Monday, July 28, 2008

We got it.. and a book review

The FedEx man came around noon today. I signed but Kerry will need to sign and then take it to work to have the health check list notarized. So, it should be on it's way back to the agency Tuesday afternoon.

I am very glad that I had to stay home today and wait for the FedEx man. It gave me a chance to rest up. Hope had a pretty rough night. She has always had night terrors but, last night was by far the worst yet. She was completely inconsolable. Nothing we did could get her to come out of it. She just kept writhing in pain and screaming and scratching at her legs. After about an hour of listening to her and trying to comfort her I ended up putting her into the car and driving to the ER. I was that scared. She came out of it about half way to the hospital. She looked at me and said where are we? I told her we were going to the doctors. She said " I don't want to go, that doctor, he hurt me and when I cried he hurt me more." She then told me he was a Chinese doctor like her and it was before Mama and Baba. I am constantly amazed at what she can remember. To give all of you background Hope was listed as special needs with club foot. We have the pictures, her feet were turned in. The SWI said they did some kind of therapy for her feet and we do have pictures of her feet through the process. I am not sure what they did but I know whatever it was was very painful for her. On family day I do remember looking at her ankles and seeing what looked like rope burns and major bruising around them and up her legs. She was also 19mths old and weighed only 17 pounds. It was very sad. I know they meant and did the best they could but it is still heart wrenching to know your child went through something terrible and you were not there to protect her.
Anyway, after turning around and coming home, I figured she would be up for a while so decided to start a book. It's called Daughter's of China. it's fictional but based on fact. Big mistake, I read it in one night but the descriptions of some of the orphanages made me ill. Then I had all sorts of nightmares about what Hope could have experienced and I couldn't sleep. Don't get me wrong it is a very good book as is the sequel, but I wish I had read it another time.
While I may never know what happened, I am extremely grateful that Hope is here and God looked out for her. Hope is an amazing daughter and I can't imagine my life without her.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Another bump in the road....

Well, we were supposed to get our LOA FedEx next day which would mean today. I waited around all day and they never came...
I sure hope they have our correct address.

Another parent on the Hanzhong yahoo board received an update today and Gracie is in the picture. The kids are typically kept in a family unit of five. The parents of one of the boys will be traveling soon and we should follow a couple weeks after. I hope, there is speculation that the CCAA will be closed during the Olympics and this could slow us down a two weeks. Regardless the timing is still good, the flights went from $2200 each during the Olympics to $1000 after.


She's the one in the orange, in case you were wondering.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Look what we got today!!!!

You guessed it LOA!!!! We now have the official approval from the CCAA to adopt Gracie. Our Agency coordinator said we will travel in 5-6 weeks. (well Kerry and Papa will while I hold down the fort)

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

China Week starts on Sunday!!

China Week on the Travel Channel

Here is the schedule...

Sunday, July 27
8 p.m. ET -- Wild China, episode 1
9 p.m. ET -- Wild China, episode 2
10 p.m. ET -- Wild China, episode 3
11 p.m. ET -- Seven Wonders of China Special

Monday, July 28
8 p.m. ET -- Samantha Brown: Passport to China -- Beijing
9 p.m. ET -- Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations -- China

Tuesday, July 29
8 p.m. ET -- Samantha Brown: Passport to China -- Sichuan
9 p.m. ET -- Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern: Beijing
10 p.m. ET -- Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern: Guanzhou
11 p.m. ET -- Samantha Brown: Passport to China -- Beijing

Wednesday, July 30
8 p.m. ET -- Samantha Brown: Passport to China -- Xian
9 p.m. ET -- Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations -- Shanghai
10 p.m. ET -- Seven Wonders of China Specia
l11 p.m. ET -- Samantha Brown: Passport to China -- Sichuan

Thursday, July 31
8 p.m. ET -- Samantha Brown: Passport to China -- Beijing
9 p.m. ET -- Samantha Brown: Passport to China -- Sichuan
10 p.m. ET -- Samantha Brown: Passport to China -- Xian
11 p.m. ET -- Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern: Beijing

Friday, Aug. 1
8 p.m. ET -- Asia Cruise Special

Sunday, Aug. 3
8 p.m. ET -- Wild China, episode 4
9 p.m. ET -- Wild China, episode 5
10 p.m. ET -- Wild China, episode 6
11 p.m. ET -- Wild China, episode 1

Monday, July 21, 2008

Surprise!!!

We received more pictures of Gracie last night. Misty has really come through for our family and I highly recommend her to anyone needing an update or pictures. She has gone above and beyond what I ever exepected.

Grace is so cute, I can't wait to get that LOA and TA!! Please let it be soon.



Saturday, July 19, 2008

Something Different...

I thought that I would try a little something different with the sewing blog. Seems we should be getting our LOA soon. So, to make things easier I will be making things and listing them as they are finished, first person to leave a comment can buy the outfit.

The first two are listed now. Please check them out here.