5 years ago...

5 years ago, we came face to face with our long awaited angel, Mara-Grace! 5 years has come and gone so quickly. We have been so incredibly blessed. On our "Family Day" we always look through our China pictures and talk about how our girls came into our lives etc. We celebrate this day by usually going out to dinner (Chinese Food is always what is chosen!). Tonight we went for our Chinese Food and home to read our blog from our trip to China and we had some snuggle time.

After tucking Miss Mara in, I came downstairs and I had an email waiting from our real estate agent who sold our house when we moved. It will be 2 years in May since we moved to our new home... Anyway, the email said that we should contact the 'new' owners of our old house as they contacted her to tell her that they have a letter for us from CHINA!!!!! The excitement that followed is indescribable! I have no idea what the letter is about, or from whom, but I have hopes! I cannot contain my excitement! I NEED to travel to pick it up now! Instead, I have asked my dear friend Donna to pick it up for us tomorrow and then I will arrange to have it sent our way, or I will make the trip (strangely enough we were there yesterday to celebrate Donna's birthday... Had we only known!).

I believe this is a special gift meant for today. I am so thankful to have a letter from China! I will dream until I have that letter in my hands!

Tonight I thank so many for bringing our darling Mara-Grace Xi Yu Ying into our lives. She is a gift far beyond measure and I will be eternally grateful for having the gift of being her Mommy and loving her for life.

xoxo Below are two posts from our original travel blog. The first was written the day of meeting our Mara, and the next was written on the following morning (this is a memory I will forever hold dear in my heart).

Monday January 29th, 2007

Here we are, in our hotel, with Mara-Grace Xi Yu Ying B. (aka Ying Ying)!!!! Yes indeed! She is currently playing on the floor beside me with her Daddy.

We made our way to the new Civil Affairs office which was an adventure in itself! Our guide asked for directions twice and the taxi driver was not sure that the address existed. We found ourselves down a side street that was not moving at the far end. On the street and onto the sidewalk were approximately 40 police officers. Our guide jumped out and asked what was going on and where the address was. Since we are unsure as to where we are, and the fact that the traffic was not moving, along with the presence of so many officers, it was rather daunting to say the very least! When Louise got back into the car I asked her if everything was ok. She laughed and told us that we could get out and that the police were there for their morning briefing in the street! LOL

We walked ahead into a neighborhood apartment complex and were unable at first to find the right building. All the while feeling as though we are about to explode with anticipation. Finally we reach our destination and Louise buzzes in and we hear a baby crying. I could see her feet (she was in the arms of the woman opening the door) and I am dying to see her face but I couldn’t through the bars on the door. Never did I picture us meeting our daughter at the door!!!! But, the door opened and there she was! Fussing and then stopped and stared at us! It all happened so quickly! We walked in and they went to pass her to me, I held out my hands and she dove into my arms! She stopped fussing and literally held on to me. She melted my heart in a single moment! She even hugged me and put her head on my shoulder. Sweetheart! She wanted nothing to do with the ladies from the orphanage or civil affairs! She stayed in my arms and was very content (I admit, I was prepared for many tears! In her file it said she is very attached to her foster family, doesn’t take well to strangers etc…) Anyway, she did really well! Then it was Kev’s turn to hold her and she started to fuss a little but was ok. Well, we passed her back and forth for the few hours we were there and she had a bit of her bottle and ADORED her cheerios and we couldn’t have been happier J I have to say though, that Miss Mara-Grace is now a Daddy’s girl!!!! She seems content in my presence and laughs and smiles at me, but it is Daddy she wants! He cannot leave her sight! I am just pleased that she is bonding and doing so well. It has been a very hectic day. We have been in and out of taxis all day. And the taxi rides have your heart in your throat! We got home from our morning at Civil affairs and then we fed her a little lunch in our room and met Louise at 2 and went to another apartment complex for paperwork, and then to the passport office (we had a long wait there, but Miss Mara was good as gold) and then we went to the Notary’s office. There is a new law here that stipulates one must remain in Yunnan for 15 days before obtaining their passport. However, Louise has requested a special exemption from this. We are really praying that we can get this on Friday (5 days). It is a bit stressful and we are not impressed that we were not informed of this possibility. Louise is optimistic that they can have it ready. I sure hope so. We are not sure what this would mean if it wasn’t the case.

We only got back to the hotel after 5pm. It has been a very long day but Mara is doing really well. She has had water, and she is a big eater! She has wanted rice cookies all afternoon J and she also had a huge supper. Rice, carrots, broccoli, watermelon, pineapple and slivered orange. She is like a little dictator pointing at things!

They gave us back the photo album we had sent to her and they also gave us the disposable camera we had sent! I am very excited about this and cannot wait to develop the pictures.

Uh Oh, she just bumped her bum and I went “Boom! Are you ok?” and she gave me the biggest grin! What an angelJ Her hair is sticking straight out to both sides at the top. We just took out her little elastics that were holding her pigtails in all day. I thought her head must be sore! She is a funny little bean and seems very sharp. She was even looking at a book today, when she opened it the picture was upside down and she turned it the right way up. She notices everything and everyone!

As for Mara-Grace’s health. She currently has quite a cold and cough, but she doesn’t seem to be requiring anything for it except extra fruits etc… She is strong and able to walk around holding onto things. She takes steps to get things that she wants. So, yes she is walkingJ She was floating in her bib at supper! Other than that, I have not changed her clothes. Just her diapers! She fits the size 3 pampers perfectly. I would love to give her a bath, although she had one this morning at the orphanage. I don’t want to overwhelm her. Her body and hair look clean and I think we will just wash her face and hands and put on some lotion and new pj’s. I think she might panic in the tub tonight. She is looking at a Corduroy book standing up and now looking through her crib as we speak. She has put the book in, and just pulled it out and ran over near her , you guessed it, Daddy! What a Daddy’s girl!!!!

We cannot thank you all enough for your loving messages and support and encouragement. The prayers are so much appreciated and we certainly have been blessed today. As I typed that I spoke to her and asked her what she was doing and she gave me a big grin and even a giggle! All is well and we are looking at a miracle! For those of you who are still waiting, please know that it will happen. What a glorious feeling!
All of our love. Xoxoxo

Moments.... January 30th 2007
Good morning from Kunming!

After writing last night, we had a very hard time with Mara-Grace. She only wanted Kevin to hold her last evening but being near me was fine. But this changed a little. First of all, she was overly tired which never is a good thing. And then let’s face it, the grief needs to come out also. She had been through so much yesterday. Nothing seemed to console our little one and I even confess to having a moment of wondering what the heck we’ve done. I cannot express how difficult it was to see her so inconsolable and not be able to even approach her. She was in Kev’s arms and the sight of me during this was even more unbearable to her. It was truly horrifying to watch. She was banging her little head and stiffening herself, there was really nothing Kev could do to comfort her. As a mother, it was heartbreaking to see all of this and be utterly powerless. I had prepared myself for a very hard grieving period, so yes I was prepared for this, but honestly, it was very difficult. She finally fell asleep and after rubbing her back in her crib, she settled. I went to bed feeling so blessed by this little angel and at the same time very worried for her.

In the middle of the night I heard her start to fuss and I waited a minute and she settled again. With her cough and cold, it makes it even harder for her to be comfortable. I heard her again a few minutes later and she was crying in her sleep. I went to her. Fully prepared for the display at bedtime and thinking it is going to kill me if the sight of me makes this worse again! Anyway, as I approached, she was crying and lying on her tummy. I could hear the congestion and knew she needed to be lifted and have some of it come up to clear. So, I spoke to her softly and I said, “Come see Mama?” Here I prepared for the drama, but she lifted her arms to me and sobbed, “Ma Ma”. I don’t know if it was meant for me, but somehow I think it was. Because I picked her up and she found comfort immediately with me. She looked at my face and hair and kept touching them and she put her head on my chest and snuggled right in. AHHHH the bonding was pure magic. If I would attempt to sit with her, she would begin to fuss, so I stood and we swayed and I spoke to her and she snuggled in some more. I eventually was able to lower myself to the corner of bed where we sat and I rocked her some more. We needed this time. We sat like that for almost an hour and I hated to set her back into her crib. But, she didn’t wake up when I did and her coughing and congestion eased. As I sat there I knew that we’d be just fine. It will take time and probably a step forward and a few back. Who knows! Well, I do know who. I had prayed at bedtime to Mary (one mom to another!) to help me reach this little one. And she did. I held a miracle last night and it was absolutely breathtaking! We are so blessed…

As I type now, I am in the darkness and our little one is still sound asleep! Kev and I both woke up at 5am. It is 6:15 now and I am assuming Mara-Grace will soon awaken. Who knows what the day will bring. But I feel ready to take it on! I will keep you posted!

Xoxo

It's about time...

I have been wanting for the last few months to sit down and write and post some pictures. Well, this is better late than never! Here is a little bit of what we have been doing lately. xoxo





For a complete catch-up!




Nothing like having my girls around me on my birthday! xo


























Victoria celebrated her 17th Birthday by going skiing with her friends in the day and then having some friends over for cake and girfriends over to sleep. We then had a big birthday breakfast with Kevin's side of our family to celebrate her big day (the following weekend as on Victoria's actual birthday, Hannah was quite ill)


Hannah became sick a few days after Christmas (fever, cough). After 5 days with fever, her doctor confirmed that she had pneumonia in her left lung. Our poor baby Hannah had never really been sick before. Thankfully, once she started the antibiotic, she was quickly on the mend. This pick is of Hannah and Poppy sharing some snuggle time.








Mara-Grace went to a day camp with her Sparks unit! She had the option of sleeping over, but we all knew we weren't ready for that quite yet! She had a fun day! Mara loves Sparks very much!


Year of the Dragon got off to a wonderful start! We celebrated with a feast at home (spent the entire day in the kitchen... yummy!) and we had my parents over for supper. We celebrated with our main meal the day before actual Chinese New Year (Mom was having dental surgery on the Monday). Mara-Grace's class has been doing a theme on China and they invited us to come in to 'fly' to China on Chinese New Year! Hannah and I happily volunteered and we entered Mara's classroom which was decorated for CNY and also as a plane! Three kindergarten classes were involved and they had gone all out with their activities and ideas! They had stamps and tickets, passports, luggage, tv's on the back of the seat in front of them just like on a real plane, they had stations set up to be rotated for the rest of the day. The children and Hannah ate rice with chopsticks and fortune cookies for a snack, then Mara and friends were going to make a fan, a dragon, use Chinese Ink etc. What an incredible day!!! I was so excited for everyone involved! Madame J. even had Hongbao for the children!!! She is incredible! We are so thankful that she is Mara-Grace's teacher!

Success!!!!!

This week, I will sit down and update the last few months! I have just not found the time required, this week, I swear I will!!!! xoxo I couldn't resist posting this major news though! We have been trying to potty train Hannah for months. She seriously refused trying to pee and I was starting to question if this was ever going to 'get started!'. Then this week, I showed her a blog of another little girl who was doing so well, and I put extra treats in a specific "Potty Prize container" and I also said a little prayer asking God to please give me a glimmer of hope that this will happen. The same morning of these three changes, Hannah peed in her potty and she hasn't stopped since!!!!! She wears a Pull up for now if we go out, but we bring her potty along! She likes one specific potty that we have here (so we will invest in another identical to keep in her room. Hannah wears a diaper at night as she is still very wet upon waking up. And nap time is in a pull-up incase but I don't really think it is needed. Another few days of it just incase... So, I have one VERY proud little pumpkin here who has astonished me once again! I always thought that it just needed to click for her, but this is beyond my hopes! I am so proud of our little Miss Hannah Faith! xoxo