China trip pic...Silk Factory

We toured a silk factory when we were in Beijing.  We were given a demonstration of the silkworm cocoon and how silk is harvested to make fabric.

Care package

After getting our little girl's referral in March, we sent her a care package that included some clothing items, a blanket, toy, and camera.  We were instructed we had to send the package to her original orphanage in Zhengzhou, but we knew she was no longer there!  Because of her need for a heart surgery, she had been transferred at two months old to New Day Foster Home in Beijing who cared for her and raised funds for her surgery.  Then this February at thirteen months old, she went to live with a foster family.  Our adoption agency told us that her orphanage might send the package to New Day, or she might just receive it when she returned to the orphanage, since the director would be bringing her to the registration office to meet us.  We searched New Day Foster Home's website and blog every day to see if there were any new pictures of our little girl, or maybe even one of her wearing the outfit we sent her!  A few days before our trip, we were positive there was a pic of her wearing the pink top we had sent!  We knew then that she might have seen the first pictures of her forever family!  The photo album we sent had pictures of our family and the Chinese characters for Mama, Dada, big sister, and big brother under the pictures.  We knew that seeing pictures of us before we met would greatly help her with the transition.  When we met her on "Gotcha Day", she was wearing the outfit we sent her!  I am sure she must have recognized me from the album because she walked right into my arms!  We were given a bag that had our photo album, the camera we sent, another camera, a big photo book, a calendar with New Day kids pics, and a cd of pics and monthly updates from New Day!  What a special gift!!  Elli loved to look at her photo album and could point to us when we said our Chinese names for Mama, Dada, big sister, and big brother!  We are so thankful that her foster mom took some pictures on the camera and also took the time to look at the album with her and tell her about her family that was coming.  Here is a picture from one of the cameras that we had developed.  I almost cried...

Our puppy dogs

Elli loves puppies and will squeal "woof woof" and pup"py" in delight when she sees them.   She loves to look out the window or go on the deck several times a day to see our two puppy dogs, "Raindrop", our Dachshund, and "Glory", our Golden Retriever.  She doesn't like to get too close to them yet though. :)

China trip pic...More Acrobats

Here are some more pics from the Chinese Acrobatics show we saw in Beijing.

1st Day of School

Brady and Kaitlyn went back to school on Wednesday.  Brady is an 8th grader, and Kaitlyn is a Junior.  Kaitlyn drove herself and Brady to school for the first time.  I can hardly take it. :'(  Elli and I hugged and said a prayer.  Jeff said Elli will be the Class of 2028...oh my.

Elli's 1st Cardiologist Appt. ~ 2011

Thanks everyone for praying for Elli!  Our prayers have been answered!!  The cardiologist said the heart surgeon in China did a great repair job!  He said Elli had not had a severe case of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), as she would have needed her surgery before 8 mons. old if it had been severe.  The surgery had not required the pulmonary valve to be stinted, so it was still intact and functioning!  This was excellent news!  The constriction of the pulmonary valve was minor.  The doctor believed that this narrowing had probably helped blood not to pool back into the lungs before she was able to have her surgery.  She probably won't have very many limitations on her activities and should live a normal, healthy life!  She may or may not need another repair later as she grows, so she will need to be monitored again in 6 months, and then yearly.  We are so thankful for our families' and friends' prayers and for God's healing hand on our sweet baby girl.

Prayers for Cardiologist Appt.

Elli sees the cardiologist tomorrow.  Please pray that everything still looks great.  She had heart surgery last Sept. in China when she was 8 mons. old for a serious heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

China trip pic...Chinese buffet

When we were in China, our travel group had a few authentic Chinese buffet-style meals.  Many types of dishes including chicken, pork, duck, shrimp, egg drop soup, rice, dumplings, vegetables, and watermelon were placed on a turntable in the center of a large round table that accommodated 10-12 people.  Waiters continued to bring more dishes throughout the meal until the turntable was full, and there was always more food than we could eat.  Kaitlyn and Brady were always happy to see white rice and watermelon served.  :)  Green tea, Coke, and Sprite were drink options on the table.

Play kitchen

Elli likes to play with her tea set and play kitchen.  She pretends to stir, drink from her tea cup, and eat food.  She will also share her "yummy" treats.  :)

China trip pic...Great Wall

Here are some more pics from the Great Wall of China! The weather was very hot and humid when we were there on July 9.  We were at the Badaling area, which is a very well-known section of the Wall.  The Wall was a combination of ramps and steps.  The farther you went, the steeper it got, and the steps became very uneven and varying greatly in height.  Jeff and Brady climbed to the fourth tier, but discovered it was even harder on their legs to come back down because of the steepness.  

Swinging!

While Kaitlyn was swinging her racquet at her tennis lesson today, Brady and Elli were...swinging!!

Sisters

 

Our precious daughters...

Going for a ride!

It's fun to play with the Duplo building blocks...but it's more fun to ride on top of the bus with a boost from big brother!! :D

China trip pic...Gotcha Day

Today is the one month anniversary of our precious Elliana's "Gotcha Day".  Our family has been beyond blessed having this sweet little baby girl in our lives.  We thank God for all his amazing blessings!

China trip pic...Rickshaws

Here we are on bicycle-pulled rickshaws in Beijing where we toured the old Hutong District housing.

Haircut!

Elli got her hair trimmed today!  She did so good!

Tennis!

Elli had a lot of fun yesterday when she got to go to the tennis courts to see Kaitlyn, Brady, and Jeff practice tennis!  Kaitlyn is a Junior this year and is starting her second year on the high school tennis team.  Brady is an 8th grader this year and is wanting to join the boys' tennis team next year.

China trip pic...Dress

Another picture of Elli in her dress made by Robin at www.redthreadstitches.com!  I love the Chinese print fabric!

Boy Scouts

Elli went to Brady's Boy Scout meeting this week!  Brady did a presentation about our China trip.  He narrated a picture slide show and brought some souvenirs to show.  He passed around his Mahjong game, mini sword, nunchucks, our Calabash flute, and panda hand exercise balls.

China trip pic...Loving Mei Mei

Awww...Brady and Kaitlyn sure do love their little sister!  They waited five years for her!!

Watermelon!

Elli loves watermelon!  Watermelon was served on our buffet dinners in China. 

China trip pic...Acrobats

This is another pic from the Chinese Acrobatics show we saw in Beijing.  They are simply amazing!

They don't have Cheerios in China!

Elli was having some Cheerios last Friday before we headed to the music festival where my piano students were performing!  They did awesome and brought home lots of trophies!  I'm so proud of them!  We celebrated with them afterwards at The Cheesecake Factory...yum!!!

China trip pic...White Swan Hotel

Here's a picture of Kaitlyn, Brady, and Elli inside the White Swan Hotel.  The White Swan Hotel is in Guangzhou, China located on the Shamian Island overlooking the Pearl River.  Many families who adopt from China stay at the White Swan while in Guangzhou for visa paperwork.  A souvenir Barbie holding a Chinese baby is specially made by Mattel Ltd. for adopting parents of Chinese orphan children staying at the White Swan Hotel.  This hotel is also where adoptive families take the famous red velvet couch photo of all the babies and families in their travel group.  The hotel has been considered a five-star, leading hotel of the world for many years.  This fall, the hotel will be going under a complete renovation and will be closed.  

Talking on the phone

Elli loves to "talk" on the phone!  She can turn any toy into a phone...just place object on ear and start chatting!  I think she might be saying some Chinese words!  I can hear some different Chinese tones in her speech.   She is so smart and speaks some Chinese words and is learning English words very quickly! I wish I could speak Chinese.  I only know a few words.  We plan on giving her resources so she can learn Chinese.  Right now, we are learning some Chinese words from reading books about Kai-lan, a little Chinese girl in a children's tv show.

Bath time

Bath time in China was no fun for Elli!  She cried so much and was scared, especially of having her hair washed (which was also noted in her paperwork).  I am trying to be careful not to let water run over her face when rinsing her hair. We haven't had her in a swimming pool yet, as some have suggested might help.  She is starting to come around the last couple of baths though.  She likes to pour water in and out of stacking cups and say "quack quack" for her rubber ducky.  I am going to order her a foam alphabet bath puzzle that I remember Brady and especially Kaitlyn absolutely loved to play with in the bath.  Oh, and it helps if Mommy's feet are in the bath with Elli too...no complaints from Mommy!

Potty training

Elliana is only 18 months old, but I think she had been working on potty training when in China!  When I got her up the first morning in China, her diaper was dry!  I took her to the bathroom to try, and she went potty!  We did not have a little potty for her though, and also the schedule was too busy in China for us to work on it.  I could tell sometimes she was trying to hold it when she was really wiggly and had a dry diaper...poor thing!  When we got home, we got a nice little girl potty, and she loves it!  She goes potty about twice a day in the potty chair!  I am so proud of her!  She is proud too!  She claps and we get her a sticker!

China trip pic...Congee

Elli enjoyed the warm rice congee for breakfast in China.  Congee is a type of rice porridge popular in many Asian countries.  To prepare the dish, rice is boiled in large amounts of water until it softens significantly.  I am looking for a good recipe so I can make her some! :)

Pediatrician Appointment

Elli had her first pediatrician appointment today.  The doctor was so impressed with her and said she is doing stupendous!!  She will have to repeat all of her immunizations as a precaution.  She will also be seeing the cardiologist soon.