Can you say OUCH?

Our weekend has been filled with lots of hugs, snuggles and Motrin. On Friday, Little Miss had an unfortunate run in with the "mag-a-deen wack". Unfortunately, the inside of her "wip" and her "vamp-eye toof" didn't play nice during the altercation. One bloody mess and a trip to the Pediatrician later she lived to tell about it. Did you know if you have a LARGE gaping hole on the inside of your lip they won't sew it up unless the puncture goes all the way through? Well, now you do. Her newly acquired speech impediment has made for a few funny moments thanks to the swelling but it hasn't slowed the chatter box. Thankfully no tooth damage--just a monster purple "boo-boo" on the inside and just enough of one on the outside to make people wonder what kind of parents we are. Feel free to leave her get well wishes. She loves to "see me on da tum-pewter" so I know she would love to receive special feel better messages especially for her.

Swine Flu... Schmineflu...

So what are the chances that a potential pandemic would break out while we are waiting to finalize our adoption??? Well Well WELL! If you've been around long enough you know the answer to that. If it is strange, rare or unbelievable it's going to land in our laps. About six years ago, one of my BFF's (Laura Non Blogger) dubbed the phrase "the black cloud". Our nemesis, Mr. Black Cloud (because a girl cloud would never follow someone around this long) likes to show up in the strangest places.

That brings us to the latest visit from Mr. Black Cloud. The internets are buzzing with all sorts of possibilities. Hot off the presses...they (being the country of Ch-na) are going to stop processing adoptions for the next 30 days and then reevaluate the situation at the end of that time. Don't get me wrong. I understand their hesitancy with the potential spread of the illness but why does EVERYTHING have to stop? I understand a halt in travel approvals but EVERYTHING? Our dossier doesn't have swine flu on it! Why let our paperwork collect dust for the next 30 days? Now don't start flaming me because I'm being insensitive to those who are very ill or have lost loved ones. I'm not saying that isn't horrible. I'm just sayin' they need to keep pushing the paper while the world waits to see what's going to happen.

I would like to conduct an unofficial poll on this one. Who thinks I'm going to be a looney before this is over? ------------------------------- OH PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN PEOPLE! Swine Flu... Schmineflu... We just want our girl...

The United Tour...

How awesome to see both of these guys share the stage. You may have no idea who they are but I have loved both of them for years. Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W Smith...Most know the Chapman family has had a very difficult year after losing their daughter Maria last May. The entire venue was in tears as he shared his heart about the road his family has walked through. Yet even in the midst of his own tragedy and physical heartbreak he wholeheartedly claimed the name of Jesus. I am certain the death of Maria is not the testimony he would have signed up but He is handling it with such grace. In so many ways, this family is a shining example to the world. Back to the concert. They played until their fingers must of ached. They sang their hearts out. They poked fun at each other. They sang the others music from back in the day. I have loved Michael W. Smith since I was in middle school. Enough so that some of the girls in my class decided we should all sing "Friends are Friends Forever" at 8th grade graduation. Thankfully Mrs. Fisher saw the writing on the wall and saved us all from the humiliation. Let's face it. None of us went on to Celine Dion status if you know what I mean. Even if I'm only shower soloist status I can still love the man, can't I?Too bad it took them 20 years to do this. I hope they do not want 20 more to do it again. What an amazing night of fun and worship.

Ding-Dong...

6 pm on a beautiful spring evening:

**DING-DONG**

Someone's at the door! SOMEONE'S AT THE DOOR! {The Chief opens the door to see Wild Man's friend--a precious little girl from his class who lives a few houses away--standing on the porch}

Can "Wild Man" come out to play?

Ummmm...sure. We'll come out after we finish dinner.

The three of them scarfed down dinner and headed out for the first (of what I'm sure will be many) cul-de-sac kick ball games. Five little people. Two Dads. Seven smiles. One Mommy left behind to clean up the dinner whirlwind.

And so it begins...
The first official door bell call. I know this will not be the last time my door bell rings for someone other than the two grown ups in the house. It's only the beginning. A bittersweet milestone for this Mommy all of us. {sigh} My baby boy is growing up (and his little sister is tagging right along with him).

Spring Fling...

Wild Man's absolute favorite thing in the world--JUMPY HOUSES...


(Yes, I forgot to make him wear his class shirt today. Oops--bad Mommy--bad Mommy!)

Loving the Springtime...

I've been holding out hope that our Pre-Approval would arrive so I could unveil the new spring blog design in it's entirety. Unfortunately it hasn't arrived yet and I know you are as tired of looking at snowflakes as I am. Sooooooo...here is the new design minus the face of our little MeiMei --- soon to be revealed once my phone rings with PA. If anyone talks to C2A2 feel free to them I'm waiting not so patiently for their call. :-) Happy Spring everyone!

Update on Mei Mei...

On Monday, we received an update on Mei Mei (baby sister). I've been holding out hope we would receive PA this week. It's Friday and the call still hasn't come in. So, I guess you'll have to admire another snippet until we can reveal her to the world.
Head size: 44.8cm
Chest size: 46cm
Height: 73cm
Feet length: 11cm
Weight: 9kg
Teeth: top 3 bottom: 3

Personality: active, restless, alert, sweet, afraid of stranger
Motor skills: walk two or three step alone, walk freely with help, can make single sound like Mama(Mum), Baba(Daddy), Gege(big brothers), Gougou(Dog)

Developmentally she appears on target. She's even speaking four words--that is a HUGE praise! Obviously she is calling her foster parents Mama and Baba but that is typical in this situation. We also learned there are other children in the home because one of her words is Gege (big brother). We are so thankful she is being loved right now until we can bring her home. I am sure the transition will be difficult at first (note: afraid of stranger) but with time she will adjust to us. As soon as we receive PA I promise to post new pics. Hopefully soon...

Fine Arts Night...

After each PTO meeting, one grade has the opportunity to show off in the area of fine arts (art, music and physical education). The entire gym was covered in art work made by the Kindergartners. Here he is with all three of his masterpieces...
The Kindergarten music theme was Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (his class--looking at photo--far left)...
They even mimed a song in it's entirety. Surprisingly, the entire Kindergarten was in unison. I wonder how many hours they practiced? Wild Man does not like music class--AT ALL--so we were surprised he was having so much fun.Trying to teach Little Miss to mime...

Easter Parade...

The Devastation and the Resurrection...

I am still trying to process the devastation I have seen over the past 48 hours. Never before have I witnessed the aftermath of such a storm. Quite frankly, I hope this is the one and only time I do. At times it has been hard to comprehend it all. Homes literally demolished from the ground up. Debris all across the city. Hundred year old trees tossed aside as if they had been plucked from the earth like spring daffodils. The look on MG's beloved Mrs. Lori's face this morning when she told me her home was destroyed. The death of a mother and her 9 week old newborn. It is all so unbelievable.

And yet, in all the tragedy there have been great blessings. Out of hundreds of severely damaged homes, only two deaths have been reported. A family spared while riding out the storm in the pantry closet of their kitchen. It was the only room left standing on the foundation of their home. Every other wall in the home sucked up by the tornado. Citizens have rallied together to help those affected. Complete strangers have helped complete strangers and asked for nothing in return. City, county and state public services have been out in full force. Churches have mobilized disaster teams to help in any way they can. It has been community at it's best despite the circumstances.

Today is Easter Sunday. The day we celebrate the Resurrection. At church this morning, there was a bit of sadness in the air after all that has transpired. And yet, even in the midst of circumstances, there was hope. May we all be reminded that hope is not in temporary "stuff" but in the One who gave everything for each of us. Happy Easter everyone!

Safe & Sound---thankfully...

Thank you to all of our wonderful friends and family who called to check on us today. It was quite an afternoon here in our neck of the woods. Tornadoes touched down across the city but thankfully we are safe and unharmed. Many here have not fared as well losing their homes, their belongings and a sadly a few lives were lost as well. Thousands of people are without power and who knows when they will be able to restore all of the power lines.This was the view from my front window at 1:26 pm. Note the tree line across the bottom and the funnel cloud forming above. I happened to have the camera nearby so I snapped a quick one just to prove it to all the nonbelievers. Apparently there were several funnel clouds that formed today but not all made it to the ground. Thankfully. I didn't stick around gazing out the window to see what was going to happen. I rounded up my kiddos for a little impromptu "hallway camping adventure" until the hail and winds died down. Our hot tub was damaged but in the big picture...who cares! We are all safe and that's what matters. Please pray for those who did not fare as well today.

What happens now?

I promise I will come back to the story of her referral. It is truly an amazing story but one that I haven't had time to write down yet. For now, the one question we have received most in the past 11 days is "What happens now"?

Well, unfortunately the answer is more waiting. Imagine that! :-) There are so many variables in the rest of this process we can only estimate when we will be able to bring her home. Here is a quick run down of each step before we can board the big bird to China...
Letter of Intent (LOI): 3-27-09
Pre-Approval (PA): ~2-4 wks from LOI
Letter of Seeking Confirmation (LOSC): ~12-16 wks from LOI (includes wait for PA)
i800/Article 5: ~4-6 wks from LOSC
Travel Approval (TA): ~2-4 wks from Article 5
CA: ~4-7 days from TA
Travel to China: ~1-3 wks from confirmed CA

Basically this gives us a range of 20-30 weeks from the day our letter of intent was submitted to CCAA. I know....I know....huge range of time. There are so many factors this is the best I can do at this point. When I compare the time frame with the calendar it puts us LEAVING for China some time between August 12 - October 21. Late September/early October would be best for our children at home but we will work it all out when the time comes.

Now I will throw out the disclaimer that most of you have already figured out in the journey of our adoption.........ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! We could be in China in July (not likely) or we could be in China in December (please no). Once we receive our LOSC we can narrow it all down a bit more. For now, we await PA. Once that arrives we will be "pre-approved" for OUR daughter specifically. Once we receive word it has arrived I'll be able to share photos. Until then you'll have to be content with this...
I look forward to the day I can hold this precious hand instead of admiring it from afar. OH! I almost forgot...just in case you missed it, I would like you to note in both of her referral photographs she is wearing PINK! I bet Mr. CCAA took one look at that pink bow and knew exactly what he needed to do........find us a girly-girl.

A Dual Celebration...

The Chief is turning 31 on the 31st...
five days after our newly introduced MeiMei turned one...
Since we received her referral the day after her first birthday we decided to celebrate both birthdays together. No, she is not here yet. That's OK. We are celebrating her special day regardless. We broke out the appropriate boy and girl plates for the occasion at the request of the little people. Little Miss chose the cupcakes. Wild Man chose the candles. Happy Birthday Daddy! Happy Birthday MeiMei! Next year we'll have a REAL party for the new March birthday duo.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

You're no longer touching your 20's (at the ripe old age of 31) but we couldn't care less. No matter how old you are, we'll still think you're the best thing since goldfish and peanut butter. We love you "all the way to the moon and back again 100 times".

XOXO,
J, MG and MH

(P.S. Mommy says we can't post pictures of our meimei
but she didn't say we couldn't post a picture of her picture.
We think if you click it you can see her a little closer.
Mommy says this is called a "technicality".
Since it's our Daddy's birthday we think a technicality is A-OK)

Have I known you all my life?

I didn’t give you the gift of life,

But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.
For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true.
No, I didn’t give you the gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you.
– Unknown

She is, indeed, OUR daughter!
Thank you so much for your prayers over the past few days.
We are hesitant to post photos until we have direct confirmation from China.
More details and mini-photos to come when we float back down from cloud 9.

Waiting for the Sky to Part...the finale...

Once everyone went to bed I spent a little more time with my pal Google. I joined the yahoo group for families with children from her orphanage. I joined the yahoo group for cleft affected children. I sent email requests to several well respected physicians and pediatric dentists in our area. Then I began searching for more information on her foster village.

There is so much more to this story but for now I have to stop here. What I can tell you is this. For years I have prayed that our daughter would be loved and cared for until we can bring her home. He has answered our prayers. Never in a million years could I have imagined the blessing we have been given. Years ago, if someone had asked me to create the perfect scenario for our adoption I would have dreamed really small. Thankfully God didn't ask for my input or I would have messed it all up.

I've been reminded again and again that sometimes we have to trust God even when it doesn't make sense. In this instance, He didn't care about our extensive research or detailed lists. He had his own list. His own plan. His own personal agenda that has far exceeded all we could have imagined. Someday, hopefully soon, I hope to share the rest of the story.

Now to him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory
Ephesians 3:20-21

Waiting for the Sky to Part...part three...

We bailed on our camping weekend and came home a day early. Between the nasty weather and the stress of MeiMei's referral we couldn't take another night of the wilderness. Once we made it home and got settled we spent the afternoon researching everything we could find on her diagnosis. I believe knowledge is power is a true statement--at least for me--and it eased my fears to know more. Thank you Lord for the power of Google. Really--what did we ever do without it?

As the afternoon went on I started to feel a little better about everything (all the while the Chief is telling me to stop worrying because it's HER). As I looked through her file over and over again, it was the little things that stood out seemingly confirming we were meant to be her family. She's a Southern girl. She likes biscuits (as any Southern girl should). She's wearing pink in both of her referral photos. She's from an oil producing area of the country (the Chief is an oil distributor). Remember the mysterious I800A approval in December? Through the dates in her file we discovered we were completing our final piece of dossier paperwork at the exact same time she was completing her final document for her C2A2 file. Basically, while we were finishing our paperwork for her--she was finishing her paperwork for us. Coincidence? Naaahhh--we do not believe in coincidence. Yet I was still holding back. Still not convinced. Still waiting for the sky to part before I fell completely in love with a little girl who might not be ours. And then it happened.

Do you know the song What Now by Steven Curtis Chapman? It is one of many songs in my playlist on the office computer. I have listened to it literally hundreds of times but this time was different (and please don’t think I’m crazy because I'm not). When this song began to play it was as if the words were being whispered directly into my heart...



I saw the face of Jesus in a little orphan girl
She was standing in the corner on the other side of the world
And I heard the voice of Jesus gently whisper to my heart
Didn't you say you wanted to find me?
Well here I am, here you are

So, What now?
What will you do now that you found Me?
What now?
What will you do with this treasure you've found?
I know I may not look like what you expected
But if you remember this is right where I said I would be
You've found me
What now?

With these words I knew ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY WITHOUT QUESTION we were meant to be her family. It was as if a complete sense of peace washed over me. In those moments my mind immediately switched from "Is this HER?" to "This IS her!". After I turned off the waterworks (which were streaming in full force) I dragged the Chief in to listen. He listened intently as he didn't know the song as well as I did. With the first verse complete I knew what he was going to say before he opened his mouth. "I told you it was her--I told you!" he said...

Waiting for the Sky to Part...part two...

As we talked more and more about the Waiting Child program, I began researching and compiling a mental list. Those of you who know me well are laughing right now--me, research and mental lists. :-) Anyway, after much discussion, we felt confident in what we could and could not handle as a family. We compiled our list based upon that research and sent it in to our agency. Actually, we submitted four lists over the past year--each to replace the previous version. So as you can imagine, when our agency called with a need not on our current medical checklist, I was in shock. Could this be her? I think so--but I don't want to think--I want to know.

Throughout the first day and a half, I was so many things rolled into one big ball of butterflies. The Chief was certain it was her. Me being...well...being ME...I was still hanging on the fence. Ready to jump off but still holding on just in case. I continued to ask him, "How do you KNOW for sure?" Every time his reply was the same. "I don't know. But I do. It's her." I wanted that reassurance. I wanted to know ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY WITHOUT QUESTION it was her.

At 3 am on the night of MeiMei's referral, while everyone else was sleeping, I was curled up in the corner of the camper with a flashlight. I scoured every word of her file at least 10 times searching for some sort of connection--a sign if you will. I continued to pray, "Lord, please show me with certainty that she is OUR daughter" over and over again. Truthfully, though I know it doesn't happen like this, I'm pretty sure what I truly meant was "Lord, I'm waiting for the sky to part. I'm waiting for YOU to tell me she is ours. If you could do it just this one time then I'll know ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY WITHOUT QUESTION that she is OUR daughter. Go ahead. I can wait." And wouldn't you know it. I waited...and waited...and waited...

Waiting for the Sky to Part...part one...

Over the past few years we have prayed many prayers over this adoption. Some small (please let our background checks come today). Some Big (please do not let Mr. Fedex lose this box). Some HUGE (please ensure our pink bow clad dossier arrives safely in the hands of the C2A2). All appropriate things to submit to the Big Guy but none as important as the following...

1) That she would be loved and cared while she waits for her family
2) That we would KNOW with certainty that she was meant to be OUR daughter

Number 1 is obvious...please take care of her THERE while we wait for her here. Up until a month ago we didn't know who she was but obviously He did. He knew who we were praying for and ultimately we had to trust in His plan for our family.

Number 2 is a little more complicated. In the typical process, your agency calls you with a referral for YOUR child. In the Waiting Child process, they call you with a child's medical file to review and the decision is left up to you. You have a trusted physician, preferably one well versed in internationally adopted children, review the file. Then you can accept the file based upon their recommendations or pass it on to someone else. Can you see how much human-ness is involved in all of those steps? How much room for error there could be? I wanted to be sure she was ours--not based upon our agency finding A child for us--but based upon them finding OUR child for us. There is a difference...

THE CALL!

We were up bright and early this morning getting ready for our first family camping adventure. The kids were beside themselves with excitement. The parents----well, let’s just say we were cautiously optimistic. I had everything (and the RV kitchen sink) along with my trusty red referral folder (just in case we got the call). We packed the RV and headed out right before lunch…or so we thought…

We made it half way down our street and my cell phone rang. I saw the number and immediately started screaming. “IT’S PAM! IT’S PAM! IT’S PAM!” There was only ONE reason our agency director would be calling me. I was screaming “THIS IS IT! WHERE IS MY RED FOLDER? WHERE IS MY RED FOLDER?”

M: Hello!
P: M, It’s Pam. Stop where you are! Today is the day!
M: Ahhhhh! We’re just pulling out of our street. We haven’t left yet! I TOLD YOU YOU NEEDED TO KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING! [The Chief is looping the neighborhood to take us back home while I’m talking}]
P: I know! I know! Do you want to call me back?
M: NO! NO! TELL ME ABOUT HER!
P: Oh Misty! I think this is a great referral for you. I have a very young baby girl.................

We went through the file line by line. What is her medical need? Where is she from? How old is she? Today is her first birthday! Developmentally on target. Foster care. She’s beautiful–just a little button—a baldy. We talked through her file for about 20 minutes over the phone. Then she said...

P: What do you think? Do you want to review her file?
M: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those few minutes waiting for the file to arrive felt like hours. Thank goodness for email—I never would have made it waiting for Mr. Fedex Overnight. In the mean time I paged my friend Anna 9-1-1! She knew that was the code for a referral review and called back right away. Thank goodness for friends who happen to be Pediatricians. Then it came--the file popped up in my Inbox. OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS IT! We opened and printed the file, emailed it to Anna, and scoured each document for more information. After we felt like we had enough information to feel confident we were going to accept, we opened the photos. We didn’t tell Wild Man or Little Miss who we were looking at but we wanted to be together as a family when we “met” her for the first time. We opened the pictures............

Hello beautiful girl with the beautiful eyes. Have I known you all my life?

Within 35 minutes of the call we were back on the road for our camping adventure. We didn’t tell the kids anything about what was going on. We wanted to guard their hearts just in case. At 1:15 pm Anna called us back with her recommendation. We talked it through for a few minutes and then spoke the words I will never forget… "I think this is it. I think you say YES"! And that is exactly what we did…On the rainy afternoon of March 27, 2009 at 1:21 pm we said YES to the daughter and sister chosen to be part of our family. I was so fearful of making this decision in less than 48 hours. By the grace of God we made it in 1 hr 58 minutes. Unbelievable! Shortly after the YES call to our agency I showed the photos to Wild Man while Little Miss was sleeping. “Look Wild Man---do you know who this is?” With a big smile on his face he said “It’s MH!” Minutes later when Little Miss awoke I asked her the same question. “Look Little Miss---do you know who this is?” Her reply… “It’s MH!” I'm sure the looks on our faces after their replies would have been priceless. It was a beautiful moment of confirmation for the Chief and I. After all these years of knowing we would someday walk this path it is, indeed, MH! Praise God!