First Halloween Party

Happy Halloween

First Halloween Party

Carrying My Heart

I've e-mailed back and forth with 3 moms of waiting children today; all of them fresh from surgery or treatment. it made me think of one of my favorite "mother" quotes, because becoming a mom has made me identify with this quote in such a visceral way.

"Becoming a mother is like choosing to walk around for the rest of your life

carrying your heart outside of your body"

---unknown (to me)

This took on new meaning watching my baby fall under the spell of anesthesia--knowing she did so, trusting me to make good decisions for her; and watching her wake up in complete panic mode. It was so, so hard. I did what I had to do as a mommy, but cried and threw up, and begged God for her comfort; and then picked up my heart, fluffed it up and went about the business of being Amelia's mom.

Thanks be to God for making me Amelia's mom :)

Back in Action

Thank you everyone for your prayers and well wishes. Amelia's surgery was a success, and as I sit here typing this, she's beside me on the sofa "reading" :) books and trying desperately to punch random computer keys.

Lets just say.......Sister girl is back in action.

The recovery period right after surgery was awful. she came out thrashing, crying and very disoriented. I know this is a side effect of anesthesia in little ones, but trust me........until you see it in YOUR CHILD, you dont have a clue....no matter how many people try to warn you. She had very swollen eyes and a thick gel in them which was an antibiotic type cream. this contributed to her confusion because she couldnt see because of it. :(

they actually gave her 2 doses of morphine, because the nurse said there was no way to know if her agitation was from pain or confusion. she went to sleep again after that, and when she woke up, made eye contact with me and I could tell, she actually realized she was with mom at that point. whew! she then promptly looked over at a bottle of purple gatorade and said "THAT!"

Since then she's made an amazing rebound. she's playing and laughing, and being her silly one year old self. she's only needed baby tylenol/ motrin for pain, and has enjoyed sleeping with mom in the guest room since her surgery. wish us luck on ever getting her back to sleep in her crib :)

We cant say enough about the Children's Hospital Atlanta surgery center. They were wonderful. they took great care of Amelia and of us......

and Amelia Rose has a wide screen view of her world .

Friends and Fellow Bloggers,

Please say a prayer for Amelia tomorrow;

she is having surgery on both eyes.

She is from the waiting child program, and has ptosis in both eyes.

This condition is essentially droopy eyelids. It obscures part of her field of vision. To compensate for this, she tilts her head back and raises her eyebrows, which raises the lid off her eyes and allows her to see. This chronic head tilt, can cause children who are learning to walk to have balance and coordination problems, and the lid covering part of the pupil can cause weakend eyesight over time.

After much research, consultation, prayer, and soul searching, we have decided to go ahead with her surgery. We feel that it is in her best interest to do it now, rather than later. Her attachment is going very well, and most of a childs vision develops in the first two years.

She has an excellent doctor who is a leader in his field, and he has made arrangements for me to be with her until she goes to sleep before surgery, and to be brought back to me before she wakes up from surgery.

We are nervous! Please say a prayer for Dr. G to have steady and capable hands, mom and dad to be brave, and Amelia to be pain free, unafraid, and secure that she is loved and that we will take good care of her no matter what!

Happy Birthday Kacey!

Kacey is 2!

Our Little Pumpkin

I See the Moon

Moon Festival--2006 ---The First of Many.........:))) I found my Moon cake recipe in the book pictured above. Its a slightly "westernized" version. I'm pretty sure that traditional moon cakes dont have pink sprinkles :)) but Amelia and I felt they were essential !


Moon gazing and drinking our tea (and Milk for the Empress)

While having our tea, gazing at the moon, and thinking of those far away--like Amelia's birthmom and the nannies that took such good care of her in the orphanage- a Million thank yous for her loving care!--we also did something else kind of cool. Jimmy and I each chose a favorite China memory.

Jimmy's was: the bus ride back to the hotel after geting her--the way she kept touching our faces and looking so amazed!

Mine was : the very first glimpse we had of her. I will never, never forget the flip flop of my heart........the butterflies in my stomach...........and the sheer elation, of seeing the Nanny carry her into the room. I'll never forget Kathy saying "Thats your baby!" Even now, the memory of it gives me butterflies:)

The Autumn moon was a fortuitous event for Miss Amelia Rose. She took her first step; she ate her first bread and cracker, and she actually started putting finger foods in her own mouth--such a break through for my little orally defensive girl!

She is Lovely and Amazing

Happy Moon Festival

Moon Festival Poem (Tang)
The moon, grown full now over the sea,

Brightening the whole of heaven; Brings to separated hearts

The long thoughtfulness of night...

It is no darker, though I blow out my candle.

It is no warmer, though I put on my coat.

So I leave my message with the moon;

And turn to my bed, hoping for dreams

The Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. It's also known as the Mid-autumn Festival. Chinese culture is deeply embedded in traditional festivals. Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese.
The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems.
The Moon Festival is also a romantic one. A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud, and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romantic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine, while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can't be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour. A great number of poetry has been devoted to this romantic festival.
The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky. ----from About.com

Tradition also dictates that children carry brightly lit lanterns, and that while gazing at the moon, families contemplate those loved ones who are far away, yet gaze at the same moon in the sky. This tradition makes the moon festival a particularly poignant holiday for adoptive families, and those waiting to adopt.

Perhaps we'll think about Amelia's birth mother tomorrow night; or the children in the orphanages without parents; or the employees who go to work at the CCAA every day to match children with families. I hope they have some inkling of the enormity of their work.

I hope Amelia's birthmom knows that she is loved

CCAI Southeast Reunion

Emily Loves her car! Hugh displaying Kaylees Caricature. cute, huh? and these were free, by the way. I thought that was a really cool addition to the reunion
Kailee is walking!
Chloe and mama, Stephanie.
Ansley and mama, Joanna
Me and Amelia--with Emily looking on in the car
picnic--we had quite a spread!
A and I had a great time at the reunion! The organizers did a fabulous job, with free caricatures and face painting, bounce houses, a talent show, and citizenship celebration. and of course, Josh and Lily were there!

Thanks for the pictures Daphne! I, of course, lost my camera early in the day and didnt find it until the very end of the day.....or acutally, I was summoned, when they announced a lost camera from the stage. :) I then traipsed down in front of everyone to retrieve it from Josh and Lily (my new bosses by the way)----I keep up with my post placement materials better than my personal belongins, I promise!!! ;)))