Step By Step

6 months!!!

2010-03-13T22:36:00.002-06:00

Wow- 6 months home already! Time has really flown by. Crazy really- we wait 4 1/2 years for this little one, now i want time to slow down.
Miss Lia is so much fun, she is constant entertainment, always has us laughing. She is also very busy, and into everything!
Last week she ate a ladybug, followed that with some deoderant. She had a very dry mouth the rest of the day. Unrolling the toilet paper is another favorite past time. And a couple weeks ago she emptied the garbage can in the bathroom, all into the toilet! Oh what fun!The drawer in the bathroom with the toothpaste, extra toothbrushes, and floss is a favorite to empty. She likes to take my phone, and the tv remote and hide them. but- she always hides them between the couch cushions, so I know where to find things. Lia is also very in to climbing up. She has a little chair that she moves up to the couch than she can climb on. The chair also helps reach other things she is not supposed to have.
Developmentally she is doing great great. Testing about 3-4 months ahead of where she needs to be. Except in language, but that is to be expected. I wish she could talk some. It would make things easier. I mean she gets her point across, but there is sometimes a lot of yelling, and crying from her.
She is still a little peanut but has gotten bigger. She is about 19lbs. She has 6 teeth, 4 on top, 2 on bottom. Lia has become quite the picky eater. She will not eat a vegetable, and is not to fond of meat. She will eat rice, noodles,eggs, breads,peaches,pears,applesauce, and cheese. Thats about it. Oh and anything sweet! Loves sweets! I still give her veggies and beans, and such. Maybe one day she will eat them. For now she picks them up and sets them on the side of her highchair.
I think we need a dog!
Im so excited about spring. I want to get out and do some things with my Fu girl.

I want to go back

2010-01-27T13:00:00.000-06:00

To China! Only been home 4 months and I want to go back!
Unfortunatley I think it will be awhile.
I miss it- the sights, the smells, the people, the experience. After doing once I will be able to enjoy it so much more now.
Hmmm to dream.
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Almost 1!

2010-01-16T08:42:00.000-06:00

So Lia will be one year old next week. I still look at her amazement. She IS really here with us! She is not leaving. Its kind of wierd really- how we waited 4 years for this little one, and then all of sudden she is part of who "we" are.
Sometimes I feel like we were cheated of 6 months. But overall I know I'm blessed to have her with us. I will be around for so much more than I missed. We are really happy that all we missed was 6 months.
She has been with us 4 and a half months now. In that time she has learned so much. She has learned to crawl, gotten two teeth, she has started walking a few steps here and there. Most important she has learned what its like to be part of family, and to be loved so very much! I have learned that miracles do happen. I'm so glad I stayed with China when things didn't look so promising.
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Been home 2 months!

2009-11-18T08:55:00.001-06:00

I can't believe it! It seems as if I was just agonizing over when we were going to get our referral.
I already miss China and can't wait until we can go back. I would love to experience it without the culture shock. I could do without the flight though. The flight home was just brutal. The first two weeks home fall in the same category. They are a complete blur! I really don't remember most of it.
Now things are great. We have ourselves in a pretty decent routine,and we are adjusting well.
On to our little Lia. She is amazing! We all love her to pieces. In many ways it seems like she has always been with us. I think she likes us too!
She has changed so much in the last 2 months. She has 2 teeth, she crawls, she stands, and walks around the furniture. She is talking non-stop!
She now is sleeping more restfully and will even cuddle now and then.
I think about her birthparents quite a bit. I wish they could see how good she is doing. I tell her all the time how special she is to have so many people that love her!
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The Guangzhou zoo

2009-09-15T23:47:00.001-05:00

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The red couch

2009-09-15T23:41:00.001-05:00

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The Kadisak girls

2009-09-15T23:39:00.001-05:00

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Shopping!

2009-09-15T23:38:00.001-05:00

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Going out to dinner!

2009-09-15T23:34:00.001-05:00

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Checkup for the Visa

2009-09-15T23:32:00.001-05:00

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We saw Gheorghe Muresan at breakfast today - forgot the camera!

2009-09-13T19:52:00.001-05:00

BEIJING (AP) -- Thirty years after the Washington Wizards became the first NBA team to visit China, veterans of the team plan a return trip next month to the country where basketball's popularity is now soaring.
Hall of Fame center Wes Unseld, a star of the 1979 team then known as the Bullets, will be joined on the visit Sept. 5-15 by current Wizards players Caron Butler and Randy Foye, the team said. Joining them will be another former Bullet, 7-foot-7 Gheorghe Muresan of Romania, one of the tallest men to play in the NBA.
The trip will include a series of clinics, including one with last season's China Basketball Association championship team, Guangdong Hongyuan. The visitors will travel to Beijing, Shanghai and parts of the Sichuan province that were devastated by last year's massive earthquake.
"We thought the best way to pay homage to the anniversary of our historic trip in 1979 was to return to China, because 30 years ago it was unheard of to travel overseas with an NBA team," Wizards owner Abe Pollin said.
The 1979 visit came at the invitation of former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping as part of the celebration of diplomatic ties between Washington and Beijing that year.
That team, led by Unseld and fellow future Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes, played exhibition games against the Chinese national team and the People's Liberation Army's Bayi team. The Americans were also shown historic sites, including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall.
Since then, basketball in China has boomed, thanks in part to Chinese star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets. State television began showing NBA games in the late 1980s, and in 2004 the Rockets and Sacramento Kings played the league's first games in China, a pair of preseason exhibitions.
Teams and sponsors have also found a lucrative market for merchandise in China's surging economy, and NBA stars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard receive rapturous receptions from fans during regular offseason visits.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Swim time!

2009-09-13T08:04:00.001-05:00

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The Chen house

2009-09-13T08:03:00.001-05:00

The last name Chen is the most popular in South China. The Chen house is an art museum with Chinese folk art. It used to be owned by the Chen family until the government took control.

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The Liurong Temple

2009-09-13T07:54:00.001-05:00

more than 1450 years old. The family was blessed by the monks.
We also made a wish, waved the incense, bowed 3 times and placed in the incense in a large vat filled with ash and sand. The wish goes up to the gods with the smoke. Ivy wished her uncle would find a girlfriend.

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Some pics with the artwork for sale

2009-09-13T07:43:00.001-05:00

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White Swan Hotel Guangzhou

2009-09-13T07:40:00.001-05:00

The view from our room on the river, and the atrium of the hotel.

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We arrived in Guangzhou!

2009-09-12T07:27:00.001-05:00

Very different than NanChang! We had cheeseburgers for dinner!

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A day in the park

2009-09-11T00:29:00.001-05:00

The lady doing Tai Chi with the sword was cool. Then Ivy went in a giant inflatable ball and into the pond.

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Oops

2009-09-10T03:29:00.001-05:00

attached the wrong photo on the last post, but I will try and find one of the traffic later.

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NanChang traffic

2009-09-10T03:25:00.001-05:00

Our guide said if you can drive in NanChang you can drive anywhere. Unfortunately I cannot attach the video right now since it is too large of a file. Although after watching traffic for a couple days it does not seem that hard - just throw out any driving rules you remember. I never knew watching an intersection could be so entertaining! For example - if you are on a scooter, on foot, or on a bicycle don't pay any attention to the traffic lights. The traffic lights seem to be optional and only for cars and buses. If you want to pull into oncoming traffic for any reason - no problem. If you want to make a left just pull into the oncoming lane and cut over into oncoming traffic. Want to cross the street on foot? Just walk straight across diagonally. Want to carry a 10 foot pipe on your bicycle in the middle of the street? Not a problem. Want to ride your scooter into oncoming traffic or on the sidewalk? No problem once again. If someone turns left in front of you just pull into the oncoming lane to avoid it.
Maybe before we leave I will work up the guts to cross the street.

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Salon in NanChang

2009-09-10T01:34:00.001-05:00

Pic of a salon

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Farming village

2009-09-10T01:29:00.001-05:00

Today we went to the farming village just outside of NanChang. It smelled like a farm, that is for sure. Don't look if you are disturbed by this, but a local man was cutting up a stray dog for his lunch. You can also see some of the plumbing they have. Appreciate what you have in the USA.

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Pizza Hut for lunch today

2009-09-10T01:21:00.001-05:00

They don't put much sauce on the pizza, it was okay. The waffle fries were good! After lunch we went to haagen daz for ice cream and it was the best food we have had all week!

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Finally back in the hotel room on Wednesday afternoon

2009-09-09T02:01:00.001-05:00

Sisters!

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Wednesday afternoon at Tengwang Pavilion

2009-09-09T02:00:00.001-05:00

Rising high above the bank of the Ganjiang River, the Tengwang Tower was first built in 659AD by the then prefectural governor of Hongzhou (present day Nanchang) Li Yuanming, or Tengwang. Poems written by Tang dynasty (618-907AD) poet Wang Bo have made the tower famous. The tower was rebuilt and repaired 28 times and in 1989 it was renovated in the Song style. This granite structure is 9 storys high and houses numerous gift shops, a tea house, exhibition halls and a natural history museum.

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Wednesday morning in NanChang

2009-09-09T01:53:00.001-05:00

First we had to take a picture of the man trying to push his bike with the heavy load. Then there is a pic of the ladies dancing in the street, they do this every morning by the hotel. And they just love babies, so they gather around.

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Ice cream and a bath

2009-09-07T20:25:00.001-05:00

Finally, Lia had some of daddy's ice cream on the bus and then took a bath back at the hotel.

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NanChang

2009-09-07T20:23:00.001-05:00

Here are some more photos of the city (pronounced NanChung but spelled NanChang). They have the second largest square in China behind Tiananmen square.

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NanChung Walmart

2009-09-07T20:17:00.001-05:00

The Walmart in NanChung was quite an experience. Everyone was gathering around us, and a few people wanted to practice their English. The store was packed, and they had like 2 people working in every aisle. What I found interesting was that they had raid bug killer on the same shelf as the food. Many aisles just had random stuff on them, but then some of the aisles had sections of products grouped like in the states. We saw a group training, and doing some cheerleading to prepare for their shift.

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Chinese dominoes?

2009-09-07T20:11:00.001-05:00

Everyone here hangs out in the park and plays games. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dominoes

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Buddah

2009-09-07T20:08:00.001-05:00

Someone said we could not get closer, so I zoomed in to take a picture of the buddah. The Bogota (tower) is all covered up because they are repairing it for the upcoming "holiday" in October. I guess it is 1400+ years old. The buddah is at the ground level in the Bogota.

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I am going to post a series of pictures starting now

2009-09-07T20:04:00.001-05:00

The first one is right outside our hotel in NanChang. A cool looking archway. And there is a small store on the left hand side where we bought some drinks. (the one with the red sign)

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More pics

2009-09-07T00:49:00.001-05:00

It appears the videos are too large to post to the blog, and I do not have any video editing software so here are some various pictures we have taken of NanChang and our new girl Lia. Also you can see our Chinese airline food, including a dried fish filet and some sort of green fruit?

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A lot to catch up on!

2009-09-07T00:23:00.001-05:00

I know everyone wants more baby pics, those are coming! First I want to catch you up on the last couple days. I cant see the blog, so sorry if I repeat myself!
Yesterday we left Hong Kong for Nanchang. Nanchang is way different than Hong Kong. It is really different here. When are plane landed we got off the plane in the middle of a concrete field basically. We had to take a bus over to the airport where we went through a health check and immigration. It was actually pretty scary. No one says anything and its extremely serious, and hot. Did I tell you how hot it is here? Really hot!
Nanchang is extremely poor, It is pretty obvious. We will post some pictures of the city, it is like nothing you have seen before. There are people everywhere, and the traffic is really crazy. There are stoplights but for the most part no one pays any attention to them. When you first look around you may be afraid to wander around outside but it is actually a very safe city. All of the locals seem extremely friendly. They like to try their English out on you. This is not a tourist area so we really stand out. You have to be here to really understand all of this. We will share some pics and video.
Lia- is an absolute doll!! We just love her to pieces already. This morning we had all of our official appointments. She is legally ours now in the eyes of the Chinese government. We are soooo lucky. Gotcha went well! It was a little different than I had imagined, but it went well. The rest of our travel groups babies all came from a different orphanage than Lia. So we got to see them get their babies. It was really an amazing moment. Than they all took the babies back to the hotel rooms, and than Lia came! She really hardley cried. Just a little wimper is all. She is so pretty, and sweet. She didnt eat a whole lot last night. But- she did pretty good this morning. She slept all night, but much better than her mommy did! She has a little bit of a cold it seems, but over all she is doing much better than I expected!
I will get some pics uploaded now! We have an exciting trip to Wal-Mart planned for this afternoon!

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We have Lia!

2009-09-06T07:26:00.001-05:00

I will add more information later, but just wanted to share this first picture!

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Last day in Hong Kong

2009-09-05T04:27:00.001-05:00

We went on a tour today of Hong Kong. First we went to Victoria's Point (or was it Victoria's Peak?). Then we went to the bay to see the fishermen. Following that we toured a jewelery factory, followed by shopping and a dim sum lunch. We are leaving in the morning for NanChang, so the next you hear from me I should have Lia! Enjoy the pics.

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Hong Kong

2009-09-04T00:26:00.001-05:00

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2009-09-03T16:57:00.001-05:00

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In China

2009-09-03T16:18:00.001-05:00

We made it!! The trip wasn't to awful but it was definetly long! I was so happy to get off that darn plane! I thought Ivy would of slept a lot more than she did. But no.
It's 5am now and we are all pretty much awake, guess we will get an early start on today.
I will share my first impressions of Honk Kong. A very cool city. New York on steroids is how someone explained it to me before we got here, and it makes total sense. It is beautiful! Extremely clean, fashion forward, and it kind of smells like a Chinese restaurant. And HOT!!! I only felt it at night, and it was very hot!!
Not sure what we are doing today, getting used to our surroundings I guess. The rest of the travel group comes today, tomorrow is Hong Kong tour, Sunday is Lia day!
Hope everyone is well!!!

And we are almost off!

2009-09-02T05:58:00.000-05:00

Its 5:45 am, and we are as ready as we are going to be. Just waiting for our car. Which is quite appropriate because this whole process has been a lot of waiting.
We did good packing. Don't think we over packed at all. We each have one large suitcase and a backpack to carry on. I plan on buying a suitcase in Guangzhou for all the stuff I'm planning on buying!
Its crazy to think that when I
walk back into this house we will have another family member! Its been a long time coming! Two failed adoptions, and a couple of years of fertility treatments. This is the beginning of the end of that story.
I know I am lucky, but didn't feel that way at times during this process. Some people say Lia is lucky, that we will never really know. We can't say for sure what her life would be like if she wasn't adopted by us. But I know for sure that life is good, we will all be happy most of the time.
Now on to make the rest of the story, starting with a Continental flight to Newark, then to Hong Kong. We have about 21 hours total travel time ahead of us!
Talk to you on the other side!
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Test

2009-08-31T18:40:00.000-05:00

One last time
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Its getting close!

2009-08-30T10:35:00.001-05:00

Things are starting to come together! I get my baby one week from today! I will be a mom to two! I wonder what she will be like? I know she will be scared, but I hope she can adjust somewhat quickly.
I have had such horrible allergies this month. They go from one ear to the next. Even with taking an allergy pill everyday. I hope they don't bother me to much on the plane.
Back to operation Lia.... I have everything I need. Just need to do some laundry, and get it all in the suitcases! Oh and I would like to get the house clean! I will not want to clean when I get home. I have Mon and Tues to get this done. I think it will be all good!
Wow I used to talk about going to China, now I'm already thinking about coming home.
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A little update

2009-08-27T09:56:00.000-05:00

I found the things I thought I lost. Not really lost at all! We have figured out how to email pics and video to the blog. Which is great since blogger is blocked in China, along with FB.
We leave on Wed! Woohoo, 6 days and I am going to China. I was able to get a good price on airfare which leaves more money for shopping. I'm still finding it hard to believe that when we come home I will have Lia! I have waited soooo long! We come home on Sept 18th. I think its kinda cool that we leave China on the 18th and get home the same day, even though total travel time is almost 24 hours! The longest day ever!
And my mom is coming now too! Yeah.
Still have a lot of shopping and packing to do, not sure what I am waiting for!
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What happened

2009-08-26T20:38:00.001-05:00

I've emailed a few post and they are not here
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Testing video email

2009-08-26T20:36:00.001-05:00

Testing a video attachment to the blog now
08-26-09

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Testing email blog

2009-08-26T20:29:00.001-05:00

Testing an emailed blog entry with a photo attachment
08-26-09

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Getting close!

2009-08-22T08:37:00.001-05:00

On Thurs the 20th we got TA! Was hoping to have confirmed CA by Fri but we didn't get it. I was a little bummed, hopefully Monday.
Really I could use the time. I still have a lot of stuff to get in line before we leave. I have been doing things non stop, and have a ways to go.
Ivy starts 4th grade on Mon. She says she is ready to go back to school. Don't tell her but I like her being home with me! But at the same time I will get more done with her gone!
Don't remember if I blogged it, but Miss Lia is getting so big ( I got updated pictures) I need to see her, hold her, and love her. Its looking like we will be in China Sep 3, if we get that CA! In some ways. It seems so soon, in others it seems so far!
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Lia's shower is today!

2009-08-16T11:10:00.001-05:00

In a few hours is Lia's shower. I am just full of different emotions. I am so excited that this is all finally happening. I wonder when it will feel real though. Probably the flight home from China!
I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful group of family and friends! I really don't know how I got sooo lucky! But I really am! Lia has no idea how many people are so excited about her being here!
I bought Ivy a special bracelet I'm giving her at the shower. I love her, and I'm so proud of what she is becoming.

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I'm starting to get impatient!

2009-08-13T13:26:00.001-05:00

I want our TA! We should have our Visas today, shower on Sun, a day or two to pack. I'm ready to bring Miss Lia home. Now where is that TA?!? Anyone!
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2009-08-10T21:19:00.000-05:00

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A test with a video

2009-08-10T21:16:00.001-05:00

Here goes nothing
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Test post

2009-08-10T19:17:00.000-05:00

Emailing the blog. Hope this one works! I'm going to try attatching a pic too.
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Waiting again

2009-08-10T19:02:00.002-05:00

So almost 3 weeks since we saw our pretty girls picture!! At first I didn't think it would be too hard to wait 5-8 to travel, but i have to admit it's wearing on me. I'm always looking at the clock wondering what she is doing. I worry about her. I want to know she is happy, and safe. Can you fall in love with a picture? I have!
I have been keeping myself busy. Had a lot of paperwork to do, got Lia's room ready. Still have a ot of clothes to wash, and definitely have more packing to do. My friends are having a shower for me on Sunday. It's exciting, it makes it more real. I don't think I will really believe it until I'm holding her in my arms.
I have done some research on her province, and sent a care package to her.
Now- I just need time to move along!

Now what!

2009-07-26T09:47:00.002-05:00

After all this time we have a picture of our beautiful little girl! So- now what? We have a lot to prepare, then we go get her. Our agency says it can be 4-8 weeks for travel. Most are leaving in 5. I can't wait to hold her! The last few days have been a whirlwind but now I'm trying to research where she is from, and do all I can to get ready for her.
We are soooo very excited, I'm going to look at her pic. now!

Here she is!!!

2009-07-22T14:21:00.003-05:00

Fu-Jiu-Lian
Jan 25th, 2009
Jiangxi Province

Blog problems

2009-07-02T09:28:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I did a test- I emailed my blog, my post. It didn't work!! Why I wonder? Everytime I go sign in it says my password is incorrect! Soo frustrating. I need to figure all this out by the time I go to China. Really- I don't have the patience right now.

OMG!!!!!

2009-07-01T15:42:00.002-05:00

I've been locked out of my blog and I have so much to say!!!!!

First of all the good neww---WE ARE NEXT!!!! We will get our referral with the next batch! Yippee, yahoo!!

Now the bad- So many people are getting quarantined when in China. It's kind of scary! It is messing with all of my travel plans, the plans I had in my head about how our trip will go! So- now I don't know what to do!! Do we all still go as a family. To do I leave Andy at home with Ivy? Do I leave Ivy home with grandma? That last one is hardly an option. She will absolutely lose it!

2-4 weeks, and I will see my lil girls face! Can't wait!

Ha!

2009-04-21T14:10:00.002-05:00

I went back and read some of my old blog. It's funny how things have not changed in the last 3 years!!! Same old complaining of wait times so on and so forth! But At that time I was complaining about a 9-12 month wait.
I've survived it so far.

It's been awhile

2009-04-21T13:25:00.002-05:00

After starting a new blog, the vows to be better, this is what happens!
I guess I have a hard time staying on track, especially with something I expected to be a 9-12 month thing. We have been waiting for over 3 years now! Lets face it, life gets in the way sometimes!
So- whats new? I have been busy busy!! I don't know how I will do all this next year with a little one in tow! I didn't even read my last post, so not sure where to start.
We went to Disney in November, had a great time!! Ivy loved every minute of it. She turned 9 in December. When we started this second baby process she was 3! Where does the time go? Next week we are going to the Bahamas. Yeah- I'm ready to get away. You would not believe how many "last" vacations we have taken! It's always the last one before the baby...... but the baby never comes!
Baby- I honestly think we are getting close!! CCAA has referred through March 8, of 2006. 13 days until our LID. See- we really are close. I'm guessing we will recieve our referral at the end of June/beginning of July. I hope we can get travel in before Ivy starts school in the fall. It looks possible, but will be close. As we inch our way to the front of this long line I'm finding myself getting panicky! I'm worrying about everything from the food we will eat in China, to attatchment issues. The rooms not ready, I haven't bought a thing, the house isn't baby proofed! Am I going to be able to take of a baby again? I'm scared, but I'm ready. Things have just become so easy around here.
A couple weeks ago I baby sat for a friend. The poor baby cried a hour straight. The minute his mom took him he was fine. He hated me, I believe my baby will hate me at first too! That scares me!
Well now that I've worked myself into panic mode, I'm stopping for today! Hopefully you will hea from me before our referral. but- I'm not making any promises.

Adoption Forecast

2008-10-09T12:56:00.003-05:00

I was just playing with The China Adoption Forecast. It said we should get our referral on April 10. Sounds about right to me. Way back when we started this whole oredeal It made big jumps from month to month. Our date always being pushed firther and further away. It seems to have stabled lately. April isn't that far away. I'm waiting, actually i'm pretty patient these days.
Part of that is because I keep super busy, and try to not think about it that much. I have a new obsession with Facebook. That keeps me off my adoption websites so I don't obsess with that. Some who read this blog are way familiar with our story. Others are not. For the longest time I didn't think I wanted it on the internet. You know, I think I'm ready to share it with the world. Maybe someone can get something from it. Maybe someone will realize they are not alone in this frustrating journey. I know I'm not, but I still like to hear from others in my postion. In my "real" life I am alone. I do not have a friend or family member that really gets "it". I do have my friends that I met through the adoption boards. They are great, they have helped me get through a lot of this stuff. I'm going to think about it a little more. But- I may do a small blog series on this path that has brought me here. Stay tuned............ If anything it will be like therapy for me right?!?!?

Referrals

2008-10-02T17:26:00.002-05:00

It's time for that monthly referral update. I don't have an exact date, but it looks like they came up through Feb 15. Not bad. That leaves 34 days until ours. Which equals 6-7 months. If you look at my days waiting graphic on the side, then this is nothing. What a long process. At this point I'm really hoping for a May referral. I would rather not take Ivy out of school if I don't need to. But- I'm not going to complain if it comes much sooner!
Besides that not much is new. Ivy went camping with grandpa and grandma last weekend. This weekend Andy is going on his annual golf outing with his buddies. Hmmmmm- I think I need something to do. I'm going away for a weekend too, but in December. I just need to wait my turn.

How do you brush?

2008-09-28T16:30:00.002-05:00

So- we have this debate going on here about how you brush your teeth. Say you floss, brush, and use mouthwash, what order do you do it in? I have always flossed, then brushed, and finished with mouthwash. My husband insists on using mouthwash first. It makes no sense to me. I have noticed that after a cleaning at the dentist they will then run floss through. So- maybe brush than floss. It still doesn't "feel" right to me. I googled this question the other day and I got mixed responses. So- maybe there isn't a correct answer. Though I'm definitely the majority. What do you do?

A whole lot of nothing going on

2008-09-18T15:50:00.002-05:00

Here I go again. Not much posting. But there really hasn't been much to post. The last adoption news I posted. Here at home things have been normal. School, Girl scouts, PTA the usual. Definetly busy but nothing worth sharing with the entire world!
We do have some exciting things coming up though. We are spending a weekend i Lake Geneva, Andy is going on a golf trip. Leaving Ivy and I alone. Oh so sad. Do you hear the sarcasm? In November we are going to Disney. I can't wait for Ivy to see Disney! Then of course the holidays, then China.............. Just maybe!!!

Adoption chit chat

2008-09-08T09:25:00.005-05:00

It's really starting to hit me that this China adoption is going to happen. It's been such long, long road that I'm going to have to see it, to believe it. But- we are getting close. It actually makes me nervous, Ivy is going to be 9 by the time we bring the baby home. That so wasn't the plan. Well, it wasn't my plan. I guess things don't always go according to plan. There have been many times during this process that I thought about dropping out. I am so glad I haven't. It gets hard sometimes, sometimes you really feel as if no one understands. People make very strange comments,ones that hurt, or make you wonder if your doing the right thing. I know that we are doing the right thing. I know we will be wonderful parents to this baby. I know Ivy will be a great big sister like she has wanted to be for so long. I know this baby will be loved by many. 6-8 months to go, lets do it!
Along those lines, I've been reading baby name books again. We were going to name her Addy, but I guess it didn't stand the test of time. I now have neice named Maddy, and it's just to close for me. I'm hoping they will grow up together and be close so I'd like there names a little further apart. I also want something shorter. To the point, like Ivy! I've got a few things in mind. Andy agrees with me on a couple too. But- were going to hold off on making a commitment to any of them right now.

It's referral time!

2008-09-03T11:03:00.003-05:00

I guess the news isn't all that bad. CCAA referred thru Feb 9, 2006. That's nine days but, there were only people logged in for 4 because of Chinese New Year. The good news is there was only 22 days between this group of matches and the last.
This is where we are 41 days left until our LID 3/22/06) China adoption forecast is forecasting a referral of 4/5/09 for us. 7 months, I can take that!

Pictures, Pictures!!!

2008-08-28T22:05:00.002-05:00

Finally some pictures!
The first two are from the concert. Note my blonde hair!
The next one is Ivy on her first day of school.
The last one is my "new" hair.
Don't you think I look like a rockstar!?!?!?!

Bored*

2008-08-27T18:06:00.001-05:00

See my cute game at the bottom of the page!

First Day of school

2008-08-27T17:34:00.002-05:00

Monday was Ivy's first day of school. Yes, that was the day after the concert, I'm a bad mommy! I can't believe she is in third grade already. My how the time flies by. She loves it, she loves her teacher, and her friends. Actually she loves life, and is always pretty happy, so it doesn't surprise me she loves school again this year. Pictures from the first day, and the concert should be following soon. I'm waiting for them to end up on my desktop so I can post them here.In the meantime here is a cute little poem I found!

There's Nothing in My Bag Today

Today I did my math and science,
I toasted bread.
I halved and quartered.
I counted, measured, used my eyes,
and ears and head.
I added and subtracted on the way,
I used a magnet, blocks, and memory tray.
I learnt about a rainbow and how to weigh.
So please don't say, anything in your bag today?

You see I'm sharing as I play.
I learned to listen and
speak clearly when I talk,
to wait my turn, and when inside to walk.
To put my thoughts into a phrase,
to guide a crayon through a maze.
To find my name and write it down,
to do it with a smile and not a frown.
To put my pasting brush away,
So please don't say, what, nothing in your bag today?

I've learnt about a snail and a worm,
remembering how to take my turn.
Helped a friend when he was stuck,
learnt that water runs off a duck.
I looked at words from left to right,
agreed to differ, not to fight.
So please don't say, did you only play today?

Jonas Brothers

2008-08-27T17:14:00.002-05:00

I took Ivy to her first concert on Sunday. We went and saw The Jonas Brothers. It was insane. I have never seen so many girls in my life. Man can they scream. I have been to a lot of concerts and never has one been this loud. She had an absolute blast, and told me it was the best day of her whole life. It was all worth it!

The Bachelor

2008-08-22T10:48:00.004-05:00

I am an addict!! I just read that Jason is the next Bachelor. If you watched last season of the show, you know that Deanna chose Jesse over Jason. I think it was a big upset. But- I liked both of them. Jason has a son that I think everyone who watched the show just fell in love with. If anyone is interested I heard they are trying to cast the bachelorettes now. Send in your videos!!

The 80's

2008-08-21T12:05:00.004-05:00

I read Rumor Queen religiously because of our China adoption. There is a thread about the 80's coming back. It has me thinking. What are some of your favorite fashion trends of the 80's?
parachute pants
jelly shoes
leg warmers
rolled jeans
big permed hair
Aqua net ( I used Salon Selective)
jelly bracelets
socks layered over the bottom of your jeans, to match your layered button up shirts!
shoulder pads
acid washed jeans
leggings
stir-up pants
big belts
It seems like the list goes on and on.
I've got stories on some of these fads. Some are back in full swing. Would you wear them? I'll do leggings with a long top.I also like the flat shoes are back "in" I wish I had an old picture of myself to put on here. My hair was cut off in most of them!

Am I really that computer stupid?

2008-08-20T09:26:00.002-05:00

The answer is yes!!!! Blogger is supposed to be super easy to use, and I still can't figure it out. As time goes on I'm sure I'll get better. I see so many cute blogs out there, I get extremely jealous. I want mine to be cute! I got a little better on my old one, but it's been so long now I don't remember how to do it.
Ivy is in the city today with grandma and grandpa. All I have to do is a bulletin board at school, so I have lots of time to play with my blog. By the end of the day it may look pretty different. Or not.....

Do you volunteer?

2008-08-19T16:56:00.005-05:00

My daughter is in third grade this year. I've been volunteering at school since she was in kindergarten. I do it because I like it. I do it because I think it's good to know parents of her friends. I am her Brownie leader, and I'm vice president of the PTA this year, andI help out with things in the classroom too. My only complaint is this time of year everything seems quite overwhelming. So much to do, and so little time to do it in. And the drama, you can't please everyone! I guess that was two complaints.
Do you volunteer? Why? If not, why?

My new blog

2008-08-19T00:08:00.000-05:00

I started my blog a long time ago for the adoption of our daughter from China. This was when I didn't think it would be that long. I've decided that I have a lot to say, a lot I want to share, it doesn't make much sense to share it all on a China adoption blog! Maybe I'll post more often now too- since my subject is greatly broadened.
I'm going to share a lot. Adoption will definitely be a focus. I'll also share stories of my family, and friends. Of course everyone will be super excited to hear about my exciting life as a hairstylist, and busy volunteering mom! Anything goes on this blog.
The good, the bad, the ugly, the exciting, and even the not so much.
So- give me some time to get things organized around here. Then stop by as often as you would like.
I really believe there is a story in here, somewhere. Step by step I'm going to find it!

Step By Step

6 months!!!

I want to go back

Almost 1!

Been home 2 months!

The Guangzhou zoo

The red couch

The Kadisak girls

Shopping!

Going out to dinner!

Checkup for the Visa

We saw Gheorghe Muresan at breakfast today - forgot the camera!

Swim time!

The Chen house

The Liurong Temple

Some pics with the artwork for sale

White Swan Hotel Guangzhou

We arrived in Guangzhou!

A day in the park

Oops

NanChang traffic

Salon in NanChang

Farming village

Pizza Hut for lunch today

Finally back in the hotel room on Wednesday afternoon

Wednesday afternoon at Tengwang Pavilion

Wednesday morning in NanChang

Ice cream and a bath

NanChang

NanChung Walmart

Chinese dominoes?

Buddah

I am going to post a series of pictures starting now

More pics

A lot to catch up on!

We have Lia!

Last day in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

In China

And we are almost off!

Test

Its getting close!

A little update

What happened

Testing video email

Testing email blog

Getting close!

Lia's shower is today!

I'm starting to get impatient!

A test with a video

Test post

Waiting again

Now what!

Here she is!!!

Blog problems

OMG!!!!!

Ha!

It's been awhile

Adoption Forecast

Referrals

How do you brush?

A whole lot of nothing going on

Adoption chit chat

It's referral time!

Pictures, Pictures!!!

******Bored*******

First Day of school

Jonas Brothers

The Bachelor

The 80's

Am I really that computer stupid?

Do you volunteer?

My new blog

Bored*