a blessed Thanksgiving to all...

All I have needed thy hands hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me...

Happy 7th Birthday Wild Man...

Today you are turning (5+2) or (15-8) or (25-18). Everything is a math problem these days but today the answers are all the same. 7. SEVEN. YEARS. OLD. How in the world did that HAPPEN? In honor of your 7th Birthday, here are seven things that make me gigantically (his word) proud to be your Mommy.

1. I love your smile. From annoyed grin to Cheshire cat smile, they all make me melt like chocolate on a hot summer day. What a handsome boy you are becoming...beautiful both inside and out. Someday I hope you find "a stinky girl" who loves that sweet smile as much as I do. In about 20 years from now. Deal?

2. I love the way you say, "Ohhhhh Moooooooom". It ranges from snarky to sincere but it makes me want to laugh every time I hear it. Sometimes I'm laughing on the inside... but I'm still laughing.
3. I love your silliness. Yes, sometimes it drives me bananas but when you break out that jokelopedia and start reading joke after silly joke (without any inflection in your voice and then a good hardy knee slap at the end) I always get a good chuckle.

4. I love the way your mind works. I am constantly in awe of the gifts God has blessed you. I am certain He has HUGE plans for your life and it is my privilege to sit in the front row cheering you on every step of the way. It is quite possible I will still be reminding you to put on socks before shoes or brush your teeth or put the tag in the back or...well, you get the picture...but I'll still be your biggest fan.
5. I love to hear you pray. You have no problem praying aloud in such a sincere and adult-like way. You always pray for a laundry list of family, friends, teachers, your little friend Uzias in Nicaragua and your friend Susannah. Always. I get a little teary the moment your words start to flow. Before MeiMei came home you prayed every day right along with the rest of us that she would be "safe and healthy until we can bring her home." He answered your prayer and ours as well.

6. I love when you become the little negotiator. Whether it's more Wii time or just one more cookie, you always have a request for more. Always. I know the strong will you have in that little mind of yours is going to lead you straight to the Supreme Court because you can argue with the best of them. I have NO IDEA where you get that from. It must be your Daddy. :-)
7. I love your heart. I love that you have no problem sharing hugs and kisses and pats with your Mom. I know those days will come to an abrupt end so I'm snatching as many as possible right now. I love that you love your sisters (even though they are "stinky girls" and mess up your stuff). I love that you think your Daddy is the best thing since peanut butter. Shhhh...don't tell him but I think he is too.

Now that I'm the Mom of a SEVEN YEAR OLD, I understand why people would say to me as a child, "I'm going to put a brick on your head". That's exactly what I want to do to you. You are growing up. You like Batman, Transformers and Wii games instead of "baby stuff". You'll negotiate your dinner for a little dessert in return. You can tie your own shoes (insert angelic chorus here) and read like a third grader. You have the memory of an elephant. You can fully illustrate the final scenes from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark after seeing it only once. You still hug your Kindergarten teacher every day on your way to first grade--because you miss her--and then you hug your First Grade teacher as well. You are nothing short of amazing to me in every sense of the word. I am incredibly thankful for each day of the past seven years. There is no other title I would rather carry than Mommy and you are the one who started it all.
Happy 7th Birthday Wild Man! You are strong and sweet and smart and brave and Mommy loves you...today, tomorrow and always.

Final Reply

If you would like to provide me with an email address I would be glad to discuss this with you in a more appropriate manner. This will be my final reply to your rude and hurtful comments on MY blog.

Adoption is a choice. It is a choice many families make for various reasons. We wanted another child and there are literally MILLIONS of children in the world who need parents. MILLIONS. Those little lives had already been created so why wouldn't we choose to parent one of those children? We felt this was God's plan for our family. Contrary to what you think, genetic material does not make a parent a parent. Believe me. I know that from personal experience. Yes, there are thousands of children here in the United States and millions in other countries who need families. We chose China because we felt that is where God was directing us. Nothing more. You are obviously very concerned about the children in the United States and I applaud you for that. If you knew me in real life, you would KNOW my heart is for these children. The ones all over the world who go to bed hungry or cold or without someone to tuck them in. It is my heart. It is my calling. It is what keeps me awake at night. I can tell you are very concerned about the children from the United States and I would be happy to provide you with the resources to help you adopt or foster one of them. My email is in the sidebar. One thing to note is you will be required to complete a homestudy which could prove problematic for you given your current feelings. A very good social worker can help you sort through those feelings. I do not know a social worker in Toledo, Ohio but I would be happy to help you find one.

The only thing we have "done" to our oldest children is give them a sister. Giving them the gift of an adopted sibling is no different than bringing home a new baby from the hospital. There is an adjustment period no matter how you choose to grow your family. Yes, our adoption has been difficult for our family. That is true but NOTHING worth doing is ever easy. At times, being a wife is trying. When I became a Mother, I spent much of the first three years of our son's life in tears for reasons I do not care to share. Being a Mom of two little people was difficult at times. Traveling to China and wading through extremely hard days was beyond what I was prepared (and I thought I was prepared). The first six weeks home were some of the darkest days of my entire life. But would I go to China for my daughter again (and she IS my daughter by the way)? Yes. Would I sign my name on the dotted line today to adopt another child. YES I WOULD! Why? Because I have been abundantly blessed beyond all I could have asked or imagined. This is my heart. I believe I have been called to be a Mommy above all other "occupations". For me, being a Mommy doesn't involve DNA. It involves rocking babies, kissing boo-boo's and teaching my children to love God and love people. That includes people with rude and hurtful comments. NOTHING worth doing is ever easy but no one ever said life would be. The only thing we are promised is a God (with a capital G) who will walk beside us every step of the way. I will be praying for you, Anonymous in Toledo Ohio. I will pray that He will change your heart so that you can begin to be the change I wish to see in the world.

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

Dear Anonymous in Toledo, Ohio...

I would be more than happy to reply to your less than tasteful comment. Since you have chosen to remain anonymous I am happy to say what I need to say here. If you look above this post you will see the name of this blog...The Womble Times. This is my blog. This is my family. These are the children God has blessed me...ALL THREE OF THEM! Each and every one GIFTS from God. EACH. AND. EVERY. ONE. Maybe no one ever shared this with you but my Mother always taught me to keep my mouth closed if I had nothing nice to say...especially to a complete stranger. I only allow anonymous blog comments because we have family members who do not have a blogger account. I do not want to take our blog private but I will if need be. I would appreciate it if you would keep your rude comments to yourself. There are plenty of blogs out there I'm sure you would enjoy reading. Feel free to read them (and not ours).

Womble Party of 5...in pics

Yesterday, in honor of our two month Forever Family Day, we had our first family photographs taken as a party of 5. We just viewed the gallery and I'm about to burst with excitement. We have been blessed beyond all we could ever ask or imagine. If you happen to know my first name and would like to see the images, click HERE. The only catch is if you view the gallery you MUST LEAVE A COMMENT AND TELL ME WHICH IMAGE IS YOUR FAVORITE. Our photographer was AMAZING and I would recommend her to anyone in our area. If you would like more info, email me.

Happy 2 Month Forever Family Day...

Two months ago today we met MeiMei for the first time. So much has changed since I wrote this post on our one month forever family day. It was as if a switch flipped and things started to get better from that point forward. Every day has been a new day. Most have been one step forward with only an occasional two steps back. She is coming around with all of us and we are in the middle of finding our new normal as a family.

In honor of this day I have posted our FINAL CHINA POST---SOME BABIES COME BY PLANE. You can find it HERE. Happy 2 month Forever Family Day MeiMei. We love you all the way to China and back again a million times!

So excited I can't stand myself...

Why you ask? Let me explain...

This is my pal Cindy (who I can't link because her blog is private)...
Isn't she beautiful? Cindy and I "met" during the spring of 2008 when we signed with the same adoption agency. We became instant friends and have supported each other across the miles ever since. We had it all planned out. All signs pointed to us going to China together to meet our babies. Same time. Same place. Be there or be square. Ahhhhh...the best laid plans.

As you know, in March we received our referral for this little spit fire...
Unfortunately, Cindy and Dave did not. We didn't lose hope but when April and May passed them by without a referral we knew our hopeful "plan" was not to be. Fast forward to September. We boarded a plane bound for China without her while she was still waiting to meet the face of her daughter here. She was the "CA" I mentioned in this post the morning we left. She was so heavy on my heart that day. We joked the entire summer that they would surely receive a referral while we were in China because I wouldn't be around to cheer her on. Can you see where this is going?

September 17, 2009, three days after we met MeiMei in China, I received an email entitled "of course you knew this would happen?" I KNEW the second I read it what it was going to say. While we were in China meeting MeiMei, my sweet friend Cindy "met" her beautiful baby girl in the US...Don't you just want to pinch those Cutie-Mc-Cute-Cute cheeks? She is four months younger than MeiMei and waiting for her family in Chongqing. All I wanted to do that night was fly over to her province and bring her home with us. Ahhhhh...FINALLY!

I found her email at about 11:30 pm China time but I didn't care. I had barely slept the entire trip and I wasn't about to start then. She emailed me the file and I reviewed it with her. It was a perfect match!! I called her via Skype--love Skype--to talk it through. She was screaming and I was whispering into the laptop cam, "I think this is it! I think you just found your baby!" And so we celebrated and we cried tears of joy and we laughed because her husband Dave was in an extremely important meeting and I "met" his daughter before he did. Hahaha--sorry Dave. Isn't that an awesome story? Both of us on different continents but I was still able to cheer her on through the power of modern technology. I think we should get our own Skype commercial, don't you?

Anyway, all that to say, guess who is coming to our neck of the woods tomorrow? That's right. CINDY-Cindy-Bo-Bindy-Banana-Fana-Fo-Fendy......! We have 48 hours to do all the things we've spent the past year and half wishing we could do together. Like go for pedicures and late night movies and solve all the worlds problems over a glass of chardonnay. I'm going to play tour guide, stuff her full of Southern food and enjoy the friendship we have developed in real time. It's going to be a great weekend. I am sure of it.

Cindy--I'll see you tomorrow at Baggage Claim. You'll know it's me. I'll be the one with the three yahoo's running around at the end of the escalator. Be there or be square. XOXO...

Prayers for Lily...

Today MeiMei's "China sister", Lily Mei, is having surgery. Lily was my glimmer of hope in China with her blue backpack, silly faces and happy disposition. She was pure joy (except when her Mommy tried to make her wear the traditional Chinese dress for the red couch photo...but that's another story for another day). The six of us shared one of the most amazing experiences of our lives together. We are friends for life. I wish we could be there today to keep them company. I know what it's like to wait for your baby to come out of surgery. It stinks. Distance may hinder our presence but it doesn't prevent our thoughts. Would you please join us in praying for Lily Mei and her Mommy, Daddy, big brother and sister? I know they would appreciate your thoughts, prayers and well wishes today and in the days to come.

I left my heart...

in southern China

somewhere between Guangzhou and Dongguan

a huge piece of it anyway

where we saw every day life through a different lens

with impoverished yet happy people

and babies cast aside without explanation

and children who need families to call their own

where I can't speak the language

or drive a car

or read a map

or eat a turkey sandwich

or drink a Dr. Pepper

or tolerate the heat

or see a familiar face

or hug my Mother

But you know what? As crazy as it sounds, I want to go back. Today... yesterday... the day before... the day before that... I have felt this way since we came home. At first I thought it was the jet lag or the difficult transition but six weeks later I still can't get these thoughts out of my head. Our days in Guangzhou were hard. SO. INCREDIBLY. HARD. So why in the world would I want to return? I don't know. I can't explain it. I am crazy. CRAZY! My eyes were opened to so much while we were away. I'm trying to figure out how to take these experiences and reintegrate myself back into this incredibly blessed world in which I live.

On more than one occasion I have said to my two oldest... "There are people--children just like you--who will go hungry tonight. Eat. Your. Dinner. " That's nothing out of the ordinary for me to say. I've said those words hundreds of times but it's different. Now I say it and want to run and hide in my closet. And cry. Because I saw it. Not on a commercial. Not in a book. I saw it with my own two eyes and I will never be the same. My lens has changed drastically. How do you keep living the suburban life and pretend you never saw what you saw? It's ironic how something so incredibly difficult can rearrange everything you THOUGHT you knew about yourself.

Now I'm not saying we're all packing up and moving to China (although I would be lying if I said I haven't thought about it). I'm just wondering if anyone else understands where I'm coming from? Anyone? ANYONE? Am I the only one on this deserted island or do I have some friends out there?

Update...

First of all, thank you to those who have checked in on us over the past few weeks. I know many of you are wondering about us and our transition to a party of 5. Each day is a new day and we are so thankful.
Wild Man... he hasn't missed a beat. According to him, being the big brother of one or the big brother of two is "about the same". Girls are gross. Dolls are gross. Pink is gross. Princesses are gross. He loves the girls in his life-but they're still gross. In case you are wondering, that scenario includes ME. Hehehehe. The rhetorical question of the month is this... If Little Miss got a sister...why can't I have a brother? Hmmm...

Little Miss... well, she's had a hard transition. She is going to be the best Mommy some day. She is so sweet and attentive to MeiMei but she has no concept of personal space. :-) She's always up in her face, smothering her with bear hugs or trying to drag her around like a baby doll. Unfortunately it has led to SEVERAL "altercations" between the two of them over the past month. The good news is Little Miss and MeiMei are slowly becoming friends. It has been a tough transition in the sister department but they are making progress.

MeiMei... thankfully she has decided we're not so bad after all. The day I wrote this post, just as I speculated, something changed. I wish I knew WHAT CHANGED but at this point it's not important. She's feeling more comfortable in her new family. The stink eye has been replaced, most of the time, with random and unprompted toddler smiles and occasional giggles. She's picked up quite a few words already and her comprehension is pretty impressive. We know she speaks about 15 words (both English and the only Cantonese words WE understand combined) but since our Cantonese is nonexistent a little rusty we are clueless about the chatty chatter. :-) I'm pretty sure she's told me EXACTLY what she thinks of me a few times but unfortunately (or thankfully) I'll never know what she said. :-)

the Chief and Mommy... we are truckin' along. We survived the first month and lived to tell about it. At one point I thought it was questionable. Hahahaha. :-) We have run the gamut of emotions over the past month but at the end of the day we would do it all the same. We would pray the same prayers. We would rejoice in the same circumstances surrounding her care in China. We would circle the globe for the exact same reason. We would cry the same river of tears. We would embrace rejection in the midst of the same heartbreak. We would grieve along side the same broken child. We would fall flat on our faces in search of answers from the same God who brought us all together. Was it difficult? WITHOUT A DOUBT (and it still is even with the progress we've made). The first month was more than we could wrap our minds around---much harder than we ever imagined BC (before China)--but I think the most important thing is this. If rewinding the clock to September 9 were a possibility, would we still board the same bird to China and do it all over again to become her forever family? ABSOLUTELY! What an indescribable privilege it has been to watch her blossom over the past two weeks. They tell us the hardest part is behind us and we are starting to truly believe they are right.

I have photos to share and more stories to tell but for now this will have to suffice. Again, many thanks to those who have supported us so well over the past month. Some of you have heard the good, the bad and the incredibly ugly--both close friends and complete strangers with similar adoption experiences. Your unwavering friendship means the world to us.

If your name is Mommy you MUST watch this...

I was crackin' up all the way through this video. Between the lyrics and watching her "break it down" I was rolling out of my seat. I say most of these lines to my children EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Oh--I could have written the second verse word for word (where she is wearing the sweater and pearls). LOL! Sooooo true! It takes three minutes, but if your name is Mommy, the chuckle will make your day.

Something to ponder...

Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine & injustice when He could do something about it but I'm afraid God might ask me the same question.
-unknown

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I've had this quote in my post drafts for a while now but never found the right time to publish it. Until today. Yesterday our church began a new series entitled "One Month to Live". I'm still processing much of what was discussed and how it relates to my own life. After yesterdays sermon this quote has been running circles in my mind. What am I doing about it? What are WE doing about it? What are YOU doing about it. Something to ponder...

(Mom--before you start worrying--No--that's not what I'm talking about)

Meeting the infamous Dr. K...

Today was MeiMei's appointment with the infamous Dr. K and it went very well. We were relieved to hear his recommendations were just as we expected. He felt the repair she had in China was good and it would be appropriate to follow the typical treatment plan. She will see him yearly until she is 4 years old. Sometime between the age of 4 and 5 she will have her first surgery. From that point forward she shouldn't need another surgery until adolescence. Dr. K will work together with the orthodontist to determine the timing of her second surgery (probably between 9 and 12 years). Thankfully there were no surprises. Everything is just as we expected. PTL!
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In addition to family and friends, I know there are many adoptive parents who read our blog. I think the range is across the board. From those who have gone before us to those who are just beginning to consider adoption. I loathe the term "special needs"...always have. I know it's the PC term but personally I've never liked it. I much prefer my own made up term "uniquely gifted". If I can be a resource to anyone considering adoption, especially China's "uniquely gifted" program, feel free to email me. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the process.

Maybe...just maybe...

someone has been assessing the situation...

or maybe someone has decided it's OK to trust the new people in her life...
or maybe someone has accepted that you CAN love two families (not just one)...

or maybe someone has discovered that being sad is way too boring when there is so much fun to be had...

or maybe someone declared that exactly one month together is her turning point...

or maybe, JUST MAYBE, "Someone else" saw the tears and heard the prayers of a family who wanted nothing more than to love this precious gift and that "Someone else" showed them the glimpse they had been waiting for...It was a cheesy-faced wrinkled-nose squinty-eyed baby smile. It was a momentary glimpse but it was genuine, true and heartfelt. We've seen a few of these smiley glimpses over the past three days and each one made my heart skip a beat. We're not there. Not even close. But maybe, just maybe, we've stepped away from the starting gate and THAT realization feels good. It feels very VERY good.

Happy 1 month Family Day MeiMei! We love you all the way to China & back again!

Four weeks ago today...

two excited yet anxious parents...

entered a crowded and chaotic room in southern China...

and met Mei Mei for the first time...

and as we held this precious and beautiful child in our arms for the first time...

her heart shattered into a million pieces...

and our hearts were broken in return...

we've taken teeney tiny baby steps since September 14th...

but four weeks later we are still standing at the starting gate. Tonight I was scrolling through September posts and came across the post I wrote the night before we left for China. Honestly, I've never read it. I hit publish, got in the shower, went to China and never thought of it again until tonight. Until now. I didn't realize how much of my heart I poured out into that letter. It was so raw--such an accurate description of where I was at the time. In the middle of that letter I wrote this...

...Isn't it amazing how BIG God is? Before the beginning of time He ordained THIS day. THIS child. THIS family. THIS country. THIS miracle. He planted THIS seed in my heart as a little girl before I knew where it would take me. He brought two teenagers together who happen to share THIS heart for babies all over the world without Mommy's and Daddy's. He orchestrated every last miraculous detail of THIS awe inspiring story--her story--a story I can't wait to tell the world once she is safely home in our arms. He knew THIS day would come even before she was born--before WE were born. Did I always believe THIS day would come (especially over the past year)? No. But you know what? He did. He knew even when I stopped believing. In the winter, when I desperately wanted to believe He was bigger than my fears. When I wanted to believe He had a plan but I wanted Him to tell ME the plan. When I cried myself to sleep at night wondering if all of this was in vain. You know what? He already knew about March 27. He already knew about MeiMei. He already knew her story before she took her first breath. He knows her story from this day forward and we are so humbled He chose us to be part of it. I adopted Hebrews 11:1 as my verse for MeiMei long before we ever knew her face. It says "Now faith is being sure of what we HOPE for and certain of what we do not see". Somehow we knew this was the plan He had for our family. No, we did not hope for the circumstance behind how she will become part of our family. We hoped that someday we could become the parents of a child who needed a family. In so many ways, it is my children who have helped grow my faith, each in their own way. Even before holding this child in my arms she has taught me that faith is not about God answering your prayers. It is about believing He can and He will, if He so chooses, in His own time...

...Despite the unknowns of this week, there is one thing I know for certain. MeiMei was meant to be our daughter. Whatever the next few weeks, months and even years may bring, we will face it together. As a family. I pray she will feel the love we have to share with her and want to accept it. I have faith the One who created her will heal her heart. It will take time but I believe it will happen eventually...

I wish I had dozens of smiling Mei Mei photos to share. I wish I had any photos to share but since I've only picked up my camera once in the past two weeks I have none to showcase. I haven't missed them. There haven't been any to capture. I wish I had gushy stories to tell of bonding and snuggles and eskimo kisses. But I don't. I know so many of you are coming back to read the "happy ending" but right now the only happy ending is that MeiMei is here with her forever family. I don't have much more than that and I'm not going to pretend everything is coming up roses. That would be a lie. I know we have a long road ahead of us but we have to have faith that it will come. Wasn't that her verse? Now faith is being sure of what we HOPE for and certain of what we do not see? No longer are we hoping for her physically. Now we are hoping for her emotionally to show us a glimpse of the real MeiMei. Not the sad, broken hearted little girl she is today. I believe He will equip us with what we need to heal her broken heart. It will come. I must believe it will come, but in the meantime, please continue to pray for Mei Mei and the rest of the Womble 5.

Who was it that said Swineflu--Schmineflu?

Oh yes. It was me. Who was it that has been eating her words for the past five days? Yep, that's me as well. As if we don't have enough going on, I woke up with the flu in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. I've been cooped up in our bedroom attempting to keep my germs to myself while the Chief has muddled through without me. To his credit, he's taken excellent care of all four of us. Thankfully I think I'm on the downhill now. I said I wanted to catch up on my sleep but this isn't exactly what I meant. Be careful what you wish for. As for Mei Mei, today is the first day the Chief has "allowed" me out of our room. Apparently she has decided after five days of my absence that I'm not allowed to come near her again. Ugh! One tiny step forward. One huge step back.

Finding our Way...

As of a few hours ago, we are 9 days AC. I feel as if life in general is being viewed through a lens of BC/AC (BC=before China and AC=after China). I have received many emails and messages this week checking in on us and I appreciate every last one. If I have not replied or returned your call, it's not personal. We have had to refocus around here as we adjust to life with a very sad and grieving toddler who has lost so much in such a short time. I plan to go back and post about the last 9 days, including the airport, which so many have asked about. I am still waiting on one last set of pictures but it may be a while before I have my hands on them.

As for MeiMei, I'm not really in a place where I am ready to share. Honestly, I'm not sure how to put it all into words. The day will come. At this moment I hope it comes sooner rather than later. I wish I had been more prepared. I thought I was. I wasn't delusional. I knew this would be difficult. I recognized the challenges and felt equipped. What I have come to realize in the last 19 days is you can't anticipate and thus fully prepare for such uncharted waters.

There is a song by Matthew West I fell in love with the first time I heard it. For the past 19 days, I have been singing this song to MeiMei. It doesn't remotely resemble a lullaby but the lyrics have taken on new meaning for me. BC it was a song written to ME. AC it is my song to MeiMei. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be singing it to her...maybe weeks or months or heaven forbid years. I don't know. What I know is her sky fell down on September 14. Right now, more than ANYTHING, I wish I knew how to make it turn blue again.

Meeting Dr. Melinda...

This afternoon Mei Mei met Dr. Melinda at her first routine Pediatrician visit. She gave the entire hour two HUGE thumbs DOWN (and I even talked her way out of any "pokes" today). Overall, I think Dr. M was impressed with her growth, development and surgical repair. The nurse asked me the typical 18 month questions but some of them were impossible to answer. Allergies? Food preferences? How long does she typically sleep per day? The one I found quite funny was, "During the time you have known her, has she spoken 15 intelligible words?" Hmmmm...well, I think so but since I don't speak Cantonese I can't say yes with absolute certainty. :-) We were blown away by her measurements.

Weight: 21 pounds 14 ounces (~15th percentile)
Length: 31.5 inches (~40th percentile)
HC: 47 cm (~60th percentile)

Can you believe that? Those percentages are on the AMERICAN growth chart!! I was prepared to bring in a Chinese growth chart at our next visit. Many children adopted from China don't even plot on the American chart. Typically children from southern China are even smaller compared to the rest of the country which is why southern China has a separate growth chart. Haha... not Mei Mei. She's an All-American girl from the start. She eats better than some adults I know so I don't think it will be long before her weight evens out with the rest of her. We owe so much to True Children's Home. They took excellent care of Mei Mei during her first 17 months of life. We know they are the reason why she is so healthy.

On the 14th, we have a Plastic Surgery appointment with "the infamous Kevin K.". That's what I called him when I was a nurse in the PCCU. I think I worked there over a year before I actually met the man. He was always in and out of the unit so quickly and with such an entourage it took me that long to figure out which Dr. was Dr. K. Ha! We consulted with him after Mei Mei's referral and he seemed genuinely happy to help. We are anxious to hear his recommendations. Also, she will be having a few more tests the same week. We are praying all is well with our little Mei Mei.

Happy Half Birthday MeiMei...

MeiMei turned 18 months old today. Instead of celebrating with cupcakes as I had intended, this is how she celebrated her big day...If she could speak English I'm fairly certain she would like to tell you...

Jet Lag Stinks!!!!

I'm pretty sure she has a lot she would like to say right now but since I do not speak Cantonese I'll keep the speculation to a minimum. Happy Half Birthday MeiMei. We'll celebrate as soon as we all figure out which time zone we're on.

Dear Newk...

I'm sure you are wondering why we haven't stopped by in a while. We've been in China and unfortunately we discovered you weren't there. By the end of our trip we spoke of you often. Truthfully, we daydreamed about you on more than one occassion. We even described you in great detail to our Northern friends who have never had the oppportunity to meet you. Don't worry--we promise to introduce you someday when they fly south for the winter. We arrived home late last night and couldn't wait to see you. We had no idea what we were going to eat during our time in Guangzhou BUT we've known for the past 10 days EXACTLY what we were eating today...

Thank you for welcoming home the Chief with open arms. Next time we see you, we may need to make a few changes in our seating arrangements but I'm sure you won't mind. As always, we look forward to seeing you soon.

P.S. If you're interested, I know of an interesting little island in Guangzhou, China that could REALLY use your culinary assistance.
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L & A...we satisifed our craving within 12 hours of being home. The taco came within 18. Wish the three of you had been here to enjoy it with us.