tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71607602774620535942024-02-20T18:44:27.648-08:00Our Journey to Hannah Claire"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." -- Ancient Chinese BeliefAngela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-66502662205903798272012-10-30T12:17:00.001-07:002012-10-30T12:17:13.282-07:00I Need Your PrayersIt's been over a year since I last posted to this blog, and this may be my last post on it. A year ago things were so wonderful, at least in my mind they were. My husband, Chip, and I celebrated our 14th anniversary, I was looking forward to reconstruction on Hannah's ear, my children and I loved our neighborhood, and in general, life just seemed good. But this past April, Chip came to me with the shocking news that he wanted a divorce. I'm just not the kind of person he wanted to marry, he told me, along with other reasons that weren't really reasons at all, but excuses for him to leave me and our children. He wanted a career woman, and I'm a devoted mother and housewife, which is not what he wanted. I was completely blind-sided and devastated, to say the least.<br />
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The good news is, Hannah did have her reconstruction surgeries and is now well on her way to being healed. Her new ear is beautiful! We now have an appointment to go to talk to another surgeon who can tell us about options for restoring her hearing in her left ear.<br />
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Needless to say, I'm very sad to be part of a broken family, especially against my will. I would have never left my husband. Marriage is sacred to me, and worth all the work that it requires to make it successful. Unfortunately, Chip doesn't share the same beliefs about marriage. While I'm over the shock of him leaving and realize that I really don't need to be married to someone who doesn't love me unconditionally, I still struggle with the pain of abandonment, among other issues. But it's for my children that I experience the most pain. I wanted nothing but for them to have a happy, stable family life, and I feel like that was ripped out from under them. It is beyond me why someone would go through the trouble of going to China to adopt a little girl, to give her a family, only to abandon that family. But all is not lost. I know God is able to restore to us what we have lost, and in fact, to make it better than it was. We will have a happy family life without Chip, and when God sees fit, he will provide a good father for my children.<br />
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I ask for your prayers for me for tomorrow. I will be in court for a hearing to decide temporary custody orders. I'm very nervous about this, but am praying that God will guide the judge in making the best decisions for my children. Thank you so much for your support.Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-84309157137791569712011-10-06T04:44:00.000-07:002011-10-06T04:45:29.787-07:00Blog HackersThey've done it again! If you've noticed some strange posts lately on my blog, they weren't from me. I was just as surprised as you to discover posts about repairing credit, etc. this morning, when someone commented on one of the posts. This is not the first time this has happened to me, and I immediately changed my login info.<br />
Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. It's been so long since I've posted, I've needed to do an update! So here goes...<br />
Things are still going great! We're homeschooling again, using the Charlotte Mason method, which I LOVE! Hannah is at times speaking full sentences, and we're working on learning the alphabet and numbers. <br />
I started working from home again, this time as a representative with Miche, and am LOVING that as well, although it is a challenge to homeschool and work from home. But I'm learning to balance it.<br />
We saw a specialist about reconstructing Hannah's left ear a few months back, and have another appointment next month to discuss it further. We're planning on scheduling her first surgery for January. We were told it will be about an 8-month process, which is WAY shorter than what we had expected! Once the reconstruction surgeries are over and Hannah's healed from them, then they can do the surgery/ies to open up her ear canal to hopefully restore normal hearing. I can't express how much what these surgeries mean to me for my daughter. Don't get me wrong, she lives a very normal life right now, with normal hearng in her right ear, but it's the little things that will change. Her speech is being affected by her hearing, so that should improve when it is restored. And things like being able to wear a pair of Disney Princess sunglasses is hard for Hannah, because her left ear is so little, it can barely hold them up. <br />
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She's mostly not self-conscious about the appearance of her ear, but children do ask her about it, and try to touch the skin tag on her jaw, which is related to the microtia, and she gets upset when they do. And I've already thought about the day when she wants her ears pierced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be difficult to pierce her left ear, and wearing earrings on it would only draw more attention to the fact that it’s different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Hannah is absolutely beautiful the way she is right now, but I know she would eventually deal with confidence issues related to her ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I don’t sound like I have superficial and vanity concerns; I just want my daughter to live as normal a life as possible, and have the confidence it took me so long to find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this surgery will be such a blessing for Hannah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask for your prayers in advance for her safety during the surgeries, and for the success of the surgeries, and for quick healing afterward.<br />
That’s all for now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s to praying that no one else hacks into my blog!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard for me to believe people actually do things like that, but those unsolicited posts on my blog are proof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God Bless those of you who faithfully follow this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until next time!<o:p></o:p>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-40607775626689417132011-07-01T14:26:00.000-07:002011-07-02T04:41:22.349-07:00It's Been a Year!<p$1><p$1><div style="text-align: left;"><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></div><p$1><div style="text-align: left;"><p$1><p$1><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh my goodness, I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted on here! Things have been crazy for us since December, to say the least. We moved into a new house on January 15, then began remodeling our old house to rent it out. Miles started a new school and Hannah continued in Mother’s Day Out, which she LOVED. Chip was struggling with his job and desperately searched for months for a new one, which he did find, and will start in about a week and a half. But before he found it, he was depressed and it affected all of us. I also was still depressed, but miraculously came out of it, after about 10 months (thank you, God). Yes, I am finally out of that dark time that began last year, and it is wonderful! My brother’s wife had their baby last Thursday, and are temporarily staying with us. They’re going to rent our old house from us after we’re done working on it. So anyway, we have been busy, busy, busy!</span></p$1></p$1></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p$1><p$1></p$1> </p$1></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></p$1><p$1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><p$1><p$1><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We celebrated the one year anniversary of Gotcha Day in May. It’s so hard to believe it’s been<br />
a year already! I was looking back the other day at some pictures of Hannah from last year, and she seemed so much smaller. Her language is improving, but she’s going to need some speech therapy. We went to see a specialist for her microtia a few months ago, and will be going back in about 3 more months to get things started for her reconstruction surgery. </span></p$1></p$1></div><p$1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><p$1><p$1><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things are so much easier with Hannah after a year. She is still very energetic and loud, but she’s<br />
not quite as destructive, and she’s learning to be polite and respectful. She loves Miles so much, and looks up to him. She wants to do everything he does, and gets excited about things because he is. Right now, Miles is into Bey Blades, so I had to get Hannah one too. They are getting along so well.</span></p$1></p$1></div><p$1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><p$1><p$1><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah loves having my brother’s baby staying with us. She asks to see her a lot, and to hold her. She’s just fascinated by her. Having that baby around has been bittersweet for me. It brings feelings and thoughts to me that surround the fact that I didn’t get to have Hannah with me as a newborn, and that makes me sad. I wonder what things were like for her when she was so little like my niece, realizing there probably wasn’t anyone to hold her and talk sweetly to her all day, and no one to take their time with her while she slowly drank a bottle while going in and out of sleep. But it has also been good for me, almost like therapy. I kept the baby with me for two nights to give my brother and his wife a break, and I ended up LOVING it! It’s almost as if since I missed out on caring for Hannah as a newborn, I now have a chance to experience just a little bit of what it might have been like. Sometimes when I was holding her, I imagined what Hannah would have looked like at that age. I know she was just as precious and sweet. And I do take a little comfort in knowing that even if there was no one there to do all those things a mother does for her baby, God was there with my little girl, comforting and protecting her. He had to have been there, because Hannah is so well-adjusted and loving and happy, in spite of her past. I’m so thankful for that. </span></p$1></p$1></div><p$1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><p$1><p$1><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been a truly amazing year—full of sadness and despair, but also joy and thanksgiving, and life-changing in the best of ways. I am so thankful God chose me for this adoption journey. I look at Hannah every day and think what a miracle it is that I, of all people, went all the way to China to bring back a little girl to be my daughter. I never would have done it on my own, but did it because God told me to do it. He really does know best. I look forward to<br />
all the future blessings he has in store for us with our daughter.</span></p$1></p$1></div><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-75798352474485685582010-12-22T06:27:00.000-08:002010-12-22T06:28:37.239-08:00Now You're HomeIt's hard to believe that this time last year we were wishing our little girl could be with us. It was our last Christmas with just one child, and I looked forward to a time when Miles would have a sibling to share all the excitement with, as only children can share with each other. Now that is a reality, and I am so thankful. It touches my heart to watch as Hannah discovers this holiday, from picking out and decorating our tree, to hearing Miles sing in his school Christmas program, to sitting on Santa's lap. Of course, she has no idea she'll be waking up in three days to find our Christmas tree surrounded by presents for her to open. I can't wait for that morning! <br />
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I've had so much fun Christmas shopping this year! I mean, I've bought presents for my nieces before, but this is different. This is for <em>my own daughter</em>, something that not too long ago I thought I would never have. It was such a pleasure to pick out all the little girly things, things I know I would have loved myself as a little girl. I can't wait to see the look on Hannah's face when she opens those presents!<br />
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I put together a slideshow to express how this past year has been for us, and how much it means to us to have our daughter with us for Christmas. I hope you enjoy it, and I know many who read this can totally identify with our family. Merry Christmas to all of you and, whether by birth or adoption, your precious children.<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mOiIAZmDoT4?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mOiIAZmDoT4?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-22678459875758571292010-08-28T16:09:00.000-07:002010-08-28T16:09:25.816-07:00BreakthroughAs I am writing this, something is happening in our house that I've dreamed about for years. And it's been going on for almost an hour straight. My two children are happily playing together! This is a real breakthrough for them. I mean, they've played together before, of course, but this time they've got a little storyline going, and they seem to understand each other pretty well. This is so welcome after three and a half months of a lot of fighting, and when they weren't fighting, Hannah was my shadow, which has been hard on me. Miles also was using what little Mandarin he knows to communicate with Hannah, in spite of my efforts to encourage him to speak English to her so she'd learn it quicker. He would also sort of just make up his own language sometimes, that sounded like Mandarin, but was really just jibberish. But the past week I've noticed he's started speaking to her in English, and as a result, she seems to be using more English herself.<br />
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Like I said, I've dreamed for years of having two children, and hearing the sounds of them happily playing. God has made that dream come true today. I know there will still be all the normal fighting, but I think today there has been a breakthrough, and it will only get better!<br />
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Here they are playing. They did completely mess up my bed, but it is so worth it for the harmony between the two of them!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjBs8I48Jp9LqerfI5BZeRLMmZMZbkbgl38P9nFIJ80a7nG5wmcKjvQGs2JbGfJ-rjdiwbxUGgVcc3_hdzsJEHO6zT8EkH7pUFN_Y3ogkFS3NO1MsmaMyo7eN_SPiaf4QgZRp1mihvNg/s1600/IMG_5830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjBs8I48Jp9LqerfI5BZeRLMmZMZbkbgl38P9nFIJ80a7nG5wmcKjvQGs2JbGfJ-rjdiwbxUGgVcc3_hdzsJEHO6zT8EkH7pUFN_Y3ogkFS3NO1MsmaMyo7eN_SPiaf4QgZRp1mihvNg/s320/IMG_5830.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x0KBfUIli-I6pNpuVs7gdVCsoLJh1xsIdrL5Q8jke5Dl9JJpcms6CaUBNheA5OlwFAAaj_VEpS3wTQPdIYdp1eXURORVUbyNsqaDYMjo0NN4ciq_yYY16IcJdE0pmxXQoHKUg8yw09E/s1600/IMG_5833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x0KBfUIli-I6pNpuVs7gdVCsoLJh1xsIdrL5Q8jke5Dl9JJpcms6CaUBNheA5OlwFAAaj_VEpS3wTQPdIYdp1eXURORVUbyNsqaDYMjo0NN4ciq_yYY16IcJdE0pmxXQoHKUg8yw09E/s320/IMG_5833.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just look at them. I am the most blessed of mothers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUv8tv8XZSpVu0DoL1UlWbQOHlHwfgnqe_wfAPJTdUNRoYN04hurco1qYZnmy1BSj-NhQGIX4xXPzYvxEZrcp5LArhiSpe4vEYWQ-iABR71WHxynGWaGh2qm_sexyNB8g2PUQ6EvCpr8/s1600/IMG_5835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUv8tv8XZSpVu0DoL1UlWbQOHlHwfgnqe_wfAPJTdUNRoYN04hurco1qYZnmy1BSj-NhQGIX4xXPzYvxEZrcp5LArhiSpe4vEYWQ-iABR71WHxynGWaGh2qm_sexyNB8g2PUQ6EvCpr8/s320/IMG_5835.JPG" /></a></div>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-22821657100055975892010-07-28T14:30:00.000-07:002010-07-28T14:30:15.156-07:00Our Laid Back SummerToday Hannah saw two of her water bottles on the counter and said, "Mommy! One, two!" I was so proud, and ran to her and gave her a big kiss. Later, I knocked my shin on the edge of the open dishwasher and cried out in pain. I asked her to kiss my bo-bo, which she did. I went back to the dishes, and Hannah ran to the bathroom and brought me back a band-aid. She is such a caring, sensitive person. And so precious.<br />
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Hannah's seems to be learning more and more English words. I believe now that in just a few months, she'll be speaking so much and so clearly, you won't be able to tell she wasn't here in the U.S. all her life. She recently started to say "hurt" instead of the Chinese word for it, and she says "cow" every time we get in the car. Speaking of cows, we went out this morning to the farm where we buy our organic eggs and raw milk, and she was making sure the whole way that we were indeed going to see the cows. She kept saying, "Mommy, cow!" And I kept reassuring her, "Yes, we are going to see the cows." Going to the farm has really helped her feel more comfortable around animals, and to learn their names. While she still doesn't want to pet any of them, she'll actually get down out of my arms and walk around sometimes, until one of the dogs or cats gets too close, and then she's climbing me. I think a few more trips will take care of that fear.<br />
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Miles and Hannah are growing closer and getting along better. Sometimes I'm so amazed at how quiet it is around here with two kids in the house. It's not all the time, of course, but those times I find them playing quietly together, or even just side-by-side on their toy laptops is so heartwarming. I love seeing my children connecting and growing in their sibling bond.<br />
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My sister and her family just recently met Hannah a couple of weeks ago. My sister had her baby while we were flying back from China, and we wanted to play it safe around her and wait until Hannah's blood test results came back. She has no illnesses, but she did have to get to immunizations, and is still being treated for giardia. She couldn't keep the antibiotics for it down, so we switched to a natural herbal treatment. We have two more weeks to go with that, then we'll do more stool samples to see if it did the trick. Please keep her in your prayers. As long as she has giardia, it will be hard for her to gain any weight.<br />
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We've been enjoying our laid-back summer. While there's nothing wrong with having lots of activities over the summer, we're loving just mostly staying home, getting to know each other better, settling into a routine. I'm feeling so much better lately, and am able to focus more on the things that are important, the little things. Like wrapping up Hannah in a blanket and holding her like a baby and talking to baby talk to her, sometimes even feeding her a water bottle full of milk. She asks me to do this every day now and LOVES it. I'm looking at picture books more with her, pointing to pictures and telling her what the objects and animals are called. And as I've said before, she loves to be in the kitchen with me, and I let her help as much as I can. All these are little things I just wouldn't have time for if we were scheduled to do activities most days. I feel so blessed to have this precious time with both of my children, and especially with Hannah, since she has missed out on so much already.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Brother and sister bonding.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w0spa3siFmCZf3W8UjkYLv7oa7b_1tyJdwbepcE8k8ykylro4YGSNhhLf_CCBAnU2FKSAwtA9WqwMSaBhhUY_LoEB7f9eveNhma38_qlsQoHSdlXktkGa142oU5P5AMgffOyP2UL35I/s1600/IMG_5571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w0spa3siFmCZf3W8UjkYLv7oa7b_1tyJdwbepcE8k8ykylro4YGSNhhLf_CCBAnU2FKSAwtA9WqwMSaBhhUY_LoEB7f9eveNhma38_qlsQoHSdlXktkGa142oU5P5AMgffOyP2UL35I/s320/IMG_5571.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn4L_mIOAb7Ym20lTJ7OeaA4FCZEU6wEp7F7pJDVsf5ijdgWNV-NgTeqgBS8OTiocgu_2pFgTnRhkLs-CoRoF0D4NNxyr9CitjgT_66zJhcYlOuZfUe6UKkxCcIjTSsvkl_MFlR-cD1c/s1600/IMG_5578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn4L_mIOAb7Ym20lTJ7OeaA4FCZEU6wEp7F7pJDVsf5ijdgWNV-NgTeqgBS8OTiocgu_2pFgTnRhkLs-CoRoF0D4NNxyr9CitjgT_66zJhcYlOuZfUe6UKkxCcIjTSsvkl_MFlR-cD1c/s320/IMG_5578.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At my sister's house with the new baby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiAUxRodu6XuaPy1DJgTuVspZDzMFdHvOPbEr_iwFiPV7gWGFOmmDLzNlhwi3d3bnbEOo8-JKlBN7FAqynSndBhHkgkJzR7vx9LZPqNCZ_dYExqjY7hieS6UnWrGfyESRjtLTePbNq4s/s1600/IMG_5544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiAUxRodu6XuaPy1DJgTuVspZDzMFdHvOPbEr_iwFiPV7gWGFOmmDLzNlhwi3d3bnbEOo8-JKlBN7FAqynSndBhHkgkJzR7vx9LZPqNCZ_dYExqjY7hieS6UnWrGfyESRjtLTePbNq4s/s320/IMG_5544.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Miles and Hannah with their cousins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQtaS0sxWxWhfUmSr-cWR8hvXy5WilELzY53Af33-JGZJH8MGQyy7OGhL91CxjxLlAmIbbeVQDxTT9g1egvD16PeUyfQjkC813xgAxT-Zif5dCXKGPOleV1RyPuMb-QOjUeICrReQ9Cc/s1600/IMG_5524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQtaS0sxWxWhfUmSr-cWR8hvXy5WilELzY53Af33-JGZJH8MGQyy7OGhL91CxjxLlAmIbbeVQDxTT9g1egvD16PeUyfQjkC813xgAxT-Zif5dCXKGPOleV1RyPuMb-QOjUeICrReQ9Cc/s320/IMG_5524.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Father's Day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4ayMdh0ZLCGgCIR2Cy5T6sEV5bgqQPMDXo0uW3QyMiAFenM54BtoP_o0cpax4re-Xb_6A8F0tXRY8j_naQNNFAtxIT70RLrvHvTjsPmK2MYGN7fGO3Dl99vuqNv97z8diKJJBdZLFr0/s1600/IMG_5278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4ayMdh0ZLCGgCIR2Cy5T6sEV5bgqQPMDXo0uW3QyMiAFenM54BtoP_o0cpax4re-Xb_6A8F0tXRY8j_naQNNFAtxIT70RLrvHvTjsPmK2MYGN7fGO3Dl99vuqNv97z8diKJJBdZLFr0/s320/IMG_5278.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 4th of July at Mei-Feng Ayi's house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNksycQz9qOiGIfBh6ffIx3S6NFI9uIgfoobHRA-8L13vkJDR8O_hN6SZv8Fxnw4V9OProjDkucdV26-upvlX3SnYte2VDshh3N5gqUBzRu3DrE6YTz2azCP971TLISLzdCSIGaezp8o/s1600/IMG_5408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNksycQz9qOiGIfBh6ffIx3S6NFI9uIgfoobHRA-8L13vkJDR8O_hN6SZv8Fxnw4V9OProjDkucdV26-upvlX3SnYte2VDshh3N5gqUBzRu3DrE6YTz2azCP971TLISLzdCSIGaezp8o/s320/IMG_5408.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meeting one of her cousins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEF7cN0UoTR19-M7cYvDk0iyrRb62PBsJ6-LQzsR7KaVXsCyeOrSk6zSO7IF13uIZXCwD_6aoqd61ujyh8hGgtwjp8lYFU4jAw_nktWxoF-8P2DeDzbPdUaNdxuwft1TXctP3WANFLRpc/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_5438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEF7cN0UoTR19-M7cYvDk0iyrRb62PBsJ6-LQzsR7KaVXsCyeOrSk6zSO7IF13uIZXCwD_6aoqd61ujyh8hGgtwjp8lYFU4jAw_nktWxoF-8P2DeDzbPdUaNdxuwft1TXctP3WANFLRpc/s320/Copy+of+IMG_5438.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another one from the 4th. Hannah has no shortage of Ayis!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOQRw7pJBwv2uX8THhPgfLwleJjiz093MF0T4FLAXmeiFOaPBLRhyphenhyphensZUqfqfNWCFKUOEIz_uGu4ue_ujyr54vJNX5MTDEgEt89aUEJlsgxDpyHuqcQlGBOLCtFytP5c2ADMdO1CZEU0I/s1600/IMG_5392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOQRw7pJBwv2uX8THhPgfLwleJjiz093MF0T4FLAXmeiFOaPBLRhyphenhyphensZUqfqfNWCFKUOEIz_uGu4ue_ujyr54vJNX5MTDEgEt89aUEJlsgxDpyHuqcQlGBOLCtFytP5c2ADMdO1CZEU0I/s320/IMG_5392.JPG" /></a></div>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-20283876732874864462010-07-22T18:04:00.000-07:002010-07-22T18:04:16.229-07:00All My HeartI can honestly say now that I love Hannah so dearly. Of course, I loved her before, before I even met her. But after we got her, I was under so much stress and anxiety, and was dealing with depression as well, that it was so hard to feel the love I had for her. I'm so thankful to feel that love now.<br />
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Today was such a nice day. We stayed home all day, just Hannah, Miles and me. I got up in a good mood, and decided to make a conscious effort to concentrate on the kids and the house today. Yes, even though I'm a "stay at home mom," I don't always focus on domestic things, and I don't always spend as much time as I think I should with my kids. But today was different. I enjoyed making them a breakfast of scrambled eggs and biscuits. I did lots of laundry today, and Hannah helped me, which she loves to do. Later Hannah and I sat on the couch and looked through a couple of her picture books, one about animals and one about the world in general. It was nice to just take that time out with her and not feel like I needed to get up and go get something done around the house. After the books, I laid down with Hannah until she fell asleep for her nap. When she got up, we all three had cookies and milk for an afternoon snack. Before supper, Hannah asked to clean off the table and chairs, so I handed her my bottle of vinegar and water and a washcloth, and she happily went about her task. After that, she sat on the counter while I did dishes, then stood on a stool and stirred the food on the stove.<br />
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When Chip got home, we ate, then Chip took Miles to the store to spend some of his allowance on silly bands, so Hannah and I got some more one-on-one time together for about 45 minutes. She was crying when her baba and gege left, but she cheered herself up by brushing her teeth with her new electric Hello Kitty toothbrush. She probably used it ten times today, she loves that thing so much!<br />
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Hannah is learing so many new words lately. She now says "ok," " I love you, too," and "hurt," in addition to a few others. She understands so much, it's amazing! It's fascinating to watch this little girl who had never heard English words before she was 4 years old, now learning this new language, slowly dropping the Chinese words for the new English ones.<br />
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Looking at Hannah's face today, I felt so strongly, so clearly that God meant this little girl for us. To say she is special to me is such an understatement. She came to me in such a special way, and she has touched me in ways that have no words to be expressed. She is truly <em>my daughter,</em> and I love her with all my heart.Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-9242621117855791822010-07-02T17:29:00.000-07:002010-07-02T17:29:32.109-07:00All About Hannah<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruDjQ8Y_Kmlv__DOfUrSHIBZNn-ezbiF-THlh0ShUVV8caZ2ipPaBOG-NB4q235_1UJzz1nmjDo3XXydIBtwoFp4eDNQ053JjfGNOpu7qctQkZUD3Z2SC1Fmpsay_fFW0Q-9q2xe2j-0/s1600/DSC_0728+cropped+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruDjQ8Y_Kmlv__DOfUrSHIBZNn-ezbiF-THlh0ShUVV8caZ2ipPaBOG-NB4q235_1UJzz1nmjDo3XXydIBtwoFp4eDNQ053JjfGNOpu7qctQkZUD3Z2SC1Fmpsay_fFW0Q-9q2xe2j-0/s320/DSC_0728+cropped+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
I wanted to take a moment to tell everyone about Hannah. Of couse I've talked about her in previous posts, about how she's doing, etc, but haven't really gone into detail about her personality. So here goes...<br />
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Hannah is one of those kids who rarely sits still. She can also be loud, <em>really </em>loud at times. When she gets excited, she loves to scream, those high-pitched kind of screams that feel like their going to pierce my eardrums. She loves to come and tell me about things she and her ge ge (big brother) are doing, and she has the most adorable way of using hand gestures and mumbling with a few words thrown in to tell me all about it. As the original description we read of her stated, she <em>does</em> love to be held. So I hold her as much as I can. Sometimes on the couch while she watches TV (which usually doesn't last too long, because, as I said before, she rarely sits still), sometimes at the table while she eats, and other times I carry her around as I do things in the kitchen. <br />
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Speaking of the kitchen, she loves to spray my cleaning solution of water and vinegar on the table, and then wipe it down for me. She also has a little hand broom that she likes to sweep up crumbs from the floor with. And she loves to stir ingredients when I bake. Hannah is definitely Mommy's little kitchen companion. Any time I'm in there, she wants to be there too. She even sits on the counter next to the sink while I do dishes.<br />
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Hannah likes to help me fold laundry, and then she puts up her own clothes! She also likes to load the washer and dryer. It's these little things, her helping me in the kitchen and with laundry, that make me look forward to the future when she is older and even more able to help me with things around the house. It's not only the help, though. It's the idea that I'll be able to share these with my own daughter, and pass on things I love like cooking and baking. And most importantly, we'll be building a bond while we do these things together. I am so blessed to have this little girl in my life.<br />
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Whenever Hannah gets hurt, and even if she's not really hurt, she says, "Ow!" and runs straight to me for a kiss on the boo-boo. I give her the kiss, and she's fine. It makes me feel so good that she finds comfort in that. That she knows that I am her mother and can make everything ok. I'm so thankful she doesn't seem to have any of the bonding issues I've heard of other older children having. She is now so confident in situations, such as the playground. She has no problem running off and playing, but every few minutes she comes back to check in with her Mommy. And she has started to call me "Mommy," instead of the Chinese "Ma-ma," she started out with. I just love that!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hannah and Miles are getting along better lately. It is such a joy to see them play harmoniously together! One of the sweetest things to see them do is when Hannah asks Miles to hold her. So he picks her up and carries her for a few steps, then they both fall on the couch laughing. They repeat this over and over and it's so fun to watch because they're having so much fun! Of course, there is still fighting at times (Hannah hits Miles now and then), and neither one likes to share their toys with the other. But these things are just normal sibling issues, so I'm not too worried about them. I have a good feeling the two of them will grow up to be very close.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While Hannah can be very loud and even whiny at times (what 4-year-old isn't?), she is very sweet. She tries to sing along when I sing lullabyes at night, and she even makes up her own songs featuring all of our names. She is such a precious girl.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAao1sLg9xjQNFnTD0TjnvYluO5ZbXt8x3Yo8OK7msYCWPieSmb-e3ApeC4M_pKlYlMy9aGFjxfoblEIZloQlmPI_Pq2Bff-796BazQltYdGZBrEP2yK-_Mp2NtsL9geRFQBLRplxEHU/s1600/DSC_0698+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAao1sLg9xjQNFnTD0TjnvYluO5ZbXt8x3Yo8OK7msYCWPieSmb-e3ApeC4M_pKlYlMy9aGFjxfoblEIZloQlmPI_Pq2Bff-796BazQltYdGZBrEP2yK-_Mp2NtsL9geRFQBLRplxEHU/s320/DSC_0698+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDy0hx3KcdflsI62wZpt1tqD_fwa-4vfDAEpGTpkfJBDn4lD7ZW_PyZtxlkHNfXgJQn_AecjrRkQg6V4AGL0MmECT3zFfimmacwzhf0nNyvYRPsf19oN9JEKmwwjz32_9LAak8u4e6j2Y/s1600/DSC_0691+cropped+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDy0hx3KcdflsI62wZpt1tqD_fwa-4vfDAEpGTpkfJBDn4lD7ZW_PyZtxlkHNfXgJQn_AecjrRkQg6V4AGL0MmECT3zFfimmacwzhf0nNyvYRPsf19oN9JEKmwwjz32_9LAak8u4e6j2Y/s320/DSC_0691+cropped+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Zil6MqvgxAO3JOQ-S-sob-sxU0PgXmRZ7Mhgi8J-JQTKri_isiDEZDoO0PALhtoevIhHpmNppRJTb-_KHE9Cm60hqrfRFcrUAmvp6x07web744iSxO29HnQI0whXqXgzD8A7cMd_yGI/s1600/DSC_0702+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Zil6MqvgxAO3JOQ-S-sob-sxU0PgXmRZ7Mhgi8J-JQTKri_isiDEZDoO0PALhtoevIhHpmNppRJTb-_KHE9Cm60hqrfRFcrUAmvp6x07web744iSxO29HnQI0whXqXgzD8A7cMd_yGI/s320/DSC_0702+copy.jpg" /></a></div>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-77096589568609615862010-07-01T19:14:00.000-07:002010-07-01T19:16:27.097-07:00Days with HannahWe're all doing even better than last time I posted. I've been seeing a therapist to deal with my anxiety and according to her, I may have been lightly depressed for many years. I knew my anxiety was bad, but I was always able to get to a point where I could control it, and didn't really think I suffered from depression. But I think my therapist may be onto something. She suggested I go see my doctor and get a prescription for a mild anti-depressant. I've never taken anything like this in my life, so I was a little skeptical, but was willing to try anything right now to get a handle on my irritability, especially around the kids. So I did as she suggested, and it has made a huge difference! Of course, the stress is still there, but I'm able to handle it better than before, losing my cool less and less, which I am so thankful for.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So now that I'm able to put aside some of the anxiety and depression, I'm much more able to enjoy my new life with Hannah. She is so adorable, her sweet little face, the way she moves around when she's in a silly mood, like a little monkey, her baby-Mandarin, and her baby-English. She's such a wonderful little girl, and I'm so thankful I can see it now.</div><br />
Hannah is learning new words, such as "potty." She used to say the Chinese word for potty, but now she uses the English word. She says "Amen," as soon as she sits down at the table to eat, because she knows we're about to ask the blessing. I'm trying to teach her the alphabet, without much luck yet, but she loves to look at the flashcards I made her. Her progress is slow, but I'm giving her all the time she needs to catch up with other 4-year-olds. Luckily, we homeschool, so I'm able to let her go at her own pace.<br />
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Hannah's stool sample results came back and she has giardia, which is an intestinal bacteria which many times goes away on its own, but we're getting a prescription to treat it. We still haven't gotten back her blood results.<br />
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Miles and Hannah are getting along better than when we first got home. They're still learning to share and getting used to having a sibling, but there are times when they play so well together. They'll even run into their room and close the door, and I can hear them giggle and scream with laughter. It does my heart so much good to hear that.<br />
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My love for Hannah grows every day. Yesterday, while I was on the couch trying to take a little nap, she came to me, kissed me on the cheek, and said "I love you." Who couldn't love that.<br />
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Here are a few photos from since we've gotten home with Hannah:<br />
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The kids love to play between the couch and the wall, you'd think it was a playground!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufkVxHVDhv8Z0e_sfEjcEIuO_DtfOd72eDrnzYTAhBssJco7TYDORP7sKQm7gwhcsQNvFlPLwZUJOddmZhZ2ciIfjIZsnbPmwdSTsUQMd_3qNIgW58e7GGsmVOKK9i7dMtP7eyZeNuGY/s1600/DSC_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufkVxHVDhv8Z0e_sfEjcEIuO_DtfOd72eDrnzYTAhBssJco7TYDORP7sKQm7gwhcsQNvFlPLwZUJOddmZhZ2ciIfjIZsnbPmwdSTsUQMd_3qNIgW58e7GGsmVOKK9i7dMtP7eyZeNuGY/s320/DSC_0765.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4oYH9b-Coxj3Lqbu6bTdX5ygVUMt2OagVSQT_4v51xHXmMM2Es_hoxuTmFa4KA_AJ38EKv42hBsFO5OtpjgOMF3l76l__JF9S2wO9cfVdhQIgtokG9YgSc0_nH3fiJK8nE2A4_DNlXM/s320/DSC_0812.JPG" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Hannah is Mommy's little helper. That girl LOVES to clean!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3SAmXYgDNQvWzcA0d4WFOnDXNkN5EgLMvIov9a9eVbKqbIhuqJ2DTdY-AAmpYEV7i5QOw13zBBGgic3UKvrasJ-v5Yb29atHoKWrdp-3ZX2PrHVEP-LiqwHEwZMduhHknuHLjuSd8UQ/s1600/DSC_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3SAmXYgDNQvWzcA0d4WFOnDXNkN5EgLMvIov9a9eVbKqbIhuqJ2DTdY-AAmpYEV7i5QOw13zBBGgic3UKvrasJ-v5Yb29atHoKWrdp-3ZX2PrHVEP-LiqwHEwZMduhHknuHLjuSd8UQ/s320/DSC_0769.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFJ5n068-jQv6CGyagaojEX4BNRHIspITfnlrp2xmQh0bdfKrqbeurV9goESciVicBpj5lvjt7uf_U2aMrTv6s3YoUtakiRdEjf7c0ZpjDnrPxvEbKwDrLwLh4tBtBcT1pQt7UudqEXU/s1600/DSC_0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFJ5n068-jQv6CGyagaojEX4BNRHIspITfnlrp2xmQh0bdfKrqbeurV9goESciVicBpj5lvjt7uf_U2aMrTv6s3YoUtakiRdEjf7c0ZpjDnrPxvEbKwDrLwLh4tBtBcT1pQt7UudqEXU/s320/DSC_0859.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Hannah with a friend of ours from Taiwan, Hannah's "Mei Feng Ayi".</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5xht6Ky7Sjgy_l7lpKlRq9mE4eDMLNOmCvxin_7tnoeHX0dGRr_2Hd9lw0ksuSXkhGPuO24dKol6ph0sCWgt1s3vBKByqsGT22pq2CYu9HHLZ6BSzYap5k0XUO-4Po2Wtq8hQRGpUWc/s1600/DSC_0891+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5xht6Ky7Sjgy_l7lpKlRq9mE4eDMLNOmCvxin_7tnoeHX0dGRr_2Hd9lw0ksuSXkhGPuO24dKol6ph0sCWgt1s3vBKByqsGT22pq2CYu9HHLZ6BSzYap5k0XUO-4Po2Wtq8hQRGpUWc/s320/DSC_0891+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1_AeATwU_24xnvdw1dOtpGiQICEyK4XECBBM-kfaAgHcBTJiJ6PXPvaLpl8FnS5MvH5iJ2St2MVQu3mVZcMNFXwu-MTM04gkb1FzATHqG3vhwNTssrgWTJibmoBDOjxI6KC9_HLy068/s1600/DSC_0839+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1_AeATwU_24xnvdw1dOtpGiQICEyK4XECBBM-kfaAgHcBTJiJ6PXPvaLpl8FnS5MvH5iJ2St2MVQu3mVZcMNFXwu-MTM04gkb1FzATHqG3vhwNTssrgWTJibmoBDOjxI6KC9_HLy068/s320/DSC_0839+copy.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYi_Xs6B0bZHVHixRmG5YA0TUlYbCINa8npXiM7DrXIttVmPiH969XAn8n5lAMps9Jm54ySg9wBykhncFqRYL0tmyj1hOxCnlhNJVoZ1OkSY5YXBCADQBVRCkcI774ObugKpaGuwhuTis/s1600/DSC_0904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYi_Xs6B0bZHVHixRmG5YA0TUlYbCINa8npXiM7DrXIttVmPiH969XAn8n5lAMps9Jm54ySg9wBykhncFqRYL0tmyj1hOxCnlhNJVoZ1OkSY5YXBCADQBVRCkcI774ObugKpaGuwhuTis/s320/DSC_0904.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIo_InDD8LNtd72HqLAbenoB6TXf3Ht2RBHVmLSeuXrT-sVMf9uI3VCWNtOpiNxoDkeN61DztXNT0SXuhHr0o-hS0f3ybuTrqn_s55tmAhuo6QGYQvbUXVeARZjSDXrWj5S0V0x0SY4A/s1600/DSC_0958+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIo_InDD8LNtd72HqLAbenoB6TXf3Ht2RBHVmLSeuXrT-sVMf9uI3VCWNtOpiNxoDkeN61DztXNT0SXuhHr0o-hS0f3ybuTrqn_s55tmAhuo6QGYQvbUXVeARZjSDXrWj5S0V0x0SY4A/s320/DSC_0958+copy.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYSCC04gHEvwdQ2kt-0h2yQvnMm2eIlESlBImaSaFUYRcQDtxEZkkOfSeZ0EBUIAaawqktopkNoVMHm9eCZun9nY4mSakQIMtPDIIo-pA8r86jBujhXfinfU5Bq5RKbDfDIryoAWSGX4/s1600/150px-Patty01%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYSCC04gHEvwdQ2kt-0h2yQvnMm2eIlESlBImaSaFUYRcQDtxEZkkOfSeZ0EBUIAaawqktopkNoVMHm9eCZun9nY4mSakQIMtPDIIo-pA8r86jBujhXfinfU5Bq5RKbDfDIryoAWSGX4/s320/150px-Patty01%5B1%5D.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The above photo is one of my absolute favorites!!! She reminds me so much of Rainbow Brite's friend, Patty O' Green, with her pigtails, mini-skirt and boots! For a while she even had band-aids on her knees, just not on that particular day.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I almost don't need words for the next two photos. I am completely convinced that I have the most beautiful daughter this world has ever seen. Of course, I know I'm biased, but come on, look at that face! Gorgeous.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ7QLRjYL5HoFFwNZgqORQ5QmAqZD6YdO3SGpjK3lc_JVmp3td5RimW1_c_tsRITxwkGdhqSAh55ulydfpWLW4qS6abARalGTF4bYkZfoS66ptmcrCCgqBqD9eP1t77Xmk04iwNhgLGQ/s1600/DSC_0983+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ7QLRjYL5HoFFwNZgqORQ5QmAqZD6YdO3SGpjK3lc_JVmp3td5RimW1_c_tsRITxwkGdhqSAh55ulydfpWLW4qS6abARalGTF4bYkZfoS66ptmcrCCgqBqD9eP1t77Xmk04iwNhgLGQ/s320/DSC_0983+copy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodf2OUDuLjEdx66jgt_YdIoVKjKm_2yqUdGHM_h4B6TZWTSEQDk0c7WDKxaOy73jlhvCn5RfjZvSJzs_7mZI6479f0z5QZADQDRrUSVDwQOpkQeaoUdFDwEPGC1fYgCQP1Ouwt5QFy9w/s1600/DSC_0991+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodf2OUDuLjEdx66jgt_YdIoVKjKm_2yqUdGHM_h4B6TZWTSEQDk0c7WDKxaOy73jlhvCn5RfjZvSJzs_7mZI6479f0z5QZADQDRrUSVDwQOpkQeaoUdFDwEPGC1fYgCQP1Ouwt5QFy9w/s320/DSC_0991+cropped.jpg" /></a></div>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-39996517835650976062010-06-23T09:21:00.000-07:002010-06-23T09:21:09.143-07:00So Much BetterWe are really settling in now and finding our new normal. Of course, I'm still learning how to deal with the added stress of having two kids versus one, but it is definitely so much better. Hannah is starting to say more English words, mostly when repeating what we say, but she did ask for bubbles in her bath the other day by saying, "bubble"! She understands a lot of what we say, and follows directions well, although she does have meltdowns quite a bit when she wants one of Miles's toys or can't quite get us to understand what she's telling us in Chinese. I know it will all get better as time goes by and Hannah learns to speak more English.<br />
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I took Hannah to her first doctor's appointment week before last and the hearing in her right ear was tested and was found to be normal, to our delight! We'll be making another appointment with a craniofacial doctor to evaluate her microtia and give us an idea of treatments available for her. We're not in a big hurry, though, because at this point we think it will mostly be cosmetic treatments to give her left ear and face a more normal appearance. There could be a possibility of improving her hearing in her left ear too, but she seems to function so normally with good hearing in one ear, that we're not too worried about it.<br />
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Last week I completed the last of gathering stool samples from Hannah. Boy was that fun! :( The doctor said this would be to check for parasites. I'll be dropping them off tomorrow at the lab and while we're there we'll have her blood drawn and they'll check to make sure her vaccinations are good and check for other various things. As of her appointment, she weighs 27 pounds and is 38 1/2 inches tall. She is very skinny for her height, but she eats a whole lot, so hopefully she'll catch up soon.<br />
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These days we spend a lot of mornings at the playground before it gets too hot, then late afternoon, the kids play on their Slip 'n Slide. Last weekend we also got them a little pool, which they love. They like to eat popsicles outside and to blow bubbles. I've got plans for other things for us to do this summer, like library story times and trips to the beach area at the lake, things where we can all stay cool.<br />
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More photos to come soon!Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-29690663407946687602010-06-05T18:09:00.000-07:002010-06-05T18:10:01.571-07:00Two Weeks Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today we've been home with Hannah two weeks! And what a two weeks it's been! The first week was really hard; one of the hardest of my life in fact, but last week it got easier. Now I feel so much better, it's amazing. Everyone said give it some time, and they were right. I’m starting to get used to Hannah being here, and more importantly, I’m so glad she’s here! As I told our social worker, I can feel the love creeping in. </div><br />
Chip’s mother is here this weekend, so I only have time for a quick post and a few pictures from our first two weeks home. I just got all the pictures on my computer last night, so on a later post, I’ll share more pictures from our time in China.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMncoZa5b0kcDAcgfztHZjRlKaQehItWjmw5S9XoNp741tCpKRgBxF144NQeUo-PRZ5nRSra8gaPRSe1V-yMKqec149oQAzSL_fPOwoz_AQnFG2Vg4KlrtgjCGHEOlOeWiERckurbQPc/s1600/DSC_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMncoZa5b0kcDAcgfztHZjRlKaQehItWjmw5S9XoNp741tCpKRgBxF144NQeUo-PRZ5nRSra8gaPRSe1V-yMKqec149oQAzSL_fPOwoz_AQnFG2Vg4KlrtgjCGHEOlOeWiERckurbQPc/s320/DSC_0597.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fbmf-2ms-4chToTE3QNMENBVv8gXpUWJlEeGyPEbyHcx2hhSFotLnYIVGU6E7UMyoJejvkKZftOrSFJxRchlg37vvaOC7xkJdokZ7k12RnHfPPshmNIsDkPlScJ1-V2eYG1dIM-OTig/s1600/DSC_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fbmf-2ms-4chToTE3QNMENBVv8gXpUWJlEeGyPEbyHcx2hhSFotLnYIVGU6E7UMyoJejvkKZftOrSFJxRchlg37vvaOC7xkJdokZ7k12RnHfPPshmNIsDkPlScJ1-V2eYG1dIM-OTig/s320/DSC_0639.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscyu5iydWeOKyX-H-Y0-LgEaCY2ljHR91kluERX-jdcjG_2eO_HG0dltaClFZloQNARHpWdI6wKYM00mBldvWpFyfnipkcZqV3BIZ_PkNlQaWqb9WhdWwiVBKj3Oyc0U_ZoeGFuVkAuI/s1600/DSC_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscyu5iydWeOKyX-H-Y0-LgEaCY2ljHR91kluERX-jdcjG_2eO_HG0dltaClFZloQNARHpWdI6wKYM00mBldvWpFyfnipkcZqV3BIZ_PkNlQaWqb9WhdWwiVBKj3Oyc0U_ZoeGFuVkAuI/s320/DSC_0647.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLEPio58WT6Q9AJcQQbdVmg3K1hircCxDd7YqtpLVxX4u9MszC7-KFQU5KVH8NP5EeZAihU9C4gA7JF5LUGuD4uqQ-QTG4LVaY8Ou80lHmK0BV5L9SNLAnTYdem17VEUjO07p58-68mI/s1600/DSC_0685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLEPio58WT6Q9AJcQQbdVmg3K1hircCxDd7YqtpLVxX4u9MszC7-KFQU5KVH8NP5EeZAihU9C4gA7JF5LUGuD4uqQ-QTG4LVaY8Ou80lHmK0BV5L9SNLAnTYdem17VEUjO07p58-68mI/s320/DSC_0685.JPG" /></a> <br />
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Showing Hannah her room when we first got home:<br />
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</div>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-28147326824969863512010-05-29T17:52:00.000-07:002010-05-29T17:52:25.064-07:00A Wonderful DayI just wrote the last post this morning, and felt moved to write again tonight. I had a wonderful day, the best so far since we came home! Chip was home since it was Saturday, so that helped, and I just felt more relaxed today with Hannah. We spent the morning around the house, just spending time with the kids, then headed two blocks from our house to Dairy Queen for lunch. When we got home, we got Hannah down for a nap and then a friend of mine picked me up to go see a movie. It was so nice to get out of the house with no kids and escape responsibility for 2 hours! We saw <em>Letters to Juliet</em>, which was a good movie. I love to watch movies set in Italy, so I really enjoyed it.<br />
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I came home to two happy kids and a tired husband. I am so thankful to have Chip. My anxiety has been hard on him, and he's willing to do anything for me to help me get through this. We had supper and then got the kids ready for bed. Our bedtime routine was when some things different and very hopeful happened. For the first time, Hannah actually paid attention to the stories, and also sat beside her brother in my lap without complaining that she was having to share me with him! It was so nice! Just the way I'd always imagined it. Then, even better, she was mostly quiet during the prayer, then listened and fell asleep as I sang lullabies. Wow. It touched my heart so much, and eased some of my anxiety over whether or not this would all work. We are only at one week home, and Hannah has already settled in enough to enjoy her new bedtime routine. I am so blessed.<br />
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I know not every night will go this smoothly, but I do know that many will. I've been praying to feel God's presence lately during my struggles, and today I did. I know He's there, and He's telling me it will all be alright.Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-64672425566164413172010-05-29T05:44:00.000-07:002010-05-29T05:44:55.920-07:00Home One WeekToday it has been one week since we got home with Shi Lin. We are now making an effort to get her used to her new name by calling her "Hannah Lin-lin," and it seems to be working. Sorry I haven't written since day 13 in China. The trip was really rough for me, physically and emotionally, and I didn't have much time to get online. <br />
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In my last post I said I was over the Post Adoption Depression/Anxiety, but shortly after, I found that was not the case. It still comes and goes, but I do think it's getting better. It is something that has completely caught me off guard, as it does with so many new adoptive mothers. I was so excited to meet my daughter, and when it turned out to be nothing like what I expected, I panicked. When I'm down, it is a really dark time for me. When I'm up, I'm not as positive as I wish I was, but I can see little glimmers of hope. Everyone assures me that with time, everything will change and I will settle into my new "normal" life. Letting go of my old life has been extremely hard for me, and at times I focus on it so much that I feel like I'm ready to give up. But then I can see enough of reality to know that things will get better, and in time I will feel the love for my daughter and not be able to imagine life without her.<br />
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I debated on whether to discuss this subject. I don't want to discourage anyone from adopting, particularly older children. But the fact that I've never read a blog entry about PAD made me determined to talk about it, to hopefully help prepare other mothers of the possibility of it happening to them, that it is normal, and that they are not alone if it does. On most blogs, post-adoption life seems so rosy, so ideal, and maybe it is for many, maybe for those who are posting. Maybe those with PAD just aren't the ones posting, and if they are, they feel ashamed and guilty about their feelings so they hide them. I hope that mothers of newly adopted children suffering from PAD will read my blog, maybe someone who would not have even known they could get help otherwise, will reach out to others for support and know that everything will be ok. I have two friends who have been so supportive of me, I don't know what I would have done without them. These are new friends of mine; I met each of them only months before we went to China. They each have a child from China and completely identify with me. They have reached out with so much love and understanding, to say I'm touched is such an understatement. I owe these women so much.<br />
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One of my friends has a therapist for both herself and her daughter and she says she's helped them so much. I've asked for her contact information and I'm going to call her Monday morning and see if I can get in to see her. I want so much to feel positive about my new life and my new daughter. Hannah really is a beautiful little girl, both in and out. She is doing amazingly well, and doesn't seem to have some of the problems other parents describe about their newly-adopted children. She goes to bed easily in her own bed, sleeps through the night, eats well, and seems to have a healthy attachment to me and Chip. So it's not her fault that I'm going through PAD. There is a side of me that is still excited to have her home, that looks forward to her learning more English so we can communicate better. A part of me that can't wait for things like ballet classes and Girl Scouts, and trips to the salon together.<br />
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As I was typing this post, Hannah woke up and I heard her voice calling me. I felt much better than I normally do when I hear that, and I cheerfully went to her room and greeted her with "good morning." Right now I feel so positive. I know there will be tough, trying times. But I know I can get through it with support from my friends and family, and ultimately, God. Please keep us all in your prayers at this time of transition in our family.<br />
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<em>P.S. I'll post more pictures when I get the chance. They're all still on the cameras and Chip's notebook computer! :)</em>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-88768374200844520112010-05-18T23:10:00.001-07:002010-05-18T23:10:54.915-07:00Day 13<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGkzF5fJgISzlVUjBC166ZIJ4h5k0NLdAZOQFGFmY-DMMFDQba59XHbi44Xw7y8w67jGSyyEy2EV8_AO_RkG_AC6qkb0lQXYiY2VeSHZjTVhuV7qyfeMgvGlFw43WSSLhB69yJncmy6o/s1600/IMG_4432-754916.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGkzF5fJgISzlVUjBC166ZIJ4h5k0NLdAZOQFGFmY-DMMFDQba59XHbi44Xw7y8w67jGSyyEy2EV8_AO_RkG_AC6qkb0lQXYiY2VeSHZjTVhuV7qyfeMgvGlFw43WSSLhB69yJncmy6o/s320/IMG_4432-754916.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472859739682372002" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11DAy7TjkqLv4QjNgt6R7I0Q6czbYVFYwRWNci7JY6ot1CFpqRz0vxMTxWVIBPPcEEvWaEGZTr6FazkXYRyxo0BtA3Glpw5W6SS0MhGy0noqaaUyl56O7XpHYNCpLJTR41X9GAq5vF4k/s1600/IMG_4496-756611.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11DAy7TjkqLv4QjNgt6R7I0Q6czbYVFYwRWNci7JY6ot1CFpqRz0vxMTxWVIBPPcEEvWaEGZTr6FazkXYRyxo0BtA3Glpw5W6SS0MhGy0noqaaUyl56O7XpHYNCpLJTR41X9GAq5vF4k/s320/IMG_4496-756611.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472859742268611410" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglU2MWwzxe5StzQN6m9oBMANspwQ0s0qnxoOrw6RcIB5eKu_U_uH-lCz1eG3mZFwDa4tmDLPD2zuoc4tQvsuXVVwwVHf365QTR8OE48bESzmCc-OVKD_RzTEqop_BrCpQcXJhYfDAAKY/s1600/IMG_4526-757959.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglU2MWwzxe5StzQN6m9oBMANspwQ0s0qnxoOrw6RcIB5eKu_U_uH-lCz1eG3mZFwDa4tmDLPD2zuoc4tQvsuXVVwwVHf365QTR8OE48bESzmCc-OVKD_RzTEqop_BrCpQcXJhYfDAAKY/s320/IMG_4526-757959.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472859750067252850" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrn_cpj9-p0PRXCp-RWOc5NDdtKntKv7MN6-9LuPtZMlBXqMkz2eTs5g51B1libTuLkk9Mz7xhzOa8ZadtpU_ryZo5Ocl3GZ3hLDALOaqT-FBuAJDYwLTnK8pvwg6WJEBaTXhgArCPMQ/s1600/IMG_4537-759375.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrn_cpj9-p0PRXCp-RWOc5NDdtKntKv7MN6-9LuPtZMlBXqMkz2eTs5g51B1libTuLkk9Mz7xhzOa8ZadtpU_ryZo5Ocl3GZ3hLDALOaqT-FBuAJDYwLTnK8pvwg6WJEBaTXhgArCPMQ/s320/IMG_4537-759375.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472859756539216242" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaIXg0h6WoMmPYBYenX0i3r-g3zh3zuuZJQPZKEoMaBMhjjaW6qe09twjVrwgEKIxd7ZVBxZ9Wa1f89m12eC16hIGKraeBeHOAHo2qTKbkRcfHaRyK5tOmeTqNRAiJbGI2azfiiCeNN0/s1600/IMG_4696-761154.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaIXg0h6WoMmPYBYenX0i3r-g3zh3zuuZJQPZKEoMaBMhjjaW6qe09twjVrwgEKIxd7ZVBxZ9Wa1f89m12eC16hIGKraeBeHOAHo2qTKbkRcfHaRyK5tOmeTqNRAiJbGI2azfiiCeNN0/s320/IMG_4696-761154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472859765284569138" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68oBo3YXB_tVF5pSHYf19wgAmW_pVLmi0Erhi5EBdGM8wDH9RwDeG_1z79tzz7Y7L6k4DHIYVed8tWKcUUtjiJEQmDS75Wr6NY5SpMYSl7r9xrLBfrlTz4JSuMU8IP5nA7zYSSI7e0Ro/s1600/IMG_4703-762393.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68oBo3YXB_tVF5pSHYf19wgAmW_pVLmi0Erhi5EBdGM8wDH9RwDeG_1z79tzz7Y7L6k4DHIYVed8tWKcUUtjiJEQmDS75Wr6NY5SpMYSl7r9xrLBfrlTz4JSuMU8IP5nA7zYSSI7e0Ro/s320/IMG_4703-762393.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472859767874948610" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfyh9ZaN8J_0ztLSeVH6E7pBfo1UC1TP2czQ-XGN9Si7vwRSYBEQsoZOIVvosXPHqnBc0YIydv_i1gLNgaFGxtBxgoCcYS4cOFApGeHPYtfeKzo_fka9pVvfG8jDnY1K59SsO9Pr0xdU/s1600/IMG_4705-763668.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfyh9ZaN8J_0ztLSeVH6E7pBfo1UC1TP2czQ-XGN9Si7vwRSYBEQsoZOIVvosXPHqnBc0YIydv_i1gLNgaFGxtBxgoCcYS4cOFApGeHPYtfeKzo_fka9pVvfG8jDnY1K59SsO9Pr0xdU/s320/IMG_4705-763668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472859773604044162" /></a></p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>Just a quick update: I'm happy to say I'm over the Post Adoption Depression or Post Adoption Anxiety, or whatever it was. I'm seeing things much more clearly now and can't wait to get Shi Lin back home and settled in!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>We're enjoying our stay here in Guangzhou, but I'm so ready to be back in my house with more space. Being cramped in this hotel room with two kids is starting to drive me crazy! <IMG src="http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/01.gif"></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My sister is scheduled to be induced on Friday while we're flying back home, so please keep her and her new baby in your prayers.<BR></DIV> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV><FONT color=#40a0ff><EM><FONT color=#c00000></FONT></EM></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT color=#c00000></FONT></EM><A href="http://ourjourneytohannahclaire.blogspot.com/" rel=nofollow target=_blank></A></DIV> <DIV><A rel=nofollow></A> </DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></td></tr></table><br> Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-74162419945326084342010-05-17T02:46:00.001-07:002010-05-17T02:46:45.850-07:00Day 11<p class="mobile-photo"><a 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGNiT-Vc9cSX8A5HgFUmj4Vv5yq0p4_iDvD-iY9uWMcwM9sxXj30_N27dj-nDmDZmR9F077vKND7y0lkGmDq-1hwJuDc-hHe37qxvHhBd40h8lYngCqk9J-AC8NvShVHB7s-k1kNjBCk/s1600/IMG_4266-722834.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGNiT-Vc9cSX8A5HgFUmj4Vv5yq0p4_iDvD-iY9uWMcwM9sxXj30_N27dj-nDmDZmR9F077vKND7y0lkGmDq-1hwJuDc-hHe37qxvHhBd40h8lYngCqk9J-AC8NvShVHB7s-k1kNjBCk/s320/IMG_4266-722834.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472173262780894370" /></a></p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Sorry it's been so long since I posted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are really so busy and so exhausted every day.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And for a few days, I was not only physically exhausted, but also emotionally.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So it's been really hard for me to get on the computer and focus enough to write anything.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While Lin-lin seems to be adjusting to us just fine, I was having a difficult time at first.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had a touch of PAD, or Post Adoption Depression.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you're familiar with Post Partum Depression, then you have an idea what it is.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It happens to a lot of new adoptive mothers, but isn't talked about very much, because the mothers usually feel ashamed of their feelings.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I talked to our social worker and she assured me everything I was going through was perfectly normal.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Imagine you have spent years imagining your ideal adoptive child, then you see pictures of her and begin to add to the fantasy of what she is like.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You're so excited to finally meet her, and when you do, she is very different, and you realize although you feel love for her, she is still a stranger to you at this point.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She smells unfamiliar, she speaks a different language, and her personality is completely different than what you expected.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is what I was going through those first few days, terrified that Shi Lin would never feel like my own child.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But after a few tearful phone calls to Beverley, our social worker, and following her advice, and mostly giving it all some time, I feel much more confident, and am so looking forward to getting my little girl home, watching her as she learns English, and settles into her new life with us.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>I am really starting to enjoy being here in China, especially now since we are in Guangzhou.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are so many trees and the area is nice.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We've had some great tours , done a little shopping, and perhaps best of all, we're doing so much walking that Chip and I have lost some weight!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Yesterday we visited a Buddhist temple, visited a store where we got Shi Lin a traditional jade necklace, then we went to a grocery store.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The grocery store was really fun!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I loved picking out snacks to try.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In China, they love Pringles, and they have so many different flavors we don't have in the U.S.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We got crab flavor, which we haven't tried yet.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Miles and Shi Lin are loving each other's company, and it's so good to see them play together.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She's<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>definitely a mama's girl right now, always asking for me to hold her, and calling for me when I leave the room or get out of her sight at all.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She has so much energy and can be very loud at times, which is testing my nerves, but she seems to be getting better lately, understanding better when we tell her to be quiet.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In spite of her energy, she goes to bed so easily, thank goodness!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They put a crib in our room, and as soon as we came in, she wanted in it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So every night, when I say "Gai shui jale," ("Time for bed"), she climbs into the crib, we turn out the lights, and she lets out a few happy squeals, then sings a couple of songs (probably ones her foster mother sang to her), then goes right to sleep.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I'm so thankful bedtime is not a struggle.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>I'm missing everyone at home, and missing home, period.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>China's nice, but I'm getting more and more homesick every day.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is no place like home, and even more true for me right now, there's no place like home in the U.S.A.</FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV><A rel=nofollow></A></DIV> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV><A href="http://thespicerack09.blogspot.com/" rel=nofollow target=_blank><FONT color=#7f007f><EM></EM></FONT></A></DIV></DIV><A rel=nofollow></A></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></td></tr></table><br> Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-26766468316384938302010-05-12T23:56:00.001-07:002010-05-12T23:56:07.674-07:00Day 5 and More Photos!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdBbcFmuDCdGPzp6VczbtWjxsImjvAvN2czsAeKKL7dYPYIMk6IFSDzOoUn-C_vaenc0DljgjIFlLiZIzOSZF1juVTqMvMxePdgDEJwuvNqQDKoavcnAUFKHQ61dEZUQUR4I6eBrWZBQ/s1600/DSC_0280+web-767675.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdBbcFmuDCdGPzp6VczbtWjxsImjvAvN2czsAeKKL7dYPYIMk6IFSDzOoUn-C_vaenc0DljgjIFlLiZIzOSZF1juVTqMvMxePdgDEJwuvNqQDKoavcnAUFKHQ61dEZUQUR4I6eBrWZBQ/s320/DSC_0280+web-767675.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470644873200939378" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFqN7kIXjBShyphenhyphenmFfOO0PILqBjK1d-Ef6oYn7aNmfRWfs3q7tJ7Ca7DGN59ahtq6PF29H5bHeDkSgfZe2fyxeodU95cYMGOhGZaFnROcRqanIJQMa-tSjj1XRuAGLz8M4tQflHiGLQ_sM/s1600/DSC_0392+web-772736.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFqN7kIXjBShyphenhyphenmFfOO0PILqBjK1d-Ef6oYn7aNmfRWfs3q7tJ7Ca7DGN59ahtq6PF29H5bHeDkSgfZe2fyxeodU95cYMGOhGZaFnROcRqanIJQMa-tSjj1XRuAGLz8M4tQflHiGLQ_sM/s320/DSC_0392+web-772736.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470644894667085282" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTGkjRs2zI9DQ2e6iNHL0FK_G8gvXv4Cb5SQztxf8jXbGaiTs16CquRWnRYjs3vNsPzfsCGJmS4YEZvRr1lo5ybkHXRhCcFtyES4J_gQFYf8bg-zaCYNddQen4iQoDCKgbbV1hxneuXU/s1600/DSC_0392+web-774506.jpg"><img 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnGWPeYSs6-izgo71gq_e8tVxzlVtmDYww-T5ivgHbeDCg0qFQLgTq76ImnGV1xN9d1_4ptVPOIUUvHbhLhweZrjpR-Hjko5qkxWTOqlpyg3OaL6Nse2qJyGNcEUbFYjfTym-d_1f5C0/s1600/IMG_3807+web-781574.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnGWPeYSs6-izgo71gq_e8tVxzlVtmDYww-T5ivgHbeDCg0qFQLgTq76ImnGV1xN9d1_4ptVPOIUUvHbhLhweZrjpR-Hjko5qkxWTOqlpyg3OaL6Nse2qJyGNcEUbFYjfTym-d_1f5C0/s320/IMG_3807+web-781574.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470644935397158050" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqh2sxElFsG2VazrpUAq971VcJKvkXNKzmEB2WcEm5m3FirbhsPcN1xPEu408VNqlx61Om-Q1ZDoC804zQN7Qgaa89xDxo_m9vzFN9Eq8RV6XudH_OpnpRXfXP93j_o6n4UbewapPwgU/s1600/IMG_3814+web-782860.jpg"><img 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0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=3><EM>Ok, I posted this yesterday morning but it didn't go through somehow, so I'm trying again:</EM></FONT></FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=3>Today we signed all the paperwork to make Shi Lin legally ours!!!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>We went afterward to a restaurant that specializes in dumplings, and they were delicious!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We also got to go to the hospital where Shi Lin was found when she was two days old.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The hospital had been remodeled, but we got to see where the original pediatrics area was where she was found, and also the new one, which they said is very similar to the old one.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=3>Today we also went to the police department to apply for Shi Lin's passport.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While we were waiting, the women around us were delighted to have us there among us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They continually said "piao lian," which means beautiful or handsome, about Miles and Shi Lin.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One lady gave us a bag of candy for the kids, and another told us that China loves us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their response to us was so touching to me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>So now we are getting lots of attention, not only because we're westeners, but because we're westerners with a Chinese child.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Veronica is going to give us a piece of paper explaining that we adopted her, in case we decide to go out without her.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>I finally had a chance to resize some of the photos to post.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For some reason, it seems here in China you can only attach small file sizes to emails, which is why I only posted 2 photos yesterday.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So here are a few from the trip, including us with our guide in Beijing, Grace.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>We had a great time with Shi Lin yesterday, and she was even easy to put to bed and fell asleep very quickly!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And she slept all night.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I slept in one bed with her, Chip and Miles in another, and although she seemed to sleep very soundly, she moved around A LOT.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had to keep moving her over so I could have enough room! </FONT><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><SPAN style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings">J</SPAN></SPAN><FONT face=Calibri><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When I woke up in the morning, the room was still dark, but I could faintly see her sleeping face.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was so precious.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I've always loved just watching Miles's face while he's sleeping, and I already love watching Shi Lin's too.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>In a few days, we plan to have Veronica explain to Shi Lin about her new American name.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We'll have her tell her that she will have a new name, and that we still love her Chinese name and will still call her that too.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact, we're already calling her the nickname her foster family called her, "Lin-lin."</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Shi Lin continues to be so happy and doesn't seem to be having any problems adjusting to her new family and situation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I thank God all the time for this blessing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He has been so good to all of us.</FONT></DIV></td></tr></table><br> Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-31372387204401050032010-05-10T03:49:00.001-07:002010-05-10T03:49:46.948-07:00Day 4: Gotcha Day!!!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaDv6o6bmnve2idUdoZn3AKhW-zLhRvaHOKZDPPDwKnYcrMpNdCERC8aSxPHbMeVwWYIMLfMPYcL_IG7BZxw9lgptKvhn0G-aO4kcSqrYHYjIquSpV_5NqQJnNfmx_lqcRUk2T3YU7NQ/s1600/IMG_3811-786949.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaDv6o6bmnve2idUdoZn3AKhW-zLhRvaHOKZDPPDwKnYcrMpNdCERC8aSxPHbMeVwWYIMLfMPYcL_IG7BZxw9lgptKvhn0G-aO4kcSqrYHYjIquSpV_5NqQJnNfmx_lqcRUk2T3YU7NQ/s320/IMG_3811-786949.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469591833363861506" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3z4YabXCI0rdbzZPr96IdlWUJ_lG9OIfsB9-CPQ0fvPKoWKVf9VcbILzulo-M6ZS8rIVl1Zb1sPFyFqi0PizLBWoanVTuTAjRGucE9mGtYBm3j9T5mTyLkXXPJJ5aNmlYyMKFFaswUg/s1600/DSC_0383-789239.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3z4YabXCI0rdbzZPr96IdlWUJ_lG9OIfsB9-CPQ0fvPKoWKVf9VcbILzulo-M6ZS8rIVl1Zb1sPFyFqi0PizLBWoanVTuTAjRGucE9mGtYBm3j9T5mTyLkXXPJJ5aNmlYyMKFFaswUg/s320/DSC_0383-789239.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469591844739209794" /></a></p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV id=RTEContent> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV><A rel=nofollow></A></DIV> <DIV id=RTEContent> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>At around 9:30 this morning, we got Shi Lin!!!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I began to get nervous and emotional, already holding back tears as we entered the civil affairs office.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When we walked into the office where she was, oh my goodness, I couldn't believe I was actually seeing her in the flesh!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I went in there to her and knelt down and said "nihao," as she just stared us silently with a confused look on her face.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our guide told her who we were and when I pulled out the framed photo of us, she seemed to understand we were the ones in the photo.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When Miles gave her the Bitty Baby doll, she took it immediately and her face just lit up!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She clung to it the rest of the time we were out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It took several minutes for us to fill out some paperwork, and Miles started acting silly for her while she cracked up.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was exactly as I had imagined it would be between the two of them.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>We had to go to a couple of other places, including one where we got Shi Lin's passport photo taken, and we also got one taken with her, Chip and I for another document.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She was so quiet in the van as I held her so close next to me.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Back at the hotel, Shi Lin immediately noticed Miles's Leapster and reached for it, so I pulled out hers, and she loves it!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She sat on the bed and played games with her ge ge (big brother), and later ate Whales crackers and drank water from her Hello Kitty water bottle.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She never cried or seemed like she didn't want to be there with us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact, a few minutes ago, she came up to me while I was typing and said "ma ma."<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My heart melted and I pulled her onto my lap.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And she keeps coming back from time to time to say ma ma or to ask me to do something , like put her hair in ponytails.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So needless to say, this post is taking a long time to type, but that's fine with me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Shi Lin needs all the time she can get with us, and we need all we can get with her.</FONT></DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Shi Lin is just what I expected and more:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>happy, laughs a lot, and has an adorable silly side.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not to mention she's even more beautiful in real life than in the photos we had of her before we got to China.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She has taken to all of us so quickly and easily, always asking me "bao bao" (pick me up), climbing onto our laps, and telling me when she needs to go to the potty.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She already fits in so well with us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All of this in just a few short hours.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know with absolute certainty that this is the little girl God has led us to.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We will go and sign the paperwork tomorrow that will make Shi Lin legally ours in the eyes of the Chinese government.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I'm looking forward to making it official!</FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></td></tr></table><br> Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-42904017782530917652010-05-09T05:47:00.000-07:002010-05-09T05:48:01.630-07:00We're in China!!!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV id=yiv1343941628> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>We are in China!<SPAN> </SPAN>I had planned to post a little each day we were here, but that was before I knew just how busy we would be, and how exhausted.<SPAN> </SPAN>Today is the first chance I've had to sit down and think about posting.<SPAN> </SPAN>So here's a summary of our trip so far:</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=3>Day 1:<SPAN> </SPAN>Chip and I got up at 1 am on Thursday and finished up last-minute packing.<SPAN> </SPAN>We got Miles up at 3, then the shuttle arrived at 4.<SPAN> </SPAN>We arrived at the airport with plenty of time to have some breakfast before getting on the plane to San Francisco.<SPAN> </SPAN>In San Francisco, we met another couple traveling to China to adopt their second child.<SPAN> </SPAN>I also saw two or three more couples later on the flight to Beijing who were doing the same, though none of them were with our agency.<SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>The flight to Beijing from San Francisco took about 12 hours.<SPAN> </SPAN>Miles was such an angel on the flight, and has been on the rest of the trip too.<SPAN> </SPAN>I just imagined that as a 6 year old, he would be whining and complaining and asking to go home, but amazingly that has not happened.<SPAN> </SPAN>He sat quietly on the first flight for a while, soaking the experience in, I think.<SPAN> </SPAN>Then he colored in his coloring book.<SPAN> </SPAN>On the Beijing flight, we surprised him with the Leapster we had bought just for the trip.<SPAN> </SPAN>He absolutely loves it, and it has kept him occupied and happy.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>On Friday evening we arrived in Beijing.<SPAN> </SPAN>Our flight had been delayed and we were the last family to join our group.<SPAN> </SPAN>We met our guide, Grace, who has such an outgoing personality, and is a little bit of a comedian.<SPAN> </SPAN>She is also just about the most lovely Chinese woman I have ever seen.<SPAN> She's in</SPAN></FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>We were also introduced to Chinese drivers and traffic we had heard so much about.<SPAN> </SPAN>Believe me, it's true!<SPAN> </SPAN>There seem to be no rules on the road.<SPAN> </SPAN>Our driver weaved in and out , honking any time cars or pedestrians were in his way.<SPAN> </SPAN>We came so close to some pedestrians sometimes, it really made me nervous, but the pedestrians themeselves were unphased.<SPAN> </SPAN>It's so normal for them.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>After we got to the hotel, the Poly Plaza, we went up to our room and Chip went down with our guide to a grocery store, and later he went and got McDonald's food for us for supper.<SPAN> </SPAN>I'd heard that even the McDonald's food tastes different than in the U.S., but I couldn't tell any difference.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri> </FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Day 2: We got up early on Saturday and ate breakfast at the buffet restaurant in the hotel.<SPAN> </SPAN>It was an interesting mix of western and eastern style food.<SPAN> </SPAN>I had pancakes with syrup that seemed a little like honey mixed with something else maybe, a boiled egg, bacon, and a bowl of raisin bran.<SPAN> </SPAN>They had things like vegetables and fish out too, which didn't seem very appetizing to me for breakfast, so<SPAN> </SPAN>I stuck to things that were familiar to me.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=3>Around 9 am, we met Grace and our group and boarded the bus headed for The Forbidden City.<SPAN> </SPAN>On the way, Grace taught us a few Mandarin phrases, such as "bu yao", which means "don't want."<SPAN> </SPAN>She taught us this because she said we will come across a lot of street vendors trying to sell us things.<SPAN> </SPAN>And sure enough, just as the bus finished parking there were people waiting outside the door waiving caps with "Beijing" embroidered on them and t-shirts, and other products.<SPAN> </SPAN>As soon as we got off the bus, a man offered Miles a toy, and being only 6, he took it.<SPAN> </SPAN>Chip immediately handed it back and used the phrase Grace had just taught us.<SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Seeing the Forbidden City was so awesome.<SPAN> </SPAN>Chi p and I had watched the movie, The Last Emperor , last week, which was actually filmed there on location, and it was amazing to see the actual places from the film, and also to think that the real emperors used to live there.<SPAN> </SPAN>If you haven't seen the movie and will be going to Beijing soon, I highly recommend seeing it before you go.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>After the Forbidden City, we headed across the street to Tian An Men Square.<SPAN> </SPAN>It was really neat to see this place in person after seeing it on TV so many times.<SPAN> </SPAN>From the square, you can see the front gate of the Forbidden City, which has the portrait of Chairmen Mao on the front.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=3>Then we went to a jade workshop, where we got a tour of their jade art gallery.<SPAN> </SPAN>After the tour, we got to see jade pieces that were for sale, and I was so excited to see the very pieces I had dreamed about getting on this trip, little figurines of the Chinese zodiac!<SPAN> </SPAN>So we got an ox for Chip, a rabbit for me,<SPAN> </SPAN>a monkey for Miles and a dog for Hannah.<SPAN> </SPAN>I am so excited about these!<SPAN> </SPAN>I can't wait to get home and display them on a little ledge on the wall.<SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>We went out to lunch at a restaurant that was very oriented to westerners, but also had a few authentic Chinese dishes.<SPAN> </SPAN>We sat at a round table, and all the food was put on a huge lazy susan, and you just turn it and get what you want.<SPAN> </SPAN>I liked most of what I tried of the Chinese food, although I didn't care for what looked like egg drop soup.<SPAN> </SPAN>The beef with onions and bell peppers was very good, and the sweet and sour fish was good too.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>The restaurant was in the building of a place that specializes in making cloissone items.<SPAN> </SPAN>Cloissone is a method using copper to make designs<SPAN> </SPAN>on the surface of an object, filling it in with color, then putting a shiny enamel over it.<SPAN> </SPAN>You've probably seen vases in this style.<SPAN> </SPAN>We ended up getting a few Christmas ornaments there, a panda for Hannah,<SPAN> </SPAN>a cat for me,<SPAN> </SPAN>a fish for Chip and a traditional knot-style one for Miles, which he picked out himself.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Next, we headed to the Great Wall.<SPAN> </SPAN>On the way, what was mostly flat land suddenly gave way to beautiful, jagged mountains.<SPAN> </SPAN>Now this is what I was thinking China would look like, I thought.<SPAN> </SPAN>When we got to the Great Wall, we realized the part we would be climbing was incredibly steep and that each step is very high, so we didn't make it very far.<SPAN> </SPAN>But still, we can now say we have stood on the Great Wall of China!</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>An interesting thing happened for the first time while on the Great Wall.<SPAN> </SPAN>We had been told that since Miles and I had blonde hair, people would want to stop and take pictures of us.<SPAN> </SPAN>Well, they didn't seem to care at all about me, but several people stopped and asked if they could pose with Miles while we take their picture.<SPAN> </SPAN>Many people passing by would look at him and smile.<SPAN> </SPAN>They just thought he was so cute!<SPAN> </SPAN>One teenage girl, after having her picture taken with him, knelt down and pinched his cheeks!<SPAN> </SPAN>It was adorable!</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=3><SPAN> </SPAN>Beijing Olympics, you'll be familiar with those.<SPAN> </SPAN>We only saw them from a distance, but they were impressive nevertheless.<SPAN> </SPAN>We went back to the hotel and just ate snacks we had brought with us, then we all crashed.</FONT></FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Day 3:<SPAN> </SPAN>After an exhausting day yesterday, we all had to get up early again and have our luggage ready for pickup at 5:20 am.<SPAN> </SPAN>We rushed to the airport and our flight left around 8.<SPAN> </SPAN>We arrived in Changchun after only an hour and a half, then it took us about an hour to get to our hotel.<SPAN> </SPAN>On the way, our new guide, Veronica, talked some with us about how things will be tomorrow when we pick Hannah.<SPAN> </SPAN>She said to expect a lot of crying and her testing us, and that our body language will be very important when dealing with her, to show her that we love her.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>After arriving at the Jixiang Hotel, Chip and I took a nap while Miles colored and played on his Leapster.<SPAN> </SPAN>Then we met Veronica downstairs and took a walk through the streets of Changchun.<SPAN> </SPAN>At first, we were in a part of town that was pretty quiet and went inside a fruit and vegetable market to look around.<SPAN> </SPAN>There were just a few people here and there, but later we came to a shopping area, which was very crowded and loud.<SPAN> </SPAN>This was our first experience dodging traffic in a Chinese city, and I have to say, it was a little scary, but we stayed close to Veronica, and she was so good about making sure we crossed streets safely.<SPAN> </SPAN>Then we came to a grocery store, and it was nothing like any grocery store I've ever been to.<SPAN> </SPAN>It had 3 stories, so it had a flat angled escalator that you can ride up and down on with your cart. And the people with their shopping carts were a lot like those driving cars, expecting other people just to get out of their way, no kidding! </FONT><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings"><SPAN>J</SPAN></SPAN></FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>So here we are now, the evening before we finally meet our daughter.<SPAN> </SPAN>It is more real now than ever, and not only am I excited, but nervous as well.<SPAN> </SPAN>I know it will more than likely be hard for Shi Lin, and I hope that Chip and I can be what she needs to help her adjust and bond with us.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>I really didn't mean for this post to get so long, but so much has happened and it's hard not to tell it all!<SPAN> </SPAN>And I didn't even tell it all; I'd need to write an entire book to do that! </FONT><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings"><SPAN>J</SPAN></SPAN></FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Please keep us in your prayers for tomorrow.<SPAN> </SPAN>We'll probably be meeting Shi Lin around 10 am China time,<SPAN> </SPAN>9 pm U.S. Central Time.<SPAN> </SPAN>So before you go to bed on Sunday night, please say a little prayer for our family.</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Hopefully, my next post will have pictures of us with Shi Lin!!!</FONT> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><EM>P.S. I had planned to post pictures on this post, but for some reason, I can't get it to work. I'll see if Chip can figure it out before my next post.</EM></DIV></DIV></td></tr></table><br> Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-32950061356416325262010-05-05T15:08:00.001-07:002010-05-05T15:09:39.710-07:00It's Almost Time!!!<div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oEKbMF-Eq50iY6A2yexTe3sZn_yDZFFqlL9rr5RPWc-siwkG0BwCX-5r2zN5d7QxE4NwzfTcc77QwqeD1xsTHl968mUUUcbgJh5opXm1Lk0X_eoO70BMHwowhUV-E1ZPNmo2rzE4ejM/s1600/DSC_0223+b+web-711139.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467911316155640370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oEKbMF-Eq50iY6A2yexTe3sZn_yDZFFqlL9rr5RPWc-siwkG0BwCX-5r2zN5d7QxE4NwzfTcc77QwqeD1xsTHl968mUUUcbgJh5opXm1Lk0X_eoO70BMHwowhUV-E1ZPNmo2rzE4ejM/s320/DSC_0223+b+web-711139.jpg" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd4HK44wicW92n9lznHUPemm-QripmrMFg97U4KrKZ4s86DQfRTzvtOp_Hhyphenhyphendjg0O4GsbqkQC0BHBykJCAQ0lgX8o6SgJb5U1oCy981euOWvvXoXeiWe-OO7oZZ7ThqOf13wZ19A0pAY/s1600/DSC_0227+web-712471.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467911320846701810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd4HK44wicW92n9lznHUPemm-QripmrMFg97U4KrKZ4s86DQfRTzvtOp_Hhyphenhyphendjg0O4GsbqkQC0BHBykJCAQ0lgX8o6SgJb5U1oCy981euOWvvXoXeiWe-OO7oZZ7ThqOf13wZ19A0pAY/s320/DSC_0227+web-712471.jpg" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEIEvPUZbXeoQUs_rnvAi22XNbEmefHvlqax9j4W4sHQTX9VTQI0TIy2MXOuQLDEuauXWlJEJp_pyKrwkHk57URQLYjLCnw0KjazhPQ2t8jHKlLATF6IEOkTXyT_B5SmwZ1FCuP3olWg/s1600/DSC_0225+b+web-713540.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467911326706228178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEIEvPUZbXeoQUs_rnvAi22XNbEmefHvlqax9j4W4sHQTX9VTQI0TIy2MXOuQLDEuauXWlJEJp_pyKrwkHk57URQLYjLCnw0KjazhPQ2t8jHKlLATF6IEOkTXyT_B5SmwZ1FCuP3olWg/s320/DSC_0225+b+web-713540.jpg" /></a></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><div>We are leaving tomorrow morning, so obviously we are finishing up packing and running around making sure we don't forget anything. I thought I'd take a few minutes away from all the commotion to do a quick post. I'm also testing again to make sure posting to my blog via email will work. <br />
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I went to bed late last night, then got up really early, about 4:45. I just couldn't go back to sleep, so excited about tomorrow and wanted to get an early start on finishing up everything. So I've spent all day long packing, finishing up the last bit of laundry and cleaning the house. That is one thing I'm making sure of; that we don't come back home to a messy house. I want to walk back in and feel a sense of peace. <br />
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I've included photos of what our packing looked like last night. It has literally taken over our living room!</div><div><br />
Last night I was really anxious, not quite as much this morning, but a little while ago, that good excitement kicked in! You know, like the kind you had as a kid on Christmas morning, waiting to open your presents. I mean, I felt like jumping up and down and crying happy tears, I was so excited! To know that tomorrow I'll be up in the air, on my way to my precious angel! I can't think of many things that are more exciting than that!</div><div><br />
If I have a chance in the morning before we leave, I'll post one last time. Then I'll be posting again as soon as I can once we arrive in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273097028_9">China</span>.</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-42144434111973662502010-05-03T19:06:00.000-07:002010-05-03T19:08:46.081-07:00My Prayer for YouAside from this blog, I also keep other personal journals offline. I've kept one for my son since I got pregnant with him, then continued after he was born. Writing ever so often about little things he was doing at each stage. Little things I never wanted to forget. Also how I felt about him and the things he would do, how much I loved him. I started one for Hannah sometime after we decided to adopt, writing about how I feel about where we are in the process, how much I loved her even before I saw pictures of her, and how excited I am now to see her soon. I don't normally share what I write in these journals, but I feel impressed to share an excerpt tonight:<br />
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<em>My prayer for you at this very moment, my darling, is that they did not take you from your foster parents and put you in the orphanage this past week or any time before we come for you. I pray that right now you are in your foster parents’ home, perhaps eating breakfast or a mid-morning snack, and that you are happy. I hope that they have been talking to you about your new family, and how much we love you, and that it’s a good thing for you to go with us. I don’t want you to be afraid to go with us, but I completely understand if you are. I will cry with you when you leave your foster family, and I’ll tell you it’s ok for you to cry, to grieve the loss of these wonderful people. It will always be ok for you to grieve, and to talk about your family with me, whether it be about your foster family or birth family. But I do so hope that right now, at this moment, that you are happy where you are, as you should be, as you deserve to be.</em> <br />
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We are now a mere 7 days away from meeting Hannah Claire Shi Lin. There really are no words to describe what I'm feeling, so I won't even try. If you've been down this road before, or are on the same kind of journey yourself, you know what I mean. There is no describing the feeling of your own, God-chosen child being on the other side of the world from you, while you wait desperately for the day you're allowed to go and get her. When you're pregnant with your child, even though you can't see her face, at least you have the comfort of having her right there with you all the time, keeping her safe. But this experience is so different. Not better or worse, just different.<br />
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My faith has been strengthened so much by this process. Since I cannot do one thing to ensure the safety and well-being of my child, I've had to completely give all my worries and anxiety over to my Heavenly Father, who is glad to take it in His hands and shape it into something else--the pure belief that He knows what He's doing, that He has a plan for me as His own adopted child, and that that plan includes adopting my own child. So no matter where Hannah is at this moment, He is still with her, and I believe He will protect her, until He draws us together into a moment where I can finally provide safety for her with my own arms.Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-13939451527288149852010-04-29T07:26:00.000-07:002010-05-02T03:11:53.675-07:00Only Days AwayWe are now 7 days away from leaving for China! I can't believe it; one week away from leaving, and only 11 days from holding our baby in our arms!!!<br />
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I put together this slideshow to express what we've been feeling along this journey to our daughter. For those of you who are waiting for you child, or have been there before, I know you will identify with it. I hope it will touch everyone's heart with the understanding of how much we love our little girl, though she is so many miles away.<br />
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<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wgXtyxOqZAI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wgXtyxOqZAI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-65943872319408446232010-04-22T10:33:00.000-07:002010-04-22T10:33:18.712-07:00Traveling in TWO WEEKS!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are now two weeks from our travel date!!! I can't believe how fast this month has gone. We found out our travel date on April 1st, and the time has just flown by!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are well on our way to having things packed. One area of our living room is covered with suitcases. I'm doing lots of laundry lately, and packing clothes as I go. We've went on a couple of shopping trips to get supplies for the trip, so those are all packed. We still have a few miscellaneous things to get and we're done! I so wanted to be packed and ready early, and it looks we will be! It will be such a load off my shoulders to do it this way. Hopefully, we'll be able to get up at 2 am on the 6th and not be too stressed with last-minute packing.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I wanted to post pictures of some more outfits I made for Hannah. Below is the first one. I sewed the dress, and crocheted the hat and purse. Then I bought the flower hair clips and just clipped them on. That way, I can change out the clips to coordinate with whatever outfit she's wearing. I just love this outfit!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7P7r5z2UvoJzIR7gGjyHsVU0d_3H0VVbjL6CU8Z2HTfd3t3Z7cjsN8dGr1XLBT2jFVRv8Yv5q0dVpGk6C2WDXeMuytIfgewUpyhRC5NQzf3M9e2a_xhlfrKBJTWw_RfrL6zE9GLLjqaI/s1600/outfit+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7P7r5z2UvoJzIR7gGjyHsVU0d_3H0VVbjL6CU8Z2HTfd3t3Z7cjsN8dGr1XLBT2jFVRv8Yv5q0dVpGk6C2WDXeMuytIfgewUpyhRC5NQzf3M9e2a_xhlfrKBJTWw_RfrL6zE9GLLjqaI/s320/outfit+1.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQs0fmsGLOmATHQraeCdXR3j6XHmEY3tPN_g7UgkHr9siNMjFL8Fq-MlZzXL5ABjbLQ7bo__05m1LZH2dNfQVxzgfTrv5LA7gnCdd5ojwQVUg7vNz6hoeF_4R8cjhbHlf-aVQgzv_2iIE/s1600/pocket+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQs0fmsGLOmATHQraeCdXR3j6XHmEY3tPN_g7UgkHr9siNMjFL8Fq-MlZzXL5ABjbLQ7bo__05m1LZH2dNfQVxzgfTrv5LA7gnCdd5ojwQVUg7vNz6hoeF_4R8cjhbHlf-aVQgzv_2iIE/s320/pocket+detail.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvnYSi9Mzerc8P8cxOXZP3DHnwueIYEs_8WCWkJCkHZH-qUZRlzIxHJbrNQOCbiQC5vhMSfTg2laTsrVlR5R1mW6gmm2mhVCXKY4J61iZkNh5uuwvjN7Jl24IfLIe3q3mqwIwVFWvGk4/s1600/hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvnYSi9Mzerc8P8cxOXZP3DHnwueIYEs_8WCWkJCkHZH-qUZRlzIxHJbrNQOCbiQC5vhMSfTg2laTsrVlR5R1mW6gmm2mhVCXKY4J61iZkNh5uuwvjN7Jl24IfLIe3q3mqwIwVFWvGk4/s320/hat.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnIB7DavYyw52LdpGW49aYknWGZ88NYpiBfEyKQxc2QRD8vq5eT83zSs2RMvS16FnTi5fne3Asr0q1iR0HiPGR6pS8wxd_h5xHnE7qhTIhUaP2mdF3RYjo-jTOGCvU528AZqJPxCl1B0/s1600/purse+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnIB7DavYyw52LdpGW49aYknWGZ88NYpiBfEyKQxc2QRD8vq5eT83zSs2RMvS16FnTi5fne3Asr0q1iR0HiPGR6pS8wxd_h5xHnE7qhTIhUaP2mdF3RYjo-jTOGCvU528AZqJPxCl1B0/s320/purse+detail.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm perhaps the most proud about the following dress. I had an Asian-style pattern that was crocheted on top and satin on bottom. It only went up to 18 months, but I desperately wanted to see Hannah wearing it while we were in China, her sitting on the red couch at the White Swan. So I did some calculations and enlarged the pattern. I think it actually came out a little big, but I'll bring a needle and thread with me to China and make any adjustments needed. I also reduced the pattern for her Bitty Baby doll, so she and her doll could match. I can't wait to see Hannah in her dress holding her doll!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUtye6k4RA03j8VE94gCFOsdgIz4SZ5k_r5aplXOyM9qmpmZjusRxTnME2xvQo41_WehidWK54l0-kzU-GlWi3VNdAjofsPVhCcn1SySESZO9sf3YU3yzKN6Hy-GK7vbrdcaVCXe12C8/s1600/DSC_0122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUtye6k4RA03j8VE94gCFOsdgIz4SZ5k_r5aplXOyM9qmpmZjusRxTnME2xvQo41_WehidWK54l0-kzU-GlWi3VNdAjofsPVhCcn1SySESZO9sf3YU3yzKN6Hy-GK7vbrdcaVCXe12C8/s320/DSC_0122.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrlslL8reF56hwbZWZ4nKxu5nb16b_rhIPKaXGbO0IfQ8DnSy6xO4NFNTeD-61sLhgVJGo8yJmPKh0w95vKcad6p2qR1fFrhYmOygHZ9e-ZjdFJx3sPlOH3SpsT-I9Tp5vl-fCZcn1Fc/s1600/DSC_0121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrlslL8reF56hwbZWZ4nKxu5nb16b_rhIPKaXGbO0IfQ8DnSy6xO4NFNTeD-61sLhgVJGo8yJmPKh0w95vKcad6p2qR1fFrhYmOygHZ9e-ZjdFJx3sPlOH3SpsT-I9Tp5vl-fCZcn1Fc/s320/DSC_0121.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm almost finished with Hannah's blanket, and I'll post some pictures as soon as I'm done. I have fabric for one more dress I wanted to make for her, but it may have to wait until some time after we get back.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-65031871403029190772010-04-20T17:18:00.000-07:002010-04-20T17:22:05.128-07:00Our China ItineraryWe are now 16 days away from getting on the plane to China! For those who are interested, Chip made a pdf of our itinerary, complete with maps! To get the details on the plans for our trip, click <a href="http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BzPd9swJ1qu6MDE0OTBmM2EtMDMzZi00ZDcxLWFlODUtYzVjZDE3YzU4ZThj&hl=en">here.</a>Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-22483207154556137012010-04-15T07:58:00.000-07:002010-04-15T08:00:05.536-07:00A Perfect DayIf it's possible to have a perfect day, Tuesday was the closest I've come. First, a friend of mine watched Miles for me most of the day so I could get a lot done around the house. It was soooo nice to just work in silence, with no interruptions. Then, I opened the envelope my friend gave me as she picked up Miles, and discovered $300 for our expenses fund! Later, I discovered that the lady I buy raw milk from had donated $20, and that she wanted to give us two gallons of milk and a dozen eggs when we got back from China. I was already feeling so good after all this, when I checked my email and another friend said she wanted to bring us some dinners for those first few weeks when we get back. I could feel the presence of God, showing me He would take care of us through those around us. What a wonderful day I was having!<br />
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And it got EVEN BETTER! When I got home from picking up Miles, I checked the mailbox, and there sitting on top of the mail pile was a letter from China!!! I had included a postage-paid envelope in the last care package I sent to Hannah, asking her foster mother to please write to me about Hannah. I wasn't sure if I'd actually hear back from her, but there was the letter! I opened it, expecting that it would be in Chinese, and that I would have to wait and find someone to translate it. It was in Chinese, but as I looked through the pages, there was also an English translation of it! I can't express how happy I was at that moment!!! <br />
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The letter Hannah's foster mother wrote was straight from the heart. This woman loves this little girl dearly, as if she is her own daughter. She told me about Shi Lin when she first got her, how her physical developement progressed and how she learned to talk. She told me of little moments she remembers that will always be precious to her. At the end, she said she hopes we will be very fond of her and wished us the best.<br />
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If you've been in my situation, or are in it right now, you understand how precious this letter is to me. It tells me of a time with my daughter that I will never get to experience. Every word is a gift to me. It tells me that my little Shi Lin has been loved as a daughter, and that she knows the meaning of family. I can never thank her foster mother enough. That letter will be among my most precious treasures in this life.<br />
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010, will be one of those days that stand out in the memories of my life. Thank you to all of you who opened your hearts and made it such a special day!Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160760277462053594.post-34800207335614942032010-04-10T18:37:00.000-07:002010-04-10T18:43:38.423-07:00We Need a Little HelpChip and I talked it over, and although we didn't want to ask anyone for money related to the adoption, we've decided we need to. We've already saved (and gotten loans for) everything for the adoption itself, but now we just need funds for expenses while in China. These expenses will include food, transportation (taxis), other miscellaneous expenses, and/or emergency or other unforseen expenses. Also, Chip recently got a paycut, and that combined with saving for the adoption will leave us with very little left when we get back home. Chip will get a paycheck about a week after we get back, so we'll need just enought to get us through that week.<br />
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We're unable to take out any more loans, so we have no other option than to ask for the money from our friends.<br />
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If you can give anything at all, please do. Just click on the "ChipIn!" box, and it will take you to PayPal to make a donation. It will all add up, and EVERY BIT will help. Thank you so much!Angela Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10018973283619620213noreply@blogger.com0