Care Package and New Pictures!

I ordered Hui Lan (who may never have a name...sigh) the same care package we sent Coralie. Coralie's orphanage gave us the items when we adopted her. She sleeps with the blanket every night. It will be nice if we get the items back for Hui Lan also but I really sent the package to get pictures. :)



So I ordered the package and waited...and waited...and waited. I told myself that it wasn't a big deal because we had pictures of Hui Lan from February and really, how much could she have changed in 2 months?!? Then we got the updated pictures and I guess the answer is 'a lot!' At first I wasn't sure it was the same child, but you can tell because of her teeny tiny nose and her very distinctive mouth. I am not sure what she'll look like when she's finally in my arms.



Holy Chunky Monkey! Hard to believe she's almost 20 months younger than Coralie!

Here's a comparison collage of pictures we've received of her...



I think her eyes are a little swollen from crying in the last pictures that we received. :(

Watch this and then meet our 'One Less'

We are blessed to announce that God has once again called us to open our hearts and expand our family. This is Hui Lan...





She is 20 months old and lives in Shaanxi province. Her special need is Spina Bifida (Lipomyelomeningocele). We are working hard to bring her home.

Brady's Surgery

Since I showed embarrassing pictures of Coralie before her procedure, it's only fair to show Brady after he had the Versed. :)



Brady had P flap surgery on the 5th. He was a sore little fella for several days but we are hopeful that this will help him with his speech issues.

Bring on the Versed!

Last month, Coralie had to have surgery to clip her tongue. I wasn't as concerned about the anesthesia as I was about her reaction to them taking her from me. She is VERY, VERY, VEEERRRYYY attached to mama. They gave her Versed before the procedure and it worked like a charm. They came and took her from me and she ddn't make a peep. Although she did have a funny look on her face. The nurse said she had a look of 'I feel like I should be upset about this but for some reason I am not'. Her recovery was fast. She was back to eating like a champ a few hours later. They gave her some Tylenol with Codeine for the pain and it is my greatest hope that she NEVER need that again. Can you say MONSTER BABY?!?! Aye yi yi! She was not pleasant while taking that. By the end of the week, I had my sweet (bossy, stubborn, rotten....) girl back.

Not sure what they just gave me, but I feel pretty good....


Life is good....



Um, Mom, why can't I sit up?

Third Day Rocks!

I've always loved Third Day and the fact that they have a heart for adoption makes it even sweeter. This video is so simple yet so powerful. The best part is that my littles (especially Brady) love to sing along.

'We are the saints

We are the children

We've been redeemed

We've been forgiven

We are the sons and daughters of our God'

Proud Mama :)

This is Brady with his special toy that he picked out as a reward for not getting his card pulled for the entire month of January. That may not seem like a big deal; but to Brady it is a HUGE deal. He was getting his card pulled at least twice a week. He was not listening (not ever, according to his teacher), not following directions, not controlling his impulses and not keeping his hands to himself. We know these things are a struggle for Brady. He was diagnosed with ADHD in the fall. He's now got a little help and he's trying extra hard to behave the way he should. He WANTS to behave. I am so proud of the effort that I have seen at home and his teacher has nothing but praise for him these days. Such a little trouper!

A warm day, Chinese New Year, total cuteness...

Today is a beautiful day here. About 65 degrees which is much needed after all the 20 degree weather we've been having. Jeff and I did a little yard work while the little ones played. So nice to get them out of the house for a bit! Hope they sleep well tonight.





Yesterday we drove up to Kingsport to go to the Chinese New Year celebration with Our China Angels (that's the group name, not our kids ;) ) We are so incredibly blessed to have such a God centered CNY celebration so close to us. The last two years, we have had Orphans from Living Hope orphanages come to perform for us. Last night they performed to the song 'No Orphans of God' which is an emotional song as it is. During their performance, one of the little boys runs to Jesus and Jesus scoops him up and carries him onstage. By the end of the song, all the children onstage are worshiping at His feet. I have tears in my eyes just thinking about it. Beautiful! These are kids that are unadoptable and will remain in China but they are being taught about God's love for them and they will be such bright lights in China. You can sponsor one of these children for $25 a month. Here's the link: http://www.livinghopeintl.org/ Allie and AnnaClaire picked out our child. A beautiful little girl named Emma in Fuzhou.





Coralie loved dancing along to the Chinese music. I think she's done this before. The outfit she is wearing is one we had custom made for Allie when she was 9 months old. Coralie is an itty bitty.




And last, I must share another picture of our tiniest blessing because she's so stinkin' precious. When God started to speak to our hearts last fall about adopting again, never in our wildest dreams did we think it would go so seamlessly. I can't tell you how much we ADORE this kid! If we could just break her of her 'Signing Time' addiction, she'd be about perfect. :)

One Less!

This is powerful stuff...

One Less by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.

Davids is ONE LESS! He has a family!!!!

Here is their blog:

http://kilgore6.blogspot.com/2011/01/blessed.html

Check out the picture of him when he learns he has a family coming for him. Now go grab some Kleenex to wipe those tears from your eyes. :)

Davids' Story: URGENT NEED!!!

Please read about this precious boy...and PRAY! It will take a miracle for him-thankfully God is in the miracle business! The thought of a child aging out of the system is hard enough to bear but the thought of a child being told that a family is coming for them and to have them change their minds at the last minute is unbearable. What must this poor boy be feeling?

I Will Be A Carrier: Davids' Story: URGENT NEED!!!: "Earlier today I posted 'a plea for a boy in Latvia,' and later received more information about his story.  It is heartbreaking, and he ..."

I love this song!

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas!

I love you

Amen, sister!

Say Yes!

Orphan Sunday Video

Orphan Sunday 2010 from Matthew Wilson on Vimeo.

Coralie's Popeye Face

Brady's first Day of K ~a bit delayed ;)

Misty needs a home!

Click below to check out Misty, who is a HEALTHY 9 year old listed with ASIA (our agency). Her file is ready to be returned if she doesn't find a family. BREAKS.MY.HEART.

Cornbread and Chopsticks: Misty: "Please everyone take one last look at sweet Misty.  Her file is to go back probably today.  She is a beautiful, healthy, fun loving li..."

First Day(s) of School

Already? It seems so soon, but school is in full swing for Ryan and Allie. Ryan says his new school is 'stupid'. He's still mourning the move and wishing we were back in JC. It's hard to be the cause of your child's unhappiness. :( Allie seems to be doing well. She loved her 1st grade teacher so much that I was worried no one else would be able to hold a candle, but she seems to be liking 2nd grade so far. Of course, 'good' is the most I can get out of her so I can't be sure. Maybe one day my kids will start to answer my questions with actual sentences instead of just a grunted word. AnnaClaire had her first day (sort of, they do a staggered start here so she only goes one day a week with 4 other kids) of Kindergarten yesterday. Her teacher said she did great and AnnaClaire said she liked it. At pick up, I saw her gabbing away with another little girl in her class, so I am glad she made a friend before we take her to China. I hate that she'll essentially be 'the new kid' from the very start of her school career. Brady's first day is Monday. He's excited but starting to get a bit bummer that AnnaClaire always seems to get to do the fun stuff before him. Jeff and I met Brandon for lunch between classes earlier this week. He seems to be enjoying college life and, of course, asked for money. Again. Boy, get a job! He's on the 12th floor at Carrick just like I was. Here is the view from his room...


and here we are after walking up 12 flights of stairs with his stuff. I was sure I was going to have a heart attack.


Cameron turned 21 yesterday. It's hard to wrap my mind around that fact. Weirder is that my kids range in age from 2-21 and when I was 21 I had a 2 year old. ACK!

Itinerary

Friday, August 27-Sunday August 29

Fly from LA to Guangzhou (CZ328, arriving at 06:20AM)

Monday, August 30

Meet child in Guangzhou.

Tuesday, August 31

Conduct adoption registration paperwork and notarization formalities and apply for child’s passport.

Wednesday, September 1

Wait for child’s passport to be issued.
Have child’s visa photos taken and go through the physical examination in the morning.

Thursday, September 2

Visit Foshan orphanage.

Friday, September 3

Pick up adopted child’s passport.
Check TB test result.

Jeff and AnnaClaire fly to LA on China Southern Airlines flight (CZ327, departs at 21:00).
No lunch and dinner included.

Saturday, September 4

Free time.

Jeff and AnnaClaire arrive home.

Sunday, September 5

Sightseeing in Guangzhou in the afternoon.
Group lunch or dinner.



Monday, September 6

Safari park.
Group lunch or dinner.



Tuesday, September 7

At 09:30am, Local guide goes to US Consulate to submit orphan visa petition documents.
Free time in the afternoon.


Wednesday, September 8

Free time in the morning.
Go to US Consulate for the oath-taking ceremony in the afternoon.

Thursday, September 9

Go to US Consulate to pick up visa in the afternoon.


Friday, September 10

Fly to LA on China Southern Airlines flight (CZ327, departs at 21:00).

Saturday, September 11

Lisa and Coralie arrive home