tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86234218017015474142024-03-05T10:26:54.361-08:00Saving "Kyle"- Adoption of a Child with HemophiliaDaniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-22588253531443933002015-07-08T08:27:00.000-07:002015-07-08T08:27:40.900-07:00Time Flies....I cannot believe as I have finally come back to this blog how fast time has gone by and how much has happened since my last post. I am going to do a fairly quick update and then I would like to keep this blog up to date so I can focus on Hemophilia and our daily lives with it for others to read!<br />
So....all was going fine for both of my boys after my last post about their new Ports. I have been easily and successfully infusing them at home through ports 3X a week and it really has been a very easy journey Hemophilia wise although we have had a few bumps in the road that are Hemophilia related.<br />
<br />
But, In October 2013 our lives were forever changed. My biological son, Max, at the age of 4 was diagnosed with APML - Accute Promylecytic LEUKEMIA. I cannot even begin to explain the feeling of that diagnosis. Nor can I beging to explain the heartache, the pain, the chemo, the journey as it would take way too long. I can sum up the past two years. I lost my job of 17 years basically because I had to be home caring for my son with Leukemia. That is another story in itself. My mother, my lifeline, the other "parent" to my children...battled Lymphoma and won...and then she died during Max's treatment in February 2014 from a stroke. I have walked through the past 2 years in a complete daze honestley. <br />
<br />
I am happy to report as of today: Max is cancer free and probability of recurrence is very very low. I have tried to restart my career and started a new job in January 2015- although its been a struggle without my mom's help with the boys. BOTH boys are doing incredibley well and thriving. Max will start First Grade in the fall, and AoZhen - who now prefers to go by Jake- will start Second grade! He has been absolutley a blessing and we have had no adjustment issues really at all. He does suffer from ADHD, but at this point just needs meds to sleep.<br />
<br />
Also....I have gotten engaged - oh yes- also I was divorced not long after my last post! I now live with my boys, my fiancee, his 2 kids 16 year old girl and 19 year old son. And my beautiful 19 year old daughter is also home with us when not in college! <br />
<br />
SO- my goal now is to keep this post up to date with our Hemophilia journey. I hope and pray that is the only medical issue that is going to be addressed from here on out! Max still deals with autism, but really is doing pretty darn well and is on the mild side of the spectrum.<br />
<br />
I will post some pictures later and update more as the days go on. We have struggled with numerous Port infections...only with Max. Max is on his 3rd Port at this point. We used the port so much during his cancer treatment I believe that is why. We have gone through trying to learn to Peripherally stick the boys veins so we can live life without these ports some time in the near future. Thats been a struggle also- even with a homecare nurs coming to help. But, I still try and sometimes have luck hitting their veins and giving factor that way which is a great feeling!<br />
<br />
More to come!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-67147041365710276812012-05-27T16:58:00.000-07:002012-05-27T16:58:10.055-07:00Max has his port now!! YAY all done!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0j5wBCNQ34qbPBxVbFQeB_jrXB6Lo2IhhF1JSF6uYHPBSN_DrWU5D7Jo4VO6NVH6dS1LCXhgiTolLiO8AR15hAFLflhFYxNRnJE9vOCNx7DvElry9zG3Yd1rZhaocIwmFttGxOwStMGqm/s1600/maxport1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0j5wBCNQ34qbPBxVbFQeB_jrXB6Lo2IhhF1JSF6uYHPBSN_DrWU5D7Jo4VO6NVH6dS1LCXhgiTolLiO8AR15hAFLflhFYxNRnJE9vOCNx7DvElry9zG3Yd1rZhaocIwmFttGxOwStMGqm/s320/maxport1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxOJvLEEOgSd-E1WgBU9KOsTQHqZwVPAf_kpGSjW4mGiPbq2w0a2k2YpwYSHQWVQ97kABUq7r3fqRK7YrALgu0feHyOLb7ykjLL2dHv0rC07aTqIMH34yOn59oHWTVVgDsz0ZfyyPRPuU/s1600/maxport2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxOJvLEEOgSd-E1WgBU9KOsTQHqZwVPAf_kpGSjW4mGiPbq2w0a2k2YpwYSHQWVQ97kABUq7r3fqRK7YrALgu0feHyOLb7ykjLL2dHv0rC07aTqIMH34yOn59oHWTVVgDsz0ZfyyPRPuU/s320/maxport2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-pjhprzZHzKBHtVEcmZRZ7L-Gl8g4HlMg8QrDPRsVuYw-an9eMeb6xyV2OS7254m8knWj9qYpRlAQxcBRXwbgpQKPNuk_J9CasTrJlQasfO58efxfDOfmOXdQZdFKwwqDnJxaa0OwUsB/s1600/maxport3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-pjhprzZHzKBHtVEcmZRZ7L-Gl8g4HlMg8QrDPRsVuYw-an9eMeb6xyV2OS7254m8knWj9qYpRlAQxcBRXwbgpQKPNuk_J9CasTrJlQasfO58efxfDOfmOXdQZdFKwwqDnJxaa0OwUsB/s320/maxport3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So, we are all done with port surgery's on both these kids! WOOHOO! Max I made sure everything went as I needed to go as Ao Zhen's had some mix ups. They did not want to leave his port access after surgery (some docs don't do, and some do). I had NO idea of this. This means when I am supposed to go home and factor him 2 times a day for 5 days...what am I gonna do??? Take him to be stuck in the vein again...oh no way! So I insisted, and they did access Ao Zhen's thank goodness. Max, I made sure all ducks were in a row because I know this surgeon does not like to leave accessed. So I got them to put a PICC line in Max while he was under. This allowed them to draw blood for levels from the PICC, and through the catheter they could give him factor. And of course has been a god send since I have gotten home and been able to infuse him so easily. Poor AoZhen got stuck way too many times when he had his done, it was ridiculous as the point of the pick is NOT to stick veins!! But hopefully anyone reading can learn from my experiences!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-86954517577242808072012-04-30T08:52:00.000-07:002012-04-30T08:52:20.870-07:00This Port thing is NOT as easy as I thought!So, all seemed to be fine after Ao Zhen's Port surgery on April 10th. Although that wasn't quite what I expected either. He ended up getting stuck with IV's and blood draws much more than he should have as they did not "access" the port during surgery, and there was a lot of back and forth between doctors and surgeons as to wether we could even access it (which means basically leaving a needle in it, with a line attached so that I could easily give him the Factor he would need for a week following the surgery at home)prior to leaving the hospital. If not it would have been a nightmare as he would have had to be stuck 2 X a day at home for 5 days. That did not happen and they did end up accessing it for me.
So , all was well, Port looked great. Until last weekend- Saturday April 21st I noticed his suture line was oozing a little and was a little more open at one end. He also had a fever of 99.2 which is scarey with a port. They told me not to worry about it that night unless he fever went over 101 or the actual Port site (which is above the suture line) started looking red or inflamed.
Sunday, his fever was gone but the wound was open more...looked really bad and they told me to take him to Hopkins ER.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6K2A1afAJONE05DYuSmVVuWh1ioO2feinwmGdA9vlbtJOcIxxnlEMQpolaa7sIM1XL3gTrsXnhYaLQTh0IolbPQlC3K5ERGb_dxH8Lo45nPxcT5nsWjoeLP9vXw7s4Z1geNioBcqiatZ/s1600/azwound042212_1015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6K2A1afAJONE05DYuSmVVuWh1ioO2feinwmGdA9vlbtJOcIxxnlEMQpolaa7sIM1XL3gTrsXnhYaLQTh0IolbPQlC3K5ERGb_dxH8Lo45nPxcT5nsWjoeLP9vXw7s4Z1geNioBcqiatZ/s320/azwound042212_1015.jpg" /></a></div>
So...they admitted him to reopen the next day. There was a chance that the whole port would have to be removed and replaced. He got an IV stick to place a catheter in, and a blood draw that night to do blood cultures because he got a fever again of 101.8. What a nightmare. So, the next day they put him under, opened him back up cleaned up the wound which had a hematoma under it and thank goodness were able to leave the port in. The culture of the wound site showed staph infection, so he was put on IV antibiotics. We had to stay in the hospital until Wednesday, when the blood culture came back clear and everyone was comfortable sending him home. All of this after another catheter had to be placed, because the other one had come out of the vein. This poor child was stuck so many times its ridiculous. And the whole point of the Port was to avoid the whole process of trying to probe and torture him to find veins. Plus the fact that again the port could not be accessed and he had to receive Factor until Friday...so they sent him home with an IV in his hand that came out Thursday night..so we had to go to the ER again Friday night for more sticks- and the sticks didn't even work. They absolutely could not get a vein without it blowing, so we just gave up and had to make the decision to skip Friday's factor dose.
Its really been a disaster...such a disaster that I am going to wait for many more months before having Max done.
Here are some pictures of my little trooper. He was such an awesome and brave boy in the hospital. He really is such a good patient...all the nurses were apparently fighting over who got to take care of him every time there was a shift change.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaR6jKMarIXXKo709FLO7MLxuscm39D0Bg0ZjRpU543K_rCyoEeoqBzYl9yp0r5WciU67-WFAbaJNMdn-pX4c3BLmzi7ecGtfGrmpy1r126qSfm1whQllHT36pMLRtY_ZRGVVABczswgz/s1600/azrecovery042312_1310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaR6jKMarIXXKo709FLO7MLxuscm39D0Bg0ZjRpU543K_rCyoEeoqBzYl9yp0r5WciU67-WFAbaJNMdn-pX4c3BLmzi7ecGtfGrmpy1r126qSfm1whQllHT36pMLRtY_ZRGVVABczswgz/s320/azrecovery042312_1310.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DF9oP71HqnKgAgyk7bSoY6qhHccwuW2wULqAn-KBLVJhGIZ9kA5_aijpl-9TBg4CJRTpWm1-Uve_FYwnn1S9ciaA1wKClqHEeKrN5KxoluyCqaq3hEjwhrkduLSyQyrAPo-vKYNeJHnv/s1600/azhospbed042212_1854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DF9oP71HqnKgAgyk7bSoY6qhHccwuW2wULqAn-KBLVJhGIZ9kA5_aijpl-9TBg4CJRTpWm1-Uve_FYwnn1S9ciaA1wKClqHEeKrN5KxoluyCqaq3hEjwhrkduLSyQyrAPo-vKYNeJHnv/s320/azhospbed042212_1854.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-4vU_rjBZnLr3_Rjpq-L1z3qYXfKnr8M6CtuXO_q3Dow08D9HOtOaHUVd8NdWoTF_dtydUeXgVHjp_GuQSyP0fJY3dNK0c5MpGbFhvqO3zcd12TQ-dt2zB6pv5w0GoIXQcCSG93uxrqB/s1600/aziv042512_1040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-4vU_rjBZnLr3_Rjpq-L1z3qYXfKnr8M6CtuXO_q3Dow08D9HOtOaHUVd8NdWoTF_dtydUeXgVHjp_GuQSyP0fJY3dNK0c5MpGbFhvqO3zcd12TQ-dt2zB6pv5w0GoIXQcCSG93uxrqB/s320/aziv042512_1040.jpg" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-84531938908774989812012-04-19T07:38:00.000-07:002012-04-19T07:39:42.072-07:00Ao Zhen has a port!Since Ao Zhen seemed to be hurting himself much more often then Max, we decided he would be first in line for a port. We had the surgery last Tuesday April 10th at Johns Hopkins. It all really went well. He came out of surgery after an hour just fine...no pain. The hospital stay - we were in there for 2 nights- was a little difficult as he was ready to be up and moving and was connected to an IV for most of the time, so that was tough. But he did wonderful. We were discharged Thursday, with the port accessed as he needed 2x a day infusions that I needed to do. He went to Hopkins Tuesday the 17th to have port de-accessed, then re-accessed and infused for the last time for his surgery.
We will start next week with a home care nurse coming to help me do prophy 2X a week.
Max is scheduled for May 22nd.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfHBYmTh6PZx2mdspZi4enwxQ54RpkWQY5fEQ9siWta9jfQ6rx7QFg5EUYiVv5CXi7jXOiNAvI379_JSxbcccTCdH5K-1aOrXS-7fsZvHM6okHww-k-XvkoYNpXVGCANdaDqXDVQG0N6n/s1600/AoZhen041012_1518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfHBYmTh6PZx2mdspZi4enwxQ54RpkWQY5fEQ9siWta9jfQ6rx7QFg5EUYiVv5CXi7jXOiNAvI379_JSxbcccTCdH5K-1aOrXS-7fsZvHM6okHww-k-XvkoYNpXVGCANdaDqXDVQG0N6n/s320/AoZhen041012_1518.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnnOTbPZpSuZJcogFLMWpCzupgkeo_TRxAvZFk9PwxNhIyBr7aYz2baroaYAAwPaxxZlmeIs-rrwng8Pk-gTNGI4q3C3XcfbI1G17FbC60jSv42VQewSJZvkrQE38j4FTrvwJg4fvtVW5/s1600/AoZhen1041012_1546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnnOTbPZpSuZJcogFLMWpCzupgkeo_TRxAvZFk9PwxNhIyBr7aYz2baroaYAAwPaxxZlmeIs-rrwng8Pk-gTNGI4q3C3XcfbI1G17FbC60jSv42VQewSJZvkrQE38j4FTrvwJg4fvtVW5/s320/AoZhen1041012_1546.jpg" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-24310978102043005352012-03-24T19:41:00.000-07:002012-03-24T19:41:13.796-07:00So long, with no posting!My beautiful son has done so incredibley well fitting in here that there has been nothing to say, really!!!! I on the other hand have had my hands full with him and my 2 1/2 year old - like all of a sudden I have twin toddlers and am completely exhausted. <br />
Whatever I think about AoZhen's past, knowing it wasn't good....he is just so strong and sweet and in love with all of us. We have gone through some stuff...tantrums, etc. etc. all the "typical stuff" that adoptees would go through. But he has been the biggest blessing and is the sweetest most loving little boy I have no words to explain. He takes care of everyone...he wants to wash Max off when he has a dirty face, he kisses Max's owies...he is the best big brother. He wants to clean everything, which is great, but I have had to get him to tone it down a bit because he is a little obsessive. I am thinking it was because he actually had a mom for 8 months that he has been able to bond so well to us. I get I love yous and kisses and they were kind of "faked" at first but now I know they are real. I am so lucky and so blessed. <br />
As far as the adoption part of him and the emotional aspect, so far so good. Now we are dealing with hemophilia and IV injections and finally the decision to put a Port in my guys to make their lives and mine easier. Maybe the orphanage wasn't as bad as I thought...he is really perfect. Hopefully my posts from now on will be mostly Hemophilia related and I don't have any real issues with adoption problems, which I know could come at anytime. I am not saying everything is perfect...I have 2 kids 18 months apart, there are the normal squabbles and fights. But I feel so lucky I can't say it enough. I don't know what the future will hold, but it will have a lot of love. He has even started daycare....he had too. He was so smart and so bored here with me on my maternity leave day after day- I started him 2 weeks ago. All is well accept for a few falls which caused some Hemophilia problems. <br />
Thank you God for bringing this child into my life.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-16638566939462598002012-01-11T10:26:00.000-08:002012-01-11T10:32:28.997-08:00Home!<a href="http://"></a>Well, we have been home for a week....and it has all gone better then I expected. I am just completely exhausted- it is like all of a sudden I have twins, and toddlers at that! Its a little harder then I thought, but just as wonderful as I expected. I got sick on the plan ride home...never stopped throwing up, on the plane, through customs, immigration, then finally security who called the paramedics (which just ended up being very embarassing!). I made the flight from Chicago to BWI filling up all 3 of our vomit bags- what a nightmare. Thank god for Alexis, thats all I can say! <br />
Here is our Gotcha Day Video in the meantime....<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKyUlkRjmXg&feature=context&context=G27f<a href="http://"></a>3643AUAAAAAAAAAADaniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-82153004702862131922011-12-27T22:15:00.000-08:002011-12-27T22:53:19.417-08:00Visit to Safari Park/Zoo...We had a chance yesterday to visit the Safari Park Zoo here. It was fantastic and actually a very relaxing day. After riding the train through the "Safari" seeing all the animals close and personal...lions, tigers, monkeys, elephants, zebras, hippos, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and more..it was so cool- we went through the zoo part where we saw the many pandas and baby animals- we got to feed a bottle to a baby white tiger- which to me and Alexis was a really incredible experience. We also fed giraffes and just so many other things. It was a really great place and nicely set up for the animals which of course made me happy.<br />
<br />
Today we have a free day, which is good because Alexis is sick..has that China bug, so she apparently has had water, or ice or contaminated vegetables or something. Started her right away on the antibiotics that we brought. Tomorrow we have our last appointment, our Consulate appointment. This is the final one...and this is it, he will be mine, no turning back! LOL!<br />
The next day we will take a 3 hour train ride to Hong Kong, stay overnight and then fly home the next morning. I cannot wait! I am SO homesick right now. Got to skype with my little Max who is talking and talking and singing even more than he was when I left, which is such good news with the whole autism situation. Hes doing great and it made me so happy but I miss him so much.<br />
<br />
So, the first pic here is another sweet success we have had with Ao Zhen. He is actually taking baths and happy about it! YAY! That is something that he was completely flipping out in the beginning about and normally I think takes longer for these institutionalized kids to deal with. You may also see the big bruise on his upper chest that he came to us with. Now, he has hemophilia so I hate to assume the worst since they bruise so easily, but the location of it makes me wonder as he has also had shoulder bleeds, if they are pretty rough with the kids. He is also going to sleep pretty easily now, only about 5 minutes of crying. There is still a lot of work to be done but I see improvements daily. We only had one melt down at the zoo yesterday, which is a record! And then of course his nose started bleeding again, so all the Chinese were just standing there looking at us like we were crazy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1_wEQoy2y1gly9ebO8cqQdu8aB9lhyphenhyphenCwcqbd502TM28gH0F7q677CWsTqdbPM7a_Vm3BsjM3GO-RQFm3t2ORKUgzcqXPTsj0k3DObHM7XMpt8B8NoQ3ySsHOQDl-BSsI4yHIpO9mkFo8/s1600/DSCN0600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1_wEQoy2y1gly9ebO8cqQdu8aB9lhyphenhyphenCwcqbd502TM28gH0F7q677CWsTqdbPM7a_Vm3BsjM3GO-RQFm3t2ORKUgzcqXPTsj0k3DObHM7XMpt8B8NoQ3ySsHOQDl-BSsI4yHIpO9mkFo8/s320/DSCN0600.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg0K4Cr9fIJ1gNhVAjh0hfJYs2MD-34uooFSA7pCnfMOdchE-tuitZQNjJjTd3uiJTlqOvmRwE8vjz8-7il8qhHisHbnNXacfK1IJKSHt1Shui2A7pOd-8zezuvWAE_Nz3Y31Q6Khcqpf/s1600/DSCN0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg0K4Cr9fIJ1gNhVAjh0hfJYs2MD-34uooFSA7pCnfMOdchE-tuitZQNjJjTd3uiJTlqOvmRwE8vjz8-7il8qhHisHbnNXacfK1IJKSHt1Shui2A7pOd-8zezuvWAE_Nz3Y31Q6Khcqpf/s320/DSCN0561.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIw4HwMO8coVVI8GRdzLa7dYluHW4mHf-bjgWG8UNwXEKhHV5l_TLCT_1-a6M2BDj4w5btFQickNgo_igZ3BFSFwO691LtZSTCGyJ2c2LP9lVPFd_GxZWg3iQEH9VLhnAgRE8yGJ0Y61E/s1600/DSCN0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIw4HwMO8coVVI8GRdzLa7dYluHW4mHf-bjgWG8UNwXEKhHV5l_TLCT_1-a6M2BDj4w5btFQickNgo_igZ3BFSFwO691LtZSTCGyJ2c2LP9lVPFd_GxZWg3iQEH9VLhnAgRE8yGJ0Y61E/s320/DSCN0750.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclgpIcUzR0zsyX9rublRcHdhck7UKFBrRYN2tm8riNqj97vJTwA2jPfIwWBTgUD-atyKR3Z-Ti4npPKFVOaMWDAJQMqxswLQ_Tc8UqSJwV4t7eg6n-b_RaWxH-eP9G_6pwr_lIRSIYsci/s1600/DSCN0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclgpIcUzR0zsyX9rublRcHdhck7UKFBrRYN2tm8riNqj97vJTwA2jPfIwWBTgUD-atyKR3Z-Ti4npPKFVOaMWDAJQMqxswLQ_Tc8UqSJwV4t7eg6n-b_RaWxH-eP9G_6pwr_lIRSIYsci/s320/DSCN0781.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIFHzqQP0X03dTZnyxNJNfFf5DGqOlKlHMzhX7Rn7Z0ZNWFanEnm7RqBSzBAvT89BdBtHYAV9-5zrHmHb1YJo25L8huGAXGEPb98ToMNuGsyCcYnpSnmiG5NMcyn64zCNb6TonsU64cGH/s1600/DSCN0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIFHzqQP0X03dTZnyxNJNfFf5DGqOlKlHMzhX7Rn7Z0ZNWFanEnm7RqBSzBAvT89BdBtHYAV9-5zrHmHb1YJo25L8huGAXGEPb98ToMNuGsyCcYnpSnmiG5NMcyn64zCNb6TonsU64cGH/s320/DSCN0784.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqwCp7EhQGOm4wmNBI-iPCM97hyPNhqEIyGgEvVDq2e3Lv2tlw4ZPdKrtr4o2ibMsreqE4RBklbUj4QAgQybSNz-GtqBa_MdKJXdjAwT4BOc57fXZOMyiw5388aWd2EmhCYpeCsaYDsAX/s1600/DSCN0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqwCp7EhQGOm4wmNBI-iPCM97hyPNhqEIyGgEvVDq2e3Lv2tlw4ZPdKrtr4o2ibMsreqE4RBklbUj4QAgQybSNz-GtqBa_MdKJXdjAwT4BOc57fXZOMyiw5388aWd2EmhCYpeCsaYDsAX/s320/DSCN0768.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXaT4bkef48TrktoZs_LvWUk9dFrCNWTNLP-BK0Ixvp_fweTCBcxciUaFmYnAF4lk8B3dtWnVXStHdQrAQ56ug6c7WKZbjOi2GN_tBvkEtWWThhUTQl2DnabAj_g93Lj0CgUR98Laa6wK/s1600/DSCN0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXaT4bkef48TrktoZs_LvWUk9dFrCNWTNLP-BK0Ixvp_fweTCBcxciUaFmYnAF4lk8B3dtWnVXStHdQrAQ56ug6c7WKZbjOi2GN_tBvkEtWWThhUTQl2DnabAj_g93Lj0CgUR98Laa6wK/s320/DSCN0675.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJF2UJExLb7fmMH-tutiSmOtS_5c_XSCsJVt8k0zVq7IvM-bayvAcIWN2lYe7N1X9YOITJlBjJiAb1uuyFhsR_DrdaXL1cvjUSWv2O0KnoZmOpmmnPFK4_DRA6MZxW052sD2-K-hyZ2f7/s1600/DSCN0739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJF2UJExLb7fmMH-tutiSmOtS_5c_XSCsJVt8k0zVq7IvM-bayvAcIWN2lYe7N1X9YOITJlBjJiAb1uuyFhsR_DrdaXL1cvjUSWv2O0KnoZmOpmmnPFK4_DRA6MZxW052sD2-K-hyZ2f7/s320/DSCN0739.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXEb4chVsxX6v195cBqWxZpTTXRpoGQTfHqGradWS5RUduColWBe3BMDD7_bH7kw6HQSikRHXsqRYALESu-U3SfOsA8vsPnqxAAzos_3rI5xOws6swkMd9OWrc94KnpLhkEFmSm_TCtAk/s1600/DSCN0787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXEb4chVsxX6v195cBqWxZpTTXRpoGQTfHqGradWS5RUduColWBe3BMDD7_bH7kw6HQSikRHXsqRYALESu-U3SfOsA8vsPnqxAAzos_3rI5xOws6swkMd9OWrc94KnpLhkEFmSm_TCtAk/s320/DSCN0787.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLibF0TtJ4UZzd9eAWA7rqoKxrnIcmj2bCNi1Priis6uaoahxaikL1fVegNxHJ5KtW4hB-oDbCj0pr3aebSU3cxHPPRQnR2Z-3yBctx2k_sCS8JuJKJxzWZmKQxqlmZfpgCzGnC1VcEVaJ/s1600/DSCN0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLibF0TtJ4UZzd9eAWA7rqoKxrnIcmj2bCNi1Priis6uaoahxaikL1fVegNxHJ5KtW4hB-oDbCj0pr3aebSU3cxHPPRQnR2Z-3yBctx2k_sCS8JuJKJxzWZmKQxqlmZfpgCzGnC1VcEVaJ/s320/DSCN0622.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42Hk1-uvqYdFjVPX3VScSWalzLaR_cJoDYLTmzZMZcADuUydvzi5Bvz6lTa7X0rz-xmvEohzZm3cgdF2efWnDTs9UaCFpsh-cOmRhZ_qt8XLp0ZRGJqtcUclvleTLYQ1Ak6FzoMk6XgTi/s1600/DSCN0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42Hk1-uvqYdFjVPX3VScSWalzLaR_cJoDYLTmzZMZcADuUydvzi5Bvz6lTa7X0rz-xmvEohzZm3cgdF2efWnDTs9UaCFpsh-cOmRhZ_qt8XLp0ZRGJqtcUclvleTLYQ1Ak6FzoMk6XgTi/s320/DSCN0808.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi288Pe8vIjkmvoyo6ovq8aiKQ0nZSMA8X_DwxgQIzrB05h3fWi8Wo-wIBCD4demM4qkGn71T36oZniv9CdClRwsNz1eeg5b-E42JvntrIMbLJnql3WIigSahNvhjPtPLmmxL8BXKxA1KP4/s1600/DSCN0810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi288Pe8vIjkmvoyo6ovq8aiKQ0nZSMA8X_DwxgQIzrB05h3fWi8Wo-wIBCD4demM4qkGn71T36oZniv9CdClRwsNz1eeg5b-E42JvntrIMbLJnql3WIigSahNvhjPtPLmmxL8BXKxA1KP4/s320/DSCN0810.JPG" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-39050000382310806232011-12-25T07:38:00.000-08:002011-12-25T08:44:00.094-08:00Merry Christmas!We flew to Guangzhou Friday and just getting a chance to update- its been crazy. Medical checks, more appointments for pictures for his Visa, a new Guide, and more and more paperwork gathering making sure everything is just right for our Consulate appointment on December 30th. We will go tomorrow again to the Medical Clinic to get the TB tests checked. Today, we had a free day since it was Christmas and went with another family shopping on Shaiman Island. Its a pretty touristy place, and Guangzhou weather is perfect, high 60s today. Ao Zhen went on probably his very first visit to a park. The laughter he had going down the slide was priceless. Getting him to leave however was another story...but its typical. Everytime you hear a screaming child here, you can be sure its another family with an adopted child. Tantrums constantly with these kids! But Ao Zhen is getting better about going to sleep and has stopped screaming for 45 minutes- which is nice. And he is now letting me eat without stealing the food off my plate.<br />
So, back in Shanghai, the incredibley emotional day for us was the day we visited his orphanage and his abandonment place (an infusion room inside a hospital which we went in to see with our own eyes). The orphanage that I had such high expectations of which is beautiful on the outside, and not at all on the inside....was just rooms of children. Thats all I can say. Dark, dreary. Sad. And this is a GOOD orphanage. Ao Zhen was told by our interpreter that he was only going for a visit to his friends and that he was going home with mama, that he was not staying there. They assured him of that. He would NOT go into his room. All the aunties were so excited to see him...but he absolutely clung to me in fear and would not go in. He did go in the other little girl's room whose family was with us, still clinging to me but he went in. I sat on the floor with him in my lap and just played and played with the other kids as much as I could. They were high-fiving me, even the shy ones. But Ao Zhen started getting upset and apparently screaming "Don't hit my mama" in Chinese. He had it at that point. I will never forget what I saw there- I will never forget those little faces all just so terribly craving attention. And the fact that my son spent 3 1/2 years there is just almost too much to imagine.<br />
<br />
Then, we went to his "Finding Place". We went inside the hospital where he was left in the infusion room. I can't describe it- thats how bad it was. I will NEVER complain about our hospitals again, thats all I can say really. I can't believe someone left my little boy there...I just can't wrap my head around it. That whole day was so emotional and draining...I am glad I saw those places- I think its something everyone should see whether in China or back at home...so maybe more people would do something to save these children. I will forever be changed after this experience.<br />
<br />
So, we have our typical "moments" that you know you are going to have with institutionalized kids. The food hoarding, toy hoarding, fear of being undressed and bathed, the grown up and doing things for themselves that kids this age should not be doing...cleaning every spill while freaking out in fear, picking up every piece of trash, so many things its hard to even begin. He is very wise for his tender 4 years of age. And we also have the typical issues of sort of being attached...I cannot leave his sight without him going crazy. Yet, if I don't let him have something he literally will NOT look at me for about an hour or more and he will go to Alexis for everything. And vice versa when he gets mad at her. And when he was mad at both of us one day, he decided he would only walk with the father in another family. I will be posting a picture of him in an elevator..I call it our Elevator Standoff. He was mad at everything and would NOT come out of the elevator. So, we stayed there for a while...then once he got off he laid on the ground and would not get up. So I just sat there with him, waiting for him to simmer down. I don't always let him get away with it...usually I pick him up kicking and screaming but I thought I'd wait it out that day and see how long he sat there- it was a good half hour.<br />
<br />
He has had an off and on nosebleed for 3 days...and that is a nightmare with Hemophilia. His nose was so crusty and stuffed up when we got him, and its so dry It just happened. I think its on the mend. But, let me just say this. We get stared at constantly be the Chinese people anyway...they are always looking at us I think disapprovingly, with one of "their" kids. Not all are probably disapproving stares but it sure feels like it. And I have a very healthy looking boy so I am sure there is a lot of thoughts on their part. Anyway, so try walking down the street with a tantruming, screaming child...held sideways, fighting me the whole way down the street, AND add the bloody nose to it. We really have gotten some looks! Now, Alexis, Miss Supermodel...has actually had people approach her and ask to have her picture taken with them like she is famous. Its hysterical! <br />
<br />
So, enough talk...here's some pics! First the orphanage and hospital:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVmH1U6d4rQ1QWzXF7SSvSQ2y6iWstiUH3s5j8lQvVeSCMWv6uoixS0B-tyFPDhghm23zfCRClKNeZSIz_ARzG-CBR2-gVjZbNHtCjlvhQWhmBotInKZR2jas0pfChAWa0boQrj2g8VEH/s1600/DSCN0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVmH1U6d4rQ1QWzXF7SSvSQ2y6iWstiUH3s5j8lQvVeSCMWv6uoixS0B-tyFPDhghm23zfCRClKNeZSIz_ARzG-CBR2-gVjZbNHtCjlvhQWhmBotInKZR2jas0pfChAWa0boQrj2g8VEH/s320/DSCN0323.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4LXBdrmAG4wAUcPthlxsqhfJV0BGtzLI9tPsnIGa06HiiKM0DoAItdqxJF2ExEK4T1RIYRBATu1pXwDp7lKJtX5W7KXG40wiMiHJrk6XuV9UnCE5dvy-UoTvQuzfG0uc_rztp93eXjBk/s1600/DSCN0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4LXBdrmAG4wAUcPthlxsqhfJV0BGtzLI9tPsnIGa06HiiKM0DoAItdqxJF2ExEK4T1RIYRBATu1pXwDp7lKJtX5W7KXG40wiMiHJrk6XuV9UnCE5dvy-UoTvQuzfG0uc_rztp93eXjBk/s320/DSCN0340.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqF4HnlWb6TpuKgJxvZn0U0A9UT4279YzBua6haQOwRuuOiEoXeOjvkTVB4OPHDR45Bwfebn8T91l3zkxcI5UuUl5MBF_boOOIOOCwQkwPZH5-0fJapApPEmTgTJ572MkUunvezsd8dWV_/s1600/DSCN0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqF4HnlWb6TpuKgJxvZn0U0A9UT4279YzBua6haQOwRuuOiEoXeOjvkTVB4OPHDR45Bwfebn8T91l3zkxcI5UuUl5MBF_boOOIOOCwQkwPZH5-0fJapApPEmTgTJ572MkUunvezsd8dWV_/s320/DSCN0344.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqENQDcEa0FD0HDWF-L-XJvsKr__GpiVYEyyA9KlfKR72Z05FJmeviEiaZge6L4lUcakIzQ1nbTbi6gU-76WrTt1m6kAjs-oww_hvNt9lNd5VeY44DsyAQ9rr7hoSXQ80LC71cNnvezRY/s1600/DSCN0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqENQDcEa0FD0HDWF-L-XJvsKr__GpiVYEyyA9KlfKR72Z05FJmeviEiaZge6L4lUcakIzQ1nbTbi6gU-76WrTt1m6kAjs-oww_hvNt9lNd5VeY44DsyAQ9rr7hoSXQ80LC71cNnvezRY/s320/DSCN0342.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt_QHy6o9EloO54L2Uu8_dcfqC8BChD3DBBIdTN5a_Vgt_iDkeA1VMa-mRgHP0rw0iGHZDABeYJHxJjCDfdwiibpD7PKGyM0RwyeKGcPyxS2iadhByRWpjBFWJ0SBJcxGuLOEkLpiqbam/s1600/DSCN0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikt_QHy6o9EloO54L2Uu8_dcfqC8BChD3DBBIdTN5a_Vgt_iDkeA1VMa-mRgHP0rw0iGHZDABeYJHxJjCDfdwiibpD7PKGyM0RwyeKGcPyxS2iadhByRWpjBFWJ0SBJcxGuLOEkLpiqbam/s320/DSCN0358.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxE9R68nfK9X6_2SKZ1NcE4LUB9T1c7rzBAKXTjVp4YFFWkq-JA25E2fYs-o-VZ28xD0HGGeahbnbEaNXULbkNkv85vQh7y-DJYHAFPBf_zctARoDSzV0acqeylBffFR8JeAzrQ4Mvb8L/s1600/DSCN0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxE9R68nfK9X6_2SKZ1NcE4LUB9T1c7rzBAKXTjVp4YFFWkq-JA25E2fYs-o-VZ28xD0HGGeahbnbEaNXULbkNkv85vQh7y-DJYHAFPBf_zctARoDSzV0acqeylBffFR8JeAzrQ4Mvb8L/s320/DSCN0356.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErxq1iCJw0kZt6y3AkewQn5D6nEj6H0ZZ64CC6MxUgwOaIV63xtCfz4DeAwCOReKz9jNclAxFi97uje65rEnGoZFFM0SwWg_kPPG-OE9yTRR8Ysb5kJeoKuSo0FK4Iw7oUtwiECNxlh3z/s1600/DSCN0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErxq1iCJw0kZt6y3AkewQn5D6nEj6H0ZZ64CC6MxUgwOaIV63xtCfz4DeAwCOReKz9jNclAxFi97uje65rEnGoZFFM0SwWg_kPPG-OE9yTRR8Ysb5kJeoKuSo0FK4Iw7oUtwiECNxlh3z/s320/DSCN0352.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50cqzdrcx6xsXNA4x6Y8DH-i2-wQPzx4IR4D1jYl98bzrlnHoSmxP8xbeduPNiU_V3OBSGYIf23C3eB75_eg9R1w_OxLqRKuRnmqF-MdK8BPbr3eqw58TVgqz-p-WcunAWO4EhI_q1lzX/s1600/DSCN0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50cqzdrcx6xsXNA4x6Y8DH-i2-wQPzx4IR4D1jYl98bzrlnHoSmxP8xbeduPNiU_V3OBSGYIf23C3eB75_eg9R1w_OxLqRKuRnmqF-MdK8BPbr3eqw58TVgqz-p-WcunAWO4EhI_q1lzX/s320/DSCN0400.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthzbExMx6IAjeqlcDVmJi7CUyWiDgW0YqN4hj6X1ZE0Rn7P9BLZUcaPvHlmPpV_rQw-y-p0IGd0pEJs_Ybf9C9Bgnjju5gHsD6hcJKglXwNFMOibhGvHc98W8Ug378mycj0GmOszhMg3X/s1600/DSCN0414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthzbExMx6IAjeqlcDVmJi7CUyWiDgW0YqN4hj6X1ZE0Rn7P9BLZUcaPvHlmPpV_rQw-y-p0IGd0pEJs_Ybf9C9Bgnjju5gHsD6hcJKglXwNFMOibhGvHc98W8Ug378mycj0GmOszhMg3X/s320/DSCN0414.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKPEBwQ5lx1zsVHUQADzFYG7KlUtFdM-5ZKJo5yza76yEdBuK4NhfbjeMhYoXup5pBybp1YOxMW2NCQqwVf26lc-9iwIui2JeS3GCMawD3CVE4rtXfvFH4Uy1T6klxuSBM7tiCB5z9MLk/s1600/DSCN0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKPEBwQ5lx1zsVHUQADzFYG7KlUtFdM-5ZKJo5yza76yEdBuK4NhfbjeMhYoXup5pBybp1YOxMW2NCQqwVf26lc-9iwIui2JeS3GCMawD3CVE4rtXfvFH4Uy1T6klxuSBM7tiCB5z9MLk/s320/DSCN0426.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AM-MdL4dVw7gYBQYyP9BBDA075SMPOfMEHd0JFs8KLwZuIPcxx-2IzmDrfqSQT2eLk67aCCyc2_t1GR0-g3Hx4OCm4GMj7BPPzmfeE1Kn90L-z8Pb2u-m_MYcMRcfherA6T28lM8-obw/s1600/DSCN0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AM-MdL4dVw7gYBQYyP9BBDA075SMPOfMEHd0JFs8KLwZuIPcxx-2IzmDrfqSQT2eLk67aCCyc2_t1GR0-g3Hx4OCm4GMj7BPPzmfeE1Kn90L-z8Pb2u-m_MYcMRcfherA6T28lM8-obw/s320/DSCN0428.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9K2ZrtCy4Z5Ts3CGMqYM9OkrmckJz-43QylGWUm61saGaDUGtsMAMbZs6v0abi9Wlu-WIaj8zS2pO2SE7uqsE0npmpI-K6NW64CHG1Z38OQKS2RsNhpEtNzz6S4He-_GlaFkjIGU6Auq/s1600/DSCN0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9K2ZrtCy4Z5Ts3CGMqYM9OkrmckJz-43QylGWUm61saGaDUGtsMAMbZs6v0abi9Wlu-WIaj8zS2pO2SE7uqsE0npmpI-K6NW64CHG1Z38OQKS2RsNhpEtNzz6S4He-_GlaFkjIGU6Auq/s320/DSCN0495.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNI1OXLIdWnHQLOPev0SjxfmMIKuwnFh7vszWrJmrUY5ZP4tsGSqVRYDmOfku_5-QWH-6s7xeJcSeAp0WHta_YZhSnw-elkunvbII77mLoKAno5Kas-jS5c5DrVKn1wHSU3pVljYfvieeP/s1600/DSCN0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNI1OXLIdWnHQLOPev0SjxfmMIKuwnFh7vszWrJmrUY5ZP4tsGSqVRYDmOfku_5-QWH-6s7xeJcSeAp0WHta_YZhSnw-elkunvbII77mLoKAno5Kas-jS5c5DrVKn1wHSU3pVljYfvieeP/s320/DSCN0471.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzey8lL8TKSRPgUEhcEokzrfzXKDJSorf4Q3ag5DKoBy1v6HZITiZkx67Jt4s8bQKrAyIn4EgBdzRzbxFqS5Tbslj1Wz3JysDnAkCWC9iJTqF1yLpLXFI3_0C_PGGIVRof2L8BgfgzuHo/s1600/DSCN0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzey8lL8TKSRPgUEhcEokzrfzXKDJSorf4Q3ag5DKoBy1v6HZITiZkx67Jt4s8bQKrAyIn4EgBdzRzbxFqS5Tbslj1Wz3JysDnAkCWC9iJTqF1yLpLXFI3_0C_PGGIVRof2L8BgfgzuHo/s320/DSCN0472.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ22DDGQw9AMWT-a2qK7sjxeaIvYaIQoFKVR00ZNcYwzOe-WO_ynLCoIXxYiBAqVX2RJrRT3C5E4-u0tW9FwE4l1j8IHYHwOEdGiWMceDt0lY9J9P3u-xUsJqZdLnNn65CKQmAPqV-9gD9/s1600/DSCN0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ22DDGQw9AMWT-a2qK7sjxeaIvYaIQoFKVR00ZNcYwzOe-WO_ynLCoIXxYiBAqVX2RJrRT3C5E4-u0tW9FwE4l1j8IHYHwOEdGiWMceDt0lY9J9P3u-xUsJqZdLnNn65CKQmAPqV-9gD9/s320/DSCN0405.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm-z4G3EGBU4IeDPjmIJyu-icndzNhZLFSmHW6T_a19MotlwXwkF5FpOvQN1NSuSPO6IqfQosuQ8p8kFZjEoJWdj9bSIxx4eVJV4ncCqJVYO8BPuvWTBGaaVDJhNNLsdgKLjkU2D0kHHb/s1600/DSCN0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm-z4G3EGBU4IeDPjmIJyu-icndzNhZLFSmHW6T_a19MotlwXwkF5FpOvQN1NSuSPO6IqfQosuQ8p8kFZjEoJWdj9bSIxx4eVJV4ncCqJVYO8BPuvWTBGaaVDJhNNLsdgKLjkU2D0kHHb/s320/DSCN0502.JPG" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-14650987241082797652011-12-21T23:41:00.000-08:002011-12-22T05:11:50.885-08:00PicturesWe had an orphanage visit yesterday as well as a visit to the hospital where he was abandoned. It was so overwhelming I do not even have words for those visits right now....its just too sad and there are so many things I need to describe about it, I have to do that in a few days when it is not so embedded in my head as I am trying to forget a little bit of that right now. All I can say is that I will never ever be the same after seeing what I have seen. I am changed...not in a bad way but it has changed me. I think everyone should experience something like this and see these things so more can be done to help the situation.<br />
So, for happy times- following are pictures of Gotcha Day and the day after. We are dealing with tantrums and a very headstrong little boy who wants to do EVERYTHING his self...and I mean major tantrums. But we will get through it- and I knew exactly what to expect and it was this! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQLnKKKJ68In4kVD8GEa8JlzOM83Jbj1qA6ydVkMVoBLiHsFKdi06Z3Kg0PBkO_8Dfbz319cA1sHyfhMSt6wAWnfL-EoF__vt6HRd9y8dzshHSyf284iR9UQRHSGivHVUStcxUcGkv85Z/s1600/DSCN0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQLnKKKJ68In4kVD8GEa8JlzOM83Jbj1qA6ydVkMVoBLiHsFKdi06Z3Kg0PBkO_8Dfbz319cA1sHyfhMSt6wAWnfL-EoF__vt6HRd9y8dzshHSyf284iR9UQRHSGivHVUStcxUcGkv85Z/s320/DSCN0227.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MfGgy4_ftEXVaWjYFA4k8_ALSVcIkcsb6vLzXSgF5M_VwAteay0z4uEpknVxiE-tOXYeQiZo6ndWKkiNDpoxBo_e-5W9zuclUUo3oBK9GTjZyPny7igfBFjRP9ya2oQ2CF2thIYxNhem/s1600/DSCN0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MfGgy4_ftEXVaWjYFA4k8_ALSVcIkcsb6vLzXSgF5M_VwAteay0z4uEpknVxiE-tOXYeQiZo6ndWKkiNDpoxBo_e-5W9zuclUUo3oBK9GTjZyPny7igfBFjRP9ya2oQ2CF2thIYxNhem/s320/DSCN0229.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRawVaiWwvKasdZvEedwUKBNPQGP5tGrRzvMtrSQJXlHhGqBL6gcyk25mw0GYqOJZVkPGf1gbt24wjc1ePl9LU3csMm0GQ0i-AFvoRUWbsuRf2ie8sSVs6QQW1NPHPIUb0GKtOENwj369/s1600/DSCN0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRawVaiWwvKasdZvEedwUKBNPQGP5tGrRzvMtrSQJXlHhGqBL6gcyk25mw0GYqOJZVkPGf1gbt24wjc1ePl9LU3csMm0GQ0i-AFvoRUWbsuRf2ie8sSVs6QQW1NPHPIUb0GKtOENwj369/s320/DSCN0230.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBPSgju58p3ndQU9huzrS-Ef1Dsx5YiFPEOpPxwqFccw4Nz2lYRPHKga47YzYT5UJDwRnRRCB-MD0ffBWoANHlYOf9Bnnp_UsxJ7xn8JldsjGP8mh39Bt7_zUMgHS89lPbUjaEwWUvqRJ/s1600/DSCN0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBPSgju58p3ndQU9huzrS-Ef1Dsx5YiFPEOpPxwqFccw4Nz2lYRPHKga47YzYT5UJDwRnRRCB-MD0ffBWoANHlYOf9Bnnp_UsxJ7xn8JldsjGP8mh39Bt7_zUMgHS89lPbUjaEwWUvqRJ/s320/DSCN0239.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfYQhq0Oeskv9xUducPO7nQG5_nBSTqt1jeBpMMdvX_D-v5q2bL_MZW25s5NAj-NP89JdLUfdYzslpYquxHgbr5oztGLEU-Wa05Fwl3EwGvu-wziKuFwpNrHlIf2aMQahWk1GOovDRQHh/s1600/DSCN0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfYQhq0Oeskv9xUducPO7nQG5_nBSTqt1jeBpMMdvX_D-v5q2bL_MZW25s5NAj-NP89JdLUfdYzslpYquxHgbr5oztGLEU-Wa05Fwl3EwGvu-wziKuFwpNrHlIf2aMQahWk1GOovDRQHh/s320/DSCN0238.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ14Cyb-yjlyMJNj1B7CunxB-AuBg0i06JS8-sV9hzTmrW5KnnAX67CNcS0NiN_qI7Etvcr1yKJgtHrOuVw0nqI7pukw3u_T9tX2VgO6rAqP5mQoR2WfoWbpIgD_cJYoP6ElEzsbBBFMRi/s1600/DSCN0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ14Cyb-yjlyMJNj1B7CunxB-AuBg0i06JS8-sV9hzTmrW5KnnAX67CNcS0NiN_qI7Etvcr1yKJgtHrOuVw0nqI7pukw3u_T9tX2VgO6rAqP5mQoR2WfoWbpIgD_cJYoP6ElEzsbBBFMRi/s320/DSCN0246.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwO6ssvWdJs5Lj-V8ieLLOWfoKc-Bnw3ULAbRr98RRkMn-LaYBzx2vh-LlZHmsyJu4LW_51VEU9RmwhuJZXhrpF4OxHSoyuII5pG1LxY0UGwLKUEHUj2-_cvBSyNRy5t1k_GRwz__C6CwP/s1600/DSCN0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwO6ssvWdJs5Lj-V8ieLLOWfoKc-Bnw3ULAbRr98RRkMn-LaYBzx2vh-LlZHmsyJu4LW_51VEU9RmwhuJZXhrpF4OxHSoyuII5pG1LxY0UGwLKUEHUj2-_cvBSyNRy5t1k_GRwz__C6CwP/s320/DSCN0256.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fpLBiAIfYENNryxKahIwt-bfxZf0KoUU_1uP-UsK9K8Hpjone6keKMTTSKziN3DXa_xDMJ7qoc34SrfpeNdZmcp08wUj8oa-iml094mAIk1iVkoMuO3c4XdPzjKAu9Hn-B7XOK3_3wII/s1600/DSCN0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fpLBiAIfYENNryxKahIwt-bfxZf0KoUU_1uP-UsK9K8Hpjone6keKMTTSKziN3DXa_xDMJ7qoc34SrfpeNdZmcp08wUj8oa-iml094mAIk1iVkoMuO3c4XdPzjKAu9Hn-B7XOK3_3wII/s320/DSCN0263.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEDblsmhbOGbn3USkPE905H_go3g6BD6oTXrGNfEKTjBw6s_tJGHauXOLgJ4MeM39WUD3fLvfBKD_42-GaWYWa6Bwjk3HbArZl4sL2qQGmucTg5ghrO4kTAdHRoNCJwanABlJJOQdAaUZ/s1600/DSCN0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEDblsmhbOGbn3USkPE905H_go3g6BD6oTXrGNfEKTjBw6s_tJGHauXOLgJ4MeM39WUD3fLvfBKD_42-GaWYWa6Bwjk3HbArZl4sL2qQGmucTg5ghrO4kTAdHRoNCJwanABlJJOQdAaUZ/s320/DSCN0266.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0luOEvZbJMw-Xdkzl9JCFkVWhrqmTSBCP4WYmBKUPFqeB86ieq_rbPI4p5p73-qFFDrXKNJDGU0CMRRhyZvje7r1UGXt_KfoPBBfkbhMEXSv90gjfBzEf_KpNFP00B1HWeMLYe3M_rh2K/s1600/DSCN0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0luOEvZbJMw-Xdkzl9JCFkVWhrqmTSBCP4WYmBKUPFqeB86ieq_rbPI4p5p73-qFFDrXKNJDGU0CMRRhyZvje7r1UGXt_KfoPBBfkbhMEXSv90gjfBzEf_KpNFP00B1HWeMLYe3M_rh2K/s320/DSCN0267.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSwa0YaQIOacdI8P2X7pNMAaeudI6YWZxRigv5ESVdNXdpQy3DFvPPV32TQAcgFDu6drV38QstQYGoCTXrIKcW5JfDzgdfB-0ixNo-9NKL8Fb8uVR1QkFAY30GS3YTjbeELut1tvR12qD/s1600/DSCN0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSwa0YaQIOacdI8P2X7pNMAaeudI6YWZxRigv5ESVdNXdpQy3DFvPPV32TQAcgFDu6drV38QstQYGoCTXrIKcW5JfDzgdfB-0ixNo-9NKL8Fb8uVR1QkFAY30GS3YTjbeELut1tvR12qD/s320/DSCN0272.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhved4ViCtZnFbXD18gvO-_rDFWkXxp7ez9WpkP3fa72hSya3BwB4qgUr4zw0aYN8MQROwkaLqzKcPAk6ZH1FoOw9b8Kxhyphenhyphenrt_GFX0neIkeQjJyeOsCKFtaU_mRcH96pZN6EMqICCfIP6qF/s1600/DSCN0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhved4ViCtZnFbXD18gvO-_rDFWkXxp7ez9WpkP3fa72hSya3BwB4qgUr4zw0aYN8MQROwkaLqzKcPAk6ZH1FoOw9b8Kxhyphenhyphenrt_GFX0neIkeQjJyeOsCKFtaU_mRcH96pZN6EMqICCfIP6qF/s320/DSCN0274.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKvH_DtFjW_eMX-SaDt7U2wQdmNDHJEHSp7GmSrPgSkWbguzHa4dGsvtWAltHG9OKSrzNMxQca1-pNZO473p9MTuDmHnJHjiUmJDpnI8x9rPQanXbb-LjRf5gzVboW9NNzdsp2OekUqDH/s1600/DSCN0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKvH_DtFjW_eMX-SaDt7U2wQdmNDHJEHSp7GmSrPgSkWbguzHa4dGsvtWAltHG9OKSrzNMxQca1-pNZO473p9MTuDmHnJHjiUmJDpnI8x9rPQanXbb-LjRf5gzVboW9NNzdsp2OekUqDH/s320/DSCN0275.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E4uDZdvhGvDfFszpLrWjA9x9sZUIqhzR1T_hJmo-gMudlfkfWrVd_VIKIFUYJYHC76734ZAeYdOPwoXCuUKhZY7gxlMkrksE_VUCxAWoI8RfqDNCq4cJ9Zfg7zb2mxoXyRu1uXe7EHFj/s1600/DSCN0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E4uDZdvhGvDfFszpLrWjA9x9sZUIqhzR1T_hJmo-gMudlfkfWrVd_VIKIFUYJYHC76734ZAeYdOPwoXCuUKhZY7gxlMkrksE_VUCxAWoI8RfqDNCq4cJ9Zfg7zb2mxoXyRu1uXe7EHFj/s320/DSCN0278.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqmhTbsstqIPKzmb8cmB3XHn6fUkwjB0SRqO5Rx97PWHVKrLnSuorh_V6Lagf27hyw_yYqTmjnAluRvUtyP5UFHJBSOpM6dAPDvtBexfgn88wzffwZktRhMQY83H_u1x-AyAhsDtGduPv/s1600/DSCN0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqmhTbsstqIPKzmb8cmB3XHn6fUkwjB0SRqO5Rx97PWHVKrLnSuorh_V6Lagf27hyw_yYqTmjnAluRvUtyP5UFHJBSOpM6dAPDvtBexfgn88wzffwZktRhMQY83H_u1x-AyAhsDtGduPv/s320/DSCN0292.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBd0bUswKMi1V_olyQGRPGF8poWIEHqSVuW0VPLndYb4BAJe9pQJPQr9zuw1kdWPwhzWsmugHRx4Pn9q2bltSe8fSy2bGCZNAAz4d-SGLLsKTuS1wtGYtOVLMrY6eZIwmC2Ft7RoRJoLY/s1600/DSCN0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBd0bUswKMi1V_olyQGRPGF8poWIEHqSVuW0VPLndYb4BAJe9pQJPQr9zuw1kdWPwhzWsmugHRx4Pn9q2bltSe8fSy2bGCZNAAz4d-SGLLsKTuS1wtGYtOVLMrY6eZIwmC2Ft7RoRJoLY/s320/DSCN0300.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcOC5krZhv8-zGidUmk6_H9thU0lWzSRbeTt4k5QqDPYyLMGAzX4QNTPVQKLVQzYRZJcmXkrlrcLrp-Piumu22hNhXbk5MYEtjTo3TpGxCA8akPRUNrKZReOwB1fhtIUgPoBsv_fOrMhd/s1600/DSCN0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcOC5krZhv8-zGidUmk6_H9thU0lWzSRbeTt4k5QqDPYyLMGAzX4QNTPVQKLVQzYRZJcmXkrlrcLrp-Piumu22hNhXbk5MYEtjTo3TpGxCA8akPRUNrKZReOwB1fhtIUgPoBsv_fOrMhd/s320/DSCN0301.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYdhiYy10cdnpw_n0MTcCBdCHTV8q-ZPoHxhPbHxxY9GrbcIdJG3c9qA8NKczVCBn6pK3CsEh-g45i1v85FzOjgsFUfvMzbhsZWuaR1qOsXyPiyQxY2pKKp_MJbVlPqsLpPjU4AagsvXc/s1600/DSCN0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYdhiYy10cdnpw_n0MTcCBdCHTV8q-ZPoHxhPbHxxY9GrbcIdJG3c9qA8NKczVCBn6pK3CsEh-g45i1v85FzOjgsFUfvMzbhsZWuaR1qOsXyPiyQxY2pKKp_MJbVlPqsLpPjU4AagsvXc/s320/DSCN0307.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j7bDPkCmh5Of0z81vclV9pQtms31Xll9czARKn6n9X5SMKHdo7p_1g6WonIsxHUBd3A5CUNzuqJ6oLfCiTtkgHTCbu4edNBM59GiPvVsfCeWtipEuW6fwm0EaylhoUn-a3fGs3hXP7PH/s1600/DSCN0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j7bDPkCmh5Of0z81vclV9pQtms31Xll9czARKn6n9X5SMKHdo7p_1g6WonIsxHUBd3A5CUNzuqJ6oLfCiTtkgHTCbu4edNBM59GiPvVsfCeWtipEuW6fwm0EaylhoUn-a3fGs3hXP7PH/s320/DSCN0316.JPG" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-36655353746489364872011-12-19T23:38:00.000-08:002011-12-19T23:38:11.354-08:00Gotcha Day!!!We have had our little guy since yesterday at 9:30 am...and it has been such a whirlwind that I have been too tired to update! It has been 2 days of running around from one office to another for paperwork, applications for his passport, etc. etc...and there is still so much more to do. To sum him up until I can write more later...he is doing amazing. Besides eating nonstop and I mean literally he never stops eating - he is extremely possesive of every single toy and item of clothing he has. I know it will pass, but it is really sad when I stop to understand and know exactly why he is like that and what he has done without for 4 years. He knows I am Mama, he seems to understand that, and loves his big sister. He is a big ham, smiles and giggles endlessly. He is incredibly smart and "wise" for his age. Its almost scary - he will surely outsmart me in a matter of months I am sure. It also is sad though and very hard to explain right now!<br />
My other smart child, Alexis...is having trouble downloading pictures and has promised to help me tonight after we eat dinner. We are traveling with another amazing family who adopted a cute little 2 1/2 year old girl, and our guide is taking us out to a new restaurant tonight for dinner thank god as we are tired of the hotel food.<br />
I will download video of Gotcha Day soon- he actually ran to me and sad Mama and gave me a hug...but it was definitley rehearsed ahead of time, still very sweet. He cried when his "aunties" from the orphanage left, which was really sad.<br />
I do have this picture for now.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho504bBRtybkTEnMo0l02BORFNa6_b_ugVlJ5QXun_jUyWrm5hlP7OIXfY_n_O1aP2GCyhNA1BmUYsD49IhI7rTgJ2ix1fzX7zMtKFkUXrODQvK5cazPC7eHp3mGVF65ZzPTd8YXmbiCaj/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-18+at+22.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho504bBRtybkTEnMo0l02BORFNa6_b_ugVlJ5QXun_jUyWrm5hlP7OIXfY_n_O1aP2GCyhNA1BmUYsD49IhI7rTgJ2ix1fzX7zMtKFkUXrODQvK5cazPC7eHp3mGVF65ZzPTd8YXmbiCaj/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-18+at+22.20.jpg" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-22071437810424371612011-12-17T19:02:00.000-08:002011-12-17T19:18:07.223-08:00We are in Shanghai!We left Wednesday morning at 6 am...arrived Thursday at about 2:30 US time. We have had all of these days so far as Free days, with no guide...since we had to come so early because of the prices of the flights. So, we've just been kind of hanging out, and venturing out in the huge city of Shanghai taking it all in. We've discovered a lot of really cool shopping - and kind of "underground" malls. Its hard to explain. The people here are very stylish. They also all look at us because we are the only Americans...even mom's pointing us out to their little kids and commenting on our big eyes. They have an indoor pool here which is nice and Alexis has been swimming every day. Food is great in the hotel, we are getting ready to be adventurous and try a Subway we found. We have to go out to get bottles of water daily as we cannot drink the water, brush our teeth with the water and we have to close our eyes and mouth in the shower...and we can't get ice in our drinks or eat the salads, etc. Its kind of scarey! Anyway , it is about 11:00 Sunday our time, US time is about 10:00 pm Saturday. Of course Max is home getting sick - figures that would happen when mommy is gone.<br />
I am going to post some of the pics we have taken so far, but tomorrow is the big day. We go to pick up our little guy at 9:00 tomorrow morning. Thats when the fun really starts! I am so excited and nervous and terrified and emotional. I am thinking about him spending his last day with all that he knows and all of his little friends and so worried about how his little world is going to be ripped out from under him, even though it is so much better for him, he has no idea. He will be leaving everything and everyone he knows and I am so sad for him. Please keep him in your thoughts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SHmPK3u_sqi5cAFfCoY4JKZ2kTzMKeqi_rBM9yhOfuADyVG3rgvC5G2lRT3Eanei49FXG-xFlSj8OgCpdvRwhVll4du6NYsIM_5GC7j_l8QPT3VTx6VnOD1mSrK_URpldA08u7Sbjd2M/s1600/DSCN0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SHmPK3u_sqi5cAFfCoY4JKZ2kTzMKeqi_rBM9yhOfuADyVG3rgvC5G2lRT3Eanei49FXG-xFlSj8OgCpdvRwhVll4du6NYsIM_5GC7j_l8QPT3VTx6VnOD1mSrK_URpldA08u7Sbjd2M/s320/DSCN0075.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNC3Nk6yK7UjPgHH-_IeyfpNka1I9d5pNXf3xqCYh9UQsJWgemn7o-50fxfjE0Pb3bfAyMQscYfFIt_MjGUxnOqlxQvLxDs9pC5rbfv7ZiMTitKzvNgXhJ_TpwwFhy3GLrqP5qWgGM0hYC/s1600/DSCN0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNC3Nk6yK7UjPgHH-_IeyfpNka1I9d5pNXf3xqCYh9UQsJWgemn7o-50fxfjE0Pb3bfAyMQscYfFIt_MjGUxnOqlxQvLxDs9pC5rbfv7ZiMTitKzvNgXhJ_TpwwFhy3GLrqP5qWgGM0hYC/s320/DSCN0079.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNu1FU71rJzv0UxoCOFpT8INXUIUE5-aCe35SLjjxu8uo4ETsjokD3TfFZevl5_bONlxovEm6opTeREVCfiUFJnkJ8wQwlRrH41OchO8WRjg9qSZGzPVQlnclGRoMJe_B3X3Pm6LbN8Vk/s1600/DSCN0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNu1FU71rJzv0UxoCOFpT8INXUIUE5-aCe35SLjjxu8uo4ETsjokD3TfFZevl5_bONlxovEm6opTeREVCfiUFJnkJ8wQwlRrH41OchO8WRjg9qSZGzPVQlnclGRoMJe_B3X3Pm6LbN8Vk/s320/DSCN0087.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GhElVUrywuQrH2oNNF64zxFVdbSyw-Ru8vfWV2fST_Vy-zsgU97ZDC96KkfGxaZfiMw5dHRk5qwu0_xmKTiCriJdmkGb80PzlCBe96dPrPAe-4QnT5fSOldIeiNtMyWdHw6n-FXt0vuz/s1600/DSCN0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GhElVUrywuQrH2oNNF64zxFVdbSyw-Ru8vfWV2fST_Vy-zsgU97ZDC96KkfGxaZfiMw5dHRk5qwu0_xmKTiCriJdmkGb80PzlCBe96dPrPAe-4QnT5fSOldIeiNtMyWdHw6n-FXt0vuz/s320/DSCN0103.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwE1pzZxeWHtkDhrDzHzerf5MGo0LYjxoEH9DO7emHH4VjA9bQYzhyphenhyphen8Podvt9R0U7NysoCuYPraWJjrg9DECUYeWV0pNe3kH7XzKJiThyphenhyphenpEmIM_8Tw3YTwkkINW-1rgjDf1GnRZhivXAv/s1600/RSCN0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwE1pzZxeWHtkDhrDzHzerf5MGo0LYjxoEH9DO7emHH4VjA9bQYzhyphenhyphen8Podvt9R0U7NysoCuYPraWJjrg9DECUYeWV0pNe3kH7XzKJiThyphenhyphenpEmIM_8Tw3YTwkkINW-1rgjDf1GnRZhivXAv/s320/RSCN0149.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYN0b8MnPZ_aHw79MvzApzhLzYdD2_59l0SNlTFaIIb-QYxZ6Te6MBdbOYuACfq8SJyxZSaI8tnnfDuPI_tG3b__F1fp7XIWf3ih7EgC6f74gqrsd9dS0j__ptX1hsU_PBeHcZ68mY97Z/s1600/DSCN0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYN0b8MnPZ_aHw79MvzApzhLzYdD2_59l0SNlTFaIIb-QYxZ6Te6MBdbOYuACfq8SJyxZSaI8tnnfDuPI_tG3b__F1fp7XIWf3ih7EgC6f74gqrsd9dS0j__ptX1hsU_PBeHcZ68mY97Z/s320/DSCN0140.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidACMqptQ2q7Noj6CDa-pPoRohNLJ0-fhp-bkfO25Vd2MaA7iSUYbVI9PmLsTJEtZ7UlxXnr_ixe9o5dZlNenEFeIq0SDzeM-cMPpUh9YL9vOoXQWpWTaHP_Qhgeda3Vs93z5CIVRoNL6D/s1600/DSCN0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidACMqptQ2q7Noj6CDa-pPoRohNLJ0-fhp-bkfO25Vd2MaA7iSUYbVI9PmLsTJEtZ7UlxXnr_ixe9o5dZlNenEFeIq0SDzeM-cMPpUh9YL9vOoXQWpWTaHP_Qhgeda3Vs93z5CIVRoNL6D/s320/DSCN0157.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9rl7FELpEAxam0NDljdoobhERnGpBPB714xjYulVvcxtYcmX9V4B-pNI4wXl93bYUGRi5iX6io-G71grUgZ3uXlItVm5n_pMl9_M72wzMUk-V8ADD5RZVxMXbRJ7az-Uiw3jtDyhgzmE/s1600/DSCN0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9rl7FELpEAxam0NDljdoobhERnGpBPB714xjYulVvcxtYcmX9V4B-pNI4wXl93bYUGRi5iX6io-G71grUgZ3uXlItVm5n_pMl9_M72wzMUk-V8ADD5RZVxMXbRJ7az-Uiw3jtDyhgzmE/s320/DSCN0135.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_N-NPEI8gZ6xpqb31AU2OrGN59lFzgveL5sioexXAqhoT0nHy3e6GixI9ED_3hro8p8tMWMHOu5VOsNDvSBmpuKwTHL06Y3RoChgj7RMaqHYfIeMFWDt8mhnU0zZNACO1qYv4f_xyTkn/s1600/DSCN0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_N-NPEI8gZ6xpqb31AU2OrGN59lFzgveL5sioexXAqhoT0nHy3e6GixI9ED_3hro8p8tMWMHOu5VOsNDvSBmpuKwTHL06Y3RoChgj7RMaqHYfIeMFWDt8mhnU0zZNACO1qYv4f_xyTkn/s320/DSCN0128.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnLlA63lImkw-aSRoNXzuj_ix7HRIvkKaJ3pRqPYtwXuy3zCwzeOLVRDvzzwsbXkV8gYHK77VRxetPmidx8lXpZnZ-ua34TgIR1PoTf4yZJveCLtMQDgiKtrs0SzxCCEad_QDQoxqNEqI/s1600/DSCN0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnLlA63lImkw-aSRoNXzuj_ix7HRIvkKaJ3pRqPYtwXuy3zCwzeOLVRDvzzwsbXkV8gYHK77VRxetPmidx8lXpZnZ-ua34TgIR1PoTf4yZJveCLtMQDgiKtrs0SzxCCEad_QDQoxqNEqI/s320/DSCN0122.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQ60ZG_R4NAdmgA7FEIkAmo5KR9I3OVOyCTdOuvbIKvJqhLVqWpA3xFEv9Dp0k5yN95wp-4cZO3V6g0jEQDGYqNTiIJneVutDFU1BTZbhMycfLVximeOovZ81PRm6zFnzcPkRtCGMf9S2/s1600/DSCN0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQ60ZG_R4NAdmgA7FEIkAmo5KR9I3OVOyCTdOuvbIKvJqhLVqWpA3xFEv9Dp0k5yN95wp-4cZO3V6g0jEQDGYqNTiIJneVutDFU1BTZbhMycfLVximeOovZ81PRm6zFnzcPkRtCGMf9S2/s320/DSCN0120.JPG" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-55912980689813433332011-12-12T19:30:00.000-08:002011-12-12T19:30:54.343-08:00Leaving in 2 days....We leave December 14th at 6 am....<br />
just walking around in a zombie state right now...packing, getting the room ready, and really just heartbroken to leave Max. I know he will be fine, and this time will fly by but it is going to be really hard.<br />
Hopefully, my next post will be from China...fingers crossed that all electronics work.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-4338753328165102082011-12-02T18:32:00.000-08:002011-12-02T18:32:07.063-08:00Travel Approval!!We are going to China!<br />
Our Consulate appt is on December 30, we have to be in Shanghai December 18th!<br />
So, Christmas will be spent in China AND our 2011 New Years goal to Bring Home this Baby will be met!! We will also be spending his 4th birthday on December 28th with him- he will no longer be alone!!<br />
We are coming my little boy! <br />
Final Itinerary will be firmed up next week...but its time to start packing, and panicking a little I must admit! I don't know how I will bear spending 2 weeks away from my precious little Max.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-56555771666269491152011-11-29T11:25:00.000-08:002011-11-29T11:25:01.511-08:00Still waiting....Still waiting for Travel Approval. Next Tuesday is 6 weeks..I should definitley have it by then. In the mean time, I am trying to start to get things together. I have ordered 2 little beds for my 2 boys. My 2 1/2 year old is still in a crib so its time to get him out of there before he literally falls out (which would be very bad with the Hemophilia!). <br />
I ordered both boys the same bed as to avoid any future conflict. <br />
Isn't this cute?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SZ4xmINQxhE2tK69tHWvtemf31YKZKtYvGZhzFrX95NsBqQBIrCqsVC36PR-A1J7s3ckQJDSVkMM4eWiXgtyjyFp9oRDxsN52j6l34Zp-nLYz8yUdMy91I2VoB8GL5VBPCezLDv1MfyP/s1600/bedumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="225" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SZ4xmINQxhE2tK69tHWvtemf31YKZKtYvGZhzFrX95NsBqQBIrCqsVC36PR-A1J7s3ckQJDSVkMM4eWiXgtyjyFp9oRDxsN52j6l34Zp-nLYz8yUdMy91I2VoB8GL5VBPCezLDv1MfyP/s320/bedumbnail.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
In the meantime...Max will be done with Kennedy Krieger next Thursday December 8th. It is very bittersweet as the driving has been brutal on us (2 hours each way, 4 days a week for 6 months). But the progress is so amazing that I am terrified to stop. He will be going to a wonderful and structured daycare 3 or 4 days per week immediately. He has been going there every Friday when he dosen't go to Krieger so hes used to the place and its very structured which is what he needs. I have Infants and Toddler<br />
going to work with him there weekly, which is good. But I am still going to really miss Kennedy Krieger and all of his wonderful teachers and therapists.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-23948614537414426192011-11-01T11:50:00.000-07:002011-11-01T11:50:08.986-07:00Updates! While I am sitting here pulling out my hair waiting for travel approval, I received these!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvL8E-b8e1uPc4uHn7aJnW-BEsNeENQNKOPKbxLhpTpmb1Ljb15_qyxsMrKAu4c9Fkwa3V-kus1jjOOJ_Eu23CVMmwTDWHS2HxBVDCWpUK3-GV9VFCqN2s7mY2u2H_DSo06TzzBSzJwte/s1600/AoZhen_%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvL8E-b8e1uPc4uHn7aJnW-BEsNeENQNKOPKbxLhpTpmb1Ljb15_qyxsMrKAu4c9Fkwa3V-kus1jjOOJ_Eu23CVMmwTDWHS2HxBVDCWpUK3-GV9VFCqN2s7mY2u2H_DSo06TzzBSzJwte/s320/AoZhen_%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q7oa3NvVXm5uK09cQ3RIjSY8itdJ1kKpLjAFyQyHVa0lmDD8m_AQKIQlwOOeS2eG3lcHTDI1cTYFdDBZqxOlq-FZtUBg_oyaAS-2eOQGj54_AwjTx6fnpgEeRNBjKCK2WExXEWydCXp7/s1600/AoZhen1%25E9%259C%2587_%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q7oa3NvVXm5uK09cQ3RIjSY8itdJ1kKpLjAFyQyHVa0lmDD8m_AQKIQlwOOeS2eG3lcHTDI1cTYFdDBZqxOlq-FZtUBg_oyaAS-2eOQGj54_AwjTx6fnpgEeRNBjKCK2WExXEWydCXp7/s320/AoZhen1%25E9%259C%2587_%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-34789416829330184552011-10-25T10:14:00.000-07:002011-10-25T10:14:01.641-07:00NVC Approval! Travel Approval next...Dear Sir/Madam:<br />
<br />
The National Visa Center (NVC) is sending a copy of the approval letter<br />
via this email.<br />
<br />
Case Number: GUZ2011786033<br />
Petitioner's Name: STERMER, DANIELLE<br />
Principal Applicant's Name: WU,AO ZHEN<br />
Preference Category: IH3<br />
Your Priority Date: 23Sep2011<br />
Foreign State Chargeability: CHINA - MAINLAND<br />
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL, VISA SCN.<br />
5TH FL. TIAN YU GARDEN (II PHASE)<br />
136-142 LIN HE ZONG ROAD<br />
TIAN HE DISTRICT, GUANZHOU, CHINA<br />
<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Pnina<br />
National Visa Center <br />
Written Inquiry Unit <br />
Serco Inc., Support Contractor <br />
NVCInquiry@state.govDaniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-7036783384996355762011-10-18T09:59:00.000-07:002011-10-18T09:59:15.262-07:00I-800 ApprovalSo close!<br />
Next NVC, then TA.<br />
I know we will have our boy home no later than December. He will more than likely get to spend his 4th birthday 12/28 with us at home!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-25511783344097998212011-10-03T09:57:00.000-07:002011-10-03T09:57:04.507-07:00LOA!!We received the phone call on 9/19<br />
We are LOA...signed and sent back 9/20!<br />
Now, we are waiting for I-800, which was filed immediately afterwards.<br />
Our agency is already working on our Visas.<br />
A few more steps and we will be there.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-65760591715481757042011-09-09T08:38:00.000-07:002011-09-09T08:38:59.815-07:00MaxSince I am sitting here stressing out and waiting for the LOA...I figured I would do an update on my little Max for a change! If you've read the above links on his hemophilia dn his autism, you will know what we have been dealing with. He has improved SO much since starting his Krieger classes June 2nd- it is the most incredible thing I have ever witnessed- just the transformation and my little boy finally "connecting the dots" and knowing and saying mommy and pointing up to the sky at a bird and so many things that he is doing and saying I can look at him and know we are going to be ok. The saying mommy, so sweetly is the best. I have been waiting for that for so long and I finally have it. Now, the kisses and the hugs are what I am waiting for! Kennedy Krieger is amazing- I can't stress enough how wonderful they are there.<br />
<br />
Max also had his blood drawn 2 weeks ago at Johns Hopkins (his Hemophilia Treatment Center). This has been long overdue and I have been stressed out about that first vein stick since hes been born! He needed 10 vials of blood drawn, for Krieger testing as well as Hemophilia level testing and the standard 2 year old lead test. It went so smoothly I cannot even believe it now. He was wonderful, only cried because of the tourniquet. I was shown how to hold him, and the girl that drew the blood was fantastic and got his vein on the first stick. This was SUCH a huge weight off my shoulders. She said he has great veins, so we are actually waiting now to start prophylaxis 2X a week and I am going to be trained by a nurse to actually try to hit his veins first and not do the port. I am nervous and don't know how it will go, but I want to at least try. I am terrified to put him under anesthesia for the Port surgery. I am afraid to "anesthetize" his brain with anything at this point in time with the autism...literally terrified. So, I'd rather learn how to hit the vein myself.<br />
<br />
Thats all for now. I am going to sit here and now start trying to concentrate on anything but the LOA...we will be on day 30 tomorrow.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-82162816910679770972011-08-26T19:16:00.001-07:002011-08-26T19:16:37.193-07:00LID! August 10th!pray pray pray....we need a fast LOA!<br />
(LID - Log in Date)<br />
(LOA - Letter of Acceptance)<br />
all from China...even though we are pre-approved, this is still a time consuming and draining and lengthy process. <br />
But, a few steps after LOA and we are there!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-5067220786575152072011-08-09T09:45:00.001-07:002011-08-09T09:45:29.192-07:00We are DTC July 29!!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-77612647782191841782011-07-22T07:25:00.000-07:002011-07-22T07:25:46.765-07:00We have USCIS I-800A approval!!!This is a happy day, as I was thinking it could take another 30 days. I have been calling them so much, maybe they got sick of me and just finally approved it! Next step, DTC....Dossier to China. We are getting so close I can almost feel his presence in my house! I can actually envision him at home!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-27418904438478334042011-05-16T12:34:00.000-07:002011-05-16T12:34:49.664-07:00Updates!Finally, the final homestudy was done so that we could send in our I-800A to USCIS! It was about a month of back and forth between the agency we are adopting from and the homestudy agency to sort out what each required. <br />
And in the mean time I have received THIS!!! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W-ZsmxkD8rNIEo02o-cwun0PLv_CzfJQWNEVIyRVuxKAGK8wJwOvuqKVk0H_CvmDr_a9wgTL8Ujx6elnwT8SNEIngS1dk1VGyl5YdPE2zdQvVA-b3aC2uyjRAKjzF3M1YihyT0Mbwkmy/s1600/++_50096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W-ZsmxkD8rNIEo02o-cwun0PLv_CzfJQWNEVIyRVuxKAGK8wJwOvuqKVk0H_CvmDr_a9wgTL8Ujx6elnwT8SNEIngS1dk1VGyl5YdPE2zdQvVA-b3aC2uyjRAKjzF3M1YihyT0Mbwkmy/s320/++_50096.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpr_PXKxws23UFAwbDV_V3SGKv_-_k2FPYQtUHI67fjqIsAg4yLFB25LdcU7HhBudgAiYJXNi9Qb2lW8xOQTyg8hLOed1Uc0rtMO4SPnWfvG0n7kHh5gvnsnw2PuSyYViTNE9m3Jl0N3J/s1600/++_50094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpr_PXKxws23UFAwbDV_V3SGKv_-_k2FPYQtUHI67fjqIsAg4yLFB25LdcU7HhBudgAiYJXNi9Qb2lW8xOQTyg8hLOed1Uc0rtMO4SPnWfvG0n7kHh5gvnsnw2PuSyYViTNE9m3Jl0N3J/s320/++_50094.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRrMhfewb9-dhvGyFKz3QpX_jmMetpq9o6WpTs8EAYfBjGnS9QkZtZYJ0g0bm5qRc-rXk9hDQgzH-ynTZaTSt_e47P8XPJzkSItwMLyqRfYf41TbSkCqlbW9jNIi-Bu_m8x1IHLFpWBZ5/s1600/++_50100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRrMhfewb9-dhvGyFKz3QpX_jmMetpq9o6WpTs8EAYfBjGnS9QkZtZYJ0g0bm5qRc-rXk9hDQgzH-ynTZaTSt_e47P8XPJzkSItwMLyqRfYf41TbSkCqlbW9jNIi-Bu_m8x1IHLFpWBZ5/s320/++_50100.jpg" /></a></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-83090370822769983502011-01-27T20:47:00.001-08:002011-01-27T20:47:56.033-08:00Missing him...worrying about him.A Moonbeam<br />
<br />
Take a glimpse into the sky<br />
And if a moonbeam hits your eye<br />
Follow it back to whence it came<br />
And dream of a child who'll bear your name.<br />
<br />
A little one may look right back<br />
And follow a beam along it's track<br />
And see a mother awaiting the day<br />
In who’s arms forever to stayDaniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8623421801701547414.post-91803423287622690522011-01-20T19:52:00.001-08:002011-01-20T19:59:42.061-08:00Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01482175126798554584noreply@blogger.com3