the doctor this morning. She's been coughing more and more and I'm scared that it's Tuberculosis. I hope the doctor laughs and tells me that I'm crazy. I can live with that. She tested positive for TB in China, but the x-ray looked good. Once we got home, the doctor wanted to pursue some further testing for TB just to be on the safe side (since it doesn't always show up on an x-ray). I have not been worried at all, but now with this cough I'm getting anxious. It's a very wet cough and it's worse at night. She doesn't have a cold either. It's almost like she has too much saliva. I was reading about TB and I could definitely say that she has several of the early symptoms. I know that it could be a number of things, but with two other young children at home, we just can't take it lightly.

Children from the same orphanage have come home with TB, so it's certainly not far-fetched. I was relieved that Tallis' bloodwork ruled out Hep B, but now I'm freaking out about this slightly. She sees the pediatric cardiologist next Wednesday and I am just praying and praying that her condition isn't too scary or complicated.

We taught her to cover her mouth with her arm when she coughs and she tries so hard to remember. If she forgets, she looks at us and tries to cough again covering her mouth that time. The gross part is that when she really coughs, her arm is covered in wet spray. Oh I hope I'm wrong!

...

2010-01-03T07:44:00.000-08:00

Enjoying some hot chocolate.

I really need to write an update on how Tallis is adjusting. Well, I probably need to write about how all of us are adjusting. It's been up and down. But down hasn't been too low, so no worries. Hopefully, I'll post something today. Right now, I'm the only one awake and ready for church and I need to start waking everyone up. It's usually the other way around.

Happy Sunday!

TERROR!!!

2009-12-30T23:50:00.000-08:00

Terror #1:

Old school robots for Christmas.

(Thanks to Grandma and Papa)

I'm not sure who likes them more -- the boys or me.

The box was so rad that we just couldn't throw it away.

I put it where it rightfully belongs...next to Edna St. Vincent Millay and The Body Snatchers.

Seamus got a camera from Mommy and Daddy that creates photos which look like they were taken thirty years ago.

He loves it.

More terror.

Rowan's new dinosaur.

Tallis is afraid of it.

Tallis dressing and undressing her new baby.

Again and again and again and again.

Terror pouts.

All of these were taken by Seamus.

We discovered that he took three photos of Daddy's back side and now I know why Seamus kept giggling and running off.

We also found that he took a photo of Tallis on the toilet...

Somehow, that didn't seem appropriate to post.

And the terror continues!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T20:20:00.001-08:00

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Luke 2:9-20

Our Latest Spawn

2009-12-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

Oh Tallis.

It's Fun To Say 'Lizard'

2009-12-21T00:36:00.000-08:00

Made it to church today finally. So good to be back. Damon and I sat in the "family room" with Tallis and the boys went off to Sunday school. Seamus totally scored and got a bag of little goodies in his class. All I got was a stupid bulletin. Ha ha ha.

Anyway, Tallis did very well sitting mostly still. I didn't sit very still though and I have no idea what our pastor was teaching. I was too busy playing with and admiring my cute little girl. Did I mention she's cute? 'Cause she is!!!

Tallis is sleeping in her own room tonight for the first time also. She's taken naps in there, but this is new. She's such a solid sleeper that I think she'll be just fine. My main reason? So that Damon and I can get some rest! Tallis is a VERY noisy sleeper. She snores and farts ALL NIGHT LONG!!! The other night I was just about to fall asleep when I heard a slow succession of high-pitched...well...you know. It wakes me up, but it makes me laugh.

She's still cute.

"You Love Me!"

2009-12-18T01:37:00.000-08:00

For the last couple of years, a common phrase in our household has been "get off your brother's head!" Well, today, I can see how that phrase is going to have to encompass more than merely the boys. I was at the computer, and I heard Rowan being goofy and shouting over and over "you love me! you love me!" I decided to take a peek and see who he was talking to. Yep, he was using Tallis as a human pillow. I'm pretty sure he was the only one having fun. She wasn't crying or anything, she just looked up at me and shot me a look that easily translated as "a little help here?" Poor girl. Yeah, I'm sure Tallis was just loving her creepy big brother just then. Good thing she's got some spunk and seems to be able to hold her own.

She's still feverish today. I feel so bad for her. She can't really tell us how she feels. I did, however, try to work on getting her to speak more. I sat her on my lap and was having her repeat words this afternoon. I can see she's afraid to and gets a little insecure right before she tries it out. So, of course, we all cheer and clap regardless of how many words just come out like she's saying them backwards. Maybe she is. Maybe she's a little genius and is just messing with our heads. I mean, if she's anything like me that's what I'd do! She is one smart kid. She watches everything we do and can imitate it perfectly on the first try. She even imitated her father's dancing this evening and she mirrored his non-rhythm to a tee. Bummer, I was hoping at least one person in this family would make it to a reality tv dance competition. At least we know Rowan will make it as a luchador. There's always that.

Now, before you judge me and think that the above photo is damning evidence that I've taken out three defenseless children...

...in my defense, you can clearly see that all three were indeed trying to kill me.

(wow, I just looked at these photos again and now I'm just hoping that no one judges me for my mannish good looks -- can't believe I'm posting these. There goes the reality tv model competition.)

Normal Life Plus One

2009-12-15T23:46:00.000-08:00

A week and a half and I haven't really typed an update yet. I was also going to post more pictures of China. I makey (yes, makey) no promises, but I might get around to it one of these days. It's getting late, but I'll try to jot down a couple of things as I think them up:

I like bullets whilst composing -- less commitment to grammatical propriety.
Tallis has a fever tonight of 103.2 at it's highest and I don't like it one bit. I finally took off her shirt and put a cold washcloth on her skin for a few minutes and she didn't even cry. She just shivered. Poor girl. She's a little snotty and I guess she just has a cold. I hope.
She had her first doctor's appointment last Wednesday. The doctor was very thorough and I appreciated that. He definitely hears her murmur and she'll see a pediatric cardiologist on the 30th. We are praying that her heart is strong and that it's not going to be a complicated problem. We also know that it's just out of our hands. We're trusting in God to guide us and the doctors to do what's best for Tallis.
After her appointment, we took in her stool sample. I KNOW she has giardia, but I hope that's all. Her belly is so bloated that it just looks painful. She burps and passes gas ALL the time. Also, that poo of hers is pretty rank (or so my husband tells me because I don't have a sense of smell). She also had to have six vials of blood drawn. I was pretty sick that morning, so Damon took her. He said she cried a little but she didn't fight too much. She was pretty thrilled to get a can of OJ after. She keeps showing me the bruise on her arm where they poked her.
Tallis is her father's shadow. Literally. She follows him around EVERYWHERE and he has to be careful not to trip on her. I use that bond to my advantage when she needs help in the bathroom. See how that works?
The three kids are getting along great. Seamus just loves her like crazy and Rowan works really hard to act like he doesn't. He plays with her in secret so that we won't know they're friends. Tallis has discovered her inner wrestler. She jumps right in when Damon is wrestling with the boys in the living room. She's a little more awkward about it so she just sort of falls onto everyone. She really gets a kick out of rough-housing. Rowan has been trying to get her to say "Nachoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!" (if you haven't seen the movie then nevermind)
Just tonight I realized that Tallis is already a different person than she was the day I received her. She's happy. Really happy. Still insecure in some areas, but that's to be expected. She has no idea what we're saying most of the time, so she tries really hard to please. She's a pretty content kid almost all of the time.
We thought we'd feel overwhelmed with three kids, but for now it just seems like normal life plus one. My husband goes back to work next Monday so maybe I'll be typing another story after that....
Every year I think I'm going to finally do a Christmas card.

Maybe next year.

First Snow!! And a tree too.

2009-12-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

Poor Rowan...we weren't entirely prepared and his hands were frozen.

Mesmerized by the man with the chainsaw.

The loot.

The End.

One more great-grandchild

2009-12-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

My grandpa met Tallis for the first time.

Last Saturday, the day Tallis arrived home, was Grandpa's 90th birthday.

Sweet Seamus

2009-12-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

My sweet 5 year old has such a tender heart. The night Tallis came home, we were standing in her room showing her the new things. She gave Damon a hug and then gave me one. Seamus shrugged his shoulders and said, "Maybe she'll give me one too?" So we had him put his arms out and Tallis quickly gave him a hug. His eyes welled up with tears and he immediately hid his face.

Yesterday, Damon took a nap in the afternoon and Seamus was mad because he wanted to play with Dad. I told him that Dad didn't sleep much last night because he was up late as Tallis kept crying and whimpering. He asked why she was crying and I told him that perhaps she was missing some of her friends from the orphanage. Seriously, with his chin quivering he asked, "You mean like her best friends?" And then he started bawling. He ran off and said he wanted to be alone. Later on we had a good long talk about it and I explained that although she'll miss her little friends, she needs brothers most of all and that he and Rowan will be her very best friends. He cried some more and then he blurted out, "Hey Mom, did you know that they won't let us play our pushing game at recess anymore?" The moment was over.

They Go Together Like Peas and Water Chestnuts

2009-12-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

We didn't put them up to it. We caught them.

I can't wait for their first fight.

Bonding

2009-12-10T01:08:00.000-08:00

The Kinks

2009-12-10T00:49:00.000-08:00

We're workin' 'em out -- ALL over the place. But first, I must clear a few things up:

In one of my posts I wrote "G.d-given" meaning "God-given", not g.d. as some have pointed out to me. Seriously? Would I write that? There was some diarrhea talking, but even diarrhea knows and fears and would not blaspheme. I just had to censor a few things in China so that my posts wouldn't be blocked.
My Mom is now receiving sympathy cards for how her daughter treated her in China. Can I just remind everyone that SHE raised ME? And, she raised me with "you can't take yourself too seriously". I don't think Mom took herself too seriously.
My husband pointed out to me that my entries started to get more and more negative. I'll just tell you that I didn't share the half of it. It was a mission, not a vacation. I feel utterly privileged and blessed to have had the opportunity and to bring my daughter home. It just got a little bumpy along the way. Besides, most of it is sarcasm and I wrote while laughing, so if that didn't come across then you just have to get to know me a little more. Oh, I'm awful...but I'm usually smiling.
The Chinese are very friendly and loving people. I wish I had met more. But, you just don't make that many friends when you're stuck on the toilet.
Squatters (toilets on the floor) are totally not a big deal and I wouldn't be afraid of them. Just aim and shoot. Oh, and bring your own toilet paper.
I'm sorry for so much bathroom talk.
That's a lie. I'm not sorry at all.

Home!

2009-12-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

I thought it would never happen. I am VERY sick. I think I've got giardia. By God's grace we made it home yesterday. I vomited on most of the flights. I was THAT person. I'll post more when I'm better. Just thought I'd let you all know we made it home. Tallis loves her daddy and brothers. And I'm glad, 'cause I don't have the strength to hold her anymore. Thank you all for your prayers! I'll update soon, I hope.

2009-12-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

I'd like to share. When we were at the botannical gardens, we passed these little mushrooms shaped bushes and I was inspired. You see, my little Rowan is an actor and sometimes he likes to lay down on the floor with his eyes closed and says, "Wook, Mom, I'm dead." Yes, it's morbid, but he gets such a kick out of trying to hold really still. So, at the gardens, I said, "Mom, go lay down there on that grass and play dead and I'll send the pic to Rowan." Mom said it was muddy, but I encouraged her to do something for the grandkid. She crawled in and layed down. She had her eyes closed and kept yelling, "Are you done yet?!" But I was too busy to answer as I was trying to run away as quickly as possible. I could have made it further, but I was stopped by some senior citizens who wanted to gawk at the white mama with the Chinese child. Can't be rude to them. But I did make it far enough away for Mom to be thoroughly embarrassed as she stomped back down the path. While she was laying there, I did see several old men stare at her with confusion across their faces. It was a special moment for me. Not so much for Mom. You win some, you lose some. Here's Mom after playing dead in a Chinese park all by her little lonesome:

Well, what d'ya know? A few photos actually made it!

2009-12-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

Tallis and another Wenzhou kid

One view from our super fantastic fluorescent river cruise last night

The super fantastic lady magician on the super fantastic fluorescent river cruise. She threw me a toy at the end. I was the only non-child to catch one I think. I feel special.

What the White Swan Hotel looks like from a super fantastic fluorescent river cruise.

Am I the only one who finds this ironic? Considering that most American retailers no longer wish to recognize the holiday but still want the day off? In China...

Our guide said that many movies have been filmed here. But, I don't know what she was talking about because none of my Mandarin soaps have been filmed at this location yet.

Outside the Chen family's previous pad

So the place is chock-full of carvings. Apparently, it's an achievement that this place was built without a single nail. I'm like, "Oh yeah? Gimme half the countryside and a few hundred slaves and I can build a sweet house too!" I know, I know...I'm awful!

My backyard is really similar...except for that it's totally different

The toilets were on the right. I know this because I heard the flushing. Speaking of flushing (yep, I'm going there)...my guts are still havin' a blast. Which is really fun on the elevator everyday as Mom, Tallis, and I are crammed in there with at least twenty Chinese business men. I've learned that no one here ever looks at the limited space when the doors open and says, "I'll catch the next one!" Oh no, they just keep filing in. The rumbling in my gut is audible. I like to pretend that no one can hear. I have to grit my teeth at times and put a perma-grin on my face. It's sort of a strained smile. In my head, I pr.y: "Dear J.s.s, please help me not to sneeze right now, 'cause I'm pretty sure that if I do it will result in a surprise in my pants that even China is not ready for."

Just keepin' it real, folks.

Hot Single Puppies

2009-12-03T06:38:00.000-08:00

Tallis discovering grass

Okay, so I'm a horrible blogger. What I wanted to do more than anything was to post pictures every day as that would give the best window into what's going on here. However, posting pics has become a near impossibility. Seriously, I've spent HOURS trying to upload photos and they all get lost every single time. I've tried to post several at once, or just one at a time. Either way, I end up losing most of them. My connection disappears, or some ad for "meet hot singles now" pops up and everything freezes. Yeah, so I'm in China adopting a child and what I really want to do is to "meet hot singles now". Seriously?! So, sorry guys. I'll post pics if I can but it's not lookin' good at this point and I get way too tired and frustrated.

Today, we went to the Chen Family Academy (or some similar name). It's in the city and it's some old residence that was completed like a century ago. It's pretty rad. Like, old school cool. I guess one disgustingly rich family owned it and it was taken away from them in the '50s when all the "new laws" came into effect (a.k.a. Mr. Mao). Dude, I so hope I don't get incarcerated for writing that. I don't really read all the info when we visit historical attractions. I just take in the scenery. I mean, that's what we're all there for, right? I can read a book on it when I get home if I need to learn more about the wealthy landlords. Hey! Wouldn't it be sweet if I could show you all what the place looked like?! Yeah, ain't happenin'. I just tried. Ah, poopy. Maybe I'll just do this the fail-safe way and sketch a drawing and send it in the mail. You never know, it might be quicker.

This afternoon we went to the Consulate and swore an oath. Basically, it took about an hour to simply state: "I ain't lyin'" We drove and drove and when we got there we showed our passports and x-ray'd our belongings and then sat in a room. There were like fifty families there and someone behind glass would call our name and have us sign somethin'. Then, after ALL the kids were finally crying, the Consulate official person (?) came out and talked and talked about how the Consulate protects Americans in case there's a hurricane. ??!!! Oh, and she also mentioned that she knows where to find a good steak in Guangzhou. I was like, "Thanks for wasting our time, lady, and thanks for buyin' steaks with my money". I'm sorry, but I felt like this lady was tootin' her horn and wasting our time...sort of like she was attempting to live out her lifelong dream of being a comedic MC and it wasn't quite happenin'. Am I being negative? Not at all. We all left there saying the same thing: there must be a better way to do that. Some people told us that at yesterday's tour de oath, the lady stopped in the middle of her speech and told the families with crying kids to go ahead and step out into the hall. Someone said to her in front of everyone, "the kids are crying 'cause you keep talking". So mean, but totally honest. It makes me giggly. Tallis totally threw a fit during the stand-up routine and then she put her arms out for another dad to hold her! I was like, "yeah...we're totally attached." Really, she's not a bad girl but when we're in public she subtly tries to pinch, flick, or scratch me and I'm not having it. So, of course she wants anybody but me. I simply took away her G.d-given priviledge of using her arms as weapons against me. Seems reasonable. Once we leave, she looks at me like she knows I'm not too happy with her and she tries really hard to smile and act cute. So very precious. Can you see me smiling???

The best thing for her will be taking her out of this so-called comfort zone. I really do think she'll do well once we're home. It's such a weird schedule here. Oh, and I'm more and more convinced that her orphanage appeased the children with food to keep them on good behaviour. It's just a guess, but considering that most of the children I've seen coming out of this orphanage are pretty well-fed and seeing the cases and cases of rice cracker/cookies stacked up there...I think this is how the kids were controlled. When Mom was downstairs with Tallis, while I got to look upstairs there, an ayi held out a cracker and Tallis immediately quit acting up and sat on a little chair waiting for her treat. Not a big deal, if that's the worst the orphanage does then I'm okay with that. Tallis flips out when I don't give her some food she wants. She'll get over it. I'm sorry for people who think I'm mean, but I'm totally a tough-love kind of mama. What's best for my babies is usually not what they want. But, don't worry, I do give in now and then just to mix things up. That's why I gave Tallis a sip on my cappucino this evening while dining at an Italian restaurant. Her face looked tortured once she tasted it. But, hey...I was just trying to share! She asked for it. ;)

We had dinner with another Wenzhou family. They leave early tomorrow morning (lucky devils!) and we wanted to get the "cousins" together one more time. We ate at "La Dolce Vita" here on Shamian Island. It was delicious because it was not someone else's version of Italian. They have a real, live Italian chef. Hence, a heavenly plate of spaghetti puttanesca now sleeps in my belly. Tallis had fried eggplant with ham. I know, weird for her but she liked it. She ate that eggplant and sipped Pellegrino with me like a champ. We were meant to be together. Just wait until I introduce her to Cheetos!

Tomorrow is our last day here. What I want to do is to finally venture off the the island all by our lonesomes and go to the open market that's not too far away. We were told that someone read in a travel book to avoid this market because they sell everything for dinner including puppies and cats in cages. Well, that info did it for Mom. She said that if she sees that it will ruin the trip for her. So, I said, if it tastes good eat it! Yes, I will likely be assassinated by a PETA member upon my homecoming. Mom says that she wants to really see how people live here, but I don't think she really does. I think she'd be disappointed and disturbed. Me, well I'd be disappointed too. Y'know, like if that puppy meat turns out to be tough. Or worse! Dry!

I hope we do it, but I will admit that I'm sort of terrified of walking along the disappearing sidewalk (construction EVERYWHERE!), because pedestians do not exactly have the right of way here. Nothin' like pushing a crappy stroller along the side of the road and actually feeling the heat from the exhausts as buses are whizzing past us inches away. Don't get me wrong, it's cool here. Just...awkward. With my mommy and my baby, I'm not as adventurous as I'd like to be.

Peace out everybody! It's Thursday night here in China and I'm gonna watch Chinese soap operas until I fall asleep. I've been following this awesome one that's set in a hospital. My Mandarin is slight, but I think I sorta know what's going on. I really hope they get that monkey out of that lady's tummy and that the doc-in-training finally gets the gumption and professes her love for the midget surgeon who always looks like he's suffering from severe flatulence. I totally know how he feels. And that's what makes good tv. It's universal.

Starbucks....my friend.

2009-12-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

It’s Tuesday evening here in Guangzhou. This morning we went to the botanical gardens. It was beautiful and definitely worth going. We were restricted with our time, though, and we didn’t have time to see the whole park. I didn’t get to see the bonsai garden. I can’t remember if I already said this or not, but we are with one other Lifeline family, and then three other families from another agency. Smallworld and Special Delivery, I think. It’s a good group and Mom and I have enjoyed all of them. We all had lunch together yesterday after the zoo, and we did the same today after the botanical gardens.

After Tallis’ nap today, we went to Starbucks. Ahhhh...it was a breath of fresh air. I always thought other families were sort of strange to look for American foods while in China, but now I understand. I enjoy the Chinese food here, but after a while I’m sick of it. It dawned on me today how diverse the American diet really is. One night it’s Chinese, then Mexican, then Italian, etc.. I kind of feel like we’re eating Chinese take-out twice a day every day. I’m done with it. I know that it’s way more diverse than I’ve experienced, but it is a bit difficult to know what to order when I can’t exactly read the menus. That’s why we had Subway for dinner. I know, I’m a loser. But it was still good. I’m tired of fried rice, fried noodles, dumplings, and congee. We order congee because I think it’s what Tallis is used to most of all. I’ll swap it out for oatmeal when we get home.

Did I mention I’m homesick already? ‘Cause I am. I love to travel and try new things, but I want to be with my family. I just want to get Tallis home. Traveling with a toddler gets old really quickly.

Tallis is a very good girl. She loves kisses and never tires of them. She’s a great sleeper too. The orphanage said that she goes to bed at nine every night and wakes up at 6:30 AM. She obviously needs more sleep than that, though, because she’s been sleeping in until 8 every morning. Usually, we have to wake her up too. She’s amazingly self-sufficient and wants to do things on her own. Tallis loves going out every day. She gets very excited the moment we leave our room. Unfortunately, going out also leads to most of my issues with her. Being the smart little thing that she is, she cries LOUDLY in public when she doesn't get her way. She usually gets the result she's looking for too...some Chinese person comes out of a store or stops along the sidewalk to soothe her and try to offer her treats. SO annoying! I know they mean well, but it doesn't help at all when I'm trying to enforce my role here. Mom and I laugh that if Tallis could speak Mandarin a little more that she'd be screaming "help! save me! this woman won't let me have what I want!" Only a few more days and Tallis will be pulled out of this culture and wrapped up in a new one. Kind of sad that she'll lose where she came from, but not sad that she won't have to grow up in an orphanage. All of the families here seem to ready to go home and are having similar issues with their little ones.

I'm looking forward to taking her home. Her brothers will show her the ropes and I know that she'll love having their companionship. We took her to the White Swan play room and she loved being with other kids. Surprisingly, she even knew how to share.

She cries before bedtime some evenings. Sort of like she doesn't know what to do with herself. But it's quiet and sporatic. The routine here is pretty off and I think she'll fall into a good one at home. I don't know if she grieves or what is going on. I hope she knows that we don't live in a fancy hotel at home. No chandeliers or room service. I don't know how we'll all survive!

Sorry I haven't blogged much. I honestly don't feel like I have much to say. I'd like to say that we've walked around and seen all kinds of things, but we haven't. The construction covers every sidewalk and getting through it is difficult with a stroller. And, Tallis is too heavy for me to carry her around for sightseeing. I'd love to go into the city a bit, and we still might. But, I think we'd have to get a taxi to do so. Seriously, every road and sidewalk is a construction site! Not so fun.

Today (now Wednesday) is our Consulate Appointment and we just have to hang out in our hotel room until our guide calls and says it's all good. So, we slept in for the first time since we got to China. I think I'll go back to Starbucks later and then finish getting the boys some silly trinkets. Regarding shopping, my original plan was to get Tallis like 18 gifts from her country and give her one each year. But, I've been disappointed. Other than the silk I bought in her province, I feel like most things here are strictly for tourists. If you're coming here soon, don't be discouraged. I'm really picky with my purchases and most people would probably like the things in the shops. I guess I'd just rather buy things in little markets in real neighborhoods and not from the stores next to the hotel. There's still time, I'll see what I can find.

Only three more days!!!

I wanna go home...

2009-11-30T07:18:00.000-08:00

Good news today! Tallis does not have TB. Her skin test was positive, but the chest x-ray was negative. She did have a TB vaccine sometime last year I think and that is why she tested positive. Whew! I didn't want to be the next family with a CDC nightmare.

After medicals today, we went to the zoo. It was layed out really well and was actually a very clean, organized zoo. Good job, Guangzhou. I took Flat Stanley along with me. He's a little character from Seamus' kindergarten class and he travels around whenever someone gives him a ride. If you look at the photos I just uploaded, you'll see him.

After lunch with some of the other families, we just stayed in our room all day. We needed to pretend we were home. I'm terribly homesick and I miss my boys. It's only Monday!!! I'll write more tomorrow. I'm going to bed.

Thanks for lifting us up everybody!

In Guangzhou

2009-11-28T07:27:00.000-08:00

Tallis and I at West Lake in Hangzhou

(More pics will be posted tomorrow)

Yeah, so blogging has not exactly been a priority the last couple of days. We're in Guangzhou now. We got to the White Swan Hotel around midnight and to bed after 1 AM. Thursday, in Hangzhou, we got to tour the West Lake briefly. It was beautiful and I would have liked to hang out there for a day but our guide sort of scooted us along and we were done in less than an hour. All I remember is a story she was telling me while we were on a boat that involved a pagoda, a boy, and a woman who became a snake or took the snake's beauty and had to live in the pagoda or something freaky like that. But, I don't remember the story much because I noticed that my mom was being laughed at on the boat by about twenty elderly men who were looking at her and shouting "Halleluja!" She looked like she was dying and it made my day. We also went to a silk shop. Silk in Hangzhou is different because of the kind of mulberry leaves that the silk worms eat here. So, I bought a few things because I wanted some things specific to Tallis' province. Our guide also told us that Hangzhou is known for their umbrellas too. We were thinking traditional parasols and I thought that would be fun as a keepsake for Tallis. I thought that until she took us to a hole-in-the-wall shop that sells umbrellas that you could buy at Walmart. Thanks, man. I guess some things are just lost in translation.

My mom and I also had a good time with our new buddies who run a tiny tea shop a few doors down from the hotel in Hangzhou. It was an elderly couple who would yell at each other back and forth about the price they wanted to charge us. We went back there a few times to buy tea and tea pots. They were really cool and they fed us some of the shrimp they were eating for dinner. Mom would rather die than eat the whole shrimp with the little whiskers and eyeballs, but I'm proud of her that she didn't offend them by refusing. She looked like she was dying and once again it made my day.

On Friday, we spent hours packing and then checked out of the hotel. We stopped at McDonalds per Mom's request as she's not too fond of the surprises at each Chinese meal. She was starving. All she wanted was a Big Mac and fries. But our guide must have forgotten that the large fry was Mom's and she ate it. Mom looked like she was dying and it made my day. She had to watch our guide eat the whole thing. I couldn't look at her or I'd bust up laughing.

We were also taken to a jewelry store that I thought would be fun to pick up some inexpensive jade bracelets. But, instead we were led into a private room where we had to listen to the jeweller's song and dance and see him and an employee perform a routine they must have repeated a million times about how he was going to give us a special price because we are his new friends and for her not to argue with him about it. He said that he normally doesn't do this, but for that day only just for us, he would sell me a $2,000 jade bracelet for only $500 as a gift from him for our first time in China. It was awkward. But, two can play at that game and I asked many questions and inspected the piece for quality and asked if he would be open tomorrow and if he would honor that same price. He told me he'd give me one more chance. I then "whispered" to my mom within his earshot that maybe I could go exchange a bit more money and come back to buy it. Mom looked like she was dying and it totally made my day. He was one happy dude as we walked away thinking I'd return with some money so that he could rip me off.

For those families about to travel to Hangzhou, I have some advice based on my experience alone. I realize it's different for everyone and so this may or may not apply. Hangzhou is a seriously wealthy city and don't expect it to be cheap shopping. I had to pay more here for things that I could get cheaper in the states. It's a city, so people are hip. Just not me. Dress as you like, but I felt a little underdressed. I wished I had stayed at the West Lake Hotel, but the Merchant was still nice. West Lake is beautiful and I should have just gone there on my own without the guide and done my own thing. It was fun to ride the boat and I would have liked to do so longer. Also, people watching was the funnest there. So, a day at West Lake would be a good experience if you can do it at your own pace. Hangzhou and Wenzhou are not stereotypical China, so keep that in mind. They are wealthy cities and it shows. Overall, though, there isn't much time during the first week to relax at all.

Yesterday, before leaving Hangzhou, we drove out to a tea village and actually got to sip tea at a farmer's house. It was so cool and the village was beautiful. The homes were traditional Chinese and we were surrounded my tiered hillsides with tea bushes growing in the mist. Mom and I bought some dragonwell tea from the farmer and she packed it in front of us. Once again, Mom paid full price and after she paid, I asked for less and got it. Mom looked like she was dying and it pretty much made my day. The farmer allowed us to use her toilet before leaving and she was very proud of her carpeted toilet seat cover. There is nothing else to say about that.

In the afternoon, our guide took us to the airport and we said our good-bye's. I liked our guide a lot. Even if she did lecture me constantly on proper health and nutrition. Most of it was wacky bunk but I enjoyed her reasoning. She really loves the children and it shows.

The airport was interesting. Our flight was delayed and it was very crowded. I perused some snacks for sale, but did not make a purchase because I just could not decide what kind of packaged meat on the bone I was looking for. Chicken feet in red sauce or yellow? How can one make that decision? The kidney tablets looked tempting, but I was concerned about my cholesterol. I passed. When our gate finally opened for boarding, we found ourselves boarding a bus instead of a plane. We then drove around the runways for a few miles and eventually found a plane in the middle of nowhere. The airport employees did not drive small vehicles, but, rather, bicycles. I guarantee they were healthy from all that exercise, but how they managed to find an airplane in all that fog is beyond me. When we got off the bus, a kind little woman helped us carry one of our bags onto the plane. She was a tiny, little, 60 pound angel. As we got off the bus, the wind came up and Tallis was surprised and excited. She was swinging her head around and closing her eyes and had the biggest smile on her face as I believe she was feeling wind for the first time. You could see it was a brand new experience for her. Wind.

She was terrified during take off and was absolutely beside herself. I finally unbuckled her and held her and then she calmed down. Way too many new experiences and new life for such a small person.

Now we're in Guangzhou. There are five families here working with the same guides through two agencies. The hotel is full of families adopting. Even so, Chinese people still stare and have a double take everywhere we go. We had to have Tallis' medical today so that she can get a visa into the states. She had a full exam, three shots, and a TB skin test. She will have to go back on Monday for three more vaccinations and have her TB test looked at. As of right now, it appears to be positive. I will hope and pr-y that that is only because she may have been previously immunized for TB. So, she'll likely have to have a chest x-ray on Monday to see if she really has TB. That would be a disaster, but it's out of my hands. It was nuts in there with so many families with their children. I am angry with the CDC for requiring these vaccinations before the children enter the US. It's just too much for them to go through on top of everything else. Some moms in there were crying while their children had to get shots. It seems cruel when they are already so confused.

Mom and I left the clinic and should have only walked for about five minutes to get back to the White Swan but it didn't quite work out that way. We may have sort of kind of got lost. Many people were friendly enough to honk their horns at us as we were trying not to get killed walking on the side of the road. With all those horns honking, I like to think people must have been happy to see two lost caucasion women pushing a stroller with sweat dripping down their faces maneuvering through construction zones. We finally got back to the hotel after realizing that we had been circling around it from about ten feet away for just over an hour. We all took a nap after that bout of healthful exercise and fresh humid air. Mom looked like she was dying and even though I was sweaty, it kind of made my day.

Needing an ounce of home, we ate at Lucy's, a popular American style cafe. We had dinner with a woman from South Carolina who is travelling alone with her new baby. Mom ordered pizza and she said it made her sick. She looked like she was dying but I enjoyed my meal anyway.

That sums up the last couple of days. It has been insane and we are so tired and getting homesick. I miss my boys terribly. Tallis is changing daily. Some good. Some bad. I'll write more about her later. But right now I'm going to get in bed. Because inquiring minds may want to know, I have had stomach cramps and diarrhea since Thursday. Pretty sure it was the spicy beef? soup or the pig kidney I tried. I'm adventurous with foods, but sometimes it's a treacherous road. I'm getting a bit sickly as I'm spending more and more time running to the bathroom. I started taking some meds that another family kindly gave to me. I hope it works because I'm starting to look like I'm dying. It totally makes Mom's day.

Someone should've stayed in America

2009-11-25T06:48:00.000-08:00

This is a conversation that transpired this evening in the van while Tallis was crying:

Me to Tallis: Mama ai ni, Hao Xue...Mama ai ni
Mom: Does 'ai ni' mean 'hello'?
Me: Seriously? You've been here for like five days and you can't remember 'hello'?
Mom: Well, why do you keep saying 'hello' to Tallis?
Me: I'm not saying 'hello', I'm saying 'I love you'
Mom: Dang it.
Me: ?
Mom: Well, all day I've been listening to you say that to Tallis and I've been hoping you were saying 'hello'
Me: ?
Mom: Because when we were at that fancy restaurant today I nodded to one of the chefs and said, "Ai ni".
Me: !!!
Mom: No wonder he looked at me so weird.

Just a Wednesday in China

2009-11-25T05:19:00.000-08:00

Right now I am in the van and we are leaving Wenzhou. It’s a bumpy ride so I hope I catch all of my mistakes. We drove here yesterday afternoon and we got to see a lot of countryside, although there is rarely a gap between the the endlessness of houses and factories. The houses here look more like tall condiminioms or small apartment buildings. They are farmers houses, but not exactly the kind of farmers we think of. They all would have some land and own a factory. Every thing in America is made here. Buttons – zippers – EVERYTHING! It’s all from here. For six hours we drove through the mountains and all you see is village after village of tall houses; most of which are quite run down. We saw so much poverty. It never ends here. The strangest thing of all is that you will see a brand new home that is five or six stories tall and just next to it a small brick shack. It doesn’t appear that there are “bad sides” of town. It’s all combined. No pretenses I guess.

Wenzhou is another very wealthy city here. Lots of high end businesses and shops. Our hotel was very cool. A massive chandelier hung in the middle of the lobby. Tallis loved it! Then, when she saw the revolving door she got all excited and started patting my face yelling “Mama!” and pointing to the door. I loved it!!! She certainly knows who I am. When she gets excited, she wrinkles her nose and sticks her little tongue out. I’ll try to catch a picture. Mom and I felt a little underdressed. There I was in this posh hotel with my jeans and converse on. Now that I am here, I am realizing that I didn’t really pack very strategically. It’s so casual where we live and I kind of forgot that I would be in big cities. It’s intimidating! The women walking in and out of the hotels are in furs and stillettos. Maybe if I walk on my tippy toes my sneakers won’t be so noticeable. Maybe not. Luckily, now that I have Tallis with me, people stare at her and not so much at me.

Tallis is very charming and lively. She is very mellow in the hotel room, but as soon as we get in public it’s like sensory overload and she gets pretty hyper. Last night, in our room, she was a little out of sorts. She started walking toward the door and was crying. Her crying is still pretty subtle though and her holding it all in just breaks my heart. I’m glad she lets me comfort her. She loves to cuddle.

Speaking of my lively girl, this morning we checked out of the Dynasty and went to get her passport photo taken and applied for her Chinese passport. It was a repeat of when we were at the notary office the day before. She did not want to sit still and was getting very feisty. I firmly held her and would not let her have her way. Tallis is pretty good at becoming dead weight when she’s not getting her way. At this point, I can see that discipline and structure in her orphanage is probably not applicable elsewhere. She’s just not trained yet on sitting still with Mama not matter where she is. This must all be so overwhelming for her. She’s a trooper, though and she’s behaving very well considering the amount of travel and change occurring in a three day period. Whenever we stop the van and I start to get myself unbuckled, she begins to whimper and I honestly think she believes I’m going to leave her. Our three days have been far too irregular to be predictable to her yet.

Today we got to go to the orphanage. On Monday, the director told us that we could visit the orphanage and walk around the environment of it but not go inside due to H1N1. I was bummed, but I’ll take whatever I can get. But today, when we arrived, they said that one parent without the children could go up to the second floor where some of the children are just to see where our child slept. Mom stayed with Tallis in the reception room and I went upstairs with an ayi. They showed me where Tallis’ bed was and allowed me to take a picture of just that. We saw a couple of playrooms with about 10 to 15 children in each. The ayis were in there singing songs with the children who were all lined up in a row on small chairs. It looks like a clean place. I really do think that it is one of the better orphanages and that they truly try their best. I was worried about getting emotional when I saw all of the other children, but I managed to be chipper. If you know me, then you know how easily I cry with things like this. It’s not that the children looked sad or anything, it’s just that even one child without a family is a heartbreaking concept. It’s just wrong. I will say again that all of the children I saw today looked very healthy and well-fed like Tallis. When they saw us they got very excited and started yelling and shouting "Ni How!" I wanted to give them all a giant hug. There are over 300 children at that orphanage and I only got to see about 30. I think the floor we were on was mainly for visits such as this.

When we went back downstairs, I told one of the ayis that I can see how well they cared for Tallis and that I was very grateful. I shouldn’t have said it because I got all choked up and was really fighting my tears. When we left and I set Tallis back into the van she had the biggest grin on her face. It was good for her to be leaving there with me. Closure I guess.

The directors then took us (us and three other families) to lunch. The entrance to the restaurant was a large display of every kind of seafood and meats. There were massive toads or frogs in one bin hopping around, turtles in another, and a load of other creatures that I am not sure how to describe. It was so cool. But, not if you’re a PETA member. We had a fantastic lunch. We thanked the directors and staff again and headed out.

As we walked out of the building, an old beggar was standing outside and she was holding out a little plastic dish toward us. My hands were full and I was glad when I saw my mom opening up her wallet. She gave her 100 yuan (about $14) and the woman immediately broke down and began weeping. I reached out and held her hand. She was beside herself with overflowing emotion. Her gratitude was something I’ve never seen. Mom and I started crying of course as we walked toward the van. The woman was following us and lamenting things we couldn’t understand. But we knew what she meant and we could see that she was thanking us. My mom grabbed another bill and handed it to her but the woman refused it and just kept crying. As if another blessing was more than she could take. Mom made her though and we grabbed her hands and nodded and cried with her. Then she just stood outside of the window touching it and bowing with gratitude. I cannot put this moment into words. It was too much. I opened up the door and got out and hugged her. She was weeping so hard. She just stood there crying as we drove away. Our guide told us that it was that woman’s lucky day and that the woman was repeating that we were very nice people with beautiful hearts and that God would bless us for this. Our paths were meant to cross today, I have no doubt. NO ONE is unreachable to Him.

After that we drove to Tallis’ finding site. I got out alone and snapped some photos and took a short video of the surroundings. Just a bus stop in the middle of a massive city. I can’t imagine what that was like for her two years ago.

I am so exhausted today from not only the busyness, but from the extreme emotions and tears. My daughter's orphanage, her finding site, and the elderly woman. Also, again, the endlessness of poverty. I am not negative here, and I love the culture. The Chinese are so friendly. I cannot help but be affected by someone's suffering, though. I wish I had a million dollars. Or two.

Right now, my mom has fallen asleep. Every morning she wakes up at 4:30 and manages to wake me up too. I kindly told her tonight that even though she is my mother and I respect her position, if she wakes me up that early tomorrow I may not be able to refrain from killing her. If no one ever hears from her again, you'll know why. Sorry folks, but I'm just keepin' it real. ;)

Right now, my little Hao Xue is sitting on the bed tucking her dollies under a blanket. She is being a little mommy. Girls are just born that way aren't they? She has a doll from Kirsten and a doll that Melissa made. Mel, if you're reading this, Tallis threw your doll (which I love!) on the floor over and over everytime I gave it to her until tonight. I would say, "Look at the pretty doll Hao Xue, pea liau (pretty)"...then she would chuck it on the floor and giggle. But tonight she seems to like it for the first time. She is dressing and undressing the dolls and putting blankets on them. She's smiling and happy right now. Today was tough for her too. When we were about an hour away from arriving in Hangzhou again, I looked over at her and she was fully sobbing and her face was covered in tears. I had been looking out the window and had no idea. Can you imagine??? It's difficult to fathom that she was crying so hard and I was right next to her and didn't hear a thing. I unbuckled her and she reached for me. She was on my lap in a flash and she calmed right down. Going back to the orphanage may have been confusing for her. Also, the ayis thought nothing of picking her up and loving on her. And, apparently, she was getting a little rowdy while I was upstairs looking at the kids and one ayi even lightly scolded her and made her sit in a chair. Mom said that Tallis immediately complied. She probably thought that we were taking her "home" today. She's better now that we're in the hotel room.

She does not like to be naked. Some places were pretty gross today (squatter toilets) and I wanted to get her clothes off because I know her pant legs got wet more than once. She started crying. I've noticed it several times. It just makes her uncomfortable. Strange to me, since I'm usually yelling at Seamus and Rowan to get some clothes on.

Tallis has impressive fine motor skills and is so clever. I can show her one little thing and she'll figure it out and repeat it exactly. Her gross motor skills are lacking some though. She's a bit clumsy and totally not used to running. I've tried to get her too a few times and I can see that she's not at all used to it. Her Mandarin name means studius and fond of learning and it fits her to a T. She is one smart cookie. She's also a meticulous and clean eater. She tries not to drop a single grain of rice and always leans over her plate or bowl. For lunch, we ate duck legs, some sort of gelatinous fish cubes (barfy dude), fish soup, deep fried bread, bamboo, dumplings, noodles, and waterchestnuts still in their skin and she ate it all like a pro.

Okay, sorry this is long. Most of it I wrote in the car. What else am I gonna do for six hours? I can only stare at fog, factories, and poor villages for so long. Did I mention it was endless? Oh, I did? Yeah, it is. This population is crazy. I guess Shanghai, about 100 miles from here, has a population of 21 million. At least that's what my guide told me. 21 MILLION!!! That's a lot of ducks who lose their legs to lunch. Mmmmm...salty goodness.

So morbid.

In Case You Don't Want to Read the Long Version...

2009-11-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the post below is loooong so here is a short version:

My kid can use chop sticks...no joke. My mom cannot. She's going hungry.
I call Tallis by her Mandarin name and now her middle name, Hao Xue (said, how shwey)...otherwise, she obviously won't respond
When she sees the revolving door in the hotel, she gets crazy giddy and smiley and pulls my hand toward it to go through it
She is HEAVY! They must've fed her bricks.
They cut her hair and even shaved the bottom inch of her hairline...so now she has a serious bowl cut. I cannot figure out why they would do this, but I make up for it with cute little headbands from Baby Gap (I know, totally depressing that I even mention Baby Gap)
People stare, no, GAWK at me when I'm walking around with her. I guess I'm a pretty funny looking Chinese mama.
Hao Xue seems as proud to be with me as I am with to be with her...I think we are both showing each other off
I now know how to say in Mandarin "be careful" (show shing), "I am your mama" (woh shur nee duh mama), "Mama loves you" (mama aye nee), and "do you have to go poo poo?" (ni yao niao niao ma?)
Tallis has a sinus/chest cold and I gave her medicine which must've given her an allergic reaction because she woke up today with a weird red blotchy face
She has obvious signs of orphanage life in the form of many small bruises, scars, and marks. She also has some various skin issues.
Everyone here says how young I look to be a Mom and my head has grown too large to fit through most of my tee shirts.
When I ask "what is the price?" (dwoh show tchyen) in Mandarin, all the shopkeepers have a good laugh to my face and then tell me the price by showing me the calculater. I get my revenge by saying "tie gway la!" (too expensive) and typing in half their price to counter offer. It works! Never pay full price here!
Tallis pees and poops
I pee and poop too
Our guide lectured me tonight on why Americans are not healthy. Reasons include running the air conditioner makes your bones wet and they age faster. I told her that makes sense and asked her for more advice. It was my own little comedy show and she had no idea. I love her, by the way.
The Chinese like their babies bundled until they are sweating and it drives me crazy but I comply. I get tired of my guide lifting up Tallis' pant leg to see how many layers I have on her. I figure she's been sweatin' to the ancient oldies for three years, what's a couple more weeks. When I get her home, she can roam the house in her undies in January.
I lied, this is also the long version.

Where to start?!

2009-11-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

First of all, thank you all so much for you comments! I just read them all and it's so encouraging. It's Tuesday night and we just arrived in Wenzhou (Tallis' city) about two hours ago. SO tired! It was five or six hours by car to get here. Okay, let me give a little recap of yesterday, a day I'll NEVER forget.

We met our guide in the hotel lobby around 8:30 AM yesterday (Monday) and we drove a short distance to the Civil Affairs office. I was so nervous that I had to think about dumb things to keep myself from bawling. On the way there, I reminded my mom all about how to use my camera so that she could capture "the moment". When we got there and headed upstairs, my guide yelled, "Wendy! Come on she is here!" I yelled to my mom to get the camera ready and started going upstairs. My mom was nervous too and her hands were shaking. That's why most of the first pics are out of focus. It's okay, though...it was a pretty intense moment. As I walked up the stairs, I saw Tallis immediately and her ayi was saying, "Mama...Mama..." and directing Tallis toward me. The VERY FIRST thing she said just then, was "Mama?" And she walked over to me. AHHHHHH!!!!!! It just killed me. I got to hold her and hug her and she would repeat after the ayi and say "Mama". She was smiling too. Crazy! I was totally expecting screaming and kicking. None of that at all. You couldn't ask for a better gotcha moment.

The ayis who brought Tallis there were so genuinely loving toward her and the other children. There were four kids getting families that day and all were from the Wenzhou CWI. I could easily see that the children from this orphanage are well fed and cared for. I'm truly grateful. I've heard horror stories and I'm so pleased to know that my baby was in a decent place.

So, there was only like five minutes of that and then I was pulled over to start paperwork. It's all a blur. I couldn't think at all. I panicked when they told me to write down my husband's SS number and I couldn't remember it. My brain was mush. It all worked out, though and somehow the paperwork got done. During the paperwork, I gave Tallis a couple of toys and she was totally into it. My friend, Kirsten, had given me a toy cell phone and Tallis played with it forever. I just couldn't believe how well she was doing.

After paperwork and giving gifts, we went and took a family photo at a local photo shop. That photo of Tallis and I was added to some paperwork today to finalize the adoption. We're both smiling in that one too. Then we went back to the hotel.

I immediately skyped Damon and the boys and they got to see her. We could talk to them but couldn't receive video so I didn't get to see their faces when they saw her for the first time. I could hear the emotion in Damon's voice though (sorry honey...I'm exposing your soft side). It was so cool. Fortunately, Tallis just repeats everything I say and so she said "Baba" (daddy) and "guh guh" (big brother) during the conversation.

Right after that, I gave her a bath (she was kinda dirty) and put new clothes on her. The orphanage had her dressed pretty cute too. The coat was brand new and she was wearing some shiny gold shoes. While we were still at the Civil Affairs office, I asked my guide if I should give back the coat they put her in so that they'd have it for the other kids. She told me that they probably put thought into what she was dressed in and that they would want her to have it. I have to say that although an orphanage is no place for a child to thrive and even the best orphanage cannot replace parents...it's still reassuring to see that this one actually has the children's best interest in mind.

The rest of the day was fantastic. She was a little afraid of the bath and took most of it standing up but she did eventually sit down. After her bath, I slathered her in lotion because her skin was extremely dry. She giggled the whole time and got such a kick out of it. Then, I put her new panties on. Yes, PANTIES! This kid comes fully potty trained! Did I luck out or what? I put them on her and then walked her over to the mirror. She started wiggling and sort of dancing with a big grin on her face. She knew she looked cute. After that, we took her to lunch and then spent the rest of the day just hanging out in the hotel room. She definitely knows that I'm her mommy. When my mom tries to talk to her or give her something, Tallis walks over to me and sort of looks at me for permission first. The whole rest of the day she followed me everywhere, even to the bathroom. She wants me to hold her and hug her and doesn't want to be more than two steps away. I am so glad. Maybe this is just a honeymoon, but I'm still going to enjoy it.

Today has been nuts! We had to go back to Civil Affairs this morning to finalize the adoption and I was presented with a certificate and a handshake. Tallis got a panda bear. Then the supermarket to buy diapers for the orphanage, then to lunch, then to the notary's for some other paperwork that I didn't know anything about, then the six hour drive to Wenzhou. Crazy crazy. I am exhausted. It took forever at the notary office and Tallis totally started getting naughty for the first time. I knew she was overly tired, though and ready for a nap. She even started to try to scratch my face and when I held her hand down she spit on me twice!! I say "no" firmly and she just giggles. She thinks it's hilarious when I say no and even when I say it in Mandarin (boo). She was so tired and was asleep the moment we got back into the van.

I know this is prabably all a big mixed jumble, but I'm trying to blog something while I have some time. It's only Tuesday, but I feel like it's been weeks! It's very tiring. Poor Tallis was sort of miserable for the last hour or so the drive here. It got dark and I think she was out of sorts and way too overwhelmed. I finally unbuckled her (trust me, if we get in a wreck here, seat belts aren't going to save us...it's INSANE), and she climbed on my lap and laid her head on my chest. She must've liked feeling my skin on her face because she kept laying on me, pulling away and looking at my skin and then laying on me again. She is already very affectionate. I can see it's new to her, though and she's not always sure what to do. When I lean in to kiss her, she scrunches up her lips and sort of leans toward me really slowly like it's totally foreign to her. Then she smiles shyly. If you saw it, it would melt your heart. She's soaking in all this love, but in such a careful way.

She's cried a few times, but only when she thinks I'm leaving her. Every time the car stops and we start to unbuckle to get out, she lets out this tiny, quiet whimper. Then I tell she's coming too and put my arms out and she's immediately all smiles. It's heartbreaking when she cries because it's almost silent but with tears. She holds her breath too and you can see she's trying really hard to hold it in. It might sound strange, but I can't wait until she feels comfortable enough to let out a good hard sob when she needs to. I can quickly get her to stop crying by holding her and saying "Mama aye nee" (mama loves you). Seriously, she understands it and gives a tiny smile or a hug. I think this kid was so ready for a mom. She is absolutely precious.

I am most shocked by how attached she is already. I mean, it was right away. So strange. I hope it stays that way. Tonight, we are in a new hotel room and I put her on my bed and crawled in beside her. I put my face right up to hers and she put her hand on my cheek. Then her eyes started rolling back into her head as she was falling asleep and it was kinda creepy, but you get the idea.

Okay, I know this was probably long and boring but I don't know if I'll have time to write tomorrow. I feel like we keep getting dragged back and forth and have not had a moment to rest. I am so tired! I just want to hang out with Tallis in the hotel room for a whole day and not have an appointment to get to. Soon enough.

Love to all and thanks again for your many thoughts and comments. I love reading them!

The Picture Says It All...

2009-11-23T00:28:00.000-08:00

Wuzhen was Amazing!

2009-11-22T01:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, I own this place!!!

Today was wonderful! I made myself stay awake last night and I got to bed at ten. Mom crashed in no time, and I told her she'd end up waking up at 4:30 and she did. So, I ended up being awake at that time as well. But, I really I don't feel any jetlag at all. Somehow, the schedules worked out right.

We are staying at the Merchant Marco Hotel in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. It's not too shabby at all. The breakfast buffet was pretty swanky too. They had a huge selection which included Chinese food, Japanese sushi, and even good ole corn flakes. My only complaint is the loud Italian tourists and that the creamer pitcher was empty. I survived, though. ;)

We met our guide and driver in the lobby at 9:30 and then we were off to Wuzhen. Forget the idea of having a day of rest! We would have missed out bigtime. Although Wuzhen is now a major local tourist attraction, real people still live there and live very real lives. They just have to put up with tourists waltzing up and down the narrow alleys taking photos of them all day long. Myself included. At one point, while looking over the canal from an ancient little footbridge, our guide said, "This is real China." Every single nook and cranny was a photo op. I purchased some of the beautiful calico fabric that is only made in Wuzhen for 20 yuan per meter. Thats less than three dollars a meter.

When we were finished, we took a boat ride down the canal back to the entrance. The man who pushed the boat (I'm sure there's a word for him, but I just can't think of it) had the sweetest, most genuine smile. But, he wouldn't show his teeth every time the camera was pointed in his direction. I wished I could share with everyone his real smile. The Chinese are a lovely, friendly people. I can see that in one short day. I'm so proud to have a daughter from this country. I'll raise her to be proud of her heritage. Okay, gettin' a little sentimental here. But, with a day like this, I just can't help it.

We left Wuzhen, crossed the street and walked into a "farmer's house" for lunch. The farmers usually also own some sort of factory and so they build these homes that are tall and narrow and several stories high. Some, open up part of their house as a restaurant. Weirdest experience. They took us upstairs to a tiny room that was only big enough to hold the large square table and then they shut the door and left us there. Our guide wanted to eat downstairs with our driver. It was so hilarious and Mom and I couldn't stop laughing. Then, a woman came up and started bringing us food. I am not a picky eater, at least I don't think, but I couldn't eat some of the meat. The lamb was absolutely delicious with this rich, spicy sauce, but nearly every single peice was riddled with tiny, sharp bones and most of it was pure grisle. I didn't eat much of the meat. I hated to waste it, though. The lady of the house did a great job making delicious food for us and she was so friendly and then kept apologizing for making too much. She was also very proud that she could offer us a western toilet in her bathroom. Our guide said, "Oh good, very clean. Very clean". I am constantly amused by not only the drastic difference in our cultures, but also in how we have absolute opposite meanings of the same word.....such as "clean". I used the bathrrom anyway. I find myself being proud of her for being so proud of her "clean" western bathroom. Very sweet.

I can't say enough about our guide. She is wonderful! She is truly kind and sweet and very down to earth. She has a big heart. She said that after working with adoptions, she sees how much love these people have for these children who are orphaned and that she would love to adopt as well. She tried too. But, she said it would cost her around $14,500 and that her son would have to be an adult before she could adopt another child. Baffling. Absolutely absurd.

Oh, before I forget...our little boat ride was shared with another family who desperately wanted to ride with us. It was a grandmother, two women, and two children. The girl was six and the boy was nine. They were eager to ask us lots of questions and they kept inviting us to visit them in their beautiful Yunan Province. The ladies wanted to know immediately what kind of products we use to protect our face, saying that we had beautiful skin. My mom does have nice skin, but mine.....well, that's not a compliment I'm familiar with. So funny. Then, the boy, wanting to talk to us asked me what kind of cosmetics I used for my "beautiful face". My mom and I busted up. I answered and he perfectly anunciated a "thank you". It was hilarious. I cannot fathom a nine year old boy in America asking a woman what kind of cosmetics she used. He was clearly trying to converse.

Okay, so I'll post pictures on my Shutterfly so make sure to click on Tallis' photo on the right. I don't know how long they will take to upload, but hopefully I can post a lot.

I feel privileged and blessed to be here. I am grateful.

2009-11-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

Hey Everybody! Landed on Chinese soil at 3 PM today. Flying over Hangzhou was amazing! I just can't believe that I'm here and this is really happening. This is a dream that has been in my head for years and now it's actually happening.

I missed Friday entirely, as we lost a day getting here. Left on Thursday, arrive on Saturday. The in-between is a blurrrrrr. We had a seven hour layover in LA and six hour one in Seoul. LAX was crummy. Seoul was long, but so clean there that I forgave them. Seriously, those Koreans have got it right! After LAX, I was in awe of the clean bathrooms. Sick huh? I guess they've got to impress all of the travellers shopping at the many Chanels and Bulgari's. I would have made some major purchases, but my hands were mysteriously stuck in my pockets. Better luck next time I'm in Seoul. Anyway, I'm so sleepy right now that I don't even know what I'm saying.

Okay, so I was totally intimidated about what the airport in China would be like, but it was a breeze. I thought people would be mean or something. I don't know why. The guy at immigration must've looked back and forth at me and then at my passport ten times. I wanted to say, "Look, it's really me. It was 2003 and it's not a very good photo...please let me in." He finally did, I pushed the button on his desk indicating that I was "greatly satisfied" by his work performance and my mom and I were on our way. Customs was nothing. Like literally. No one was at the desk, so we walked through. Our guide was not visible at first, and then she made her way through the crowd and confirmed that we were the mother/daughter on her sign. She said she didn't think we were her family because I looked too young to be a mom, let alone adopting. Flattery will get you everywhere. She seems totally cool. We got into our van and our driver for the week is a woman too. Four women, and Tallis will make five. Go estrogen go!!! Like I said, I'm tired. Sorry.

We got tossed right into China by a memorable rush hour experience. It was pretty crazy but I LOVED it! I'm pretty sure we ran over a couple of people. Our guide, Savor, told me a bunch of stuff that I don't remember about Hangzhou being the most beautiful city in China. I guess I need to see more. =) I mostly saw apartment buildings, and those people we ran over. It's a crazy city with wealth and poverty. I can't wait to see more and catch a glimpse of some of the beauty. Our hotel is smack dab in the middle of everything and the sight from the window is, well...foreign. I'm trying to soak it in.

I asked if we could skip having tomorrow as a "rest day" and go to the village of Wuzhen instead. Another Wenzhou family went there and I was inspired. I had the driver and our guide name a price and I decided to go for it. Pretty sure they are ripping me off. Maybe not. But, I'm gonna do it anyway. I think it will be my only tour that is my choice and not pre-arranged for me. Hopefully, I'll be able to post pics of tomorrow's adventure by the end of the day.

Sorry these pics are so pathetic. Obviously, they were taken from the van and we were weaving all over the place. The first one is the top of my mom's and my head. It's at LAX and we both decided that we looked too hideous to share with the world. Enjoy our foreheads. After these blurry glimpses, I hope to post many worthier pics another day. I haven't really seen much yet. And, to be honest, a few things were sad and I'm not sure what to say yet. If anything. Thanks to everyone for your "thoughts". We're going to need them.

Oh Man!

2009-11-18T19:18:00.000-08:00

I've got butterflies! Bad! I can't believe I'm leaving in less than 24 hours. It's finally here. I'm excited and I feel a little sick. Maybe if I puke a few times I'll feel better. Maybe not. Next time I post, I'll be in the P.R.C.!!!

Free high-speed internet, hair dryer, TOILET, and mini bar!

2009-11-17T15:27:00.000-08:00

I absolutely LOVE that a toilet is included in the amenities at our hotels in China. Right along side a hair dryer. I sure do hope they look like this fancy fella.

Those poor poor fish...

Not Now!!!

2009-11-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

Last night, when I went into my boys' room to check on them before I went to bed, I discovered that Seamus was burning up with a fever. I prayed, "not now God!" I took off his shirt, gave him medicine and set my alarm to check him again in three hours. Seamus gets fevers easily and they are always scary high. He's been 105 several times. Freaks me out! Can you tell that I'm a worrier? I've been feeling like I had a scratchy throat the last few days, but thought maybe it's nothing until today. I am starting to cough and my body is fighting something. I'm tired. Everyone keeps telling me to get some sleep and not to wear myself out before I go. I agree. But it seems to be impossible with so much to do. I'm drinking Airborne. I hope it helps. I hope Seamus recovers ASAP. I don't want him to miss his little Thanksgiving Feast in kindergarten tomorrow. I know everything is going to be fine. The Lord didn't bring us this far to stop now. I just don't want to deal with complications. I'm already pretty stressed out.

Dumdum

2009-11-14T23:59:00.000-08:00

Tallis' new 'bus' backpack

It's 11:30 PM and my poor husband is off to Walmart. We are not fans of Walmart, but they have the biggest bags of Dumdums that I've seen and I really want to pack some to give to the kids at the orphanage. So, I sent my husband there on a quest for suckers, gift bags, and luggage tags. Actually, I think he just got sick of the crazed, half-mad look in my eyes and felt like he needed some air. I accidentally opened up a bag of chocolates that I intended to take with me on the trip to give away, and now I'm on a disturbed caffeine high. Mix that with nerves and stress and you've got something new to worry about.

I am getting quite nervous about the trip. I'm not nervous about going to China; I love travelling and I rarely get to. I AM, however, quite nervous about the following:

missing a connection
overweight luggage
not packing enough
packing too much
packing the wrong things altogether which would be quite stinky and inconvenient
forgetting to pack my entire dossier -- OOPS!
my mother getting arrested for possession of an illegal substance even though I told her that she could bring a small container of baking soda on the plane to brush her teeth because security will not likely mistake it for cocaine, but why, for love of all that's holy, does she not just use toothpaste like everybody else!!!

*deep breath*

getting lost at LAX or Seoul
not understanding people with accents different from mine even though they will probably be speaking English better than I can
getting attacked and bitten by a rabid mountain goat (a lifelong fear)

That's all.

Finding Ad

2009-11-10T23:24:00.000-08:00

In China, the orphanages place "finding ads" every few months of children who were found. In case their parents are looking for them, I assume. This summer, I placed a request with research-china.org to see if they could find Tallis'. They did, and I was able to get the original newspaper with the ad. It was published on March 18, 2008 -- seven months after she was found. Although, I don't know exactly when this photo was taken, it is the earliest photo we have of our daughter, and, to us, it is priceless. It's a small piece of her history. Her ad reads:

"A baby girl.

She was born on August 5th, 2006 (estimated).

On August 5, 2007 she was found at -------------, Wenzhou City.

She had some baby daily use items found with her.

She has congenital heart disease."

Aaaaand....we're DONE!!!

2009-11-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

Whew! NO MORE WAITING! The TA arrived at our agency this morning. And, we got a confirmed Consulate Appointment on December 2nd. Can you see me dancing a jig? 'Cause I am! I'm leaving our little ole town with my mommy in tow next Thursday the 19th. How many days is that? Not many. I knew God placed November on my heart, but I've got to admit that I was starting to doubt. God is so good.

"Take a picture of my foot, Mom"

2009-11-07T12:04:00.001-08:00

"now of me smelling it"

Some friends of ours had a Krispy Kreme fundraiser today for their Ethiopian adoption.

You can see from the evidence that Rowan enjoys supporting a good cause.

Heart Conditions

2009-11-06T23:20:00.000-08:00

      Right after the birth of our youngest son, my husband and I both expressed that we knew that was the last time I'd carry a child. It wasn't a plan, though. The best way I can describe what we both felt was a peaceful knowledge. We would have no more children biologically. That was June of 2006. At the end of summer in 2007, we started to discuss adoption and that was the first time that my husband was open to the idea. His exact words were, "I could see us doing that someday." I remember it so well because, in the past, he always said that he just didn't think that was something he could ever do. A couple of months later, God led me to a passage in Ezekial chapter 16 about an abandoned baby girl. My desire to adopt from China had always been there, but this was the first time that I knew God was giving me that desire. In May of 2008, we prayed together about adoption and God quickly answered.
     One year later, on May 4th, we saw our daughter's face for the first time and we joyfully accepted her referral. When she was born, God began preparing our hearts for her. He had us know that we would have no more biological children -- because we already had a newborn daughter on the other side of the world. When she was abandoned on her assumed first birthday, God was changing my husband's heart about adoption. I cannot imagine the sadness and fear of a one year old child left all alone in a crowded place in a city of millions. James 1:27 states that "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans ...in their distress". In her distress, God was preparing a place for her. I think of Tallis' birthparents all the time and I can't help but pray for them. If they didn't love her, they wouldn't have left her in a place where she would be quickly found. If they didn't love her, they wouldn't have kept her for an entire year. I think she was loved. And I think that they may not have had another choice but to give her up. I'm not romanticizing anything here. But, universally speaking, it's safe to say that most parents love their children.
     We are God's children, adopted into His heavenly family. He loves us enough that He hates to see the stranger, the widow, and the orphan lonely. This adoption is about God's intervention in a little girl's life. If no one else did, He heard her cry. He has a plan for her and we are fortunate enough to get to be a part of it. "God sets the lonely in families." (Ps. 68:6)

Wednesday marked six months since we saw that beautiful face. Within a month's time, we'll all get to see it in person. And it's ALL because of Jesus Christ. He has made it possible. He didn't need our help -- only willingness to receive the blessings He has in store for us. As I've said before, God's financial provision has been nothing short of amazing. And humbling. God showed me this week that money was never an issue. It's just money. God's work is not coming up with money, it's working on people's hearts. God used the hearts of MANY to bring Tallis to her home. And wouldn't you know...she's got a heart condition. That's okay, though. I think we all do. Good thing that's God's specialty.

In the Mail!

2009-11-06T08:06:00.001-08:00

I've just been told that TA's were mailed and that, hopefully, they will be here early next week. It's about time we heard something! Now, I'm just hoping to be able to travel around the 20th. That would put Gotcha Day on the 23rd. I'm coming soon kid!!!

22 & Counting!

2009-11-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

I am really surprised that our TA is STILL NOT HERE!!! It's been twenty-two days since our Article 5 was signed. We were told to expect it in two to three weeks and now we're past that. My impatience and anxiety is gone. Now, I just feel resigned. It will come when God wants it to; not when it is "expected" or when I want it, obviously. I'm okay with God's timing...His ideas are better than mine anyway. He knows the day when Tallis will be placed in my arms and united with her family. I just hope He gives me a heads up so that I can book my flight! =) In the meantime, I'm going to secretly video myself reading bedtime stories so that the boys can watch them while I'm away. They'll get a kick out it.

Maybe tomorrow will bring news???

Wait

2009-11-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might
He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."
- Isaiah 40:28-31

I am weary, but God is not. I can hope, pray, and even grumble all I want; but, this is still out of my hands. I'm not angry, and I'm not discouraged. I'm just impatient. The first thing I do in the morning is race to the computer and hope for that one email; and, inevitably, I am disappointed. Ah well....what's a few more days huh?

I did read some 'rumors' that a snow storm in Beijing was delaying flights and deliveries. But, that information really does nothing for me. I still have to wait.

CRAAAAAZZZZZZYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

2009-11-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

I'm going nuts here!! More than usual, too. Our TA is quite tardy at this point and I'm not pleased. Maybe that week-long government holiday in October did set us back. I've checked my inbox AT LEAST twenty times already today hoping for an email from our agency. Even though I know it's the middle of the night in Beijing, I still keep thinking that we'll get something any minute now. I was counting days, now I'm counting minutes! God help me!!!

No TA today

2009-10-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

Kind of bummed. It has been sixteen days since our Article 5 was signed and I really really expected it to come this week, but here is Friday and no TA. I am so hoping to travel on the 13th, even though every one in the world thinks I'm crazy to hope for that (including our agency). That would mean a miracle of getting all of the travel arrangements and a Consulate appt. done in a very short time. But, that's still what I was/am hoping for. If we could travel on the 13th to get Tallis then we'd be home in time for Thanksgiving leftovers!! And, I'm really gonna be mad if I miss out on cold turkey!

Nothing is impossible, right?

Go God Go!!!

2009-10-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm already way too wordy -- in person, in emails, in blogs...I just don't shutup! But, believe it or not, there's SO MUCH more that has happened that I haven't written about. Some things, because they are just special and private, and some things I haven't shared because I don't really have the words. Like today, I don't have the words, but I've just gotta say something anyway. Or attempt to at least. Bear with me. It's a long one.

We knew that international adoption was expensive before we started all of this. But, we knew that God was definitely leading us along this path and so we had faith that He would provide. But, for me at least, that faith was just a bit tweaked. I guess I knew that God would make it happen, but that we would have to work work work to come up with the money. When we applied to our agency in January, we had about $2,300. I gotta say, I was pretty worried about our meager adoption fund. And, shortly after we applied, we started having problems with our septic drain field. Woohoo! I mean...the opposite of "woohoo". So, we panicked briefly, and then the Lord led us to read Philippians 4:19: "my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." We CHOSE to take God for His word and believed that He would provide for our adoption and for our very expensive home repair. We didn't know how, but we knew He would do it.

Our drain field has been getting progressively worse, and even more so in the past month. We were really hoping that it could hold out until next spring, but it is evident that it will need to be done sooner. So, we finally called the Health Dept. and then got our first bid. Over $15,000. Can you imagine? Imagine being weeks away from flying across the world to adopt a child, still trying to come up with the money to even make that possible, and get thrown a $15,000 bill???!!! And, it will be closer to $20,000 when it's all said and done. So, it's an overwhelming blow. But, as it turns out, we can see God at work through the whole thing. No, we don't have $20,000. But we can see how God is going to provide. He is providing all of our needs to adopt Tallis, so He will provide for this as well. And, it is a need. It's not like we can just build another mud hut and dig a hole elsewhere for our waste water. We live in America. Americans are wealthy. We have comforts here, like indoor plumbing and places for sewage to go. Those comforts cost money. So, when the time comes, it costs money to repair these things. It could seem devastating, but when I really think about it, I realize my many blessings. I realize that even though we don't have $20,000, we have options for how to come up with that money. We will not starve, and we will not be without clothes on our backs. We will probably have to make a few sacrifices and tighten our belts; yet, our standard of living will probably not be changed beyond recognition. That's pretty amazing to me! There are bigger issues than coming up with $20,000. I have friends who are experiencing health scares, loss of jobs, and deaths in their family. We have a little boy in Uganda who writes us letters asking us to pray for the famine to end and for God to provide a crop for them to survive on. Our issue is nothing. I hope I'm making sense here.

Back to the adoption. God has graciously provided. We received a matching grant from an AMAZING organization called Lifesong for Orphans. It was totally unexpected and left me in tears. And today, we found out that not only has that grant been matched, but donations have come in beyond that amount! Some seriously GENEROUS donations, too. God is providing absolutely everything we need!!! I shouldn't be shocked, but I am. I guess it's because we sort of feel like we won the lottery...and we don't even play! We get to adopt this beautiful daughter into our family, and that alone is a miracle in our lives. And, as if that was not enough, the burdensome cost to make this adoption happen has been lifted from us. Maybe, if we had more faith, we would have realized in the beginning that the burden was never ours to begin with. God ALWAYS finishes the work that He has started. And, He never really needed our help in the first place.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..." Yeah God!!!

TA Where Are You?!?!

2009-10-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Any day now...

After we get home...

2009-10-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

I've been asked several times how long after Tallis is home until people can meet her. And I say until she is able to clearly ask "how do you do?" Just kidding. My real answer is "I don't know." But, I do know a few things. When Tallis and I return from China, Damon will be taking two weeks off (Lord willing) and we will probably kind of lay low during that time. Tallis and I will need to recover from the trip, Damon will want to get to know his daughter, and the three kids will need to get to know eachother. We're going to play it by ear. It will take time, for all of us, to get into a new normal and to make sure that everyone's needs are being met. I am particularly aware that Rowan, 3, might have a more difficult time getting used to another sibling and having to share Mommy and Daddy. We're praying that we'll have wisdom and discernment....AND patience. So, I'm just saying that we won't be throwing a Thanksgiving Hip Hop Dance Party. 'Cause, you know, otherwise we would. *wink*wink*

Also, because attachment is such a major issue, Damon and I will be the only ones holding her for some time. Weeks, maybe months. Probably months. So, if anyone asks to hold her, I pray that they won't be offended when we decline. We've got three years worth of love and attachment to catch up on and it might take a while. We've got to earn her trust and hopefully she'll love us back. But, even if she doesn't love us...she's still our baby and we will love her all the same.

As I said before, my husband will be staying home and my mom is going to China with me. I will probably only have my mom hold Tallis in China when it's really necessary. And my mom already knows that. Although, we want our daughter to bond with her grandparents, she's got to get there with Mama first. Then Dad too once she's home. I have no expectations whatsoever (at least I don't think I do). I do know that Tallis will grieve, in some way, as she will be taken from the life she's used to and thrown in a stranger's hands. She might scream at me for the first two weeks, but I have two boys and I'm already used to that! I don't know what it will be like. But God does! I'm counting on Him to give me wisdom, empathy, and strength. He has graciously provided everything else we've needed for this adoption...what's a few more?! I know that God chose this family for Tallis; and, I know that He will give us what we need to help her thrive.

"But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." - James 1:4-5

Making Room

2009-10-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Still working on Tallis' room. I have a few things to do yet. Like put some pictures in those frames, for example. I hope to find some cool fabrics in China to hang large panels on the walls. Her room is weird for a three year old, but I really want it to grow with her. I'm very dull -- I painted her walls white. I might do something different later on. I'm still going to paint that little nightstand some shade of blue; it's been around since I was a kid. Tallis is probably used to sleeping on a board with a straw mat beneath her and soon she'll have a soft bed and a shearling rug for her feet in the morning. Rowan loves that rug and keeps laying on it. The boys are very excited to have another room to play in. They have both told me that they are going to sleep in there too when Tallis gets home. We'll see if she likes the company!

No, the window shade is not on fire in the photo above. I hung some LED string lights. I'm going to have my handy dandy personal electrician install some outlets up high for the lamps so that the cords aren't within the kids' reach. I took off the closet doors and hung dark red curtains just behind the frame. Most of the things in her room are vintage odds and ends that I've had around forever. Below is a little cedar box that my dad made when he was a kid. I used to hide candy in it (I had three brothers). The crocheted rugs are ones that my grandma made years ago. I love them! I remember my grandma sitting at her kitchen table rolling up fabric strips and crocheting those rugs.

This wall is where I want some fabric...or shelves. Can you see the Rainbow Bright doll? Found her at a thrift store for two bucks and she doesn't have a mark on her. My poor kids...I relive my childhood vicariously through them.

That's all. I just thought I should post something. Her room probably looks pretty plain, but I know how quickly it will fill up once all three kids go on a rampage and drag the whole house in there. Plus, I definitely do plan to get some small items in China to add to it.

There is a village somewhere outside of Hangzhou, my first stop, and I am hoping to be able to make a little trip there during our first week in China. Another family who went there took this photo of some fabric that is made in that village. Isn't it beautiful?

Gimme 5!!

2009-10-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Our LOA was signed at the Consulate and cabled to the CCAA in Beijing. So, if I have this right, the Chinese LOA and the US LOA together have turned into an Article 5. Now, the ONLY THING left to wait for is Travel Approval. We should get TA in two to three weeks!

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS TO BE OVER!!!!!

I CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD MY LITTLE GIRL!!!!!!!!!!

Drum Roll...........

2009-10-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

I forgot that I never announced Tallis' full name. Her Chinese name is Hao Xue, and we're just going to scoot that over to become her middle name. I'm pretty sure that the Americanized pronunciation of her name is like "how shoe". The boys think that's pretty hilarious. Anyway, Hao Xue means fond of learning, curiousness, and studious. I love it. It's a part of her. At first, I thought that we would definitely include a Chinese name with her American one, but that we would choose that name for her as well. I quickly discovered our foolishness. Since we're not Chinese and we don't speak the language, we are obviously inadequate to choose a Chinese name. It all has to do with the way the names go together to determine the meaning. With my luck, I would have accidentally named her something that meant "dancing hog" or "happy light bulb". I think we'll stick with what she's got! Tallis Hao Xue Connerly....there won't be another like her.

SNAP, PUSH & POP!

2009-10-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

I guess the Chinese holiday is over and everybody got back to work today. That's very good for us. Apparently, there is one dude, ONLY ONE, who turns the US LOA's into Article 5's. I hope he's not sick today. I hope he's had lots of caffeine. I hope he's pondering committing more random acts of kindness and says, "What the hay?! I'll process a few more before the day is up!" When I am in Guangzhou, I will go to a Starbucks and I will try to find this man and I will give him a Venti Espresso Macchiato with -count 'em - SIX shots of espresso just to bless all the folks overseas still waiting for their I-800's to get signed or stamped or BeDazzled or whatever they do over there. I might even present it with a red bow on top for good cheer.

I got to talk with our agency's China Coordinator this evening for a little travel meeting. I scribbled everything down as we spoke, inventing many new abbreviations, by the way. Afterward, my husband wanted me to go over it with him and I was unable to decipher most of my own secret codes. I was like, "To Pro. To Pro? Tooooo Prooooooo....What does that mean?!" Man! Somethin's wrong with this head! Other than my inferior shorthand skills, the "meeting" was productive.

Best guess for travel is....the second week of November? The third week if I'm being more conservative; and, the fourth if that dude is sick today.

In Need of Brain

2009-10-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Just got off the phone with the NVC and found out that our I-800 was cable to Guangzhou today!!! Starting now is the official countdown to our Travel Approval. This entire week is a government holiday in China, so no business is happening. Please Jesus don't let this make a huge delay!! (Jesus reads my blogs, so that's why I can write to Him here)

I have been shopping here and there for things I'll need to take to China. I am super unorganized and overwhelmed. Yesterday, Damon found three lists I had written on three different notepads and each one listed nearly the exact same things. I think I'll write a new list today that will say to check previous lists. I bought little things yesterday for Tallis, like pull-ups, toothbrushes, and bubble bath. I have a LONG way to go still. And, I still haven't shopped for all of the gifts I'll need to take and give to officials, nannies, etc.. I am stumped on those. Maybe I'll just give all of them a giant lollipop. Everybody likes lollipops right?! Right. Yeah, I'll get working on it. So much to do...so little brain.

BLEEEEEEEHHHHHHH!!!!!

2009-10-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

Are we there yet???

Fun with Acronyms! You too can be Acronymically Correct!

2009-09-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

We got our I-800 approval yesterday! So now our I-800 will be sent to the NVC (National Visa Center) and then cabled to Guangzhou. How long does it take for this to happen? That's a great question and I'm so glad you asked; but, unfortunately, I don't know. So, shruggin' my shoulders here. Sometime after it gets to China our Article 5 will be born and then TA. I can't remember if I already mentioned it, but there's a government holiday the entire first week of October. So, that probably delays everything a week. What can ya do? Absolutely nothin', HUH! (can't believe I just wrote that, what a dork!)

On a side note, I requested that our daughter get a TB test done before we travel. Just so that we could have some peace-of-mind and no surprises later on, or so that we could take action now and start treatment or something if it was positive. We even said that we would pay for the test and related expenses. But, it's a no-go. Her orphanage won't do it. And, our agency said that's the answer they've been getting from all the orphanages. I wonder if it's just a hassle for them, or if orphanages fear that people will back out if their kid tests positive. Tallis is ours, TB or not. I would just rather avoid any surprises or be forced to have an extended stay. But, once again, it's out of our hands. We tried. Adoption is one crazy process and we are entirely at the mercy of a million different entities. But, who cares?! Have you seen my kid???!!!

(Parenthetical Parentheses)

2009-09-21T23:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know. I just feel like I should blog something (it's a free country). I'd like to describe exactly what's happening at this point, but I just don't know. Okay, I'll try (but only 'cause you twisted my arm, Silly Goose!). It goes a little something like this: our I-800 is at the National Benefits Center (or "NBC"...y'know, if you're in the "biz"), and once that's approved (US LOA, I think), it gets wired to Guangzhou, Guangdong (didn't need to type that, but I never get tired of writing [or saying] "Guangzhou, Guangdong") to get married (sorta). Somewhere over there, our US LOA (Letter of Approval in case you forgot) gets matched up with our Chinese LOA and mystically transforms into an Article 5 (do you see the twirling sparklies?). And, somehow the Article 5 is the final key to our Travel Approval (TA in biz-speak). Once we have our TA, we'll set a date for our Consulate appointment and then...I'm off. I really really really think that I'll be leaving around the first of November. I've been praying that Tallis will be home by Thanksgiving. And at church yesterday, someone whom I did not know was even praying for our sweet little baby said, "I've been praying that she'll be home for Thanksgiving" (cool fact, yep it's true). Sooooo, we'll see. That's what I really really really want (it's God's deal, though)!!!! In case you missed any of the above (y'know, all that stuff confusingly, distractingly smashed between all those problematic parentheses), here's a simplified re-cap of what we're waiting for:

U.S. LOA to Chinese LOA (kissy kissy)
Article 5 (ohh....I think she has your eyebrows)
TA (change that kid's diaper, we gotta go!)

I know. I don't know what's wrong with me...I'm such a weirdy. I'm sure I'll regret this in the morning. Good night!

Deja Vous

2009-09-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

Didn't we just do this a year ago?

We had our yard sale fundraiser today. It was VERY successful! We made $992 and 50 pfennig!!! If you're confused, then it's only because you obviously don't know your German coins. Alright, alright...neither do I. Stashed in our pile of change from the sale was one funny looking nickel. I looked it up. It is a 1949 German 50 pfennig which might be worth anywhere from $2 to $95 depending on the condition. How silly. So, maybe we made $994 if I count the antique currency??

Either way, we are more than pleased. We had so many generous donations that, once again, made this fundraiser a success. We even had a few friends who came by to show their support, which really meant a lot to us. Our friends were even generous enough to bargain backwards. The moral support we've have thoughout this whole process has been overwhelming! We owe a lot of thanks to our friends and our family. I love that God has used SO MANY people to bring our daughter home. Yep, feelin' pretty blessed right now. And tired.

44

2009-09-11T14:49:00.000-07:00

The actual date on our LOA was September 2. I don't know how in the world we got an LOA in 44 days!! Well, I mean, I do know (thanks God!)...but still! Everyone else I'm hearing from had to wait one full month longer than that. I am just in awe. This miracle of adoption that is happening in our lives is happening in His timing, not ours. We have nothing to do with it; this is His work. We just get to ride along and reap the blessings.

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
~Lamentations 3:22-26

I HAVE WIDGETS!!!

2009-09-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

They're not contagious.

I've been wanting that little clock and weather widget for so long now. Dorky, yes, but I don't care. Oh, look, it's early morning in Wenzhou....

Where my baby's at...

2009-09-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

Now that we have our LOA, I am finally going to share a little about where our daughter is. Tallis is in the city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang is on the southeast coast of China. The area of Wenzhou has a population of 7.6 million. The Chinese call it the "Jerusalem of China" because of the high Christian population in that area. How cool is that?! Apparently, it's a pretty booming industrial city, too. Aren't they all in China? I think I read somewhere that there's an abundance of shoe factories. I wonder if I can get a tour of some factories and pick up some "samples"? I've heard fantastic things about her orphanage, and I hope that I'll be able to visit while I'm there. Here are some random pics from my buddies at Google Earth. You can learn a bit more about Zhejiang, including the average rainfall, if you're into that sort of thing, here.

LOA Came TODAY!!!

2009-09-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

It is signed and on it's way outta here. I've never seen a prettier piece of paper. Most people take cute little pictures of themselves with their LOA, or at FedEx shipping it off, to commemorate the happy event. We took a picture too. But, as it turns out, I woke up with the flu and am just not exactly looking my best. It's actually quite frightening. That will not be a picture to post on the internet.

Flu or not, this is a happy day. We know that our Heavenly Father loves us immensely. Not because we've had a smooth process and things have been going so well for us; it has gone that way, but we know without a shadow of a doubt because we see His work in our lives. And in our children's lives. There are some things about how God brought this adoption about that I still haven't shared on this blog. I will, just not today. But I will say that He went before all of us, years ago, and opened doors for Tallis to have a home long before she was born. We are her family, and we are aching to hold her in our arms and call her our daughter. Very soon!

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him."

~ 1 Samuel 1:27

I Want a Pony!

2009-09-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

I spoke with our agency's China coordinator yesterday because I needed someone to hold my hand in order to fill out our I-800. Seriously, I just don't get government forms. I'm not even sure if they're in English. Maybe it's me. So, our LOA should be at our agency in Alabama right now, I should get it tomorrow, sign it and send it back to Alabama with our I-800, I-864W, and DS-230 to get there on Thursday, and if all goes well our agency will be able to get it to Immigration on Friday. Dude, wouldn't it totally suck if we still had to use the Pony Express? That would make international adoption like way more challenging!! Hardy har har. Yes, I do realize that I'm being an idiot, just in case someone feels the urge to tell me.

Also on the agenda this week.....yard sale. This Saturday. I can't believe we're doing it again. But, people just keep blessing us with free stuff, so we'll put it to good use! Our friends and family have been so generous. I think we'll do well, we've got some really good stuff. I haven't priced a single thing. Way to be responsible, huh? I'll get to it. Actually, if I work on it all tonight...I might get it done???

Hey, FedEx just knocked on the door and delivered our certified Power of Attorney. I guess I'll be going to FedEx today to send it to the Consulate in San Francisco to get it authenticated. Since I will be going to China sans spouse, I need to have a certified and authenticated POA. It can't be older than 3 months by the time I'm in China so we couldn't get it done with the rest of the dossier earlier on. We've prayerfully decided that Damon will stay home and I'll go to China with my mom.

That about sums it up. Unless I write about my grocery list. I hate grocery shopping. Maybe I'd feel differently if I had a pony instead of a station wagon. Ooh! Or better yet, a horse and wagon! I'll stop now.

WE GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Our LOA was issued yesterday!!!!!!! It took 45 days from our LID. This means that China has officially approved us to adopt our little girl. It is on it's way to our agency in Alabama at this moment and should be in our hands on Wednesday. Crazy crazy crazy! We got it so fast!

Now, we have to send some other forms and documents around the world a couple of times before we can get our Travel Approval (TA). I've read other people's process with all of this but I still don't get it. I'm just doin' what I'm told. This is SO exciting!

Saucers

2009-08-30T21:56:00.001-07:00

I didn't post this picture with Tallis' birthday photos; there are other kids in it and I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to put those up. So I cropped it and I'm posting it now because this picture both makes me sad and it makes me smile. That's her new birthday toy we sent that she's staring at. I'm guessing that sensory stimulating toys/objects are not something she's used to. Anyway, I love this photo. I want to get her home so that she can play with toys to her heart's content. Just tonight, I said to my husband, "I wonder what her smile looks like". We've been blessed with so many photos of her so far, but not one with a smile. Hopefully, in just a few weeks, we'll be able to remedy that.

Living Vicariously...sort of.

2009-08-25T23:24:00.000-07:00

Through our dossier, that is. Here is where "we" have been for the last couple of months.

Wow, what a building! Soooo.......linear. Ooh! and shiny.

This room is where the dossiers hang out.

And, here is where ours is now. The Match Room. Isn't it dreamy? Oh, yes it is! Our coordinator called us today with super news. She found out that our dossier is now in the Match Room and we should expect to get our LOA in about two weeks. Man, we're spoiled. The process, for us, has been going so well. Now, she did tell me that two weeks is what it looks like, and that it's not a guarantee. I may have mentioned something about sending hate mail by post to her if she's wrong.....I dunno! Can't remember. Silly me. I hope I remembered to thank her for the good news along with my threat....

Anyway! Looks like our LOA will be coming in 50-something days. Not too shabby. And, that gives us a better idea of when we'll be travelling -- October/November. Whoohoo!!

Is it weird that I've sort of imagined our dossier having little cartoon eyes, arms and legs? Sort of like it's one of those obscure characters in an old Schoolhouse Rock commercial, smiling cheerfully as it's shoved between other happy little dossiers all waiting for their number to be up...that's how I see it. Should I keep things like this to myself? Yes! Do I regret sharing my eccentricities with the world (and, by 'world', I mean those two goat herders in Crete who follow my blog)? Absolutely! But I'm not gonna delete it -- too lazy. This Schoolhouse Rock video is eerily similar to how I've imagined our dossier. Only, you'd have to swap out "just a bill" with "just a dossier"...you get the idea. Or, maybe you don't.

Oh...thanks J!!!

Warning: Following Post May Induce Sleep

2009-08-21T23:29:00.000-07:00

Well, we're a month in and still just hangin' out. I think we're on day 31 or 32 waiting for our LOA. I dunno. I'm too lazy to look at a calendar. It's actually a bit easier not counting...we'll hear when we hear. I'm not discouraged. Yet.

So, we've got a million things on our plate lately; all rather small, but they do add up. I think I have random 'to do' lists floating all over the house. Maybe I should make a list of lists! There is a small thrill in scribbling a check next to even the simplest task. Good times.

Gangsta Dreams

2009-08-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

These photos were sent from someone who visited Tallis' orphanage in February. I like that she looks a little 'gangsta' in the second one with her pant leg rolled up.

Today is Your Birthday, Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh Nuh!

2009-08-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

Tallis turned three years old today. It felt a little empty. It's bad enough to have missed out on the first three years of her life; and, now, knowing who and where our daughter is and not being able to go to her....

I feel like Downer Debbie here.

On a MUCH lighter note, Tallis' orphanage did in fact purchase a cake for her with the money we sent to get one and they gave her the gifts we sent as well. And, God bless 'em, they sent us (well, ladybugsandlove.com actually) eight photos that they took of her little celebration. We are VERY grateful to her orphanage for sending these. So, while we were sleeping last night, Tallis was eating some cake. She looks a little shell-shocked.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl.

Almost got that cherry.

And, here at home...

Rowan blew out the candles before the song was over.

Family in China

2009-08-03T09:02:00.001-07:00

I just got done reading the nightmare that an American family is going through right now as they are in China adopting their child. Their child has tested positive for TB and it looks like she'll be taken away from her mommy and daddy and sent back to her orphanage to be treated for her TB. It is awful and the family is desperately attempting to recruit Congressmen and Senators and anyone else they can find to help them with their case. The CDC made new regulations this year regarding TB testing for all immigrants over age 2 in Ethiopia and in China, and it's just created a mess for adoptive families. My greatest fear is that these new regulations will scare people away from adoption.

Here's the link to the blog I was reading:

http://jayscruggs.livejournal.com/

And here's a link to a petition you can sign to try to get the CDC to change these restrictions:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/build-families-not-barriers.html

Hum Drum

2009-07-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

I soooo wish I had something to write on here. But, no news of any kind. Unless, that is, anyone's interested in my grand and wacky plans to transform our current office into a hip little girl's room. Anyone? Anyone? I'm trying to convince Damon to cut a few holes in the walls and ceiling so that we can install some tunnels and slides between the kids' rooms. We have a very small house, but tunnels make every commute so much funner! However, I'm afraid that the only way to convince Damon would be to have some sort of household "accident" that may or may not involve a sledgehammer. Some people knit blankets to prepare for their offspring and some people install climbing walls. Both are cozy in their own little way. A girl can dream, right? It would be for the children, you know.

*Photo from Wondertime Magazine, March 2009...just in case someone has a fit.

LID!!!!!

2009-07-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." - Proverbs 25:25

We got our LID!! We are officially logged in with the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) as of Monday, July 20, 2009. We are thrilled! We just found out and we immediately prayed praises to God. Now the countdown begins. Apparently, it's 30 to 90 days from LID to LOA (Letter of Approval). Not much else to say. Feelin' pretty good right now. Praise the Lord!