Home a Year

We've officially been home one year now. Late, late light night was one year exactly.
We'd left China and traveled for what felt like forever.
The trip actually took almost 30 hours - 3 flights - and brought us from the other side of the world back home to our little section of it.

We didn't have enough time once we hit US soil to clear customs and immigration.
We left the stroller we'd bought in China (which I REALLY liked by the way) on the 2nd plane.
We RAN thru the airport and made it just in time.
Once we sat down in those seats - I cried.
I cried because we made, I cried because we almost didn't, I cried because we were almost home, I cried because I was exhausted, I cried because Leila cried, and I cried just because.

We had a small welcoming party gathered at the airport.
A welcome sight indeed.

Then we had an hour drive home. We had to stop at a Walmart on the way though.
All of luggage was still in Chicago, and therefore, so were diapers, formula, cereal, and bottles.
Everyone else waited in the truck while I ran in to get necessities.
I grabbed a 12-pack of Mountain Dew too. (I don't think they sell MD anywhere in the entire country of China!)
As we were leaving Walmart, we got stopped at a red light. When the light changed green, David didn't go.
I looked over, and he was sound asleep!
I told him to pull over for me to drive. He started to assure me that he was fine.
Yeah, right!
I told him that I did NOT travel around the world and back for him to wreck and kill us 45 minutes from home - to pull over NOW.

We made it. Got to bed around 3 AM. We were all up and ready in time for church the next morning. Gotta remember - we were still on China-time.

This 1st picture was taken at the airport a year ago. Do we look a little tired?


This picture was taken yesterday. I'd really like to think we look a little better in this one.
You know, at first glance, you think Leila is the only one that's changed a lot. But take a closer look at the boys too (especially Darrell). Look at how much taller he's gotten in just one year.


I was so glad we did get ready and go to church that next morning. They were happy to see us, we were happy to see them, and look at the welcome back sign they had waiting for us.

Another Loss

We received news yesterday that David's Granny passed away.
No - I'm not repeating myself.
His Grandma passed away 2 weeks ago, his Granny passed away yesterday.
She was 104.
David and I have no grandparents left. She was the last one.
She was born first, and yet she lived the longest.
She was an amazingly crafty lady.
We're heading out the first of next week - KY this time.

A good thing though - the new kitten/cat (Spook) is adjusting quite well.
I'm not sure if he's incredibly brave and or just plain stupid.
He constantly tries to take Sable's food (yeah - the BIG dog), and yet, he growls at her when she gets near his!
Apparantly he hasn't quite realized that she could eat him in one bite and not even get choked.
I put an old 'Lion King' towel in his box. I suppose he's really taken it to heart!

A Babysitter

Still a lot of memories this week, but not as much as last.
Last week was THE week - one of the most amazing of our lives.
This week, a year ago, the days were starting to run together, and we were getting a little homesick.
Then:



And Now:







It was SO unbelievably hot there most days that it wasn't even enjoyable to be outside during the day.
I'm not kidding, as soon as you stepped out the door of the hotel, it was instant sweat.
I remember saying something about how miserable it was one time, and our driver thought it was funny.
He didn't think it was so hot.
Of course not, it only felt like 150 degrees!

A year ago yesterday, all the babies had their required medical exams. It was a little different than what we're normally used to.
For instance, on the hearing part, they plunked on a toy piano. If the babies turned their head to look - their hearing was fine.
Gosh, that was so much easier and quicker than the one they did once we got home!

Here at home (now), Leila had her 1st 'real' babysitter.
Yes, my mom has kept her some, my sister-in-law has kept her, and of course the boys end up with her at times.
But on Sunday, she had a real, full-fledged, paid babysitter for the first time.
A young lady from church came and stayed with her.
(Ironically, the girl's older brother used to keep the boys all the time for me.)
It was hard too. She screamed when we left. I waited about 15-20 minutes before I called back.
Jessica said she was fine. She'd only cried a few minutes.
Oh, what relief. And she was fine all evening. Oh, joy!

Celebrating

To celebrate 'Gotcha Day' yesterday, we went to the Chinese restaurant to eat last night.
It was just a small group - us, a little family, and a few close friends.
It's odd. Before we went to China, we used to eat Chinese a lot. But, we haven't been out for Chinese since we got back - year ago.
Maybe we had enough there that 2 1/2 weeks to last us awhile.

After we got home, we gave Leila a 'Gotcha Day' present.
It was a little jade heart pendant. It matches Mommmy's - just a little smaller.
I took it today and had it put on a chain (probably should have done that beforehand).
But here, it was still on the cord/string that they put it on that day in 'Donts' shop on one of those last precious days in China.


We had such a smooth and easy adoption. I'd be lying if I said we haven't considered going back.
It would be nice to even up our household. 2 blond 'homegrown' boys - 2 dark haired 'imported' girls.
We started talking about it in an off-hand way mere months after getting back the first time.
Then some events happened and unfolded back in August that made us have to make a REAL decision.
We discussed it and looked at all our options.
As much as we would all like to do it, we came to the difficult decision that we just CAN'T.
Financially it just isn't an option for us at this point in our lives.
Never say never.
But, I will say - probably never.
And I can say without a doubt - definitely, not now.

Instead, we decided to even up something else in our household.
We have 2 dogs, but only 1 cat.
Soooo, Leila and I went today and adopted a new cat/kitten from the shelter.
Now we have 2 dogs and 2 cats.
That's a pretty good way to celebrate an 'adoption anniversary' - don't you think?

Gotcha Day

Happy Gotcha Day to my beautiful baby girl!
Happy Gotcha Day to all of our 'travel buddies'.

One year ago, our then family of 4 anxiously piled into our van and was driven thru the crazy Chinese traffic to the Government Affairs Office.
When we got there, we rode the elevator up to the 8th floor.
There was a lobby type area, but it was full of a Spanish adoption group getting their children.
Yesterday had been a holiday, so no adoptions had been processed. That made today an extremely busy day.
It looked a little chaotic. New parents were crying - children were crying.
We didn't understand the Spanish OR the Chinese that was flying around us.

We were the only ones from our agency, and Leila was the only one coming from her orphanage that day.
Rosa (our guide) arranged for us to wait privately in an office. We kept peeking out the door.
(Rosa was our rock the entire time we were in China.)
As soon as we saw the orphanage director carrying her across the room from the elevator - we knew it was her!
Just 3 had made the hour long trip from Shunde CWI - the orphanage director, the driver and Leila.

They went into another room for just a couple of minutes and then came into ours. The lady immediately handed her to me.
I know Leila had to be scared. But she didn't show it.
She never cried - not once all that day. (We did though.)
She didn't eat all day either. Turns out we were making her bottles warm - not hot.
We've wondered and wondered what she thought of it all.
What was she thinking? What were her thoughts about what was going on?
Her entire world had just changed.
She'd been in that orphanage since the day she was found - the day she was born - 10.5 months before.
She was tiny. She was just 14 lbs.
This was her then.

They gave us a small bag with a few items in it. I guess it was her 'to-go' bag. There was 1 diaper, 1 bottle, a small bag of fomula, a small box of cereal, a rag/dishcloth (to sleep with), a small photo album with some pictures, and the name tag from her bed.
We gave them a gift bag with clothes for the babies still at the orphanage and a few small gifts for the nannies (ayi's).

All that day, she just looked and watched. She took it all in.
When we left there, we stopped at the store on the way back to the hotel.
We needed to pick up a few things for this new life.
We got some more diapers, food, and a stroller - which incidentally never made it home from the Chicago airport.

The adoption journey is a hard one. There were SO many times we considered pulling out of it. It's not for the weak. BUT, oh, it IS for the best!
It is one (of the 3) best things we've ever done in our lives.
This child has blessed us in so many ways that we could never have imagined.
Our lives are (more in debt), but oh, so much fuller than they ever were before.
I guess sometimes you don't realize just what you're missing in life until you have (or lose) it.
Back when we started this journey (3.5 years ago now), our agency said that Jesus was adopted.
Yeah, but I never really thought about it like that. That really made an impact on me.
Yeah, we're adopted into God's family. But I never really thought about that either on such a personal level as I do now.
I truly, truly believe that not only is adoption such a part of God's plan in our lives, but I believe that God gave us Leila not only to fulfill our lives but to witness to others.
She's quite the attention getter. Everywhere we go, people stop us and ask questions and talk. It gives us the chance to witness and talk about God's plan with all of this.
The ones that really 'get it' though - are the ones that understand that we're the lucky ones to have HER, not that she's the lucky one to have US.

Just look at her today!

I ordered Leila and I t-shirts last month.
There was a company doing a special promotion where a portion of their proceeds went to Love Without Boundaries.
If you're not sure what LWB is - look them up. They're wonderful!!!
They work to benefit orphans in China in all sorts of ways.
(I even managed to get 4-5 pictures of Leila, from when she was little, thru them.)
Anyway, on the back of each one is a Bible verse.
The one I picked out for me says:
'Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance'. (James 1:2-3)
I picked that one because although I do know most of the time that we're very blessed - other times I feel very sorry for myself and think that we have WAY too many and more than our share of trials and troubles.
(Leila's says 'Chosen' on the front - and has a different verse on the back.)

Memories and More

Oh what an emotional week this is. What memories it brings.
You see - one year ago, we were in China on the most amazing trip of a lifetime.
Every day I find myself thinking - one year ago, we were.....
One year ago yesterday, we were at the Summer Palace, Tiannamen Square and the Forbidden City.

Summer Palace

Forbidden City
One year ago today, we were walking on the Great Wall of China. What a surreal experience. I still to this day, find it hard to believe that one.



One year ago tomorrow, we boarded a Chinese airplane and flew from Beijing to Guanghzou.
We were going to pick up our baby girl.
One year ago......what a year it's been.
And yet, it's flown by. Wow, it seems like just yesterday.


On another note, we went to MD this weekend.
On Fri evening, we had visitation at the funeral home. Leila turned into quite the social butterfly. Those of you that actually 'know' her, may find that hard to believe, but really - she did. She ran all over the place. Now, she still didn't want anyone to hold her (she didn't transform that much) - actually she didn't even want us to hold her. She was free! She ran around and visited with everyone all evening.
There was another visitation(?) going on in another room at funeral home at the same time. She even visited those people! I had to go and get her out of there - more than once. I told some of the ladies in there that apparantly, she was tired of our people and wanted to see theirs. They told me that they were getting bored with theirs too, and to let her stay! I said, well, maybe so, but I'm thinking that maybe it's just not appropriate!
She was NOT so good on Sat however, but that's another story.
I guess that 2 days in a row is just too much to expect.

Although Darrell missed his track meet this week, he shaved over 2 minutes off his time last week. Pretty impressive I think.
They also had a run-a-thon today to raise money for warm-up suits. He ran 6.5 miles in an hour. I was quite impressed with that one. I couldn't run that in a day.

And on yet another note - we woke up this morning to find a dead deer in the back yard. We're thinking that since an early bow season opened today, perhaps someone shot it, and it jumped our fence to die in our yard. That left us the task of getting rid of it. But not before the dogs found it. They had a baths yesterday, but ended up getting another one today.
And, I found a lizard downstairs today! Now, you must understand, that I have this insane, complete, total irrational fear of lizards. Sort of like some people (won't mention names) that are afraid of little innocent mice. Anyway, the cat had already found it and had it mostly dead. I did manage to finish it off - a task for which I am quite proud of myself for. I could not, however, bring myself to pick it up and dispose of it. I ended up shutting the door and leaving it until Austin got home.
Now my fear is not only how and when it got in, but more importantly - are or will there be more???
I'm really, really not loving the whole wildlife thing right now.
My big brave hunter:

One Year Ago

One year ago, we were ready to leave for China. Our bags were packed. Our flight was early the morning of 9/11. We left our house one year ago tonight and spent the night at a hotel close to the airport. This time one year ago - we were on our way!

Tonight, we've been packing for another, different trip. We're leaving early in the morning for MD. David's grandmother passed away on Monday. As sad as the occasion may be, it will still be nice to see people that we haven't seen in what seems like forever. It's just a shame that often times it takes an occasion like this to bring people together.

We did however, get the pool closed this week.
Summer is officially over.
It's always a little sad, and yet, I'm always glad to get it done at this point too.