7
Feb
Feb
Samuel Updates #5 & #6 (December & January)
February 7, 2011
Samuel is 2 Years 11 Months Old. (January)
Samuel’s nanny wrote this update:
During our Christmas party Samuel got to help out in some of the performances that the children did. Even though the roles he played were not very important, he participated in a very positive way, pouring his energy into his role. Samuel proved that his character is cheerful and optimistic and growing every day. When we encourage him and clap for him Samuel shows his pleasure and smiles. I think that as long as we continue to encourage him and help him to participate in more activities, Samuel will grow healthier and stronger. I love my happy Samuel, he is such a blessing!
Samuel is 2 Years 10 Months Old. (December)
Samuel’s nanny wrote this update:
Our cute little Samuel has a happy surprise in store for us every day. Samuel is now capable of speaking long sentences. For example, one day when his younger sister was crying Samuel went to find her nanny and said, “Mom, sister is crying! Mom, hug!” Another day when some guests came for a visit he said, “mom, guest is here!” Samuel is a friendly boy and enjoys playing with the guests. Samuel likes to go to preschool with the children and when he gets back I ask him, “What did you learn today?” Samuel usually replies, “Uh-huh!” I thought that he was really cute when he said it.
3
Feb
Feb
How it Really is
February 3, 2011
From an e-mail I wrote this morning…
Hi Friend,
Ahhh, your blog has people calling me and saying certainly Grace and Grace’s friend must have some of the same DNA. Seriously! Okay, that isn’t exactly what they mean though. They are referring to the control issues, the anger, the sheer force of nature that is our girls experience right now.
I could’ve written every word that you have written lately. And that is why I haven’t Skyped or written or attempted to even call.
Am I a wimp? Yeah, maybe. How do I empathize without sounding negative? Some days drive me to the brink of the crazy house. And yet honestly we have come so far in a year. A year. And that is again, why I don’t write. It takes time. If someone had told me that we’d be fighting these battles still I would’ve burst into tears. I know why. I know it is logical. If I were chatting with another Mom and they were wondering why it is taking so long then I would have all the answers. But when you’re in the trenches, it is just hard to see it all clearly some days.
And right now Grace is fighting for control with all her being. We are facing her demons. The reality of the golden China that she dreams of is always looming for her and she knows or at least fears that it won’t be what she remembers. She is scared. I mean terrified. But we have to face it together. Hopefully on the other side of this trip she will have clung to us more and trusted what she can see without the mask of the confusion of the actual adoption clouding her vision. Really, when we visited the orphanage the day or so after the adoption, she was just plain shell-shocked and it was all rosy. And it’s only grown from there.
So as for talking with Grace’s Friend. Grace hasn’t been up to it. She has pushed away from her friends or at least the reality that her friends are actually adopted now too. It unnerves her. Of course it does. I think seeing that they are no longer in China will help draw her closer to the girls here in North America too. Perhaps finally she will see them as part of a shared experience.
All this to say that I am walking right beside you in this. Grace is struggling right now behind her brave face of control. Praying that once we are home again, we can begin again with her from a new place of understanding.
Love,
1
Feb
Feb
Happy 3rd Birthday Samuel
February 1, 2011
Dear Samuel,
Today was your birthday.
I’m not sure if you were told, as your “family” at ND try really hard to be fair to all the children who share your life there. We knew though. We remembered you today.
Three. That’s a big boy now. You are so proud to show us how big and strong you are. We can see your little chest puff out when you show us your muscles. You are growing big and strong like your Daddy. You’ll like him. I can tell you already do a little. He’s really great at wrestling and snuggling and looking into your eyes when you talk to him. I just bet you two will be thick as thieves.
And me? Well, all I could think of today was how this will be the very last time you will have to celebrate your birthday without the hoopla of a big ole’ family to wake you, fill you with cake and let you have the first pick of all the day holds, just cause it’s your special day. The last time you’ll have a birthday without a pinata and cousins and a grandparents to call you and sing you your very own birthday song and ask what you want to eat at your very important Sunday birthday lunch. It’s gonna be great!
We ache for you buddy. It’s been 14 1/2 months since we first laid eyes on you. 14 1/2 months since you absolutely amazed us with your brilliance. We are more than ready for our forever to begin.
And you son? You’ve waited so much longer.
And so I fill suitcases and check off lists.
And remember you son.
We love you and we miss you.
Until we meet face to face,
Your Mama Forever and Ever,
28
Jan
Jan
Catching up
January 28, 2011
So I think I am over my general feeling of malaise. Now I am onto Full Speed Ahead. Haha
Thank you to everyone who commented and e-mailed to check in on me. I really REALLY appreciate every word. It’s so good to know I’m not the only one…
In the meantime, we made a quick trip to Grace’s specialist at the closest Children’s Hospital. She’s doing really fantastic and somehow those words always put me at ease. We visit that particular specialist twice per year and it’s easy to forget that there is even a need for the visit until just beforehand and then suddenly I get to wondering how things are beneath the surface. As usual, those thoughts were for nothing. And for that I am truly thankful!
We also celebrated a really big milestone birthday as James turned 15 this week. Everbody says this about their kids, but How On Earth did He Get this BIG? And how come every year we enjoy him more and more? We are really thrilled with our young man and we had an absolute hoot the other night on our birthday date with him. Accoring to a certain arcade game, we are Ace shots at killing giant spiders and leeches, but are not really all that compatible as mates. Uh ,yeauuuuh?! Lame plot line, but too funny laughing with our teenager. 🙂
I’ve been polling friends for tips on which size diapers or pull ups to bring with us. Samuel is trained duirng the day, but we expect a regression (you know, hope for the best, prepare for the worst and all that…). He’s about 20 lb.s and will be 3 (!) next Tuesday. factoring in his limb difference, but knowing he’s a little guy has made me go a bit crazy. Input welcome. 🙂
The realization also dawned that while we way over pack every time we travel, we also like to bring a lot of donate-able items. But, on this trip, we will be flying into Beijing and then taking a bunch of domestic flights followed by an international departure via Hong Kong. That means less than half our usual luggage allowance. Not sure if our arrival into each city will allow enough time to shop for items to bring to each orphanage. We’ll have to see… Any tips (Americans!) on what you do when you fly into Beijing and exit via GZ or HK?
We received our last monthly update on Samuel (which I will post separately) and it said something that made us curious. Guess we’ll understand more once we meet him.
We were able to Skype last Sunday night. He is a total monkey boy (and we LOVE monkeys in this house). He loves to climb all over the desk, point the web cam around, show us his belly button, flex his muscles, play peek-a-boo (his favourite), and accost the pig shaped light on the desk. hehe We notice that his rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is getting clearer and clearer each week. His new haircut is often styled by his nanny into a very manly swoop across his forehead and he is often dressed to chat with us in a sharp little sweater. Very adorable handsome. 🙂 We have played with him this way for so many months now. What a tremendous blessing – one we never dreamed of.
I am ignoring the second half of my Chinese New Year cleaning by writing this post. We are beginning CNY early this year as our church group is coming over tonight and treating us to some very yummy sounding homemade Chinese food. Our contribution will be a little more western in that it will need to be picked up from our local restaurant shortly before the party. 🙂 Grace has told me that my version is just not quite right and so we jokingly order what we call Fake-Chinese food and don’t even try and pretend its the real thing. I’m even serving Chocolate dipped fortune cookies from this site. She has amazing ideas – totally worth the look!
I think I have just about come to the end of my catching up, but before I go finish catching dust bunnies (Hey, it’s the Year of the Rabbit – aren’t I clever?!), I want to make a quick mention about a very special little girl by the name of Sharaya. Our friends the Berzenji Family is raising funds in order to bring their newest child home. We travelled with them on our journey to Miss Grace and their daughter Jade Ping is Grace’s orphanage sister.
Anway, back to Sharaya (don’t you just love her name? Brings back memories of a certain Amy Grant song – and yes, I am that old.) Sharaya is a young friend of the Berzenji family. She has decided to raise money for their adoption fund and the Canadian Cancer Society by cutting off her beautiful, long tresses and not only donating the hair to make a wig to bless a person fighting their cancer, but is also taking pledges in order to give financially to this special family trying to bring home their child from China. Who says kids don’t have great big hearts? In addition, both she and Adrian (Baba Berzenji) are taking part in a Congee fast right now! You can read all about it and all of these fantastic people on their blogs: Sharaya & Adrian’s. And please, do more than read. Won’t you encourage them with a donation?
Off to herd up those bunnies….
And don’t forget to weigh in on the great diaper debate & luggage fiasco of 2011. I could really use the advice. 😉
21
Jan
Jan
I just feel kinda numb.
January 21, 2011
Okay, not completely numb, but just sorta distant and emotionless these days. Vacant perhaps?
I have felt this way each and every time a new child has been added to our family. Birth or adoption.
I kinda wonder if it is simple self-preservation. Or does it make me a bad Mom?
A friend mentioned tonight (and said it in a sort of self-depreciating way), that she is not the type to cry over movies a whole lot. As though that would make her less of a woman.
Perhaps that is why I feel no small amount of guilt over my state of being right now.
I think at the heart I am simply overwhelmed. Overwhelmed at the current to do lists, sure. But mostly overwhelmed by the knowledge of the enormity of what is to take place in a few weeks.
Change. Transition. For my son. For our whole family.
It’s all rather daunting.
So, I hold it in. And suddenly in those moments leading up to holding him in my arms, I will shake and tremble. I will probably snap at my husband. I will think of all the things I did not do to better prepare for that moment.
And then it will all come together. The puzzle piece will find its home.
And then I will truly feel.
19
Jan
Jan
The Journey of an LSC on its way to the CCAA
January 19, 2011
| 2011-01-13 | 10:37:00 AM | Delivered via BEIJING, CN depot | |
| 2011-01-13 | 10:37:00 AM | Delivered via BEIJING, CN depot | |
| 2011-01-13 | 01:35:00 AM | On vehicle for delivery via BEIJING, CN depot | |
| 2011-01-13 | 01:34:00 AM | Shipment In Transit via BEIJING, CN depot | |
| 2011-01-13 | 12:04:00 AM | Import via BEIJING, CN depot | |
| 2011-01-12 | 11:20:00 PM | Import via BEIJING, CN depot | |
| 2011-01-12 | 07:30:00 PM | Departure via INCHEON, KR depot | |
| 2011-01-12 | 12:35:00 PM | Arrived at via INCHEON, KR depot | |
| 2011-01-11 | 10:08:00 AM | Departure via ANCHORAGE, AK, US depot | |
| 2011-01-11 | 06:53:00 AM | Shipment In Transit via ANCHORAGE, AK, US depot | |
| 2011-01-11 | 06:23:00 AM | Arrived at via ANCHORAGE, AK, US depot | |
| 2011-01-11 | 05:31:00 AM | Departure via ONTARIO, CA, US depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 10:27:00 PM | Arrived at via ONTARIO, CA, US depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 08:13:00 PM | Departure via SEATTLE, WA, US depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 06:32:00 PM | Arrived at via SEATTLE, WA, US depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 05:50:00 PM | Departure via RICHMOND, BC, CA depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 04:52:00 PM | Export via RICHMOND, BC, CA depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 10:10:00 AM | Arrived For Export Processing via VANCOUVER, BC depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 09:55:00 AM | Arrived For Export Processing via Canadian depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 09:54:00 AM | Picked up by Purolator via Canadian depot | |
| 2011-01-10 | 04:31:00 AM | Shipment In Transit via Canadian depot | |
| 2011-01-07 | 02:57:00 PM | Picked up by Purolator at Reception from MINISTRY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES |
Talk about a well travelled piece of paper! Especially considering it had already travelled all the way here first!
And a little eye candy from another sweet ex-volunteer at the foster home…
17
Jan
Jan
Learning Together at Home’s Big China Adventure 2011
January 17, 2011
So without further ado, here is our itinerary…
(I think Steve & I deserve a nap, don’t you?)
Feb. 15 – domestic Canadian
Feb. 16 – Canada to Beijing
Feb. 17 – Beijing
Feb. 18 – Beijing
Feb. 19 – Hope to visit a certain place outside the city 🙂
Feb. 20 – Beijing to Changsha
Feb. 21 – SAMUEL DAY!
Feb. 22 – Adoption Day
Feb. 23 – Changsha (or Yueyang County visit)
Feb. 24 – Changsha (or Yueyang County visit)
Feb. 25 – Changsha to Beijing
Feb. 26 – Beijing (as Canadian’s our process is completed here this week)
Feb. 27 – Beijing
Feb. 28 – Beijing
March 1 – Beijing
March 2 – Beijing
March 3 – Beijing to Yinchuan (Steve, Shelley, Garnet, Grace, Samuel) / Attie, Jerry, James, Faith stay in Beijing
March 4 – Yinchuan to Beijing (meet up with the rest of the family) (visit Garnet’s area)
March 5 – Beijing to Guangzhou, drive to Zhongshan (or train?)
March 6 – Zhongshan (visit Grace’s area)
March 7 – Zhongshan to Hong Kong (ferry?)
March 8 – Hong Kong (tour or Disney)
March 9 – Hong Kong (tour or Disney)
March 10 – Hong Kong to Canada
March 11 – domestic Canadian flight
Sounds a bit daunting, especially with a newly adopted 3 year old. Poor little guy. I’ll speak more to the whole decision process another time, but boy am I glad that we have finally booked those tickets! It only took Stephen 3 hours on the phone with a very accomodating Air Canada staff member. Whew! Steve is a saint for walking this through!
15
Jan
Jan
Travel Plans… almost
January 15, 2011
Got you, didn’t I?
Nope. We’re still plugging away. We have narrowed our plans down to three different options and are now pricing them out. My head hurts.
We also have a houseful of teenage young men this weekend. They are really great guys and I love having them here. No really, I do! But it has just hit me this evening just how blessed and amazing it is to be the Mom of an almost 15 year old and an almost 3 year old, all at the same time. There is just nothing like having the giggles of the little guys in combo with the deepening voice of my almost man-child.
So, while I am overwhelmed with the details tonight, I just wanted to pause for a minute and be thankful.
I am truly blessed.
And deeply grateful.