tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28133363634219415652024-03-21T07:09:10.384-05:00Ladybugs and Elephants...Bringing luck from both sides of the worldToniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-75108376980498434032012-11-03T10:52:00.000-05:002012-11-06T16:26:15.123-06:00More Catching Up<div style="text-align: center;">
Whew! I cannot believe it's been so long since I've blogged.</div>
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Life is sure crazy with a super busy 2 year old!</div>
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OK...a few of you have asked for details on the rest of the trip, so I will try to catch up some more!</div>
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(and I really need to for my own memory!)</div>
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The next day of our trip was Wednesday, August 29. </div>
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We didn't have any official adoption business, so it was a free day for us. </div>
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We started the day with a trip to Wal-Mart for some stuff.</div>
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Wal-Mart in China is similar, yet very different from Wal-Mart in America!</div>
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Cart escalator</div>
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You can select your own frog, turtle or eel for dinner.</div>
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The smell was horrible because lots of them were dead!</div>
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Fish heads on a bed of ice</div>
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The kids had fun playing "Name that Product"</div>
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Corn juice anyone?</div>
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And we got a kick out of the different snacks</div>
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The whole Wal-Mart experience was a bit overwhelming for all of us. It was hot, dirty and smelly, and it was overstimulating for Nola. She had a complete meltdown. </div>
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If you have never been to China with a baby, let me tell you, if your child cries in public, every woman younger than you stares at you like you have 2 heads. Every woman older than you comes over and tells you how to take care of your child, and some will even try to take the baby out of your arms.</div>
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We were just trying to find our way to the exit and get out of there when 2 employees pulled me over to the cigarette counter and gave Nola some water while they reprimanded me. (However, I was VERY thankful for the water. It was so hot in there!) </div>
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Then we made a mad dash out!</div>
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We took the rest of the day very easy. Nap for Nola, then walked around Shanghai a bit and went to a cute little pizza place for dinner. </div>
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Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-77723563530131904852012-09-27T10:44:00.000-05:002012-09-27T10:44:53.470-05:00It's Official!<div style="text-align: center;">
The next day was Tuesday, August 28.</div>
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We got up early, got everyone ready and went to breakfast.</div>
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This was the first time it really hit me that I don't know so many things about my daughter.</div>
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I had no idea what to put on her plate, what she likes to eat.</div>
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As soon as she saw the watermelon, she about jumped out of my arms trying to get it!</div>
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So I put some on her plate. </div>
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Ok, maybe this isn't so hard after all.</div>
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I got a few other foods for her and figured we'd just go by trial and error!</div>
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Turns out, she likes EVERYTHING!!!!</div>
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She ate 4 slices of watermelon and almost everything else on her plate. And then she wanted more.</div>
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We were truly in awe of how much food she ate! </div>
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And we were surprised that she knew how to use a fork and spoon!</div>
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She does a great job of feeding herself.</div>
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Evan was dying to try out his new chopsticks he bought the day before!</div>
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After breakfast, we ran up to our room for a quick clothing change for Nola, she had spilled on her dress.</div>
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Then we were off to the Registration Office.</div>
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We had to wait for our turn since there were other families there with us. So we ran the halls, played with balloons, and tried to get into everything we could!<br />
We have one VERY silly girl!<br />
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Our official Registration picture<br />
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Then we headed to the Notary Office for more official stuff.<br />
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Nola caught a quick nap on the way. They do not use seat belts or car seats in China, so we held her on our lap everywhere we went. Talk about unnerving.<br />
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The Notary Office was very quick. At some point, either at the Registration Office or the Notary Office, we "officially" adopted Nola in the eyes of China. Not sure exactly when it took place--it's all very uncerimonious.<br />
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First Family Photo!</div>
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Alice wanted to take us to the Silk Museum to look around. It was such a neat place!<br />
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Loom used to unravel the silk from the cocoon<br />
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There was a woman soaking the leftover cocoons in water to get the worm out. The worms are later used to make cosmetics.<br />
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Stretching the unbelievably strong silk<br />
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Silly boys!<br />
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After the Silk Museum and some lunch, we went back to the hotel for naps. We are all still acclimating to the time difference. The humidity and lots of walking zaps the energy right out of us!<br />
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Nola is very leery of Tyson, she won't let him hold her much. Once she fell asleep, she climbed in bed and snuggled up with her. She had no idea, but Daddy was able to get some lovin' in!<br />
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Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-42595498202343575492012-09-23T15:48:00.000-05:002012-09-24T14:52:32.252-05:00One Less<div style="text-align: center;">
When we returned to our hotel after meeting Nola, it was still early.</div>
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We took her to our room to spend some good quality family time getting to know our daughter.</div>
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She was still very shy and apprehensive.</div>
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She didn't disagree with anything we did, she just went with the flow because she was so scared.</div>
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I sat her on the sofa and began to play and sing.</div>
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She had no idea what I was doing! </div>
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I engaged her for a few minutes with some toys.</div>
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Tyson and Tim went out to get us all some lunch and bring it back to the hotel.</div>
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Then I couldn't stand it any longer. </div>
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I had to see her little feet.</div>
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I gently took off her shoes and socks, she wasn't too sure about it, but she let me do it.</div>
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She has the sweetest little piggies!</div>
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Then I sat her on my lap and painted her toenails.</div>
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This baby had never had her toes painted before, and she was VERY intrigued!</div>
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She was so still. </div>
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As soon as I finished the first foot, she lifted the other one up for it to be painted!</div>
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She was so proud of them, and as soon as Tyson got back she showed him her pretty toes!</div>
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It was definitely a good ice breaker!</div>
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I gave her a snack, which she thoroughly enjoyed! (Cheese & crackers!)</div>
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She got fairly messy with the cheese and was still a little sweaty from crying earlier,</div>
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so I decided to try giving her a bath.</div>
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Again, she was unsure, but went with it.</div>
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She didn't cry when I undressed her.</div>
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When I put her in the tub, she didn't know what to do--like sit down.</div>
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I helped her sit and gave her some toys.</div>
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After her bath, I rubbed her down with lotion, which she LOVED and dressed her in an outfit we brought.</div>
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Then she was comfortable enough to explore the room a little bit.</div>
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She liked the mirror</div>
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She colored with Rylee and Evan</div>
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We read books</div>
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And then went down for a nap</div>
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Later, the Martin family came to our room to hang out for a bit.</div>
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Rylee painted Millie's toenails</div>
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Nola played with the stacking cups</div>
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That evening we all went out for dinner and when we came back it was time for bed</div>
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On this night, we fell asleep with One Less.</div>
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One Less empty belly.</div>
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One Less crying baby.</div>
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One Less sad face.</div>
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One Less child going to bed without a story.</div>
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One Less going to bed without kisses and snuggles.</div>
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One Less with no one to kiss boo-boos and wipe tears.</div>
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One Less with no one to comfort after a bad dream.</div>
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One Less not knowing the love of a family.
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One Less orphan in this world.</div>
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Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-65154534882214174782012-09-22T18:19:00.000-05:002012-09-23T16:25:45.415-05:00Forever Family Day!<div style="text-align: center;">
As Tyson mentioned, Monday August 27 was our Forever Family Day!<br />
<br />
I barely slept the night before. <br />
I was so nervous and excited, but mostly I was worried about Nola's little heart.<br />
I didn't want her to be afraid of all the changes that were coming her way.<br />
<br />
We couldn't get through all the paperwork and red tape fast enough for me!<br />
Our guide, Alice, kept telling me "Soon. Soon you will have your daughter and she will be yours forever."<br />
Alice took us downstairs to pay some fees in the office,<br />
and when we were down there, we saw a couple of the babies wandering the hallway!<br />
We even rode up in the elevator with one of them! <br />
It was so exciting to see all of these families coming together at once!<br />
(Besides us, there were 4 other families in the room. We were crammed into a tiny little conference room that was filled with tables and was about 145 degrees!)<br />
<br />
When Nola came in the room, I felt my heart leave my chest for the third time in my life.<br />
She was so incredibly beautiful and so small. Even more so than in the pictures I have of her.<br />
More than I dreamed she would be.<br />
Her skin was so soft.<br />
She had been bathed right before she came, she even still had baby powder in the folds of her neck.<br />
She smelled incredible.<br />
She had on a purple romper that was a little too big, with yellow socks and pink shoes.<br />
I will keep them forever.<br />
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<br />
<br />
I slowly approached her. <br />
I didn't want to freak her out, she already looked so scared.<br />
I greeted her and her nanny began explaining to her that I was Mama.<br />
Those beautiful brown eyes watched me intently while sticking close to the familiarity of her nanny.<br />
I offered her a lollipop, which she took apprehensively.<br />
I tried coaxing her to come to me, but she cried and cowered to the nanny each time I touched her.<br />
(Inside, I wanted to snatch her up, hug her and run out of that building!)<br />
She threw the lollipop at me the second time I touched her arm.<br />
So I offered her Cheerios!<br />
She took them from me, and even began to feed me some.<br />
The whole time the nanny was trying to get her to come to me and telling her who each of us were.<br />
I tried everything I had--food, toys, etc, and still she wouldn't budge.<br />
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After about 20 minutes, Alice said to me "She is going to cry but you are going to have to pick her up."<br />
Ugh.<br />
That's not how it was supposed to happen!!!<br />
I REALLY didn't want to upset her. <br />
So, I picked her up, and she went ballistic.<br />
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I tried to comfort her, but she was too upset.<br />
Alice stood next to us and spoke to her softly in Shanghainese, and after a few minutes she calmed down.<br />
During this time, her nanny went and hid under the table because Nola was looking for her. At some point she snuck out of the room.<br />
Once Nola calmed down, she was a bit lethargic from being so upset. She was hot and sweaty.<br />
But she looked at me like she knew she was going to be OK.<br />
And she will.<br />
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As we left the Child Welfare Office, the nanny was sitting in the hallway. <br />
She saw us, and quickly scurried away so Nola didn't see her and get upset again. <br />
I asked Alice to please thank her for us and assure her that we will take good care of Nola.<br />
Alice went and told her, and when she came back she told me the nanny was crying.<br />
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The joy of adoption does not come without great loss.<br />
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We left the building quickly and got in the van to go back to the hotel.<br />
In the van, Nola was still a little reserved, but was playful.<br />
We even got a few smiles!<br />
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Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-89922272756106223682012-09-04T10:00:00.000-05:002012-11-03T10:56:11.444-05:00Walking on Air<span style="color: #cc0000;">Update: Pictures!!!</span><br />
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So onto Sunday Aug 26. On this day we went down to the Bund. We went again with Nicole and Tim, but were joined by another adoptive family, John and Meredith West and their son Tyler. The Bund, which is also the name of our hotel, is a famous Shanghai landmark. It is a line of colonial style buildings along the HuangPu River with an open park/plaza area all along the riverfront. It is kind of their Michigan Avenue. From there you can look across the river to Shanghai's financial district which houses the World Trade Tower, the tallest building in the city, and the Pearl TV Tower -- the tallest tower in Asia.<br />
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Pearl TV Tower</div>
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To cross the river, we went thru the Shanghai Sightseeing Tunnel. This tunnel takes you under the river and it was a trip! You get on a little train car that rolls along thru the tunnel which has an LED light show and running commentary in very broken English -- "Shining stars, meteor shower, boiling lava, future fossils . . ." Your guess is as good as ours as to why??<br />
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Anyway, once on the other side we went up in the Pearl Tower. This Tower has 3 large spherical sections that you can go into. We went to the middle one which was 259 Km high. They have a glass bottom walkway similar to the one at the Sears Tower (I will NEVER call it the Willis Tower and the Willis Co. should be ashamed) but it rings all the way around the sphere. Creepy to look down and see nothing below your feet! Evan did it with me, and I got a reluctant Tonia to step out -- though she wouldn't look down and ended up being a spectacle for the Chinese people to laugh and point at as she cried in a panic -- fun times! Rylee refused . . .oh well! <br />
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If you look closely you can see the people in the glass bottom walkway</div>
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The view was amazing, and again the city spans forever in all directions 360 degrees! Once the sun set, we got to see why Shanghai is called the city of lights -- all of the skyscrapers and buildings are lit up with moving, color changing lights. Pretty cool! By the end of the night we were exhausted! <br />
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The next day, Mon Aug 27, was the day we met our baby girl for the first time. Our guide picked us up after breakfast and we drove to the Shanghai Children's Welfare Office. There we did paperwork first and waited and waited. Nicole and Tim & John and Meredith and several other families were there as well. Finally she came reluctantly walking into the room, hesitant and scared, holding her Nanny's hand. She was no bigger than a minute -- just a little peanut. Finally after months of waiting and worrying, there was our daughter! We were walking on Cloud 9! I got pictures and video as Tonia and the kids began to interact with little Maoxin. She didn't want much to do with us, as expected. After clinging to her nanny for awhile, Tonia finally picked her up and held her. She was of course scared and cried and cried, looking for her Nanny. The Nanny, who knows how these transitions go, hid under the table so as to allow Maoxin to strictly pay attention to Tonia. She soon opened up pretty well. The orphanage gave us the things we had sent Maoxin in her care packages, including the disposable cameras (2). Can't wait to develop those! They also gave us some gifts -- a very nice photo book of Maoxin, a chop (hand carved marble traditional Chinese name stamp), and a 100th anniversary of the Orphanage commemorative mug. After a while of getting acquainted, we were allowed to leave with Nola Maoxin! Officially, this was China's 24 hour trial period, where we could decide if she would work out or not. We could return her the next day if we didn't find her suitable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really? We went back to the hotel then and let Nola play with the kids and get used to her new surroundings. On this day, she did pretty good. She was very reluctant of Tyson, and men in general, but took a special liking to her mama right away! She seemed to start settling right in throughout the evening. What a traumatizing experience she must have had! But she knew then and there that we loved her unconditionally!!!!!!! The week continues next . . .Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-90648926591886066712012-09-03T09:02:00.000-05:002012-09-23T16:49:20.550-05:00And the Journey Continues . . .<span style="color: red;">Update: We are home now, so I am able to add pictures!</span><br />
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This is Tyson updating the blog. I have never actually typed on this blog so I will do my best . . . We still can't upload pictures to the blog so they will probably come full force once we are back in the States and settled. Tonia is putting pics on Facebook though, so you can check there too! <br />
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So, Saturday August 25 was our first day in Shanghai. Shanghai has over 23 million people! Unreal! Considering Chicago has just a couple million! The city never seemed to stop! Unlike cities at home that have a centralized downtown with skyscrapers, Shanghai is one giant skyline. Skyscrapers every direction with apartment building after apartment building as far as the eyes could see. Wall to wall traffic, buses and taxis, and people -- walking, riding mopeds and scooters and bikes right out in traffic! Such a diversity of wealth. BMW and Lexus cars parked on the street in front of old ladies washing clothes in a tub on the sidewalks. For those who have never seen it, it is so hard to explain. In America we have a central city with spreading suburbs. Shanghai is all city and with no room to spread outward, the city can only go upward to accommodate so many people!<br />
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Views out our hotel room window</div>
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We actually slept pretty well for suddenly going to bed at 2 am when our bodies thought it was 1 pm the previous day! We flew 15 hours into the future! The Bund Hotel was a 4 star hotel -- really nice! It seemed out of place, scrunched onto a corner intersection among small store fronts, apartments with laundry hanging out of the windows drying on long bamboo poles, and open air butcher shops with sheep carcasses hanging in the windows. The room was a suite with a living room -- Rylee slept on a cot and Evan slept on the couch, a 1/2 bath, a wet bar with fridge, a bedroom with king sized bed, and a full bath with sliding glass doors. The bed was literally like sleeping a slab of wood -- no springs at all! No bounce! Normal for a culture who tends to sleep on a mat on the floor. In the morning we had breakfast at the hotel. The entire second floor was a big dining room that was open to the lobby below. They had some foods that we considered normal for breakfast such as fruits, juices, toast, bacon and waffles --- but it was mostly traditional Chinese breakfast which included pork steam buns, noodles, fried rice, chicken and beef sausages (which were more like wieners), boiled eggs, tea eggs (duck eggs boiled in soy sauce), pork and beans, bok choy, congee (boiled thickened rice -- no sugar), and hot tea. It was all really good, but by the end of the week, we were ready for a change. <br />
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After breakfast we went to Old Town Shanghai with our friends and fellow adoptive parents Nicole and Tim Martin from Georgia. Tonia has been phone pals with Nicole for months now throughout the adoption process, so it was great to actually meet in person! We walked from the hotel which took about 30 mins. There are absolutely no rules of the road and pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way! We almost died several times! Anyway, this was the original ancient part of the city. Traditional pagodas and gardens. Beautiful! We toured the YuYuan Gardens which was a wonderous garden with rock outcroppings, ponds with koi fish, fountains, and traditional architecture. It was a home compound built for a city official in the 1800s. It was a shame to see that all of those beautiful ancient buildings around the gardens had been turned into shops and fast food restaurants. It seemed that most all of the traditional Chinese culture in Shanghai was gone, replaced with Western culture of jeans and McDonalds. The shops were really neat though. They wound through the old streets offering chopsticks, carved jade, silks, Chinese medicines (like squid powder, Tiger penis, pickled seahorse, and exotic herbs), fans, tea sets, etc. etc. Scores of vendors walked the streets selling watches and jewelry, purses, and children's toys. The smells were interesting -- a mixture of sewage, garbage, and dirty water. It was very hot and humid, so we stopped and had an ice cream cone at DQ! So many people wanted pictures with our children! They all think white, blond, blue eyed people are beautiful and our children were certainly a focal point to the locals!<br />
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This narrow street had tons of 2-way traffic, bicycles, mopeds and pedestrians!</div>
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Why yes, that IS a mother helping her son go to the bathroom on the street!</div>
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Not sure what they were serving here. But I DO know I didn't see a Health Permit hanging anywhere!</div>
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Classical Street at Old Town</div>
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Courtyard at Old Town</div>
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At the YuYuan Garden</div>
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Since I am actually typing this a week later, it is hard to recall all of the day. I am sure we came back and took a nap, as the jet lag had wiped us out a bit. In the evening we ate dinner at a local restaurant called Momochachas. The waitress spoke enough English to get us by, but pointing at the menu proved to be universal communication! We had peppered beef with vegetables and rice. It was really good - and even the kids loved it! A can of coke was about $4!!! We couldn't drink the water, so by that point it was well worth it! The rest of the days however we brought bottled water from the hotel with us!<br />
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Well, it is late and we have to get up early tomorrow so goodnight for now! Again, we are so sorry to be a week behind in our blog, but the Bund Hotel had horrible internet and we had no means of using the computer! We will try to catch you up as quickly as possible!! Sunday, August 26 to follow! . . . <br />
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<br />Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-50449229539927445422012-09-01T09:20:00.000-05:002012-09-23T16:39:55.347-05:00Finally Able to Blog!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Update: We are home now so I am able to add pictures!</span><br />
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Ni Hao! </div>
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I am SO sorry for the lack of posts. I know lots of you are waiting and checking in for updates. While we were in Shanghai we had all kinds of internet & VPN problems and were not able to access Facebook or Blogger since they are blocked by the Chinese Firewall.</div>
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We are now in Guangzhou, and the connection is much better. </div>
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So now I can go back and fill you all in on the past week!</div>
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On Wednesday, Aug. 22, after the kids got home from their first day of school, we drove to Chicago to spend the night before our flight on Thursday. We basically just hung out in our room and enjoyed being together. Thursday afternoon the hotel shuttle took us to the airport.<br />
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Our flight was 15 1/2 hours to Hong Kong. It was a wonderful flight. Everyone from the airline was amazing, the service was great. They served us dinner, snacks, and another meal shortly before landing. Every seat had its own TV entertainment system, so the kids enjoyed watching movies. They slept about 7 hours of the flight so they were feeling rather refreshed by the time we landed. We had a 50 minute layover in Hong Kong, and then 2 hour flight to Shanghai. We made it through customs with no problems, except Rylee got stopped by a police officer for taking a picture of the "Welcome to Shanghai" sign in the airport. Apparently photos are not allowed. He made her show him the picture and then made her delete it before she could go. Whew. Our guide, Alice, was waiting for us. After she got over the shock of how much luggage we had, she helped us load up and the driver took us to our hotel, The Bund Hotel. By this time it was almost 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning. As soon as we got checked in and all the luggage into our room, we all went to bed. I'm not even sure any of us changed our clothes! <br />
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Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-48852732088342838352012-08-14T22:14:00.001-05:002013-02-18T20:13:17.412-06:00Freezer Cooking Day<div style="text-align: center;">
With only 8 more sleeps at home until we leave for China, </div>
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I figured I better get some freezer cooking done.</div>
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I wanted to have some meals ready for when we get home and are adjusting and sleep deprived.</div>
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So I spent today cooking.</div>
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I made an entire day of it, but ended up with great results!</div>
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36 <a href="http://www.hotcouponworld.com/2012/01/freezer-meal-breakfast-burriotos/">breakfast burritos</a></div>
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2 <a href="http://www.ducksinarowblog.com/2010/01/freezer-meal-group-info.html">ham & cheese braids</a></div>
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3 <a href="http://realmomkitchen.com/362/baked-rigatoni/">baked rigatoni</a></div>
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<a href="http://abearinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/09/poppy-seed-chicken-freezer-meal.html">poppy seed chicken</a></div>
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32 <a href="http://abearinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/04/hamsters-freezer-meal-aka-chicken.html">chicken pockets</a></div>
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48 <a href="http://abearinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/03/pioneer-womans-bbq-meatballs-freezer.html">BBQ Meatballs</a></div>
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2 meatloaf</div>
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3 <a href="http://abearinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2008/11/chicken-spaghetti-casserole.html">chicken spaghetti</a></div>
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2 <a href="http://pregnant.livejournal.com/17071127.html">crock pot BBQ chicken</a></div>
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4 <a href="http://pregnant.livejournal.com/17071127.html">pulled pork</a></div>
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This should hold us for a little while when we get home!</div>
Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-30320342026835088792012-08-03T09:04:00.000-05:002012-11-03T10:54:16.498-05:00To Do<div style="text-align: center;">
The past few days have been a whirlwind!</div>
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We have been making travel arrangements, scheduling itineraries, etc for the trip.</div>
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We leave in 20 days! </div>
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On top of completing my list of things to do/buy/pack for China,</div>
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and the daunting task of packing itself,</div>
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here's what's in store for us the next 20 days:</div>
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3 doctor appointments</div>
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1 dentist appointment</div>
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2 eye exam appointments</div>
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1 baby shower</div>
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5 nights of VBS</div>
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2 kids birthdays</div>
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1 birthday bash</div>
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2 school registrations</div>
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2 days of band camp</div>
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9 cross country practices</div>
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2 hair appointments</div>
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1 family reunion</div>
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1 adoption group meeting</div>
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first day of school x 2</div>
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1 freezer cooking day</div>
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1 pool party</div>
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Needless to say, I have enough to do! At least it will help the time go by fast!!!</div>
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20 DAYS!!!</div>
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Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-2863091979548713812012-07-31T12:37:00.000-05:002012-08-03T09:05:50.090-05:00Travel Details<div style="text-align: center;">
Our Consulate Appointment has been confirmed!</div>
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This appointment is the crux of everything in adoption-land.</div>
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Once you have a CA, you can make travel arrangements.</div>
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So today, I have been busy doing just that!</div>
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Our rough itinerary looks like this:</div>
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August 22: Drive to Chicago, stay in hotel, shuttle to airport the next day</div>
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August 23: Fly Chicago-Hong Kong-Shanghai (Total of almost 18 hours in air, with a 1 hour layover in HK)</div>
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August 27: NOLA DAY!!!!!</div>
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August 31: Fly to Guangzhou</div>
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September 1: Nola's Medical Exam</div>
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September 4: Consulate Appointment</div>
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September 5: Pick up Nola's Visa</div>
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September 6: Fly home! Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Chicago!!!!!</div>
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We're on our way!!!</div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-62585521757844388002012-07-27T13:42:00.000-05:002012-08-03T09:05:23.736-05:00Travel Approval!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodXLLwH6FPyWM0ft18ZRGLbmx9Mvmu9yUdhqI6p3zbP6gRm98zMRgFd6R6l6bnFYclbXmi_vB8fnondMPDYYufWl2dZ9sCsyJB2SGlENY9AXv7ZzF6QSjbq8MyyKj-Cc-VaLPTsnO_aU/s1600/TA!.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodXLLwH6FPyWM0ft18ZRGLbmx9Mvmu9yUdhqI6p3zbP6gRm98zMRgFd6R6l6bnFYclbXmi_vB8fnondMPDYYufWl2dZ9sCsyJB2SGlENY9AXv7ZzF6QSjbq8MyyKj-Cc-VaLPTsnO_aU/s320/TA!.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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We have TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!</div>
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I cannot believe it!</div>
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It has been 10 days since our Article 5 was picked up, so we were expecting it to come early next week!</div>
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Our agency will confirm our Consulate Appointment on Monday (or Tuesday) </div>
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and we will have definite travel dates then.</div>
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We are planning to leave August 23, meet Nola August 27, and get home September 7.</div>
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Holy cow!</div>
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I am so excited!!!</div>
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We're coming, baby girl!!!!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-9746905558541407852012-07-18T12:35:00.000-05:002012-08-03T09:05:14.319-05:00Excitement!<div style="text-align: center;">
I just got word that our Article 5 was picked up yesterday!</div>
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That means we are OFFICIALLY waiting for Travel Approval!</div>
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Right now it is taking anywhere from 6-21 days for TA's to come, </div>
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our agency says it should be right at 2 weeks.</div>
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(But we can still hope for 6 days, right?!)</div>
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On another note, I got unexpected pictures of Nola on Monday!</div>
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She is getting so big!</div>
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I know there's a smile in there just waiting to come out!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-19930997656202967262012-07-07T13:02:00.000-05:002012-08-03T09:04:58.700-05:00Nola's Room!<div style="text-align: center;">
We have been working hard over the past month or so to get Nola's room ready for her.</div>
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When we bought the house, the previous owners used that room as an office, and it looked like this:</div>
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We painted it (with some help from a super-excited Big Brother!)</div>
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I made her name out of a chipboard "N" that I Mod Podged scrapbook paper on and cut the other letters out of Cricut vinyl.</div>
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Need to find something for the wall above the dresser. The dresser will also double as a changing table, so it needs the pad and a basket for diapers, etc. </div>
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All it needs now is a baby girl!!!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-57037779269293389192012-06-29T14:41:00.000-05:002012-08-03T09:04:40.111-05:00Cabled!<div style="text-align: center;">
We have been cabled!</div>
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What does this mean? </div>
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Not a whole lot...but it puts us one step closer to Nola!</div>
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Being cabled basically means that our final approval from U.S. Immigration (I800) has been sent to China.</div>
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Next, our agency will send her Visa application, along with a few other papers (these make up Article 5) to their in-China rep.</div>
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She will hand carry them all into the Consulate in Guangzhou. (Article 5 drop-off).</div>
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I'm not really sure what they do with them there, but I believe they begin processing Nola's Visa and Passport.</div>
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Exactly 2 weeks from the drop-off date, she will go back and pick them up. (Article 5 pick-up).</div>
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As soon as it's picked up, we begin the approximate 2-3 week wait for Travel Approval!! (TA)</div>
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So at this point, we are looking at getting TA late July or early August!</div>
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Not much longer, baby girl!!!!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-18741210085950762762012-06-21T22:51:00.000-05:002012-06-21T22:51:19.773-05:00Another Hurdle Cleared!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HpGfdGmtTnhRYjZDq6PWHScQzLWIaY3j0hwr5Ol-PX_pIcxYacKqcgpsLrsRQEYurAsiMn6yXa0QESXkvEojGfH501DIBwFA9W8hiSqG5bq1SEE19k8nRrYsvoBF7GVa3k81gPPlqxY/s1600/I800+approval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HpGfdGmtTnhRYjZDq6PWHScQzLWIaY3j0hwr5Ol-PX_pIcxYacKqcgpsLrsRQEYurAsiMn6yXa0QESXkvEojGfH501DIBwFA9W8hiSqG5bq1SEE19k8nRrYsvoBF7GVa3k81gPPlqxY/s400/I800+approval.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today we received our I800 Approval!!</div>
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This is the final approval from U.S. Immigration giving us permission to bring Nola home!</div>
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This approval came fairly quickly (normally takes 2 1/2-3 weeks, we got ours in 10 days)</div>
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What's next?</div>
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Well...we wait, of course.</div>
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Because that is what we do in this process.</div>
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Hurry up, and wait.</div>
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We have a couple more quick steps to complete before we can travel,</div>
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but our agency is predicting our Travel Approval is going to come about a month sooner than we expected!</div>
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Woo Hoo!!!!</div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-42774632484055315672012-06-14T11:00:00.000-05:002012-06-14T11:00:31.051-05:00Crazy Kid<div style="text-align: center;">
When we were are the Cornbelters game, Evan got very bored and started acting silly.</div>
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My boy is nothing BUT personality and loves to ham it up for anyone who will watch!</div>
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Here are a few videos I made of his silliness! </div>
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qOs69N6xG_Y/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOs69N6xG_Y?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" />
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What's up, lady?</div>
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Would you marry me, because I never had a girlfriend in years.</div>
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Sooo......can you be my girl?</div>
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Teach me how to do it</div>
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teach me, teach me how to do it</div>
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teach me how to do it<br />
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Typical 5 year old boy....</div>
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Oh, ooohhho...Mom needs deo, cuz she has B.O.</div>
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She's got deodorant, she's got farty armpits</div>
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She always wants to smell mine, but they're stinky.</div>
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Creepy, creepy, creepy</div>
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Do you wanna hear my beluga whale song?</div>
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OK, it goes like this............<br />
Wanna hear my blue whale song?.........<br />
Wanna hear my shark sound?................<br />
(chomp, chomp, chomp)<br />
What's up, lady?<br />
See ya<br />
Mom, I'm saying see ya. That means good-bye!<br />
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The facial expressions CRACK ME UP!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-306934626224540992012-06-13T16:26:00.001-05:002012-06-13T16:26:09.264-05:00Cornbelters<div style="text-align: center;">
Last night we went to the Cornbelters game.</div>
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Evan's school had a reading program-for every week they read 70 minutes they earned a free ticket.</div>
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He met the goal for all 4 weeks, so we had 4 free tickets! </div>
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(OK, so the free ones were for lawn seats, but we upgraded to box seats!)</div>
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Before the game they had all the Reading Program Kids parade on the field.</div>
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Evan decided he would rather play checkers on my phone than watch the game</div>
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By the middle of the 2nd inning, he was completely bored, so Tyson took him up to the play area. </div>
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There was a bounce house, a rock climbing wall and "tractor pull".</div>
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They found this "statue" guy!</div>
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"Corny" put on quite the show!</div>
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Tyson made a new friend!</div>
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Evan got the biggest kick out of Corny dancing to "Teach Me How To Dougie"</div>
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Then all night he kept singing "Teach Me How To Do It"!</div>
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After the game all the kids got to run the bases. See my boy rounding third base? (maroon hoodie) He started at the back of the line. Looks like we may have another runner in the family!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-39669451663916313062012-06-11T19:27:00.000-05:002012-06-11T19:27:23.908-05:00Surprise!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-39884539928976981012012-06-08T23:28:00.000-05:002012-06-08T23:28:04.481-05:00We FINALLY have.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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That's right! After 93 days of waiting, we finally got our LOA! </div>
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The kids and I were at the library, and as we were leaving I happened to check my email on my phone, and there was an email from our agency saying our LOA had been issued and it would arrive at the agency Friday. </div>
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Let me just say, the library is NOT the place to get news like that! :)</div>
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A few minutes later I got another email that said the LOA had just arrived at the agency, so it would be sent out and we would actually receive it Friday!</div>
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AAACCKKKKK!!!!</div>
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After stalking the FedEx guy all afternoon, he finally arrived about 3:00. </div>
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The poor guy was just doing his job.</div>
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He had no idea I would <strike>make him</strike> kindly ask him to pose for a picture!</div>
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He was such a good sport about it (after he made sure all the bread from lunch was out of his teeth)!</div>
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Then I drove to Tyson's office, where we signed it, made copies and high tailed it over to FedEx to send it all back out, along with our I800 application. (With 4 minutes to spare before the last delivery!)</div>
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This is all the paperwork that went back to our agency</div>
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And this is all the paperwork that went to Immigration</div>
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Thankfully, we are finished with paperwork! </div>
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SO thankful for this final approval from China!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-76317692359783227062012-06-04T22:26:00.000-05:002012-06-04T22:27:24.665-05:0090 Days<div style="text-align: center;">
Today marks 90 days that we have been waiting for our LOA.</div>
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90 agonizing days.</div>
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2,160 hours.</div>
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7,776,000 seconds.</div>
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And personally, I am over it. </div>
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I try to be positive and look at it as being 90 days closer to our daughter.</div>
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But it's hard to keep my chin up, and it's getting harder every day.</div>
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I know that what Nola is experiencing is worse than what we are, </div>
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but that just makes the wait even harder.</div>
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Last Friday, a huge amount of LOAs arrived from China-</div>
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-around 30 of them to be exact. </div>
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That number is almost unheard of!</div>
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But we were not one of them.</div>
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What made it so hard was that the majority of the people who got theirs</div>
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have not been waiting as long as we have.</div>
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While I am genuinely happy for them, </div>
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it's hard.</div>
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As my friend put it--it felt like a party we weren't invited to.</div>
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So here's where we stand as of Friday night (when I last spoke to my agency):</div>
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We are still "in review".</div>
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This part of the process normally takes about 2 weeks--today was 3 weeks for us.</div>
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Once we move out of review, our paperwork goes to the "matching room"--</div>
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this is where LOAs are issued. Once we get to the matching room, it should *hopefully* move quickly.</div>
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So realistically--it could be anywhere from a few days to a few more weeks before we get it.</div>
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Ugh.</div>
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My favorite Chinese Proverb says "An invisible red thread connects people who are destined to meet. The thread may stretch and tangle, but it will never break".</div>
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I ordered Red Thread bracelets for all of us, and we are wearing them in honor of Nola until we can bring her HOME!!!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-18717500014607390392012-05-18T11:49:00.003-05:002012-06-04T22:27:10.833-05:00Dreams and Reality<div style="text-align: center;">
Last night, after the kids had gone to bed, we heard footsteps upstairs.</div>
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It sounded like Evan was running down the hallway, which is not uncommon for him.</div>
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Most nights, he wakes up, sprints down the hall and climbs in bed with us.</div>
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He must have gone into my room and figured out that I was still up, because then I heard him running down the stairs. </div>
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I met him in the kitchen and as soon as he saw me he jumped into my arms and was holding on for dear life.</div>
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He had a bad dream and he was scared.</div>
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I held him for a while and then I carried him back up to his bed.</div>
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He asked me if I would lay with him because he was still afraid.</div>
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So I did, of course.</div>
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And as I lay there with my beautiful, precious son, comforting, reassuring and loving him,</div>
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my thoughts turned to Nola. </div>
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What happens when she has a bad dream?</div>
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And the reality of it hit me.</div>
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Nothing. Nothing happens when she has a bad dream.</div>
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There is no one to run to. </div>
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She cannot even get out of her crib to find someone.</div>
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There is no one to comfort her.</div>
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No one to rub her back.</div>
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No one to stroke her hair.</div>
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No one to gently kiss her.</div>
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No one to softly whisper that she is safe.</div>
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No one to tell her she is loved.</div>
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No one to stay with her until she falls into a peaceful slumber.</div>
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And my heart broke a little more for this child, and for all the children who have no Mommy or Daddy to make bad dreams better. </div>
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I simply cannot get her home soon enough.</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-12156813310638561972012-05-16T09:13:00.000-05:002012-06-04T22:26:49.161-05:00Progress<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday was Day 70 waiting for our LOA. </div>
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I woke up to an email from our agency saying that our dossier is out of translation and "in process".</div>
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They are hoping to get our LOA within the next month.</div>
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This could go either way....</div>
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The last batch of LOAs that came to our agency arrived 12 days after moving out of translation.</div>
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But there are people who also wait 6 weeks after translation.</div>
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It really is a crap shoot.<br />
It really isn't where I hoped to be at this point in the game, but it could be worse. <br />
Any little bit of progress helps and does wonders for my spirit (for a few days at least).</div>
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If we receive our LOA by the end of May, we could still travel in August.</div>
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Otherwise, we move to September.</div>
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Come on LOA!!!</div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-44627498211783144812012-05-13T22:24:00.001-05:002012-05-13T22:26:40.450-05:00A Special Day<div style="text-align: center;">
Today is Mother's Day!</div>
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It is a day to spend with your children, making memories with them, and reflecting on the day they came into your life. I did all of those things. <br />
My very favorite Mother's Day tradition is Tyson and the kids bring me breakfast in bed and Evan climbs up next to me and eats most of it! It cracks me up!</div>
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Today is also Nola's birthday. She is officially 2 years old! </div>
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I did not get to spend the day with her. And I spent most of the day thinking about her</div>
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and of the things we have missed, but focusing on all the "firsts" yet to come. </div>
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But on this day, I also could not stop thinking about her birth mother.</div>
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I cannot even begin to imagine what she is feeling today. </div>
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The loss, the grief, perhaps shame and guilt have to be consuming her.</div>
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We do not know (nor will we ever know) the circumstances that forced her to abandon her child, but it could not have been an easy decision to make or to live with.</div>
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I hope on this day, and every day, she may know a sense of peace that "our" daughter will be safe, loved, taken care of, provided for, loved, happy, nurtured, loved, and she will have a family, friends, opportunities, freedoms, and SO VERY LOVED....all of the things every mother wants for their child. </div>
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I wish she could know that.</div>
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We had family over for a Mother's Day/Birthday celebration.</div>
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I cooked Chinese food and we had a Dairy Queen ice cream cake and a few presents.</div>
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(I didn't get many pics...it got a little crazy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AJIFgWgbIrW5TXIrOuab3NRWsvQazSQk68HaX8vvfJjcSyKZJ3pNU6Mu9D7ry6tcokO-Tso0kqw-35BbV-ONtCWd6X3i4gsryIt3fFgjmfFna29LfeQ2TRd3pUPIC8ELbpIZVIwzYZI/s1600/Altar+Flowers+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AJIFgWgbIrW5TXIrOuab3NRWsvQazSQk68HaX8vvfJjcSyKZJ3pNU6Mu9D7ry6tcokO-Tso0kqw-35BbV-ONtCWd6X3i4gsryIt3fFgjmfFna29LfeQ2TRd3pUPIC8ELbpIZVIwzYZI/s400/Altar+Flowers+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Altar flowers we donated at church in honor of Nola's birthday</div>
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Birthday care package we sent her, along with a birthday cake. Not really sure what's in the bag. Figs maybe? I hope it's nothing weird :) We wrote her a letter and it was translated. I think the item in the bottom left corner is a card, but not sure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-Ky36cW2OQCWSVZ5CCkJZTTtApRoDPM0MsTwq9U63y0QUbGA-oec_SdC1uEaYjVTQ5eZzlFlFefUhlqDlRmueNympWMG4oPEckgKvdapT9jWlKjmOv-SJuYoMocISwFLonPMatSl608/s1600/Card+from+Rylee+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-Ky36cW2OQCWSVZ5CCkJZTTtApRoDPM0MsTwq9U63y0QUbGA-oec_SdC1uEaYjVTQ5eZzlFlFefUhlqDlRmueNympWMG4oPEckgKvdapT9jWlKjmOv-SJuYoMocISwFLonPMatSl608/s400/Card+from+Rylee+(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Card Rylee made for Nola...I cannot wait to see the sister bond form between them!</div>
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Birthday Cake!</div>
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Happy Birthday to my sweet girl. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms. This will be your last birthday without a family, and next year will be the motherload of celebrations!!!</div>
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOLA MAOXIN!! WE LOVE YOU!!!</div>
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-739897918467159572012-05-03T11:57:00.001-05:002012-05-03T11:57:51.754-05:00While I wait<div align="center">
Waiting for the LOA is hard. </div>
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It's really, really hard.</div>
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It is long, unpredictable and torture.</div>
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I have days where I am fine, content and rational.</div>
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Other days...not so much.</div>
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We have been wanting to redo our 1/2 bath ever since we bought our house, but just haven't gotten to it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW18qOQb_V17EhnF4HUfRDNksqWg0JZeZUyR5ANubVvEh6u5hbMOpjenwEZlmJW5TwS4SZs0hj-t3qPed9J-v-9UVHqWbTTuWfRrGfq3BXeh5w5BUBLURreRnzhqBcEEnaO4HnyLXmUY8/s1600/Hoover%2520008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW18qOQb_V17EhnF4HUfRDNksqWg0JZeZUyR5ANubVvEh6u5hbMOpjenwEZlmJW5TwS4SZs0hj-t3qPed9J-v-9UVHqWbTTuWfRrGfq3BXeh5w5BUBLURreRnzhqBcEEnaO4HnyLXmUY8/s400/Hoover%2520008.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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It was beyond ugly. The wallpaper was too busy, not the greatest colors, and outdated.</div>
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My grandmother loves it.</div>
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So on one of my not-so-good days, I began stripping this wallpaper off.</div>
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I must say, I have NEVER had wallpaper come off so easily. </div>
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It was like hot butta, I tell you.</div>
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I stripped it all the way down to the drywall</div>
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We had paint colors picked out, but when I went to buy the paint, I was in a deep dark funk, </div>
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and felt I needed paint to match my mood.</div>
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I picked out the darkest red and the darkest brown I could find.</div>
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And I went to work.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZjhdRgD32u5Fvxl9N7t-DZ-Yrs8NRyrjHKv7RJeMaKlDJHtwSeNykJewq-DX9rzL61fXAISjPZLP037rafHFtylATH58VBv_ylNQTfukHNmJVeBCvzW50BrqRyqkmtmy7pZ4XZT5-5I/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZjhdRgD32u5Fvxl9N7t-DZ-Yrs8NRyrjHKv7RJeMaKlDJHtwSeNykJewq-DX9rzL61fXAISjPZLP037rafHFtylATH58VBv_ylNQTfukHNmJVeBCvzW50BrqRyqkmtmy7pZ4XZT5-5I/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gFYlkWfzJyQjbiZgGNrHFK9ikY8BTzuK7KcFAwBiUG9Jtt2SC3Nh6d0Ilo3jdippF7tCxdb1yFUzGtkonCXYA7oQejWgiR_5f0e_jf5o49BU2Wg-cOf6QsVQ62cg8A53tsmADe-dQyE/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gFYlkWfzJyQjbiZgGNrHFK9ikY8BTzuK7KcFAwBiUG9Jtt2SC3Nh6d0Ilo3jdippF7tCxdb1yFUzGtkonCXYA7oQejWgiR_5f0e_jf5o49BU2Wg-cOf6QsVQ62cg8A53tsmADe-dQyE/s400/024.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Yikes! That is REALLY dark. I was OK with dark because <br />
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1. I am not afraid of color, and</div>
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2. Nate Berkus says dark colors are great for small spaces because it creates a good dramatic effect.</div>
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But that is really really dark, and it wasn't even dry yet. </div>
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I started to panic a bit, and second guess myself.</div>
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My dear friend came and hung white chair rail and it really broke up the color and lightened things up.</div>
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Then we added a little decor.</div>
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Here is what I ended up with....</div>
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(drum roll please.....)</div>
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It could have been disastrous, but it really worked out well and </div>
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I love it!</div>
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We are starting on Nola's room and I am under strict orders from Tyson that I am </div>
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NOT to go buy the paint today...it's another rough one!</div>
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</div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813336363421941565.post-6665293324460266782012-05-01T21:24:00.001-05:002012-05-01T21:25:00.577-05:0060 Days....<div align="center">
60 days ago we saw Nola's face for the very first time.</div>
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It was 8:32 p.m., and just the same way I know what time my other children entered my world, I will never forget it. </div>
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In those past 60 days, life has gone on in our usual busy manner.</div>
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We have:</div>
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~watched Evan play numerous basketball games</div>
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~lunched with friends</div>
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~had Girl Scout meetings</div>
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~delivered lots of Girl Scout cookies</div>
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~went to Dr. & Dentist appointments</div>
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~gotten haircuts</div>
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~attended lots of Rylee's volleyball games</div>
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~worked out</div>
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~taken family members for surgeries</div>
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~endured Evan's broken arm</div>
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~scrapbooked</div>
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~gone to movies</div>
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~watched Rylee run 2 races</div>
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~enjoyed Spring Break</div>
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~volunteered in our community</div>
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~gone on a Jr. High band trip to Six Flags</div>
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~gotten a few house projects done (inside and out)</div>
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But every day, in all of the busyness, part of me constantly aches and longs for this baby.</div>
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Every time I hear this song, I fall apart.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rbLg6-MvOFo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Today is Day 56 waiting for LOA.<br />
Last I was told (a little over a week ago), we were still in translation.<br />
I had really hoped to be farther along by now.<br />
We have no idea how long it's going to take.<br />
We only know when we get the phone call that it's arrived at our agency.<br />
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Nola's birthday is May 13 (Mother's Day) and I would really love to have it by then.<br />
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As long as I don't have to wait another 60 days.<br />
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<br /></div>Toniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12057256786914208106noreply@blogger.com2